Civil Contract Part X

Adam soon realises that unlike his father he has no taste for gambling. At first he was happy to buy the stock, believing firmly that Wellington was going to win, and that it was a gamble worth taking. Before long, he begins to feel uneasy. Wellington is a fine general, but he cannot be completely sure that he will win. He has to kick his heels in the clubs, keeping his distance from Mr Chawleigh. He finds that many upper class people are wholly concerned with their own pleasures or are convinced that Napoleon can't be beaten. He finds it hard to keep calm, and to regain his feeling that he will win through. He wonders if it was foolish to fly in the face of Mr Chawleigh's well-meant advice. The man is a clever businessman and maybe he was right and now he will lose most of his private fortune. He spends 2 days in this miserable frame of mind, and finally late in the evening, a chaise comes into town with news.. and Adam can see that it is flying Eagles. Napoleon has been defeated and Wellington has won. Exhausted and shaken, he can hardly take in the good news, but he goes to bed and sleeps. He intends to go home the next day. He realises when he wakes up, late in the morning, that he will be missing Lydia's party. He pays a visit to Mr Chawleigh who is very upset because he gave Adam bad advice. Adam tells him that he chose not to follow the advice and that he has increased his fortune substantially. Mr. Chawleigh is somewhat relieved that he hasn't advised his son in law badly after all. Then Adam tells him that he originally wanted to pay him back for all the money he had spent. Now however, he thinks that it would be better to use his new fortune to improve Fontley and increase his prosperity, and to improve life for his tenants and labourers. Mr Chawleigh is pleased that Adam is not flinging his money back in his face because he has grown fonder of his son in law. Adam thinks that it might be an idea to build a canal at Fontley to drain the land and to improve transport. He plans to suggest that his father in law who is interested in engineering would come in with him on it. He has to leave to go home, with the newspapers which have all the news on the Battle of Waterloo... and arrives very late that evening. The following day, he finds that his absence was accepted because of the battle, but that Lydia's party had a bad start. Charlotte's baby arrived a bit early. She was just leaving for the party when her labour started, and she and her mother and husband were unable to attend. Adam tells Jenny his good news. She is delighted that he backed his instinct and has now improved their position and they will be able to reform the estate. He tells her and Lord Brough however that he will never do such a thing again, that he simply hasn't got the nerve for speculation. He went through such horrors when he had made his decision and was waiting for the outcome. Julia comes downstairs, upset that the battle news has taken attention away from her. She is weepy and emotional, and Adam finds himself getting very irritated with her.. realising that she must always be the centre of attention. He can see too that she was upset because the party had been Lydia's betrothal event and that she herself was not thought about, but rather Lydia. Adam tries to soothe her but feels a bit sorry for Rockhill. She isn't even interested in his good news about making some money. He realises fully that the 2 of them had nothing in common and it was good luck that they never married. Jenny comes in, then with news that Charlotte has a son, called Charle Lambert, and is doing well. She and Adam bid farewell to their various guests. Julia and Rockhill go off together, seemingly a very happy couple. Lydia wants to go away with Lady Adversane whose younger son is serving. Lord Brough and his father are going to London, to see if there is any news. She goes off with Brough and his family. Adam and Jenny have the house to themselves. But Jenny is worried that if Adam had made this money a year ago, he would have been able to marry Julia... Adam tells her that he would not have done so, that he knows now that Julia is not a suitable wife for him and that the 2 of them would have been unhappy. He would have found her too emotional and she would have found him boring and not romantic. He tells Jenny that he does love her, that she is a part of his life, and they will always be there to support each other. Julia was just the object of a boyish dream love. Jenny thinks that he will still always have a fondness for Julia, even though he is now irritated by her. But she and Adam have reached a realistic understanding and can make their marriage work. They have their son Giles, they have their home and work, and life will be unromantic but good.... so she tells him the domestic news that Giles has cut his first tooth.

A Civil Contract Part IX

Adam arrives in London and finds that the upper classes are still having fun and not paying much attention to the war. He visits Mr. Chawleigh, who advises him to sell his shares in Government stocks. The merchant has information that fighting has started in Belgium and that Wellington has been defeated. This means that government stocks will go down and Adam's private fortune which is not large, will be decimated. Adam is angry at being told what to do by his father-in-law, although he has come to like him very well over the past year. But he is easily angered by the man's ordering him about. He says that he does not believe that the war is lost. There may have been a retreat but Wellington has never yet lost a battle. Mr Chawleigh says, with more sensitivity than Adam has expected, that he knows that his son in law is proud and would hate to lose all his money and be totally dependent on his and Jenny's fortunes. He leaves him and goes off to think about it, but as he returns to his hotel, he decides to do the opposite. Government stock prices are low at present and a victory in Belgium would raise them.. so he makes up his mind that he will invest in stock and hope for a victory to bring him back to wealth again. He believes strongly that this action won't fail.. and that it would be worth taking the risk to get out of the situation he is in. He hates that Mr Chawleigh has so much power over him, albeit he is fond of the man. He wants to feel that he is master of Fontley again, and of his own destiny. The following day he visits his man of business, Wimmering in the City and tells him what he wants to do. Wimmering is concerned. He can understand how Adam is feeling but it is such a risk that he feels he must advise against it. He remembers how often Bardolph, Adam's father, risked money in gambling and on the Stock Exchange and frequently lost. He had never imagined that Adam had that trait in him. Adam visits the family banker and he is more sympathetic. He is willing to lend him money and in the end, Wimmering buys stock for him and Adam then settles down to wait for news to come from Brussels.

