29. The morning afterwards

My sisters were chatting about the ball.

I use the term chatting, I could equally have used the term gushing, or squealing, howling or cackling, any one of them would have been appropriate.

Margaret and Louise were going through their dance cards and comparing the young men on them.

Margaret would say a name and Louise would groan, "Dances like he has mud on his boots."

Then she would say another name, and Louise would respond with a simple look, but a look that combined all the disdain and pity that a woman can muster. And so it went, one by one. Some young men got a positive comment off one sister, only to be struck down by the other.

Finally, they both said together, "Henry Walsingham!" and cooed like a flock of doves.

"How was your evening, Charlotte?" Caroline slipped the question in quickly.

Charlotte smiled enigmatically, "It was - er - Interesting."

I said nothing, remembering our conversation in Mayfair when Charlotte had expressed little hope of romance, perhaps it was not so bleak.

"What about you, Caroline, how was it for you?"

She also smiled, but there was far less behind it. "I enjoyed myself," she said simply.

It was my impression that Caroline was due for some teasing by the others, but for some reason, possibly my presence, they refrained.

I decided that it was time to go and do something else.

I sought out Emily Dodgson, and found her in the Long Gallery.

The Long Gallery is a hold-over from the days of Queen Elizabeth and before, it was built well before the Rogeringham's became dukes. The long narrow room on the upper floor of the hall, linking the East and the West wings, was designed so that the ladies of the house could exercise by walking up and down it when the weather was inclement. Today, the Dodgson girls had set up some skittles and were bowling down the length of the room at them.

I paused for a moment, remembering how we had done exactly the same when we were children.

Mrs Dodgson turned and saw me, and her smile was radiant. When it wasn't creased by cares, she had a very pretty smile.

Emily curtsied, I waved her up. "May I thank you again for last night, Your Grace?"

"I believe my mother told you that there was no need for that."

"I would still like to."

"I think you already have." I laughed. I indicated a couch that allowed us to sit and still watch the girls playing while we talked.

"What you could do, if you would, Mrs Dodgson, is tell me more about Mrs Wollstonecraft."

"Your Grace?" The surprise in her voice made me smile.

"You mentioned her a few days ago, and the ideas we discussed intrigue me."

Emily was still non-plussed by my request. I explained that I saw changes in society, and that I was trying to understand them. I told her that I wanted to know what to read. For a while we talked about what Wollstonecraft thought and Emily recommended "A Vindication of the Rights of Woman" which title she would write down for me so that I would remember it later.

"And how would Your Grace, use this information?" She asked.

I indicated her daughters, who were setting the skittles up for another round. "Your daughters are clever girls; personable, and from what I have seen, very pleasant company. They have all of their letters, and they know their numbers. The only impediment to them progressing in society is education. Boys can be educated into senility if they wish, though I suspect that most, like me, want to be out of the school room as soon as they can. But girls, unless you have the opportunities that my sisters have had (to be able to read pornographic texts in Latin, I thought to myself) then a girl shall rise to be no more than a house-keeper at best."

"A house-keeper is a very important role, Your Grace and requires many skills." Mrs Dodgson offered.

"This is true," I agreed, "And a poor choice of example on my part. Mrs Ellis juggles so many balls, the woman is an absolute wonder. Rather, I suppose, I was trying to suggest that the opportunities open to a girl child are limited compared with those open to a boy."

Emily nodded. This was, she said, exactly what Wollstonecraft was saying in her writings. At least, it appeared that Mrs Dodgson and I were reading from the same page.

I thanked Emily for her time - "I am at your service, Your Grace, in any way I may." (Which I thought was an interesting turn of phrase), and I went to my study.

I called for Barclay and I asked that Mr Dives and Henry attend me as well.

After asking the men to be seated, I asked Henry to tell me about his education. He looked surprised, but listed his schooling, having been to a school in Oxford, up to the age of fourteen. I asked him to look at an account book of mine (Mr Langton still had the Estate books - both of them) and did he understand what was going on with them?

He said that he did.

"Would you consider becoming a clerk for the estate?" I asked. I preferred this to making him a full steward, but if he began as a clerk and showed that he was competent, we could advance him in the post.

At first, he looked doubtful, but then, I think, he realised the advantages of the post, and he broke out in a broad smile. "Yes, Your Grace, I would very much."

Rather than move him out of the hall, I asked Mr Dives if he would find Henry space to work in and better lodgings than his room with the other footmen. I also advanced him some money for clothing, as it would not be suitable for him to work in a footman's uniform.

There was no word from Barclay about the 'whisper' but I was met soon after by Caroline, who embraced me warmly, much to my surprise.

"What did I do to deserve that?" I asked.

"I've just heard about Henry."

"It seemed a logical step," I replied but then asked why she was so happy.

"I have been tutoring him to improve his reading and his arithmetic for the last couple of years." She explained. "He had a great amount of skill but wanted to improve."

"And do you think he has the potential to fulfil the role?"

"Very much so," she replied, "He will probably do more, when he grows into it. But would you mind if I continue to tutor him?"

"If he wishes it, I have no objections whatsoever," I told her. She nodded happily and went off to find her student.