The Rake's Progress - Chapter 8

The Rake's Progress

Welcome back to the world of Regency romance and continue the story of a Regency Rake by Miss Louisa Ayling.

Everyone have returned to London for the 1810 season, together with new of debutantes. Both Matthias and Horatia are really not looking forward to it for different reasons, with familial pressures playing a part; but they are both are bored of the Ton’s entertainments and expectations.

So, what are they going to do to entertain themselves?

Will it bring them in the same society or will they drift away from each other's company by following different paths, pushing them further apart or will fate push them together? 

Let's find out in Chapter 8.

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The Rake's Progress. Welcome again to the world of Regency Romance and continue the story of A Regency Rake by Miss Louisa Ailing. Everyone have returned to London for the 1810 season, together with new of debutantes. Both Matthias and Horatia are really not looking forward to it for different reasons, with familial pressures playing a part, but they are both aboard of the Tun's entertainments and expectations. So, what are they going to do to entertain themselves? Will it bring them in the same society or will they drift away from each other's company by following different paths, pushing them further apart, or will fate push them together? Let's find out in chapter 8. Mid-April 1810. Admiralty House, Whitehall. Whitehall came into view, as Matthias looked out the window of his carriage. The traffic had been busy, and he realized it was actually a Monday, the first day of a new working week for many. He was pleased that he had ensured he'd allowed extra time for the journey, so he would still arrive early for his meeting. He wondered what the future would offer him. He wanted adventure but had decided that he did not wish to enter the military, did not wish to fight on the front line in battle conditions, he was not a coward and knew his abilities, also just not to upset his mother and father, but he really did wish to play his part to support those who were fighting for the cause. He felt a flicker of nervousness alongside excitement, as did the slight sensation of anxious butterflies in his stomach as he alighted his carriage and started towards the main portico of the large official building complex. He strode into the large spacious entrance foyer of Whitehall, which was, in fact, the Admiralty House entrance, with its white and black marble tiled floor with a staircase being the central focus. There was a gentleman in an army uniform sitting at a shiny dark oak desk, to one side of the area, who stood as Matthias approached. Good morning, sir. How can I help you? I'm Templeton, Lord Templeton, and I have an appointment with Lord Bathurst at 10 o'clock. The young officer lifted a book from the left-hand drawer of the desk and flicked to a page, ran his finger down it, then pinpointed the name, ticking and noting the time of arrival. Is that the Marquis of Bembridge, my lord? Yes, it is. Matthias had drawn a card from his coat pocket and handed it to him. He looked it over, then returned it. Would you like to follow me, my lord? The young officer came from behind his desk, just as another officer came towards them from the corridor. Jeffreys, I have to escort his lordship to Lord Bathurst's office, would you now man the desk? The other officer looked Matthias over, then bowed his head once he had decided he had passed inspection. Of course, Donovan. They exchanged salutes and the officer called Donovan turned to Matthias. If you would follow me, my lord. Matthias gave a slight nod of assent, following him down the corridor and noticed the officer had a slight limp. They seemed to walk quite a distance before climbing some stairs up to the floor above. Then just a short distance further, the officer knocked, then entered a door, whilst Matthias waited in the plushly carpeted corridor. The officer returned to bid him to enter the outer office. Simpkins will take care of you from here, my lord. Thank you, Donovan. Matthias said and strode in. Another slightly older gentleman stood behind his desk as he entered. Simpkins, good morning. Here's my card, I have an appointment with Lord Bathurst at 10 o'clock. Good morning, my lord, please, would you take a seat? I'll just inform him of your arrival. Simpkins went through an etched, half-glazed door down a small corridor, and knocked on the largest door at the end, entered and then soon returned. His lordship will see you straight away, Lord Templeton. Matthias stood and followed Simpkins down to the large door. He opened it and announced Lord Templeton, my lord. Thank you, Simpkins. Coffee for us both, please. Templeton, good to see you again. The older Lord held out his hand in greeting. Please take a seat. Thank you for seeing me, Lord Bathurst, it is much appreciated. It was good to see your father again. It's been a while, but he looked quite well, I thought. Also, as I told you both, I am always on the lookout for good men that I can rely upon to aid our cause. Yes, my father is extremely well, I'm pleased to say. I hope that I can offer you some skills that will be of help. I'm sure you will. I believe you know Earls of Marsham and Clanduggan, also Sir Harvey Trench. Yes, I do. Well, Marsham and Clanduggan have signed up. Trench, as you know, has been part of our team for quite a while now. Three good men from my team there was a knock on the door. Enter. It opened to reveal Donovan with a tray holding a large silver coffee pot and two cups and saucers. Do not disturb us, Donovan. Yes, my lord. He bowed and left the two lords to their meeting. So, how can you use me to assist the department, my lord? I've been thinking about that. Having obtained your records from school and Oxford, it appears your strengths are in languages as well as mathematics. Yes, I did quite well in both of those subjects and am fluent in French, Spanish, and Portuguese, and a little German too. All useful languages at this time. My thoughts are that you would fit in well with the message crackers, codebreakers or code writers, which will sometimes take place here but could in fact mean traveling to Portugal, Spain and France some of the time, when needed. Would that mean being on the front line? Matthias asked. Not if we can avoid it. We would not want Napoleon's spy network to find you, so only occasionally would you be required to travel to the continent. So, let me understand a few visits to the continent would be expected of me, but most of my functions will take place in England. Yes, that's correct. I do not risk any members of the team unnecessarily. I need their expertise working