A Regency Tale 10

[ismenin]

Good Afternoon, fellow DomLij fans! A sports commentator has just informed us that the rain is wet. So there is a dry sort which I seem to have missed! :D


Here, my loves, is part 10 of A Regency Tale, which I hope you will all enjoy!

And a VERY HAPPY NEW YEAR to you all. Smooches.





Thank you as always, to Lady Sunrope for beta.


Regency 10 - Changes

Ego Servo, Ego Pareo, Tamen Meus Animus Est Etiam Meus - I serve, I obey, but my soul is still my own.


Elijah was accounted a very good card player, but he never had a great liking for it, and especially not now that his brothers obsession with it had caused him so much heartache. He also realised he had a very fair chance of winning, although he knew nothing of Dom's expertise in the area. He was desperate - he would try it.

Dom heaved a sigh of relief. He was not sure how the venture would end, but he knew he would enjoy it very much. There was little chance of Elijah winning, for Dom was accounted a master card player over half of Europe. Very few people would play against him, and that is why he had ventured the proposition.

Elijah preserved a calm demeanour, but it was far from what he was feeling inside. His nerves were at a stretch, but Dominic, he noticed, seem to be as calm as a Midsummer morning.

It seemed to Elijah that he had made a good beginning. Dominic smiled at him, and his heart was insensibly warmed by the sight of it.

Dominic, watching Elijah carefully from the other side of the table, was not sure what he felt. His conscience wanted Elijah to win - to be free of the debt that was hanging around in the man's neck, choking the life out of him. But in his heart he wanted Elijah to lose. He knew instinctively that once the debt was cancelled he would not see Elijah again except at formal gatherings where intimate conversation would be impossible. And he could not bear it. If this was what he had to do to get Elijah to himself for a few days, he would do it.

He hardened his heart, therefore, and began to play in earnest.

Dom let Elijah win the first hand, because he did not wish Elijah to think he had been duped into playing a game which he had no chance of winning. It was, however, true. Dom could see without the slightest effort on his part, Elijah's strategy. He was good - but not great. Dom was the better player by far. He would toy with Elijah a little - disconcert him. Dom knew he must must win.

Elijah laid his cards on the table with a hopeful smile, which grew as Dom showed his cards to his opponent. Elijah had won.

"Well done!" Dom grinned, with a tone in his voice that Elijah could only call patronising. Elijah did not like the tone or the grin. He sat stiffly in the chair and dealt the next hand - best of three, Dom had said. If he - Elijah - won this hand, it was all over.

Dom knew that he had given Elijah all the leeway he could. He had hardly needed to think as the first hand was played. But from now on, things would be different. He sat straighter in his chair and gave his mind to what he was doing. He won the second hand easily, and now was dealing for the final, deciding game.

His will almost crumbled when he saw Elijah's smile fade. From then on Dominic had to keep his wits about him so that he would win by a very small margin, to allow his opponent some dignity in defeat. It was not easy - Elijah was a good card player - but not a great one. Not like Dominic.

Dom kept his eyes on the cards from then on, unwilling to see the expressions on Elijah's face. He had some thought at the beginning of prolonging the game, but now decided that the quicker it was over the better it would be for both of them.

Elijah's hand trembled as he held the cards, and Dominic could bear it no longer. He laid his cards face up on the table and Elijah knew it was all over.

*****

Elijah sat back in his chair hardly able to breathe. He had lost - not by a great margin - but he had lost, nonetheless.

A glass was pressed gently into his hand. "You need have no fear that I will coerce you unduly. I am, after all, a gentleman... no, as someone pointed out to me quite recently, a nobleman. You need not fear me - but you must do as I demand."

Elijah's smile was tremulous. "I do not fear you, Dominic - but only myself. I will do as you ask as long as it is in my power to do so. As long as it...I am sorry, I can make no stipulations. You have bought me for a price, and I must accede to your wishes. What is it you wish me to do?"

"Do you speak French?" was Dom's unexpected question.

Elijah stared at him, puzzled, and answered in perfect French -. " Certainly I do! What gentleman would admit to not speaking French? Else he would not be considered a gentleman, I assure you.”

Dominic rose from his chair and paced about the room. "I will send you instructions when I have decided what my course will be. Probably within the next sennight. I hope it will not inconvenience you to follow my instructions."

Elijah thought carefully. There were no engagements looming within the next few weeks, the season not having started. He was perfectly at liberty to do as he pleased.

"There is nothing, my Lord... Dominic...that will interfere with your plans. Send for me when you will, I will be ready. Now, if you will excuse me, I must go. I have an appointment for this evening."

