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A WAGER WITH A VISCOUNT: A REGENCY
ROMANCE
LADIES ON THEIR OWN: GOVERNESSES AND
COMPANIONS (BOOK 6)
ROSE PEARSON
 CONTENTS

A Wager with a Viscount

A Wager with a Viscount

Prologue
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Epilogue
My Dear Reader

A Sneak Peek of To Trust a Viscount

Chapter 1
Chapter 2

Join my Mailing List

 A WAGER WITH A VISCOUNT

Ladies on their Own: Governesses and Companions

(Book 6)

By

Rose Pearson
© Copyright 2022 by Rose Pearson - All rights reserved.

In no way is it legal to reproduce, duplicate, or transmit any part of this document by either
electronic means or in printed format. Recording of this publication is strictly prohibited and
any storage of this document is not allowed unless with written permission from the
publisher. All rights reserved.

Respective author owns all copyrights not held by the publisher.

A WAGER WITH A VISCOUNT
 PROLOGUE

E dmund Richardson, Lord Wollaston, shot a doubtful glance

towards his brother.
“And how long is your intended visit?”
His brother shrugged one shoulder and looked away.
“I am not yet quite certain.”
The doubts in Edmund’s mind only grew.
“If you cannot tell me how long you will be on the continent for,
then I do not feel that I can agree to this arrangement.”
Letting out a small huff of breath in evident frustration, his
brother looked back at him.
“Must you be so precise?”
“If you are asking me to look after both of your children, then
yes, I must be very precise indeed!”
“It would not be for long, and they are not any trouble. If my
wife had agreed to stay, then your assistance would not be
required.”
Scowling, he looked away again and Edmund hid a smile,
knowing full well that his brother loved his wife dearly, but found her
determination and strength a little frustrating at times.
I must find out how long I will be responsible for my niece and
nephew if I am to even consider this.
“Do you think you will be gone for six months?”
 Again, his brother’s eyes darted towards him before flying away
again.
“I would suspect us to be away a little closer to a year.”
“A year?” An exclamation flew from Edmund’s mouth before he
could prevent it. “You expect to be on the continent for over twelve
months?”
“Yes, I think so. My wife, as you know, has never been to our
holdings there and, given that it is a trip that she will not make
again, it is probably best that we prolong our visit somewhat.”
Edmund blinked rapidly, trying to consider what his life would be like
for the next year should he agree to take on his brother’s children.
“You will not know that they are even a part of your life.” Perhaps
seeing his doubts, his brother spoke quickly, turning towards
Edmund a little more. “They will have their nurse and we will need
to hire a governess for them also, for they are at an age when such
lessons can begin. Beyond that, here is nothing else you will need to
do with them, other than to make certain that everything is going as
expected.”
Edmund shook his head.
“A year is a very long time, brother.”
“But you shall endure it admirably. Besides, I can look over your
holdings on the continent also which, in turn, would mean that you
could stay in England for the foreseeable future, rather than have to
make the journey yourself.” That would be very helpful indeed, even
though I do not wish to admit it. “I know that you have not been
able to do so as yet, since you took on the title. Our late brother will
have taken great care of the holdings I am sure, but it would be still
worth a visit. Besides, the children are very little trouble, I assure
you.” His brother waved a hand. “This house is large enough to have
even twenty children and you would still never know they were
here.”
Edmund’s lips pulled into a wry smile.
 “I hardly think that is true, but you are doing your best to
convince me, I can see.”
His brother chuckled.
“And is it working?”
With very great reluctance. Edmund nodded his head.
“If you are still eager to go to see your holdings on the continent,
then yes, I will look after your offspring while you are away.”
His brother clapped his hands together and beamed delightedly.
“Marvelous. Thank you, I am in your debt.”
“You most certainly are.” Edmund grinned as his brother laughed.
“You will have to send me final arrangements and prepare me
entirely for what I must do for the arrival of your children.”
“Yes, yes, of course.” Waving a hand, his brother walked across
to the table and poured two brandies. “We do not intend to depart
England for two months yet, so there is plenty of time to make such
arrangements.”
“Good, and you will provide all of the staff required also?”
His brother shot him a look.
“The governess and the nurse? Yes, of course. We already have
the nurse, and a suitable governess will not be too hard to find.”
Edmund narrowed his eyes a little.
“This is of great seriousness, brother. You must make sure to find
a governess before your children arrive here. I will not be
responsible for that.”
Again, his brother waved a hand.
“Of course, of course. You need not be so concerned.”
A slight feeling of unease settled in Edmund’s stomach, but he
ignored it, pushing it away as his brother handed him a brandy.
“You will hardly notice they are here - and the year will pass very
quickly indeed.” His brother grinned at him. “Perhaps you may even
miss them when it is time for them to depart!”
“I highly doubt that.” Chuckling, Edmund lifted his brandy glass.
“To your endeavors, brother.”
 “And to your willingness to support me in that.”
After clinking their glasses together, the brothers both sipped
their brandy, each thinking of what was to come in the following
year. One was thinking of freedom and leisure, while the other was
concerned with the fact that he would be responsible for not only
one, but two children. He could only hope that whichever governess
his brother chose would be well able to keep the children out sight,
so that, as his brother had implied, he might be able to live his life in
much the same way as he did at the present.
I am sure it will all go very well.
Taking another sip, Edmund let his shoulders drop and tried to
smile.
There is nothing to concern me. The year will go very quickly
indeed.
 CHAPTER ONE

“I s this the governess?”

