Years ago, the fervent Liberalist had been called a dissenter and an upstart, and had frightened the Conservatives. He had been past Prime Minister Gladstone’s cohort in the House of Commons. He had favored Irish reforms, Home Rule, for a time but had changed his opinions and sided with Conservative leader Lord Salisbury and become one of Salisbury’s followers. Currently he was Secretary of State for the colonies and had an avid interest in African affairs.
After the introductions and his request for her to call him Joseph, he said, “I’m sorry about your grandfather’s death. William Webster was fine man. We dined and hunted together on several occasions.”
Leigh smiled politely at the lean, narrow-faced man. She noticed how his ribboned monocle made his right eye appear large and stern. She tried not to stare at it as she replied, “You’re very kind, sir. I only wish I had known him better.”
“Do you plan to remain in London with us?” Chamberlain asked.
Leigh was warm and weary from her exertions on the dance floor, from her attempts to behave correctly, and from the heady wine. She cooled her glowing cheeks with her fan as she replied, “I haven’t made any plans yet, but it appears I will stay if all goes well.”
“Of course you will,” Chad injected, grinning at her. “What could possibly go wrong or change your mind? Nothing, my dear Leigh.” When she smiled in appreciation, he continued. “It would be a crime to allow such a lovely jewel to escape our country. Besides, I’m looking forward to teaching you all about the business you inherited, and to working with you. You aren’t a woman who’s afraid of a challenge or a change in her life. You’re much too brave, confident, and intelligent to let anything defeat or trouble you.”
“Come now, Lord Hamilton. You know men do not care to have women intrude on their business affairs.”
“I don’t intend for you to intrude, Leigh,” Chad came back. “But working as partners will be most intriguing and delightful, most stimulating. Don’t you agree, Joseph?”
The Colonial Secretary removed his monocle and slipped it into his pocket before he answered. “I’m certain it will be. You may not know it, Miss Webster, but I’m a fighter for the rights and freedoms of everyone, including the female sex. If you’re capable of learning how to run Webster International—and Chad seems to have unshakable confidence in you— why shouldn’t you do so?”
“She has many talents, Joseph, and I’ll teach her the rest. I was thinking of investing in the Uganda Railroad if it looks promising when I reach East Africa. What do you know about it?” Chad inquired, abruptly altering their line of conversation.
The older man responded, “I think the railroad should pay for itself, Chad. Our friend and leader Lord Salisbury has pushed the concept for years. However, it could be a waste of money if defense of the interior is his motive rather than expansion and exploration. Ever since Uganda was made a protectorate in ’90, several politicians have been determined to open the way to exploit rather than colonize the area and draw on her abundant resources for the good of the empire. It’s my hope they don’t use the same methods Cecil Rhodes did to get his clutches on Zambesi. Excuse me—Rhodesia, it’s called now. Many already want British East Africa to be renamed Colony of Kenya. We don’t need trouble.”
Chad and Leigh noticed the bitterness in his tone. It was no secret that Chamberlain was still stewing over the infamous Jameson Raid last December against the Boers in South Africa. There was something about Chamberlain that made Leigh uneasy and mistrustful. She observed him closely.
“Rhodes did a lot of good work there, Joseph,” Chad said. “He’s become a millionaire with his gold and diamond fields. I wouldn’t mind succeeding in that grand a fashion.”
“Yes, but he’s caused a great deal of trouble among the Boers, Germans, and the natives. He’s been forced to resign as Prime Minister of the Cape Colony because of that Jameson business. I’m fortunate he hasn’t dragged me down with him, not yet anyway. I warned him to hold back his attacks until it was clear they were plotting against us. He claims he telegraphed Jameson not to make that raid in December, but the lines apparently had been cut and Doc never received his message. If Parliament and the Queen don’t believe their claims that they went in to thwart a revolution, I don’t know how this nasty situation will work itself out. He’s returned to the colony to ward off new trouble with the Matabele tribe. I dare say that neither matter is settled, and they won’t be without bloody conflicts. Don’t tell me that is where you’re heading?”
“Heavens, no, Joseph. I’m taking Leigh and friends to East Africa. As far as I know there aren’t any warring Zulus or Matabeles in our newest protectorate. The Zulus did slaughter thousands of British on their rampage. I certainly wouldn’t place Leigh oranyof my party in that kind of danger. What I have in mind is hunting and sightseeing. I hear the game and landscape in that area are splendid. Leigh and I are looking forward to our adventure.”
Chad smiled at his ward before disclosing, “While we’re there, I want to check out a few business ventures: perhaps with ivory, hides, crops, gold, and diamonds. There’s also a big tourist trade blooming like a tropical flower. Safaris have become the very thing. Imagine what a luxurious hotel could earn there, not to mention the sale of garments and trinkets from native materials. The possibilities are endless. I could have cloth and skins shipped to our mills here, native garments made, then shipped back to sell to all those impressionable British females who want to bring back a piece of Africa to show off to friends. With the interior being opened up and the railroad moving along swiftly, it’s get involved now or be too late. The first man to pluck that exotic flower will be rich and famous. And I must admit it would be exciting to furnish animals or trophies for the Geographical Society and to have my name on little plaques beneath dangerous beasts on display.” He chuckled, then winked at Leigh.