They bowed gracefully to each other, and Elijah left the Pulteney, his brain seething with conjecture. He was more than a little fearful of what was to come to him. What does he want of me? Will he...?

Elijah's mind closed on the thought that Dominic might command him to his bed.

***********


Elijah returned to his house in a state of suppressed excitement. If it had not been for the fact that the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire were dining with his mother and he had promised to be present, he would have taken a walk in the Park to settle his tangled thoughts.

It would be true to remark that Elijah was apprehensive concerning what Dominic had planned for him, but his overwhelming emotion at this time was excitement. He had realised within himself that he was more than a little attracted to Lord Monaghan, and he had seen from the look in Dom's eyes that the feeling was reciprocated.

He was not at all sure of the extent of his own feelings, but knew only that he was looking forward to the adventure that was going to be presented to him.

He decided on a long, lingering bath before dressing for dinner. He hoped that this would calm his heart a little, as it was bounding in his chest like a trapped thing trying to escape.

Slade, sponging his master's back, wondered what on earth had excited the little man to such a degree. But as it was not his place to enquire, he merely continued with his task. If the Duke wished to volunteer any information he would do so in his own time.

Nothing, however, was forthcoming. As Elijah tied his cravat in the intricate Osbaldeston, Slade ventured to remark how very well his Grace was looking that evening. He received a shy smile and a deprecating comment in return. His Lordship was unused to thinking about his appearance, Slade knew this. That he was a very handsome man was not a subject that exercised the Duke's mind. He had no thought of it, which made him even more appealing.

The evening passed well. The Devonshires were entertaining guests, and knew, from long experience, how to keep Georgiana's conversation in check. They would not allow her to spoil the excellent dinner by moaning about her lot.

His Grace of Devonshire complimented Elijah on the way his cook had with a roast Davenport fowl, and Elijah sent a message to the kitchens informing that individual of the Duke's pleasure.

"If ever you were willing to dispense with his services, Elijah, I would gladly take him. I declare I have never tasted such a dish!" remarked his Grace, and Elijah smiled, secretly remembering - and preferring - Ned's plain roasted chickens.

The next few days were agony for Elijah, waiting like a condemned man for his summons. Over a week had passed, and nothing had come from Lord Monaghan. He decided nothing would be gained by refining too much on the delay. No doubt Dom had plans to make. He would wait - he had no choice.

It was during this time that several things happened to cause an amount of conjecture within the Duke's household, which was a thing that had never before happened. The Duke's behaviour had never excited the slightest comment from his staff, until now.

The Duke was reading the morning paper in his study when Whitney, the butler, begged a few words with the Duke.

"Mrs Roberts, her Grace's woman, is greatly upset, your Grace, and begs a few words with you whilst her Grace is not by."

Elijah raised his eyebrows but nodded his assent. The servants were not within his aegis - not even the upper servants. James or Whitney dealt with all these matters. He wondered what might have occurred that both men had seen fit to allow the woman to approach him.

His mother's woman was a tall, elegant female in her mid forties, who had been with her mistress since she married, and who was devoted to her. She stood before the Duke now, a worried expression on her face, twisting her hands as she stood in front of his desk. Whitney retired to stand discreetly against the wall, so that the woman would feel free to speak.

Elijah, noticing her discomfort, rose from his seat and set a chair for her and one for himself opposite her, so that the desk did not intervene between them.

She relaxed slightly as she sat. "I would not be bothering your Grace about this, except that I know her Grace is mistaken in the matter, for I was there all the time the girl was in the room. And it is an injustice, and I cannot countenance it, your Grace, come to me what may."

Elijah spoke comfortingly and quietly, and eventually came to understand what the woman was trying to say.

His mother had accused the girl who came up to light the bedroom fires in the morning of stealing a valuable brooch from her dressing table whilst she slept. Her Grace had gone as far as to have viciously beaten the girl with a hairbrush, determined to get the truth from her.

"But Alice could not have done it, your Grace, for as I said, I was in the room, laying out her Grace's morning apparel, and I knew the girl went nowhere near the dressing table. It must be her Grace has mislaid the brooch, or lost it when she was abroad - but she will not have it. I have tried to tell her, but it is of no use. She has declared that she will beat the girl every day until she divulges where it is. Can your Grace not doing something? The girl is innocent."

Elijah stood, bringing an end to the interview. "Have the girl sent to me, Whitney, if you please. Mrs Roberts, I beg you will forget about the matter, for I can assure you that the girl will not be beaten further, nor accused falsely."

