Lord Rakehell (2 page)

For Paula,
my grandson Daryl's beautiful wife

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

I am indebted to the following historical and biographical sources on Victorian England's society, monarchy, government, and noble families, including the Hamiltons and the Curzon-Howes.

• Kenneth Rose:
  Who's Who in the Royal House of Windsor
  
• John Pearson:
  Stags & Serpents
  
• J. Preest Lord:
  John Russell
  
• Joseph J. Schroeder, Jr. (Ed.):
  The Wonderful World of Ladies' Fashion: 1850–1920
  
• History Learning Site: American Civil War December, 1863
  
• Victorian Web: Literature, History, & Culture in the Age of Victoria
  
• The Morning Post
  (London): February 19, 1863 and November 11, 1863
  
• Illustrated London News
  : March 7, 1863
  
• Encyclopaedia Britannica Online
  
• Library of the Commonwealth: Secretariat, situated at Marlborough House (Online)
  
• English Heritage (www.english-heritage.org.uk): Chiswick House and Gardens
  
• Sandringham (www.sandringhamestate.co.uk): Managing Sandringham Estate
  

Windsor Castle

June 1858

“H
arry, you look radiant!” Lor
d James Hamilton kissed his sister Harriet's cheek. “There's something about marriage that makes females thrive.” James winked at his brother-in-law, Thomas, Earl of Lichfield. “Can't imagine what it could be.”

“It's the bed play,” Harry declared.

Thomas closed his eyes, summoning forbearance.

James hooted with laughter. “How do you put up with the outrageous baggage?”

Thomas shook his head. “I swear there is something in the air at weddings that makes the fair sex giddy beyond control.”

“It has the opposite effect on males. The groom wears black, along with a stunned expression, and the rest of our sex silently commiserate with the poor devil.”

“James, I warrant on the inside you are laughing at the narrow escape you managed. Just think, you could have been Lady Emily Curzon-Howe's bridegroom today.”

Lord Hamilton sobered. “Bite your tongue, Harry. I've an acre of wild oats to sow before I contemplate the institution of marriage.”

“Surely a member of Parliament would benefit from a wife?”

“Since I am the
youngest
member of the House, I believe the disadvantages of matrimony far outweigh the benefits.”

“You're heading in the wrong direction. St. George's Chapel is this way.”

“I'm attending the Prince of Wales today. I'll likely find him in the billiard room.”

“Ah, your partner in crime,” Harry teased. “You were named one of his attendants because you are older and wiser. His misguided parents no doubt believe you will have a profound effect on the randy young devil.”

“And so I shall. I'm three years older and abundantly wise in the ways of women, thanks to having seven saucy sisters.”

“I'm not simply saucy; I'm also salacious.”

Her husband rolled his eyes. “You are a scandalous baggage.”

“How the devil do you keep from doing her violence?” James asked.

The corners of Harry's mouth went up. “He loves me to distraction.”

Her husband changed the subject. “I hear the prince is eager for a military career.”

“No chance of that at present. His father won't even consider it until he completes at least two years at Oxford. The prince is champing at the bit, and I can't blame him. His parents and tutors have had the poor devil in leading strings his entire life.”

“Better watch out, James,” his sister warned. “If they ever let Teddy out of his cage and he gets a taste of freedom, he may run off the rails.”

James winked. “I shall make it my priority to see that he does so.”

•   •   •

The nuptials of Lady Emily Curzon-Howe and her bridegroom, Colonel Robert Kingscote, were taking place in Windsor Castle's chapel because the bride was a lady-in-waiting to Her Gracious Majesty Queen Victoria, and the groom had recently been appointed as an equerry to Albert, the queen's prince consort.

All the invited guests belonged to the upper echelons of Society. The bride's father, Earl Howe, had been lord chamberlain to the late Queen Adelaide. The bride's oldest sister was married to the Duke of Beaufort, who was master of the horse, and another sister was married to the Earl of Westmorland, who, along with the bridegroom, had risen to the rank of colonel in the army.

Lord Hamilton's parents, the Duke and Duchess of Abercorn, were invited guests not only because they were friends of the Curzon-Howes, but also because Abercorn was Prince Albert's groom of the stole, and Abercorn's son, Lord James Hamilton, had just been appointed as an attendant to the young Prince of Wales.

James Hamilton strode off with purpose. His sister's words had reminded him of his brief infatuation with Lady Emily several years ago.
She took advantage of an inexperienced sixteen-year-old.
He smiled, remembering.
Lord God, I thought myself such a rake wallowing in the sexual favors of an older woman.

