Annie

by Val Wood

  ‘I think that I might, though sometimes I feel that he’ll never come back.’ She felt that she could talk to this kindly, wise man. ‘He seems to have disappeared out of my life.’

  ‘We will do all we can, my dear.’ He shuffled amongst the papers on his desk. ‘I have here a letter from Henry Linton asking me to add my name to his in the appeal to the Admiralty. If it is a case of unjustified pressing – and Captain Linton should have had genuine protection and therefore been exempt from impressment, then we can threaten legal proceedings. I will send a letter off today.’

  She felt a great weight lifted off her mind. What it was to have influence! She thought of the press-gangs that she had seen in her youth, who roamed the streets and inns of Hull, taking by force or ‘persuasion’ drunk or sober members of the public.

  She remembered the riots of the mob who tried to break down the doors of the rendezvous, held in a dank alehouse cellar or gaol, in their attempt to release the men who were held there. No clever lawyer to help them escape the navy. They were cursed to sail the seas whether or not they had a mind for it, be they tailor or butcher, drunkard or pauper, they were all thrown into the same stinking, barred hold of the receiving ship. She knew. She had seen for herself.

  * * *

  Robin wrote to Mr Sutcliff telling him of his proposal about the haberdashery and of Rose losing her baby. He had a letter back from him immediately to say that he approved of the plan and would come over to discuss it, and a note from Joan to Rosie telling her how sorry she was and that Lily was expecting Mr Collins’ child. ‘Meg also has a suitor,’ she wrote, ‘a farm lad from the next village, it seems as if I am doomed to be the old maid of the family, and I am so miserable.’

  ‘I think, now, I can safely go back to see Henry,’ Annie said about three weeks later. ‘Everything is running smoothly here and when your new staff arrive for the haberdashery you won’t need me.’

  ‘You go, Annie.’ Robin gave her a hug. ‘We’ll send for you if you’re needed. I know where your heart is. Go to see Henry, I know how you’re missing him.’ He grinned. ‘And go and play the lady, you’ll be good at it. I always said you were a real lady, didn’t I?’

  She smiled gratefully. Dear Robin. He had always been so faithful and had an implicit belief in her.

  As she made her plans to leave, Marcus Blythe advised that she borrow his carriage again. ‘No sense in buying your own when there’s one standing unused in the coach house at Staveley.’

  ‘There’s a curricle too,’ she ventured. ‘The squire said he’d teach me to drive it. And he wants to get Henry a pony.’ He’d like that, she mused; so would she. She thought of the times she had ridden on Sorrel. Of her first attempts to mount him at Toby’s insistence, and of the susequent thrill she had had when chasing away from the river-bank and the revenue men, of Sorrel’s hooves pounding and her own heart beating in unison.

  ‘Sorrel!’ she exclaimed.

  ‘I beg your pardon?’ Mr Blythe questioned.

  ‘Oh, I was thinking of the horse I used to ride. He belonged to Toby. I brought him to York but had to sell him. I couldn’t afford to keep him. I see him sometimes,’ she said, ‘he pulls a gig.’ She thought with affection of the powerful yet gentle animal; whenever she saw him she always stopped to stroke his nose.

  ‘You could perhaps buy him back. If you offer a good price, that is,’ he added. ‘There are few people sentimental about their work-horses, I’m sure you could get him if you wanted.’

  She left his rooms feeling much happier. He had advised her on her monetary position and she couldn’t believe how much money she had. There was a real possibility of Matt coming home, she would find Sorrel and take him back to the grasslands of Staveley Park, and in just a few days she would see her darling Henry.

  * * *

  She had written to say that she was coming and as the carriage drew up outside the house, they were all waiting on the steps to greet her. An exuberant Henry, a relieved-looking Polly, a polite and cordial Henry Linton and a beaming Mrs Rogerson standing in the doorway behind them.