Tabitha blinked as she stepped a little further into
the large manor house. The journey had been tiring
and, given that she had very little idea where she was, this confused
matters even further. A man was hurrying towards her, his shirt
sleeves rolled up, no cravat around his neck and his hair a little
messy.
Is this one of the footmen?
“I am Miss Tabitha Raikes, yes.”
“Whatever took you so long to get here? I was assured that you
would be arriving with my niece and nephew!” Tabitha blinked. Was
the man before he the gentleman of the house? Given her surprise,
she did not answer immediately, her eyes studying the rather
handsome copper haired, green eyed gentleman whose hands were
now pressed firmly to his sides, elbows akimbo, as his mouth pulled
into a firm line. “Well?”
“I confess I do not understand what you mean, my Lord.”
Aware, now, that this was Lord Wollaston, Tabitha dropped her
eyes and did her best to appear respectful. For whatever reason,
Lord Wollaston appeared to be frustrated, although she did not
understand why such upset was being directed towards her.
 “My brother wrote to me only last week, before his departure
from London, and stated that you would be arriving with the
children! However, they arrived some two days after his letter,
without any sign of you, and now you appear a sennight later!”
Tabitha licked her lips and took a moment to consider what had
been said before she answered. She did not want to lay the blame
anywhere in particular, but she certainly was not about to accept
Lord Wollaston's anger when it was not deserved. Deciding that she
must speak plainly, she lifted her gaze to his face once more.
“My Lord, I received the summons to be governess to Mr.
Richardson’s children only a fortnight ago. I was told to come to this
house on this particular date. I apologize if that is not in alignment
with what you were led to expect.”
She watched as Lord Wollaston's eyes narrowed slightly, his jaw
jutting forward. It appeared that she was not believed.
“That is not what I was told.”
“I have the letter here, should you wish to see it?”
A slight tone of challenge entered her voice, as Tabitha lifted one
eyebrow and cocked her head, waiting for Lord Wollaston’s
response. She was not about to allow him to even hint that she was
speaking untruths. A corresponding challenge sparked in Lord
Wollaston's eyes.
"Yes, I should like to see it.”
Finding herself less than impressed with Lord Wollaston, Tabitha
reached into her pockets and found the letter which she had kept
close throughout the entire journey. That was not because she felt
at all sentimental about it, but rather that she wanted to make quite
certain that she was going to the right place. Pulling it out, she
handed it to Lord Wollaston with a flourish and crossed her arms
across her chest as he unfolded it and began to read. The spark left
his eyes and his shoulders dropped as he reached the end, evidently
realizing now that she had spoken the truth.
 “I see.” He did not have the grace to apologize but, to her
surprise, he appeared even more frustrated than before. “We have
been waiting for you for a full seven days, Miss Raikes. I am very
glad to see you at last. Your first task awaits you.”
Tabitha lifted an eyebrow.
“Is that so?”
I am not even going to be offered a chance to rest and recover
from my journey. I am not to be offered refreshments, nor even a
glass of water.
Her thoughts towards Lord Wollaston darkened.
“My niece, Clara, has gone missing.”
“Your niece.”
The gentleman nodded but did not hold her gaze.
“The nurse found her missing some two hours ago, and since
then we have not been able to find her.”
Tabitha thought, quickly, recalling that she had been told that the
children were only six years of age.
“And the other twin?”
“My nephew is in the schoolroom, being closely watched by two
maids so that he too cannot escape.” Thinking silently to herself that
this was something of an overreaction, Tabitha merely nodded. “I
would be very grateful if you would assist us in the search.”
“Is this the first time that she has gone missing, my Lord?”
The gentleman shook his head.
“She is inclined towards escaping. I believe that she finds it
rather funny.”
A quick glance around the Manor house told her that this was a
very large house indeed. The child could be anywhere.
“And what of the gardens? Could she go to the gardens?”
Lord Wollaston nodded.
“She has been there before, hiding in the arbor.”
“And has someone looked there today?”
Lord Wollaston licked his lips and then shook his head.
 “I shall instruct the gardener and the ground staff to do so at
once.”
“I'm afraid I shall be very little help, given that I do not know this
house at all.”
“The very least you can do is look.”
A hardness came into Lord Wollaston's voice which made
Tabitha’s anger burn bright. He had no reason to speak to her in
such a manner, especially given that she had only just arrived, and
was not in any way responsible for the missing child.
“I did not say that I would not assist you, only that I fear I shall
be of very little help.”
Seeing the flash of steel in Lord Wollaston’s eyes made her
realize that he had not expected a governess to speak to him in such
a manner, but she did not regret her words. This was only her
second charge, but she was the daughter of a Viscount, and had no
intention of permitting Lord Wollaston to demean her in any way.
Even in her role as governess, she was still worthy of his respect.
“I will have the footman take your bags to your room. Pray,
accustom yourself to the house – the staff should be able to answer
any questions you may have. Perhaps you will find my niece as you
do so.”
Tabitha watched him stride away, her own heart beating a little
more quickly with frustration and anger. This was not at all the
welcome she had expected, nor that she deserved. None of this was
her doing, and yet she felt as though Lord Wollaston was attempting
to blame her.
Taking a deep breath, Tabitha turned in the opposite direction to
Lord Wollaston and began to walk through the house.
The house was very large indeed, just as Tabitha had assumed.
With so many rooms and hallways, she was soon a little lost. Finding
herself in an area of the house where all of the furniture was draped
completely in dust covers, she had stepped into one room to look
about when a sudden sound caught her attention. Her heart
clattered for a moment as she heard it again but then, swiftly
realizing that the child was in this room, Tabitha paused and
remained exactly where she was. Letting her eyes rove around the
room, she heard a giggle come from her left-hand side, and she
thought to herself that the child in question must be hidden under
one of the dust covers.
“I think there must be someone else in here! Maybe it is a quiet
little mouse.” She spoke softly, and the girl laughed again, but made
no attempt to reveal herself - and Tabitha could not help but smile.
Evidently the girl was very pleased at just how well she had hidden
herself, and for how long. “Clara?” Silence followed. “Good gracious,
I cannot quite believe just how well you are hidden in here! When I
first walked into the room, all I saw were the dust covers on the
furniture. But now I believe there is a little girl hidden in here
somewhere, and I am quite determined to find her!” She made the
last part of the statement a little more singsong and heard the
satisfying sound of the child giggling again. “I shall have to hunt for
you, and I am very good at hunting. What do you think will happen
when I find you?”
Keeping her voice melodious. Tabitha began to search carefully,
lifting up the corners of the dust sheets in the hope that she would
soon find the small girl hiding there. As she tried to make it into a
game, with giggles, smiles and playful remarks, Tabitha was soon
rewarded by Clara laughing so loudly that it was impossible for her
to remain hidden. With great relief, Tabitha found her curled up into
a ball under one of the tables which was draped with at least two
dust covers. Coughing as some of the dust went into her nose and
mouth, Tabitha lifted the dust sheets and folded them back onto the
table. The girl met her eyes, startled.
“Oh!”.
Tabitha crouched down, edging partway under the table to get
close to the small girl, unable to resist a smile as she saw that Clara
had found a very dusty cushion and a blanket, and dragged them
underneath the table to keep her warm – while her uncle and the
staff looked for her.
She has no idea that there has been so much frustration and
upset over her absence.
“It seems that I have found you!” Reaching out, Tabitha tickled
her fingers up the girl’s arm, making her squeal with laughter. Her
dark hair was rather dissimilar to that of Lord Wollaston for it had
not even a hint of red, but her green eyes were the same, sharing
that family resemblance. There was a mischievous look about the
girl, as though she knew very well the trouble she had caused, and
was not sorry for it. “You hid yourself very well indeed.” Taking on a
little more serious tone, Tabitha looked into the small girl’s face. “But
you have been up here for a long time. Your uncle is rather worried
about you.”
Little Clara looked away. She was old enough to make decisions
about what she would do, with a reasonably clear understanding of
the possible repercussions which might would follow.
“Do you think he will punish me?”
Tabitha’s faint smile disappeared completely.
“I shall speak to him about that, Clara. But if there are
consequences, you must bear them gracefully. I believe you knew it
was not wise of you to run away and be gone for so many hours.”
The girl bit her lip.
“I did not mean to fall asleep.”
“You fell asleep under this table?”
Tabitha asked, seeing Clara nod, although the girl did not look at
her.
“I only woke up when I heard you coming into the room. I
thought you were my brother or one of my maids or the nurse. I did
not think that my uncle would be looking for me.”
“He has been doing so for many hours.” Clara’s brown eyes
began to fill with tears, worrying Tabitha somewhat. Surely Lord
Wollaston was not a cruel uncle? Tabitha did not like to see the child
so upset, and did her best to reassure her in an attempt to stem her
tears. “As I have said, I will speak with your uncle. I will tell him that
you fell asleep, but now you must come with me so that we can go
to him at once, and reassure him that you are safe.” On instinct, she
reached out and took Clara’s hand, pressing it gently. “But you must
also promise me not to run away again. If I am to be your governess
and if this is to be a happy situation, then you must do as I ask.”
It took a moment, but Clara’s eyes eventually went to hers and
she nodded.
“Yes.”
“Good.” Smiling warmly, Tabitha let go of Clara’s hand and, a little
awkwardly, climbed out from under the table, fully expecting the
child to follow. “You must help me, Clara - you and your brother
both.” To her slight frustration, the child did not come out from
under the table but remained hidden. That frustration melted away,
however, when Tabitha heard her sniffling. Was the girl crying? “I
have only just arrived here – only a few minutes ago, in fact ,” she
continued, hoping that by speaking so it would encourage Clara to
emerge from under the table. “I have only just met your uncle and
have never set foot in his house before in my life! I have not even
been introduced to your brother as yet and, even though I
corresponded with your father, I have never been in his company –
nor in that of your mother. I confess that I am quite lost. You,
however, have been here for a sennight, I understand. I do hope
that you and your brother will assist me in settling in, just as I am
sure your nurse and your uncle did for you.”
Another sniff came from the child, and she said nothing.
Choosing to wait patiently rather than speak any further, Tabitha
remained silent until Clara felt able to answer.
“We have only been to the nursery and the schoolroom, so I do
not think that we can be any help to you.”
Another sniff followed this remark and Tabitha blinked back her
surprise. Had the children not been given any opportunity to explore
the house? She could well understand that Lord Wollaston might
wish to keep his niece and nephew from his own private quarters,
but to keep them in only a small set of rooms was a little unfair and
unfeeling. Did he not want to spend even a moment in their
company?
“But you have been to the gardens, I have heard.”
Trying to remain as encouraging as possible, Tabitha kept her
voice filled with warmth, but it was only met with another sniff.
“My brother has not been. I only went outside because I ran
away. I wanted very much to explore the gardens, but the nurse
would not allow me to, so I chose to go by myself.”
Tabitha tipped her head, considering. Perhaps the nurse and Lord
Wollaston had refused to permit the children such a thing until she,
as their governess had arrived. That would be the most plausible
explanation, surely.
“I am sure that we can take many walks in the gardens – as
many as you wish, in fact. There will be much for us to explore
together.” Flooding her voice with as much hope as possible, relief
poured into Tabitha as Clara finally emerged from under the table.
“We will have many great adventures, I am sure.”
The little girl got to her feet and rubbed one hand over her eyes,
smearing dust across her face.
“Perhaps. I am not sure that my uncle will allow us into his
gardens. I do not think that he wants to see us at all.”
The poor impression Tabitha had received of Lord Wollaston
increased all the more.
“I am sure that your uncle will be a good deal more amenable
now that I have arrived. After all, I believe that he has been waiting
for me for seven days at least!” Catching the way that Clara’s eyes
lifted to hers for a moment, Tabitha smiled warmly. “As I have said,
you need not have any concerns any longer, my dear girl. I am here
now. We shall explore the gardens and the woods beyond it, we
shall take picnics and paddle our feet in the pond. We shall learn
many things and I am certain that this year will pass most happily
until your parents return.”
“I miss Mama.”
At the very next moment, Clara threw herself into Tabitha’s arms,
tears beginning to pour down her cheeks and her small body
wracked with sobs. Tabitha’s heart ached for the girl, and she held
her close, not seeing Lord Wollaston standing in the doorway,
watching them. Murmuring soft, comforting words, she rubbed one
hand over the girl’s back, letting Clara’s tears flow until she was
ready to begin to compose herself.
“It must be very difficult for you to know that your parents have
gone so far away. I should like it if you would tell me about them. I
do not know anything about your mother or your father and should
be glad to hear everything you have to tell me.”
Clara looked up at her, her eyes a little red-rimmed.
“My brother says it will be a very long time until they return.”
“Every day is one day less.” Smiling, Tabitha smoothed Clara’s
hair gently, pushing it away from her forehead. “And if we fill each
day with happiness, then it will be all the quicker, I assure you.” The
girl nodded, sniffed, and wiped her nose in a most unkempt manner
with the back of her hand.
“Here.” Pulling out her handkerchief, Tabitha handed it to Clara
and waited as she wiped her eyes and blew her nose. “Now, it is
time that we made our way back so that we can tell your uncle that
you are safe. Then perhaps you can take me to the school room and
introduce me to your brother?”
Clara nodded, a small smile touching the edges of her lips.
“Thank you, Miss Raikes. I am not sad any longer.”
Putting an arm around the small girl’s shoulder, Tabitha smiled as
she led Clara back towards the door.
“I am very glad to hear it.”
Making their way slowly back downstairs, Tabitha kept her arm
around Clara’s shoulders as they entered the hallway which led to
the front door. As they approached, none other than Lord Wollaston
emerged from his study. Preparing herself for a rather angry
response at the sight of his niece, Tabitha lifted her chin a notch and
kept her gaze firm but, much to her astonishment, he reached out,
took the girl’s hand in his, and squeezed her fingers gently.
“You are not to run away again, Clara.” His voice was soft, but his
tone firm brooked no argument. “I am sure that your governess will
not tolerate such behavior either. Do I make myself clear?”
The girl dropped her head.
“Yes, Uncle.”
Clara spoke without question or hesitation and, whilst she was
demure at present, Tabitha suspected that this was not the first time
she had behaved in this manner. No doubt she had made such
promises to her uncle before.
“Very good.” Lord Wollaston rose. “Miss Raikes. It seems that you
have proven yourself already.”
“It was quite accidental, my Lord, I assure you.”
“Very good. I believe that my nephew is still in the schoolroom. I
am certain that you will wish to greet him also.”
“Yes, my Lord.” Tabitha spoke slowly, wondering when she was
going to have the opportunity to prepare her room, put away her
things and rest for a short while. The journey had been tiring, and to
be thrown into finding Clara so quickly was only adding to her
exhaustion.
Lord Wollaston nodded curtly, going to turn away, only for
Tabitha to speak his name, holding him back.
“Lord Wollaston? Might I ask when I am to begin my duties?”
Swinging back towards her, Lord Wollaston’s brows drew together
as if she had angered him with such a question.
“I do not understand what you mean, Miss Raikes. You have
arrived, have you not? Your duties began at the very moment you
stepped into my house.”
His lack of consideration set a fire in her.
 “If you recall, my Lord, I have had no opportunity to rest from
my journey and no offer of refreshment has been given.”
He looked at her, a little surprise evident in his flared eyes and
slightly ajar mouth.
“I did not think….”
“You did not think that a governess would require such things?”
Lord Wollaston cleared his throat, shuffled his feet, and put his
hands behind his back.
“But of course.” A slight hint of color came into his cheeks. “I
would be grateful if you would introduce yourself to my nephew, but
thereafter, your duties will begin tomorrow morning. There is only
dinner and the early evening remaining for my charges, I suppose.”
A little uncertain of whether Lord Wollaston had truly been
thoughtless or deliberately inconsiderate, Tabitha nodded.
“Thank you. I shall make my way up to the schoolroom at once –
although perhaps you would wish me to speak with you later this
evening regarding my particular duties?”
Lord Wollaston blinked, as though he had not even thought of
such a thing.
“My brother did not speak to you of this already?”
“I received only one letter from your brother, my Lord. He
informed me of his present circumstances, spoke about his son and
daughter, and told me where I was to go and on what particular
date I would be required. That is all.”
Lord Wollaston's eyes flared in evident astonishment.
“Do you mean to say that you were given this position without
any further communication?”
A little injured, Tabitha rose to her full height and lifted her chin.
“Your brother and my father are acquainted, Lord Wollaston. Your
brother is also aware of my previous situation and of the satisfaction
that Lady Pottinger expressed with my work with her daughter. I
believe he assumed that would be satisfactory to you also.”
 To her disappointment, Lord Wollaston shook his head and
passed one hand over his eyes, muttering darkly under his breath,
as though he were greatly troubled to hear of such a thing. This was
not the introduction she had hoped for. Lord Wollaston appeared to
be greatly displeased with not only her presence in his house but
with everything she either said or did. A little frustrated, she shook
her head to herself and then began to make her way towards the
stairs without a further glance towards Lord Wollaston.
“I beg your pardon, Miss Raikes! Is there a place that you must
be which has demanded that you leave my presence without a
word?”
Pausing and with her hand holding Clara's tightly, Tabitha looked
back towards the master of the house.
“I am to return Miss Clara to the schoolroom, and greet your
nephew, my Lord, and then I am to rest. I am very weary indeed
and if I am to do the best for your niece and nephew come the
morrow, then I must have a little respite.”
“I do not believe that we were finished with our conversation.”
“Then pray tell me when I can come to you so that we might
complete it.” I am not about to wait here any longer. I am not about
to see another despondent look or hear a heavy sigh. “This evening,
perhaps?”
Lord Wollaston frowned, but Tabitha remained where she was,
silently refusing to walk back across the hall towards him. Quiet
grew like a wall between them, as though they were silently battling
for the upper hand but, after some minutes, Lord Wollaston dropped
his head and let out an obvious sigh.
“This evening will suit very well. I will have the footman call for
you when I am ready.” With a wave of his hand, he dismissed her,
and Tabitha turned with relief towards the staircase. The sooner she
was away from Lord Wollaston, the better she would feel, she was
sure. Thus far, he had made a very poor impression upon her,
indeed, and Tabitha was very glad to be free of his company for a
short while, at least.
 CHAPTER TWO

