The Wicked Baron by Karen Blayne

Oh by the way red tape first.

© Karen Blayne 2019.    All copies must be of the complete document.    

Be warned these short stories contain mature content or naughty bits and as such may corrupt you if you’re under 12, 16, 18, 21 or 25 depending where you live thus if they are not suitable for you put them back on the shelf and let them age for a year or two.

They were sort of scribbled for fun. They were first posted on asstr.org. If you’ve paid money for this book just be aware the author has not received any payment. In fact no one has permission to charge money for this book and copyright is retained by the author.  Asstr.org accepts donations if you’re feeling rich or even if you’re not.

Luv Karen  

Jane stood near her parents outside the church gossiping with her friends when she heard the words “I’m sure Jane would suit.  She looks after her younger siblings after all.”  She turned to see the vicar conversing with the lady of the manor.  “Jane come here.”  She stepped across and curtsied to her ladyship.   Five year old Mary’s smiling face looked up at her as she grasped her mother’s hand.  “Well Mary?”  “She’s nice.  I like her.”  “Come up and see the housekeeper this afternoon.”   “Yes my lady.”  Jane curtsied again.  The vicar spoke “I’ll just step across and see your parents.”

“Well you’ll have food in your belly and we don’t want to offend the big house.”  “You mean there’s no choice?”  “Not for the likes of us I’m afraid and it is a step up in the world.”  Twelve year old Jane resigned herself.  She’d had thoughts about marrying Steven when she reached sixteen.  That would have given her status and a home even if it was a cottage.  Now it was doubtful if she’d ever marry.  No followers allowed was the rule in most households.

“Your responsibility will be Mary and you’ll sleep in the nursery suite so you’re on hand during the night if needed.”  She was led up to the nursery suite and shown her room.  A room all of her own and no one to share with.  She liked this idea.

Mary was already dressed “Can we go out and play?”  Jane looked at the housekeeper who nodded so Jane took Mary’s hand and let her lead the way to the gardens where they could play together.

Sam, the head groom, approached “We have a new pony for Mary to ride.”  Jane took Mary’s hand.  “Shall we go and see your new pony?”  Mary nodded solemnly and together they walked to the stables.

“New then Miss Mary let’s have you up on in the saddle.”  “He’s big?”  “He’s not that big.”  “I’m frightened.”  “There’s nothing to be afraid of.  Would you like Jane to show you how safe it is?”  Mary nodded.  “Joe bring out Daffodil with a side-saddle.  Jane had been a passive spectator until then and her thoughts when Daffodil was led out was exactly the same as Mary’s.  The head groom saw her hesitation, “Up you go then Mary will feel safe and follow you.”  She gave him a reproachful look and wondered why she had no control in her life but he lifted her into the saddle anyway.  

Mary looked up at her and was reassured. If Jane could do this then she would as well.  They were both led round the yard and gradually first Jane then Mary relaxed.  “Right that’s enough for the first time.  I’ll see the pair of you back tomorrow morning.”

Two weeks later the stables were short handed.  “Daffodil has taught more riders to ride than you’ve had hot dinners.  You’re responsible and can ride well enough so you can take her out on a ride round the estate.”  Mary and Jane set off together and after than well there was no point in tying up a groom when Jane could ride.

A few months later a governess arrived.  “Why do I need to learn to read and write?  Jane can’t and she’s grown up.”  Miss Tulk questioned Jane.  “Can you read and write?”  “No Miss.”  She admitted.  “Sit down then and you can learn with Mary.”  The housekeeper was amused when she heard the story still if Jane could read and write she could check her books for mistakes.  It seemed like a good plan and if it kept Mary happy so be it.

“Now I have some of the very latest vaccine.  Enough for half dozen people and I've found in the past that if a family member is vaccinated first then servants are more accepting.”  The butler hurried out of the room.  “Perhaps you could inoculate my daughter and some of the servants?”  A footman slipped away.  Harry was about to follow him but was caught short.  “Harry bring Mary down.”

Harry quickly mounted the stairs to the nursery.   “Mary is wanted in the drawing room.  The doctor is looking to inoculate half a dozen people.”  The governess looked to Jane.  “Could you take her down.  I still have tomorrow's lessons to prepare.”  Jane had a sense of impeding doom, especially as Harry slipped off rather than accompany them downstairs.

Downstairs all the servants had disappeared.  The butler had an inspiration.  The steward and a few grooms should do nicely.

“Now there is nothing to be afraid of little girl.”  Mary looked at him and then at Jane.  “Shall I go first?”  Mary smiled.  Jane took a seat and had her arm bared.  She tried to be brave as the needle pierced the skin.  Mary held her hand.  Then it was Mary's turn and Jane held her hand.

The steward watched from the door.  He had a bad feeling about this.  Still he could hardly refuse after Jane and Mary had suffered the procedure.  The first groom fainted at the sight of the needle.  Mary walked across to him and gently squeezed his hand.  “Be brave.”  She whispered.  Mary held the hands of the other grooms to reassure them as they underwent the procedure.

Soon the outside staff had been done and there was no vaccine left.  “Now let me know if there are any problems.”  “You mean it might not be safe?” Blurted out the steward.  “It is safe most of the time but we aren't absolutely certain.”

Jane hurried Mary back upstairs.  “My arm hurts.”  “Never mind you were braver than Joe.”  Mary wrinkled her nose.  “I was wasn't I but he's only a boy.”

“I'm having difficulty with my ledgers.”  “Well you could ask Jane to do them.  She checks mine over.  I'll send her along shall I?”

Jane found herself in front of the steward.  “It'll cost you.”  “How much?”   “You'll take on Martin as a paid apprentice.”  The steward thought about it.  He’d heard that fourteen year old Martin was clever.  “You need those books doing and your eyesight isn't getting any better.”  She held her breath was she asking for too much for her friend.

“Send him along to see me.”  Jane let her breath out.  “ Thank you.”

That afternoon Jane took Mary to visit some of the tenants.  They carried a basket with a few things for the older tenants supplied by the cook.  “Why do we visit the tenants?”  “When you’re the lady of the manor you should visit them to see they aren’t in need.  They are your responsibility.”  “Mother doesn’t.”  “No but she has someone else do it for her.”  “All right.”  Mary said in acceptance. The first two cottages were elderly folks who were given pots of jam and a bag of flour each.  Then they reached Martin’s home and Jane took a deep breath in as they approached.

“Jane how nice to see you and this is Lady Mary?”  “Hello.”  Chirped up Mary.  “Well the kettle’s on so sit theeself down.  Now why are you here?”   “We’re visiting the tenants.”  Said Mary importantly.  Jane pulled out a toy from her basket.  “Why don’t you go give this toy to Susan then you can both play in the garden.”  Mary took the toy and carried it out to Susan who was about her own age.  “Now then what are you really here for.”  “Is Martin and his dad about?”  “I’ll give them a call.”  Martin’s mother went to the door and called loudly.   Martin returned with his dad who demanded “What’s going on then?”  “If Martin presents himself at the steward’s office tomorrow morning he’ll be apprenticed as a steward.”  “I don’t think we can afford the fee.”  “It’ll be free and he’ll be paid.”  Martin looked up “Why?”  “He owes me a favour.”  “Blackmail? I’m not sure I want to be party to blackmail.”  “If you must know he’s having difficulty doing the books as his eyesight isn’t as good as it used to be and since I already look over the housekeeper’s books I’m to do his as well but the price is you get a paid apprenticeship.”  “Looks like you’ve just become an apprentice lad.”  “Why me?”  “Well I didn’t want to do them for free and the first thing that came into my mind was you could do it.”  “Don’t you worry about the small holding, I’m not so old that I can’t work it myself and I can always hire a bit of help from Tommy.”