  Jed took off his hat and touched his forehead as she stepped down from the carriage and then moved back as Henry propelled himself down the steps to greet her.

  ‘Oh, Mamma. I’m so glad you’re here at last. I want to show you my pony that grandfather bought for me, and he said that when I know how to handle her he’ll get me a little trap.’ He paused for breath. ‘I call her Whisper and I’m having a splendid time; and I’ve been very good like you said, and so has Polly, haven’t you Polly.’

  He turned to Polly standing shyly behind him. Polly, to her surprise gave her a small curtsey. My word, Annie thought wryly. Mr Linton has been busy.

  ‘I hope you don’t mind my buying Henry a pony,’ Mr Linton murmured as he came to greet her. ‘I wasn’t trying to gain favour, but I saw just the one, so suitable for a child.’

  She gazed at him frankly. He wasn’t the type of man to offer or advance a gift as a persuasion or enticement, she realized that well enough. He had given the animal to Henry because he wanted to.

  ‘You’re very kind, sir,’ she smiled. ‘Henry will be delighted. And,’ she added. ‘Whisper shall have a companion. I’ve traced Sorrel, Toby’s horse. He’ll be coming next week.’

  Her words had such an effect on Henry Linton that she wished that she had waited before mentioning Sorrel. His eyes immediately filled with grief and he put his hand to his mouth and quickly excused himself and hurried indoors ahead of them.

  Jed nodded to her and whispered. ‘Mayster was fond of that hoss. Master Toby used to ride up here on him whenever he came to visit.’

  ‘Yes, Jed, I know,’ she said, full of remorse. ‘I remember.’

  She had changed out of her travelling clothes and was resting on the day bed in her room when she heard the sound of a bell being rung.

  Henry knocked and came in. He was washed and changed into another suit and his hair neatly brushed. ‘Come along, Mamma. That’s the supper bell ringing. We have to go down.’

  In some surprise she got to her feet and laughingly followed him down the stairs. There had been no such formality when she had stayed last time, Mrs Rogerson had simply knocked on her door and told her supper was ready.

  Now however, Henry led her by the hand towards the dining-room, the beautiful, panelled dining-room which was never used. He opened the door and then looked up at her gleefully. ‘There, Mamma. What do you think of that? Grandfather and I planned it as a surprise for you.’

  A candelabra was set at each end of the long polished table which was now covered in a white damask cloth. Ivory handled cutlery was set in three places and there was a blue and white service of plates and tureens with matching finger bowls. Sparkling glassware and silver serving-dishes glinted from the flame of the fire and the candles, and Annie looked in awe and delight and then turned to Henry Linton who bowed formally to greet her.

  ‘Sir, there was no need,’ she began.

  ‘I know,’ he smiled as he interrupted her. He looked very handsome in his velvet coat and knee breeches and frilled stock around his neck. ‘But I thought that as today was rather special – we were looking forward to you coming back, weren’t we Harry – that we planned this as a surprise for you. I remember that you said how much you admired it.’

  He looked directly at her. He was trying very hard, she thought. He was making such an effort to welcome her here. He was for the moment anyway, discarding his old habits and proposing to conform.

  ‘So, Anna. Will you stay? Will you make this your home, yours and Harry’s?’

  She was honest. ‘You realize, sir, that I am not used to splendour such as this? As I explained, I am from a much simpler background than yours. It may take me some time to adapt.’

  He nodded and motioning her to sit down at the table, drew out a chair for her. Young Henry stood waiting, his eyes alight, watching to see if his mother was pleased with their preparations.

  ‘I do re
alize.’ The squire took his place opposite her. ‘We both have to adapt – to each other – as well as to changed circumstances.’ He smiled a wide smile and for the first time she saw that he too had a narrow gap between his teeth like Toby and Matt. ‘But I’m sure we shall manage, although I don’t imagine that it will be easy for either of us. We are both, I think,’ he said wryly, ‘a little short on patience. We are not long-suffering or submissive and we won’t see eye to eye. But we must learn from each other.’