“T his has been a rather difficult sennight for you, has it

not?”
“It has. And to add to it, I had to speak to one of my staff today.”
Lord Chesterton’s eyebrows lifted.
“Nothing too serious, I hope.”
Edmund shook his head.
“Not in the least, although it is a little frustrating to have to deal
with it when I already have so much to consider.”
“What was the trouble?”
“Having purchased a pair of greys. I hired with them a groom
specifically to care for their needs. He came very well recommended
with a great deal of experience. I am certain he will care for them
very well.”
Lord Chesterton grinned.
“Which, given their price, you will be very grateful for, I am sure.”
Wincing, Edmund chuckled.
“I will not pretend that was not a consideration. Those horses
must do well for me and so I hired the very best sort. With his
experience, I did think that perhaps one or two of my other grooms
might learn something from him, but that has not taken place.
Instead, they find themselves jealous, I believe.”
 “Which is a little understandable, given that you will be paying
him more than the others.”
“Not a great deal more, but yes.” Edmund shrugged. “His
experience merits it - but in doing such a thing, I appear to have
upset my other staff.”
Lord Chesterton nodded understandingly.
“Such a thing cannot be helped. But this is the reason you had to
speak to them, I assume.
“Yes indeed. But as you say, it cannot be helped.” Edmund
nodded. “In discussion with them today, I explained about his
experience and that they might think of learning from him rather
than being so upset by his salary. I am hopeful that it will bring a
little more harmony… although I may find my hopes dashed.
Tomorrow they might all be at each other’s throats!”
Wincing sympathetically, Lord Chesterton shook his head.
“And, on top of all of this, you have your brother now gone to the
continent with his wife and you left with his darling children!”
Edmund groaned, closed his eyes, and lifted his brandy glass to
rest against his temples, feeling a dull ache growing there.
“I wish I could make you understand the depths of my struggles.
My brother is entirely to blame, of course, for he has not done as he
promised.”
Lord Chesterfield looked back at him steadily, swirling his brandy
glass carefully.
“But the governess has arrived now. At least that will bring you a
little relief! These next few months will be a good deal easier. It will
be just as your brother has said. You will not even notice them.”
Edmund shook his head.
“Given that I believed my brother thus far, and that proved
unwise, I have no thought of further believing anything he has said
in that regard. The governess will not keep the children confined to
the school room. I even heard her speaking to Clara about taking
walks in the gardens and exploring the house!”
 His friend blinked, then shrugged.
“Surely you did not believe that the children would remain in
their school room and the nursery for the entirety of their year
here?” When Edmund did not reply, Lord Chesterton laughed with
evident disbelief. “My dear friend, that, I believe, was a little foolish
of you. Did you think that you would be able to return to your life
just as it was, without ever being in their company?”
“I thought I would not have them as part of my daily life if that is
what you are asking. I do not think that unreasonable.”
“But that means that you would never see them. You are their
uncle, and their parents are far away. Surely there must be a little
understanding in your heart as regards their situation.”
Edmund waved a hand, dismissing his friend’s words.
“You are speaking only because you have the very best of nieces
and nephews whom you dote upon and spoil - far too much, I might
add.”
“I do not think so.” Lord Chesterton grinned and sipped his
brandy. “You think me foolish, I know, but there is a joy to be had
when one is in company with one's family.”
A small smile pulled at Edmund’s mouth, although sorrow filled
his heart.
“I cannot either agree or disagree, given that I have no father or
mother remaining, my elder brother has passed and my younger
brother is gone to the continent.”
His friend grinned and Edmund realized, too late, that he had
backed himself into a corner.
“Then you shall have to find out for yourself by spending a little
more time with your niece and nephew.”
There was nothing he could say in return, and so in gentle
protest, Edmund groaned and rolled his eyes. Lord Chesterton
laughed and then rose to refill his brandy.
“Tell me about the governess. Do you think that she will be
suitable?”
 “Again, this is something my brother promised to ensure and has
not.” Shaking his head, Edmund drew in a calming breath, as his
swirling anger threatened to grow should he permit it. “He promised
that he would find the very best of governesses - and from that I
assumed that he meant he would demand references and the like -
but it seems that he has taken on someone that he knows personally
who has only one previous experience as governess.”
“Oh.” Lord Chesterton frowned. “That is a little unfortunate,
although there is no reason not to give her an opportunity to prove
herself.”
“It is not as though I have any other choice, given that I will not
be able to find someone to replace her with any speed.” A little
begrudgingly, he shrugged. “She did find Clara today, and when I
came upon them, what she spoke of with her seemed to calm my
niece significantly. I will admit that she seems a very caring sort and
that is an important quality for a governess, I believe.”
Lord Chesterton nodded.
“I would quite agree. You say that your brother knows her
personally. How could that be?”
“He knows her father.”
“I see. Then he is a gentleman?”
“A Viscount, in fact.” That fact still surprised Edmund a little,
although he spoke very plainly, refusing to allow any of the
astonishment to enter his voice. “She has not given a reason as to
why she must take on employment, but it is not my place to ask, I
suppose.”
“Although it is a little interesting.”
Edmund grinned.
“Perhaps. But it is not her past, nor her situation with her father,
that interests me. It is only whether or not she can do the job for
which she has been hired.”
A knock at the door caught his attention and Edmund called for
the person there to enter. After a moment, Miss Raikes was shown
into the room by the butler, and Edmund was a little surprised to see
the way that her eyes flashed. Her expression was animated, and for
a moment she seemed far less plain than he had previously thought
her.
“Good evening, Miss Raikes. I was speaking of your arrival, only
a moment ago, with my friend, Lord Chesterton.”
Gesturing to him, he gave Miss Raikes a small smile which he did
not really feel.
“I am aware of that Lord Wollaston. The door was a little ajar
and, as I approached, I heard a little of your conversation - it was
impossible not to listen.”
Her hands clasped in front of her, but Edmund noticed just how
white the knuckles were. Evidently what she had overheard had
upset her.
“I see. Well, given that there was nothing –”
“Might I take this opportunity to assure you that I will do my very
best for your niece and nephew.” Miss Raikes continued to speak,
even though Edmund had tried to interrupt. “I am well able to take
on the responsibilities required of a governess. I shall do my job and
do my job very well. Your niece and nephew will be happy, and I will
make certain that their learning continues each and every day. Your
brother was kind enough to give me an opportunity for further
employment, so that I might escape from a difficult situation, and I
have no intention of letting him down.”
Something like shame began to wind its way through Edmund’s
heart, and he found himself looking away from Miss Raikes. Had he
known that the door was ajar, then he would never have spoken in
such a way.
“I have heard that your father is a Viscount, Miss Raikes.” Lord
Chesterton's easy smile seemed to pull some of the tension from the
room. “Might you tell me his name? Perhaps I am acquainted with
him.”
 Miss Raikes unclenched her hands and turned towards Lord
Chesterton a little more.
“He is Viscount Pritchard, my Lord.”
“I am acquainted with him then.” The smile in Lord Chesterton's
voice removed the tension all the more. “I believe that he remarried
recently, if I am not mistaken?”
Miss Raikes blinked but nodded.
“Yes, my Lord. It was a quiet affair, but he has recently wed a
lady named Miss Grifford.”
“I see. And are you his only child?”
These are all questions I should have asked. Shame built in
Edmund’s heart as Miss Raikes continued to converse with Lord
Chesterton. He had not shown the lady much consideration, having
been so caught up with the fact that his niece had gone missing
and, in addition, the ongoing strain that the children had brought to
his ordered life over these last few days. He did not like to think of
himself as a thoughtless gentleman, but in this situation, Edmund
had to admit that he had been so.
“I have a brother, Lord Chesterton. At present he is still at Eton.”
“He is younger than you are then.”
She nodded.
“Yes.”
“And you have had a charge before this?”
Again, Miss Raikes nodded.
“To a Lady Pottinger, my Lord. I helped teach her son, before he
too left for Eton.”
Lord Chesterton smiled at her and after a moment, she returned
it. Edmund found himself a little frustrated that he had not begun his
acquaintance with Miss Raikes on such good footing, as his friend
had appeared to do. Then again, he reasoned that was entirely
down to his foolishness in allowing his frustrations to get the better
of him.
“You have some experience, then.”
 “Yes, my Lord, I do.”
This was followed by a swift glance towards Edmund, although
he did not catch it nor return it. Lord Chesterton, however, grinned
broadly, seeing the way that Miss Raikes shot a hard look toward his
friend.
Edmund, recalling the reason that he was meant to speak with
Miss Raikes - an idea he could not take credit for - cleared his throat
to draw Miss Raikes’ attention.
“Your duties, Miss Raikes.”
His mind suddenly went very empty indeed. What were to be
Miss Raikes’ duties? Aside from educating and taking care of the
children, what did he expect her to do? Did he have any specific
requirements about their education?
Miss Raikes lifted an eyebrow and looked back at him in silent
expectation. Edmund cleared his throat again, not quite certain what
he was to say.
“I suppose that you will wish me to educate the children daily in
both mathematics and languages - initially at least.”
“Yes, they will need to learn to read and write.” Aware that he
was floundering, Edmund cleared his throat for what was the third
time and felt rather ridiculous when even Lord Chesterton chuckled.
“Did my brother give you any specific requirements with regards to
the children’s learning expectations?”
“No, my Lord, he did not. I believe that he assumed that you, as
their uncle, would be able to give specific guidance.”
“Yes, yes, of course.” Taking a sip of his brandy so that he would
have a little more time to consider, Edmund looked up into Miss
Raikes’ expectant face. “I will require you to teach the children in
reading, writing, and mathematics, and to make certain that their
daily constitutional is also enjoyed.”
Miss Raikes lifted an eyebrow.
“Their constitutional.” She repeated as though he was being
ridiculous. “You expect the children to take a single walk each day?”
 “Yes. That is so.”
Miss Raikes let out a small sigh which irritated Edmund more
than he could say. Whatever was wrong with the lady? He glanced
towards Lord Chesterton, but his friend was looking directly at Miss
Raikes, a small smile playing about his mouth. Unfortunately for
