M'Lady's Gentlemen: In Her Majesty's Service, #1

By Gene Poschman

Lady Agatha Wingate is the headstrong daughter of a peer of the realm, Lord Arthur Wingate. She has always admired a family friend Uncle Alfie. When she was a little girl, he had such marvelous stories to tell. As Agatha grew into womanhood she began to recognize his stories. Uncle Alfie was, in fact, Sir Alfred Stately. He was the minister of a government agency; "The Bureau of Domestic and Foreign Affairs". Agatha was delighted when she figured out that Uncle Alfie was a spy.
When Victoria became Queen of the United Kingdom, Lord Melbourne thought that when introducing the Minister of Domestic and Foreign Affairs, having a woman spy might be a positive diplomatic gesture.
Neither Lord Melbourne nor Sir Alfred Stately realized that Lady Agatha Wingate would take her role very seriously.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Gene Poschman
• Release date: Jul 14, 2018
• ISBN: 9781386835509

Gene Poschman

I am a native Californian who married my high school sweetheart. We are still married; why she puts up with me is still a mystery. I have always been an avid watcher of film noir, mysteries, and other detective crime fiction as well as science fiction and fantasy. I read quite a bit, which would probably surprise a number of my elementary school teachers. I would have been a better reader earlier if Dick and Jane were detectives, or at least, a wizard and witch. Like a lot of writers I write because I need to. Also as a kid, I was such a liar. I didn't lie about important stuff. I just made up stories. I was told the story of the boy who cried wolf constantly. At least five different versions. It doesn't happen well for the kid in any of them. I still make up stories, but because I put them in books, I'm not a liar, I am a novelist or author.  The Jonas Watcher series is rooted in the novels of Raymond Chandler and Dashiell Hammett. My style is a little lighter and laced with my own quirky sense of Humour.    I identify this genre as Adventures, some Detective, and some Spy. M'Lady's Gentlemen is a departure for me. I have left the noir of the Nineteen Thirties and stepped into the Victorian age; my main character is a woman and she is a spy. The rest is subject to change on my personal whim.

Book preview

Acknowledgments

The book cover and the illustrations throughout  " M'Lady's Gentlemen " are the work of a young woman in England, Jennifer May Mottram. She can be found on Facebook at:

https://www.facebook.com/JenniferMottramDesigns/

I had asked her to pick something from the chapter and give me an illustration that would be in the style of Sidney Paget. She did not disappoint me.

Gene Poschman

Dedication

To MaryLou Poschman

She is my Agatha Wingate

Prologue

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VICTORIA STOOD IN THE curtained alcove of her sitting room, looking out the window towards the courtyard and waited for her guests to arrive.

Two days before, her uncle had died making her the Queen of England. Her sitting room had become an informal meeting place. Various ministers and government officials were stopping by to pay their respects, hoping to make enough of an impression with her that she would remember them and perhaps favor their positions in some way.

I've just turned eighteen, she thought, and suddenly I have all this power to make or break men's careers or fortunes. This is ridiculous!

A knock at the door brought her out of her thoughts.

Thank God for Lord Melbourne.

Lord Melbourne had been at the ready for the onslaught of ministers and members of Parliament who wanted to see her. Working with Victoria, he set up a schedule that gave her time to learn deal with the political side of being Queen.

She took a deep breath and entered her sitting room. She had done little since she arrived in decorating the room to her own tastes. Occasional tables were along the walls with the appropriate side chairs. Vases with flowers on the tables lent the room a feminine touch. The artwork was more historic in nature, she wrinkled her nose at them. When permitted she would redecorate.

She sat on a red velvet rosewood Markerpendale wingback chair that had been centered in the room, not a throne but with enough pomp and circumstance to substitute as such. Victoria struck as regal a pose as an eighteen-year-old girl could manage.

Enter, she said.

She knew she was seeing Lord Melbourne and the Minister of Domestic and Foreign Affairs.

An odd title for a government agency, she thought. I wonder whose affairs they handle? She smiled and then she admonished herself to be more serious.

The First Footman entered and stood at the door.

Lord Melbourne has arrived with two guests seeking an audience, your Majesty, he said.

Two men and a woman entered Victoria's Reception Room.

Victoria was grateful for the comfortable ambiance of the sitting room. It tended to reduce formality and made these meetings move more quickly. Of course, there would be formal introductions at a later time with all the full regalia that was warranted. These meetings were to acquaint the young Queen with the players in England's government in a more relaxed environment.

