Madhouse bride 21 cliffie request

 

Chapter 21

 

“Are we going to rely on hotel baths or make a dash for home?” said Julian.

“Home,” said Jem.

“Make it so,” said Julian.

 

Julian felt much better on his return to the hall. There had been no alarums here, so his hunch to be near Denver not at home had been quite correct.

“My lord!” said Cubitt, shocked. “You are as sooty as a sweep!”

“There was a fire,” said Julian. “I’ll tell you about it tomorrow; do you suppose I could bathe in the kitchen?”

“Certainly not, my lord; I will have hot water brought up to you presently,” said Cubitt. “I know what is due to you.”

“Yes, Cubitt,” said Julian, hiding a sigh. He knew when he was beaten.

He went upstairs to pull off the stinking smoky clothes.

“Julian?” Anne sat up and kindled a light for her candle. “Why, whatever happened to you? You are all over smuts.”

“I am black but comely?” said Julian.

“Leave the Song of Songs out of this,” said Anne, severely.

“Must we?” said Julian. “When I am clean, I could fancy some of its imagery.”

“Oh, well, that’s different,” said Anne. “Perhaps I should help you to wash.”

“I could be very happy with such assistance,” said Julian. “Cubitt would put me in my place and insist that I bathe up here; I was happy to do so in front of the kitchen stove.”

“Just think what Mrs. Watkins would say,” said Anne, severely. “In case any of the girls walked in on you; they’re all good girls and not ready for the master in all his glory.”

Julian laughed, as Anne got up and poked the fire into life, and made it up.  It was coming through nicely as the first bucket of hot water was brought.

Julian sank into hot water in the tub as soon as it was full enough.

He told Anne all about it.

“How horrid for everyone,” said Anne. “I am glad you came home, though. I might have read about it in the paper and worried.”

“I had not considered that, but I am doubly glad I came home,” said Julian. “Meggie is doubtless seeing to Jem like this… oh, yes, more of that.”

“It seems to need a lot of washing,” said Anne. “But I shall wash out your hair first or you will stink up all the linen.”

“Coal always smells worse than wood,” said Julian. “I am glad your uncle is in custody, though.”

“Send the maids to my father’s house, and let Aunt Amelia and Clarinda go there until the trial is over,” said Anne. “And make sure they feel grateful and on sufferance.”

“That’s a good idea,” said Julian. “And make sure they know it is temporary.”

Clean and comfortable, he came to her arms in their marriage bed, and he was able to release all the pent up tension he had been feeling over his hunch.

 

The next day was to be the wedding breakfast, or rather the dinner welcoming Anne to distant relations, acquaintances, and people who ought to be invited, however unwanted.

Anne was not looking forward to it; Uncle Thomas had been thorough in spreading unpleasant rumours.

 

Anne greeted all her guests as they arrived, and the servants provided drinks before going in to eat.

Before the meal was carried in, Julian rose.

“I’m hearing some ill-natured whispers, and I know the source. I’m going to put this matter to bed for once and all. My lovely wife, whose father arranged a match with me before his sudden and untimely death, fell into the hands of her mother’s brother, who decided to drug her to make her seem incompetent, in order to steal the fortune her father left. As it happened, he was legally too late, as I was the recipient of it through the prenuptial agreement. He did not, however, know that, and I only lately managed to rescue Anne from the madhouse where he had her confined, until she signed a will with him as beneficiary. You can guess what would have happened to her after once having signed.  And nobody thinks twice about the… suicide… of someone deranged, and therefore within the act to permit inheritance. I have the depositions of three eminent alienists who are convinced that my wife is as sane as any of us, and saner than many. So, this ceases now; I am pursuing Thomas Devner to the full rigor of the law. If you have any questions, speak up now, or forever hold your peace.”

“It was done to you; are you sure you are not seeing persecution where there is none?” asked an elderly woman, sharply.

“Ah, Aunt Everdean,” said Julian. “You never wanted to believe ill of Lucius until it was irrefutable. I think that keeping muscari powder is a powerful piece of evidence.  The testimony of the doctor he bribed is also telling. And other matters. So yes, I am sure.”

The older woman gave a sharp nod.

“No offence meant,” she said.

“None taken,” said Anne. “My uncle is very plausible.”

“And you’re suing him, Ravenscar?” asked another gentleman.

“That, and prosecuting him,” said Julian. “Theft, breaking and entering, malicious destruction, arson, fraud, assault; I should think he’ll get off lightly if he’s transported for fourteen years, hanged, hung in chains, and then permitted to flee the country. I don’t think there are many offences on the statutes that he hasn’t committed, save barratry, piracy, and carnal knowledge of sheep.”

“Really, Ravenscar! At the table!” said Lady Everdean.

“I don’t know why you’re worrying,  Aunt Everdean,” said Julian. “I think most sheep-botherers go for younger ewes.”

“Ravenscar!” Lady Eversdean said, awfully.

“I will be polite up to a point,” said Julian, coldly. “You are all here to witness that I have nothing to regret in my marriage to my beautiful bride, and not because I like any of you more than half, and only fail to dislike those I don’t know well enough to know anything of detriment against you.”

“Classic Stormcrow,” said another gentleman. “I have your back, cousin. She’s a beautiful girl, and I hope living with you won’t drive her insane.”

A smile touched Julian’s lips.

“Thank you, Henry,” he said.

It was a feat of endurance to get through the meal, which consisted of many removes and courses, Mrs. Watkins having chivvied the cook to do Julian and Anne proud. But get through it they did, and the company departed, well fed, and full of gossip. It was the day after full moon so they would have no difficulty in getting home.

“Well, what now?” asked Anne.

