That Rake's Progress - Chapter 14

Let us continue the story of a Rake in the world of Regency romance in Chapter 14 from That Rake’s Progress , a novel by Miss Louisa Ayling.

Matthias now at Lord Wellington’s British Headquarters, finds he is continuing to collaborate with Major Scovell in developing code breaking deciphers, before he has to return to Lisbon, to sail homeward bound. 

An invitation to a Christmas houseparty excites Horatia’s family, so they make arrangements to travel to Berkshire.

Will Matthias arrive home safely?

What will a visit at the Christmas season mean for Horatia?

Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:00

Let us continue the story of a Regency rake in the world of the Regency romance in chapter 14. From The Rake's Progress by Miss Louisa Ailing. Matthias, now at Lord Wellington's British headquarters, finds he is continuing to collaborate with Major Scovell in developing code-breaking deciphers before he has to return to Lisbon to sail homeward bound. An invitation to a Christmas house party excites Horatia's family, so they make arrangements to travel to Berkshire. Will Matthias arrive home safely? What will a visit at the Christmas season mean for Horatia? 12th of October 1810. Collaboration. The buildup of the Allied forces, made up of the British and the Portuguese troops in the Torres Verdes area, had increased the numbers of men substantially and had become well established over the district. Troops were preparing for combat or helping the Portuguese labourers with digging or setting up defenses across the whole area. Matthias found it fascinating to watch. In fact, it gave him the opportunity to relax away from the intensity of the work he was involved with in collaboration with Major Scovelle. They appeared to be making some headway, but it was not easy, as there was not just one code in a message, sometimes two or even three, and Matthias had discovered two of the trigger words to indicate which code was being used, after the Major had discovered another two. They had found the occurrence of those trigger words in four different messages and one that Matthias had brought from England. Lord Wellington was pleased with their progress, and had informed them of this on day two of their work whilst at the large dining table, surrounded by a few other officers that Matthias had become acquainted with since his arrival. His lordship also went to confirm that nearly all the troops were now in place, the supply lines were safe, and that would mean that meals like this one would continue for the short term and that munitions would be well stopped for oncoming battle, which he believed was imminent. 13 October 1810. Homeward bound. After completing another day with the Major, having consumed another elaborate dinner at Lord Wellington's table, they were congratulated on their combined efforts, and the Major, with Matthias's help, had managed to decipher a recently intercepted message to the French forces along the front lines. At the end of the meal, it meant that all the serving staff were sent from the room with only the officers who were important remaining for the port and cigars, and Matthias found himself included in this meeting. Lord Wellington now put an emphasis on the findings in the message that the Portuguese partisans had intercepted to all those that surrounded the table. Well, gentlemen, we have now adopted the balls and flags system of communication along the lines, make sure all the men know this system, no mistakes can be made, and thanks to Major Scovell and Lord Bembridge, we have managed to decipher a message that has put me, and obviously, now you, on high alert. I am expecting a French attack in the morning. We must be ready, men. The seriousness of the upcoming siege sunk in, and Matthias realized that he needed to leave swiftly. He did not wish to be in the vicinity of a battle if he could help it. Lord Wellington continued, silence ensued. Lord Bembridge, I wish to thank you on behalf of us all for your contribution and collaboration with Major Scovell. I am sure that the two of you, through the War Office routes, will correspond with each other and work together to continue your good works, as it is imperative that we try to protect our British men and our allies as much as we can. Thank you, my lord. It's been an honour and a privilege. I do believe that Major Scovell and I will continue our work, although in isolation, except through secure lines of communication with one another. As do I, Lord Bembridge. The Major returned. May I suggest that this evening you make a hasty retreat back to Lisbon and return to England forthwith, Lord Bembridge, as I do not want to have both of my key cryptographers in one place during a battle. Lord Wellington recommended. I can see your point, my lord, I will be sad to leave you, gentlemen, but I'm sure I do not wish to find myself again in the midst of conflict if it can be avoided, especially after the last time. After saying farewells to the men who had become friends over the length of his stay, he was soon packed and mounted on