Elijah was appalled at the condition of the girl when she arrived with Whitney. She had bruises on her face, and was clearly terrified. When Elijah gently asked her if she took the brooch, she said, "no, your Grace, I did not," very quietly, but firmly. Elijah believed her.

"Do not concern yourself about it any longer, er... Alice. And I shall give orders that you need not enter her Grace's rooms again. Someone else will be found to attend to those fires." Elijah nodded at Whitney, who bowed his understanding.

When the girl had gone, Elijah thoughtfully rubbed his chin. "See that she is only given light duties until she has recovered somewhat. She has taken quite a beating and should not be hauling coals upstairs as things are. And, Whitney, tell the kitchen to feed her up a bit. The girl is far too thin to be in good health."

Elijah decided to see whether any of his friends would be at White's for luncheon, and smiled at Whitney as he opened the front door for him. It was a fine morning and Elijah stepped out into the sunlight only to be stopped dead in his tracks by something falling onto his hat.

Whitney gasped in dismay, and snatched the offending article from the Duke's head.
He half expected the Duke to be annoyed, but he laughed when he saw what his butler held. It was a chamois leather. The Duke looked up.

The window cleaner stood on his ladder frozen in horror. Never before had it happened that he had dropped his cloth. He began to climb down, stammering his apologies, but Elijah stopped him.

"Don't come down, man - there is no harm done. And it is a fine morning for cleaning windows. Here!" he said, as he took the chamois from Whitney's nerveless hand and threw it back up to the man.

The man stared at the Duke in astonishment, and was even more amazed when Elijah reached into his pocket and tossed a guinea up to him.

"Thank 'ee, your hon...um...sir!" the man managed in a breathless voice, and after Elijah had gone, the man slowly descended his ladder, and stood on the front doorstep and leaned against the wall, shaking.

Never before had one of the gentry even pretended to noticed his existence. And here was a swell gentry cove a-giving of a yellow boy to him, the likes of which he had never held in his hand before.

Both he and Whitney stared at the gold coin in the man's hand. Whitney was the first to recover.

"Make sure you don't waste that drinking with your friends, my good man. His Grace has been most generous. See that you buy your family something useful with it."

The man looked at Whitney and smiled. "Aye, I will. So that were the Duke, were it? He was smaller than I thought a Duke to be, but that was very kind of 'im - very kind indeed."

Whitney, remembering his position, sternly bade the man get on with his work, and the man climbed the ladder again, storing up for his family and friends the kind words that a real Duke had spoken to him that day.

*****

Later, James and Whitney spoke together about the happenings of the day. "Whatever do you think caused his Grace to take up cudgels in such a way? I have never known him show the slightest interest in any servant before this, George, and that's a fact."

George Whitney, drinking the Duke's second-best port with the Duke's secretary in the upper servants’ sitting room, was equally puzzled.

"If I didn't know better, Mr James, I'd say he was in love - that's usually the reason for a man softening towards his fellow creatures. But, as far as I know, there is no woman in his eye, unless that story about him and Lady Congleton is true, after all. It's a puzzle, because he is glowing, if you understand me, and the ...er...affection one has for a Peculiar isn't the same love a man feels when forming a lasting attachment for the woman he is to marry, is it? So what is it that has caused such a change in him, if it is not love?"

"And as for tossing the window cleaner a guinea, Mr James - I have never known anyone do such a thing! Such men should be beneath the notice of one so highly born. Of course they are necessary evils, like rat catchers and coal heavers - but one doesn't talk with them. At least..."

He shook his head. No doubt the story would get about, but the Duke had enough credit to survive it. And he would see that no other such persons would have any hope of such largesse being thrown to them from the doorstep.

The men drank another glass of port, and, deeming the matter of the Duke's behaviour to be an everlasting mystery, promptly forgot the subject.

****

That evening, Elijah had a painful interview with his mother, during which he stated unequivocally that if it came to his attention that she had given any order that ran contrary to his direction that servants should not be beaten without his express permission - or, if she infringed any other order he had given to his household - he would require her to remove to the Dower house without delay.

"I cannot believe, ma'am, that it adds to your consequence, or, indeed, to your reputation for it to be generally known that you beat your servants with your own hand. I would be obliged if, in future, when you are assured necessary discipline should be meted out, that you will inform me of it. It presents a very ill picture, very ill indeed, that you should personally mete out such punishments. I cannot countenance such behaviour in my house - I will not countenance it.”

