Stay with Me (8 page)

James was surprised; he had never had any inkling that his father had organised the firm in such a way, but he kept a closed countenance and waited for Mr Chapman to answer his question. ‘These five accounts?'

The banker sipped his wine, his eyes intent on James. ‘One is to cover the everyday running of the firm. A second for future investments that are deemed beneficial to its advancement.'

‘Does that include buying more ships?'

‘No. Your father saw that expansion and success depended on the size of the fleet. He therefore instituted a third fund for this purpose plus necessary repairs. Of the two further funds - one is to buy goods that become available over and above the everyday regular purchases, which are the bedrock of the firm.'

‘And the final one?' James prompted as Chapman reached for his glass.

‘That is a contingency fund, available to help any of the others should it become necessary.'

A puzzled frown furrowed James's brow. ‘I don't see the necessity for separating the funds. My father was running the firm and now I will be running it. Surely we could . . .'

Mr Chapman smiled and held up his hand to halt him. ‘That is how it must appear to you, and in fact did to your father when he first made these arrangements on my advice. But the separate funds make sure the available capital can't be diverted to the advantage of one particular section, which might undermine the others and so threaten the solvency of the entire firm. These conditions now apply to you.'

‘But surely neither he nor I would seek to undermine our own business? There was no need to set up such a complicated system.'

‘I beg to differ. And, in time, your father wrote in certain further safeguards that applied to himself and to anyone who followed him in running the business. The use of these funds and the movement of money from them, with the exception of the day-to-day expenses of the firm, have to be agreed by myself and Mr Witherspoon.'

James stared at him in amazement. His mind cried out against such an arrangement but his tongue remained silent. He knew it would be useless to protest. He had no doubt that these conditions were all laid down in black and white and duly witnessed.

‘Let me reassure you that neither Mr Witherspoon nor I interfere in the running of the firm. We merely supervise the placement of the profits, see that each fund is managed properly and advise in any major investments you wish to make.' James nodded. ‘I hope you won't see this as a father doubting a son's ability - that never entered John's head. After all, he would have been expecting to run the firm himself for many years to come. No, he instituted these conditions so that he himself was supervised - purely as a precautionary measure, so that his family would not suffer from his possible mismanagement or poor investment.'

James nodded again. ‘I can see the wisdom in that but it will take me a little while to come to terms with the restrictions placed upon me.'

‘Don't consider them restrictions, Mr Carnforth. Your father never meant them as such. They are merely precautions he saw as necessary to keep the firm on a sound basis.'

‘Then supposing I was to say I wish to add a ship to the fleet?'

Mr Chapman smiled. ‘Ah, I see, an enterprising young man. I would call a meeting of the three of us, and the figures would be studied in the light of your proposal: the size of the ship, what its purpose was, who would build it and so on, plus of course the funds available.'

‘And are there sufficient funds available now?'

‘Come to me with more details and we shall see.'

‘Make the meeting for a week today at this time then.'

‘It shall be done.'

James started to rise but Mr Chapman stopped him. ‘There is something else I should tell you now.' He paused, seeing that he had James's full attention. ‘Your father, wisely, made two more provisions. Nothing to do with the running of the firm as such, but within it there are two accounts, one in your name and one in your sister's. These two funds are financed from investments made in your names - the capital cannot be touched, but the interest is divided equally between you and your sister, to do what you will with.'

James had much to think about when he left Mr Chapman's office. It had been his intention to take up certain matters relating to future developments with Ralph, but now he would have to rethink his approach. He strolled along the quay, crossed the bridge, walked along St Anne's Staith and Pier Road deep in thought, barely aware of people acknowledging him. It was only when he reached the West Pier and passed beyond the protective cliff that the icy blast reminded him it was still only February. He stared across the restless sea. His future lay there; he would use it to accomplish his dreams in memory of his father.

James nodded with satisfaction, turned and walked back at a brisk pace. Lena would be anxious to know what Mr Chapman had said.

She listened intently while they drank some chocolate together.

‘Father certainly gave a lot of thought to setting up the business,' she commented.

‘At first I thought it was too restrictive, but in fact it isn't.'

‘Precautionary and sensible,' agreed Lena. ‘I know you are ambitious, James, that is only natural in a young man of your calibre, but do proceed with care. It would be so easy to get carried away and wreck what Father built. I only wish . . .'

He guessed what was in her mind from the note of regret in her voice. There was no provision for her to be involved in the business, she was only entitled to know what was going on. But from her childhood Lena had always wanted to be in the forefront of anything that was happening.

‘Lena,' he said, cutting her words off sharply, ‘I know what I want to do and I'll do it. Rest assured, whatever I do will benefit the firm and, indirectly, you.' Before she could comment he went on quickly. ‘The first thing I'm going to do is expand our trading capacity by building another ship. I have already arranged a meeting with Chapman and Witherspoon to discuss the financial aspect. Chapman assured me there is sufficient money available, but how much I spend will depend on the type of vessel I commission. They are there to see I don't overspend. You need have no worries on that score.'

‘I hope not,' replied Lena a little coldly ‘Why move so quickly?'

‘Why not?' rapped James. He jumped to his feet and paced towards the window. ‘It sounds as though you are objecting,' he flung over his shoulder. He swung round then, eyes narrowed. ‘Let me remind you, Father explicitly stated you are not to be directly involved in the business; you are only to be kept informed.'

Lena had no doubt he would remind her of that point again should she venture to express any suggestion or criticism. She was not entitled to offer advice.

He saw he had touched a sore spot. ‘Lena, please don't let us fall out about this. Let us follow Father's wishes. And, let me say, I have decided to call the new vessel the
John Carnforth.'