Mary asked questions about the cottagers’ life when they left and asked Miss Tulk what could they do to help.  She said she’d noticed some children didn’t say very much but she enjoyed visiting them and could they go again. Miss Tulk was never one to miss a learning opportunity and asked Jane what she thought.  “Well the poorest ones don’t get enough to eat which means the children suffer but you can’t give them food as they’re proud and have been known to resent charity.  Some go to Mrs. Notley for advice.”  “She’s the officer’s widow with two small children isn’t she?”  “And probably not much money.  Shall we go and visit her and see what she thinks?”

Martin started work as an apprentice steward the next day.  The baron thought about querying the expense but decided against it having read in the paper the previous week that training staff paid for itself in increased yields.

“Now lad since you’re here you’ll earn your keep by improving yields.  So visit the surrounding area and see what crops are grown where and which breeds of sheep and cattle they’re using and how they are doing.  Then we’ll draw up a plan for the estate and see what we can do.  We might not be Thomas Coke but we should be able to do a bit better.  Whilst I think about it look at the ploughs we use some old ones need more horses or oxen to pull them through the soil than others so we ought to buy a few new ones.”

Martin was kept busy.  Market day he spent inspecting the cattle and sheep for sale.  The steward pointed out the good points of various cattle and sheep and gradually the steward let him select the stock to buy.  He was taught to watch how some workers were more productive than others so to look at how they worked.  Sometimes Martin would work alongside them to learn the techniques so he could pass them along.  For as one or two said they weren’t much good at explaining things nor at supervising but they were happy for Martin to do that part.

Miss Tulk handed Mrs. Notley’s maid a small packet of tea as they passed through the door.

“Well my view has always been you can’t expect hard work out of a man who doesn’t have enough food and it’s the same for the children although often the children go hungry so the man can be fed to bring in his pay.”  “And I expect his wife doesn’t get enough food either.” added Miss Tulk.  Jane added her mite “I’ve noticed that the poorest are more often sick than the other villagers.”  “Could we give everyone money for food?”  “I wonder how much it would really cost by the time we had less sickness and we got more work out of the workers.”  “You’d have to give it directly to the wives so it didn’t get spent on beer.”  Said Jane on a practical note.  “Well it’s all very well discussing these things but nothing will change.”  “I’ll see my dad.”

Mrs. Notley watched them leave and turned to her maid.  “I hope they don’t come too often.  I can’t afford the tea.”  She said worriedly.  Her maid smiled “Miss Tulk left a small packet, enough to last us a month.”  “We’ll let them come again then.”

“Dad I want the children on the estate to have an allowance.”  The baron looked down his nose the books were in good shape.  “Why?”  “Then the workers could work harder and the children wouldn’t get so sick.”  The baron liked the idea of harder working workers.  “I suppose you’ll want a school for them next?”  “Sam says the grooms who can read and write make fewer mistakes.”  The Baron’s hunters were the centre of his life.  “Right see the steward and tell him my say so.”

Mary went to tell Jane what her dad had said.  Jane was shocked but not one to let grass grow under her feet and together they sort out the steward and gave him the news.  “Martin sort this lot out!”

Martin was easy to deal with and in all in favour although he wasn’t sure where to start.  They took him along to visit Mrs. Notley once more with Miss Tulk.  “So you see Mrs. Notley I’ve access to money to pay for it all but I’ve no idea how to do it all.”  “He’s approved paying for a school?”  “I told him that Sam says his grooms who can read and write make fewer mistakes.”  “And his hunters are the love of his life.”  Mrs. Notley smiled.  “So we need to start a school and pay an allowance to families on the estate.”  “So where would I come in?”  “Well you live on the estate and if you accepted the allowance then the others wouldn’t think it was charity.”  Mrs. Notley blinked.  “You mean it would be paid to everyone not just those who were the poorest.”  “And if you explained to the mothers when you took it round on say Tuesday that you were accepting it as well it would go down better.”  “Why Tuesday?  And how would I explain it?”  “Mary’s experiment.  She’ll have to write a report saying what impact it has.”  Jane laughed at the expression on Mary’s face.  “You didn’t tell me that before.”  “You’ve asked your dad now so you have to do it.”  Martin smiled.  “Think of the good it will do.”  “Tuesday because the workers get paid on Friday so by Tuesday the money has gone.”

Mrs. Notley got organised and the school was set up based on the village hall.  One of her widowed friends was called upon to teach and Miss Tulk looked out some of the children’s books that Mary had grown out of.  As Mrs. Notley did her rounds she talked to the young mothers about the importance of having a two sided conversation with their children early on.  As one said to the other “Well I didn’t like to say it was all a lot of nonsense to her face her being gentry and all and with the extra allowance we get I had a bit more time to spend with them.  I don’t know if it made any difference or not as I’m sure any child of Henry’s must be ever so clever anyway but our Nigel picks things up much faster than his cousins ever did.  I suggest you try it with yours.  It can’t do no harm after all.”

“Jane since you're looking after the steward's books as well as mine  I’ve given you an increase in wages to reflect the increased responsibility. I've  also decided to appoint an assistant for you and she'll look after your rooms and Miss Tulk's room as well.  Can you train one of your sisters?”  Well Sally was nearly old enough and she’d be able to keep an eye on her.   Sally looked round in awe.  “You mean we both get a room to ourselves?”  “But you have to keep it tidy.”  “I can manage that.”

“It's harvest time soon and we need wagon drivers so we'll teach you and Mary to drive the farm wagons.”  If Jane had though Daffodil was big the shires were enormous but very gentle.  Mary wasn’t so sure about guiding the large wagon into the yard through the gates but one of the grooms taught her to jump down and lead the horses in on foot.  She thought that was a good idea.

Mary’s cousins came to visit.  Algernon would one day inherit the entailed estate if Mary didn’t gain a brother.  The housekeeper was less than impressed when she saw Algernon’s wife inspect the furniture by running a white glove along the surface then inspecting it for dust.  Algernon himself seemed uninterested in learning about the estate but seemed more interested in what everyone thought of the cut of his latest coat.  All in all the visit was not a resounding success as far as below stairs was concerned.  Mary wasn’t happy about being inspected and looked down upon as if she was a dowd.

“So Fenton tell me again how bad the heir is.”  “I’ve brought up a few thousand of his vowels for sixpence in the pound.”  “Bloody hell.”  “Is there truly no way we can stop him ruining the estate?”  “You could put your leg over Ann she’s willing enough and if she fell get married?”  The baron started to laugh then he ended up coughing.  “At my time of life.  I think not.  I’ve seen children before with fathers old enough to be a grandfather.  They never seem quite as healthy as the others.  Besides I’d like them to have some intelligence and with Ann as a mother I’ll say no more.  Now tell me more about this canal scheme.  I’ve a mind to build it myself rather than cut any middlemen in by forming a company.”  “The risk is greater.”  “But so are the rewards and since it isn’t part of the entail my nephew won’t get his hands on it which makes it even more attractive.”

Mary was good at spotting small things that might make the cottagers life easier and Martin was often roped into explain what could be best done with the funds available.  Somehow though he managed to make sure that many of Mary’s requests were seen to.

Sally kept an eye on Mary in the evenings whilst Jane would read out loud the latest instalment from one of her ladyship’s books after dinner to the servants gathered in the servant’s hall.  Her ladyship’s dresser borrowed them for her for as she said her eyesight wasn’t getting any better and Jane had a good clear reading voice.

The baron was passing the door on his way to see the butler to fetch a new bottle of claret when he recognised Jane’s voice reading out loud.  The next day he enquired of the housekeeper if Jane could read.  “Well yes and she knows her sums.  She checks my books before I present them to her ladyship and does the books for your steward.”  “So she’s intelligent then?”  “Yes I suppose so.  She takes lessons with Mary which Mary seems to like and she takes Mary out on her pony.”  “Responsible as well?”  “Well yes or the head groom wouldn’t let Mary go off without her.  Not that they go far mind.”

