Death of a Fop (Bow Street Consultant series Book 1) (8 page)

“Gawd Mr Armitage you do have your uses” murmured Fowler as he served Caleb “That ruddy girl will be the death of me straight up she will.”

So Mr Fowler had the tones of London beneath his carefully cultivated nob voice, thought Caleb. Well if he can do it, so can I.

“Comes of being in the army… I was a sergeant” he breathed back.

“Mr Armitage! If you’d only let me know earlier you were respectable I shouldn’t have taken snuff at you” said Fowler and straightened up to move on to get the next dish.

Caleb gave a silent whistle. That top-lofty footman had unbent seemingly! Well as an ally he was easier to take than as an undeclared enemy. And he was loyal enough to Mrs Churchill; and Molly the tweenie had told him that it was because Mr Fowler had been sent by the Mistress to pawn her
own
necklace – not the family one – to pay the wages of all the servants before the master got plumper in the pockets because Molly had overheard it with her own ears while she was cleaning under the table. Fowler knew where he was well off.

Caleb resolved to tell him that the Master was involved in something that might bring the mistress a reward; without going into unnecessary detail he could get the immobile-faced servant as an even closer ally for Mrs Churchill’s sake.

“So what
does
happen if I’m in the family way?” persisted Dolly when she and Jane withdrew, leaving Caleb looking dubiously at the bottle of port.

“Well I should think that it would be best for you and the child if I adopt him or her to grow up with Frances” said Jane “Of course if it is a boy he would not inherit; illegitimates are barred from inheritance, though I should think if I have any rights over my husband’s estates I could make a fair provision. And you shall then be an aunt; will that suit you?”

Dolly looked wistful.

“It wouldn’t be no life for a nipper wiv no da wivout a swell ma like you” she said. “Couldn’t we make like you ‘as a posthumous child?”

Jane looked startled.

“I – I do not know if I could carry off the imposture” she said. “Besides, I cannot be certain that I do
not
have a posthumous child; Frank continued to enjoy marital relations with me.”

Dolly shuddered.

“That don’t sound too friendly” she said.

“Frank disliked me having a child” Jane decided not to go into detail “And it meant that we were not…..friendly.”

The jeering remarks about the changes childbearing had wrought upon her body –
his
child conceived in, at the time, love for
him
. His comments about udders because she wanted to feed Frances for herself……. His jealousy because she would leave him in the night to feed the baby. His insistence on marital rights before her body had recovered enough to make it anything but painful; and continued exertion of those rights on her regularly; her revenge to lie passive and unresponsive. Oh her revenge had been petty; but then Frank made her feel petty. She had always been the one who had to give; somehow to make him take was a bittersweet revenge.

“I ain’t a gentleman to be drinking Mrs Churchill’s port” said Caleb to Fowler “But sit down a moment; I want to tell you somethink”.

“It will only spoil if it isn’t drunk” said Fowler pouring Caleb a glass full. “Maybe just this once I’ll join you; it’s a shame to waste a fine port.”

He poured himself a modest measure and recapped the decanter. Caleb nodded in approval. This was no man tippling when the master’s back was turned but a genuine appreciation of the wine and a desire not to see it go to waste. The liquor smelled rich and expensive; and Caleb told himself to be careful with a drink that was likely to be somewhat stronger than the heavy wets he was used to. The similarity in name between the malted porter he was used to and this fortified wine was a coincidence and the effects of the two should never be confused – or the unwary drinker of port would be the one to become confused!

“It’s like this” said Caleb “Mr Churchill was into something havy-cavy as I expect you have surmised.”

“Well if you ask me, and since it’s the mistress who pays my wages now, he was a dashed loose screw” said Fowler “And I don’t need military language to explain it! Bless the lady, she has no need to take on his Cyprian!”

“The girl was attacked by the ruffians who killed him thinking that she knew what they couldn’t get out of him” said Caleb “Which is how I come to be staying here, account of worrying that they might turn up to torture Mrs Churchill, or the babby to make her talk.”