Edmund, he could not work out whether this smile was directed at
Miss Raikes herself, or was sympathetic to her because of his own
foolishness. He prayed it was the former.
“You wish the children to take a daily walk. You wish for me to
educate them in mathematics and reading and in writing. Thereafter,
what are they to do? Might I remind you, my Lord, that they are
only six years of age.”
Edmund blinked. What else is there to do?
“If there are any free hours, Miss Raikes, then I expect that you
will be able to find a way to fill them with more educational matters.”
Miss Raikes blinked in evident surprise, then lifted her chin so
that she was looking back at him with that same hard gaze he had
seen before.
“And when, my Lord, will they play?”
Play? This was not something that had occurred to him.
“Well, do they not have enough to do already? With your
education and their walk, Miss Raikes, I would be surprised if there
would be time for such… frivolity.”
The booming laugh that cut across the room made Edmund
jump. Miss Raikes’ eyes flared also, but it was not until she saw Lord
Chesterton throwing his head back that she began to smile.
Edmund’s face flushed hot.
“I apologize, my friend,” Lord Chesterton spluttered, his face still
a picture of mirth. “I do not mean to mock you, so pray do not take
it that way. It is only your thought that children ought not to play
which has made me smile so.”
“I do not understand.” Cross, and a little embarrassed that his
friend had laughed at him in front of the governess, Edmund
slammed one fist down on the arm of the chair. “In case you have
not recalled, I have never had children of my own and certainly have
never spent much time with my niece and nephew before now.”
“Mayhap if you had then you would be better educated.” Lord
Chesterton grinned at him but did not continue laughing. “My dear
boy, the children need time to play. Everyone will be happier
because of it, I promise you - yourself included.”
Edmund shook his head and let out a sigh of frustration.
“Then they play in the nursery. Is that not so?”
Miss Raikes licked her lips in what Edmund assumed was an
attempt to remove the smile from her face.
“You have something to say against that, Miss Raikes?”
Edmund sighed inwardly and looked directly towards Miss Raikes,
who of course held his gaze steadily.
“I am grateful that you are permitting your niece and nephew to
play my Lord, but to be confined to the nursery, only, would not be
good for them.”
“Then what would be?”
She spread her hands and turned around slowly. Edmund knew
her point before she had the opportunity to say it.
“This house is vast, my Lord. Clara has not had the opportunity
to explore it, she tells me. She is desperate to spend time in the
gardens and, given that the weather is warm, I believe it would be
good for them both to be able to be out of doors as often as they
please… once their education is completed for the day, of course.”
But then I will see them more often. Then, no doubt, I will be
able to hear them from my study window.
“A very wise consideration, I think.”
Lord Chesterton smiled at Miss Raikes, but Edmund only
frowned. It appeared that he was to have both of them set against
his idea of keeping the children indoors and in the nursery as often
as possible.
 “Thank you, Lord Chesterton.” Miss Raikes smiled warmly in the
gentleman's direction. “Might I ask if you have children of your
own?”
“I have my own nieces and nephews. I find them quite lovely -
every single one - in their own way. I delight in spending time with
them.”
Catching the flicker in Miss Raikes’ eyes, Edmund found his heart
twisting with a little jealousy. The emotion was not one that he
thought anything of, and he threw it aside quickly, silently telling
himself not to be foolish.
This is my house, and these are my niece and nephew. I will do
what I think is best.
“Let me be blunt with you, Miss Raikes.” Ignoring the slight frown
which immediately pulled at Lord Chesterton's expression, Edmund
rose from his chair. “I am a gentleman with an ordered life.” His
brandy still in one hand, he began to meander up and down the
drawing-room, not looking directly at either Miss Raikes or Lord
Chesterton. “I have a particular routine for each day. It does vary at
times, of course, but there are habits which I undertake that bring
me a sense of calmness and clarity which is important for my duties
to my title.”
“I understand that my Lord.”
“What you may not understand, Miss Raikes, is that I do not wish
the children to interrupt these habits, this carefully thought out
order.” Hearing a slight cough come from Lord Chesterton, Edmund
shot his friend a look, but he was not looking back at him. Refusing
to allow any embarrassment to pull at him, Edmund continued
quickly. “You have been hired to educate the children, yes, but also
to make certain that they are not in my company and that they are
not often seen, or heard either. That is what will make our lives here
harmonious, Miss Raikes. Do you understand?”
Miss Raikes’ green eyes flickered. A gentle pink was warming her
cheeks, and in the candlelight her brown hair looked a little darker.
Edmund did not find himself warming to her, but rather found the
expression on her face a little foreboding. Why did my brother find
someone so strong in her mind as this? Why could he not have
found someone biddable?
“I may understand, my Lord, but I do not agree.”
“Nor I.”
Lord Chesterton shot Edmund a frown, but Edmund ignored him
entirely.
“Whether you agree or not is none of my concern.”
“I would disagree.” Miss Raikes lifted her chin again, as though
she wished to make obvious her dissent. “When you welcomed these
children into this house, then you welcomed them into every part of
your life. If you wish for them to be miserable, then you will demand
that I keep them in the nursery and the school room, aside from
their one single daily walk. But if you can look past your own
requirements and consider theirs, then I would hope that such a
request would be quickly forgotten.”
“Miss Raikes.” Edmund spoke sharply. “You forget your place.”
She shook her head.
“I am here to take care of the children and in disagreeing with
you, my Lord, that is exactly what I am doing.”
Anger began to rise in Edmund’s heart, and he threw out one
hand towards the door.
“You are dismissed, Miss Raikes. Your duties begin tomorrow
morning. You know my expectations and I expect you to stay within
them.”
For a few seconds, Miss Raikes looked directly back at him and
made no motion to walk towards the door. Her lips were quivering,
her cheeks were scarlet, and her eyes a little narrowed. Glaring back
at her, Edmund waited for her to do as she was asked, to show to
him that she did, in fact, know her place.
And after a few moments, she did so.
“That young lady should not be a governess!”
 Throwing up his hands, Edmund fell back in his chair, looking
over at Lord Chesterton and fully expecting him to agree. Lord
Chesterton rose from his chair.
“I think I shall take myself home. Do excuse me.”
Edmund sat up a little straighter, confusion settling in his heart.
“Chesterton? Wherever are you going?”
“As I said, I am returning home. This evening has left something
of a sour taste in my mouth.”
“Why?” Still lost in confusion, Edmund threw out one hand
towards the door. “If it is the governess interrupting us, then I
apologize - but she is gone now. She will not return.”
Lord Chesterton’s back remained towards him.
“You do not see it, do you?”
Nonplussed, Edmund got to his feet.
“Whatever I am being blind to, I beg you to tell me.”
Lord Chesterton shook his head, turned, and looked Edmund
straight in the eye.
“Only a few minutes ago, you talked with me about your groom
and the difficulties with your staff. You wished for them to learn from
your new groom because he has a great deal more experience than
they.” Edmund nodded slowly, not entirely sure what his friend
meant by bringing up the subject again. “Still, you do not
understand.” A hard laugh broke from Lord Chesterton’s lips. “You
are behaving in much the same way as those grooms you
complained about. You dislike someone’s point of view, so you turn
your back on them. You refuse to listen to their opinion simply
because you feel that your opinion is superior to theirs.” The
hardness left his expression as he shook his head again, twisting his
lips to one side. “Miss Raikes may be a governess, Wollaston, but
she has vastly more experience than you when it comes to dealing
with children. Why then do you not listen to her? Why are you so
determined to ignore everything that she suggests?” Edmund could
not find a way to respond. His eyes went wide, and his heart beat a
little more quickly as he took in what his friend had tried to explain.
Unfortunately, it made complete sense, although Edmund found
himself prickling at all that Lord Chesterton said. “You are missing
out on a great deal, my friend.” Lord Chesterton gave him a small,
rather sad smile. “This year is an opportunity for you to know your
brother’s children better. It is a chance to see just how much joy a
simple smile from one of them can bring. It is a gift! It is a chance
for you to break free of this carefully ordered life of yours and find a
little more freedom.” One shoulder shrugged. “It is there waiting for
you if only you would take it.”
A little insulted, Edmund drew himself up.
“I have no wish for more freedom. I am perfectly contented as I
am.”
Rather than snapping a sharp answer back at him, Lord
Chesterton crossed the space between them and settled a hand on
Edmund’s shoulder.
“Then if you are so determined to stick to your own path, at least
allow your own selfishness to push itself out of the way for a few
months.”
Lord Chesterton’s gaze was steady, and guilt began to push itself
into Edmund’s heart.
“I think a single daily excursion to the gardens will be more than
enough.”
Wincing inwardly, he looked away, knowing such words sounded
weak and defensive. He was reacting poorly to Lord Chesterton’s
attempt to advise him.
“Then permit me to tell you that you are wrong.” Lord Chesterton
held nothing back, his eyes fixed and steady. “And Miss Raikes is
correct.”
Without another word, Lord Chesterton turned towards the door
and left the room. The sound of the door closing behind him was all
that Edmund was left with. Edmund gazed at it steadily, as if he half
expected Lord Chesterton to come back into the room at any
moment, perhaps even to apologize for speaking so forthrightly.
But he did not return. Edmund’s jaw set, and he turned away
sharply, anger beginning to settle like a fire in his heart.
I am not about to allow a governess to dictate to me what my
life ought to be for the next year. Chesterton may have his
expectations for his nieces and nephews, but I certainly do not have
the same expectations regarding my own relatives. Striding back
across the room, Edmund picked up his empty brandy glass and
went to pour another.
“My mind shall not be changed.” Forcing himself to speak loudly
and clearly, the sound of his voice filling the room was an
encouragement to Edmund as he sat back down with a newly refilled
brandy glass. “I have welcomed these children into my home out of
the goodness of my heart, and out of consideration and love for my
brother. It is up to me to decide what they can and cannot do and
what is best for us all, not some governess and not even
Chesterton!”
This decided, he threw back his brandy in one gulp and slammed
the glass down on a table before rising to his feet again. He would
not be moved. He would not be changed - and the governess would
soon learn the meaning of a stubborn will.
 CHAPTER THREE

