The Belle Dames Club (11 page)

‘William, my dear. This is such a surprise!’ Clarissa hurried forward, hands outstretched towards her brother. ‘But it is too bad of you, why did you not send word that you were coming, and we would have been here to meet you?’

Lord Wyckenham bent to place a chaste kiss upon her
expectant
cheek. He was a tall, spare gentleman, some ten years older than Clarissa. His dark colouring was the sum total of the likeness between brother and sister. His demeanour was
serious
and he had developed a manner that he liked to call
statesmanlike
, but which his sister thought pompous. However, she was fond of her brother and she embraced him in an impetuous fashion that made him wince.

‘Good evening, Clarissa. I hope I do not need to wait for an invitation to visit my own house?’

‘Of course not, but we would not have gone out, had we known you were coming, and Mama-Nell would have given orders for your rooms to be prepared. As it is, she is gone now to speak to Mrs Simmons and will join us after. While we wait, William, will you not sit down, or perhaps you would like me to order you supper?’

‘Thank you but no, on both counts. I have been travelling since dawn and stopped to dine on the road.’ He exhaled and said repressively, ‘I have come directly from Bath.’

Clarissa’s eyes twinkled.

‘That is as I would expect, Brother, since you wrote to tell us
you were going there a week ago. Is your business complete now?’

‘No, but I was obliged to postpone it following the alarming reports I have received.’

‘My dear William, is Mr Pitt’s government about to fall? Does that mean you will not be assured of a place in the next
cabinet
?’

‘Clarissa, I do wish you would not treat everything with such levity, it is most unbecoming. The reports concern Lady Wyckenham.’

‘Mama-Nell?’ Clarissa’s immediate thought was that Lord Ullenwood had published the damning letters, but common sense told her it could not be so.

‘Yes. I have been most shocked by what I heard in Bath.’

She sat down and folded her hands in her lap, saying cautiously, ‘And what have you heard, Brother?’

For a long moment he looked down at her, frowning, until Clarissa said with a touch of impatience, ‘My dear William, I am three and twenty, I am no longer a child. If you are
wondering
whether your revelations will shock me, you may be easy.’

His frown deepened and he began to pace the carpet, his hands clasped behind his back.

‘There are rumours,’ he said, ‘that our stepmother has started a club – a clandestine group – exclusively for females.
The Belles Dames Club.
’ His mouth twisted in distaste.

‘Indeed? And how comes it that you have heard of it, William, if it is so secret?’

‘Things have a way of becoming known, Sister. If members of this club do not speak of it you may be sure their servants will talk. Of course, it is unlikely that you know anything of this matter, but you may have seen some of its members here – I understand Mrs Flooke and her sister attend regularly, as does Viscountess Gaunt and Lady Sarah Matlock. All married women. They have nothing in common with you, my dear.’

Clarissa felt her temper rising at his complaisant tone.

‘It so happens that I
do
know of this, William. I am a member.’

He stopped pacing to stare at her, open-mouthed.

‘Do you mean to tell me that – that our stepmother has drawn you into her nefarious activities?’

‘There is nothing nefarious about it: we meet for our own amusement, that’s all.’

‘Amusement!’ Two spots of colour burned on his cheeks. ‘It is all over Bath that Mama-in-law has turned her house into a gaming hell.’

‘Oh, William, how like you to listen to tittle-tattle and give it credence! It is nothing of the sort. You refine too much upon it.’

‘Oh do I? Well, Sis, do you know what they are calling this club? Not the Belles Dames Club, I can tell you! No, it’s the Bedlam Club, which is not at all the same thing!’

‘No, it is mere mischief-making. I assure you, William, it is all very innocent.’ Clarissa crossed her fingers in the folds of her gown.

‘Well, I cannot like it, Sister, and so I shall tell Mama-Nell. And if she persists in this nonsense then I shall send you off to live with your Aunt Fanny in Deal.’

Clarissa stared at him, horrified. Lady Wyckenham’s musical voice broke the tense silence.

‘William, my love, I am sorry I have been so long, but your trunks had been taken to the guest room, you know, and I have had everything moved to the Blue room. After all, it was your father’s bedchamber and yours now, by right.’ She came forward as she spoke, holding out her hands to him. As he bent to kiss her fingers, the look she gave Clarissa over his head was brimful of merriment.

