A PERFECT GENTLEMAN?

 Joachim de Montailhac

In Spring 1818, 27 year-old Joachim is delighted that this year, for the first time he is in sole charge of running the family estate. This is a great challenge. As the youngest of five children, he has always had to fight for his dignity. So with this new responsibility he is determined to do as well, if not better than his two brothers.

Flocon, Joachim's faithful old lurcher

Athletic, handsome and always a gentleman, he is devoted to his parents, plays the violin like a dream, rides and shoots well, goes fishing with his father and is very much a hands-on worker.

Attempting to equal his brothers, he made a few bad mistakes growing up. Ten years after one episode he still feels guilty at the effect his actions had on family and close friends. It doesn't help that the other person involved in that scandalous episode has no shame and continues to torment him over it.

Just when he needs to give his full attention to running the estate, his problems multiply.

A big disappointment is the arrival of his mother's guests. Having two young ladies to stay was meant to be a pleasure but very quickly Joachim considers them to be the visitors from Hell. Being gentlemanly becomes a struggle, especially when he is so busy.

A Merens horse

  

The estate consists of the family chateau and a vast stretch of lands in the foothills of the Pyrenees. As well as livestock - horses, cattle and sheep - there is an iron mine on the estate, worked by tough, independent minded peasants, as proud as they are poor. Joachim is determined to improve their lives but so far they resist any change.

The iron Mine

New gallery at the Mine

Desperate to find more iron ore, the miners hastily dig a new tunnel. A week of heavy rain causes the roof to collapse, and four men die, others are badly injured. Joachim does all he can to help in the aftermath. 

To complicate his life, his tormenter from ten years ago is stalking him again.

And worse still, he becomes the victim of a kidnap and is badly injured.

When will his luck turn? 

Even when life calms down, something occurs that stirs his resentful temper - for even a gentleman has some character faults and Joachim has reached overload.

How will it all end....?  

BREAKING FREE by Beth Elliott

(c) Beth Elliott

Read an extract from my Work in Progress: "Breaking Free"

Joachim is escorting his mother's guests from Toulouse to the family home, the chateau de Fontanes, in the French Pyrenees. Of the two young ladies, one is sulking and one is permanently fuming. Major Hugo Dawlish is unwell after being attacked by unknown villains the previous evening. 

Joachim could scarcely believe his good luck the following morning. Nobody had been attacked overnight.  Everyone appeared for breakfast at the time he had stated. Everyone was ready to leave at the agreed time and the journey went smoothly through the first few stages. There were no sounds of quarrelling coming from the young ladies. They made no grumbles about the winding roads, and on the steep hills where the horses pulled the coach at a snail’s pace, they got out to walk. Joachim heard their admiring comments about the picturesque scenery and felt pleased. This was better. And soon they would be home. His mother would know how to calm Sophie and more importantly, how to brighten up Miss Dismal, both in her spirits and her attire.

            This was his second day in her company and so far she had not smiled once. Even when he pointed out another breath-taking view as they walked up one of the steep inclines, her pinched expression never relaxed. He wanted to shout at her to show some enthusiasm. And her clothes only added to the general impression of gloom. He cast an eye over her light grey gown and the darker grey pelisse she wore. Her bonnet was a simple straw one, with no ribbons or flowers to brighten it up. Joachim gave a wry smile as he imagined his sister Margot’s reaction to this dreary outfit. She was always so fashionable. It was a good thing she lived too far away to see these visitors during their stay at Fontanes.

There was not much traffic on the road and no sign of any evil-doers. Joachim’s chief concern was whether Hugo would manage to ride for the remaining part of the journey. He was evidently in pain, his head down with his chin tucked against his throat and taking no notice of the scenery. Since their last change of horses, Bertrand was riding next to him, while Joachim went ahead of the coach. But now, as they entered the town of Tarascon, Joachim let the coach overtake him. He exclaimed in dismay when he saw Hugo swaying in the saddle, and hurriedly came close alongside, ready to catch him if need be.

‘The coaching inn is just the other side of the river, Hugo,’ he said. ‘You’ll be glad of a rest, I think.’

There was no reply. Hugo seemed scarcely to hear him. They slowed their horses to a walk and crossed the bridge. The familiar sight of the round castella on the hill above the Ariege River was a welcome reminder that they were now only an hour from home. They rode into the yard of the Castella Inn and dismounted. Bertrand cleared his throat, and when Joachim looked, jerked his head towards Hugo, who was leaning against his horse, face as white as paper and eyes screwed up. They took him firmly by the arms.

‘Just a few steps,’ said Bertrand, ‘nearly there.’

‘Sorry,’ mumbled Hugo, dragging his feet and flopping against them with each step. They guided him into a private parlour and deposited him in an armchair.    

‘Whatever is wrong?’ cried Sophie, rushing over to stare. She pressed both hands over her mouth in alarm. Nell followed her and Joachim was surprised at how her face softened as she bent over the sick man and examined the wound. She touched the broken skin very gently.  Hugo’s mouth tightened and Joachim winced for him.

(c) Beth Elliott 2018

Tarascon-sur-Ariège

                             

                                           Looking upstream from the bridge-

            The Tour du Castella, built in 1775, on the site of the medieval castle 

            [which was pulled down by order of Cardinal Richelieu]

        

                The Ariège river, looking downstream from the bridge

Off on a new adventure

    BREAKING FREE

The year is 1818. In Paris the French king, Louis XVIII, is doing his best to establish a peaceful regime. The Duke of Wellington, along with the other members of the Alliance, wants to withdraw the Army of Occupation and allow France to be independent. 

At the other end of France at the Chateau de Fontanes in the Pyrenees, Joachim de Montailhac, the youngest of the three brothers, has the job of caring for the family estate. He deals with replanting and maintaining the woods, organising the work of the tenants, villagers and farmers, supervising the family stables and other livestock.

Into his busy life come some unexpected problems, in the form of two sisters. He senses from the outset that they are going to be trouble. And at the same time the unrest that has simmered in the southern French towns spreads into the local area. It is clear the rebels are targeting his family.

Helen [Nell] and Sophie Hartford are cousins of Joachim's sister-in-law, Olivia [see Scandalous Lady]. In the Spring of 1818 they find themselves outcasts from their father's home and are forced to accept Olivia's assurance that the Marquise de Fontanes and her family will make them welcome. Two unhappy girls struggle to fit into the very different lifestyle of the large and slightly exotic Montailhac family.