Edward MARSTON - The Amorous Nightingale

Copyright 2000 Edward Marston

The right of Edward Marston to beidentified as the Author of

the Work has been asserted by him in accordance with

the Copyright,Designs and Patents Act 1988.

First published in Great Britain in 2000

by HEADLINE BOOK PUBLISHING

10 987654321

All rights reserved. No part of this publicationmay be

reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, ortransmitted,

in any form or by anymeans without the prior written

permission of thepublisher, nor be otherwise circulated

in any form ofbinding or cover other than that in which

it is published andwithout a similar condition being

imposed on thesubsequent purchaser.

All characters in this publication arefictitious

and any resemblance to real persons, living or dead,is purely coincidental.

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ISBN 0 7472 7585 8

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To my own amorous nightingale

Moll Davis performed the song (My Lodging is

on the Cold Ground)so charmingly that, not

long after, it raisedher from a bed on the

Cold Ground, to a BedRoyal.

John Downes,RosciusAnglicanus

Tableof Contents

ChristopherRedmayne found conversations with his elder brother rather trying at the bestof times. When there was a mirror at hand, it was well nigh impossible to havea meaningful exchange with Henry for he was continually preening himself,adjusting his wig, fidgeting with his attire, experimenting with a series offacial expressions and generally ignoring the person or persons unfortunateenough to be in his presence at such a moment of total self-absorption. Thoughhe found such behaviour extremely irritating, Christopher schooled himself tobe patient.

'Whatmanner of man is this Mr Hartwell?' he asked.

'Jasper?'said Henry dismissively. 'He's an arrant fool.'

'Ithought that he was a friend of yours.'

'Amere acquaintance. I'd never list Jasper Hartwell among my intimates. It woulddamage my reputation.' He tried the wig at a slightly different angle andraised an inquisitive eyebrow. 'How does this look?'

'Fine,'said Christopher wearily. 'It looks fine.'

'Doesit make me handsome and faintly satanic?'

'You looklike Henry Redmayne and he is both of those things with many other distinctivetraits besides. Could we put your appearance to one side for a moment anddiscuss this Mr Hartwell?'

'Butappearance is everything, my dear brother.'

'Iwould dispute that.'

'Well,do not do so in front of Jasper,' warned his brother, striking a peevish note.'In fact, I would advise you to dispute nothing in the presence of yourpotential client. Agree with everything he says, however vapid or inane. Jasperis all outward show. If you think that your dear brother leans a little towardsvanity - a crime I readily confess - wait until you meet Jasper Hartwell. Heputs me in the shade. Jasper makes Narcissus seem like a martyr to modesty.'

'Whatof his inner nature?'

'Hedoesn't have one.'

'Hemust, Henry.'

'Why?'

'Everyman has a true centre to his being.'

'Jasperis the exception to the rule.'

HenryRedmayne decided that his waistcoat was not being displayed to the bestadvantage and fiddled with his coat for several minutes. Christopher suppresseda sigh and waited. They were in the hall of Henry's house in Bedford Street,preparing to leave for a visit to the theatre, a pleasurable occasion whichalso had a commercial purpose, since Christopher was to be introduced tosomeone who might well be interested in employing him as the architect todesign his new London abode. The fact that he had to rely on his brother forthe introduction brought a number of anxieties in its wake. When Henry turnedhis attention back to his wig, Christopher tried to probe for more detail.

'Ihope that Mr Hartwell proves a more reliable client,' he said.

'Reliable?'echoed the other.

'Profoundlygrateful as I am for your help, I have to admit that your introductions havenot always borne fruit.'

'Whatdo you mean?' returned Henry, rounding on him. 'Did I not secure a valuablecommission for you from Sir Ambrose Northcott?'

'Youdid, indeed.'

'Wasit not the start of your career as an aspiring architect?'

'Undoubtedly.'

'Andwere not your services generously rewarded?'

'Theywere, Henry. The fee was paid in full. Unfortunately, the house was never builtso that all of my work went to waste.'

'Don'tblame me, Christopher. How was I to know that Sir Ambrose would be unguardedenough to let himself be murdered? It was an unforeseen hazard. The point isthat, out of the kindness of my filial heart, I presented you with a goldenopportunity.' He gave a loud sniff. 'A modicum of thanks is in order, I fancy.'

'Ihave already said how deeply grateful I am, Henry. Grateful for theintroductions to Sir Ambrose Northcott and, more recently, to that otherfriend, acquaintance, crony, drinking companion, associate, call him what youwill, Lord Staines.'

'Fulkeis part of my inner circle.'

'So Iassumed.'

'Aman on whom I pattern myself.'

'Ideduced that from his air of dissipation.' '

Henrystiffened. 'Fulke Rowett, tenth Baron Staines, is a splendid fellow in every particular.Had circumstances been more propitious, he could have looked to be the nextwarden of the Cinque Ports. You can surely not complain about Lord Staines. Youdesigned a beautiful house for him and it stands to this day as a worthyexample of your talent.'

'Thehouse was built,' agreed Christopher, 'but the architect's fee was never paid.Nor was that of the builder.'

'Atemporary problem in raising finance,' said Henry airily. 'I'm sure that Fulkewill soon rectify this situation.'

'Notwhile he is still on his Irish estates. For that is where he fled when we triedto seek payment. And we were two among many, Henry. The queue of his creditorswould stretch from here to Land's End. Lord Staines may be a splendid fellowbut he is also impulsive, extravagant, irresponsible and up to his neck indebt.'

'Eventhe best horse stumbles at times.'

'Thisone fell at the first jump.'

'Whatare you saying?' demanded Henry, putting his hands on his hips as he went onthe attack. 'Are you telling me that your brother should not put himself out toadvance your interests, to honour the promise I gave to Father to lend all thehelp I could in your search for gainful and satisfying employment?'

'No,Henry,' said Christopher with an appeasing smile, 'that is not my meaning atall. I simply wish to remind you that my experience has hitherto been somewhatchequered. My first client was killed and my second took to his heels when thequestion of payment was raised. All I am seeking to do is to establish that MrHartwell is more dependable.'

'Haveno worries on that score.'

'Howcan I be sure?'

'Jasperhas no intention of being murdered, nor does he have any Irish estates whichcan act as a refuge from his creditors. Arrant fool he may be, but he is asrich as Croesus and more likely to pay you twice the fee you ask out of sheerbenevolence. Does that answer your question?'