“B ut I wanted to explore the house. You promised me

that we could do so!”
Tabitha nodded, reached across, and squeezed
Clara’s hand gently.
“And so we shall, I promise you, but we cannot do so at this very
moment! You must learn, my dear, that there are some things that
must come first.” Her gaze went to her other charge. “Your learning
is important.”
Christopher pouted. His brown hair fell forward over his eyes and
he pushed it back messily.
“But I do not like my letters.”
Tabitha smiled.
“Another thing you shall learn, my dear boy, is that whether or
not one likes certain things, they still must be done. Your letters
must be practiced every day. Your uncle will not be happy if we do
not do them, and your father and mother would not be pleased
either! I have promised them all that you will learn letters and
numbers - and I am a lady who always keeps my promises.”
Clara’s eyes brightened visibly as she caught a small breath.
“Then, since you have promised that we will go to explore the
house, then we will.”
Tabitha nodded, her expression a little more serious.
 “You can have every confidence in my word, Clara. I will not let
you down. We shall explore the house when I can find a suitable and
appropriate time.”
Clara shot a look to her brother, and after a moment of silent
communication, she nodded and smiled.
“Then shall we commence our letters?” Tabitha asked, looking
from one twin to the other. “You have your slates ready and waiting
for you on your desks. You must now take your chalk and sit down
at your desk.”
Gesturing to the two pieces of chalk on her own desk, Tabitha
waited for both children to decide to obey. To her surprise, Clara was
first rather than Christopher. In the last sennight, Clara had always
proven herself to be a little more difficult than her brother; had
shown a little more stubbornness of mind than Christopher - but at
this moment she was choosing to do as she was asked first.
“I thank you.” Both children were now sitting at their desks, chalk
in hand, ready to begin. “What shall we begin with?”
Smiling back at her, Clara quickly began to write a letter she had
already learned.
“We did this one yesterday.”
Tabitha nodded her agreement.
“Why do you not also practice your letters from yesterday,
Christopher? That would certainly be a good way to begin.”
The boy nodded and, albeit a little reluctantly, began to write to
with his chalk. Taking a moment to look at one child and then the
other, Tabitha drew in a long breath and let it out carefully, so that
neither child would hear her do so. Having been here for a little over
a sennight already, Tabitha was beginning to find the situation
difficult. As much as she did not wish to, she had no other choice
but to obey Lord Wollaston’s demands as regarded the children’s
conduct and presence within the house. Thus far, she had managed
to entertain the children on their daily walk on the grounds by taking
them to places far from the manor house, including the woods near
the edge of the grounds. After all, Lord Wollaston had never dictated
a set time nor duration for their walk together, and she had been
taking advantage of that.
One advantage of such long walks was that the children were
fatigued and always ready to retire to bed after dinner had been
served. However, Tabitha knew that they wished to run and jump
and play on the garden grounds. Christopher wished to climb the
trees and Clara had spoken of paddling in the pond. This, of course,
was something Tabitha had mentioned previously in her first
conversation with Clara, and obviously, the little girl had not
forgotten it. Neither had either child forgotten her promise of
exploring the house, which thus far she had been entirely unable to
fulfill.
A knock came on the door and Tabitha rose at once, pulled from
her thoughts in an instant. Rather than disturb the children, she
walked towards the door to answer it, finding the maid Christy
standing in the hallway. In these last few days, she and Christy had
developed something of an understanding. They could not be called
friends, given that Tabitha was a governess and she a maid, but
there was a growing bond between them certainly. Christy was
rather fond of the children, and that, to Tabitha, spoke of a gentle
heart. Only yesterday, Tabitha had drawn Christy into her
confidence. She had spoken of Lord Wollaston with more openness
than she had done with anyone else before, telling Christy of how
the children wished to explore the house, but how Lord Wollaston
had forbidden it. Christy’s eyes had spoken of sorrow and
frustration, and it had been something of a relief for Tabitha to
speak so openly.
“Good morning, Miss Raikes. I hope you will not think ill of me
for speaking so, but I thought it might be a good idea to tell you
that Lord Wollaston is gone out for the day.”
Christy’s eyes sparkled, and it took time for Tabitha to realize
what she meant.
 “You mean to say that we could walk through the house without
his awareness?”
Christy nodded, her smile growing.
“I hope I have not done wrong in speaking to you like this.”
“No, not in the least. I am very grateful to you!” Pressing
Christy’s hand, Tabitha glanced over her shoulder to where the
children were sitting. “Perhaps we shall begin after luncheon when
the rooms are a little quieter with the staff busy below stairs.”
She did not want any of the maids and footmen, or the butler
and housekeeper, to tell Lord Wollaston of what she had been doing.
“We will be taken up with preparations for the evening. Lord
Wollaston is to have some guests for dinner, so it would probably be
a good idea to stay clear of the dining room and the drawing-room,
and perhaps even the library.”
“Thank you again, Christy. I am very grateful to you for your kind
consideration. Only a moment ago the children were asking me
about my promise to take them through the house! Thanks to you, I
will be able to fulfill it.”
Christy beamed at her, then turned away with a word of farewell,
ready to return back to her duties. Feeling her heart a good deal
unburdened, Tabitha closed the door and returned to her seat,
knowing how excited the children would be. For the moment,
however, she would encourage them to continue with their letters.

