Chapter 3

Later that same morning, Ellington finally arrived at Highfields the country residence of his cousin, Lord Melrose. Ellington was excited about attending one of Melrose's infamous entertainments as it was an honour to be invited. Melrose was famous for selecting his guests with care, and only ever invited gentlemen of the highest social standing. It was also well known that whatever happened within the estate boundaries of Highfields, would never be disclosed to the world outside. The guests could indulge their every fantasy, however amoral, without censure from their peers or family, or have to face the consequences of their actions.

However, during the short journey to Highfields, his travelling companion, Major Mitford, had been looking at him with disapproval. Since they had arrived back in London, after they had both been injured at Salamanca, Mitford was rarely found in respectable company. He had been living the life of a libertine and had been frequenting every seedy gaming establishment in the capital. He was brilliant at gambling and rarely lost, even though he drank heavily and could rarely be found sober.

Therefore, this sudden change in Mitford's character had puzzled Ellington. He had specifically invited Mitford to Melrose's house party, because of his reputation as a rake-hell and shrewd card player. In his invitation, Melrose had asked him to bring a friend who was a renowned card-player and would be able to entertain his houseguests with his skills. Mitford had been the perfect choice. However, on the journey from London, Mitford had proved to be a very different man from the libertine he had known. Not only had Mitford not drunk a drop of liquor since leaving, but he had also subjected Ellington to several long moralising sermons about the way he treated women. He only hoped that Mitford would soon forget his newly acquired scruples, and provide the houseguests with the entertainment he had promised to deliver.

Melrose had been at the front door, at the impressive entrance to his grand country mansion ready to greet his guests, when their carriage briskly travelled up the driveway. After the warm welcome, both men accompanied Melrose to his study, and drank whisky, while their rooms were being prepared. They were talking about the journey, in particular, last night's accident, when a footman came to the study and announced that both the gentlemen's rooms were ready.

Ellington and Mitford stood up to leave, but Melrose said to his cousin. 'May I speak to you in private, before you go upstairs to your room.'

'Of course,' he said, as Mitford, who was still in a bad mood, left the room, 'I am not in the least bit tired.'

'Good,' Melrose said motioning for his cousin to sit back down, 'I have wanted to talk to you since you arrived back in England.'

Ellington obeyed his cousin and sat back down in one of the leather chairs next to the fireplace, and then said to his cousin, 'may I trouble you for another glass of your excellent whisky?'

Melrose nodded and walked over to the decanter and poured Ellington another large glass of the exquisite amber liquid. He walked back over to him, handed him the glass and sat down in the chair opposite him. 'I would like to discuss with you, the possibility of you becoming a partner with me in my little venture.'

'I hardly call it little. It has, after all, rebuilt this place,' Ellington said with pride in his voice.

'Are you aware of how I make my money?' Melrose asked, leaning forward towards Ellington.

'Only what my family has told me. My mother has said, rather disparagingly, that you are "in trade."'

His cousin and owner of Highfields, Lord Melrose, was an exceptionally wealthy man. When he had inherited the estate from his father, five years ago, it looked very different from what it was like today. After many years of neglect, the buildings were rundown, and the businesses that many of the locals relied on were close to bankruptcy. The former Lord Melrose was a wastrel and had frittered away an extensive fortune by the time he was thirty. And, on his deathbed, some thirty years later, he left his only son nothing but debts.

When the current Lord Melrose had inherited Highfields, he had vowed that he would never make the same mistakes as his father. He was tired of living his life in near poverty and having to rely on his friends to bail him out financially. He was determined to reinstate his family's fortunes to their former glory, and, once more, make Highfields one of the foremost estates in the country. And, Lord Melrose, in that short period of time, had done just that. He had not only restored his family's wealth, but he also had, more importantly, reestablished its consequence. His friends, who for years had pitied him, were now in awe of him.

However, turning around his fortunes had not been without its own difficulties. He had very little capital, and consequently, he had had to invest it in a venture run by individuals with a shady reputation. They had especially asked him to invest in their venture because they had wanted to use his family name to lend their business an air of respectability.

In those early days, Melrose was surprised at how much money he could earn, and it soon became an obsession. He had built up an empire that quickly grew in strength, and now, five years later, he was one of the most influential and wealthiest men in the country.

'That is partly true. I do have many successful businesses, but that is not how I made the bulk of my fortune.' Melrose paused and leaned forward towards his cousin. 'Everything I tell you is in the strictest confidence.'

'You have my word,' Ellington replied solemnly, 'we are family, after all.'

'I use my many legitimate businesses to hide other ventures, that may not be seen as strictly moral.' Melrose paused and looked at Ellington.

'Please carry on,' Ellington said, looking intrigued, 'you have my full attention.'

'My businesses, for all intents and purposes, are highly respectable. However, most of my income is earned by illicit means, mainly prostitution and gambling. But, even those are all a means to support my main venture.' Melrose looked at his cousin intently, 'you see, I use my many establishments, through the people that work there, to gather information about my clients. You would be amazed what gentlemen talk about when they are in bed with a woman, who I have trained.'

'Blackmail?' Ellington said, during a break in the conversation.

'Oh no! Nothing as crude as that,' Melrose replied. 'Of course, it depends on what I have found out. Sometimes, I will sell the information to the highest bidder, but most of the time, I just use it to make other investments.' Melrose paused and looked at the fire, 'Stephan,' he said seriously, 'you do know I am telling you all this in the strictest confidence.'