Hamilton's thoughts were interrupted as two young people came barreling through the arcade of the Horseshoe Cloister and collided with him. The impact knocked off his silk top hat and sent it sailing across the ancient cobblestones.

“Now, see what you've done!” the boy accused the girl. He looked apologetically at James and ran to retrieve the hat. “I'm sorry, Lord Hamilton.”

James recognized Lady Emily's young brother. “Hello, Montagu. What's the trouble here?” His glance swept over the young female, who was sobbing her heart out.

“It's my sister Anne. She's crying over nothing.”

The girl stopped sobbing and raised her head. “I'm
not crying over
nothing
. She hates me! She called me an ugly Irish maggot!”

“Well, she calls me a little Irish turd, but you don't see me crying over it,” Montagu pointed out reasonably.

James hid his amusement. “Who is flinging these crude insults at you?”

“Our sister Emily,” Montagu informed him.

“Our
half
sister,” Anne cried passionately.

James understood the situation immediately. Their father, Richard Curzon-Howe, had been married twice and had produced a family with each wife. Lady Emily, her exalted sisters, and seven noble brothers had been born to the earl's first wife, who had been English. The pair of siblings before James at the moment had been born to his second wife, Lady Anne Gore, who was Irish.

James addressed the distraught female. “I'm sure Emily didn't mean it. I cannot imagine her being that cruel.”

“Yes, she is,” Montagu said matter-of-factly. “She hates us because we're Irish.”

Anne blinked as crystal tears fell from her lashes and rolled down her cheeks. “She's the one who insisted I wear this childish bridesmaid's dress. I can't help being Irish and having ugly red hair.”

“I'm Irish,” James informed her, “and damned proud of it.” He gazed down at the exquisite young female with her profusion of red-gold curls. Her green eyes sparkled with unshed tears. “If you stop crying, I'll let you in on a secret about Emily.”

Anne gazed up at the handsome lord before her with the wavy black hair and warm brown eyes. She wiped her nose with the back of her hand and rubbed it down her frilly bridesmaid's gown. “A secret?”

“Emily doesn't hate you at all. When she looks at you, she is consumed with jealousy.”

“Why is she jealous?”

James took his handkerchief from his pocket, gently cupped Anne's chin, and wiped away her tears. “Because you are as beautiful as a wild Irish rose.”

•   •   •

After the ceremony, the guests made their way to Windsor Castle's grandiose banqueting chamber, decorated to commemorate England's victory over Napoleon at Waterloo.

“That wedding gave me the shudders,” the Prince of Wales informed James Hamilton and Charles Carrington, his other attendant. “My parents are making a list of future brides for me—all fat and all German. I don't fancy sitting through a formal wedding banquet. Is there a place we can escape to, James?”

“How about the barrack rooms? The castle guards enjoy a lively card game on Saturday nights.” James was eager to evade the clutches of Lady Emily. If he stayed at the reception, a dance with the blushing bride would be obligatory.

Prince Teddy thumped James on the shoulder. “How the devil would I manage without you, old man? Let's get away while the getting is good.”

•   •   •

Lady Anne gazed about the banqueting chamber with both hope and apprehension. She was longing to encounter Lord Hamilton again, yet worried that she would be tongue-tied if he spoke to her. He had been so kind to her, comforting her as she'd lost herself in anger, and she found that she couldn't stop thinking about him. When she spotted her friends the Hamilton sisters, she joined them and sat down between Lady Frances and Lady Maud. Anne idealized the Hamiltons. Their household was harmonious, and compared with the acrimony and rivalry in her own family, their lives seemed perfect. She took dancing lessons with Frances and they were looking forward to putting into practice what they had learned.

Anne summoned her courage, took a deep breath, and casually inquired, “Will your older brother be joining you?”

“Perhaps he will if we save a seat for him.” Frances searched the crowd of guests entering the chamber. “There he is!” She stood up, waved, and beckoned him over.

Anne's heart began to race with excitement.
I hope I don't faint.

When a tall, dark young man joined them, Anne stared at him blankly and an uncomfortable silence stretched between them. Finally, she blurted, “You're not James.”

“Indeed, I am not, Lady Anne.” The sixteen-year-old masked his disappointment at the young beauty's reaction. “I am James's brother John Claud Hamilton.” He reached for her hand and took it to his lips. “At your service, mistress.”

Anne swallowed her disappointment and tried to make amends for her rude reception.