Lord Wyckenham straightened and said stiffly, ‘Thank you, madam. I shall not be staying many nights.’

‘But this is very sudden, my dear.’ Lady Wyckenham sank down on to a sofa and disposed her skirts about her. ‘From your
last letter I made sure you would be in Bath at least until June.’

‘And I should be there now, madam, if I had not been so disturbed by the reports I have received.’

‘Oh dear,’ my lady was all sympathy. ‘How tiresome for you.’

‘It is indeed, ma’am, and worrying, too, since these reports concern you.’

She fixed him with her limpid blue eyes.

‘Me? My dear William, what on earth have I to do with anything?’

As he fought to control his indignation, Clarissa said gently, ‘William has heard of the Belles Dames Club, Mama-Nell.’

‘Oh is that all?’ exclaimed Lady Wyckenham, her brow
clearing
.

‘No, ma’am, that is not all,’ snapped William. ‘The tales that reached me have been of a most shocking nature.’

‘You have been listening to gossip, William. Never advisable, and Bath is the very worst place for it. I think it is because there are so many sick people there, with nothing better to do.’

Lord Wyckenham strode up to the sofa and stood, towering over his stepmother.

‘Do you deny, madam, that you have formed this – this club?’

‘No, William, of course not.’

‘And that your members meet here, in secret?’

She smiled up at him.

‘Well, we did wish to be discreet, but it can hardly be a secret, my love, if you learned of it in Bath.’

He drew a breath and made a visible effort to speak calmly.

‘Mama-Nell, it will not do! This club is the
on-dit
of the moment – the most scandalous stories abound, and now Clarissa tells me that you have made her a party to it all.’

‘She is a grown woman, and I could not very well exclude her, but I do not see the need for you to post all the way from Bath, my love, on the strength of these rumours. If you had written to me I should have been happy to enlighten you.’

‘I do not wish to be enlightened, madam. I came here to tell you that these meetings must stop. I will not have the family name so – so
besmirched
.’

Lady Wyckenham laughed.

‘William, I hardly think my little meetings will dishonour the family name. I am disappointed that you are so ready to believe everything you hear of me.’

‘Very well, madam: explain to me about your club. What is your reason for it?’

‘Education,’ she replied promptly.

He regarded her suspiciously.

‘And what of these rumours of the gambling hell you have set up in my house?’

Lady Wyckenham smiled.

‘My dear boy, do you really think I would do such a thing? Search the house if you wish; better still, you shall come with us tomorrow night, and see just how scandalous the Belles Dames Club really is. We are off to Holborn.’

‘Holborn!’

‘Yes, to attend a lecture given by Mr Sharp on the abolition of slavery.’

‘Sharp, you say? Granville Sharp? He is one of the Clapham Saints – Evangelical Anglicans,’ he added, observing Clarissa’s blank look.

‘You know more of the speaker than we do, Brother.’

‘Yes, well, I cannot see that there is anything reprehensible about such a lecture, apart from the location.’

‘Which is why we shall be very glad of your escort, William.’ My lady rose. ‘Now, it is late and you must be wishing for your bed, so we will leave you. Come, Clarissa.’

She sailed from the room and Clarissa followed her. As they mounted the stairs my lady allowed a sigh to escape her.

‘It was inevitable that the word would get about, but it is very unfortunate that William has learned of it so soon. Oh, why could he not stay snug at home in Devon? Bath has always
been a hot-bed for scandal and rumour.’

‘I fear he is very much shocked, Mama-Nell. He has threatened to send me off to Deal to live with my aunt.’

Lady Wyckenham chuckled at that.

‘Poor William has never liked my influence on you, my love. We can only hope that the sobriety of tomorrow night’s meeting will convince him that I am a worthy guardian for you.’

‘Pho, madam, let him think what he will. I am of age, and free to make my own decisions.’

‘Of course you are, Clarissa. Nevertheless, we must be more circumspect while your brother is in town.’ She giggled. ‘It could have been worse, however. Think of his shock if he had met Fleet-fingered Poll here!’