He wondered down to the stables.  “Jed what can you tell me about Jane then?”  “What has she been up to?”  “Nothing as far as I know but I hear she and Mary go riding together.  A bit unusual for a maid isn’t it?”  “I forget she is, sometimes they’re more like two sisters than anything else.  No I put her up on Daffodil to reassure Mary on her first time on her pony but she’s come on quite well.  The pair of them drove a wagon each last harvest and they’re both good with the cattle.  Gentle with them if you know what I mean.”  “Has she driven a curricle or a dog cart?”  “No but I think she could.”  “Teach the pair of them then.  You never know when it might be useful.”

The baron peered at the ledgers.  “Your handwriting has improved since last year and I notice the yields have increased.”  “It’s all that bloody Jane’s fault.”  “What she done now?”  “Well my eyesight isn’t as good as it used to be so I talked it over with the housekeeper and she suggested Jane could do my books.”  “So I spoke to her and her price was taking young Martin on as an apprentice, which of course meant explaining things to him and answering his questions.  I think he’s questioned just about everything we do.  Still talking it through has meant I’ve looked at a few things that I’d thought about in the past but hadn’t got round to doing so I gave him the job of implementing them to him.  He’s not doing bad I’ll say that much for him.”  “What about this allowance we’re paying is that expensive?”  “It seems to pay for itself.  There seems to be less sickness, the workers are more confident and working more productively but its early days yet.”

Mrs. Notley and her friend who was now school teacher often took tea together.  The teacher mentioned that the younger children from the estate seemed to advance more than the younger ones from the rest of the village.  “I’ve been slipping those who only had a bit of bread for lunch an lump of cheese as you suggested and it seems to make a difference to how much they can absorb after lunch.”

Over time Mary grew more self confident and the relationship between her and Jane changed subtly as Jane and Miss Tulk gave Mary more choices about what was to be done and how to get things done.  The countess worried that Mary’s needlework was non-existent as was her piano playing but on the other hand she did seem to understand much more about the practical side of running the estate.  Still it was time that both she and Miss Tulk she dined with the family so that Mary would learn how to dress and deport herself.  Both Jane and Sally were instructed by her ladyship’s maid on how to care for Mary’s new formal clothes and how to dress her hair.

“So how is it going?”  “Well the manager thinks it’s all going smoothly and will be completed within time and budget.  Although he did say they are very slightly behind.”  “But I hear in your voice.”  “I spoke to the foreman.  He’s never seen a job this big yet be completed within time and budget.”  “We budgeted twenty percent for things going wrong.”  “I think the manager is counting on that.  The foreman thinks it’ll go over budget by fifty percent.”  “The manager’s pay is a basic salary plus a bonus for completion on time and budget?”  “The foreman says all that means is the manager urges the workers to take short cuts and they’ll have more accidents. By the way I had the foreman’s daughter audit the paperwork.”  “And?”  “It’s not pretty.  Some of the prices paid are a little high.”  “The plans are all drawn up so sack the manager since he’s behind and have the foreman run it all.  Get him a clerk to see to all the paperwork and see if he’ll get some of the workers to accept part payment in shares.”  “That’s what the foreman suggested but I didn’t know if you were comfortable with his daughter as a female clerk.”  “As long as she does the job and Fenton she gets paid the same as a man doing the job would.”  “Is that wise?”  “She’ll want to prove she’s as good as a man doing the job for the same pay so we’ll get good work out of her.  Go and sack the manager for being behind schedule.”

Mary was given the job of organising a dinner party at the age of fourteen.   “So how many guests?”  Demanded Miss Tulk in her element.  “And how will you seat them?”  What food is in season and what can you provide your guests with that they couldn’t get easily at home?  Have you talked to the cook? Have you spoken to the gardener with the date so he can see what flowers he can produce?”  “Can’t I just tell the housekeeper to do it all?”  “And have all the neighbours look down their noses at you?  Get a slate out and get planning.”  “It all seemed so effortless when mother does it.”  “It takes a great deal of effort to make things appear effortless.”  Mary put her tongue out.  Still her mother was pleased with her efforts and how she had managed to accommodate all her varied guests.

The first signs of a smallpox outbreak was amongst the children at school.  It hit the poorer children from the village estate first, the estate children weren’t quite so badly affected but gradually it spread.  It was a recurring problem amongst the poorer children.  The last outbreak had been six years previously.  A letter was sent to the doctor who had done the inoculations and the manor waited to see who would go down next.  Jane insisted both Mary and Sally stay in the nursery and that she would deliver their food which she prepared with her own hands apart from the bread she took directly from the oven once it was cooked.  Contact with the outside world was kept to a minimum.  Both Sally and Mary complained about the lack of variety in the food but only to each other.  Neither wanted to offend Jane in anyway.  Even so some of the indoor staff became stricken.  Jane kept herself away from those who were sick and waited on the Baron and his wife as the other servants became too ill to work.  Finally the Baron fell sick and his wife insisted on nursing him personally.  Jane delivered food on a tray which she left outside the nursery and removed the chamber pots that Sally put out.  The grooms seemed unaffected and it was they who carried in the coffins and placed the dead in them as people died.

The doctor finally arrived and wanted to know if anyone who had been inoculated had caught the fever.  He seemed much more interested in the fact that children from the estate had lower rates of infection than those poorer children from the village than in providing a cure for those who were sick.  Not only that but he grew positively excited once he realised that the estate children had a lower death rate than the others.  He bled the baron and his wife when they showed symptoms but despite his best efforts they both died and in turn were carried off to the village church.

“So much we don’t know.”  He remarked “Now I wonder where they got their water from?” and he went round trying to find the factors that might have affected the rate of infection and death.  He was pleased that no one who had been inoculated had caught the disease.  “Some of the other servants I’ve inoculated before seemed to get ill after I inoculated them but I’m glad to hear my experiment here worked.”

Once the doctor had declared the danger of infection was over the first thing that Mary did was to take her mare out riding.  Jane just crawled to bed exhausted.  The household gradually recovered.  The housekeeper grew stronger, but the butler had been carried off as had Harry.

The lawyer came up from London to read the will.  He dealt with the servants first who left the room leaving Mary, and Jane.  “Everything just as it should be.  Mary you have three guardians any of which may approve your marriage.  You will have sufficient funds to live on for the moment.  If you need more then you must apply to myself.”  He named a sum that seemed extremely generous to Mary to live on.  “You’ll need to spend money on a wardrobe for the season and I’ve allowed you enough for three seasons in that amount.  Additionally you have a respectable dowry but we can talk about that when you marry.”

“Fenton what use is a canal that is a furlong and a lock short.  It’s worthless.  We’ll have to raise the money somehow.  Sell the horses and all the livestock.  Keep a few sheep and pigs back for meat for us but the rest goes.  I know we’ll not get much for them but with the money we’d set aside for seeds and repairs to the estate it’s just about enough to finish the canal otherwise I lose everything.  You’d best let the servants know they won’t get paid for another year and the food will be short as well.  I’ll write them references if they want them and I promise to pay them their back pay even if they leave eventually.”  “We could sell the wine cellar? The squire has made enquires.”  The baron shook his head. “Damn upstart, still if it raises a few quid so be it.  I’ll just have to get used to drinking beer.  Do what you must.”  Fenton nodded and withdrew.

“Well what would you like to do?”  “I don’t want to remain here.  I’ve met my cousin and his wife and I don’t think I’ll enjoy living with them.”  “Well being in mourning you can’t do a season for a year.”  “No but we could go and live with my Great Aunt in London I’m sure she won’t mind.”  “Should we write first?”  “My cousin is expected shortly I think we should just take the mail down to London.”  “We could hire a post-chaise?”  “The problem would be my dresses.”  “Martin might have an idea?”  They walked down to the steward’s office where Martin was sat going through the books.