“I am delighted to meet you, John Claud.”

“But obviously meeting James would delight you more,” he said dryly.

“Of course not. I simply wanted to congratulate him on becoming the member of Parliament for County Donegal,” Anne improvised quickly. “It's quite an accomplishment to be the youngest member of the House of Commons.”

John Claud had been unfavorably compared with his older brother, James, since childhood and felt fiercely competitive toward him. “In a couple of years I intend to run for the Conservative seat for Londonderry.”

“I've never visited Ireland, though my mother was born in Kilkenny.”

Frances cut in. “Oh, please let's not talk politics.” She frowned at John Claud. “It is all my brothers ever speak about. This is Anne's sister's wedding and we intend to celebrate.” She turned her back on John Claud and focused on Anne. “Will Maud and I be invited to your birthday party next month? You are invited to mine.”

“Of course.” Anne licked her lips, and asked softly, “Will James be there?”

“I very much doubt it. Since he's been appointed a gentleman of the bedchamber to the Prince of Wales, he's seldom at home.”

Lady Anne was amazed at the young noble's accomplishments. “You must be very proud of him.” Her eyes shone with the overwhelming admiration she felt for Lord Hamilton. “He was exceptionally kind to me before the wedding, when I was in a state of distress. His words took away my unhappiness and filled me with joy.”

There was pity in the look that John Claud gave her. “Believe me, Lady Anne, he's no knight in shining armor. As a matter of fact he is gaining an unsavory reputation—one that is well earned, I warrant.”

Lady Anne smiled her secret smile.
John Claud, I believe you are jealous of James.

Dublin Harbor

June 1861

“F
ree at last! I swear those dreary years at Oxford were worse than being buried alive.”

The Prince of Wales was joining the Grenadier Guards at the Curragh army camp in Kildare for ten weeks of military training. He stood with his two a
ttendants on the bow of the
Connaught
. As well as James Hamilton, his other gentleman of the bedchamber, Charles Carrington, had been allowed to accompany him.

“Last night I had a bloody nightmare that I was at Windsor Castle being married!” He shuddered. “My parents still can't wait to saddle me with a German princess.”

“To quote Herrick:
Gather ye
rosebuds while ye may
,” James Hamilton advised, as the port of Kingstown, Ireland, came into view. When the steamer rounded the pierhead, a deafening gun salute sounded from the man-of-war
Ajax
.
“You spoke of freedom too soon, Your Highness.” James pointed to the military officials gathered at the pier to welcome the royal prince. “Your escort awaits.”

“And wait they shall! It's Saturday, for God's sake, and I intend to spend the weekend in Dublin enjoying myself before they inter me in Curragh's garrison. Be firm with them, James, I'm depending on you.”

“You may safely leave it in my hands, Your Highness.”

Once the prince and his gentlemen disembarked, the mayor of Kingstown and his welcoming committee greeted them. Lieutenant Colonel Bradshaw along with a dozen Grenadier Guards, who had been dispatched to escort the Prince of Wales to the Kildare army camp, saluted His Royal Highness and informed him that the commander in chief, General George Brown, awaited his arrival.

The prince shook Colonel Bradshaw's hand, thanked him, and moved forward to offer a greeting to each of the dozen mounted and uniformed guards and admire their horses.

James Hamilton introduced himself to the lieutenant colonel. “His Royal Highness has been entrusted to carry a private message from Her Gracious Majesty the Queen to Ireland's viceroy, George Howard, Earl of Carlisle. The prince plans to proceed to Dublin today and in all likelihood will be ready to journey to Curragh Camp to begin his military training on Tuesday.”

After a moment's consternation, Bradshaw acquiesced to the new plan. “I shall dispatch a guard to the commander in chief with the prince's itinerary, Lord Hamilton. I and my men are at your service to escort you to Dublin.”

On the short carriage ride from Kingstown to the capital, Prince Teddy thanked his friend profusely. “You are a silver-tongued devil, James. I don't know how you do it.”

“It's second nature. I learned diplomacy at my father's knee.”

“I'm amazed that bloody old Major General Bruce wasn't awaiting me with a muzzle and a noose.” Bruce, the prince's governor who had kept him on a tight rein in Oxford, had preceded him to the Curragh Camp to inspect his quarters and lay out a course of military exercises he deemed suitable for the royal heir to the throne.