“You don’t say!” Fowler was deeply shocked and actually showed it in a spasm of emotion across his wooden face. “Well then Mr Armitage, I’ll fettle Mr Churchill’s pistol then and sleep with that aside me just in case!” said he grimly. “Pretty deep stuff he was in then?”

“I think deeper than he realised; which was how come he did something to annoy them; and I don’t
know
nothin’ so I shan’t be whiddling the scrap to you right now” said Caleb. “But if it leads to catching some other precious villains, there’s a reward in it for missus; which means she’ll be able to feel that she can keep on the house and her servants and you my lad as secure as her.”

“Well I hope you manage that, Mr Armitage…. Lawks but you do manage that hussy well!”

“Oh I think she’ll be amenable to you dropping her a hint too, Mr Fowler; especially if I put it to her that she’s to listen to you. Give her a burst of the
old
tongue if you know what I mean.”

Fowler flushed.

“It took me long enough to lose it” he said.

“Oh but a wise man knows ‘ow to be bilingual” said Caleb “I learned some swell-cove words in the army and how to pick up me aitches most of the time; but I’d be no end grateful if you’d give me a few tips” he added artfully. A few tips would be useful; and so would consolidating his position as an ally to Fowler by letting the man feel that he could show Caleb a thing or two.

“It’s all in the accent” said Fowler “See when I started learning – teaching – myself I started of talking with a round pebble in my mouth to make me mince my words out. Getting the grammar right – that’s just book learning that you can do in a library. But the voice now; that’s the hard bit. Different vowels.”

“You don’t say!” said Caleb “Well I call that downright ingenious I do. Here, put that decanter out of the way, lad, before it looks too tempting-like back at us both.”

“You’re right” said Fowler, moving the decanter firmly onto the tray and standing up. “Well, Mr Armitage, time for me to ask Maggie Ketch to put on water to boil for you and the….Mistress and her guest. Thank you kindly for letting me know what’s what. And an army man is always respectable; my brother was in the army.”

With which pronouncement he swept out as silent footed and majestic as usual.

Caleb went through to join the women and found Frances had been brought down. She crawled over to him and took a hold of his boot. Caleb stooped and picked her up without thinking, and threw her up.

For a moment her lower lip wobbled ominously; then she decided that she had liked the experience and gave a gurgle of delight. Caleb threw her up again so that she was giggling and gave her firmly back to young Annie who was watching him in some trepidation.

“Have you children of your own, Mr Armitage?” asked Jane, a wistful look on her face.

“No ma’am; a few nieces and nephews. Never married” said Caleb.

“You look as though you are quite natural with babies” said Jane “I cannot imagine Frank doing that.”

She did not mention – she did not have to, for Caleb could guess – that Frank had never even held his daughter. It had been irresponsible of him to pick the baby up; why with no contact with her father any man might have terrified her! But small Frances seemed to have her mother’s courage not her father’s cowardice.

Caleb smiled shyly at Jane.

“She is a bonny baby,” he said, “and you must be so happy that she is so healthy!”

“I am” said Jane “I do not know how I would bear it if anything happened to her!”

“I am sure she will be glad of such a devoted mother” said Caleb.

Whatever it took, whatever it cost, he swore to himself he would never let these faceless villains take Fanny and even threaten to hurt her. Had it occurred to Mrs Churchill that they might do so? He hoped not; that extra sick fear she could well do without. But on the other hand.....on the other hand, Mrs Churchill was a very level headed woman and if she were prepared for any such act she would be perhaps ready to take precautions.

“Mrs Churchill,” said Caleb, “it might be wise not to let Fanny go to the park for a while.”

The grey eyes dilated in terror. Then Jane nodded.

“Certainly Mr Armitage” she said. “An ounce of precaution is worth a ton of cure.”

Caleb gave a silent whistle. She was worth a score of such as her late fool of a husband!

When Jane arose in the morning it was to have a note handed to her by Fowler.

“Mr Armitage had to go out” said Fowler. “He said the note explained.”

“Why thank you Fowler” said Jane. “Then I shall spend the morning writing the characters for the servants we shall not be keeping; they may work out their month but I shall not keep them if they find another situation before the time is up if they may start immediately. Tell me, is there anything positive I may say of Juliet?”