“Martin we’re thinking to going to Mary’s Great Aunt in London but how do we get Mary’s dresses there?”  “Just visiting?”  “No I don’t fancy living with my cousins when they move in.”  “Well the will gave you the pick of the stables.  You could take them all with you.”  “They must be worth hundreds of pounds.”  Sam walked in on them.  “You’ll need me along if you’re thinking of taking them all.  Be easy enough to take two carts of fodder and your dresses as well.  I could have it all arranged by this afternoon and we could be on our way.”  “Could I come too?  I’ve learnt a lot about being a steward but I’ll be waiting for dead men’s shoes here.  It’s time to look for another post.”

An hour and a half later two farm wagons harnessed up with three pairs of farm horses each pulled away from the estate.  Sally dashed out from the house and threw a bag of her belongings onto the second wagon that Jane was driving and clambered up besides her.  “I hope you weren’t thinking of leaving me behind!” Mary led the procession.  Sam and Martin both were each leading half a dozen hunters on a string.  Mrs. Notley waved goodbye to them as they passed.

The first night they stopped at a large posting house with plenty of stabling for the horses.  The food was good but not quite up to the standard that Mary was used to.

They stopped at a small inn the second night.  The horses were let loose in a nearby farmer’s field and given feed from the farmer.  The three girls were given two rooms but Martin and Sam ended up over the stables.

After the girls had retired Sam and Martin sat in the bar supping a glass of ale watching the everlasting game of dominoes.  “Any chance of a steward’s job around here?”  “Well the baron’s steward left last year so the estate needs one.  The house is a mile east down the lane that cuts off at the cross roads.”  Sam and Martin exchanged looks.  “It wouldn’t hurt to enquire lad.”  They had another glass of ale before retiring.

“Are you sure he said a mile and east not west?”  “Country miles can be longer.”  They came up to a rundown cottage and asked the way.  A small bare foot child took her thumb out of her mouth and pointed up the lane before returning it back to her mouth.

A little further along they noticed the big house built of honey coloured stone as they came past a stand of horse chestnuts trees which impressed Sally.  The estate had an air of neglect about it. As they drove their wagons round to the stabling they were surprised when no grooms appeared.  Martin dismounted and approaching the back door knocked firmly.  Fenton opened the door and peered out.  “I don’t believe we are buying hunters or other horses at the moment.”

“We heard you haven’t a steward at the moment so I came to offer my services.”  “Unfortunately there are no funds to pay you nor funds for seed etc. this year.  Even the staff haven’t been paid in a year.”  “Why?”  Demanded Mary.  Fenton stepped back and opened the door into the kitchen recognising quality in Mary’s voice and dress.  “The baron has tied up all his funds in building a canal.  Quite simply there is nothing left.  I’m sorry you’ve had a wasted journey but I can offer you some refreshment before you continue your journey.”  He stepped across to put the kettle on.  Sally slipped by determined to seek out the wicked baron and confront him.  She peeped in each room until she found him then slid into the room and sat herself down in his lap.  She squinted at him and asked “Are you really the wicked Baron?”  “Why are you asking?”  “Well I wouldn’t want to waste my time if you were someone else.”   

“What makes you think I’m wicked?”  “Well let me see, your staff haven’t been paid in a year, you’ve no horses in the stables, you’ve no steward and no plans to plant any crops this year so your people will most likely starve and on top of which you’re fondling my breast and only a really wicked baron would do that.”  “The problem is I have no money at the moment.  My canal should start to pay next year but at the moment there is a furlong left to dig and one lock to build so all my money is tied up.”  “So we use Miss Mary’s money to pay to get the estate working again and Martin gets a job as steward?”  “Why would she do that?”  “She’s in mourning so can’t do anything much for a year and she likes Martin.  You can pay her back after the harvest and at least your workers would have some coin in their pocket.”  She kissed him on the lips “See simple. I’ll tell Miss Mary you’ve invited her to stay for the year and Martin that he has a job shall I?”  The baron squeezed her breast gently and gave her a kiss.  “Seeing as you’re staying as well go and offer them my invitation to stay and tell Fenton my say so.”  Sally skipped out the door.  “We’re staying and Martin has a job but he’ll need some of Miss Mary’s money to get the estate working once more.”  Mary worried about the absence of a suitable chaperon.

They held a council of war round the kitchen table.  “First off I’d like to say the baron does not look healthy to me.” “He’s been under considerable pressure over the last few years.  The estate is entailed and his current heir is his nephew who he fears will run the estate into the ground.  His nephew gambles and his vowels are practically worthless.  We think he’s in the hands of the percenters so he decided to build a canal and that wouldn’t be part of the entail.”  “Good for him although he really is a wicked baron for trying to cut out his heir.”  Murmured Sally to herself. “So even though the loan agreement is in writing it would be better if the baron himself was alive at harvest time?”  “Good food and a few pretty faces might help.”  Sally decided there and then to do her best to give the baron a reason to continue living.

“Well Fenton what do we need for the house?”  “I’m the only servant left so a few more will do no harm.”  Jane went with him to look over the house and see what was the most urgent.  She found the baron in the library and thought he didn’t look at all healthy.  Still there were good bedrooms even if they needed dusting.  The linen cupboard looked full as well.  “Are any old servants nearby?”  “No they’ve all left and found work elsewhere.  The baron gave them all good references.”  “What about cooks or chefs?”  “Ones who are looking for work?”  “I’m not particular but the baron needs good food in him and Miss Mary is used to a high standard.”  “The vicar’s eldest daughter can cook but it would be a step down going into service for her.”  “Point me to her.”  Jane drove her wagon down to the vicarage.

“Let me get this straight you want me to train someone to be a cook?”  “Yes and can you think of anyone suitable?  We’ll find you accommodation at the manor and provide you with your own maid.”  “I’d need a chaperon.”  “Miss Mary is there and you could chaperon each other unless you have another suggestion.”  “My sister Modesty is getting to an age when she no longer needs a governess?”  “Sounds perfect.  When could you move in?  This afternoon?”  Nancy rose up, “We’ll go and find Miss Bragg and see what she says.”  “So how long would the arrangement be?”  “At least a year.”  “And you wouldn’t be far away.”  “Do you like the idea of training someone to cook?”  “I think I rather do.  At least it saves me from being a governess.  Oh dear I could have put that more tactfully.”  “I been very happy here but I agree Modesty is getting to an age when she no longer needs a governess and your father will be glad not to have to pay both our keeps so yes I’m happy to do so.  I’ll have to ask your father’s permission first.  Will we take Molly?”  “Well I have been teaching her how to cook.”  “She’s the cook’s assistant.”  Miss Bragg replied to Janes’ querying look.

The vicar peered over his glasses at the group assembled in front of his desk.  “Let me get this straight.  Miss Mary has money and is prepared to bankroll the estate to get it back on its feet and Martin whoever he is will be the new steward?”  Jane curtsied her agreement.  “Well my dear it means we might even get more tithes in so I can hardly stand in your way.  In all honesty Miss Bragg I must confess with the tithes we have last year my pocket is severely under pressure and much as I hate to see you leave I fear it is inevitable one way or another and it will relieve the poor to have a little coin in their pocket.  Are you quite sure you want to do this?”  His eldest daughter nodded.  “Then I’ll not stand in your way.”

“So how much will it all cost?”  “I think we should concentrate on the crop side.  Improving the cattle and sheep will take longer to pay off but improving the crops will give us a pay back by harvest time.”  “If you are thinking of the workers don't forget there are shepherds and cattlemen and with the their dogs that you don't want to lose in the longer term.”  

“So we go for crops first but buy a few cattle and sheep to give the workers something to do?”   “Looking over the books the harvest generally brought in six thousand pounds so my recommendation would be to stay under that amount.”  Miss Mary looked to Jane, “Do we have that much?”  “Well if we sell a few hunters we can do it.”  “Sell the hunters then.”

