Elizabeth Mansfield (16 page)

Georgina laughed good-naturedly. “Never mind,” she riposted. “When she has five children to get in her way, even Camilla will find it difficult to organize her dinners as well as she does now.”

Camilla sat back and smiled contentedly. Everything was going just as she wished. There was nothing more to worry about.

Edgar, his tongue loosened by wine and good spirits, began to expound on the subject which occupied all his waking thoughts—politics. Prodded by the others (who eagerly grasped at this unwonted opportunity to learn about the situation in Parliament from an insider’s point of view), he told them how discontent the House was with the leadership of Mr. Addington. “It looks more and more as if he will be stepping down before the year is out.”

“Will he?” Georgina asked interestedly. “You don’t think your Mr. Fox will succeed him, do you?”

“No, I’m afraid not. But I will not be sorry to see Pitt take over again. He’s the best we have to lead us in time of war.”

“Pitt?” Sir James asked, his mouth twisted into a cynical sneer. “If you ask me, he’s too old and tired to be as effective as he once was.”

“Perhaps,” Sturtevant agreed, “but the country admires him. And he is perceived as being a strong leader.”

“He is strong, when you compare him to Mr. Addington,” Georgina said in support.

“Can’t argue with that,” Sir James laughed. “Have you heard the rhyme that’s being bruited about?”

“You mean ‘Pitt is to Addington as London is to Paddington,’ don’t you? We’ve been hearing that one for months.”

“Are you saying, Edgar,” Camilla asked shyly, never having had the opportunity before to discuss politics with men of power, “that you would
support
the return of Mr. Pitt? I thought you were a staunch supporter of Mr. Fox.”

“I am, but these are unusual times. With Napoleon massing troops at Pas de Calais, we are being threatened on our own doorstep. We need a strong, tried hand at the helm. Already the talk of Pitt’s possible return has caused an increase in the number of volunteers for the militia. I’ve heard rumors that the number may reach half a million.”

“Half a million? Remarkable!” Sir James muttered, reaching for the port. “If only the Navy could inspire volunteers in such numbers.”

“Perhaps they will,” Edgar said optimistically. “We English are a surprising breed in time of crisis. Perhaps they will.”

“Huh!” came a snort behind him.

Every head in the room turned toward the sound. It had obviously emanated from the throat of the footman standing just behind Lord Sturtevant, a decanter of wine in his hand. “
Thomas
!” Camilla exclaimed, shocked.

“Did you say something, fellow?” Sturtevant asked curiously.

“No, my lord,” Thomas muttered and bent over to fill his glass.

“Yes, you did,” Sir James accused, peering at him narrowly. “We all heard you.”

Hicks stepped forward from his place at the sideboard. “I’m sure, sir, that Thomas was only … er … clearing his throat.” He looked at Thomas threateningly. “Isn’t that right, Thomas?”

Tom looked from Hicks to Lord Sturtevant, his face impassive. “I’m very sorry, your lordship,” he murmured.

But Edgar’s curiosity was piqued. “Never mind the apologies, fellow. What did you mean by that sound? I had the distinct impression that you were making a comment on my remark about volunteers for the Navy. Do you think I’m mistaken?”

“I’m sure that Thomas meant nothing at all,” Camilla said, frowning at her footman with eyes flashing angrily.

“Of course he didn’t,” Sir James said flatly. “What does a footman know about such matters, anyway?”

“Don’t jump to conclusions, James,” Lady Sturtevant put in, grinning. “This fellow is a very unusual sort of footman.”

Hicks came up behind his troublesome underling and gave him a shove in the back. “Take this tray of dishes to the warming room, you idiot,” he hissed softly. “and don’t come back!”

But Edgar wouldn’t be put off. “Let the fellow speak,” he insisted. “If he has an opinion, I’d like to hear it. Don’t you believe that the Navy will get volunteers, fellow?”

“No, your lordship, I don’t.”

Sir James leaned forward. “What on earth do you know about it?”

“I know enough to remember the mutiny at Spithead, and how little has been done since to better a sailor’s life,” Tom retorted.

Hicks met Camilla’s eye with a look of pained helplessness, a look that was returned in full measure.

“But improvements have been made since Spithead, haven’t they?” Sturtevant asked, staring at the footman interestedly.

“Minuscule ones. Just ask yourself this, your lordship. With a man like Nelson as Admiral—a man who’s a hero to every man and boy in the land—why is it still necessary to have press-gangs roaming the coastal towns for recruits?”

