Chapter 18 - The Uses of Pimpernel

Addressing Readers' Queries 1: The throatwort reference

Several people have asked me, 'Why do you always have Hermione staring a throatwort, arranging throatwort, or touching throatwort?' Reread ch 7 and you will realise that at the name day ball, Severus presented HG with a poesy of throatwort. Think about it and your question will be answered.

Addressing Readers' Queries 2: Oblique references to Heyer's Devil's Cub

I thank those of you who have emailed me. The second half of this story is indeed inspired from Heyer's Devil's Cub. It is deliberately so. It is a tacit tribute to Georgette Heyer. More importantly, I made it Heyerish because I wanted to highlight Draco's past and kill off Percy. The penultimate chapter and denouement is also Devil's Cub-ish - so you've been warned. Sorry for the lack of originality, but allow me to say something in my defence... In medieval times, true genius was not being original. It was taking someone else's already written story (and hence well known) and giving it your own spin). This is exactly what I have done.

As this is a Regency story, there is bound to be some AU-ness and OOC-ness. Please bear with me. Emphases are in italics and titles of books &ca are underlined. This story places great stress on the significance and meanings of flowers.

Language of Flowers

Chapter 18 – The Uses of Pimpernel

The capture of the on-dit columnist, Rita Skeeter by the ingenious Miss Granger brought much relief to various sectors of society. In her unbreakable glass jar, Rita Skeeter was remanded by the Bow Street Aurors for slanderous reports of the ton. This meant that The Daily Prophet's reports were somewhat less sensational, though it could not be said to have improved. Readers turning to the society pages of the said newspaper would be struck by several astounding reports, which culminated in this editorial:

Society would have much to look forward to in the coming months for it is likely to play host to a number of impending nuptials. Never has a London Season witnessed such matches whereby the veritable successes among the ranks of the ladies and the most eligible young men in our country will take their positions the next season as some of the ton's finest leaders of fashion. The most significant engagement is that between Lord Villiers (who is almost as handsome in address and looks as his father, the exiled Duke of Mallefille) and Lady Ginevra Weasley, youngest child of the Duke and Duchess of Offaly. Indeed, all the ton speaks of it as a most advantageous match for her and her family. Her family, though as old and well-established as the Malfoy line, is of Irish descent and financially unstable. Despite this, the Duke holds many important hands in the Houses of Parliament. His Duchess and he have agreed to consent to the match as soon as the investigations surrounding Lord Villiers have been cleared. Lord Villiers, as many of our readers will know, killed Mr Goyle, only son of the late Sir Gregory Goyle, knight, in a fencing duel. The courts and assizes have deemed the demise of the unfortunate Mr Goyle as an accident on the duelling ground. As the matter between them was a matter of great delicacy, they had chosen to settle their differences in the field of honour. His lordship is not only known for his swordplay, but also his sharp manner with pistols and the wand. Rumours are rife that the Bow Street Aurors wish to secure his presence at a trial for the near murder of Lord Percy Weasley, an older brother of his unfortunate affianced. The matter which compelled Lord Villiers's to defend himself against Lord Percy is uncertain and it is unknown, even to the editor, whether Lord Percy will live. It appears that the ton's favourite dandy is quite iniquitous in character, having defamed the old aristocratic Lovegood family who holds the de Quib barony. This singular young man had also cast aspersions on his family members, calling into question the eligibility and prudence of Lord Villiers's marriage to Lady Ginevra. Though it is common knowledge among the ton that the Duchess of Offaly is one of the gentlest and most charitable of women of our time, her son, this same Lord Percy, claimed that her many public charities were screens to cover his family's numerous private iniquities. However, as The Daily Prophet's journalistic investigators, Messrs Colin and Dennis Creevey, have proven – these slanders against the ducal family of Offaly are groundless. It is whispered that the match between Lord Villiers and Lady Ginevra maybe called off due to the effects of his lordship's temper. As editor, I will do the prudent thing and await further information.

