The Travellers by J. Howard Shelley
Chapter 16
Had anyone been privileged to observe the Duke they would have been mystified by his behaviour. His travels took him to Portsmouth where he visited a number of churches and spent some time talking to retired naval officers living in and around the town. He also was to be found in the court looking through the voluminous records there and thereafter he visited a retired Judge living a few miles distant. It appears that he found whatever it was he had sought because upon returning from the Judge’s house he paid his shot and made instead for Lancashire where he again sought and obtained permission to view the birth and confirmation and marriage records held in the local parish churches. From there he returned to London for a few days. It appeared he was anxious not to attract attention because he did not take up residence at Sale Park, putting up instead at a small but comfortable hotel in an unfashionable district. His behaviour here too was inexplicable, as it involved a couple of visits to the home office, a trip out to Kent, some very specific instructions to a courier and a trip to Admiralty House. He then waited. After a week during which a surprising number of letters were delivered for his attention, he set out travelling north again and riding very hard. He arrived in York the following morning. That afternoon an elderly butler answering the door of a fine country residence clearly owned by a man of substance, was surprised to find, upon the door step, a young unassumingly dressed man and his rather older companion, both desirous of securing an interview with the occupants.
The population around Sale Park, finding that the Duke’s return provided work for many families who had been struggling, noted with relief that it appeared that the Duke’s absence would not, on this occasion, be permanent. The work in the house continued to progress. Large amounts of fabric arrived so that the seamstresses could start making the new curtains and wall hangings. Some of the new carpets had arrived too, although laying them had to wait until the cleaning and decoration had been completed. The household staff started appearing outside the park proudly wearing their new livery and the grooms were heard to boast of the new cattle now in occupation at the Duke’s stables.
Word then leaked out that invitations had been sent out for a house party at Sale Park. It was whispered that some of the invitations had been sent by courier as far as France. There was to be a ball and shooting and, judging by the orders for ale, meat and other provisions, the Duke intended entertaining on a lavish scale. There were few people still alive who could remember the last such party as there had been nothing like it during the current Duke’s lifetime. Mrs Bridgehouse, one of those who remembered when Sale Park played regular host to gatherings of the upper echelons of the nobility, had maids ransacking the storerooms for the best china service. It had been so long since it had seen the light of day that it had taken her several days to remember where it was. Véronique, by now viewed with a mixture of respect and awe by all the servants, not least because of her indefatigable energy, was driving the staff even harder to ensure all the bedchambers were ready to receive guests. Every day came more deliveries, one day saw the arrival of a quantity of table and bed linen, the next day an enormous cart arrived laden with candles. It seemed that there could not be room, even in a great house the size of Sale Park, to hold any more.
The hard work produced results. Just two days before guests were due to start arriving the upper servants announced that they were ready. Mrs Bridgehouse noted that every bed chamber was made up in readiness to receive its occupant. The Butler confirmed that the cellar was once again stocked and, as he observed to the cook, he had never had the opportunity to care for such a distinguished assemblage of wines, brandies and ports. There was nothing there, he declared with simple pride, that he would not be proud to serve. The cook had prepared a menu for the first two days and had suggestions ready to discuss with the Duke, as soon as he should return, for the remainder of the week. Those supplies that would not perish had already been purchased and were stored safely under lock and key and the local butchers and fishmonger had received their orders. Every inch of the stables had been scrubbed and checked to make sure they were safe to house the high bred cattle that the guests were expected to bring. All the servants had received their instructions. The new Aubusson carpet had been laid in the State dining room, the Ducal plate had been removed from storage and polished so that it gleamed and everyone waited with baited breath to see if the Duke himself would return.
The day before the house party, Madame and Miss Leighton left for Sale Park about eleven o’clock. Although they did not now visit every day and they had now been absent for some days Véronique and Mrs Bridgehouse had both asked that they drive over to make sure they had forgotten nothing. Martha remained at Borden, the Duke was not at home and Madame would be more than adequate as chaperon. Martha had it in mind to use the time on her own to accomplish some small tasks to which she had been meaning to attend but for various reasons had been putting off.