  He poured her a glass of wine and lifted his in a toast. ‘So can I propose a toast?’

  She lifted her glass and nodded in acquiescence.

  ‘To us both, then.’ He reached to touch her glass with his, ‘—and forbearance.’

  ‘And me, and me.’ Henry lifted his glass of watered wine towards theirs. ‘Don’t forget me.’

  ‘How could I possibly?’ Henry Linton turned to his grandson and raised his glass. He smiled at Annie and she knew he was won over. His grandson had already found a place in his heart. ‘To you, Harry, and to your father, and to Staveley Park.’

  41

  She heard the pounding of hooves on the drive early the next morning and rose from her bed to see who it was. A rider had dismounted and was talking to Jed. She saw him hand over a letter and then mount again and canter away.

  She threw a shawl over her bedgown and hurried downstairs. Her heart hammered. Could it be a message from Matt?

  ‘Is it a message for me, Jed?’

  ‘No, ma’am,’ Jed pulled off his shabby hat. ‘It’s urgent for mayster. I’m to tek it to him straight away, but I’ve not seen him about yet.’

  Probably because he was late to bed, Annie mused. We shared three bottles of wine as he reminisced about his life and I told him a little, but only a little of mine, and then I left him nursing a bottle of brandy. He might well be feeling a little groggy this morning.

  But he wasn’t. He appeared at the top of the stairs dressed in his working clothes, his heavy breeches and sturdy boots and plain coat.

  He wished Annie good morning, and took the message from Jed. She watched his face as he read, trying to glean whether it was good or bad news.

  ‘Tell Kent to prepare the carriage.’ He spoke briskly to Jed. ‘I’m leaving for London immediately.’

  ‘London?’ Annie asked incredulously as Jed hurried away. ‘It’s about Matt isn’t it?’ She clung to the bannister rail. ‘There’s news?’

  ‘Yes, my dear.’ He handed her the letter. ‘But we mustn’t yet build up hope. They’ve located which ship he’s on, the Glory, but it’s somewhere off the coast of Spain and they cannot possibly contact him until it returns to England; however, they have invited me to discuss the issue with them. God damn it,’ he burst out. ‘They know they’re in the wrong – I shall challenge the legality. Somebody will answer for this.’

  She sat down on the bottom step of the stair as he went back up again to change for his journey and mused that if Matt was as far away as Spain then it could be many months before she saw him again. Then the thought crossed her mind that the navy only knew that the Glory was the ship he had sailed on, they wouldn’t know if he was still on it.

  Henry called down to her from the long-galleried landing. ‘I’m sorry to have to leave you so soon, Anna. Mrs Rogerson will help you all she can. Do what you wish, and I’ll be back as soon as I can.’

  He was gone within the hour and Annie wandered around the house, opening doors to rooms which were closed up and shuttered, mounting the stairs to the top floors where the servants would have slept had there been any. Mrs Rogerson slept on a bed in a room beyond the kitchen and the kitchen maid went home to the village every night at ten o’clock and came back every morning at five. She didn’t find where Jed slept but guessed that it was above the stable along with the groom Kent.

  I’ll speak to Mrs Rogerson about it, she thought as she came down again. It’s so pointless having all these rooms and her sleeping down stairs. Though it’s probably warmer near the kitchen; the rooms at the top of the house had a musty chill about them and she guessed that the young maid wouldn’t want to sleep alone up there.

  There was a rattle of wheels on the drive and she lifted her head, another carriage was approaching. She went into the sitting-room off the inner hall and waited for Mrs Rogerson to open the door.

  ‘Mrs Burnby, ma’am. Are you at home?’

  She gazed nonplussed at the housekeeper. Of course she was at home. Wasn’t she here staring her in the face?

  ‘Are you receiving visitors, ma’am?’