Ellington nodded. 'You can trust me. I will not tell a soul.'

'Good,' Melrose said more confidently, 'I will continue. I also loan money to those who find it difficult to raise capital by more conventional means. Over the past three years, I have secured the deeds to many famous houses in England and Ireland. I will teach you that a man in debt, and on the brink of ruin, will do anything to save himself.'

'How would you like me to help?'

Ellington, ever since he arrived back in England, was hoping to emulate his cousin's success. He had been a soldier for far too long, and now he longed for the freedom of a civilian life. But, he did not want just any life, Ellington wanted only the best for himself. A poor military officer, with no family financial assistance, would find it difficult, if not impossible, to pursue a life of luxury. Therefore, after he had been injured at Salamanca, he had made the momentous decision to marry the richest heiress he could find.

Enlisting the help of his mother, he had soon found a suitable young lady, a chit's only daughter, and sole heir to her father's extensive fortune. He had been excessively charming, and, as a result, the young woman had been rather dazzled by his suave demeanour, and had quickly agreed to marry him. However, there was a problem, Ellington did not like his intended bride. Not only was she gauche and extremely ill-informed, but she was also a very small, plain-looking young woman, with no sense for the latest fashions and a tendency to moralise. But the thought of a hundred thousand pounds, and with the promise of more in the future, kept him by her side.

'There are many ways a gentleman, of your considerable talents, can be of use to me. Once you have married the chit's daughter, and have taken your rightful place in the ton, you will be beyond reproach. You are, after all, a war hero, who was injured protecting this country from the tyranny of Napoleon. Your name, as well as your family connections and newly acquired wealth, will strengthen my hand in the world of politics. Together, we could shape the direction that this country takes, we could influence parliament and the courts. I need someone I know by my side, Stephan, someone I can trust.' Melrose paused, and then looked at his cousin in the eyes. 'Would you be interested?'

'Yes, yes, I would,' Ellington said, with excitement in his voice.

'Good,' Melrose said rubbing his hands together, 'I open my main country house, once a year, and invite a few of my more influential clients. I would like you to get to know them and help me look after them while they are here, and see that their every need is catered for.' Melrose got up and filled the empty glasses once more. 'Come, let us toast our new venture.'

After they had clinked their glasses together, Melrose said to his cousin, 'how did you get on at Hadlands last night? I take it from what you implied earlier, and from the disparaging looks Mitford was giving you, that you were rather taken with the younger Stanford chit.'

Ellington nodded. 'She is a beauty and proved to be a rather delightful distraction in the early hours of the morning. I was rather hoping to pursue my budding relationship with her while I was here. I may even take her back to London to be my mistress.'

'Well done,' Melrose said in congratulations, 'but are you certain that you want her as a mistress. I find that they can be even more demanding than having a wife. Then, when you tire of them and believe me you will, they will expect you to give them an expensive parting gift. I personally find that they are more trouble than they are worth. He leaned back in his chair and looked at Ellington, 'I recommend that you do not make her your mistress. Instead, do what I do. I never tie myself to just one woman. I just take my pick of the most beautiful women in my employ.'

There was a lull in the conversation, that was eventually broken by Melrose. 'What I suggest is that you use your powers of persuasion to convince her to come back to London with us. Once she is there, we can set her up in one of our more exclusive establishments, and she can begin to entertain specially selected clients. She is young and very beautiful, and I know plenty of gentlemen that would pay well for the privilege. I have every intention of employing the older sister for the same purpose.' There was another long pause in the conversation, when Melrose added, 'their father used to come here regularly, and everyone knows that he died owing me a small fortune. I must make sure that everyone knows that his debt is going to be paid in full by his daughters. I want them to be an example to my clients who refuse to pay me. Everyone will know that I will stop at nothing to get my money back.'

Ellington smiled. 'What an excellent plan. If the daughters of a Baronet can be forced into becoming mere doxies, to pay their family's debt, then it could happen to anyone.'

Ellington then drained the contents of his glass. 'Then you must help me convince her,' he then said as he put the glass on the table. 'I need a place where I can meet her. Somewhere private, where we will not be interrupted, but not too far away from Hadlands.'

Melrose smiled at his cousin, 'I know just the place,' he said decisively. 'My grandfather had a folly built. It is on the border of Highfields and Hadlands. I could lend you a carriage, and you could arrange to meet her at the gatehouse on the Northside. The folly is in a very secluded spot, chosen particularly by my relative to meet with his many paramours.'

'Thank you,' Ellington said as he stood up to leave. 'I will take you up on your offer. But now I must go, have a bath and change my clothes. I cannot stand sitting in these filthy rags a minute longer.'

'Before you go, I have one last question.' Melrose said as he stood up to show his guest out of his study.

'Yes, what is it?'

'Do you think your friend, Mitford, is up to this?' Melrose asked doubtfully, 'he does not look like your typical gambler to me.'

'Mitford is the best. Before we left to come here, he was leading a very dissolute life. He frequented every shady gaming establishment in the city. Just give him a bottle of booze and a deck of cards, and he will beat anyone.' Ellington said with confidence.

'I do hope so,' Melrose replied, 'I suppose anyone would be out of sorts after spending a night at Hadlands in the middle of a storm. I shall look forward to seeing you both later.'