They had, in common with all the respectable families within a radius of Sale Park, received invitations although Miss Leighton had initially been inclined to decline until Madame had represented to her that she could not in all conscience do so. It was known they had travelled from France under the Duke’s protection and moreover, as they were neighbours it would present a very odd appearance if they did not accept. In addition, as Madame pointed out, they would meet in society and, Miss Leighton would have to face that prospect sometime. Better sooner than later.
No sooner than the Leighton ladies had disappeared out of sight in the direction of Sale Park, but two mounted men, escorting an elderly, but richly appointed travelling carriage, turned into the drive from the other direction. The Viscount’s elderly butler did not at first recognise the plainly dressed men mounted on horseback and assumed they were outriders. As the carriage was perfectly unknown to him he enquired, with rather less than ordinary politeness, what he could do for the visitors. It was not until one of the men dismounted and approached him that he recognised the Duke,
“Your G-Grace” he stammered. “I did not recognise you. I-I’m sorry but the ladies are not at home.
“No doubt, had you recognised me,” the Duke was more than a little irritated by the man’s discourtesy and it showed as he continued frostily, “you would have extended the common courtesy which I am sure your master expects will be extended to even the most casual of his visitors.” Having successfully annihilated the butler and feeling somewhat better after venting his feelings he continued, “I am aware that the ladies are from home, I would like to speak to Miss Martha if you please.”
Having given the Duke to understand that he would see if Miss Martha was receiving visitors the butler requested the Duke to wait in the Drawing room and tottered off to execute his orders. Meanwhile Francis had also dismounted and together with the Duke assisted a very elderly couple to alight from the carriage. It was to be seen that the gentleman, although dependent upon his stick, still stood tall and proud. He was very well dressed although according to a fashion now some fifteen years out of date. Sale's attention then turned to supporting the lady who was, for some reason, clearly much distressed. The Duke, familiar with Borden House, showed the couple into the drawing room where he begged them to be seated and awaited Martha’s pleasure.
They did not have long to wait. They could hear footsteps hurrying towards them in the hall, at which the elderly couple sat up with a mixed expression of hope and excitement on their faces. A second later the door opened and Martha hurried into the room,
“Your Grace, we did not expect ....” She stopped with a look of thunderstruck amazement upon her face as she saw the elderly lady and gentleman. “Mama?” she said stepping forward hesitantly “Papa” she cried. Without waiting a moment longer, she flung herself to her knees at the feet of the couple and hugged them. The Duke and Francis tactfully left the room.
It was rather more than an hour before they deemed it sensible to return. Martha was sitting between the couple holding their hands as if she w
“No Sir,” said the Duke in a most respectful voice, “please do not rise.”
"Your Grace,” the gentleman gratefully remaining seated, “my wife and I knew of course why we came with you, but we were, after all these years, very unsure of our reception. We cannot thank you enough. We had long since given up upon being reunited with our daughter.”
Before the Duke could respond, Martha stood up and walked over to Francis. She took him by the arm and urged him forwards.
“Mama. Papa. You have already met John. As soon as matters are settled I am going to marry him.”
The elderly couple had been travelling in the company of the Duke and Francis for two days and therefore knew who he was. It was clear that, while the two men had been out of the room that Martha had explained to them the nature of her marital intentions as they were not remotely surprised by the introduction. Francis, on the other hand, was struck initially dumb. He had not explained to the couple that he had a personal interest in reunion and had only introduced himself as the Duke's manservant. He was therefore considerably embarrassed and concerned they might think him an upstart or criticise him for failing to seek their approval before paying his addresses to their daughter.
