36. Henry's second Elevation

For the next several days Rogeringham Hall was assaulted by my mother and Mrs Ellis the house keeper, as they supervised the cleaning of the hall and the preparations for Christmas. I have seen brigade commanders operate with less skill than those two, as they supervised the operation. Everywhere was cleaned, washed and scrubbed. Dusters were applied with gusto to statues, busts, and ornaments. The footmen took down and cleaned all of the weapons in the main entrance hall. Rugs were taken out and beaten, and the marble floors were thoroughly mopped, turning them into skating-rinks.

I was firm that the study was not to be cleaned or decorated, so that I would have a refuge.

It turned out that I was not the only one. Barclay was drawn into the cleaning, but Henry Adams - his possession of a surname was a bit of surprise, as far as I was aware he was just Henry - was turned out of the room where he worked. He still had much to do to unravel the puzzle left by Alfred Dodgson, so I made space for him to continue working in my study.

It was pleasant to have him working there, and it was an island of calm amidst a turmoil of dusters and scrubbing brushes, even the suitors had made themselves scarce, though I did see James Barthomley lovingly holding a ladder for Hermione while she decorated the entrance hall.

Then Henry received a letter.

One of the footmen brought it to him in the study. He read it, put it down, and read it again.

Finally, he came to stand by my desk.

"Your Grace, I believe I may have to submit my resignation."

I looked at him. "Has something happened?" I asked.

"I have been left some land by my father, an estate near Stevenage." He handed me the letter.

It was from a solicitor for the estate of Lord Brunton. His lordship had acknowledged Henry as his son in his will, and while this did not legitimize the young man, it did make him a landed gentleman. The solicitor advised that the property would be worth approximately two thousand pounds a year. Two or three hundred pounds a year would be a good living, two thousand pounds was a very good living indeed.

It was obvious that Henry - Mr Henry Adams now, was a little shocked. His life had changed in weeks, days. From a footman, to a clerk to a landed gentleman. I rang for Mr Dives and asked him to bring some champagne, this deserved a celebration.

As we drank to his good fortune, I waited till he had finished. "Perhaps now would be a good time to talk to my sister."

"Your Grace?!" His face was a picture and I was glad I had waited for him to finish his drink.

"I suspect you know what I am talking about, so I suggest that you and she have a conversation about - well, about things, and then come and see me."

"Your Grace?"

"Don't just stand there gawping, man, I believe you will find her in the drawing room. Go on!"

Caroline was my next visitor.

"What have you just done?" She asked, as she burst into the study.

"May I select from a list of items or was there something specifically?"

"Henry has just been to see me," she said.

I nodded, "I sent him to you."

"Why?"

I poured a glass of the now flat champagne and offered Caroline one. "Correct me if I am wrong, but the person whose name you declined to give me when I asked about romantic interest was Henry's. You - despite all of my assertions - had decided that you could not do anything about it because he was a servant. The last thing you wanted to do was embarrass him, or possibly anger me because I might object to such a marriage."

Caroline hesitated a moment and then nodded.

"You fell in love with him while you were tutoring him - though, having worked with him for some days now, I have found no evidence of any deficiency in his abilities, so I assume his 'need' for more tutoring was a way for you to spend more time with each other."

Caroline looked up at me, hope in her eyes.

"Lord Brunton could never legitimise Mr Adams, his eldest son. Even if he did, Henry could not inherit the title, not while there was a legitimate heir. His solution was to will Henry a substantial estate, a good living. Sadly, it doesn't raise him to the peerage which would have made him an even better candidate for you. Not that that is an issue, to me anyway.

"However, he is now a landed gentleman, which as far as I am concerned, completely clears the way for you and he to move onwards."

"And do I not have any say in this?" Caroline asked.

"Absolutely," I told her, "It's all about you, as I have always maintained. But I think you have an open door before you, Caroline. It is up to you; do you wish to go through it?"

"I need to think about it, this is very sudden."

"I understand that, but I warn you. Do not take too long. A personable young man like Henry with a living like that, I suspect he will be very popular?"

Caroline stood up quickly, "You're right, William, damn you. How did you know it was Henry?"

"A simple deduction, really."

She smiled, "You are too damned clever!" She said, "But then you always were."

After Caroline had gone, Henry returned. He looked nervous, (Do I frighten all of my sisters' suitors? It must be my collection of scars) but he was schooling himself to act in as normal a manner as possible.

I pretended to be reading as he gathered the documents he had been working with into a neat pile on the table.

"Huh _ erm!" Henry cleared his throat.

"Yes, Mr Adams?"

For a moment Henry looked non-plussed, not knowing what to say to that. "Your Grace, I _ I _er."

"You wish to discuss my sister with me?"

"Yes, Your Grace. The problem is that I don't know where to start."

"I have given this some thought, Mr Adams, may I make a proposal or two?"

Henry nodded.