“Y ou have done very well , Christopher. I am delighted with your

attempts today. See how well you have formed the ‘C’.” The small
boy’s cheeks colored, and he looked away, a little embarrassed.
Tabitha picked up Clara’s slate next. “I can see that you have done
your very best also, Clara. This ‘S’ is practically perfect! We shall
have you writing before your parents return home, and what a
surprise that will be for them!”
At this, Clara’s face lit up, and she clasped her hands tightly
under her chin, snuggling a little closer to Tabitha.
“Perhaps I could write a letter to mother and father,” she
suggested. “Would it reach them in time, do you think?”
“It is certainly a wonderful idea.” Thinking that this would be a
wonderful encouragement to both children to continue with their
letters, Tabitha smiled at Clara’s enthusiasm. “They will be delighted
indeed, I know.”
The door suddenly opened, and without any announcement, or
even the grace to knock, Lord Wollaston strode into the room. There
was no smile on his lips, and his eyes did not fix themselves on any
one person but went from Clara to Christopher to Tabitha and then
back once more to Clara. A little irritated, Tabitha forced herself to
rise from her chair, for there was no reason for her to be rude
despite her irritation.
“Good morning, Lord Wollaston. Are you coming to see what the
children have been doing?”
To her very great frustration, Lord Wollaston shook his head.
“I am sure that they are doing perfectly well.” Eventually, his
gaze settled on her, but there was no happiness in his eyes nor even
a hint of a smile about his lips. All in all, Lord Wollaston did not
appear pleased to have to be in her company. We feel the same in
that regard then. “I am come to inform you that I will be out for the
day, and then I will have guests this evening. I was not certain
whether or not the housekeeper would have told you of such a thing
and thought it best to make certain that you were entirely aware.”
Tabitha blinked, a little surprised that he had deigned to come,
himself, to her schoolroom to tell her this personally. “Yes, I am well
aware that you have guests this evening.”
“Oh.” Lord Wollaston clasped his hands behind his back and
shuffled his feet, appearing suddenly uncomfortable. “That is good. I
assume that you know what is required of you.”
A small knot began to tie itself in Tabitha’s stomach.
“It would be best if you inform me of your expectations, Lord
Wollaston, as you have done before, so that you are not
disappointed.” She folded her arms across her chest. “I assume, by
now, you see that I am more than willing to do as you ask, no
matter how much I disagree with it.”
This was not a wise thing to add, she knew, but Tabitha was
quite unable to stop herself from saying it. Lord Wollaston’s eyes
glittered, and his jaw jutted forward as his red-brown hair fell across
his eyes in much the same way as Christopher's had done across his,
only a short while ago. Narrowing his eyes slightly, he took a step
closer to her but did not speak with any harshness.
“I am well aware of that. However, for this evening, I expect the
children to be kept away from my guests entirely. I would prefer it if
they did not even know they were present in the house.”
Tabitha’s skin prickled, but she gave him an icy smile regardless.
“You wish me to continue as I have been doing already, then?”
A quick glance over her shoulder told her that both Clara and
Christopher were engaged in something else entirely and were not
paying even the smallest attention to what she was discussing with
their uncle. That was something of a relief, for she did not want
them to know that Lord Wollaston had no interest in being in their
company at any time. It was difficult for them enough already, with
both of their parents gone so far away, and she would not add to
their burden.
“I would ask you to keep your voice low when you speak such
things to me - not for my sake, but for the sake of your niece and
nephew.” Her eyes went to them again, and she gestured to them
for a moment. “You may be thinking practically, but I can guarantee
that they will take it personally.”
Lord Wollaston snorted.
Another random document with
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hesitation Maudslay pointed to a worn-out bench vice and asked
whether he could take his rank among the other workmen if he could
fix it as good as new before the end of the day. He was told to go
ahead. He resteeled and trued the jaws, filed them up, recut and
hardened them, and before the time set had it together, trimmer and
in better shape than any of its neighbors. It was examined, admired
and accepted as his diploma as a journeyman.
His advancement was rapid, and in about a year, while still only
nineteen, he was made general foreman and maintained his
leadership without the slightest difficulty. He remained with Bramah
for eight years, during which time the two laid the foundation for
many of the modern machine tools, more especially the slide-rest
and screw-cutting lathe. We have already considered Maudslay’s
work done in connection with Bramah and little need be added here
in regard to it. During this time Bramah invented the hydraulic press,
but the cup-leather packing which is so essential a part of it was
suggested by Maudslay.
He left the Pimlico shop because Bramah would not give him more
than 30 shillings ($7.50) a week, and with a single helper started a
little blacksmithing and jobbing shop on his own account near Wells
and Oxford streets in London.
His first customer was an artist who gave him an order for an iron
easel. Business prospered and he found plenty of work. His
reputation was established, however, in connection with the
Portsmouth block machinery, which was described in the last
chapter. The building of this machinery occupied about eight years,
from 1800 to 1808. The design was substantially Brunel’s, but Mr.
Nasmyth says that “every member of it was full of Maudslay’s
presence and the mechanical perfection of its details, its
practicability and adaptability show his handiwork at every turn.”
Soon after this work was undertaken, Maudslay moved his shop to
Margaret Street, near Cavendish Square. During the building of the
block machinery Maudslay had met Joshua Field, who had been
engaged as a draftsman in the Portsmouth dockyards under Sir
Samuel Bentham and had worked with him in the development of the
machinery. Field was transferred to General Bentham’s office at the
Admiralty in 1804, and a year later joined Maudslay. Five years later
they moved to Lambeth on the south side of the Thames and bought
an old riding school on Westminster Road on what was formerly a
swampy marsh. Here the firm of Maudslay & Field continued its long
and famous career. Few firms have influenced mechanical
development more, and for many years it was one of the leading
machine shops of the world. Here Maudslay did his life work as one
of the leaders in the development not only of machine tools but of
the steam engine, both stationary and marine. After his death in
1831 the business was continued by Mr. Field, who outlived him
many years, and by Maudslay’s son and grandson, both of whom
were fine mechanics and men of great influence.
It was in connection with the slide-rest and screw-cutting lathe that
Maudslay is best known. Too much value cannot be placed on the
slide-rest and its combination with a lead screw, operated by change
gears. It is used in some form in almost every machine tool and is
one of the great inventions of history.
Like most of the great inventions, it was the work of many men. In
crude applications, parts of it date back to the Middle Ages.
Leonardo da Vinci caught an inkling of it. French writers in the
sixteenth and seventeenth centuries describe and illustrate devices
which involve the parts of it. Fig. 13, reproduced from an illustration
in the old work of Besson, first published in 1569,[32] shows a lead
screw. The copy from which this illustration was taken is printed in
Latin and is in the Astor library, New York. The upper shaft had three
drums; the middle one carried the rope which was manipulated by
the operator. Of the drums at the ends, the one at the left operated a
lead screw and the one on the right, the piece being cut. The two
outer weights held the follower up against the lead screw. The
cutting was, of course, intermittent, as in all the earlier types of
lathes. The idea of the lead screw occurs in other French works of
the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. In the lathe shown in Fig.
14, from a French book published in 1741,[33] gears instead of ropes
were used to connect the rotation of the lead screw with that of the
work, but if the idea of change gears was contemplated, it was not
developed.
[32] “Des Instruments Mathématiques et Méchaniques, &c., Inventées
par Jacques Besson.” First Latin and French Edit., 1569. Plate 9. Two later
editions were published at Lyons, one in 1578 and one in 1582. The same
copper plates were used in the three editions.
[33] Holtzapffel: “Turning and Mechanical Manipulation,” Vol. II, p. 618.
London, 1847.

Figure 13. French Screw-Cutting Lathe, Previous to 1569

 Figure 14. French Screw-Cutting Lathe, about 1740

The slide-rest was also known. An illustration of a French slide-

rest, published long before Maudslay’s time, is reproduced in Fig. 3.
In Bramah’s original “slide-tool,” the tail-stock and slide-rest were
combined.[34] It was made about 1795 by Maudslay while still his
foreman. How much of the design was Bramah’s and how much
Maudslay’s we cannot tell. It was a light, flimsy affair and very
different from the slide-rests Maudslay was making only a few years
later.
[34] Buchanan: “Practical Essays on Mill Work and Other Machinery.”
London, 1841. Volume of Plates.

In none of these was the slide-rest combined with change gears

and a power-driven lead screw. It was this combination which formed
Maudslay’s great contribution, together with improvements in
proportion and in mechanical design which raised the device from an
ingenious but cumbersome mechanical movement to an instrument
of precision and power. Jesse Ramsden, a famous instrument
maker, is said to have made a small lathe in 1775, which had change
wheels and a sliding tool holder moved by a lead screw. The writer
has been unable to find any illustration or description of it, and if
such a lathe existed, it certainly did not exert a very wide influence.
The combination was anticipated in Bentham’s famous patent of
1793. In this patent Bentham says: “When the motion is of a rotative
kind, advancement (of the tool) may be provided by hand, yet
regularity may be more effectually insured by the aid of mechanism.
For this purpose one expedient is the connecting, for instance, by
cogged wheels, of the advancing motion of the piece with the
rotative motion of the tool.”[35] This patent contained no drawings,
and the suggestion was not, so far as is known, embodied in any
definite construction.
[35] See the British patent records. Patent No. 1951, dated April 23,
1793.

Many men were working at the problem of generating an accurate

screw thread. The use of dies was quite well known, but their design
and workmanship was of the crudest order and their product of the
same character; and they were inadequate for the making of any
large threads. Holtzapffel’s book on “Turning and Mechanical
Manipulation,” published in London, 1847, describes some of the
attempts of the earlier mechanics to devise other means.[36] At the
famous Soho works in Birmingham a workman by the name of
Anthony Robinson cut a screw 7 feet long and 6 inches in diameter
with a square, triple thread. After the cylinder had been turned, paper
was cut and fitted around it, removed, marked in ink with parallel
oblique lines, then replaced on the cylinder and the lines were
pricked through with a center punch. The paper was again removed
and dots connected by fine lines with a file. The alternate spaces
between the lines were then cut out with a chisel and hammer and
smoothed by filing. A block of lead and tin, as a temporary guide nut,
was then cast around the partially formed screw. Adjustable cutters
were fixed upon this guide nut and it was used as a kind of tool-
holding slide-rest, being rotated around the screw by hand levers,
thereby cutting the finished thread. In other words, a lead screw was
cut on the piece itself and the temporary nut was used as a tool
holder to finish the work.
[36] Holtzapffel. Vol. II, pp. 635-655.
 One method used for some purposes was to coil two wires around
a core in close contact with each other. One of these was then
removed, leaving a space corresponding to the hollow of the thread.
The core and remaining wire were then dipped in melted tin and
soldered together. In some cases they were actually used in this
form as the desired screw thread. In others, the helical wire was
used to guide a sleeve nut which controlled a tool used to cut a
thread located farther up on the length of the core.
Another method resorted to was that of grooving a smooth cylinder
by a sharp-edged cutter standing at the required pitch angle and
relying on the contact of the knife-edge to produce the proper
traverse along the cylinder as it was rotated, thus developing the
screw. This method is not so crude as it seems and was one of those
used by Maudslay himself. He also used a flat steel tape wound
about a cylindrical bar, but he found the inclined knife method more
satisfactory. The device which he used was a mechanism of
considerable refinement. He employed cylinders of wood, tin, brass
and other soft metals accurately mounted to revolve between
centers. The hardened knife was crescent-shaped, nearly fitting the
cylinder, and fixed at the required angle with great precision by
means of a large graduated wheel and tangent screw. A chasing tool
carried by a small, adjustable slide cut the thread as the stock
moved forward under the incisive action of the inclined knife edge.
Hundreds of screws, both right and left, were made by this device,
and their agreement with each other is said to have been
remarkable. This was the way in which Maudslay generated his first
lead screws.
With the best of the screws so obtained Maudslay made the first
screw-cutting lathe a few years prior to 1800, shown in Fig. 15,[37]
which had two triangular bars for a bed, and was about three feet
long. The headstock carried a live spindle, which was connected with
a lead screw by a pair of gears, and a slide-rest ran upon the
triangular bars under control of a lead screw having four square
threads per inch. In this machine he at first used different lead
screws for different pitches. The inner end of the lower spindle in the
headstock had a two-jawed driving device, which might be
disconnected and into which various lead screws might be fitted.
Later he added change gear wheels.
[37] No. 1601 in South Kensington Museum, London. Cat. M. E.
Collection, Part II, p. 266.