The young clergyman is not the only of the Baronet's friends to be on the brink of wedded bliss, for the delightful Lord Ronald Weasley, also appears to have contracted a truly advantageous match. His finely sculptured profile, unfixed opinions and want of book learning has attracted the eccentric blonde beauty, Miss Lovegood. Miss Lovegood, who is heiress to the country's oldest Barony (established in 1107) has entered into an engagement with the charming Lord Ronald. He will have to surrender most of his rights to her. In return for the lady's honour and the preservation of precedence, it is said that he has consented to the terms of Lord de Quib's legal advisors. After all, a baroness in her own right comes before the younger son of a duke in the ranks of precedence. The only determinant remaining as to whether the marriage will go through is the period of the engagement. All the ton knows of the possible union but there has been no official announcement from either the Duke of Offaly or Lord de Quib. The Daily Prophet speculates that the couple's silence could be attributed to the lady's natural diffidence.

Readers perusing such an editorial could not admire its prose and Miss Granger was one such discerning person. As she sat down the offensive newspaper and picked a dress for the evening's dinner party with Lord de Quib and Miss Lovegood. By a stroke of irony, all the people mentioned in the newspaper would be assembled there. She rolled her eyes at the thought, silently fingered the throatwort in a vase and began an earnest interview with Brown.

* * *

Like her friend Miss Granger, Lady Ginevra was also preparing herself for the evening party. However, she stayed Bulstrode's hand when the latter was lacing her in her sea green watered silk gown when one of the house-elves popped into her boudoir with a note. The note and its composer put dressing quite out of her mind. She looked at the familiar hand on the neatly torn parchment, which read,

Come with me to France if it is convenient;

I will return in an hour and a half.

"I will not be requiring the evening dress tonight. Pack a small valise for me, Bulstrode," instructed Lady Ginevra as she came to a sudden decision. "Tell my mother I have a headache and will be unfit to go to Lord de Quib's dinner party."

Millicent Bulstrode cocked her head to one side and eyed her mistress guardedly and saw that she was tightly grasping onto the note in her hand. "What is the matter, my lady? Am I to accompany you?"

"Questions! Questions! I am tired of all the questions," cried Lady Ginevra in vexation. "Go tell Mamma!"

"Tell her yourself," answered the abigail quietly when a knock was heard. "That is Her Grace's knock."

"Are you ready, dear? It's gone half past six," came the dismembered voice of the Duchess.

"I'm not going, Mamma. I have a headache. Go on without me, I have Bulstrode for company."

"All right, dear. Stay in bed and rest. I'll have Cook bring you up some soup," replied the Duchess's concerned voice.

"That won't be necessary," Lady Ginevra hastily said, "Bulstrode will get it for me later. Goodbye, Mamma."

"Rest well, my dear," chimed the Duchess.

Sighing wistfully as her mother's footsteps died away, Lady Ginevra sternly addressed her abigail, "My half mourning clothes and grey pelisse, quick. You will stay here and inform Mamma of my flight tomorrow morning."

"Consider the impropriety, my lady!" implored Bulstrode whilst she packed.

Quelling her other objections with a sharp look of annoyance, Lady Ginevra continued her vein of speech. "You will have the soup that Cook is preparing."

"Isn't it improper, my lady?"

"No one cares about such things now – now, hurry, get my things and help me pack."

Together, the ladies mechanically packed her ladyship's things. A house elf came up with the soup and a bit of super which Lady Ginevra pressed Bulstrode to consume. As the clock struck eight, the abigail helped her mistress to dress. After surveying the results in the mirror, Lady Ginevra placed her monthly allowance in her ridicule and noiselessly let herself out of the silent house. Her worried abigail could only wring her hands in apprehensive anxiety. She stood by the antechamber's window and watched Lady Ginevra trudge down the deserted street with her ridicule and valise into a lighted carriage. As soon as the carriage drove off, Bulstrode made herself comfortable in an armchair and read the note which her mistress had written to her Grace.

"Mamma," it ran, "Villiers and I are leaving for Paris. We are presently on our way to Dover road to the coast where we shall Apparate to the French port of Calais. We plan to marry at the Embassy in Paris as soon as we arrive there. Ginny."

