Every Mother's Son (22 page)

Melissa shook her head. ‘I dare say she will write and explain, but she wouldn’t tell us of her intentions beforehand as she’d think that her father would forbid it.’

‘She’ll be perfectly safe with Charles and Daniel,’ Harriet assured her, ‘but I wonder why ’headmistress thought that Daniel was their cousin?’

‘Because Beatrice will have told her so,’ Melissa said wryly. ‘It would be considered unacceptable for her to travel with a young man who wasn’t related. Beatrice would have been aware of that, the minx.’ She gave a grim sigh. ‘I know my daughter better than she thinks.’

They both sat silently until Maria brought in a tray with the coffee pot, and Harriet gave a quiet smile as she saw that she had also brought out the best crockery and a plate of shortbread biscuits.

‘I haven’t yet told my husband,’ Melissa admitted. ‘I don’t want to worry him as he’s going through an anxious time. Our bailiff has told him that he would like to leave his position as soon as there is someone to replace him. He’s not in good health and doesn’t feel that he can continue for much longer. It’s a blow to Christopher, as he relies on him totally, and …’ She paused. ‘Well, if I may confide in you, Harriet, my husband cannot cope with anything more. If only our sons were older, they’d be able to take over some of the tasks on the estate. But that’s foolish talk, for they’re not, so that’s that.’

‘I’m so sorry,’ Harriet said. ‘Can we help in any way? I’m sure Fletcher would be glad to …’ Her voice trailed away. Melissa might not want Fletcher at Hart Holme Manor. Although they had never spoken openly of the tangled relationship between Fletcher’s mother and Christopher Hart, it was there like a festering sore.

‘That’s very kind of you.’ Melissa drew herself up straight. ‘I will remember your generous offer if we should need it. But what of Beatrice? Your advice would be that I shouldn’t worry? That she will be in good hands?’

‘I’m sure she will be, and I think that Miss Beatrice is perfectly capable of making her own decisions.’

‘You are right, of course, but I wish that she would ask before embarking on these exploits. She’s so headstrong. I do wonder whether Charles or Daniel knew about her plan or if she kept them in the dark too.’

After Melissa had left, Harriet returned to the sitting room and pondered on the quandary of Beatrice Hart. She was convinced that Daniel hadn’t known that Beatrice intended travelling with them; if he had, Harriet was sure that he would have mentioned it. Did her brother know, and keep it secret from their parents? But then he’d have been keeping it secret from Daniel too and she didn’t think Charles would’ve done that. This was Daniel’s journey, after all.

She got up from her chair and placed another piece of coal on the fire, then gazed into the mirror above it. Life, she thought, looking at her reflection, is so very complex, and we all have to cope with it in our own way. Miss Beatrice will have her own reasons for joining the two young men, and whether they want her there or not is something they’ll have to deal with themselves. She turned away and put the guard in front of the fire. Whatever her plan, the girl won’t be deterred from it, no matter that it’s considered
unacceptable
by society. Harriet gave a wry smile. She’ll get what she wants, will Miss Beatrice.

She told Maria what had happened and Maria raised her eyebrows and said she didn’t know how Beatrice dared to be so far from home and travelling with only her brother and Daniel. ‘Although Beatrice has always known what she wanted. Ever since she was sixteen, anyway. I remember when I went to ’twins’ sixteenth birthday party – do you remember, Ma, when I didn’t want to go? And Beatrice told me …’ She hesitated. ‘Beatrice said …’

‘Yes?’ her mother asked. ‘What did Beatrice say?’

‘Oh,’ Maria faltered, ‘I can’t recall exactly. Something that she wanted or intended to have.’

Harriet always knew when Maria was uneasy and she was uneasy now; whatever Beatrice Hart had said had stayed with her even after so long. It must have been something so momentous that she’d been sworn to secrecy. Harriet smiled. It was probably nothing much, just schoolgirl secrets and of no consequence at all.

Later she told Fletcher the news that Melissa Hart had brought regarding Beatrice, and then about the Harts’ bailiff who had given notice. ‘I mebbe spoke out o’ turn,’ she confessed, ‘but I asked if we could help at all and said that I was sure you—’

‘You didn’t! No. It’s not that I wouldn’t be willing, but you know that I can’t! How can I? Mebbe Tom could help if they’re really stuck, but not me. Can you imagine what my mother’d say if she found out? Anyway, being ’bailiff is a job worth having. There’ll be plenty o’ men glad to tek it on.’