The great idea of using a single lead screw for various pitches, by
means of change gears, was Maudslay’s own. Fig. 16 shows how
rapidly the idea was developed.[38] This machine, built about 1800, is
distinctly modern in appearance. It has a substantial, well-designed,
cast-iron bed, a lead screw with 30 threads to the inch, a back rest
for steadying the work, and was fitted with 28 change wheels with
teeth varying in number from 15 to 50. The intermediate wheel had a
wide face and was carried on the swinging, adjustable arm in order
to mesh with wheels of various diameters on the fixed centers.
Sample screws having from 16 to 100 threads per inch are shown on
the rack in front. Both of these lathes are now in the South
Kensington Museum in London. With lathes of this design, Maudslay
cut the best screws which had been made up to that time. One of
these was 5 feet long, 2 inches in diameter, with 50 threads to the
inch, and the nut fitted to it was 12 inches long, thus engaging 600
threads. “This screw was principally used for dividing scales for
astronomical and other metrical purposes of the highest class. By its
means divisions were produced with such minuteness that they
could only be made visual by a microscope.”[39]
[38] No. 1602 in South Kensington Museum, London. Cat. M. E.
Collection, Part II, pp. 266-267.
[39] “Autobiography of James Nasmyth,” p. 140. London, 1883.

Some idea of how far Maudslay was in advance of his time is

shown by the fact that the wooden pole-lathes in Fig. 2 represent
fairly the state of the art at that time. This form had been in use in
many countries for centuries. One of these wooden lathes, built in
1800, the same year as Maudslay’s lathe, Fig. 16, is also in the
South Kensington Museum, and was in use as late as 1879. Similar
lathes are said to be still used by chair makers in certain portions of
England.[40]
 [40] No. 1596 in South Kensington. Museum, London. Cat. M. E.
Collection, Part II, p. 264.

About 1830, shortly before his death, Maudslay designed and

constructed a lathe with a face-plate 9 feet in diameter operating
over a pit 20 feet deep. This lathe had a massive bed and was used
to turn flywheel rims. It was fitted with a boring bar and was capable
of boring steam cylinders up to 10 feet in diameter. We regret that no
picture of this lathe is available. It would be interesting as it would
show in a striking way the development of the slide-rest and lathe in
the hands of this great mechanic.
Maudslay’s work on the screw thread was not confined to the
lathe. He improved the system of taps and dies whereby they were
made to cut the threads instead of squeezing them up, and he
introduced the use of three or more cutting edges.[41] He made the
first move toward the systematizing of thread sizes and made a
series of taps from 6 inches in diameter, for tapping steam pistons,
down to the smallest sizes used in watch work. The diameters of
these taps varied by eighths and sixteenths of an inch, and their
threads were determined by the respective strengths of each screw.
He established for his own use definite standard pitches. Many
copies of these threads found their way to other shops and
influenced the construction of similar tools elsewhere. In fact,
Holtzapffel says: “I believe it may be fairly advanced, that during the
period from 1800 to 1810, Mr. Maudslay effected nearly the entire
change from the old, imperfect, accidental practice of screw making
to the modern, exact, systematic mode now generally followed by
engineers; and he pursued the subject of the screw with more or less
ardour, and at an enormous expense, until his death.”[42]
[41] Holtzapffel, Vol. II, p. 646.
[42] Ibid., Vol. II, p. 647.
Figure 15. Maudslay’s Screw-Cutting Lathe

About 1797
 Figure 16. Maudslay’s Screw-Cutting Lathe

About 1800

While we would not detract from the ingenuity of others who

conceived the idea of the slide-rest and lead screw, enough has
been given to show that no other mechanic of his day appreciated
their possibilities as he did, and none embodied them in forms as
useful. The fact that for many years the slide-rest was popularly
known as “Maudslay’s go-cart” indicates that his contemporaries
recognized him as its originator.
The business at Lambeth grew steadily until it employed several
hundred men, and embraced the making of saw- and flour-mills, mint
machinery and steam engines of all kinds. With his keen mechanical
intuition he saw that the cumbersome wooden walking beam
characteristic of the Newcomen and Watt engines was unnecessary.
He therefore dispensed with it and drove direct from the engine
crosshead to the crank, thus making the first direct-acting engine,
which held the market for a long time. He built the first marine
engines in England, and his leadership in that field was
unchallenged for many years. Another of his inventions was the
punching machine for punching boiler plates and iron work. His
influence was felt in many directions in the field of machine design.
He was the first to point out the weakness of the clean, sharp
corners in castings which were so prized at that time, and advocated
the use of fillets, showing that they greatly increased the strength.
To the end of his life he retained his personal dexterity at both the
anvil and the bench. One of his greatest delights was to go into the
shop and “have a go” at a piece of work which his workmen found
impossible to do. One of his old workmen, years afterward, speaking
in kindling pride of him, said: “It was a pleasure to see him handle a
tool of any kind, but he was quite splendid with an 18-inch file.”
Nasmyth confirms this, saying: “To be permitted to stand by and
observe the systematic way in which Mr. Maudslay would first mark
or line out his work, and the masterly manner in which he would deal
with his materials, and cause them to assume the desired forms,
was a treat beyond all expression. Every stroke of the hammer,
chisel, or file, told as an effective step towards the intended result. It
was a never-to-be-forgotten lesson in workmanship, in the most
exalted sense of the term.... No one that I ever met with could go
beyond Henry Maudslay himself in his dexterous use of the file. By a
few masterly strokes he could plane surfaces so true that when their
accuracy was tested by a standard plane surface of absolute truth
they were never found defective; neither convex nor concave nor
‘cross-winding,’—that is, twisted.”[43]
[43] “Autobiography of James Nasmyth,” pp. 147-148. London, 1883.

Whitworth is usually credited with having been the originator of the

method of making plane surfaces three at a time, using them to
correct each other. Nasmyth, however, says that Maudslay used this
method and that surface plates so made were in daily use in his
shop. His testimony is so clear that it is given in full: “The importance
of having Standard Planes caused him [i.e., Maudslay] to have many
of them placed on the benches beside his workmen, by means of
which they might at once conveniently test their work. Three of each
were made at a time so that by the mutual rubbing of each on each
the projecting surfaces were effaced. When the surfaces approached
very near to the true plane, the still projecting minute points were
carefully reduced by hard steel scrapers, until at last the standard
plane surface was secured. When placed over each other they
would float upon the thin stratum of air between them until dislodged
by time and pressure. When they adhered closely to each other, they
could only be separated by sliding each off each. This art of
producing absolutely plane surfaces is, I believe, a very old
mechanical ‘dodge.’ But, as employed by Maudslay’s men, it greatly
contributed to the improvement of the work turned out. It was used
for the surfaces of slide valves, or wherever absolute true plane
surfaces were essential to the attainment of the best results, not only
in the machinery turned out, but in educating the taste of his men
towards first-class workmanship.”[44] Whitworth’s later success with
the generation of plane surfaces seems clearly to be a refinement
and outgrowth of Maudslay’s work.
[44] Ibid., pp. 148-149.

Maudslay’s standard of accuracy carried him beyond the use of

ordinary calipers, and he had a bench micrometer of great accuracy
which he kept in his own workshop and always referred to as “The
Lord Chancellor.” It was about 16 inches long and had two plane
jaws and a horizontal screw. The scale was graduated to inches and
tenths of an inch; and the index disk on the screw to one hundred
equal parts. Speaking from the standpoint of fifty years ago,
Nasmyth says: “Not only absolute measure could be obtained by this
means, but also the amount of minute differences could be
ascertained with a degree of exactness that went quite beyond all
the requirements of engineering mechanism; such, for instance, as
the thousandth part of an inch.”[45]
[45] Ibid., p. 150.

Maudslay’s record, as left behind him in steel and iron, would give
him a secure place in engineering history, but his influence as a
trainer of men is quite as great. He loved good work for its own sake
and impressed that standard on all in his employ. Clement, Roberts,
Whitworth, Nasmyth, Seaward, Muir and Lewis worked for him, and
all showed throughout their lives, in a marked way, his influence
upon them. Other workmen, whose names are not so prominent,
spread into the various shops of England the methods and standards
of Maudslay & Field (later Maudslay, Sons & Field) and made
English tool builders the leaders of the world for fifty years.
J. G. Moon, who afterwards became manager of James Watt &
Company of Soho, the successor of Boulton & Watt, was
apprenticed to Maudslay, Sons & Field and gives the following
picture of the shop at the zenith of its prosperity.
There were not more than perhaps a dozen lathes in use there, with cast-iron
box beds such as we now know; but nearly all the lathes had been constructed by
the firm itself and were made without a bed, the poppet or back center and the
slide-rest being supported on a wrought-iron triangular bar, varying in size from,
say, 3-in. to 6-in. side. This bar was supported on cast-iron standards, and
reached from the fixed lathe head to the length required of the “bed.” If the lathes
were self-acting, there were two such triangular bars with the guide screw running
between them. The advantage of these lathes was great, for if a large chuck job
was on hand, the bars could be withdrawn from the fixed head, supported on
standards, and anything that would miss the roof or swing in a pit beneath could
be tackled.
There was one screwing machine or lathe which all apprentices in the vice loft
(as the fitting shop in which the writer was apprenticed was called) had to work
during their curriculum—this was a small double-bar lathe with a guide screw
between. The fixed head was on the right of the operator, and the lathe was
worked by hand by means of a wheel very much like a miniature ship’s steering
wheel. This wheel was about 2-ft. diameter, with handles round the rim, and we
apprentices were put at this machine to develop the muscles of the right arm. The
advantages of having the fixed head on the right (instead of on the left, as in an
ordinary lathe) was that in cutting a right-hand thread the tool receded away from
the start and ran off the end, and thus prevented a “root in,” which might happen if,
whilst pulling at the wheel, you became absorbed in the discussion of the abilities
of a music-hall “star” or other equally interesting topics with a fellow-apprentice.
The writer remembers using a pair of calipers at that time, whose “points” were
about ¹⁄₂ in. wide for measuring over the tops of a thread. These were stamped “J.
Whitworth, 1830,” and formerly belonged to the great screw-thread reformer.
Nearly all the bar lathes were driven by gut bands, and one can remember gut
bands of 1-in. diameter being used.
 Most of the planing machines were made and supplied by Joseph Whitworth &
Co., and the tool boxes were of the “Jim Crow” type, which used to make a half-
turn round by means of a cord when the belt was shifted at the end of each stroke,
thus cutting each way. The forerunner of this used to interest the writer—a
machine in the vice loft that was variously called a shaping machine and a planing
machine. It was driven by means of a disc about 3-ft. diameter, with a slot down
the disc for varying the stroke. A connecting rod from the disc to the tool box
completed this portion of the machine. The tool box was supported and kept true
by two cylindrical bars or guides on each side, so that the whole arrangement was
like the crosshead of an engine worked by disc and connecting rod. On the top of
the tool box was fixed a toothed sector of a wheel, and at the end of each stroke
this sector engaged with a rack, and in this way the tool box took a half-turn and
was ready for cutting on the return stroke. The writer understands that it was from
this machine that Whitworth developed his “Jim Crow” tool box.
There was also a huge shaping machine, whose stroke was anything up to
about 6 ft., which was simply a tool box fixed on the end of a large triangular bar of
about 12-in. side with the “V” downwards. To the back of the bar was attached a
rack, and this, gearing with a pinion, gave the motion. It was a great fascination to
watch this ponderous bar with its tool box slowly coming forward out of its casing
and taking immense cuts.
Another machine tool that also used to interest the writer was a machine for
turning the crank pins of very large solid cranks, the crank pins being about 18-in.
to 20-in. diameter, and the crank shafts about 24-in. to 30-in. diameter. These
immense crank shafts used to be set in the center of the machine, and the tool
would travel round the crank pin until the work was completed, the feed being
worked by means of a ratchet actuated by leaden weights falling to and fro as the
machines slowly revolved.[46]
[46] Junior Institution of Engineers, pp. 167-168. London, 1914.