He then reached into his pocket, and handed her the brooch. "I ordered a thorough search, ma'am, and this was found under a cushion in the blue salon. I beg you will keep it more safely in future, as it is one of the pieces that will come to my wife when I marry, for I see that it is part of grandmama Wood's diamond and sapphire set, and, being an entailed piece, does not form part of your personal property. I shall be extremely displeased if I discovered that any other items of entailed jewellery are missing through your...carelessness."

Stunned by the forceful manner in which Elijah uttered his comments, and the dreadful fear of having to manage a household out of her own jealously hoarded income, she meekly apologised and said she would do as he desired in all things.

Flushed with the success of having defeated this dragon, he went to his rooms to dress for a ride in the Park. The success he had had in taking a high hand with one member of his household, however, did not extend to Slade.

Elijah had chosen to wear a dark green riding coat, but the brown waistcoat he had selected to match it had Slade pursing his lips and shaking his head.

"Your Grace will not wish to wear this waistcoat. Everyone would stigmatise you for a dowd, my Lord. It would certainly be remarked upon, and I have my reputation to think of if you should be observed abroad wearing such a garment. This light dove grey silk is much better."

Elijah grinned, and put on the dove silk. He was about to don his riding cloak and hat when Whitney tapped at the door.

"Your Grace said you should be handed immediately any mail that was marked private. There is a letter..."

Elijah snatched the letter off the silver tray, and thrust it into his pocket. Bidding Slade carry his outer clothing into the entrance hall, he went downstairs as quickly as he dared and into the library, where he opened the letter with fingers that were not quite steady.


Dear Elijah,

I wish you to take the seven o'clock stage leaving the Blue Boar in Cheapside on Thursday morning. Purchase a ticket to Bristol, I will meet you along the way.
Have your man pack your riding gear and other such items as you think you may require.
Come alone - No servants will be needed.

Yours, Dominic.


Yours, Dominic Elijah liked the sound of that. Yours...


He placed the letter in the pocket over his heart, and rode around the Park hardly noticing the people who waved to him. Poodle Byng - his white dog marvelously clipped and groomed sitting in the carriage beside him - was forced to rack his brain to see if he could discover in what way he had upset the Duke, as the man had given him the cut direct.

*****

On Thursday morning, before his servants had risen, Elijah was climbing into a Hackney a few doors down from his house, having left two letters informing his household that he would be away for some days.

One was to his mother, and one was to James, informing him that he had taken twenty pounds from the money box in the study drawer and had not marked it in the Book. He did not say he did not know where the Book was kept - he felt he ought to have known. He would discover it when he returned.

He had also written a short note to Barney telling him he had been called away and asking him to advise his friends he would be out of town for a period. He wanted no such conjecture on his whereabouts such as his last absence had caused.


Elijah did not know where he was going, or whether he would have to find his own way home. But he had forty pounds in his pocket book - that should be sufficient to get him home from any point in the country.

Dominic's directions had been very vague, after all, but Elijah admitted to himself that it did invest the whole enterprise with a greater sense of adventure.

He had never before been in a stagecoach, which was crowded that morning, and he was forced to sit between a man holding a duck in a basket on his lap, and a fat woman eating apples and cheese off a sharp-looking knife. Elijah was surprised she did not cut herself with it.

However, he found his company amusing, and if they were not sure of what quality he was, he did impress them as being a gentleman.

"There's a fastener out after him, if I'm not mistaken," the coach driver said to a farmer who got on at the third stop, and who had stood for some moments with his mouth open, staring at Elijah's beautifully cut clothing and immaculate boots. "Debt, I'll be bound."

The farmer shook his head, and said the lad was no more escaping a summons than he was. " I expect it's one of those things the nobs do now and then when they gets bored - slumming it to see what it's like to live in the real world."

Elijah, standing in the inn yard finishing a hasty cup of coffee and enjoying a piece of toast, was blissfully unaware of his fellow travellers' scrutiny, or their conjectures upon his journey

*****

Several hours passed and he was just beginning to be bored with the everlasting countryside, for all the other passengers but one man, who was asleep, had alighted at the previous stop. He had spent a pleasant half-hour dreaming of what he and Dominic might do during this escapade - some of which thoughts brought a blush to his cheek - when at a bend in the road he saw a carriage waiting, and a man in dark green livery waving for the coach to stop.

When the coachman - grumbling mightily that he would be late - had done so, the man came to the door and opened it.

"Please sir, his Lor...Mr Marlow asks if you would do him the honour of accompanying him for the rest of the journey in his carriage." The man bowed low as Elijah assented, and as the Duke walked over to the carriage he could hear the man holding a spirited conversation with the driver concerning whose task it was to retrieve the passenger's luggage.