Mary and Jane drank tea in Mrs. Cooper’s tea room.  Well it was rather a grand title for her front parlour but she had four tables and a maid who acted as waitress amongst her other duties.  “Are they to be trusted?”  “Buying seed what could they do wrong?”  “Well you never know Martin was saying you used less seed with a seed drill and he’ll be wanting a new plough as well.”  “If it keeps him happy.”  “Can I offer you some cake?  It’s fresh out of the oven.”  Mrs. Cooper had quickly thrown one together when she spied the baron’s carriage enter the village, just in case.

In the seed merchants Martin and Philippe argued the pros and cons of the various varieties at the counter.  “When you make your mind up let me know I've other customers to serve.  Now Mr. Jenkins how about a few pounds of clover seed just the thing to enrich your south meadow.”  

Martin and Philippe had come to an agreement and stood waiting whilst Mr. Jenkins placed his order.  Payment would be after the harvest.

“Right lads let's be having you.  Two ounces of grass seed is it?”  Martin spoke first.  “Well we thought the seed would go further if we brought a couple of seed drills first and have you any of the new ploughs which are lighter on the horses?”  “A pair of jokers are you or is it for the baron's estate.”  “The baron's estate.”  “Do you have cash for I can't carry you until harvest time.”  “We have cash so we'll be wanting a discount on your already low prices.”  “Are we talking doing it right or you've scraped together enough to plant some of the estate?”  “The budget is six thousand but we want to recover that this harvest time.”  

The proprietor drew out sheer of paper and a pencil and sketched a map of the estate.  “These fields were left fallow last year and with that sort of money you’ll want the best varieties possible.  The problem is transport.  It’ll cost twice the cost of the seed to transport them by carrier as my supplier for the top quality stock is thirty miles away.”  “The baron’s canal is almost complete, barely a furlong to go.”  “So use his work boats on this stretch here.” He sketched again “and then its just the getting the seeds a furlong from the Grand canal to the baron’s canal.  Yes that would do it.  And if you’re using the canal talk to Walter in the ironmongers and see if he’ll make up a canal boat load.  Now of course if we’ve solved the transport problem we could add in some soft fruit.  Strawberries, raspberries, gooseberries and the like.”  “I think we’re growing them already.”  “True enough but these have better main crop yields, some are early, some are later and I’ve heard Mrs. Galpin’s French chef was hired on at the estate and he’ll be after a wide a range of soft fruits and vegetables as he can get his hands on.  Why not set aside ten pounds and I’ll have my wholesaler see what he can sort out?”

They walked across to the ironmongers to see if Walter was interested in making up a load.  Jane saw them enter the store.  “They’ve just gone into the toy shop.”  “We’d better go and see what they’re up to.”

The bell on the door rang as they entered.  Walter looked up to see Miss Mary and her maid.  “Yes madam?”  “We’re just here to keep an eye on Martin and Philippe.”  “And make sure they don’t spend all the money.”  “Well they were asking if I wanted to make up a canal barge load but unless there is a sudden rush on closed ranges with boilers there isn’t much I want to buy in at the moment.  With the baron’s estate not planting this year there won’t be a lot of money around.”  “Didn’t I mention we’re planting the barons’ estate?”  “Now that might make a difference.”  “Tell me more about closed ranges and how much they are.”  “They use less fuel and there’s less smoke and ash in the house.”  “I’ve heard of one or two exploding.”  “True enough but the ones I handle are better quality.  Why not try one out?  With a built-in oven and a boiler they’re seven pounds fifteen shillings each.”  He held his breath.  “Jane?”  “Not everyone accepts them.  If you’ve been using the same fire for the last ten years you know where you are with them.  Still its progress and it means the wives won’t spend quite as much time over the cooking pot.”  

Mary turned to Martin “How much do you have left of my money?”  Martin mentioned a sum.  “Would that buy one for each cottage?”  “With a bob or two to spare by the time Walter has got his pencil out and sharpened it.”  “They’ll need to be trained how to use it and how to cook on it.  Molly could do that though.”  “You’ll be wanting to use the estate workers to install them?”  Walter added hopefully.  “I oversaw the installation of one or two on the old estate in the farm houses so yes it could be done.”  “They’ll be wanting new pots and pans?”  Remarked Walter hopefully.  “I’ll send Molly down to talk to you about that.”

Jane turned to Nancy “Can you suggest anyone who we could hire as maids?  They don’t need to be experienced but the house does need dusting.”  “If the money is available I can think of a few.  I agree the baron is more likely to be agreeable if they are pretty.”  Sally perked up “Where do we buy supplies from?  I noticed we need more tea.”  Nancy looked towards Fenton.  “We usually contact the local smugglers when we need tea and split the tea with the vicarage.”  “Involved with smugglers as well.”  Thought Sally to herself.  He has been naughty boy who needs taking to task.  “Any chance of some silk or lace?” asked Mary.  “Yes but you don’t get much choice on the colours.”  Mary looked across at Jane.  “I know I’m going shopping to choose what comes back.  Are we implementing the same changes for the workers as we did before?”  “Well we got more work out of the workforce so I’d say yes.”  “Jane can you hand out the first lot of money?”  Nancy looked at them.  “I’d better explain.  It was Miss Mary’s idea that the families got a child allowance each week on top of their wages.  Everyone got the same allowance.  Mrs. Notley would go and suggest that they talk to their younger ones for practise after Mary said the poorest ones didn’t talk much.”  “Sounds a bit like charity and they won’t like that.”  “Who won’t like it most.”  “Harry might be poor but he has his pride.”  “I’ll tackle his family first tomorrow then.”

“What do you mean coming round here with your fancy ways saying I can’t provide for my family. We don’t need your charity.”  “It’s not charity.  We’ve done it before and found that the workers work better with food in their belly and don’t get sick so often.  When the children don’t have enough to eat then they get sick and the fathers catch it from them and that’s what the new steward wants to avoid.  What happens at the moment if you break your arm?”  “I’ve a bit put by.”  “Now Harry when Joe broke his arm his family were very badly off until he got back to work.  We even gave them some food ourselves.”  “That’s different.”  “The problem is with a bit put by is you don’t know how long you’ll be off work so how much do you need put by?  It’s not a lot, not as much as your wages and it’s paid directly to your wife.”  Harry’s wife raised her eyebrow.  “That’ll help Edna no end.”  “Edna?”  “She has a large family and Bert her husband spends too much on drink.  Harry if you’ll take it then Bert will have to as well.”  “Aye well I’d like to do right by Edna.  Everyone gets the same?”  “The same basic amount for the first child and a lesser amount per sibling.  The elderly get a basic amount as well.”  “And the wages stay the same?”  “The wages stay the same.”  “I’ll do it.”  Jane gave a sigh of relief.

The baron walked slowly through the hall to the kitchen which was filled with activity.  Fenton saw him coming “Breakfast is being served in the small dinning room my Lord.”  The baron entered the small dining room to be greeted by two pretty maids.  One poured out his coffee in front of him.  The second unfolded a serviette for him.  Another carried a plate of food through from the kitchen.  “Fenton since when have we been hiring staff?”  “Jane felt Miss Mary would be more comfortable with a few extra staff members so she arranged it all with Miss Mary’s money.  They will of course follow your orders on request.”  

Later in the library Fenton served him another mid-morning coffee.  “Is the place completely overrun with Miss Mary’s staff?”  “Not at all my lord.  You must confess that it is pleasanter to have the house dusted more frequently and the young ladies are appealing to the eye.”  “I suppose we’ll have to suffer then.”

At that moment Sally entered the library and Fenton discreetly removed himself.  “You poor man having to suffer.  Now what can I do to distract you from your suffering?”  She sat in his lap and kissed him.  “This isn’t maintaining the proper distance between servant and master my dear.”  “But I’m Miss Mary’s servant so that’s one less thing to worry about.  Now how about caressing my breast as you did last time, I liked that.” The baron gave in and surrendered to her delicious kisses and gently let his hands roam her soft body.  Her breaths grew shorter as his hands slid up her skirts.  “I don’t want it in me.”  “Don’t worry at my age fathering a child wouldn’t be a good idea so we’ll stop before then.”  “But not for a little while please.  I’m enjoying the attention and the caresses.”