Civil Contract Part VIII

Jenny is recovering from her confinement when Julia and Lady Oversley pay a visit, to see the baby. Julia is now a married lady with 2 young step daughters, and introduces them to Adam. They seem very fond of her, and Julia admits to Adam that she "can't live if she's not loved". She really needs the children's love and Rockhill's adoration. He feels uneasy at this realization that Julia has feet of clay. But he is very busy with his work and keeping an eye on Jenny and the European situation. Napoleon's return to France has caused uproar but many English Whigs do not want to fight him, having sympathized with his regime. Britain has been at war for so long. Adam's family like many very rich noblemen, are Whigs. He has forsaken his family allegiance to support the Tories because of the war issue. He is sure that if Bonaparte is not stopped, he will soon engage Europe in more wars of conquest. To Adam's irritation, Mr Chawleigh suggests that he should pay for his son in law to have an experimental farm. He is annoyed as he usually is when Chawleigh offers or all but forces expensive gifts on him... but he laughs it off to Jenny. Lydia is now having her first season in London and Adam realises that his little sister has attracted the attention of Lord Brough, his own best friend. Jenny tells him that Brough wants to marry her. Although she is very young, Adam can see the couple are in love and works on his mother to persuade her to agree to the marriage. Adam goes to London to take part in a debate on the War issue, and to cast his vote. He amazes Jenny by returning after only a couple of days. Before, he often stayed away a bit longer when he went on a visit. He is growing to depend more on her and on their life in Fontley. Charlotte is due to have her baby in June. Lady Lynton comes to stay with her to support her through the birth, and she consents to Lydia's marriage. Lydia writes to Jenny telling her that she wants to have a small betrothal party at Fontley rather than a bigger one. She would like to invite Lord Rockhill and his wife, because Rockhill is related to Brough and has been very kind to him. Jenny feels uneasy but agrees to this, because she is fond of Lydia. Adam agrees to have the gathering at Fontley, but, as a former soldier, he feels a little annoyed at the idea of having a party, when the country is at war. Lydia comes to stay, with her fiance and Lord and Lady Adversane, Brough's parents. Then Adam receives a messenger sent by his father in law which throws him into turmoil. Mr Chawleigh sends one of his clerks with a note, urgently ordering him to come to London though it is a Sunday, and to meet him as soon as possible. He doesn't want to go, but finally agrees and sets off for London.

Civil Contract Part VII

Adam is concerned about Jenny but welcomes Mr Chawleigh to Fontley to be there for the birth. News from Europe is disquieting, since Napoleon escapes from Elba at the end of February - not long before the Lynton baby is due. As a former soldier, Adam wishes he could be with his regiment, but he knows that he is now a farmer and a husband and can't do that. Mr Chawleigh believes that Napoleon will be restored to his throne and be a nuisance to the peace of Europe again, but Adam is confident that he can be stopped. Lady Lynton comes to the house to welcome her grandchild, and Adam has to try and keep his mother and father-in-law at peace with each other. Lydia is due to come out in Society and Lady Nassington has undertaken to be her chaperone. Charlotte who lives nearby is also pregnant now but not due until the Summer. Jenny's baby takes a long time to be born, and during the labour, Mr Chawleigh, worrying, loses his temper with Adam. He tells him that if anything goes wrong, it will be his doing for taking her away from London. Adam manages to refrain from snarling back, because he knows that as she is his only child, he is worried and afraid of losing her. But he keeps his temper and Mr Chawleigh apologises. Finally, the baby arrives, a boy. Adam finds that he is only minimally interested in his son right then; he is more concerned about Jenny.. who has had a long labour but seems to have come through it well. He tells Jenny he would like to call the child Giles after his own grandfather who was more of a country squire than his father had ever been and Jonathan after her father. Mr Chawleigh is delighted.