This tricky point having been settled, the man ran past Elijah to open the carriage door. Dom had not got out, and as the Duke entered, apologised for it, smiling.

"I thought it was better that we were not seen together, Elijah. I pray you will excuse me for not to getting out to receive you."

Elijah entered the carriage and sat opposite Dom. "It makes no matter, Dom. I am hardly the Duke of Stanford, here. I have chosen to call myself Mr Retford again, as I became quite used to the name during our previous adventure."

Dom indicated that the carriage should move off, and grinned. "Do you think this will be an adventure, too? I hope you will find it so."

Elijah took the risk of putting his feet up on the opposite seat. Long hours in the coach had made his legs a trifle stiff. He hoped Dominic would not mind. He did not seem to, at any rate.

If Elijah owned to the truth, he was now more than a little nervous. He did not know where he was going, and had promised to obey this man in all things. The idea of an adventure had been very exciting, wreathing about nebulously in his head, but now he was actually here, in Dominic's company, he was worried. It must have shown in his face.

"You have no need to fear me, I can assure you. I will not demand that you do anything that runs counter to your own inclinations, I promise you." Dom's eyes sparkled as he looked at Elijah, and Elijah could see in them a softening of expression. He believed what Dominic had said to him was true, and he relaxed into the comfortable padding of the carriage.

Dom nodded slightly as he saw some of the tension draining from his companion. "I hope you will believe me when I say this for I earnestly desire that you will enjoy this time with me. I think you will like what I have in store for us, Elijah. We will be there in a few more minutes. Would you care for a drop of brandy?" Dom reached into his inner pocket and brought out a small flask.

"I can assure your Grace that it has paid tax at every port!"

This made Elijah smile, but he refused the drink. He did not say he had refused the brandy because he was still very wary of what was in store for him, and wished to have a clear head.

He did not know whether to be happy that the debt was now forgiven, or frightened at what Dom was going to ask of him. He had promised to do to do what Dom demanded. What madness possessed him to do this? He shook his head, trying to clear it.

Elijah was still nervous. He knew one thing only, that he was still in thrall to Dominic - he had merely changed one servitude for another. He was bound to him, now, whatever happened. But here, in this place, with Dom, he could finally be himself. He was not hedged around by proprieties or social mores - he could be just Mr Retford of Nowhere-In-Particular. The Duke of Stanford had been relegated to a small room in the attic of his mind - and Elijah was determined to enjoy every minute of his freedom.

The carriage drew up, and the steps were let down. "I hope you will find the accommodations to your taste, er...Lij. She is held to be a very comfortable craft."

Elijah, climbing down the steps, stared in amazement at the scene before him. The carriage had driven into a small cove with a pathway running along the top and then down into the sand.

Out in the bay there was moored a large yawl, and a boat was being rowed from it to the beach.

Elijah turned to Dom, surprise written large on his features. "Where...?"

Dom smiled, his eyes twinkling, and put his hand on Elijah's shoulder.

"We're not going far, my friend. We are sailing to one of my estates in Ireland."

Elijah looked out to sea, his eyes shining.
He had never before been on such a vessel - it would be such an adventure!




Glossary

Chamois - leather cloth made out of the skin of the chamois, used for cleaning glass

Guinea - A coin worth one pound and one shilling. The pound had not as yet, been circulated.

Gentry-cove - gentleman

Yellow Boy - a guinea or the later pound coin.

Peculiar - kept woman

Dower House - house to which a widow retired after her husband's death.

Entail - Any property, designated as an entail, that was passed on after the household head's death, to his successor. As Elijah was not married, his mother kept the jewels until he should wed. Unentailed property - as directed in the will of the deceased person, in this case. Elijah's father - remained with the original holder.

Dowd - plainly, boringly dresssed person

Cut Direct - To totally ignore someone who is trying to attract one's attention.

Fastener - summons for arrest

Yawl - a vessel somewhat larger than a yacht.

Comments

[janejanejane.livejournal.com]

Sorry, dear friend, but I only just got around to reading this last night in bed before settling down to sleep.

Another great chapter, I really enjoyed it as always! I love your style and fascinating storyline and I'm so looking forward to reading of their adventure in the Emerald Isle :)

Thanks so much for posting and a very happy and healthier 2007 to you!
*BIG hugs*

[ismenin.livejournal.com]

BIIIIG hugs to you aswellalso! xxx

[janejanejane.livejournal.com]

Hi Issi! Glad you managed to make it on to your computer ;)

It was good to talk and I do hope you feel up to writing a bit more this weekend. Btw, Chris enjoyed the South African group...

*more BIG hugses*
xxx