Miss Mary was heading for the library when Fenton motioned her away.  “Something going on in the library Fenton?”  “Sally is cheering the baron up and I suspect he would prefer not to be disturbed.”  “I can take a hint.  I’ll go and see what Martin is up to.  In the estate office is he?”  “As you say Miss Mary.”

Mary took a deep breath before entering the estate office.  She liked Martin and at least he knew enough to preserve her money.  “Martin I feel like taking a walk in the gardens but would feel more comfortable about the wild animals with an escort.”  There she’d said it.  “Wild animals?”  “I saw a squirrel recently.”  Martin grinned  “Well the books will keep for an hour or two and as your humble servant I should do what I can to ensure your comfort.”  Mary felt a slight shudder run through her at the thought of what a handsome Martin could do to ensure her comfort.

As they walked through the gardens Mary slipped her hand in his, it seemed the right thing to do somehow and when they got to a more private part of the garden that was screened by bushes she paused, turned and offered her lips to him.  Her first kiss.  He wrapped his arms round her and gently kissed her again.  “I like that and you’re all mine to command.”  He grinned at her.  “You really should take advantage of the servants like this.”  “Why not the baron is?”  “Sally?”  She nodded. “You’re not supposed to in case you get compromised.”  “You mean you’d have to marry me?”  Martin nodded solemnly.  She pulled him back for another kiss.  “I wouldn’t mind.”  “What am I to do with you?”  “If you really don’t know you could ask Sally?”  He lightly swatted her on her behind and she wiggled into him.

The ladies were in the drawing room planning how to open a school when Fenton appeared in the doorway and coughed twice.  “That’s a bad cough you have there Fenton.”  Said Mary flippantly.  “He’s trying to get your attention politely.”  Miss Bragg took Mary to task.  “Surely not.  Yes Fenton what is it?”  “Dick says if you’re serious about Jane going shopping for you if you pass him the money now he’ll make sure she has the right money for shopping.”  Nancy looked up “Aren’t English sovereigns good enough?  I thought they were accepted everywhere?”  “He’s right.  It is foreign parts after all.”  Jane hadn’t thought about it being foreign parts before.  A shiver ran down her back.  “I’ll see to it.”  Jane went off to her room and unlocked opened a small chest.  She pulled out a purse and first filled it full of sovereigns before carrying it down to Fenton.

A week later she was told “It’s on for tonight so wrap up warm.  I’ll guide you down to the quay and Dick will take you from there.”

Jane stood on the quay and looked at the shabby boat that was tied up with lots of bales lashed down on the deck.  “Jane?”  “Yes that’s me.”  “You’d best take this oilskin.  It might be rough tonight.  Now step aboard.”  The gang plank wobbled as she walked across it.  The boat raising and falling with the waves.  “Sit you down by the gunwale in the middle and keep out of the way.  The motion will be less there.”  Jane looked about her but couldn’t see any guns as she sat down.  They ran the sails up and cast off.  A gentle breeze took the boat out to sea.  Once they were away from the quay the little boat dipped and dived in the waves.

Dick came back to talk to her once the boat was moving.  “Harry was telling me about the allowance for children.  He said he wasn’t sure about it at first but he says it’s made a difference.  He said there’s talk of opening a school.  Is it true?”  “Well we opened one on the old estate and it seemed to make a difference.  Sam said those grooms who had their letters made fewer mistakes so it saved money that way.”  “I’ve a son who’s bright enough to become a master but he’ll need his sums to be able to use charts.  Snowdrop hasn’t got a lot of draft so its not so important but for the bigger ones you need charts.”

“So how do you know where you are?”  “Well if you’re close to the coast then I have my landmarks I line up with.  Then we toss out a bit of wood and measure how fast it disappears with a knotted line but if you’re being carried by the current that’s not so accurate. We have a compass of course but generally we point ourselves in the right direction then line up on landmarks.  The bigger boats have sextants and chronometers or special fancy clocks and you need charts and an understanding of sums but it pays better than a fishing boat and the bigger craft are more seaworthy.”  “I’ll have to add sums to the school’s curriculum then won’t I?”

Jane wrapped a blanket round her and dozed against one of the bales.  From time to time she woke up and saw an odd light or two across the sea.  Finally it was daybreak and she could see a harbour ahead.  Dick managed to guide the boat close to the quay and two sailors threw ropes across which were caught by dock workers.  There was only a slight bump as they hit bumpers on the quay.  “There safe at last.”  There was a look of surprise when Jane stood up and suspicious questions were shouted to Dick from the quay but he replied good naturedly but Jane had no idea of what was being said.  A river barge was towed alongside and the bales of wool were tossed down onto its deck.

“Go with Mireille.”  Jane carefully walked down the plank onto the quay and Mireille looked at her inquisitively.  Jane pantomimed drinking and Mireille’s face lit up.  She led the way to a small café and they took seat.  “Tea?” asked Jane.  “Thé?” came the reply.  A waiter was summoned and thé was requested.  It came served in a glass without cream or sugar.  Still it was refreshing.  Once they had finished their drinks Mireille looked at her inquisitively.  “I want to purchase some silk.”  Mireille looked mystified.  Jane pointed to her dress then mimed drawing coins out of a purse.  Mireille looked thoughtful then led her to a small dressmakers.  Jane paused outside the shop before waving her hands in the air as if to say she wanted something larger.  Mireille looked thoughtful again before leading her to a warehouse full of material.  Jane’s eyes lit up as she inspected the goods.  “Vous avez de l'argent madam?”  The proprietor enquired. Mireille spoke to him and he relaxed.  Jane continued to search through the bolts of cloth.

Dick arrived twenty minutes later with a handcart.  He lifted a sack from the handcart on to the counter and slitting the top open spilled out the contents letting a cascade of buttons on cards and belt buckles tumble onto the counter.  “Best Birmingham toy ware.”  Announced Dick.  The proprietor inspected them and summoned a minion who was dispatched immediately.  “How’s your hunt for material going?”  Jane shrugged “There are some nice colours but I’m not sure of the prices.”  Dick picked up a slate and drew a question mark on it and pointed to one of the bolts.  The proprietor nodded and wrote a number down.  Then he pointed to a number of other bolts and wrote down a larger number.

“The wool and muslin seem much more expensive but the silks are comparatively cheaper.”  “Which is what you might expect.  I brought over bales of English wool for their mill and muslin comes mainly from India.”

Two girls entered the warehouse.  The younger hesitantly asked “How do you do?”  Jane’s eyes lit up someone she could understand.  “Hello I’m Jane and I’d like to know some prices.”  “Hello Jane I’m Rachel and this is Patricia my friend.”  Patricia smiled to them.  “Now how much do you want to buy?”  Jane pointed to half a dozen bolts “These please.”  “No how much in length?”  “Everything on the bolt.”  Rachel looked puzzled.  “I do not understand the word bolt.”  Jane picked up the bolt and placed it on the counter top.  The proprietor started to unwrap it to measure it out but Jane stopped him and mimed that she wanted it all.  There was a flash of recognition of what she was after.  Rachel translated back and forth until an understanding was reached.  Patricia looked enquiringly at all the material being purchased and Rachel after a conversation with her Rachel asked if there was a place for Patricia who was a very good seamstress.  Jane looked towards Dick who shrugged his shoulders.  “Would you both like to come to England?”  The two girls chatted back and forth until Rachel replied “Yes please may we come.”  “What will your family say?”  “We got parted from them months ago.  The farm was at the centre of a battle and there was nothing left after the fighting.  We’ve been dodging soldiers for the longest time and are staying with second cousins at the moment who won’t be sad to see us leave.”  Jane couldn’t turn them away.

