The Ironmaster's Tale (54)
Jul. 13th, 2018 08:35 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
the_comfortable_courtesanClorinda sighed. O, I would most happily have her here, but I do see that 'twould really not do.
I am sure, Josiah agreed, she would greatly prefer that, but alas, indeed 'twould not do. Well, he said, I must go examine governesses.
He had bespoke a private parlour at a respectable inn for the purpose, arrived in excellent good time to look once more over their testimonials and consult the notes he had made in his memorandum book.
When he saw 'em, he found that the two he had supposed he would be hard put to chuse between, that had a deal of experience, most excellent characters from former employers, quite all that was proper, did not strike him as ladies that would sort well with his beloved hoyden girls. Dared say they were exceeding learned, had very fine qualities, but there was a certain stiffness about 'em. While the third, that he had been like to think must be rather too young, 'twould be her first place, and sure she had the most excellent testimonials from the school she had been at, but had not been in a governess place before, he was most entire prepossessed by. Sure she seemed a little shy, but once he got her upon the question of teaching and how she would go about it, she was a lively creature with a little pink in her cheeks, that he fancied Bess and Meg would take to extremely, might lead 'em rather than drive 'em into learning.
Well, he would not make a firm decision until Eliza had had the chance to inspect the candidates. Would have liked to have Clorinda look 'em over, but could not see how one might come at that.
It was really entirely agreeable to spend a quiet evening at home with Clorinda, over a fine supper prepared by Seraphine, talking, he knew not quite how he had come to the topic, of his children, the troubles they had been having with tutors, what excellent children they were, Harry so responsible, the girls so helpful to their mother, mayhap hoydens but good girls nonetheless, Josh – sure he took a little concern over their gentle quiet Josh, not a stupid or idle boy at all but easily distracted did he see a bird, or a squirrel; and Quintus – why, Quintus was still a solemn little fellow toddling about in dresses.
She smiled upon him and said, had already heard so much about 'em from Mrs Ferraby, sure she wished she might meet 'em, but of course 'twould be entire improper.
Alas that 'tis so.
The next day he went to Mulcaster House for his meeting with the Duke. Really, it was most exceeding gratifying to be going to the front door, and to be admitted most obsequious by a bowing footman, rather than by the tradesman’s entrance. And to recall the days when he had been met a deal less civil at much less elevated establishments. Indeed, there were those had once shown themselves very haughty now came around very anxious to establish an interest with Josiah Ferraby, that moved in such excellent circles, that was so well-spoke-of, that had such influence.
Another footman conducted him to the Duke’s business office, where His Grace was already looking over a map spread out upon a large table. Ferraby! you come most prompt upon the hour. Will you take some tea? – James, tea for Mr Ferraby.
Cup in hand, Josiah went to stand beside the Duke and look at the map, carefully marked by Jacob Samuels. Hmmm, he said, hmmm, yes, I see. He traced the line of the projected canal with a finger. And he advises this route rather than that?
Yes: if you look at the fuller report 'tis all writ out very full why he thinks 'twill answer a deal better and be completed much more expeditious.
Why, I am entire inclined to trust his judgement in the matter. Has a knack of looking upon a landscape and saying, not there but there, even before he has gone with his instruments make measurements and soundings. Saw that when he came about the expansion of our works.
There was a little tap of feet outside the door, and it opened to admit a lady already dressed for going out. Biffle, my dear – O! I did not know you had company!
His Grace smiled very warmly. Kitty, my dear. Permit me to introduce Mr Ferraby, that is my sage mentor in the matter of iron and canals and improvements.
Enchanted, said the Duchess, dipping a curtesy, to meet at last the husband of dear Eliza Ferraby.
Mr Ferraby, my wife, the Duchess of Mulcaster.
He bowed over her hand. Honoured, he said, to have your acquaintance.
She smiled at him, and then looked back at the Duke. He had heard she was given out plain, and he dared say one might call her that, but there was a light of happiness about her, an animation in her expression, that was finer than any mere regularity of feature as she looked at her husband. My dear, I just looked in to remind you that I am going for a fitting at Madame Lisette’s this morning.
They looked at one another with great fondness, and then she left.
The Duke smiled at the closed door. Fortunate beyond my deserts, he said. Well, back to our canal.