Maudslay was a large man, over 6 feet 2 inches in height, with a

large, round head, a wide forehead, a good-humored face, and keen,
straightforward eyes. His ringing laugh and cordial manner made
friends everywhere and his kindliness and unvarying integrity held
them. It will repay anyone who cares to do so to look up the account
of him as given in the “Autobiography of James Nasmyth,” who went
to Maudslay as a young man and worked beside him as his private
assistant. In reading this affectionate account one can easily see
why Maudslay influenced those about him so deeply and why he
raised the standard of his craft. Like Nasmyth and many other great
mechanics, Maudslay became interested in astronomy, and at the
time of his death he was planning to build a 24-inch reflecting
telescope for his own use. He patented but few inventions, and relied
rather upon his reputation and workmanship to protect him. He was
full of quaint maxims and remarks, as true today as then, the
outcome of keen observation and wide experience. He used to say:
“First get a clear notion of what you desire to accomplish and then in
all probability you will succeed in doing it.” “Keep a sharp lookout
upon your material.” “Get rid of every pound of material you can do
without; put to yourself the question, ‘What business has this to be
there?’” “Avoid complexities. Make everything as simple as
possible.”
His shop was the pride of the country, and Nasmyth tells of the
intimate visits of Faraday, Bentham, Brunel, Chantrey the sculptor,
Barton of the Royal Mint, and Bryan Donkin the engineer, who used
to call and chat with him while he worked at his bench.
No better tribute to Maudslay and his influence can be given than
that of Nasmyth, who said that his “useful life was enthusiastically
devoted to the great object of producing perfect workmanship and
machinery; to him we are certainly indebted for the slide-rest and
indirectly so for the vast benefits which have resulted from the
introduction of so powerful an agent in perfecting our machinery and
mechanism generally. The indefatigable care which he took in
inculcating and diffusing among his workmen and mechanical men
generally, sound ideas of practical knowledge and refined views of
constructions, has and ever will continue to identify his name with all
that is noble in the ambition of a lover of mechanical perfection. The
vast results which have sprung from his admirable mind, are his best
monument and eulogium.”[47]
[47] T. Baker: “Elements of Mechanism,” p. 232. Second Edition with
remarks by James Nasmyth. London, 1858-1859.
 CHAPTER V
INVENTORS OF THE PLANER
In almost no case is the crediting of invention more difficult than in
that of the planer. Not only was this tool the product of many men but
no single man stands out clearly as Maudslay, for instance, does in
the development of the lathe. The invention of the metal planer has
been claimed in England on behalf of Spring of Aberdeen, James
Fox, George Rennie, Matthew Murray, Joseph Clement and Richard
Roberts. The planer was in use in the United States so early that it
may also have been invented independently in this country, though,
without doubt, later than in England.
With the planer as with the lathe, the French were the pioneers.
Plumier, a French writer on mechanical subjects, published in 1754 a
description of a machine which had been used for some years,
consisting of two parallel bars of wood or iron connected at their
extremities. The article to be planed was fixed between them, and a
frame guided between the same bars was moved lengthwise by a
long screw and carried a tool which took a planing cut from the work.
The machine was intended for ornamenting the handles of knives
and was said by Plumier to have been an English invention. A
planing machine invented in 1751 by Nicholas Forq, a French clock
maker, for the purpose of planing the pump barrels used in the Marly
water works to supply the fountains at Versailles, is shown in Fig. 17.
These pump barrels were made up of wrought iron staves bound
together by hoops. There were quite a number of these barrels from
10 inches to 4 feet in diameter and from 7 feet to 10 feet long. The
illustration, taken from Buchanan’s “Mill Work,” published in 1841,[48]
is not complete, as it lacks the carriage carrying the planing tool
which was not shown on the original drawing. The general
construction of the machine however is quite clear. The built-up
barrel is shown in place. The cutter was carried backward and
forward between two parallel iron bars set horizontally through the
cylinder. Either the tool or the pump barrel must have been given a
rotative feed. Its action was therefore equivalent to planing on
centers, and it is said to have done this fairly large work in a
satisfactory manner.
[48] Buchanan: “Practical Essays on Mill Work and Other Machinery.”
London, 1841. Volume of Plates.
NOTE.—The spots on the photograph were the yellow stains of age on the original
plate
Figure 17. French Planing Machine by Nicholas Forq, 1751

Bentham described a planer in his well-known patent of 1793 and

Bramah in his patent of 1802. Matthew Murray is said to have built
one in 1814 to machine the faces of D-slide valves, which were
originally invented by Murdock in 1786 but improved by Murray in
1802. Richard Roberts built a planer in 1817 which is, without doubt,
the earliest planer now in existence. It is in the South Kensington
Museum in London and a picture of it is given in Fig. 20.[49] It will be
seen that the modern planer design was already beginning to take
shape. The chisel and file marks on the bed and ways indicate that it
was itself made without the use of a planer. It had vertical and
horizontal feeds, an angular adjustment and separate tool-feed for
the head, and a hinged clamp for the tool to allow it to lift on the
return stroke. The table, which was hand-operated through a chain
drive, was 52 inches long by 11 inches wide.
[49] No. 1619. Cat. M. E. Collection, Part II, p. 272.

George Rennie built a planer in 1820 with a movable bed operated

by a screw and furnished with a revolving cutting tool.[50] James Fox
built one in 1821, capable of planing work 10 feet, 6 inches long, 22
inches wide, and 12 inches deep, to plane the bars of lace
machines. Joseph Clement made his first planer in 1820 to plane the
triangular bars of lathes and the sides of weaving looms. Some
years later he built his “great planer,” a remarkable machine from
both a mechanical and a financial standpoint. A very full description
of it was given by Mr. Varley in the “Transactions of the Society of
Arts” in London in 1832,[51] illustrated by a set of copper plates made
from Clement’s own drawings. Clement’s reputation of being the
most expert draftsman of his day is well borne out by these
drawings. In this planer two cutting tools were used, one for the
forward and one for the return stroke. The bed ran on rollers,
mounted on a concrete foundation, which were said to have been so
true that “if you put a piece of paper under one of the rollers it would
stop all the rest.” It was fitted with centers and was used for planing
circular, spiral and conical work as well as flat work. It took in work 6
feet square and was hand-driven. The cutting speed must have been
low, for “the power of one man was sufficient to keep it in motion for
ordinary work, though two were employed to make long and full cuts
both ways.” For more than ten years it was the only one of its size
and it ran for many years night and day on jobbing work, its earnings
forming Clement’s principal income. Smiles says that his charge for
planing was 18 shillings, or $4.32, per square foot, which amounted
to about £10 per day of twelve hours, or, with two shifts, to about
$100 a day.[52] On this basis he must have machined an average of
about 11 square feet in twelve hours.
[50] Buchanan, p. xlii.
[51] Vol. XLIX, p. 157.
[52] Smiles: “Industrial Biography,” p. 306. Boston, 1864.

By 1840 the design of the planer had become fairly well settled
and its use general. In America, planers were built by Gay, Silver &
Company of North Chelmsford, Mass., as early as 1831. Pedrick &
Ayer of Philadelphia are also said to have built a planer at about the
same time. The early American tool builders will be taken up in a
later chapter.
Little is known of the personalities and histories of some of these
men, such as Spring of Aberdeen. Spring’s name is mentioned by
Smiles in his “Industrial Biography”[53] as one of the inventors of the
planer, but no further reference is made to him.
[53] p. 223.

James Fox was the founder of a well-known firm of machine-tool

builders in Derby. He was originally a butler, but his mechanical skill
turned him toward the design and building of lace machinery. The
gentleman in whose employ he had served furnished him with the
means of beginning business on his own account, and he soon
obtained work from the great firms of Arkwright and Strutt, the
founders of modern cotton manufacture. His planer, built about 1814,
was used in the manufacture of this machinery. It is described by
Samuel Hall, a former workman under Fox, as follows: “It was
essentially the same in principle as the planing machine now in
general use, although differing in detail. It had a self-acting ratchet
motion for moving the slides of a compound slide-rest, and a self-
acting reversing tackle, consisting of three bevel wheels, one a stud,
one loose on the driving shaft, and another on a socket, with a pinion
on the opposite end of the driving shaft running on the socket. The
other end was the place for the driving pulley. A clutch-box was
placed between the two opposite wheels, which was made to slide