What could Bulstrode do but shake her head in disapproval. If only Mr Longbottom were there with her, thought the sighing abigail, he would know what to do. She smiled at the recollection of his steady character and wondered whether she should recall the Duke and Duchess home. No, it would not do to alarm them. She should write to Mr Longbottom – he would know what to do. She was about to commence on that worthy endeavour when she was interrupted from cutting her paper. The reason for the disruption was the distinctive floo chime of the arrival Weasley twins.

"Hullo, Millie," said Lord George by way of a greeting as he reset his mother's wards over the fireplace.

"We heard Ginny wasn't feeling well," continued his twin, carelessly throwing himself on a sofa.

"Mother told us to come see if we can cheer her up," explained Lord George, picking up a pear from a fruit arrangement and biting into it.

"Where's Ginny?" asked Lord Frederick, as he fished things out of his pockets. "Still moping with her headache because Villiers has to hide in France? He just left, didn't he?" The Apparition point at Dover closes at eleven at night."

"He could still make the morning six o'clock one if his horses get blown halfway to the coast," interjected Lord George, chewing on his pear.

"Good point. So, Millie, where's Ginny? We've a treat for her!"

"Oh, she'll like it!" asserted Lord George, without noticing that the pale and slightly quivering Bulstrode was trying to get a word in edgewise. "She can write to Villiers with it!"

"And frighten him too!" added his twin, as he withdrew something resembling a piece of parchment from his pocket. "See, it writes like a letter but when you seal it, it becomes a howler."

"No, my good Forge, it acts like a howler to the recipient and disintegrates upon finishing its narration."

"Ideal for Ginny," laughed Lord Frederick merrily, kicking his feet, "eh, Gred?"

"Yes, she'll find more customers for us! Hey, why hasn't she come down yet? She must have heard us!"

"My lords!" exclaimed Bulstrode with nervous agitation. "Before I reveal the truth to you, you must both promise not to be cross."

"Damn me, Millie, why are you dancing waltzes around us?" asked Lord Frederick, as he arranged himself carelessly on the sofa.

"Calm down, Fred, we don't want to frighten her; the gel looks pretty shaken already. I won't be cross, on my honour. Tell us, what has happened to Ginny?"

"Lord Villiers came and she..."

Lord Frederick sprang onto his feet, gripping his twin's shoulder roughly. "He's abducted Ginny! I'll kill him! To think we trusted him, George!"

"He gave us his word, remember? If he broke it, we would know – we have a sapphire cravat pin that we charmed. It hasn't started wailing. He didn't betray us. At least, not yet."

Bulstrode screamed once so as to get their lordships to cease their chattering. Once their attentions were secured, she said, "Lady Ginevra went off with him, my lords! It's an elopement. They are to marry at the English Embassy in Paris. He sent her this note." She handed Villiers note to Lord Frederick who took it with a grim look. "And this is for Her Grace," continued the dark haired abigail, handing her mistress's note to Lord George

"To speed up the paperwork in France, they need two things," cried Lord Frederick as he counted off his fingers. "A special licence and the ambassador's ear."

"Villiers has the charm to obtain the ear of the ambassador," reminded his twin, pocketing the notes that Bulstrode handed to them, "and I think the ambassador is a maternal cousin of his or some such nonsense."

"We can tell Father, he's in the Lords. He can talk to that young protégé of his in the Commons. Damn me, I can't recall his name!"

"Mr Wood, you mean? He has the ambassador's ear. These progressive Whigs are everywhere these days! But what about the licence?"

"We'll tell Hermione. She'll know what to do!" offered Lord Frederick, displaying his unusually focused mental abilities. "I'm still going to kill Villiers when next I see him."

"Whoa, don't forget, he nearly killed Percy."

"Oh, that's a big favour to consider. I still hope Percy will die."

"So do I, but enough of that! We must go to Lord de Quib's and tell her."

"Yes, let's. Sit tight, Millie. Mother will need you to comfort her.