“Now? We wait for the trial,” said Julian. “It’s starting on Monday. It’ll be a long week. I’ll stay in London.”

“I’ll come with you,” said Anne.

“The town house is a mausoleum,” warned Julian. “All white marble and cold sterile surfaces with the jollity of a funeral.”

“We can get hangings,” said Anne. “Indeed, I will shop to that end while you are in court, to keep myself occupied.”

“Best of wives!” said Julian.

 “I need some more clothes to reflect on you, as well,” said Anne.

“Buy the fabric, and hire a girl to sew; if she’s good, keep her on the payroll,” said Julian. “Not only is it cheaper overall, it’s more convenient.”

“I will take your excellent advice,” said Anne.

 

 

Anne regarded the white marble vestibule of the Ravenscar town house with deep thought.

The town house butler looked down his nose.

“Where will my lord wish her ladyship to sleep?” he asked.

“In the master suite, of course, Peters,” said Julian.

“The door between the mistress’s room and the masters does not lock, my lord,” said Peters. “Have you a sturdy nurse for her ladyship?”

“You’re fired,” said Julian, in fury. “How dare you listen to malicious gossip! You can take a month’s pay in lieu and be gone by this evening. And don’t expect a reference for such impudence!”

Peters crumpled.

He left without a word.

Ravenscar marched into the servants’ quarters and fixed the housekeeper with a steely eye and ‘Stormcrow’ on his brow.

“Mrs. Deering, are you going to disparage my bride?” he demanded.

“Bless you, Mr. Julian, I don’t listen to nonsense,” said Mrs. Deering.

“Fine. I’ll pay you Butler’s wages to buttle, or whatever it’s called,” said Julian. “You shall come and meet her. She isn’t averse to a cup of tea and a good gossip in the housekeeper’s room.”

“I’m sure her ladyship will settle in nicely,” said Mrs. Deering, who came and curtseyed to Anne. “I’m Mrs. Deering, my lady, and if anything goes on here that I don’t know about, it’s because I forgot it,” she said. “You come away into the parlour and I’ll bring you tea, whilst Master Stormcrow stomps about and gets rid of his temper.”

“I feel about three feet tall,” said Julian.

“He cares what people say to and about me,” said Anne. “He is indignant on my behalf, you know.”

“There, dearie, my lady, of course he is, but there’s no call to go glaring at those who have not offended,” said Mrs. Deering. “We’ll have your rooms sorted in a brace of shakes, and Williams can stir his lazy self to be your escort about town, and if he looks like a bruiser, well, fewer folk will bother you.”

 

Meggie was a willing confederate in the delights of Bond Street and Cheapside, and Williams patiently waiting with the carriage to carry parcels of fabric. He really did look like a retired pugilist with one cauliflower ear.

“I have to ask, Williams, have you fought?” asked Anne.

“Well, my lady, I’ve represented the Ravenscar estate at fairs, and stood up with his lordship to get him in trim when he was a lad. He can take me down any time now, of course. But the ear is courtesy of my stepfather, and it had developed by the time I was fifteen and ran away. I met his lordship when that nasty uncle of his was trying to addle him, and he took me on as a bodyguard as much as a footman. But I like being a footman, it’s less exciting than being a pugilist and I likes it not being too exciting. Which don’t mean I ain’t ready to use me fambles if I has to, but a quiet life and a nice book from the lending library is the life for me.”

“Oh, you must bring your book to read whilst I am shopping,” said Anne. “I’m quite happy for you to pass the time waiting more convivially. And if you know about Lucius, you also know about what happened to me?”

“Yes, my lady, and all of us downright hot against your uncle, saving Mr. Peters who is one o’ them as says ‘No smoke without fire,’ which as anyone who has ever laid and lit a fire could tell him is a load o’ nonsense.”

“Quite; and very frustrating such a lack of conflagration can be,” said Anne. “And as frustrating to be told there must be something in such rumours.”

“Aye, according to Peters, I had my ear from acting highwayman and being beaten up by  some travelling sailors. As if his lordship would employ someone like that!”

“Indeed, I am glad Julian gave him his congé, for he was quite rude to me,” said Anne.

Williams chuckled.

“I imagine he feared Stormcrow at that moment.”

“Oh, yes!” said Anne, happily. “Mrs. Deering doesn’t.”

“Rumour has it, and this one I could believe, that she spanked him when he was a little boy for having a temper at her,” said Williams.

“I wouldn’t discount it myself,” said Anne. “Though I suspect she managed to quell him without needing to spank him.”

“She’s been like a real ma to me,” said Williams. 

“Good,” said Anne. “A big house should be like family. I’ll be relying on her myself to help me go on in society.”

Williams gave his heart to such a lovely lady.

Being permitted to read when essentially on duty was an untold luxury, and the chance to read instead of sitting, bored, thrilled him. The vicar in his own village had arranged for the young Shadrach Williams to sit an exam for a scholarship to the grammar school; and his stepfather would not hear of him ‘mollying himself with education.’ It had been the cause of Williams’ brutally mauled ear, and the final straw in believing that speaking softly would avert trouble with the man he hated. He definitely sympathised with her ladyship over inadequate relatives! She being in a similar position with an uncle as a guardian as a lad with a stepfather, who was a bully and a brute, and who thought education was for those who were soft, in body and in the head. And the main reason for Williams boxing for the Ravenscar estate was to get the chance to take on his stepfather, who fancied himself as a pugilist. And after having blacked both eyes, damaged his stepfather’s ear, and made him void his bladder with a blow to the kidneys, he knocked the man out.

He had given up boxing after that; he had no more need for it. And he had read books to better himself. But he was more than happy to be milady’s bodyguard!