He had prepared, with some trepidation, to meet his intended parents in law, although he had given little thought to when he would declare himself and now the time had come he found that it was a great deal more difficult to do in person than he had imagined it might be in his head. He explained, in slightly halting tones that when his affections had first been engaged there had seemed no difficulty. They were both single and their stations in life were similar. He had not known that Martha’s parents were alive or he would of course have sought their permission. He would of course understand if Martha’s father might choose to forbid the match. Standing ramrod straight he waited for the axe to fall.
However noble the sentiments, Martha was not prepared to accept Francis’ assessment of his eligibility and she cried out in protest but, as her father intervened giving Francis to understand that if it was his daughter’s wish to marry him then he would not stand in the couple’s way she was quickly silenced. The gentleman gave his view that he could hardly leave her in better hands. Francis had demonstrated that he was more than capable of protecting his daughter and judging by Martha’s descriptions of his behaviour over the last few weeks and months, Francis was a man of honour and integrity.
An hour later Martha, now accompanied by her parents, climbed into their carriage and, again accompanied by the Duke and Francis, set off for Sale Park. Initially, the junior footman who opened the door to them was inclined to blandly point out that the Duke was not at home and to pointedly request the unknown visitors with their non-descript escorts to leave the way they had come. It was not until the Duke, laughter in his voice, asked if he was not to be recognised or admitted to his own home that the horrified menial stuttered an apology and threw the doors wide. The Duke had become so comfortable as the ordinary Mr Rufford over the last three years and his unassuming demeanour, that even those most familiar with him would not recognise him at first. Reynolds was hurriedly summoned and he made haste to welcome the Duke back to his ancestral home with a reassurance that everything was now in readiness for the party. The Duke, looking around appreciatively, requested him to convey to the staff his thanks for their hard work and gave him to understand that he was glad to be home. He requested that his guests be escorted into the best drawing room and asked if any other visitors had arrived. He was gratified to be told that Monsieur Leighton together with Viscount Borden had arrived the previous day.
“I must change,” said the Duke heading purposefully in the direction of his bedchamber followed by Francis, “Could you ask Monsieur Leighton, Mademoiselle Leighton, Madame Leighton and Viscount Borden if they would be so kind as to wait for me with the other guests who arrived with me. I shall not be above fifteen minutes.”
In fact, it was rather less than fifteen minutes before the Duke reappeared, accompanied by Francis and both more conventionally attired. No trace of Mr. Rufford and his travelling companion remained, as they had effortlessly assumed the mantle of master and servant. Coincidentally, Madame and Miss Leighton appeared in the hall at the same moment but from the other direction. Sarah had, of course, been warned that the Duke was here and seeking an audience with her, but nonetheless as the separation had sorely tested her resolution, the smile she bestowed upon the Duke spoke of her pleasure in seeing him again. She rather breathlessly explained to him they had been taking a turn around the garden and it had taken a footman some time to locate them. The Duke emboldened by the welcome he had received could not resist catching Sarah’s hands and smiling down at her. The love she saw there almost deprived her of the little breath she had left.
Entering the drawing room, it was to be seen that Monsieur Leighton and the old gentleman the Duke had brought with him from York were already well acquainted although, judging by the reminiscent tone of the conversation, it had been many years since last they had met. Viscount Borden was leaning against the mantelshelf making courteous conversation with the elderly lady.
Miss Leighton looked curiously around the room. Most of the occupants were known to her, but she was surprised to see her maid, whom she had left but two hours ago left at Borden, sitting between a very elderly but expensively dressed couple who were quite unknown to her. Martha returned Sarah’s look steadily, and then indicated by glancing sideways at the Duke that she should direct any questions she might have to him.
She was about ask the obvious question when she noticed that the room had fallen quiet and everyone was looking at the owner of Sale Park with an air of expectation. Realising that she would soon have an answer to her questions, she had she held her peace and sat down next to Madame.
“I have a story to tell which touches you all.” The Duke began.” As you will shortly see, it covers a period of nearly sixty years and has taken quite a while to precisely understand it all. Doubtless if I miss anything out one of you will correct me. Even now there are some parts of this story which I do not know for certain, although I can guess what happened, and I hope where this is the case, you will fill in the details for me. Some of you will know part of this story, none of you know it all. I think you will enjoy it but I beg you will be patient as it may take some time for me to tell it.” He took a deep breath.