After seeing the abigail to her room, the twins flooed themselves to Lord de Quib's residence, much to the surprise of the assembled company. However, as they began to show signs of anxiety when his lordship pressed them to stay for port and some cakes, the company fell silent. The brothers' original attempt to relay their information met with much confusion as they were both talking at the same time. Miss Granger, however, had enough presence of mind to get Lord Frederick to speak first. The notes to Lady Ginevra and her mother were duly passed around, and by the time it arrived in Miss Granger's hand, her mind began to tick as she thought of and abandoned plan after plan to salvage the situation. Deciding to hold onto to the notes for the time being, she bade Lord George to continue his brother's narration. As soon as all was revealed, the assembled company was in uproar and the Duchess of Offaly was visibly upset. Miss Granger and Miss Lovegood were alone unmarred by the afflictions of all the other guests. With a grim expression of her face, Miss Granger summoned Sir Harry and her abigail to accompany her on the floo network to the Duke of Sanguine's residence.

Footnotes:

Readers, you will notice that the title of the chapter contains the name of flowers/plants. This is significant to understanding the plot. While some of you may be familiar with the language of flowers, I beg you to allow for differences in interpretation. Some flowers/plants have one meaning during the time of the Regency and another during the Victorian era. My guess is that those of you familiar with this language are acquainted with the Victorian interpretation rather than the Regency one.

Naturally, there is also a deeper meaning beyond that of the flowers. What it is – I leave it to you to uncover.

(1) Pimpernel has two meanings: (i) change, and (ii) assignation.

View it here http://www.blakeneymanor.com/images/pimpernel.jpg, http://www.library.wisc.edu/libraries/SpecialCollections/images/womennature/oversize/hey_platefacing67_OS.jpg and http://www.collectorsprints.com/_images/botanical/flowers1870/pimpernel-400.jpg. The generic name of the pimpernel is anagallis. It comes from the Greek word meaning "to laugh" because it was believed to lift depression. This tiny flower was also thought to cure bites from rabid creatures as well as alleviate melancholy. On the authority of one Mother Mumby in Merry Olde England, pimpernel is very good at preventing and thwarting witchcraft. Pimpernel also has a cosmetic application. During the 18th and 19th centuries, ladies drank it in teas to retain clear complexions.

Culpepper (1652) in his The Complete Herbal says, "The Pimpernel a gallant solar herb, of a cleansing attractive quality, whereby it draws forth thorns or splinters, or other such like things gotten into the flesh; and put up into the nostrils, purges the head; and Galen saith also, they have a drying faculty, whereby they are good to solder the lips of wounds, and to cleanse foul ulcers. The distilled water or juice is much esteemed by French dames to cleanse the skin from any roughness and deformity, or discolouring thereof; being boiled in wine and given to drink, it is a good remedy against the plague, and other pestilential fevers, if the party after taking it be warm in his bed, and sweat for two hours after, and use the same for twice at least. It helps also all stingings and bitings of venomous beasts, or mad dogs, being used inwardly, and applied outwardly. The same also opens obstructions of the liver, and is very available against the infirmities of the reins. It provokes urine, and helps to expel the stone and gravel out of the kidneys and bladder, and helps much in all inward pains and ulcers. The decoction, or distilled water, is no less effectual to be applied to all wounds that are fresh and green, or old, filthy, fretting, and running ulcers, which it very effectually cures in a short space. A little mixed with the juice, and dropped into the eyes, cleanses them from cloudy mists, or thick films which grow over them, and hinder the sight. It helps the tooth-ache, being dropped into the ear on a contrary side of the pain. It is also effectual to ease the pains of the hæmorrhoids or piles."

(2) The throatwort is also known as the fig-wort in some cultures. You will notice from the pictures http://www.californiagardens.com/images/Trachelium_caeruleum_aspect_c.jpg and http://www.flowers.org.uk/images/flowers/aut03_tracheliumclose_lrg.jpg that the plant has diverse great, strong, hard, square brown stalks, three or four feet high, whereon grow large, hard, and dark green leaves, two at a joint, harder and larger than Nettle leaves, but not stinking; at the tops of the stalks stand many purple flowers set in husks, which are sometimes gaping and open, somewhat like those of Water Betony; after which come hard round heads, with a small point in the middle, wherein lie small brownish seed. The root is great, white, and thick, with many branches at it, growing aslope under the upper crust of the ground, which abides many years, but keeps not his green leaves in winter. It grows frequently in moist and shadowy woods, and in the lower parts of the fields and meadows. It flowers about July, and the seed will be ripe about a month after the flowers are fallen.

