The Belle Dames Club Page 12

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

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

  Lady Wyckenham laughed.

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

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

  ‘Education,’ she replied promptly.

  He regarded her suspiciously.

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

  Lady Wyckenham smiled.

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

  ‘Holborn!’

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

  Lady Wyckenham chuckled at that.

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

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

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

  CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

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

  ‘The meeting is above here?’

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

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

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

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

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

  Clarissa lifted her fan to hide her smile.

  ‘It could not have been more fortuitous.’

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

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

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

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

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

  ‘Perhaps, perhaps.’

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

  Lord Wyckenham bowed.

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

  Clarissa moved away to join her stepmother.

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

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

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

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

  William looked alarmed, but Sir Gordon stepped forward.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

  CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

  The Belles Dames Club was much affected by Mr Sharp’s impassioned lecture and it was the subject of conversation for days afterwards. However, the ladies could not think how best to promote the cause of anti-slavery, and with the exception of Lady Gaunt, who declared that she was sending little Samuel away to school in preparation for making him a free man, the cause was largely forgotten by the time the ladies convened at Lady Maramond’s rout. They had slipped away into a small ante-chamber provided by their hostess to discuss the much more pressing problem of Lady Wyckenham’s letters.

  ‘I must not stay long,’ said Augusta Maramond. ‘I must attend to my guests, and my cousin, Neville Shirley has arrived most unexpectedly. He is a sea captain,’ she added, with a touch of pride. ‘We see him but rarely, since he sails out of Bristol, but occasionally he comes to town on business.’

  ‘Very well,’ said Lady Wyckenham, sinking down on to a sofa. ‘Let us be as quick as we can. After all, we do not want to raise any more speculation than necessary.’

  ‘So, what news do we have?’ asked Lady Gaunt, looking around the room.

  A depressing silence fell until Lady Maramond lifted her hand.

  ‘I have discovered Lord Ullenwood’s bankers,’ she said. ‘It was purely coincidence, for we were dropping our cousin at Coutts today and as we pulled up in the Strand, the marquis appeared at the door to the bank. He was being shown out by an important-looking gentleman and there was much bowing as he left.’ Lady Maramond gave a little laugh. ‘Neville said that Lord Ullenwood must be making a deposit, because he would not get such treatment, since he would be taking money out.’

  Lady Gaunt nodded.

  ‘Good. So we know he banks with Coutts. How can we gain access to his account do you think?’

  ‘If Augusta’s cousin is a client there perhaps he can help us,’ suggested Lady Sarah.

  ‘No, no, Neville is not a client, Sally. He merely had letters of introduction from one of his investors. Apparently they need a few days to verify the papers before they will hand over any money.’

  ‘Are there any other ideas?’ asked Lady Gaunt.

  This time the silence was complete.

  ‘Perhaps we could make more enquiries,’ offered Letitia Leighton-Kettering.

  ‘And just what do we do then?’ demanded Lady Wyckenham, spreading her hands. ‘Even if we found someone who worked for Coutts Bank we could not ask them to break open Lord Ullenwood’s strongbox. It is hopeless.’

  ‘There is another plan.’

  All eyes turned to Lady Gaunt. She paused to take a pinch of snuff.

  ‘We will make the marquis think that you agree to his terms, Helen. He will give you the letters and once you have destroyed them, you will be free.’

  ‘No.’ Lady Wyckenham shook her head sadly. ‘Lord Ullenwood will not give me the letters until he is sure of me.’

  ‘Then you must persuade him that you are in earnest. Once you have the letters safe we will ensure that you do not fall into his clutches.’

  ‘And how will we do that, Dorothea?’

  ‘With force, if necessary,’ returned Lady Gaunt. ‘We will kidnap you.’

  Lady Sarah laughed, but Alicia Greynard gave a little moan.

  ‘Oh do not worry, Alicia, there will be no danger,’ said Lady Gaunt. ‘It is quite simple: Helen will agree to elope with the marquis on the understanding that he hands over the letters at the start of the journey. As soon as the letters are destroyed we will strike. Which of you can ride astride? Georgiana, Emily? Good, I thought as much.’

  ‘I can,’ said Julia unexpectedly.

  ‘Excellent. That will be four of us.’

  ‘I have never done so,’ murmured Lady Maramond, looking anxious. ‘I do not think I could do so now.’

  ‘It will not be necessary, Augusta. I think four will be sufficient for what I have in mind.’

  ‘And just what is that, Dorothea?’ demanded Lady Wyckenham.

  ‘We will dress as highwaymen and hold up the coach to rescue you.’

  ‘Impossible!’ declared Lady Wyckenham.

  ‘Is
it?’ asked Lady Gaunt. ‘If you play your part convincingly, Helen, we can trick the marquis finely.’

  ‘But I would have to – to lie to him.’

  Lady Gaunt’s finely pencilled brows rose.

  ‘Is that too high a price to pay for your freedom?’

  ‘N-no, but … I am not happy about it.’

  ‘Well I think it is a capital plan!’ declared Lady Sarah and was noisily supported by Mrs Flooke and her sister, who declared themselves very ready to don men’s clothing.

  ‘I am afraid that I share Helen’s doubts,’ said Lady Maramond.

  ‘And I,’ said Mrs Leighton-Kettering. ‘It is fraught with difficulties.’

  Clarissa found Lady Gaunt’s attention fixed upon her.

  ‘What is your opinion, Clarissa, are you too squeamish for this adventure?’

  ‘Oh, I have no qualms about using tricks upon this villain.’ She sighed. ‘What other choice do we have?’

  ‘Then it is agreed: we will hold up the coach.’

  ‘And what of the rest of us?’ demanded Augusta. ‘If you four are dressed as men, what shall we do?’

  ‘You will be needed as look-outs: but you must stay out of sight.’

  ‘There is no need for you all to be there,’ said Lady Wyckenham.

  There was a general outcry at this, and Clarissa was touched by the way the ladies wanted to support Mama-Nell, even those who had reservations.

  ‘No, Dorothea, I cannot let you do this,’ said Lady Wyckenham. ‘There is too much risk.’

  ‘But Mama-Nell,’ said Clarissa, ‘there is no other way.’

  My lady looked helplessly at her stepdaughter. Lady Maramond rose.

  ‘Well, you know I do not like the plan, but if we can think of nothing better then we must attempt it. In fact, it will be quite exciting! Now, I must go. Let me know what you decide.’ She slipped out of the room and the other ladies looked at one another.

  ‘We must not delay too long,’ said Mrs Leighton-Kettering. ‘We should leave here one or two at a time, to avoid suspicion.’