The Wyckenham carriage came to a halt in Eagle Street and Lord Wyckenham looked out dubiously at the Golden Lion Tavern.

‘The meeting is above here?’

‘Yes, I believe it is,’ said Lady Wyckenham.

The footman let down the steps and they descended to the road. There was no crossing sweeper and they were obliged to pick their way through the rubbish to the entrance. As they reached the doorway a second carriage drew up. Lady Gaunt’s footman, Grantham, jumped out and let down the steps then stood back, straightening his waistcoat and looking very smug: Clarissa tried not to think about what had been going on in that closed carriage.

Lady Wyckenham had spent the morning scribbling notes to
all the ladies, warning them of the addition to their party, so Lady Gaunt showed no surprise at finding Lord Wyckenham waiting for her.

With little ceremony they made their way upstairs to find the rest of the Belles Dames Club had already arrived. Lady Gaunt drew Clarissa away as the ladies took a moment to greet Lord Wyckenham.

‘Well,’ she mused, ‘at least our sober dress must meet with his approval.’

Clarissa lifted her fan to hide her smile.

‘It could not have been more fortuitous.’

She glanced around her. The room was a large one, and had once been a handsome apartment, but the paintwork was badly faded and there was a distinct smell of dust and stale beer. Wooden benches and chairs had been placed in rows across the floor while on a raised dais at one end of the room stood a table and several more chairs. Two scholarly-looking gentlemen were standing by the table: Clarissa guessed that one of them would be the speaker, Granville Sharp. The room was filling up and a sudden flurry of activity heralded the entrance of Sir Gordon Medway’s party.

Clarissa watched them enter, Sir Gordon with his wife on his arm while his daughter was escorted by Lord Alresford. Sir Gordon made his way towards the dais, obviously well acquainted with the speaker. Lord Alresford looked about him as the pleasantries were exchanged. His eyes alighted on Clarissa, she smiled and was rewarded by a small bow in her direction. He did not smile, but she was well enough acquainted with him to note the softening of his countenance as he looked at her: she was sure he was glad to see her there and she was unaccountably warmed by the knowledge. Any social discourse had to wait, for one of the gentlemen was calling the meeting to order. Lord Wyckenham and the ladies of the Belles Dames Club chose seats at the back of the room, but there was no shortage of chairs and by the time the meeting started the
room was little more than half full. Most were soberly dressed and looked to be traders or clergymen. Apart from Lady Medway and her daughter, the Belles Dames Club were the only ladies present. Lady Gaunt’s footman, Grantham, remained by the door, declining to sit in the presence of his mistress, even in such a liberal gathering.

Clarissa gave her attention to the speaker, Granville Sharp. He was a thin-faced man of about fifty years of age who spoke eloquently on the legal rights of the slaves, their iniquitous treatment on board the slave ships and the growing number of former slaves in London who had fought for the British during the American War. From a large trunk on the table he produced iron handcuffs, leg-shackles and thumb screws which were used to subdue the slaves during their journey across the Atlantic. Even from a distance Clarissa could not suppress a shudder at the images he conjured for his audience. Concluding his talk, he indicated the pile of pamphlets by the door, asking everyone to take one, read it, pass it on. He urged them to join his society for effecting the abolition of the African slave trade.

As the audience politely applauded him at the end of the speech, Clarissa leaned closer to her brother.  

‘This is a cause worthy of your support, William.’  

‘Perhaps, perhaps.’  

People were leaving, filing out of the door and talking in subdued tones as they went. Lord Wyckenham left his party and made his way to the dais to talk to Granville Sharp. Clarissa followed the other ladies towards the door. Their progress was necessarily slow for the ladies were eager to discuss all they had heard. She saw Lord Alresford making his way towards her until they were separated by no more than a row of chairs.  

‘I hope you found the evening enlightening, Miss Wyckenham?’  

‘Yes, my lord, and disturbing. No one could listen to such a
speaker and fail to be moved. You are a supporter of the cause, sir?’

‘Very much so. I was bringing papers from Cambridge to Mr Sharp when we first met.’