He seemed anxious and Harriet wished she hadn’t told him. ‘You’re right, of course,’ she said. ‘And Mrs Hart is probably worrying over nowt much. As you say, they’ll soon get somebody else.’

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

At Hart Holme Manor, Christopher Hart had arrived home late for luncheon. ‘So sorry,’ he said to Melissa. ‘My apologies to Cook.’

‘Why are you so late? Not that it matters too much, as it’s a cold meal today.’

‘I’ve been talking to the bailiff and I’ve sent him home, because he’s still unwell. I’m afraid that he might not stay on until November, so I must make more of an effort to find a replacement. Pity. He’s been a good man, very reliable.’ He sighed. ‘No use wishing, of course, but if only the boys were older. I’m in two minds as to whether to let Stephen finish school as he wants to.’

‘Not a good idea,’ Melissa said. ‘But you might enquire about agricultural college; that’s what he really wants. They might take him now that he’s seventeen and especially in view of the circumstances.’

‘What circumstances?’

‘The fact that you want to retire from an active part in running the estate and wish to have only an advisory role. And of course, Stephen would still need an older, more experienced man to help him for quite some time, even after being at college.’

‘He would, and I must confess, Melissa, it’s all getting too much for me.’

After luncheon Melissa gazed at her husband as he dozed off in the chair in her sitting room. She had not yet told him that Beatrice had gone adventuring with her brother and Daniel, for she knew it would worry him. He looked tired, and she realized that the prospect of interviewing for the position of bailiff was also worrying him, as few good men would consider moving to another estate until Martinmas, unless there was an issue with a present employer.

She considered what Harriet Tuke had said about her husband’s helping out, but Melissa did not like the idea of that. If what she thought were true, then she didn’t want Fletcher Tuke here on the estate, or his daughters either, charming and sweet though they were. But what was to be done over that situation? She was very fond of Harriet and considered her to be a friend in spite of their social differences, yet they had only skirted round the edge of the matter for twenty years. Christopher, she thought as she gazed at her husband, was unaware of any rumours concerning him. Melissa had never told him of her fears even though, she thought bitterly, there was someone who could tell and ruin all their lives if she chose to do so.

As far as she knew, Christopher never saw Ellen Tuke. There was no reason why he should; the bailiff took care of rents from tenant farmers and cottagers and handled any complaints or requirements, and it was foolish, she realized, to fret over what the woman might say or do when she had kept silent for so many years. But fret she did, not always, but from time to time, and it was like having an ominous, threatening cloud hanging over her.

She debated whether or not to go out into the garden. It was a lovely day with barely a breeze, and she was thinking that the fresh air might dispel the malaise that was troubling her when one of the maids knocked softly on the door.

‘Beg pardon, ma’am.’ She spoke in a whisper when she saw Christopher sleeping. ‘Mrs Crossley said would I give this to ’master. Bailiff Thompson came back with it. He said he’d forgotten to mention something.’

Melissa took the envelope that was handed to her, saying she’d give it to her husband when he woke. It was only lightly sealed and there was no name written on it; she guessed that Thompson must have recalled something he had meant to mention to his employer during their discussion. Should I open it? she thought. Then I might be able to resolve the problem, if that’s what it is, without troubling Christopher.

The envelope opened easily without recourse to a paper knife and she pulled out a scrap of paper on which Thompson had scribbled a few words.

The envelope opened easily without recourse to a paper knife and she pulled out a scrap of paper on which Thompson had scribbled a few words.

Sir, I forgot to mention that Jewitt said a fence is down adjoining his land but that he’s happy to mend it temporarily until we can get one of our carpenters to renew it. The other thing is that about a week ago I saw Mrs Tuke, her who has the cottage by Brough Haven, and she asked would you call. Nothing I could handle, she said, as it was a personal matter. Sorry I forgot to mention it afore.

Thompson.

*

‘There’s another postcard from Daniel, Ma,’ Maria called up to her mother. ‘Is it all right if I read it?’

‘Of course it is. It’s for all of us, isn’t it?’ Harriet shouted down from upstairs where she was changing the bedding. ‘I expect everybody in ’district has read it.’ She came into the kitchen with an armful of sheets for washing. ‘It’s not in an envelope, is it?’