“My story starts more than fifty years ago at Borden House. At that time, the current Viscount’s grandparents were still alive. The Viscount and Viscountess had two children, Arthur and his younger brother Rupert. Arthur was a very serious man, not well liked by his peers and with a reputation for extreme irascibility coupled with a tendency to censoriousness.” Both Monsieur Leighton and the Viscount nodded firmly at this assessment. “In due course Arthur married and, like his own mother before him, his wife presented him with two sons; Christopher, the elder and Edward.” He nodded in the direction of the Viscount. “Edward is the current Viscount Borden. Rupert was the antithesis of his older brother; he was well liked and possessed of a joix de vivre which made him his mother’s favourite. It was perhaps unfortunate, especially in the light of subsequent events, that she should have chosen to make that partiality as obvious as it inspired Arthur with profound jealousy. For those of you who have not met him may I present the Honourable Rupert Leighton?” The Duke waved his hand in the direction of Monsieur Leighton who smiled and gave a nod in response to the introduction.
“Upon the death of their mother, the brothers quarrelled violently. Words that should have remained unsaid were said and Rupert, deciding that Borden no longer held a welcome for him decided to seek his fortune abroad. He had a good friend with whom he had gone to school and, on the night he left home, his friend helped with the arrangements. That friend was called Horace Arterbury.” He pointed at the elderly gentleman sitting next to Martha,
"In his place, I think I should have chosen a less public location to confront Horace but doubtless he had his reasons. The middle of Bond Street soon after midday is about the least private place I can imagine. Arthur demanded, with less even than his usual courtesy that Horace tell him where his brother was. Unfortunately for him, not only did Horace remain loyal to his friend but in a few well-chosen words favoured Arthur with a reading of his character, a description of his barbarous behaviour to his mother and his brother and finished his speech by describing the certainty of his eventual arrival at an unpleasant and miserable end. Arthur was a laughing stock and Horace had made a bad enemy.
"In time Arthur’s father died and Arthur, as is our custom, succeeded to the Viscountcy in his stead, inheriting not only the title but also of course the entailed estate. Arthur’s wife died within a few years of the birth of his youngest son and, left alone with his children, he consigned them into the care of a series of nurses and tutors who never seemed to meet with his exacting standards and whose tenure was thus of short duration. The older son was an exuberant lad, always up for a lark, whereas the younger was much more studious and serious but, withal, they held a genuine affection for each other. Christopher had always a desire to join the navy but his father, who considered the only suitable occupation for an eldest son was attending to the business of the estate, thought he should remain at home and do as convention and family custom demanded. There was little love lost between father and son and the former was frequently heard to animadvert forcefully on the shortcomings of the latter. As his eldest son was invariably cheerful he probably reminded his father of Rupert."
"Christopher went to sea soon after his eighteenth birthday, having informed his father bluntly that if he would not purchase his commission, he would simply enlist. By this time what affection there may have been between the pair had been extinguished and all that remained was a vague notion of duty on either side. Faced with the inevitable, and unable to countenance his eldest son and heir serving in the ranks, the Viscount reluctantly and with very bad grace capitulated.” The Duke poised at this point and looked around the room to confirm he still held his audience. “Up to this point the story is familiar and will not have been controversial. From now on my story will deviate somewhat from that which you have all led to understand is the truth."
Horace had also married. May I introduce Mrs Arterbury?” The Duke stepped over and courteously bowed over her hand. “They had but one child, a daughter, who, as I am led to believe, was possessed of considerable beauty. When she was seventeen and Christopher eighteen, purely by chance, they met at a county house party held here by my father, the sixth Duke. Mrs Bridgehouse who is still employed here and Nettlebed who was, for many years, my valet and whom I recently visited, have both told me how, for a few short weeks, the pair were inseparable. Unfortunately, Arthur found out about the budding romance and forbade his heir to associate with the child of the man who had so comprehensively humiliated him in public. Mr. and Mrs. Arterbury, seeing that the relationship had no future, refused to permit their daughter continued contact with Christopher. I understand that Mr. Arterbury expressed himself in somewhat more austere terms than, with the benefit of hindsight, was perhaps wise."