“At the risk of being presumptuous, Your Highness, I advise you to take a firmer stance with Bruce. You are a royal. You outrank him by miles. Bruce may advise you, but by no means should you allow him to rule you. He is the
servant
and you are the
master
. In my experience, if you stand up to a bully, he will invariably back down.”

“By God, James, you give me hope.” The prince's mind turned to another problem.

“What possible excuse can I give to the viceroy for coming to Dublin unannounced?”

“Let him know you are doing him a great service. Tell him, in strictest confidence of course, that Her Majesty the Queen and Prince Albert may decide to make a short visit to Ireland to observe your military training at Curragh Camp. Carlisle will be forever in your debt that you have tipped him off to such a possibility.”

Prince Teddy blanched. “Christ Almighty, it's more than a possibility. Father keeps me on such a tight leash, he could seek proof with his own eyes that I am performing my military duties with Teutonic perfection.”

“Have no fear. My father will send me word if Prince Albert decides to come.”

“It must be wonderful to have a warm, close relationship with one's father.” The prince gave James a wistful glance. “I've always been deathly afraid of
my
father.”

Charles Carrington nodded in agreement. “He puts the fear of God in me too.”

“For the next three days at least, you may cast your cares and worries aside. In Dublin there will be no governors, no tutors, and no spies to report your every move,” James pointed out. “Let's make a pact to drain the cup of life to the dregs.”

“Hear, hear, James. You are a man after my own heart.”

•   •   •

“Your Royal Highness, you must forgive me. I am totally unprepared for your visit.”

George Howard, Earl of Carlisle, stood in the elegant reception hall of the viceregal lodge in Phoenix Park, trying to disguise the panic he was feeling.

Prince Teddy shook his hand heartily and smiled. “My dear fellow, I abhor formality. The last thing I need is another reception of dignitaries.” He handed his hat to a hovering footman and introduced his gentlemen attendants.

Carlisle summoned his majordomo and gave him orders for the kitchen staff to prepare dinner and the housekeeper to plenish chambers for the prince's party, as well as his escort of a dozen Grenadier Guards.

James Hamilton cut in smoothly, “There is no need to throw your household into turmoil, Lord Carlisle. His Highness would much prefer to stay the weekend at Dublin Castle. I shall direct the lieutenant colonel to take his guards there, with your permission. The castle can accommodate soldiers far easier than Phoenix Park.”

Prince Teddy nodded his agreement. “This is just a short,
private
visit. We can share a drink and a cigar, then be on our way with none the wiser.”

The look of relief on Carlisle's face as he ushered them to the library amused James.

Poor devil! The look of panic will return the moment Teddy confides that Victoria and Albert may drop in on him sometime this summer.

•   •   •

“This is more like it.” Prince Teddy removed his coat and tossed it onto a gilded chair in the luxuriously appointed state apartment of Dublin Castle.

“Fit for a prince,” James declared as he threw open the French doors that led out onto the balcony, which provided a delightful view of the River Liffey.

The castle chamberlain entered and bowed low to the prince. “Your Highness, if you would be good enough to order what you would like for dinner, I shall relay your preferences to the kitchen staff.”

“My dear fellow, whatever they are serving to the castle garrison will be perfectly fine for us. Would it be too much trouble to bring us some Irish whiskey?”

“I shall plenish your chambers with the finest wines and whiskey to be found in the castle's cellars, Your Highness. I'll dispatch a servant immediately to unpack for you.”

“No need for that,” James Hamilton declared. “Carrington and I are the prince's official gentlemen of the bedchamber. Actually, he desires this visit be kept as quiet as possible. While the prince is here, he would prefer that you refer to him as
Baron Renfrew
.
I'm sure we can rely upon your discretion?”

“Absolutely, Lord Hamilton.” The chamberlain hurried out to spread the word that
Baron Renfrew
and his friends were up to no good, and were in Dublin this weekend strictly for fun and games.

•   •   •

“I believe you enjoyed the garrison's food more than the stuff they dish out at Buckingham Palace,” James observed as he drained his tankard of ale.

“I did! My tastes are decidedly unroyal, and the company is far superior to that of my usual dining companion. In fact, Governor Bruce would have an apoplectic fit if he saw me imbibing this whiskey.” Prince Teddy lit a cigar and exhaled a cloud of blue smoke.

James smiled. “Would you like to visit the Theatre Royal in Smock Alley, or would you prefer to visit a music hall? There's one handy in Fishamble Street, I believe.”

“Since I've never been to a music hall, ladies singing popular songs is my choice.”

“I seriously doubt if any of them will be ladies,” James pointed out.