‘No,’ Maria said. ‘It’s a card. He says … mm, I can hardly read it, he’s crammed so much on to it. He says they’re in Switzerland, and going to see ’Jungfrau, and planning ’next part of their journey into Italy on horseback, and that Beatrice is going with them, which of course we knew already. She’s so brave, isn’t she? Though I expect she’ll feel safe with Daniel and Charles.’

She hesitated for a moment, wondering whether to break a confidence, but then thought better of it. Beatrice had probably had a schoolgirl crush on Daniel, she thought. He was very handsome, after all. But Daniel was also honest and caring and would never do anything to besmirch a young woman’s reputation, she was certain. Besides, the Hart family were out of their class and therefore out of their reach. She’d told Stephen as much some time ago, when he’d asked if they could be friends. He’d pooh-poohed the idea and said he’d live his life how he wanted to and wouldn’t be hidebound by old traditions. But Maria had been brought up with old-fashioned values, and when her mother had told her that Stephen was destined for a different kind of life from theirs she had listened, and reluctantly avoided meeting him as he had wanted her to.

Fletcher looked in. ‘I’m going down to Brough,’ he said. ‘Is there owt you want, or would you like to come?’

‘I won’t, thank you,’ Harriet said. ‘Maria, do you fancy a ride out?’

‘I thought I’d slip in to see my ma,’ Fletcher said. ‘Whilst I’m there, you know.’

Harriet smiled and shook her head at him. ‘You don’t have to mek excuses about seeing your ma. Not to me.’

‘I know,’ he said sheepishly. ‘But I allus come away in a bad mood when I’ve been to visit her, so I’m warning you.’

‘I’ll come with you, Da. We can tell her about Daniel; another card’s just come. I’ll get my jacket.’

Whilst Maria ran upstairs Fletcher read Daniel’s card. Harriet leaned over his shoulder to see. ‘He’s having a great time, isn’t he?’

He nodded. ‘What’s this about Beatrice going with them? I thought she was at school.’

‘A finishing school in Switzerland. She’s tekken it into her head to leave and travel with them.’

‘How do you know? Do her parents know?’

‘Mrs Hart’s had a letter from ’headmistress. I don’t know if she’s told her husband yet.’

‘A bit risky, isn’t it? For people like them, I mean. It’s all about reputation, isn’t it, especially for a young woman. Mightn’t it be frowned upon?’

‘Possibly by some and mebbe even by her father, but Mrs Hart is more of a free spirit. I reckon it’s ’sort of thing she might have done, given ’opportunity.’

‘Well, she’ll be safe enough with our Daniel,’ he said. ‘And her brother too, I expect, although she seems to be a feisty sort of young woman. I reckon she could give anybody a run for their money.’

On arriving in Brough Fletcher went first of all to pick up some equipment at a farrier’s shop and then headed towards the Haven. The water was calm, with only a slight breeze to ruffle the surface. Climbing up the side of his mother’s cottage door were some early yellow scented roses, planted by the previous tenant, and first Fletcher and then Maria put their noses to them to smell the perfume.

‘Your roses are lovely, Gran,’ Maria said in an attempt at conversation after their initial cautious greeting. ‘Are they early this year?’

‘No idea,’ Ellen Tuke said brusquely. ‘I didn’t plant ’em. Mrs Marshall did. They come up every year regardless. Shall I put ’kettle on,’ she asked Fletcher, ‘or are you dashing on somewhere else as usual?’

Fletcher sighed. ‘We’ve time for a cup o’ tea, Ma. Maria came specially to see you.’

‘Did she?’ his mother said. ‘Well, there’s a thing. Nowt better to do, had you?’

Maria blushed, not knowing what to say. ‘I, erm, I’m not in service now,’ she said. ‘I’m helping Ma at home. Dolly’s doing my old job.’

Her grandmother grunted. ‘Your da must have plenty o’ money to keep you at home. Doesn’t need your wages. Or mebbe your ma can’t manage?’

‘She can manage,’ Fletcher interrupted. ‘And if Maria wants to work elsewhere she can, and she can keep her wages or she can work at home for her keep. We’re managing to keep ’roof over our heads.’

Ellen gave another grunt and made a pot of tea. ‘Do you see much of Master Hart?’ she asked.

‘No,’ Fletcher said. ‘Why would I? He’s nowt to do wi’ us. I own ’land we’re farming – at least Tom and I do. It’s not Hart land.’

‘Ma sees Mrs Hart sometimes,’ Maria commented. ‘She drops in to see her if she’s in ’district.’

Ellen frowned. ‘Who does?’