Page 5 of The Rum and The Fox

“He’s bad ton,” Bertie hissed across the table, looking suddenly animated. “Fortune hunter,” he added, to which Ash looked aghast.

“Surely not?”

Freddie nodded, the brooding expression he generally practised looking downright grim. “’Fraid, so, Ash,” he said, staring into his glass with a thoughtful expression. “Though, in truth, I don’t know what you can do about it,” he added.

“Do?” Ash replied, in outrage. “I shall tell the blighter to sling his hook and hunt somewhere else.” he said, folding his arms and staring at his friend with indignation.

Freddie shook his head, but it was Bertie who answered.

“Shouldn’t do that,” Bertie said, lowering his voice. “He’s a regular devil, is Rennard. Said to have murdered a man in a sword fight. Might call you out. Bad idea, Ash. You know you’re no good with a sword. Never were. Hopeless in fact.”

Ash flushed a little, his lack of skill with a sword having long been a source of chagrin to him. Though, in truth, he was even worse with a pistol. It was galling, to say the least.

“Be better to talk to your mother,” Freddie advised, brushing past Ash’s embarrassment as only one who was a fine swordsman himself could. “Warn her off him.”

Ash considered this idea with trepidation, sensing heated scenes of recrimination and copious tears would be his reward for days after if he didn’t tread with caution.

“I think I should meet the fellow first,” he said after giving it some careful thought. “I can’t just dismiss the man out of hand on the strength of a rumour, can I?” he said, shaking his head as his two friends stared at him with blank expressions. “Well, that just goes to show you don’t have a sister or a widowed mother,” Ash said with huff. “You can’t just go around laying down the law and expect your life to be pleasant after you have, believe me.” Picking up his glass Ash took a sip, mulling the idea over. “Yes, it’s the best thing. I’ll make myself known to … what was his name again?”

“Viscount Rennard, Lord Todd,” Bertie supplied for him as Ash nodded.

“Lord Todd,” he repeated. “I’ll just give him my card and … and see what I make of the fellow. Then I’ll speak to my mother,” he said, frowning over the idea and wondering what on earth he was letting himself in for.

***

Deciding that there was no time like the present, and bolstered by rather more claret than was possibly wise, Ash set off in the direction of the house that Freddie had supplied for him. It was dark, now, and Ash was a little troubled by the rather unpleasant picture Bertie had painted for him of the viscount. An ogre of a man standing over six feet tall, broad as an ox, and rumoured to have run a man through in cold blood. Ash trembled inwardly a little at the idea. Though he wasn't a particularly imaginative young man, a combination of the dark, a good claret, and a natural disinclination for violence began to play on his mind. It was for that reason, though he knew Bath well, that he decided to hire a link boy to light his path, and hopefully keep any footpads at bay.

The young man he engaged was a gregarious sort and kept up a stream of inconsequential chatter as they navigated their path, whilst Ash kept a tight hold on his valuables. He might not be an out and outer, but neither was he a flat to be taken advantage of. Having been on the town for a few years now, one couldn’t help but pick up a bit of experience along the way, and a nose for what seemed a trifle smoky.

He was somewhat perturbed to find that Lord Todd's address was to be found in a slightly less fashionable neighbourhood than he might have expected - for a viscount, at least. It wasn't an auspicious start to find the man living in circumstances that were rather less than what one might expect, and reinforced his friend's implications about the man being a fortune hunter. However, Ash was a fair-minded young man and decided he'd keep an open mind. After all, if the fellow had fallen on hard times through no fault of his own, then who was Ash to throw stones? Whilst if his mother did remarry, he'd rather it was to a man of worth, both financially and morally. Ash had a rather romantic heart. He was neither hard nor unfair, and he wasn't so archaic as to refuse her permission to be with a man she loved simply because the man's pockets were to let through circumstances outside of the fellow’s control.

One sniff of gambling or vice, however ... that was another matter entirely.

"'Ere you are, guvn'r," the boy said, gesturing to a tall, elegant, three story house facing the green.

"Is this it?" Ash queried, slightly relieved to find the house rather grander than he might have thought. The boy nodded at him and Ash fished around for his payment. "Right, then," he replied, staring up at the building with misgiving.

"You goin' in, then?" the boy asked, curiosity in his eyes.

"Well, obviously," Ash said with a tut, but rather wondering if he would. "Else why would I be here?" he added, sounding indignant. He didn’t move, though, just stared at the front door with growing trepidation.

The boy nodded, apparently accepting he would move eventually, but added, "If you're goin', I'd go now, while 'is lordship is out."

"Oh?" Ash turned and looked at the boy with a feeling of alarm. "Why's that?"

"'Cause 'e's a proper Captain Huff, is why. A swell cove like you don't want to go messin' wiv the likes of 'im, I reckon."

Ash paled somewhat, which must have been visible even in the dim lamplight that the boy was holding, as he grinned at Ash.

"Ah, don't you fret, 'e's not there now, an' won't be 'til late. But the daughter is, and she's a sight for sore eyes, I reckon."

"Oh?" Ash said again, brightening somewhat at the prospect of meeting the daughter. He could gain a first impression from her, at least, surely? Of course, it would be most improper for him to call on a young woman he had not been introduced to, and especially at this hour, but she could always refuse to see him.

She certainly would, if she were respectable.

The boy nodded, his teeth showing surprisingly white in his dirty face in the murky light. "A prime article, she is," he continued, looking enthusiastic now. "Sweet-natured, too, stopped ‘er pa knocking seven bells out of me, an’ gave me some grub the other morning."

Ash pondered this information with increasing anxiety before steeling himself and walking up to the front door. He paused to flick a coin to the boy, who leapt to grab it before it hit the ground. It glinted as it arced towards him and the boy's eyes widened with delight as he stared at the crown in his palm.