Clarissa looked up, surprised that he should mention an event that she considered so particularly their own. Miss Medway’s appearance at his side seemed an unwelcome
intrusion
.

‘Lord Alresford has been one of Mr Sharp’s staunchest allies, has he not, Mama? Long before it became
fashionable
to support the cause of abolition.’

Clarissa let the barb pass. She saw her brother was looking at her and beckoned him to join her, a hint of mischief in her voice as she begged to be allowed to present him to Lady Medway.

‘It was Miss Medway who encouraged us to come along this evening,’ she added.

Lord Wyckenham bowed.

‘Indeed? Then I am most grateful, Miss Medway. It was a most instructive evening: I don’t know when I have heard a more engaging speaker on this subject….’

Clarissa moved away to join her stepmother.

‘My dear, what are you about to make William known to that woman and her daughter?’ hissed Lady Wyckenham.

‘I know, it was very bad of me, but I thought they deserved each other.’ Clarissa glanced back to the little group where William was talking earnestly to Miss Medway while Sir Gordon, Lady Medway and Lord Alresford stood at a distance. ‘I love my brother dearly, but I find his lecturing very tiresome and thought it a good idea that someone else should have their share: if Miss Medway isn’t yawning behind her hand by now then I will admire her fortitude!’

‘Clarissa, how can you be so cruel?’ retorted Lady Wyckenham, trying not to laugh. Everyone else had gone, and they waited for William to finish his conversation. At last he
came over and made their way downstairs together. The
landlord
was waiting at the door for them. He tugged his forelock and addressed William.

‘All the others are gone, my lord, savin’ your own party and Sir Gordon’s. You’d best wait in here until your carriage is at the door. There’s a crowd outside that’s got wind o’ the meeting and they’re ready for mischief. They won’t come too close, but you’d be better to stay indoors.’

William looked alarmed, but Sir Gordon stepped forward.

‘It’s what we’ve come to expect,’ he said. ‘The ignorant and uneducated do not realize that we are working for the good.’

‘I think it more likely they are incited by those who are not so ignorant,’ remarked Lord Alresford. ‘The slave-traders have no wish to see Mr Sharp’s cause succeed.’

‘You mean, they pay people to disrupt the meetings?’ said Clarissa.

‘Aye, Miss Wyckenham, frequently,’ said Sir Gordon. ‘You will not have noticed, but we had a couple of the landlord’s lads keeping watch on the entrance this evening, to make sure no hecklers came in, but we cannot stop them gathering on the street.’ He looked up. ‘Ah, here’s the carriage now. My dear … Florence, be ready.’

Sir Gordon’s coachman brought the carriage as close as he could to the door. Lady Medway took her husband’s arm and hurried out of the inn. Immediately the shouting and jeering increased. Lord Alresford took Miss Medway’s arm, but, as they moved towards the inn door, William stepped forward.

‘With your permission, madam, I will come with you to your carriage: you will feel safer with a gentleman on either side of you.’

‘William, where are you going?’ cried Lady Wyckenham.

Clarissa squeezed her arm. ‘He is only seeing Miss Medway safely to her carriage, Mama-Nell.’

As they watched, Lord Alresford followed Miss Medway into the coach and William slammed the door shut. He ducked away
as a clod of earth flew past his head, but to Clarissa’s relief no one came near enough to accost him.

‘The landlord’s men must be keeping them at a distance,’ she muttered, as much to herself as to her stepmother.

William shouted to the coachman to drive on. Almost
immediately
the Wyckenham carriage took its place. The footman leapt down and opened the door and it was the work of a few moments for William and the landlord to escort the two ladies to the coach. William jumped in, slamming the door behind him and seconds later they heard the thud of something hitting the side of the carriage. Through the window they could see a small crowd of men and boys in the road, but although their jeers were menacing but they did not attempt to approach. Clarissa found herself holding her breath until the carriage was moving along Eagle Street at a smart pace.

‘Thank goodness they are hurling nothing more damaging than earth,’ said Lord Wyckenham, taking off his hat to
examine
it.

‘Well,’ remarked Lady Wyckenham, directing a quizzical gaze towards him, ‘I hope you are satisfied, William: that was by far the most dangerous meeting yet of the Belles Dames Club!’