Some Latin scholars during the High Middle Ages called the throatwort/fig-wort, "Cervicaria" because it is appropriated to the treatment of ailments in and around the neck. However, by the 15th-16th century, the English gave it the name "throatwort" because it was found suitable to treating throat complaints. Culpepper's The Complete Herbal published in 1652 (that I am quoting in its medieval English) says, "Venus owns the herb, and the Celestial Bull will not deny it; therefore a better remedy cannot be for the king's evil, because the Moon that rules the disease, is exalted there. The decoction of the herb taken inwardly, and the bruised herb applied outwardly, dissolves clotted and congealed blood within the body, coming by any wounds, bruise or fall; and is no less effectual for the king's evil, or any other knobs, kernel, bunches, or wens growing in the flesh wheresoever; and for the hæmorrhoids, or piles. An ointment made hereof may be used at all times when the fresh herb is not to be had. The distilled water of the whole plant, roots and all, is used for the same purposes, and dries up the superfluous, virulent moisture of hollow and corroding ulcers; it takes away all redness, spots, and freckles in the face, as also the scurf, and any foul deformity therein, and the leprosy likewise."

(3) When I say "abigail" here, I mean lady's maid. In this case, the term is always spelt with a lower case 'a'. The task of such a person was to dress her mistress, style her hair and chaperone her mistress around town or in company. A lady would always call her abigail by her last name/surname only. This is the etiquette and I have kept to it. Ironically, the title and the name "Abigail" is Hebrew for "father rejoiced" – why is this ironic? You will see why when I reveal Millicent Bulstrode's parentage...

(4) Rita Skeeter was captured in Chapter 16 in her beetle form.

(5) Hand has two meanings (i) the appendage with the fingers and a thumb, (ii) handwriting. My beta thought I meant hand as in appendage with fingers, I assure you, this is not the meaning implied herein. The hand referred to here is handwriting.

(6) Readers may dislike the fact that I called the Aurors the Bow Street Aurors. This is a Regency story remember? I modelled the Bow Street Aurors in this story after the Runners. The Bow Street runners were like the local policemen of the age. You may see the Bow Street Office here, http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/LAbow.jpg. In 1740 Sir Thomas de Veil, established a court house in Bow Street near the Opera House in Covent Garden. Ten years later, his successor, Henry Fielding (yes – the author), formed the Bow Street Runners. Initially nicknamed Robin Redbreasts, on account of their scarlet waistcoats, the original eight Bow Street Runners were London's first band of constables. Their functions included serving writs, detective work and arresting offenders. The Bow Street Runners travelled all over the country in search of criminals and gained a reputation for honesty and efficiency. John Stafford, Chief Clerk at Bow Street. used several spies, including John Castle and George Edwards to help arrest several members of the Spencean Philanthropists, a group who were involved in the Spa Riots and the Cato Street Conspiracy. The formation of the London Metropolitan Police force by Sir Robert Peel in 1829 brought an end to their activities.

(7) Between the years 1780-1820, the little bag/purse thing that ladies carried was called a ridicule. It was only in 1820-1860s that it was called a reticule. I have kept the old-fashioned spelling in this plot. Why was called a ridicule? Because it seemed a ridiculous notion in the late 18th/early 19th century to carry outside the dress those personal belongings formerly kept in large pockets beneath the dress. When waists rose and skirts narrowed, bulky pockets could no longer be accommodated without spoiling the line of the dress, and so the ridicule became an essential accessory. The term "reticule" seems to have come into use around the mid-19th century.

(8) Ton, for those of you who are unfamiliar with the Regency/Empire period means fashionable Society, or the fashion. It originates from the French bon ton, meaning good form, i.e. good manners, good breeding, etc. A person could be a member of the ton, attend ton events, or be said to have good ton (or bad ton). Ton can be interchangeably used with beau monde. In this story, when I spell society with a capital S (i.e. Society), I am referring to the ton.

(9) On-dit is French for "we tell". In the context of Regency speech, it meant gossip about the town that is usually published in the newspapers.