Trasgow, on his way back to Lisbon, where he was to say goodbye to his reliable, strong gelding to board a vessel bound for England. He found himself once again on the Narus with Captain Fox Grove, who had been ordered to return to Lisbon once he had reached Gibraltar whilst on his way to Madeira. They were to sail back to Portsmouth after he'd picked up stores in Lisbon. Matthias had a smoother journey this time, the Bay of Biscay being extremely kind on the homeward journey, for which he was most thankful, as it can be very unpredictable at this time of year. The winds meant that the journey only took six days, a vast improvement on the outward one, and he actually found it enjoyable. Playing chess and a few card games with Foxgrove on his journey. Matthias found himself back at Templeton House by 11 October, sitting in his study reading about Massana's assault on the lines. The Allied forces were outnumbered by the French veterans, but Lord Wellington had managed to set a trap for them, with the more mountainous first line of three lines of defences that stretched around 53 miles from Atlantic to the Togos, he had ensured that there had been a clear evacuation route to the coast for the British troops if it was deemed necessary, and the strategy worked to hold back the French. In another newspaper three weeks later, stated that the Torres Verdes network that was formed stunned the French as the defences were impenetrable, so Massinard did not launch a direct assault but instead camped his starving and disease-ridden troops on the wastelands in front of the first line of Torres Verdes for about a month before retreating. Matthias continued to correspond with Major Scovell over the next month, and between them they worked on several ciphers that had been discovered in a variety of messages both on the peninsula and within Britain, meaning that British and Allied troops had been saved, which was the crucial point. Matthias found his contribution very rewarding and always looked forward to receiving new encrypted messages. The work took his mind off of his loneliness and of a certain young lady in pink, and he wondered if she had returned from Bath and what her plans were for the coming month. Christmas period, December 1810. December brought in its icy chill over the land, cold sleety rain, frosty fog, and even crisp sunshine. Fires burned in grates, with constant log cutting by the groundmen to replenish the stocks of the seasoned, drywood in the stores. Every household started to prepare for the festive season of Christmas, with the hanging and draping of evergreen boughs, ribbons, and the scent of pine in the air adding to the ambience, and Stanwyck Hall was no different to any other home, large or small. Although in Bath it was still part of their season, and in London it was the latter part of the autumn season. Lady Stanwyek had been a little unsure where they were to spend this period of the year, but in the end it was decided for them by an invitation. A festive house party at Sherrington Park in Berkshire. It was the home of the Earl of Ashburton, who was Captain Sherrington's elder brother, the same captain whom had been courting Horatia whilst in Bath, and had corresponded with each other over the last two weeks, since their return to the country. Lady Stanweek was in her element organizing their packing for the house party, ably assisted by the mains and Horatia herself. She ensured some of Horatia's dresses had been updated or mended with enthusiasm, justifying the additional cost to Lord Stanweek. They will be travelling up following Friday, arriving just in time for Christmas Eve and staying for around ten days, weather permitting. Time would soon fly by and making all the preparations. Horatia also helped with preparing gifts, together with Christmas treats, so that they were in place for the staff who would remain behind in Sussex, with more sent up for the staff at the London House. Lady Stanwyek had great hopes for this visit, and just prayed that Horatia was likewise expectant of a change in her circumstances by the new year. It was a cold frosty Friday morning as two black and gold coaches stood on the drive at the bottom of the white stone steps, as Horatia sat waiting patiently with her father and sister Adelaide, as her mother eventually exited the doors of their home. There were always last-minute things that her mother had thought of and just had to be sorted before she left, much to her father's extreme annoyance, putting him in a solemn mood before they'd even left home. He had hoped to spend the time in London, where he had plenty of entertainment for his personal needs. In the other carriage sat her brothers Jonathan, George, and Harold, her brother Russell was at sea, and her two younger brothers were staying with friends. Eventually the carriages pulled away. A third carriage had already left early in the morning with their luggage and a maid and two valets, so that it reached Sherrington in advance of them. They would make one overnight stop on their 60 mile journey before they arrived on the Sunday afternoon.