“Press-gangs!” Sir James snorted scornfully. “Nowadays there’re no such things! They’re just bogeymen, concocted from stories told at ale houses. We’ve the best Navy in all of Christendom, and every man of sense knows it.”

“Bogeymen, eh? Let me tell you, sir, that—”

“Watch your tongue, Thomas,” Hicks interrupted sharply. “Take this tray—!”

“Damnation,” Thomas burst out, “I think these gentlemen ought to be told what goes on in the real world! Bogeymen, my ass!”

“
Thomas
!” Hicks, white-faced in fury and alarm, thrust the heavily laden tray into Tom’s midsection. “Take this and
go
!”

While everyone watched in shocked silence, Tom took the tray to the door. But before he left, he looked back at Sturtevant and Sir James. “It would be better for the Navy and this country if you gentlemen stopped fooling yourselves. Go down to Southampton or Portsmouth and see for yourselves what goes on.” With that he pushed the door open with his back, walked out and pulled the door closed behind him with his foot.

“Heavens, Camilla, where did you find that—” Sir James began.

But he was interrupted by a great crash of crockery. Out in the corridor, Thomas must have dropped the tray.

Camilla shuddered. With a wince, she put a shaking hand to her forehead. Her lovely dinner, ruined! She looked up at her dinner guests in humiliation and caught Georgina’s eye. Georgina was trying very hard not to laugh. Suddenly Camilla felt herself relax. “So much for my well-organized, disaster-free dinner,” she said with a rueful smile.

Everyone hooted with laughter. “But we can still say it was memorable,” Edgar said when the laughter had died. “You seem to have learned Georgie’s knack, Camilla, of finding eccentric servants.”

“Eccentric is the word for him,” Sir James put in. “Belligerent bloke, isn’t he? What do you make of his remarks, Edgar?”

Sturtevant looked thoughtful. “I don’t know what I make of them. They had a ring of truth. Don’t know but that I won’t do a little investigating of the matter, just as he suggests.”

“Well, we’d better not think about it now,” his wife pointed out. “We are already late for the opera.”

The laughter and bustle of their departure didn’t distract Camilla from her fury at her footman. Even though Thomas had cleared away any sign of broken china from the corridor by the time they’d emerged from the dining room, and even though he reappeared with Daniel at the front door, carrying the ladies’ cloaks and looking as calm as if nothing untoward had occurred, Camilla had made up her mind. When he helped her on with her cloak, she whispered through clenched teeth, “I hope you realize, Thomas, that you’ve used your last chance. As of this moment, you have your notice. You are
sacked
.”

The next morning, Hicks entered the breakfast room with an expression on his face of considerable agitation. Finding Camilla already there, he hastened to pour her tea. “Sorry I’m late, Miss Camilla,” he apologized, “but the three of them are packing to leave, and I can’t talk reason to any of ’em.”

“By the three of them, I take it you mean Betsy, Daniel and Thomas?”

“Yes, ma’am. I knew from the first there’d be trouble with ’em. From the first moment they asked for places on this staff.”

“But surely Daniel and Betsy have been satisfactory. They can’t be so foolish as to wish to leave at this time. Betsy’s baby will be coming in a couple of months.”

“I know it. And they know it. But they won’t listen.” He sighed as he uncovered a dish of York ham and offered it to her. “Perhaps it’s just as well they go, Miss Camilla. They’ve given you nothing but trouble.”

“Daniel has given no trouble, and Betsy is a jewel. Really, Hicks, we
can’t
let Betsy go. I’ll talk to them. Send them all in to me at once.”

She pushed aside her plate and sipped her tea thoughtfully, trying to find a way out of this sticky dilemma. Her mind was made up about Thomas—he had to go. But she was equally determined that Betsy should stay. The poor young woman would need care for the next few months, and Camilla was determined to see that she got it.

The three servants appeared before her in short order, dressed in the clothes in which Camilla had first seen them. “Hicks tells me,” she said without roundaboutation, “that the three of you are packing to leave today. I’d like to know why.”

Thomas and Daniel, both looking sullen, refused to answer. Betsy, after glancing quickly from one to the other of them, faced her mistress. “Please don’t be angry at us, ma’am, but we’re … er … sworn t’ stick together.”

“Rubbish!” Tom muttered disgustedly under his breath.

