Master of His Fate: The gripping new Victorian epic from the author of A Woman of Substance. Barbara Taylor Bradford
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When James was silent, Philip added, ‘There is no pressure from us, James, but think about it, maybe something will come to you. We just want you to understand we are here to support you. The world is opening up for you.’
James nodded, looked at his grandfather intently, thinking how smart he was in his black jacket, pinstriped trousers, pristine white shirt and silver silk tie. The perfectly dressed butler.
His glance was now aimed at his grandmother, also well attired in a long, navy-blue skirt and matching blouse, with a white collar and cuffs. Her luxuriant silvery hair was piled up on top of her head. To him, she was the epitome of tailored elegance.
He knew she was fifty-six, but she didn’t look her age. And neither did his grandfather, who was now sixty. They have worn well, he thought, and suppressed a smile, wondering what they would say if he told them this.
Straightening in his chair, taking a deep breath, James decided to tell them the truth about his dreams. He plunged in. ‘I want to be a merchant,’ he confided. ‘By that I mean I want to own a shop like Fortnum and Mason, or an arcade of shops like the Burlington Arcade in Piccadilly. I want to be the most successful merchant in London! In the world!’ His voice had risen in his escalating excitement and, as he sat back, taking a deep breath, he realized his grandparents were staring at him in astonishment.
James loved his grandparents and he would never do anything to upset them, or disrespect them, but he had a mischievous streak in him and he was tickled that he had rendered them speechless for once in his life. He felt sudden laughter bubbling up inside him.
But he realized he dared not laugh, so he swallowed hard and tried to look serious. Taking a deep breath, he repeated, ‘Yes, I want to be a great merchant. That is truly my dream.’
‘How wonderful it is to have such a dream, James,’ his grandfather responded, the first one to break the silence. ‘Just as it’s important to know what you want to do with your life at an early age. Good for you, my boy.’
‘How are you going to make this dream come true?’ his grandmother asked, always down to earth and practical. James had certainly aroused her curiosity this morning with his announcement.
‘To answer your last question first, Grans, I can’t put my plan into operation just yet. I have to wait a couple of years. As for my plan, I really will make it work. And I shall strive very hard to make my dream come true. When I’m the right age.’
A smile of pleasure gleamed in Esther’s eyes. ‘That sounds very smart of you, and would you like to share your plan with us?’
‘Yes, I would …’ James stopped as Cook came into the staff hall carrying a tray, followed by Polly, one of the young housemaids.
Moving forward, her white apron billowing around her, Cook put the tray down at the other end of the table, brought a white ceramic dish over to his grandmother, and placed it on the table in front of her.
‘Here it is at last, Mrs Falconer, the cottage pie, and Polly has brought a bowl of peas, the gravy boat and the plates.’
‘Thank you, Mrs Grainger, and you, too, Polly,’ Esther said, smiling at the women as they placed the other items to one side of her on the table.
The women smiled back and departed.
Esther served James and Philip, and then spooned some of the pie onto her own plate. It smelled delicious. The crust of mashed potatoes covering the top of the minced beef was browned to perfection.
After a mouthful of pie, James put his fork down and went on, ‘About my plan … it’s quite clear in my mind. For the next couple of years, I want to work with Dad, learn more from him. I’m going to ask him to take me with him when he attends estate sales in the country, or on the outskirts of London, and wherever he goes. I like to watch him wheel and deal, as he calls it. He’s an expert, and I must be an expert too. I also want to learn about other things, as well.’
‘Such as what, James?’ Philip asked curiously.
‘The finer things in life. I think I should gain a good knowledge about luxury goods, for instance. I need that information to run a store like Fortnum and Mason, and have an arcade full of fancy shops.’ James eyed his grandfather, then looked at Esther, his expression questioning.
‘Good thinking,’ Esther exclaimed. ‘Knowledge is Power with a capital “P”.’
‘I can teach you about the noble grape, and all the great wines of France,’ Philip announced with a smile. ‘I’d rather like to do that.’
James’s young face took on a glow, and he nodded vehemently. ‘Oh, Grandpapa, what a wonderful idea! Thank you. When can we get started?’
Philip and Esther glanced at each other and chuckled, amused, yet also pleased that James was so enthusiastic, and bursting to better himself.
It was Esther who now suggested that she should take James on some trips, when he could manage to take time off from his work at the market. ‘I’d like you to visit the Burlington Arcade again. I’ve only taken you there once before, and there are other arcades in London for you to see. And it is mandatory that we make a few trips to Fortnum and Mason. To study every floor and everything sold on those floors. You are correct, James. To be the owner of a shop selling high-class, luxury goods, you must understand the merchandise, your market, and your customers. And all the things they dream about and want to own. You must know their style, their way of living, what they wear and eat and drink.’
‘I will love visiting my favourite store.’ His blue eyes were sparkling more than ever, and he tucked into his lunch with relish, obviously enjoying it. He was happy he had confided in his grandparents, and thrilled by their positive response.
Esther gave him a loving look and began to eat her pie; Philip studied his young grandson thoughtfully and acutely, assessing him.
The boy was undoubtedly extremely clever, and he had been well brought up by Esther and Philip and his own parents. His mother Maude had seen to it that James read all the magazines and books he gave him, passed on by Lady Agatha, and Maude had helped him with his other lessons over the years.
Matthew had shown him how to dress well, and in a suitable way, and how to take care of his few clothes. Obviously James didn’t have a lot of things at his age, but they were always pressed and kept in good condition; his mother darned and stitched so that her family was always well turned out. His father was also teaching him to be the best salesman.
He certainly looks fit and healthy, Philip now thought, and was glad about that. Silently he thanked his employers for keeping him on the staff all these years, and Esther too. He and Esther had always made sure their sons and their grandchildren had good food and were aware of the importance of nutrition for their good health. It enraged Philip when he thought about his country, which was now – in 1884 – the greatest, richest and most powerful nation in the world, and how it treated millions of its citizens. Without a second thought, the government allowed them to starve and live in filthy, foul slums.
It wouldn’t surprise me if they rose up and started a revolution one day soon, he thought suddenly, attacking the aristocracy, the gentry and the government. The French Revolution flew into his mind, and he cringed inside, but it was not such a far-fetched idea that it could happen here. Not the way things were.
The lower working classes and the very poor went hungry all of the time. Their daily sustenance was composed of a chunk of bread, and, if they were lucky, a mug of tea. Otherwise, it was water or a glass of ale. The latter was better than it sounded, because at least it wasn’t dangerous like some of the water supply. Philip couldn’t help wishing there were more men like his master, who was unusually charitable. Arthur Montague had given plenty of money for philanthropy to his eldest son and heir, Mr Roland Montague, who had started a charity with his wife, Catherine. They did a lot of wonderful work to help the poor and the destitute