The bolts of silk were packed in canvas bags and carried down to the fishing boat under Jane’s watchful eye.  There was something different about it.  The name had been change to Perce-neige? And a small French flag flew over the stern.  Rachel and Patricia came running up carrying their few possessions in a bag between them.  More cargo was brought on board and finally they were ready to leave.

“Arrêt!”  Came the cry as a band of French cavalry bounded up the quay side.  Jane trembled inside.  Patricia stepped forward and spoke to the officer.  There was a discussion which ended when a wagon drew up and three English prisoners were transferred to the boat.  Two were carried on board and the other didn’t look much healthier.  Jane heard the word Calais and from the body language Patricia was agreeing with his every word.  On command from his serjeant a fierce looking French soldier dismounted and followed the prisoners carrying a pistol.  He stood guard over them on the deck.  Patricia motioned to Dick with her hands they should leave and silently the dockers cast off.  The two English sailors very quietly carried out their tasks without a word being spoken.  Everyone seemed very tense.  They sailed out of the harbour and turned to follow the coastline to the east.

“I say could you step across and take that fellow’s pistol away from him?”  Jane blinked.  “You are English aren’t you?”  Jane hoped the soldier didn’t understand English.  Still nothing ventured nothing gained.  She slid over to the soldier who was holding the heavy pistol up and mimed he should put it down.  She was surprised when he followed her mime.  Nothing ventured nothing gained she scooped up the pistol and aimed it at him.  He held his hands in the air.  “I surrender.”  Dick peered across, “Oh good now we can set sail for home.  Alf wash the new name off the back.”

“You can put the gun down now or pass it to the captain.”   “I give you my parole not to try to escape.”   “You speak English?”  “Well yes.  One of the things my serjeant held against me.”  “Philippe is educated and the bane of his serjeant’s life.  Hence he was designated to guard us.”  “Anyone would think they helped you escape.”  “Well the French lieutenant is my second cousin.  He rescued us two days ago.”  “Won’t he get into trouble?”  “I don’t think so he dispatched us to Calais on board a French fishing boat under guard.  The fishing boat simply disappeared. May I introduce Captain Ash, Serjeant Barton who has been with me through thick and thin and finally myself Major Lord Barnes or Charlie to my friends.”  

It rained on the trip back.  The sailors rigged up a tarpaulin to keep the English soldiers dry and Jane made sure the precious silks where in the middle.  Eventually cold and dripping wet they arrived back at the house.

Sally laughed out loud when she heard that Jane had captured a French soldier with his own pistol and brought him back to England.  Nancy and Miss Bragg carried off the injured soldiers to spare bedrooms so they might rest and be nursed back to health.  Philippe talked to Martin and was appointed Martin’s assistant.  There was no talk of him being handed over to the authorities he was far too useful.  Miss Bragg took charge of Rachel much to Rachel’s horror.  She confided in Patricia she thought she had seen the last of English governesses when her last one had fled France.

Nancy made sure Captain Ash was comfortable.  There wasn’t any obvious injury but he wasn’t as well as he could be and anyone could see he’d lost weight.  Any dish he preferred?  He’d missed proper English cooking so proper English cooking he should have.

“No starched cravats? What sort of establishment is this?”  Lord Barnes had high expectations and apparently little inkling of what was available.  Jane sought out Serjeant Barton.  “Can you send a letter to his lordship’s family.”  “You mean post one you’ve written?  I’m not into the way of writing.  His family and the regiment go back years and he brought his commission.”  “You mean he’s as dense as I thought he was?”  “Shall we say the regiment might be more effective without him?”  “What would you like me to say?”  “Just that he’s escaped capture but has a broken leg and you feel his family might like to take care of him.”  “I’ll rephrase it.”

“Dorothy this letter from someone called Jane.”  “Yes mama?”  “Charlie’s escaped and broken his leg but this creature Jane says there’s no need to worry she’s personally taking the greatest possible care of him.”  “So?”  “It’s the little wedding bells she’s drawn on the bottom that have me worried.  You know what Charlie’s like.”  “Good grief.  I’ll dispatch the travelling coach immediately and I’ll invite Heather to stay to help nurse him.”

Two days later a travelling coach turned up at the house.  Jane had Sally and Patricia in their prettiest dresses fussing over Lord Barnes when the family retainers arrived. They had a protesting Lord Barnes out of the house within ten minutes.  As they opened the carriage door and prepared to lift Lord Barnes in Jane asked Serjeant Barton “Are you sure you don’t want to go with him?”  Serjeant Barton shook his head.  “No I’d rather lie low for the moment and let this broken arm of mine heal properly if its not too much trouble.”

Captain Ash wrote a letter to his family saying he was safe and sound.  Hopkins his valet turned up shortly afterwards to look after him and fussed over him like a mother hen.  “Can’t say a word he’s been with the family for years, his father before him.  I shall just have to do as he says.”  Between his valet and Nancy he was well taken care of and his valet was taken by how much more comfortable he seemed in her presence.

Rachel turned her nose up at the latest dish and glanced across to Patricia who seemed to have similar views about English cooking.  Especially as done by Molly unsupervised by Nancy as Nancy spent her time with Captain Ash.  The next morning Patricia and Rachel took the trap and headed towards a home where they’d heard a real French chef was working in the kitchen.  

Jean-Paul was feeling homesick but with the war on in Europe he had no intention of returning to France only to be conscripted into the army when Rachel slipped through the door and greeted him with “Bonjour Monsieur.”  To hear his delightful tongue once more spoken in the manner it should be not the twisted way the English spoke it was truly delightful.  She must sample, her eyes lit up and she summoned Patricia for a taste.  Skinner paused at the kitchen doorway listening to the French flow back and forth.  This was disgraceful.  “They’ll be no French spies meeting in this house get out the lot of you!”  Patricia looked puzzled, Rachel muttered a few words, Jean-Paul had had enough.  He gathered up his pans and walked out the door.  Patricia helped him stack them on the trap and moments later they were off.

Skinner heard the sound of a bell and hurried to attend his mistress.  “Skinner why is Jean-Paul riding in a trap down the drive with two girls?”  “They were French spies Madam.  I turned the lot of them off.”  Skinner said smugly.  “And who pray will prepare the food for my dinner party this evening?  You’d better find someone and it had better be good or you’ll be turned off as well.  Do I make myself clearly understood?”  Skinner had a sense of impending doom.

Mary was returning from a walk in the garden when the trap returned.   “We have found a new chef.”  Cried Rachel.  “Français?”  “Bien sûr!” Jean-Paul described to Mary all the dishes he personally would prepare for her.

Fenton beamed on his lordship.  “We have a new chef my Lord.”  “We, Fenton or that interfering Miss Mary?”  “In all events he has prepared the evening meal tonight and from what I’ve heard from the kitchen it promises to be excellent.”  The baron moaned a few more times but Fenton gave him no more heed than saying occasionally “As you say my Lord.”

Dinner was served formally with maids serving rather than footmen.  The baron admired their swirling skirts and listened to Miss Bragg carrying on about the progress Rachel was making.  “Her French is truly excellent.”  Miss Mary had a slight coughing fit at this statement and Martin thoughtfully tapped her on the back very gently only to receive a glare in return.  Captain Ash declared she was undoubtedly a quick learner under Miss Bragg’s no doubt excellent tuition.  Nancy beamed at him for supporting her Miss Bragg.

Down in the servant’s hall the table was divided into two parts the French comprising Jean-Paul, Philippe and Patricia and the English who were quite happy to converse amongst themselves.

“These improved breed of sheep and cattle are on sale at the cattle market?”  Hopkins asked Martin idly.  “Well yes but first things first and they are quite expensive.”  “You could take me with you next market day so you can show them to me?  I never been to a cattle market before.”  Martin smiled, the little valet would be indulged.

They set off early.  Martin, Hopkins, Philippe, Jane and Miss Mary crowded onto one of the wagons.  Jane and Miss Mary were going more to see what was in the shops than anything else.