“All the more reason to attend.” The prince stubbed out his cigar and laughed at his ribald remark. “Do you suppose we could walk? Just the three of us on the streets of Dublin would be a rare occurrence for me.”

“I'm already a bit unsteady on my feet,” Charles Carrington confessed.

“Then the fresh air will sober you up,” James decided.

By the time the trio left the castle, dark had descended and Dublin's cobbled streets were filled with men and women wending their way to the myriad places that offered an evening's entertainment. Voices and laughter filled the air, proving that on Saturday night the first order of business for Dubliners was enjoyment.

When they arrived at the Fishamble Music Hall, James paid for front row seats, and as they stepped inside, the lights went down and the curtains opened. The three well-dressed gentlemen didn't garner too much attention, as all eyes were focused on the stage.

The orchestra began to play and a beautiful female with long red hair came soaring across the stage on a swing, which continued to glide out over the front row of the audience. The rush of air caused her skirt to fly up and expose a pair of shapely legs clad in flesh-colored tights. Her voice was full-throated and filled with innuendo as she sang the slightly altered lyrics to the popular song:

She floats through the air with the greatest of ease,

The daring young girl on the flying trapeze,

Her movements are graceful, all the men she does please,

And my love she has stolen away.

Oh, the man that I loved he was handsome,

And I tried everything him to please,

But I could not please him one half as much,

As the girl on the flying trapeze. . . .

Ooooooh, she flies through the air. . . .

By this time, most of the audience was singing the chorus and swaying from side to side in time with the music and the undulations of the pretty girl on the swing.

James didn't need to watch Teddy to know he was thoroughly enjoying himself.
The poor devil has been deprived of a normal life, but he's hell-bent on catching up. He's nineteen and never had a woman.
James smiled knowingly.
All that is about to change.

The curtains closed to reset the stage and James bought them each a bag of hot roasted chestnuts from a female vendor. This time when the curtains swung back, they revealed an Arabian scene with women reclining upon cushions. The girls wore filmy trousers and face veils, and a great cheer went up from the males in the audience. When the ladies arose to dance, the tiny bells on their bracelets and anklets tinkled merrily. The lead singer, who had a cloud of black hair decorated with beads, swayed her hips as she moved to the edge of the stage and pointed her finger at the gentlemen in the front row.

Come into the harem,

The old sultan's harem,

That's the only thing I crave.

The sultan's too old, for he's past eighty-two,

And his thousand wives need a fellow like you!

You'd never beat us

With kindness you'd treat us,

And all that I ask is a trial.

I know you'd be gallant

You're brimful of talent,

So come into the harem and smile.

She crooked her finger and beckoned, and men from the audience shouted,
I'll come, darlin',
and
I've got what you need, love.
She raised her arms. “All together now,” and the entire audience sang the lyrics and swayed in time to the music.

The scenery changed with each song as colorfully painted backdrops were lowered and raised to add to the atmosphere. Amid tombstones, they sang “Goblins in the Churchyard,” and a bawdy tavern setting followed this for “Bella Was a Barmaid.”

The singers' costumes became scantier and the lyrics more suggestive with each successive song, until most of the audience were doubled over with laughter. The Irish loved nothing better than to sing and laugh, especially when the humor was irreverent.

In the finale, all the girls assembled onstage wearing Irish bowler hats and green tights. They sang rude words to the melody of “The Wearing of the Green”:

The Corporation muck cart

Was loaded to the brim,

The driver fell in backwards

And found he could not swim.

He sank right to the bottom

Just like a little stone,

And as he sank he gurgled

There's no place like home.

When Paddy went awalkin'

He wore his coat of blue,

The wind blew up his trouser leg

And showed his toodle-oo.

Oh, his toodle-oo was dirty,

He went to show the Queen,

The Queen she gave him half-a-crown

To go and get it clean!

The girls sang it again and the raucous audience joined in. When the performance was over, they clapped and whistled through three curtain calls. The females formed a chorus line and did high kicks as they departed for the final time.

James got to his feet, but the prince had enjoyed himself so much, he sat there reluctant to leave. Hamilton smiled at his two companions. “Follow me!”

He led them backstage, where they wended their way through props, ropes, pulleys, and scenery to the female performers' dressing room. The door was opened before he had a chance to knock, and the three men stepped into the large room overflowing with costumes and chattering women in various stages of undress.

Their voices went silent immediately as they gaped at the trio. They were used to male visitors, but seldom did such well-dressed, noble-looking gents come trawling.