"Firstly, there is obvious interest between you and my sister. But both of you seem intent on dithering about it, so I suggest that you take a few days and decide what you want to do.

"Secondly, in order to facilitate this, I make you this offer. That you resign your post of clerk and instead, you become my assistant, with the responsibilities of the steward. Your new living is good, but you are too damned useful a man not to have about, and it will supplement your new income until circumstances dictate otherwise. Is that acceptable?"

"Yes, Your Grace, it is, thank you."

"Thirdly, I suggest you make an agreement with Caroline for a moratorium on other suitors. There are many of them about at the moment, it would be a shame for someone to slip in and steal her from you."

I didn't really think that that was likely, but it was just an extra push for the two of them.

"Please join my mother and I for dinner tonight, Mr Adams?"

"Thank you, Your Grace. But I must decline."

"May I ask the reason?"

Henry indicated his clothes, by which I assumed that he meant that he did not think his attire was up to our standards. "I am afraid that my recent elevation has happened with such speed, that I need new attire. This is perfectly acceptable at the level of the clerk of your estate, Your Grace. But if I am accepting dining invitations ..." He let that tail off to silence.

"Please, Mr Adams, do come tonight," I asked, "It will be quite informal, so have no worries on that account. As for attire, how would it be if I made a further advance on your salary? Tomorrow you can summon a tailor." I suggested, "You are now a gentleman of standing and an important man at Rogeringham Hall, I am more than happy to assist in that and I am sure Caroline would be willing to offer her opinions and assist you in dressing in a more fitting manner."

"Thank you, Your Grace." Henry's shocked expression was fading. He smiled at the thought of having Caroline assist him with the tailor. "That _ er _ that sounds like a good plan."

I had been tempted to invite Henry to dinner with all of the family, but the sudden transition from servant to clerk to his current status would take some adjustment for him, within our family and the house in general. There were already going to be interesting conversations with Mr Adams in the future, very little goes on in a house like this that the servants do not know, even with someone like Barclay as your door warden. But I thought it would be sufficient to celebrate Henry's good fortune, and the possibilities for him and Caroline, to begin with.

There was a muttering among my sisters at my decision to limit the supper to just Helena, Henry, Caroline and myself. It appeared that at least Hermione took exception to it. However, I was firm and we four, sat down in the dining room to eat.

"I suspect that your head is spinning a little with the speed of all of these changes in your life, Mr Adams." Helena observed.

"It is indeed, Your Grace," he answered her. "The biggest change is that last week I was simply Henry, to everyone. Now I find that I am Mister Adams."

"That is only fitting," Caroline told him, "You have status now, you should be treated appropriately." I smiled at Caroline's fierce advocacy, and wondered whether Henry had any idea what he was letting himself in for.

"I fear it will take some time to adjust." Henry replied. "Though His Grace suggested that you, Lady Caroline, would assist me tomorrow, if we can get a tailor to attend, perhaps?"

Caroline agreed readily.

And so it went through the meal, much of the conversation was about how Henry would progress. What information we had about his living suggested that there was not a great deal that he needed to do, but he would have to attend there some time, at least to oversee its running.

I suggested that if Henry decided to pick up the role of assistant, he would be able to do both, spending time here at Rogeringham and in London and at his estate, as and when he needed.

"You will be very busy, Mr Adams, at least until you marry and start to raise a family. I take it that you do intend to marry ..." Helena asked.

A silence descended on the table, and both Henry and Caroline studiously avoided looking at each other.

"There is some way to go, I think, before that, mother," I suggested.

"Why?" Helena would not be deterred. "The attraction between you is obvious to anyone with eyes ..."

"Except me," I suggested.

"But even you worked out what was going on, William." Helena went on, "What has happened, is almost like a story, as if the world has aligned for you. You should not wait."

"I think that Mr Adams ..."

"Lady Caroline, please call me Henry."

"Very well," Caroline responded, "I think that Henry has much on his plate at the moment ..."

"If I may, Your Grace?" Henry addressed my mother, "This is, as you have said very sudden, and more than a little over-whelming. His Grace was not the only one who was unaware of Lady Caroline's feelings for me. It is true I have strong feelings for her as well - feelings I never imagined I would ever be in a position to address. Now that I am in such a position, I need to see the way forwards, so I beg you all, please allow me some time.

"However, His Grace did make a suggestion earlier."

Caroline nodded eagerly waiting to hear what he had to say. "Until we know what we intend to do, while we _ we are still talking about this; that we _ we _ er ..."

"I believe what Henry is saying is that I suggested that it would be sensible, while you are deciding how you both wish to proceed, for you to avoid engaging with other people. If the issues between you are irresolvable, then all the wagers are off, but it would be a shame to complicate things by involving someone else."

Henry smiled, "Quite so Your Grace. If that is acceptable Lady Caroline, I think that is a good idea. At _ at least until we know."

Caroline nodded her agreement.

"Then it is agreed?" I asked. "Good! Because it would be a shame to spoil Christmas."