The men looked over the pens in the market place.  “Now for breeding you’d want heifers rather than bullocks.  You’d need one bull but often one good bull can service many heifers.”  “So if you had the money which breeds would you choose?”  “This pen is interesting.”  The nearby farmer perked up.  “Excellent stock these are you can see that just by looking at them.”  “And an excellent price as well no doubt.”  They looked through the other pens and Martin made notes on which he thought he could afford.  Then the auction began.  Hopkins bid on the lots that Martin had said were the best quality.  Martin stood back in silence.  “For the estate and do you have the funds?”  “Certainly and this way Captain Ash’s family can repay the estate in some small way for taking such good care of him.”

“Well I think we should be on our way Hopkins.”  “I think you should give it another week before travelling to make sure you’re well rested.”  “We must be a burden on the baron though.”  “Your family made a small contribution to the estate’s livestock which I think more than covers any burden.”  “Well it is pleasant here and with a French chef as well perhaps you’re right I should rest one more week before attempting the journey.”

Hopkins walked down to the village and as he passed the vicarage he saw a maid gathering the first of the runner beans.  They fell to chatting and he mentioned he was valet to Captain Ash who Miss Nancy had taken under her wing.  “So just who is this Captain Ash then?”  “He’s a second son and his mother would like to see some grandchildren.”  “The first not married?”  “Nor likely to be the way he carries on but Captain Ash has his own estate that he inherited a year or so ago whilst he was off fighting the French.”  “I’ve yet to see Captain Ash is he handsome?”  “Not so handsome as I.”  “Go on with you.”  “Now if the family were to invite him to tea you’d catch a glimpse of him then.”  “I would an all.”  “Step into the kitchen and I’ll find you a glass of ale whilst I speak to my mistress.”

“I took it upon myself to accept your family’s invitation to tea on Captain Ash’s behalf.”  “You mean he doesn’t know you’ve accepted yet?”  “I even had to remind your family they hadn’t invited him yet but I’ll acquaint him shortly.”  Nancy laughed with a delicious gurgle.  “I’d best talk nicely to Jean-Paul for a few treats then.”

Captain Ash drank his tea and ate his cakes at the vicarage thinking it was very nice of them to invite him.  He liked meeting Nancy’s family her mother and younger sister had made a great fuss over him.  “Now then young man to business.”  Captain Ash looked up.  “I’m offering you five hundred pounds to take my eldest off my hands.”  “You mean marry her?”  “It had better not be Carte Blanche.”  Murmured her sister quietly so that only Captain Ash heard her words.  “Well I’m not too fussy.”  Nancy sat up indignantly and scowled down the table.  “You are suppose to be a man of God dear which means setting a moral example.”  Reproached his wife from the end of the table.  “You realise I’m only a second son.  I do have an estate, well my great uncle who left it to me calls it an estate but really its just a large farm.  It barely brings in two thousand a year which isn’t nearly enough to do the season.”  Nancy was torn between being interested and embarrassed at the same time.  “No but it’s a roof over your head and enough to visit London occasionally and take in the theatre and so forth.”  “I suppose it is really.”  “I’ll book the wedding in for the end of the month then shall I?”

Nancy glowered at the pair of them.  “And don’t I get any say?”  Her father blinked at her tone of voice.  Captain Ash felt a sharp elbow in the ribs as Nancy’s sister whispered “I think she’d like to be asked.”  “I’m sorry I thought being a second son I was beneath you.”  “And if I tell you I don’t consider you beneath me?”  Captain Ash looked puzzled for a moment until a voice whispered a clue in his ear.  “Would you like to marry me?”  “Well I understand one is supposed to decline the first time and accept on the third.”  Captain Ash looked relieved for the moment “But as my sister might not be around to prompt you a second time and father would appreciate the wedding fees I’d better say yes the first time hadn’t I?”  “You mean you will?”  Nancy smiled at him and he smiled back.

The laundry maid addressed Fenton “If you please sir Miss Mary hasn’t had her last monthlies for three months now.”  “Keep it to yourself.”  “Yes sir but I thought you might like to know all the same.”  Fenton smiled to himself before dispatching one of the grooms for a special license immediately.

“So how is he?”  Asked Fenton “In my professional opinion he won’t last much longer.” “A couple of days?”  “Perhaps three or four at the outside.”

“She’s late?”  Jane looked up at Fenton, “She’s missed last months and this one is late as well.”  “Can you bring her into the Master’s bedroom in an hour do you think?”  “If it will do any good.”  “I think it might cheer him up.”  “I’ll have her there.  An hour’s time?”  “I have things to arrange.”

He found the vicar eating his meal.  “Your presence is required.”  Can I finish my meal first?”  “The doctor was in and says he won’t last much longer besides we can feed you at the manor.”  Protesting the vicar allowed himself to be carried off.

When they reached the manor Fenton led the way to the baron’s bedroom before handing the vicar the special license.  “I wasn’t expecting to perform a wedding.”  “Never the less you’d do it.”  “If both parties are willing.”  Jane ushered Mary into the bedroom.  “Are you of age and are you willing to marry his lordship?”  “I’ll need my guardian’s permission but he’s is London.”  “Enough said I think.”  “Sorry but I’m her legal guardian.”  Jane produced her documentation.  “Unusual but legal I suppose.”  Now then are you willing to marry his lordship?”  “She is.”  Spoke up Jane.  Mary blinked then agreed.  She didn’t quite know what was happening but it was clear the Baron was dying and if it eased his last few moments what harm could it do.  “I am.”  “As quickly as you can please. He hasn’t much time left.”  The baron looked puzzled for a moment or two then Fenton caught his eye and winked.  He winked back.  The ceremony was very short and the baron barely managed to sign his name before Mary signed hers.  Fenton passed him a second document which he signed and afterwards the baron sank back onto the bed closing his eyes with a contented smile on his face.  Fenton had the documents witnessed before ushering them downstairs.  “I’ll answer your questions shortly but first I’d ask you to drink to the health of the bride and groom.”

They drank a toast.  Fenton explained that the baron wanted to protect Mary and this way the funds that were not part of the entail would become hers.

The baron hung on for two more days and died in his sleep.  David Morton, the heir, was sent for.

Fenton looked down the drive to where the late Baron’s nephew was walking up carrying a bag slung from his shoulder.  Behind him stepped out Captain Ash and Martin.  “Good morning sir we have coffee in the drawing room where the solicitor is waiting to read the will.”  David glanced room the estate, it looked to be in good shape and should support his London life style very nicely thank you.

The solicitor started to read the will.  First David Morton was left twenty thousand pounds and a shilling.  He gave a sigh “That’s barely enough to pay off my debts.”  The solicitor continued “Payable in his vowels which I have to hand plus the sum of one shilling.” David collapsed on a chair then had a thought.  “But at least the entailed estate comes to me.”  “Not if her ladyship gives birth within nine months.”  His face went white.  “She can’t be with child. He’s too old.”  “I understand her ladyship is with child currently and no doubt you recall if it is either a boy or a girl they can inherit the title and the estate.  I have instructions to offer to pay for a ticket to Canada and for a sum of money to be made available there if you wish to take advantage of the offer.  The offer must be accepted within three days of being made.”  “I accept there is no choice, otherwise the percenters will make an example of me.”  Sam offered to escort him to Liverpool and put him on board.

Mary paled and turned to Jane “Am I enceinte?”  “Probably I don’t think you’ve had a period for two months now.”  Mary thought back.  “You never said anything.” she whispered.  She looked to Martin for support.  He stepped across and together with Jane they carried her off to the library where the solicitor joined them.  “I take it you weren’t aware you are with child?”  Mary shook her head and thought back to the picnic she’d gone on with Martin and got carried away on the hill side.  “Legally my recommendation is to give birth as a widow but a week after you might like to think about marrying again.”  She looked at Martin.  “So will you marry me once the child is born?”  “Yes please.”