“That’s a very foolish sort of pledge, my dear,” Camilla said to her maid, trying to ignore Thomas. “The likelihood of your finding places in the same establishment—and soon—is very slim.”

“We’ll manage, m’ lady,” Daniel said looking at Thomas with a stubborn set to his mouth, making
Camilla suspect that the two men had been arguing the matter long and hard.

“I won’t pursue the discussion for now. However, I do wish to remind you that, even if you’re determined to stick together, you needn’t leave at once. Thomas has the usual fortnight’s notice.”

“There, Tom, didn’t I tell ye?” Betsy said with some satisfaction.

Tom made an impatient gesture with his hands. “I don’t
want
her damned ‘notice.’ I won’t remain on these premises another fortnight!”

“See here, Thomas,” Camilla said angrily, getting to her feet, “I won’t have you spewing out your vile curses in this house! It would be well to remember to guard your tongue when in the presence of ladies.”

Thomas bit back a sharp retort and turned away. Betsy wheeled on him angrily. “Ye’ve no call t’ talk to her ladyship that way, Tom, and you know it. We
need
that fornight’s grace, and if she’d good enough t’ give it to us, we’ll take it. You turn around and thank her proper!”

Thomas’s shoulders seemed to sag. He turned round as he was told. “Thank you, your ladyship,” he said with glum reluctance.

Camilla nodded in disdainful acknowledgement of his surrender. “Do I take it, then, that the three of you will remain for the fortnight?”

“Yes, ma’am,” Betsy said quickly, “we shall. You’re bein’ very kind, an’ we’re all grateful.”

Camilla smiled at the young woman and put an arm around her shoulders. “Perhaps you’ll change your minds before the fortnight is over, Betsy,” she said comfortingly, walking with the maid to the door.

“I’d like t’ say we will, ma’am,” Betsy answered with a small sigh, “but I don’t think so.”

“Well, go along and don’t worry about anything, my dear,” Camilla said to her, throwing a look of disapproval at the two men who were following them out. “I won’t permit these two brutes to force you to have your baby on the street. See her upstairs, Daniel. I want to speak to Thomas alone.”

When Daniel and Betsy had closed the door behind them, Tom turned to face Camilla with a show of bravado. “If you think all this is my fault, you’re mistaken, ma’am. I’ve argued myself blue in the face, begging Daniel to stay.”

“I’ve no doubt you did. You needn’t sound so defensively belligerent.”

“Then why did you call me a brute?”

“I called
both
of you brutes. And it was only a … a figure of speech. Actually, I find Daniel’s loyalty to you rather touching, even if I don’t understand the reason. One would think you’d saved his life or some such thing.”

His eyes dropped from her questioning gaze. “We … we’ve been through a great deal together, that’s all.”

“A great deal?” she echoed, puzzled. “At the home of that doctor in Derbyshire?”

Tom fidgeted in discomfort. “In many places,” he answered evasively.

She studied him for a moment with wrinkled brows and then shrugged. “Well, if you don’t choose to enlighten me, I shan’t press you. I hope you realize, Thomas, that Betsy is in a difficult situation because of you. It’s not just the birthing, you know. She’ll be weak for quite a while afterwards, and she will have an infant to nurse and care for. Even if you
do
find posts together (which I very much doubt), your new employer may not be very sympathetic to the personal problems of the staff—”

“You needn’t tell me that you’re kinder than most. I’m not a fool,” he interrupted brusquely.

“I didn’t intend to flatter myself, and you know it! Really, Thomas, you can be the most irritating—! I only meant to make you see how difficult it might be for Betsy if you and Daniel insist on tearing her away from here.”

“Do you think I don’t know? Why do you suppose I’ve been arguing with Daniel all morning?”

Camilla bit her lip. “If you’re trying to make me feel guilty for discharging you, you won’t succeed, you know.”

Thomas swore under his breath. “I
knew
you’d think this was a ruse! I
told
Daniel—!”

“Whether it’s a ruse or not, I warn you that I won’t be trapped into changing my mind about you, even for Betsy’s sake. You’re an
impossible
footman, and you should have been sacked weeks ago.”

“I know it, ma’am. I agree with you.”

“You agree with me?”

“Completely.”

She stared at him in annoyance and dropped down on a chair. Shaking her head in bewilderment, she made a little, irritated rasp of sound in her throat. “Dash it all, why must you agree with me? Your agreement doesn’t make me feel a whit better about this situation.”