His suggestion placated her and her tone softened. ‘Father would have liked that.'

‘I want to get started on it right away, to occupy my mind.'

Lena felt a stab of jealousy at that. It was different for James; he could escape into another world, and the period of mourning would not drag for him as it would for her with so little to do. Oh, she would still receive close friends but even their visits would not carry the gaiety she had been used to. That would only return at the end of the recognised mourning period, as would her attendance at social engagements. How she longed for time to race by! How she wished she were involved in the business and her mind full of exciting prospects ahead.

 

‘Miss Olivia Nash,' the maid announced.

Olivia hurried into the room and Lena placed her book on the small table beside her as she rose from the armchair she had positioned near the window, to better catch the light of a dull April afternoon.

The two friends exchanged greetings and, when the maid had taken Olivia's cloak and bonnet, she stood back and viewed her friend critically. ‘You're still looking peaky.' She sat down opposite Lena. ‘You're beginning to worry me.'

Lena gave a wan smile. ‘I am beginning to tire of my own company. As the weeks have passed callers have tailed away, but you're a faithful friend, Olivia, and I'm grateful for your support.'

‘I am only too pleased to help, and hope I lighten the days for you a little.'

‘Of course you do. Besides, I wouldn't hear any gossip if it wasn't for you.'

‘Father should have visited you more often when he came into Whitby.'

‘He has a business to run,' Lena pointed out. ‘It was good of him to call when he could.'

‘Well, I bring you news. Mother and Father arrived home from Robin Hood's Bay late yesterday.'

‘Is all still well there?'

‘Yes. The baby's recovered and my cousin is up and about again after her illness following the birth.'

‘I'm so pleased.'

‘Mother sent her love and will visit you tomorrow. I've warned her not to overtax you. You know how she loves to fuss. What you want is something more than reading to occupy your mind. Do you ever play the piano?'

‘I've never felt like it. It would remind me of what we were doing on the night of the . . .' Her voice faltered. ‘And it doesn't seem right, after what happened.'

Olivia nodded sympathetically. ‘It will pass, I'm sure of it, and you'll enjoy playing again. What about the household duties? Can't you . . .'

‘Mrs Campion's so efficient,' Lena interrupted, ‘that I really have no need to get involved. Oh, she is kind enough to consult me, but there is no reason why I should alter anything.'

‘Doesn't Alistair visit you?'

‘Yes, but his doctoring gets in the way, and when he does call it's more often than not only briefly, because he has to be off to a patient.'

Olivia pulled a sympathetic face. ‘That's him, absorbed in his calling. I think he was smitten when we visited your uncle and aunt in Scotland the first time, and the desire to help people has never left him.'

‘Very noble of him,' commented Lena with a touch of sarcasm. ‘I wish he'd followed his father.'

‘If he had, he might still be just as absorbed in his work,' Olivia defended her brother.

‘Maybe, but at least it would have been interesting, unlike his doctoring. The subject is so unpleasant.' Lena pulled a face to show her disgust. ‘And I can't understand half of what he talks about.'

‘I'm sure he talks about other things?'

‘But he always brings them round to illness and treatments. '

‘I think you are still suffering after what happened in Scotland. You should fix your mind on brighter things.'

‘Getting out of these sombre clothes would do it,' snapped Lena.

‘Time will soon pass.'

‘I hope it will move more quickly then, so I can get some colour back into my life.'

‘You shouldn't wish time away.'

‘Fiddlesticks!'

Seeing her friend growing more irritable, Olivia changed the subject, hoping it would help. ‘What about James? Talk to him about the business.'

Lena gave a grunt of contempt. ‘I don't see a lot of him. We breakfast and then he's off - and more often than not I don't see him again until our evening meal, and even then he might be off again. It's the business and the building of this new ship. He's got so involved he doesn't seem to have time for anything else, even talking to me. And he's supposed to keep me informed about what is going on.'

‘Point that out to him then.'

‘I've tried to but he always fobs me off with some excuse. “I haven't time.” “Tell you later.” “I have an appointment with Mr Chapman.” It's as if he doesn't want me to know.'

‘I'm sure that's not it,' Olivia sprang to James's defence. ‘He's merely very busy and wants to make a success of expanding the firm.'

‘Well, beware, Olivia, of a man who gets so involved in his work that he hasn't any time left to spend with you.'

‘Oh, come, Lena, I think you exaggerate. You'll see things in a different light when . . . '

‘I hope so!' she cut in roughly.

 

‘I think you must have had a word with Alistair,' said Lena to her friend three weeks later. ‘He's been a more frequent visitor of late and tries hard to keep away from the subject of doctoring although, being wrapped up in it and wanting to do good in Whitby, he finds it hard.'

‘Well, at least it's a step in the right direction.'

‘What about you and James? '

Olivia gave a wan smile. ‘He's attentive when he calls at the house, which isn't as often as I would like, but I think like you he finds the mourning period somewhat restrictive.'

‘At least he has more freedom and can escape to his work.'

‘Have you got him talking about that yet?'

Lena gave a shake of her head as she pulled a regretful face. ‘I still don't see much of him. Don't forget what I told you, Olivia.'

Lena was reminded of it herself eight weeks later when Alistair paid her a visit one afternoon. After their exchange of greetings, Lena said, ‘You'll take tea with me?'

He held up his hand in a gesture of refusal. ‘No. I haven't time today. And it may be some time again before I can visit you as often as I have been doing lately.'

Her face clouded over with disappointment. ‘Why?'

‘There are signs of an epidemic in two of the yards off Church Street. They are both overcrowded and conditions are particularly bad there. I've got to try to stem any spread of the disease, not only by treating the sick but by trying to improve living conditions.'