“I hear the American Museum of Natural History has been working on African displays,” Chamberlain remarked. “I’m certain our Royal Society doesn’t want to lag behind the Colonists in any area. Have you made arrangements with them to sponsor your safari?”
“No. If something exceptional turns up, I’ll contact them by cable from the protectorate.”
“Make certain you don’t rile the Aborigines’ Protection Society. They claim their task is looking after the interests of natives around the world and they gave Rhodes a hard time in his colony. They were afraid the Africans would be mistreated and exploited. I daresay though it is unfortunate, you can’t colonize any wild area without a little exploitation. The same goes for the Church Missionary Society; they put their noses into more than religion. They’ve sponsored several wars there, supposedly for the supremacy of the Protestant religion. They sold war bills for that conflict in Uganda. As for where you’re heading, I believe the Imperial British East Africa Company has it fairly well locked up. The natives are allowing the IBEA Company to build forts in their area. They have a treaty with a Kikuyu chief to supply the railroad with meat and other necessities. From the reports I’ve received, farmers, engineers, miners, builders, lawyers, missionaries, and soldiers are taking over most of Africa—Britain and foreigner alike. It won’t be wild much longer,” Chamberlain surmised. “Be glad you’ll see it before it’s spoiled by so-called civilization.”
“Is there much trouble with foreign governments in Africa? Do you still have border disputes and battles? You and Chad have mentioned a lot of trouble.”
Chamberlain replaced his monocle and looked at her. “Mainly with the Germans and Dutch. They were in on that Jameson affair and other troubles. If we could move them and the Belgians out, we’d control most of Africa from the Cape to Cairo. If it were up to …”
The discussion was interrupted as Lord Salisbury paused to speak with the trio a moment. After small and cordial talk, the impending safari was discussed once more. Leigh observed the rotund but well-dressed man with his nearly bald head and a heavy beard. His naturally puffy lids almost concealed gentle and intelligent eyes. He told them they had little—if anything—to fear from the natives, especially the Masai who didn’t mind the British takeover. He began to talk about the Queen, who could not attend tonight’s function. It was clear to Leigh that the man was filled with admiration and affection for her.
“As long as Victoria is on the throne, Great Britain and her colonies will prosper. She’s ruled for fifty-nine years, and is still quite young and vital for seventy-seven. Never have I known a more honest woman, and ruler. Have you met her, my dear?” he asked Leigh.
“No, your lordship, but I would be honored and delighted to do so if the occasion presented itself. Tell me more about her,” she encouraged, aware she was one of Lord Salisbury’s favorite subjects. Her mother had taught her that nothing relaxed or pleased a person more than speaking on a favorite topic and having a good listener. But Leigh’s interest was not a pretense; nor was her motive guileful. She wanted to know all about Britain and the country’s ruler. After all, she was half English and she might live her remaining life here.
“The Queen is devoted to her family and her subjects. She is the symbol of middle-class virtues. She represents stability, decency, morality, humanitarian-ism, and progress. The throne will never be in jeopardy as long as there are monarchs like Victoria to occupy it. I’m glad you’ve come to our country, Miss Webster, and I hope you choose to remain here. We did have little tiffs with your country over the Samoan Islands and Venezuela, but we settled them nicely,” he teased.
Leigh smiled, amused that he hadn’t mentioned the Colonists’ victorious fight for independence over a hundred years ago. She knew that many of the British still believed that America would eventually be brought back into the British Empire, be it by request or force. Leigh knew that would never happen. Yet she had wondered often what would have happened to her parents had Thomas Webster met Mary Beth Leigh during that fierce struggle for freedom: beautiful American patriot against handsome English warlord. She cleared her head of such romantic fancies to respond almost tardily, “I’m glad, too, your lordship. As you may know, I’m half British and proud to be so, and I do think I will be settling here permanently.”
A broad smile was almost concealed by the heavily whiskered face, but his twinkling eyes were visible. “Excellent. I look forward to chatting with you again. When you return from Africa, contact me and I shall arrange for you to meet our beloved Queen Victoria.”
“You are most kind, your lordship.” Leigh watched him excuse himself to mingle with other guests.
Chad teased his ward and then Chamberlain, “You charmed him like magic, Leigh. As for you, Joseph, you two seemed to get along fine. I thought perhaps our Prime Minister was annoyed with you these days.”
“We settled our differences when I sided with him against Irish Home Rule,” Chamberlain replied. “I’m very much in favor of imperial unity these days. But heisa little miffed over my alleged involvement with Rhodes and Jameson. Salisbury is a powerful imperialist. He’s also a very religious man. His wish would be to conquer the African natives with Christianity rather than with military or intellectual might. I doubt that is possible. I fear I must agree with Cecil Rhodes on one point; ‘Money is power, and what can one accomplish without power?’ Such a statement is possible for a man of his wealth and power.”