Fowler considered.

“She is honest,” he said, “and clean in her own person if not too scrupulous about those portions of the house that do not show; Mrs Ketch has had occasion to speak to her about dusting the tops of doors and cornices.”

“Ah well, honesty is a virtue” said Jane. “Thank you Fowler.”

She took herself into the book room to peruse Caleb’s letter and to write.

The letter ran,
“Dear Mrs
Churchill,
I have gone to find out what I may of Dutchmen in
London. It is my belief that if we may find the identity of Mr Churchill’s accommodating friend we may be much closer to the puzzle. I have not forgotten the disposal of your horse but I feel this is more important as you have already fodder in the mews. I do not know how long I shall be gone; Mrs Ketch has kindly agreed to keep me a bowl of stew and some bread so I beg you do not await nuncheon for my presence.

Your obedient servant,
Caleb Armitage.”

“He is such a thoughtful man” murmured Jane.

Jane had finished writing the characters for Juliet, Emerson and Palmer and took them down to the servants’ quarters to hand them over personally.

She had learned from Mrs Campbell that having the mistress arrive suddenly in the servants’ hall was a good way to keep servants on their toes; and a little judicious and unladylike eavesdropping before walking in often highlighted any problems in the household. As Mrs Campbell had said, a military wife learned the tricks her husband had learned as a junior officer to help maintain discipline in the ranks, and nothing destroyed discipline like discontentment.

Jane tripped lightly down the stairs to the basement and listened accordingly; the door to the servants’ hall being pushed to but not shut.

The talk was of Mr Armitage.

Fowler was holding forth.

“If you ask me he’s a bleedin’ gent, whatever his birth might be; learned it military fashion. And he’s devoted to the mistress’ interests. Wouldn’t mind betting he’s half sweet on her. And gawd help us he can keep that fancy piece in order! Not that she’s as loud and brazen as I was afeared she might be mind” he added.

“Ar, you’m a fair man, Mr Fowler” said Mrs Ketch “Pore little body, I took her up her supper account she retired early and she said I reminded her of her ma; she’s hem cut up about the master’s death.”

There was a giggle from Juliet.

“Well he knew how to kiss a girl” she said. “Any girl he paid attention to would miss him.”

An awful silence ensued.

“You my girl are no better than you ought to be” said Mrs Ketch majestically.

“And a disruptive influence and a bad example to young Molly here” said Fowler. “It’s just as well you are getting your marching orders. Oh, don’t look so worried; the mistress asked if there was anything positive she might say about you. It’s my belief she don’t miss nothing; and she knew about you making eyes at the master.”

Jane, feeling slightly giddy, wished she did not know now; but a reputation for omniscience with the servants was always good.

She withdrew and made something of a noise descending the stairs a second time.

The servants all rose respectfully as a body as she walked in and she smiled kindly.

“You all know that I shall be cutting down my household” she said “Fowler will have explained to you that I do not need so many servants; Palmer, I shall be selling the horse, and I hope you will stay until I have done so even if you get a position rapidly. Here are your characters; which of course you are at liberty to read. I should consider it improper to seal them. And may I offer, Juliet, a word of advice; making obvious overtures to the master or a son of the house is going to be your fastest way to fail to keep a position. Otherwise I wish you, as I wish Palmer and Emerson, the best of luck in finding good new situations.”

The three who were to leave murmured thanks and took their written characters with becoming humility; though Juliet concealed impudent anger.

Jane lingered long enough outside the door when she left to hear Fowler say “Told you so you scheming hussy!”

She had to consider the implication of something else Fowler had said; that Mr Armitage might be, in his idiom, sweet on her. Well, Fowler had been incorrect in his summation that she had known about Juliet flirting with Frank; so it was entirely likely that he should be incorrect in this also.

It was a little unfortunate that her reiteration of her own supposed omniscience also boosted Fowler’s reputation as an oracle; but something that she, and Mr Armitage, would have to live with.

Jane was sitting in the Parlour trying to read – she felt very unsettled – when a carriage pulled up outside. She glanced out and gasped.