"Desperate and convinced that their parents would do anything to separate them based on simple prejudice and a quarrel which occurred many years ago and to which they were not a party, the young couple eloped and were married in Portsmouth by special licence. As neither was of age and nor had they the consent of their guardians such a marriage involved a certain amount of deception."
"The marriage was very happy. The young couple rapidly became favourites among the circle of young officers and their wives and the fact that they were estranged from their respective parents troubled them but little. Mrs Leighton- as she now was - did send one letter to her parents after a year to confirm that she was safe and happy, but she was concerned that they would track her down and take her back and after that ceased contact altogether. Such contact has only recently been re-established. Christopher was in occasional contact with his father, principally because he was fond of his younger brother and did not want to cut off contact completely, but as he was either at sea or in lodgings at Portsmouth his duty visits to his father were of necessity infrequent. Mr. and Mrs Arterbury missed their daughter and of course suspected what might have happened but they had no idea where to look for her. They wrote to the Viscount who, in his conceit, did not believe his son would disobey him so profoundly and naturally refused to even discuss the matter. Faced with this refusal they had to accept that their chance of finding their child was extremely slim."
"Christopher did not tell his father of the marriage for more than three years, by which time they had been blessed with the birth of a girl, Sarah, and Mrs Leighton was again expecting a happy event. It may be that, had it not been clear that Christopher would have to go to war, he would not even then have told his father of the marriage but as it seemed to him there was real risk of his being killed in action, he wanted to ensure his wife would be looked after. He would, as events unfolded, have been better to have said nothing, but he had not the gift of foresight and he could not have known the lengths to which his vengeful parent might go."
"Arthur was furious at the news, he banned his son from the house and informed him that while he was alive neither his son nor the family whom he refused to recognise would ever be welcome at Borden. This did not bother Christopher overmuch and so he returned to Portsmouth and, a few weeks later went off to sea.”
“His ire by then having cooled and seeing an opportunity, Arthur conceived of a plan. While his son was away and without telling his daughter in law, he would have the unlawful marriage set aside. There might soon be an heir and he could not countenance the offspring of such a union succeeding in due course to the Estate and polluting the name of Borden. Confident of victory he instructed his lawyers and asked the court to set aside the marriage."
"At this point, the true version of events differs significantly from that which everyone in this room had believed. The marriage was not set aside. The Judge took a dislike to the Viscount and firmly told him that he was not prepared to render two children illegitimate merely because the means of their marriage was to be deprecated. Furthermore, he observed, as the marriage had undeniably been consummated it could not now be annulled. I understand that the Viscount made some derogatory comment about the Judge and was only persuaded to leave the court after being threatened with a sojourn in the cells for contempt.” He drew a paper out of his pocket. “I have here a sealed copy of the order of the court.” Seeing that the implications of this last piece of news was beginning to have its effect he asked for a few seconds more patience and continued, “Sadly Christopher was killed in action only a few days after his wife was delivered of a son although his bravery was mentioned in despatches."
“Meanwhile the Viscount, notwithstanding the failure of his court action, told everyone that his suit had prospered and the marriage had been set aside set aside. As she knew no different, he even managed to convince Christopher’s widow who was still very young and now, on her own in the world, of the truth of his words. Who would, after all, check such a story?”
“So,” Viscount Borden was first to speak and did so without rancour, “I never was the Viscount. My brother’s son was Viscount Borden from the hour of his birth.” The Duke nodded briefly but he was looking in a different direction. He shot a meaningful look at Sarah, a distinct question in his eyes and he waited.
Sarah wa