After they had most satisfactory disposed of various questions to do with the canal, His Grace was exceeding anxious to open to Josiah certain notions he had concerning improvements upon his estates – sure, he said, waving Josiah into an easy chair, his thoughts were very preliminary, but had been discoursing of these matters with dear Kitty, and would be most grateful for the opinion of some fellow that had a good grasp upon the practicalities of the business.
That is, he said, do you not have other business to be about?
Not in the least, said Josiah. But I daresay 'tis somewhat of a different business between the matters I have been about and your situation – perchance you might do better to convoke with Lord Raxdell?
O, I spoke with Raxdell, and he told me to speak to you, as one that understood the intricacies of the matter and that 'twas not just about improving drainage and roads and putting up model cottages but that one must undertake a deal of diplomatic negotiation among one’s neighbours and the tenantry –
Indeed: one cannot go impose matters. At present we have a surgeon-apothecary wishes introduce a scheme of vaccination to the locality, and one may agree that 'tis entire desirable, but sure the ground must be carefully prepared. I advized him to go about writing pieces for the local paper – or mayhap beginning by having letters crying up Jenner’s great discovery –
The Duke smiled broadly. Why, indeed 'tis not unlike my experiences in Constantinople – that there is a deal of persuasion in the enterprize, and also seeing what interests there are may be brought to bear –
Why, I fancy Your Grace has an apprehension of the matter! Can be considerable delicate not to offend some person of influence – sure, he said with a sigh, we have quite the greatest difficulty in ensuring that the vicar does not take some offence, in a supposition that we go make some insult to the Established Church by showing too much favour to the Dissenters or the Quakers – and yet, of course, one must not go too far and offend the Dissenters, that are after all a significant party in the town –
He found himself describing their troubles over the education of the boys – could have quite the finest education at the dissenting academy in the town, 'tis mostly highly reputed, but the vicar would take an entire pet and mayhap sermonize against the godless spirit behind improvements –
Sure one may quite imagine! But, my dear Ferraby, do you require any recommendation for your sons to a good school –
That is most exceeding kind of Your Grace, but we have found a quite excellent establishment near at hand where they may go weekly boarders – and sure Mrs Ferraby frets considerable at what she has heard of some of the great schools of the nation – indeed, Lord Raxdell said somewhat to me once that he was glad I did not send very small boys away and implied he had no great opinion of Eton –
Really? By my day Reveley, as then was, was considered quite the figure – tremendous sportsman, had been in Dabney’s set – already noted for his style – by no means a scholar, unlike Dabney, that was at Oxford until there was some scandal that led to his being sent down – or mayhap I mistake, and 'twas that he succeeded as Bexbury? and was obliged take up his duties. You may apprehend I was an idle young cub that took little mind of matters outside my own set in those days.
Dabney? said Josiah. I fancy that I was introduced to some young fellow of that name in Lord Raxdell’s company.
O, that would be Rowley Dabney, is Bexbury’s nephew and like to be his heir, for he manifests no disposition to marry. Went reside at Naples to pursue antiquarian studies after some scandal: yes, that was it, I knew there was a scandal somewhere in the story. Never met the fellow myself. Would have called upon him, or at least left cards, had we got as far as Naples – but although we were quite entire delighted with Italy, we minded that we had responsibilities to be about.
Does you great credit, said Josiah.
The Duke looked extreme gratified. Why, m’father was no shocking scoundrel such as Raxdell’s was, but yet he was somewhat old-fashioned in his views. Have already had some several of his set come about endeavouring to incline me to their interests in the Lords and to warn me against that shocking Jacobinical fop Raxdell and his industrialist friends –
Josiah sighed. Must be exceeding tedious.
O, quite exceedingly! Must show civil, and I daresay Kitty and I must display ourselves at a house-party or two over the summer, but 'tis not a set I incline to.
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Date: 2018-07-13 10:28 am (UTC)And I just noticed we're on installment 54 already. Wow!
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Date: 2018-07-13 01:41 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2018-07-13 02:04 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2018-07-13 06:42 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2018-07-16 01:11 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2018-07-20 09:46 am (UTC)(*sobs quietly*)
And the Marquis! Eee. I keep thinking that he's much older than he is, but he's so frail by the time we meet him because of illness, not age.
I love the bits of backstory too.