Amanda Scott by Madcap Marchioness

Author:Madcap Marchioness [Marchioness, Madcap]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

9

ONCE MR. PETTICROW HAD been tucked up in a bedchamber, the doctor commanding him to stay there until they could be sure he would not fall victim to an inflammation of the lungs, Chalford ordered his family into the great hall and issued an edict.

“Matters seem to have reached such a pass that I have no choice,” he said calmly, “but to ask you all to avoid going alone beyond the castle walls until this business has been settled.”

“Very sensible,” said Lady Adelaide. “If this keeps up, free trading will go quite out of fashion. One already hears complaints that English gold is going into Bonaparte’s pockets in exchange for wines and other smuggled goods, and that French prisoners are foolishly being ferried back to France. Of course, ours get home the same way, and it is patently absurd to pay ten guineas the pound for tea when it may be had for shillings instead, or to go without silks merely because the government is so foolish as to impose unreasonable duty. Violence, however, cannot be tolerated. Do you hear, Hetta, you are not to go out.”

“But that’s ridiculous,” Adriana protested. “Oh, not what you said, ma’am,” she added hastily when Lady Adelaide bristled, “but, Joshua, you cannot expect us to remain prisoners here.”

“That was not my intention,” he said. “You may certainly go out whenever you wish, but I can no longer permit you to walk unescorted into the villages or even to drive about the countryside without proper protection. I know it will make for inconvenience, but I trust you will all obey me in this matter. I do not wish to have to worry about your safety.”

Lady Hetta nodded briskly. “I shall tell Wittersham to carry a blunderbuss, then, shall I, my dear?”

“More than that, Aunt Hetta. I want armed outriders—at least two of them—whenever you travel beyond these walls.” He turned to Adriana. “And you, sweetheart, are not to ride alone, as I know you have done when I have been unable to accompany you. Your groom is no longer sufficient protection. If you wish to ride, you have only to tell me so and I will accompany you.”

“Joshua, this is foolish. The smugglers have no quarrel with Thunderhill. Surely they will not molest us.”

“The local men are friendly enough, but we have no reason to trust outsiders. You will do as I bid.”

Adriana fumed, but she could not with any propriety debate the matter further then and there, so she held her tongue. But when Lord Braverstoke and his son paid a call that afternoon, she took the opportunity afforded by Lady Henrietta’s engaging his lordship in conversation to express her feelings to his son. The results were not encouraging.

“I must agree with Chalford,” Randall Braverstoke told her apologetically. “One cannot be too cautious. This new gang will do whatever is necessary to collect their goods.”

“Not in broad daylight, surely.”

“I know little about such things, of course, but they tell me these ruffians have attempted to intimidate the locals into joining them or at least doing nothing to hinder them.

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