Lord Melbourne was an imposing man in formal attire. Though not quite an elder statesman, gray, lightly peppered his hair and sideburns. The rest of his face was cleanly shaven. His features were not chiseled but worn upon a kind countenance. He had not become fat on government service as so many she had seen.

The second man was not as tall Lord Melbourne; he was slimmer and seemed nondescript by comparison. He was pleasant looking, clean-shaven, and had auburn hair also peppered with gray. He was a slightly younger man and his features were proudly Saxon. He could be a banker or an office worker. Victoria had the feeling that if she saw him again she would not recognize him. His movements were simple but deliberate. His smile was warm and friendly but she had the feeling she would definitely want him as a friend rather than an enemy.

The woman was dressed simply. She was not wearing any of the undergarments meant to conceal her shape. Victoria recognized the dress from an upscale salon indicating she had some station. From her broad-brimmed hat hung a veil and while it didn't totally hide her countenance, anyone who had seen her in the palace would be hard pressed to describe her. A fact that did not escape Victoria's notice.

Lord Melbourne looked at the footman, who retreated, closing the door. Lord Melbourne walked quietly to the door and listened. Victoria started to speak. The Lord held up his hand. Only he would dare to do so.

My apologies, your Majesty, he said.

There was a slight disturbance outside; Lord Melbourne smiled, nodded and walked to where Victoria was sitting. She raised her eyebrows looking for an explanation.

While a number of these meetings will be inconsequential, since your Majesty will be formally introduced to the various Ministers, Lords, and MPs in formal ceremony, Sir Alfred Stately will not be there, he said.

Your Majesty, said Alfred.

Don't you like ceremony, Sir Alfred? the Queen asked.

It isn't a matter of what I like, your Majesty, but for me to be effective I must remain as anonymous as possible. That is why I may only visit you privately and only at yours or Lord Melbourne's request.

The young queen cocked her head for clarification.

I am the head of your... Sir Alfred looked to Lord Melbourne for the appropriate terminology.

He is the head of an information gathering agency on behalf of your Majesty, Lord Melbourne said.

You're a spy! said Victoria with interest.

I am the head of the agency, Sir Alfred corrected. The young woman with me is a spy.

Victoria looked at the woman in earnest. The veil continued to conceal her identity.

Is she to remain anonymous also? Then why bring her? Victoria asked.

Lord Melbourne indicated for the woman to pull back her veil.

Sir Alfred cleared his throat, Lady Agatha Wingate, may I present you to the Queen of England Alexandrina Victoria...

Just Victoria, said the Queen.

Lord Melbourne paused and said, As you wish your Majesty.

Victoria raised her eyebrows and smiled slightly.

Agatha curtsied with a modest flair and Victoria nodded.

Your Majesty, she said.

Lady Agatha was fair skinned with dark hair and green eyes. Her dress was a loose fabric that gave the young woman easy movement and she didn't need any structural undergarments. She smiled modestly and was at ease in Victoria's presence.

Have you been to court before? Victoria asked.

Agatha simply nodded.

Victoria stood and looked Agatha over almost as if she was making an expensive purchase. She walked around Agatha and smiled.

Would you like to check my teeth? asked Agatha under her breath.

The Queen heard her. She quickly moved in front of the woman and smiled.

How marvelous, she said, you're impudent.

With respect, Your Majesty, said Agatha. You should know your mother hates me.

Victoria stood more erect.

Does she now? Then you should become a favorite at court, especially if it will have a negative effect on my mother.

Agatha's eyes widened and she looked to Alfred.

Victoria laughed.

I am sorry, Your Majesty, but for Lady Agatha to be a valuable asset we need you to know who she is, but you cannot openly acknowledge her with any favoritism, said Lord Melbourne.

I cannot engage her in conservation at court? asked the Queen.

Of course you can, Your Majesty, just as you might any other member of the aristocracy in public.

In public, and in private, in my private chambers? asked Victoria.

The two men stared at each other and seemed to try a form of mental telepathy to provide a united answer.

Lady Agatha spoke up. I am sure, Your Majesty, that neither Lord Melbourne or Sir Alfred would interject any comments as to what you do in your own private chambers.

Victoria met Agatha's gaze and she returned a smile.

"I believe that any request I make