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There was no point in arguing the semantics. Edward Gardiner just nodded.

“I can understand never being close again, but go no further than indifference.”

“I can do that. She will be married in less than three weeks, off to somewhere in Kent and it is unlikely that I will ever see her again. I will hear how she is doing indirectly, from Jane through Mary. Any news to her will be the reverse.”

--

Two days later life for the Gardiners changed just as dramatically as that horrible day in July of 1807. This time however, it was good news, unbelievably great news. Elizabeth was sitting in the front parlour with her new aunt when Mrs. Gardiner was called through to her husband’s study. Two minutes later she heard ‘oh Edward, this is wonderful’. Curiosity burned within her and she only had to wait a further two minutes before her aunt rushed into the parlour.

“Lizzie, come with me, such news.”

The overheard comment and her aunt’s wide smile assuaged any concerns she had about the news. This was clearly good news. As soon as the study door was closed her uncle thrust two pieces of paper into Elizabeth’s hand. As she read them it was fortunate there was a chair behind here as she all but collapsed in surprise. The letter was the explanation and details but the second piece of paper was a copy of the proclamation.

Whitehall, January 8, 1812

The Prince Regent, in the name of the King, has been pleased to grant the Dignity of a Baronet of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland unto the following Gentleman and the Heirs Male of his body, lawfully begotten,

Edward George Gardiner of Bridge in the City of London.

Elizabeth looked at her smiling uncle but turned to her aunt.

“Aunt Agatha, I believe you should be the first person to address Mr. Gardiner correctly.”

Agatha Gardiner took a second to understand her niece but then burst into a huge smile, reaching over and squeezing Elizabeth’s hand for the gesture. She stood and curtsied deeply.

“Congratulations Sir Edward.”

Elizabeth waited until they had finished hugging before repeating her gesture.

“Congratulations Sir Edward. Young Edward is in for a shock when he returns from the office.”

“Let me ring for tea. I will ask Mrs. Brewer to ensure we have chilled champagne with supper tonight. The staff can share several bottles of wine as part of the celebration.”

15 minutes later everyone was settled with fresh tea. Mrs. Brewer knew something had happened but the details had not yet been shared. All of the staff would be gathered once young Edward was home and would be informed then.

“What can you tell us about this award? Are you allowed to discuss it?”

“Now that it is official, yes I can. First of all, I apologise for keeping this a secret from you Agatha. As you will hear in a moment, there was some opposition to the granting of the award. I did not want to jinx the process and so kept it to myself.”

He looked over fondly at his niece.

“The reason I am a Baronet, my son Edward in time, and my family yet to come is because of Lizzie here.”

The exclamations of ‘what!’ overlapped.

“One evening in the late autumn of ’09 one of the guests at dinner was a captain of a ship which had recently been in A Coruna. The British had embarked from there in the January during the retreat of General Moore’s Army. Within six months the French had retreated from Galicia completely, through Spanish resistance to their invasion and the need for their troops elsewhere. The British were now sending shipments of guns and ammunition to the Spanish via A Coruna and Captain Jensen and his ship were in one of those convoys.

“This was all in the newspapers, which Lizzie and I had carefully and thoroughly read. But what was not in the newspaper was information that Captain Jensen mentioned at dinner. He had heard that the Spanish had captured French supply caravans and there had been brandy included in the manifest. The Generals and Marshalls of the French Army wanted their comforts when on campaign. The next day Elizabeth mentions this previously unknown titbit to me. But it was the follow up question that tipped the scales. Do you remember Lizzie?”

She nodded.

“Do you think we would be allowed to trade French brandy but with the Spanish not the French?”

“Exactly. And that one sentence took nearly a year to turn into reality.”

“Your Baronetcy is because of the ‘blood brandy’?”

“Not entirely. All will become clear. So Lizzie gives me this idea and I sat and noodled away at it. Trying to think of ways to turn this idea into a plan and from there to having it actually happen. Lizzie is vital a second time due to her connections.”