A Civil Contract Part VI

The Lyntons return to London in October, and consult Dr Croft, the doctor whom Mr Chawleigh has found for them. (Croft was a real person. He was doctor to Princess Charlotte when she had her one still born child.. and died). Jenny does not take to him. He is arrogant and tells her off for putting on weight...She finds London depressing. It is winter and cold, and she feels ill, and she has also been used to a different life now in Fontley. She realises that before her marriage she had kept house for her father, but it was dull. She had then accepted boredom as the unlucky lot of women. In the country, there was more for her to do, and learn about, and she was much busier and stimulated. Mr Chawleigh thinks that she can't possibly be bored with London, the theatres, shops, entertainments and her social life with the upper classes.. but she is. Jenny is shy and finds a life of pleasure seeking is not really to her taste but she tries to make the best of things. Adam can see that she's ill and unhappy, and he consults Lady Oversley who is friendly with Jenny. She supports Dr Croft's diet, believing that it is a good idea for pregnant women. She tells him that Jenny is depressed as she is alone a good deal. She has no mother or sisters. She has no relationship with her mother's family. There was a coolness when the late Mrs Chawleigh, daughter of a prosperous farmer, married Mr Chawleigh, who was still trying to make his fortune. Adam has an idea, and goes to Bath to fetch Lydia, to come and be company for Jenny. Lady Lynton has settled there, near to her widowed sister, Lady Bridestow, so she has a companion, and can spare her daughter. Jenny perks up with Lydia there. Adam is relieved because he is growing fonder of his wife. Then they read in the news that Julia is engaged to Lord Rockhill. Jenny visits Lady Oversley, who is pleased to have her daughter engaged. She is glad that it is such a good match, but she worries that Rockhill is too old for her, and that she is not completely recovered from her love for Adam. Jenny can see that Adam is still carrying a torch for Julia, but they cannot talk of this matter. Shortly afterwards, she faints one morning. Lady Nassington, Adam's aunt happens to be visiting. She is a blunt lady who speaks her mind. She tells Adam that Jenny should not be dieting and being bled. She should live quietly in the country and keep busy with her house there. Adam consults another doctor, one of the Prince Regent's men. Sir William Knighton, the doctor, advises that while Jenny should be careful, she is in good health and would probably be better not dieting. He thinks that she would be better off at Fontley. He suggests a local doctor who could attend the confinement, in case Jenny has a difficult time. Mr Chawleigh is furious at the idea, but he can see that Jenny is happy. He still is anxious, but he sees her off back to Fontley with Adam. He comes to stay at Christmas, and Jenny is in better health by then. She is so clearly happy in her new home that her father makes the best of it. Julia marries in the New Year, and goes on honeymoon to Paris. Jenny awaits the birth of her baby in March.

Civil Contract Part V

Adam takes Jenny to Fontley when the Season is over in August. Lydia returns to Bath where her mother is leading her Dowager life. Jenny has been suffering a lot from morning sickness, but is pleased to get to Fontley, and begins to learn about life in the country. She enjoys pottering round the garden, but Adam seems reluctant to take her into partnership in his attempts to improve the estate. She feels depressed too when Julia appears with a party of friends to visit. She wishes that Julia would keep her distance until both of them have recovered from their feelings for each other. Lord Rockhill comes with her, and he chats to Jenny hinting that he wants to marry Julia. He seems not to worry that she cares for Adam.. because he believes that it is all a silly infatuation, and that Julia will recover. Jenny agrees, in her matter-of-fact way that it is true that the over sensitive and impractical Julia really knows little about Adam and that she and he would never make a successful couple. She believes Julia would recover if she didn't see him for a while. Soon after the visit, Mr Chawleigh comes for a holiday. He can see that Jenny is not that well. She tells him of her pregnancy, and he is worried and angry. He tells Adam that she should not be in a remote place like Fontley, when she's having a baby. He lost his wife through her giving birth to a stillborn son. Adam can see his father in law's point of view but Jenny is not pleased. She likes Fontley, and she feels happier there, learning about country life. She thinks that her health is better in the country.. but in the end she and Adam agree to go to London and consult a top obstetrician.

Civil Contract Part IV

Adam is adjusting to married life, but he still feels love for Julia, and feels guilty that he had to leave her. Julia meets him at times at social gatherings, and acts with politeness, yet it is obvious to him that she still cares for him. Even if she is over emotional, her love is genuine. He notes that she has acquired a new suitor, the Marquis of Rockhill, who is many years her senior and a widower. Jenny hopes that Julia's romance with Lord Rockhill will come to fruition because she loves Adam and can't bear to see him being unhappy. She thinks that if Julia were safely married, he would be glad that she is happy and would get over his love for her. She is also still fond of Julia. She is settling into married life, and has become friends with her 2 sisters in law, Lydia and Charlotte, especially Lydia. Mr Chawleigh is also fond of Lydia, who is still immature. He likes her lively nature. When she comes to stay with Jenny, he starts to take her out on expeditions, because she is not yet out and can't go to parties. Jenny is pleased that her father seems to be a favorite with Lydia... but she frets that Adam, while kind and affectionate, still keeps her a little at a distance. During Lydia's visit, the couple and their friends go to see the Czar and other notables go in procession to the City for a lunch to celebrate the victory over Napoleon. Adam notices that his wife is looking ill. He asks what's wrong and she tells him that she is pregnant. However, she does not want to tell her father because she knows that he will fuss. Adam thinks she is foolish to try and keep it a secret from someone as shrewd as Mr Chawleigh, but he can't persuade her... She says that with the Season almost over, she would like to go to Fontley. She has realized since her marriage that she likes country life; her mother was a farmer's daughter. She thinks that she can learn about farming and country housekeeping and be more useful at Fontley than she can be in London. However, Adam is not sure she will like winter life in the country. Mr Chawleigh sees country estates as status symbols for the upper classes and can't believe anyone would really choose to live outside London.