Rescue Operations (9)

[the_comfortable_courtesan]

No sign of badgers this while

Belinda found herself sleeping a little beyond her usual hour the morn. Yesterday had been a bustling day – up to Town to be about certain lawyerly matters concerning Jupp’s Livery Stables and Carriage Hire. She woke and turned and stretched.

Sure, Sam Jupp’s business flourished mightily! Three stables – the original one in Mayfair in the mews behind Clorinda’s pretty house, the Kensington ones that had been a sound investment, and then the venture into Bayswater, when Sophy’s cousin Maurice tipped the wink that there was a deal of building going on in that part north of the Park, and there would certainly be a demand for nags and carriages.

And here was Sam, with three fine daughters that he entirely doated upon – pretty Thomasina that was making a way for herself in Maurice’s modiste establishment, and Gertie that took a mind to coming into the family business, and wild Vicky that was still at school. And a set of strapping nephews from his sister Nell’s union with Timothy Smith, landlord of the Beaufoyle Arms adjacent to the stables, several of whom were minded to their uncle’s rather than their father’s trade.

Clorinda, that still retained an interest in the stables, that she had purchased many years ago when the former owner had determined to sell out over the heads of the Jupps, and enabled 'em to pay her back, and been a sound business advizer, had sat down with Sam and advanced the wisdom of putting the whole enterprize on a regular business footing. In particular, she had said – sure, there are rogues and scoundrels in the world! – there are fellows that will look upon your daughters and not see their very own excellent personal qualities but only that they are in some sort heiresses –

Why, Sam had said to Belinda, indeed my girls will be well-provided  – though here is 'Sina, was left a comfortable portion by her godmother Docket, and earning very well already, has an independence – and one hears sorry tales of women that have built up some business and marry a wastrel that goes throw it all away upon his pleasures – so she advized that we should tie matters up to limit any damage that might come about, so that they may not drain the business. My girls are no fools, but there are cunning rogues about –

Belinda snorted and said, you need not tell me! O, the way my late husband went on when he discovered that my great-aunt – that had her own reasons for putting such precautions upon hand – had left my portion in such a way that he could not go play ducks and drakes with it, was in my own disposal, and came about whining and pleading. But, do I not hear tales of the shocking scoundrels and their ploys that are uncovered by the fine work of Matt Johnson’s agency?

Sam grinned, and said, fancied he might mention that to 'Sina, that tossed her head at any suggestion she might consider matrimony, and showed no inclination to walking out, did there come fellows buzzing about her sisters.

Belinda eased herself out of bed: by no means as bad as might be after a jaunt to Town. Had fallen very convenient that had looked in at Clorinda’s, and Hector and Euphemia’s Patience had been a-visiting, and had offered to perform a champooing on Belinda’s leg, a skill that she had learnt of the Dowager Duchess of Humpleforth’s ayah, that was most exceeding beneficial. There had also been the presentation of several pots of jams and pickles from Euphemia and Seraphine’s factory in Southwark – Euphemia smiled proudly and said, their Jessamy had turned out a fine little businesswoman (Jessamy, Belinda minded, was a young woman that Sandy MacDonald was like to describe as the model of a Dahomey Amazon) that Mr Knowles took as 'twere an apprentice in the management of such matters.

When she finally went along to the dining-room, she found Gertie Jupp and Lady Emily Merrett already at breakfast, having been for a morning ride –

And flown the hawk! added Gertie. 'Tis a very fine sight.

Em sighed and said, had not brought anything large enough to bring down rabbits, had been thoughtless of her. Next time, perchance.

Em had become, somewhat to Belinda’s surprize, her pupil in veterinary matters concerning horse-flesh. Was coming to have something of her own practice at Attervale, where she resided with her companion Lalage Fenster. This week, she had said, fell very apt for making a visit, as Lalage was hosting a small convocation of ladies interested in village education.

There were no particular troubles in the stables at present, but it was always agreeable to see Em and discourse of such matters, bring out her little book that had been her father’s wisdom on the subject, her own jottings, &C.

Gertie said, she dared say there would be some matter of giving the nags their exercize, but what Pa had desired her to do was to take a look at the books –

Belinda groaned and said she was entirely welcome.

'Tis Pa’s notion that I should take some lessons in book-keeping from Mr Stein, that has been so helpful about getting ours in order – that just because I have left school behind –

The two older women looked rather doatingly at Gertie, that clearly now thought she was a woman grown.

– should not neglect education – keep up my languages, there is an idea we might go to some foreign horse fairs –

So they went about the business of the place, and in due course Gertie went into the office to wrestle with the books, and Belinda and Em talked the ills to which nags were prone as they went round the stables looking at the fine healthy cattle therein.

Belinda said had had some very fine receipts of Clorinda’s Ajax –

Was it really so, asked Em, that in earlier days he had been the jockey known as the Sable Centaur? Because when I first saw him he was entire square.

Belinda laughed and said, was wont to come to jockeys did they cease to race. And had 'em writ down somewhere – She rose to go look in her bureau, as the station fly drew up at the door. She frowned, and went to the window instead.

O, she cried with delight, 'tis Josh – Josh Ferraby! Was not expecting him, but he is ever welcome here.

She almost ran out of the front door to greet him – so tall! so bearded! How different from the small boy still very much pulled down by the measles that had come stay with her and dear Captain Penkarding in Northamptonshire so many years ago. He stooped to kiss her cheek.

Belinda had never wanted offspring – had taken quite reckless measures to avoid 'em with her husband, and had not been a consideration with Penkarding – but had she had a son, would had been delighted in one such as Josh, that had such a fine feeling for the animal creation. Could get on terms with quite the most skittish horse – the most savage of cats or dogs –

Come in, she cried, and have somewhat to refresh yourself –

He ducked his head under the lintel – sure folks were shorter when this farmhouse had been built! – and wiped his boots very punctilious, greeting Em with great civility.

Em was very eager to hear how his menagerie for dear Julia went on – Belinda said she had heard those Indian princes kept very fine horses – indeed, he replied, of fine Arabian stock, and Em would be interested to hear also of their hawking –

So there was a deal of general conversation, and then Gertie came in, saying, was making progress, but was it not the hour for a little nuncheon?

Good fresh bread and butter and ham and cheese, and some of Seraphine and Euphemia’s pickles and chutney.

In due course, Josh came around to saying, recollected that in that distant copse upon her land, there was an abandoned badger’s sett? Or had there been a badger moved in since his last visit?

Belinda said that there had been no sign of badgers this while –

Only, Josh went on, there is a badger that at present Elisha Roberts very kindly keeps as 'twere in sanctuary for me in the gardens at Raxdell House, that I look about to find a country home for.

Why, thought Belinda, dared suppose the poor creature had been dispossessed by some exotic animal upon the Dowager Duchess’s estate. Let us, she said, ride out there the afternoon, and take a look.

 

Comments

[rabid_bookwyrm]

I'm glad Belinda is doing well.

[kore]

Belinda!! I love her so.

(DOCKET. //sniff)

[adrian_turtle]

Oh, Josh! So much taller, and so very much the same!