for us, without being given to the enemy. So very crucial to our success. Lord Bathurst continued to outline his requirements and what Matthias's role would entail if he decided to join the team. After 40 minutes, a very pleased Matthias was descending the stairs, traversing back along the corridors, returning to the main entrance foyer, acknowledged Donovan, who was back on the desk, then out the doors to reboard his carriage for his journey back to Brook Street. He had a few days in which to confirm his decision, as he needed to discuss this with his father first. Mid-April 1810. Stanwyek House, Mayfair. The last of the traveling cases and valises were now unpacked in Horatia's bedchamber, and together with Peggy, they had carefully put things in their rightful places, for ease of locating again when dressing. Well, that's it, I believe, Peggy. I do believe we've got it about right, miss. I believe so, too. So, you go and see Cook, get some refreshments, I'm going to join Mama in the drawing room. I do not believe we have any commitments this evening, I think it's not until Friday, so four days to get used to town again. Yes, her ladyship mentioned going to the Modest to order a couple of new gowns, with at least one ready ready for the Chesterton ball next week, Miss. Horatia winced when she heard the name of the ball, and remembered that dreaded gown. Pink pea hen indeed. So she did. I suppose that is what we will do tomorrow, also I need a few pairs of dancing slippers too. I must remember to get them organized. Peggy bobbed a curtsy and left the room, with Horatia leaving just a few minutes later, descending the main stairs to join her mother. Ah. There you are, Horatia. Just to let you know, I've contacted the modest and we have an appointment tomorrow morning, and then we'll go to the Emporium for a few pieces of lace for last year's gowns to be modified, so that you and Peggy can adjust them to the styles I've chosen for you. Thank you, Mama, Horatia said, as she inwardly grimaced. She knew her mother's idea of style, and she was not going to let the catastrophe happen to her ever again. Although, when she sat down with a saucer of tea and some lemon biscuits, the thought of that handsome face came to view, then she spoke absently. I wonder who is in town, Mama. I hear that your friend Lady Melissa and Miss Sinclair are here, and I also hear that the Templetons are back in Brook Street too. Lady Hazel studied her daughter's reaction. Just a slight blush touched her cheeks at the mention of the name. Well, I'm sure we will cross paths with many of our old friends once we start attending the various ton entertainments. Yes, of course we will. Horatia contemplated the days ahead. Another season, now her second. There will be another tranche of debutants, all clambering after the same gentleman, after the catch of the season, and the gentleman after that diamond of the first water or heiress, so Horatia probably didn't stand much of a chance. Hopefully there will be someone for you this time around. Just behave well, so no blemish can be attached to your name. That's all I ask, because you must remember your younger sister. What you do now will affect her too. Yes, Mama, I'll be careful. And bored to tears. Horatia just hoped the fashion for potted palms was still in vogue this season. Trench House, Mayfair. May 1810. Two gentlemen sat in companionable silence around the large mahogany desk, with several files open, and numerous pieces of velin spread over it. Their concentration was intense, with the light from the window fading, three large candelabras had been lit, they flickered their light onto their work area. Well, I think I can start to see where this is going, Harvey. You can? Well, you are obviously more clever than I, Temple. I have been staring at the same sentence for the last 10 minutes to no avail. There's definitely a pattern forming, so I should be able to find the cipher, but it's not an easy one. There appears to be more than one pattern running through. Harvey squinted, as in this instance it just appeared as a jumble of letters and numbers to him. Usually he can get a start on it, but this just looked undecipherable to him. This one stumped me, Temple, I cannot even get started. Sometimes it's very straightforward, but this has flummoxed me completely. So, can you explain what you have found? I will be able to, once I can figure out the third pattern. This sounds like an important message, coming from one of their spies in a position of power. Yes, most definitely. It mentions Beresford and Weselli together with Portugal, I've discovered that, but there's more to the message than just names, and that's where the third pattern comes in. What a complicated bloody thing it is. Something to get my teeth into though. The click on the mantle chimed the hour of eight. No wonder I feel hungry, look at the time. Shall I ask my chef to organize something? We could eat here, set up a table. Harvey suggested. A good idea. I would like to get this done this evening, and get it back to Bathurst swiftly. Matthias stood but bent over the desk, bracing his hands either side of the coded message he had been attempting to decipher. His expression was one of intense concentration, frowning at the page. He turned it sideways, then around again until the top of the page was closest to him. Then enlightenment slowly appeared on his face, softening his expression, which then started to smile. That's it? Harvey was soon by his side. Have you decoded it, Temple? Not quite, but I can see the patterns at last. There's definitely more than one message here. They are embedded into each other. A very simple set of numerical codes but cleverly dispersed within a standard letter. I must share this technique with Lord Bathers tomorrow as it may be being used by others, and I have heard that one of Wellesley's men is doing the same as us. A major Scovell, I believe it is. Yes, definitely. Show me it more thoroughly, then I can check this second message for a similar pattern. I've ordered sandwiches, pies, and such, food we can eat and work, much to my chef's annoyance, I expect. Temple laughed. Good idea, and he'll get over it. We have important work here and it will hopefully save lives. They spent the next two hours successfully deciphering the three intercepted messages they were given, which were dispatched by the French spies in England, and Temple and Harvey discovered that two of them were crucial to Wellesley's latest maneuvers in Portugal. They had eaten and were now sipping a Scotch whiskey to relax. This would be the end of their evening, and would soon be enjoying an early night's sleep prior to an early morning, attending Bathurst's in his office with their news.