  Annie swallowed. ‘Oh. Er, yes, certainly. Show Mrs Burnby in please.’

  Not by a flicker of an eyelash did Mrs Rogerson show that she guessed Annie was ill at ease. She opened the door wide to bring in the visitor and said, ‘Tea and chocolate, did you say, ma’am?’

  ‘Thank you Mrs Rogerson, if you would please.’

  ‘My word, you’ll have her eating out of your hand. The servants in this house are not used to such pleasantries.’ Mrs Burnby swept in and extended her hand. ‘How pleased I am to see you again, Mrs Linton, it has been such a long time. So good of you to see me. Henry left a message yesterday that you were here at last and would I call, and now I hear that he has gone off somewhere.’

  ‘He’s had to go to London on rather urgent business.’ Annie dropped the name of London as casually as if it was a commonplace city for visiting instead of the capital of the kingdom which she only knew by repute.

  ‘Indeed!’ Mrs Burnby arched an eyebrow. ‘Has he word of Matthias?’

  It seems that Mrs Burnby is a confidant of Henry Linton if she is so well informed, Annie thought. I wonder what he has told her of me?

  ‘We’ve received news of Matt’s ship and Mr Linton has gone to the Admiralty to discuss certain issues with them.’

  ‘That’s excellent news.’ Mrs Burnby nodded, then looked with some satisfaction around the sunny room. ‘I am so glad that you have at last decided to come and live here, Mrs Linton, instead of your house in York. Henry needs the company, he was becoming quite morose.’ She unbuttoned her greatcoat and Annie took it from her and indicated that she should be seated. ‘Yes, I’ve noticed the difference in him already since he has had your dear little Harry with him. It will do them both good. A child like Harry needs a man around, and until Matthias returns—’

  ‘If he returns.’ Annie sank into a chair. ‘Sometimes Mrs Burnby, I feel so miserable. It has been so long.’ She hung her head. ‘To find Matt and then to lose him again.’

  Mrs Burnby leaned forward and grasped her hand. ‘I do understand, my dear. Henry has told me something of your difficulties; that you have had no training in formal or social accomplishments, and having no family to turn to it can’t be easy for you. But,’ she said briskly, ‘that is why I am here. I shall help you.’

  Annie looked at her in surprise. What did she mean? And her amazement increased as Mrs Burnby went on.

  ‘Now. Whilst Matthias is away we must busy ourselves and prepare for him.’ Mrs Burnby drew herself upright and Annie saw only good intentions. ‘This place needs a mistress – has done for years. We shall make sure it gets one.’

  Mrs Rogerson knocked and brought in the tray laid with china cups and saucers and two silver pots with tea and chocolate.

  ‘You will enjoy having a mistress about the place, won’t you, Mrs Rogerson? And some more help?’

  Mrs Rogerson’s face creased into a smile. ‘Oh, yes, ma’am. That I would.’ She gave Mrs Burnby a curtsey and left the room.

  Annie poured chocolate for Mrs Burnby and tea for herself and handed her a plate of biscuits, fresh from the oven. There’s been a conspiracy, she thought. I rather think Mrs Rogerson was expecting visitors. She sipped her tea thoughtfully. ‘But I can’t authorize bringing in servants,’ she began. ‘Mr Linton will be annoyed, he likes things as they are.’

  ‘No, he won’t. Not if we do it gradually. After a while he will start to enjoy the extra comfort
s. He always used to anyway,’ she said with a hint of a smile. ‘In the old days, I mean.’

  ‘Have you known Mr Linton a long time?’

  ‘Oh, indeed. Since we were children. There isn’t anything I don’t know about Henry Linton, so if you are ever in doubt, you only have to ask me. I know the old rascal inside out.’

  She sipped her chocolate and then placed the cup back onto the table. ‘But the first thing we must arrange is a companion for you. Now who do we know?’

  ‘But why should I need a companion? I have Henry – or Harry as he seems to prefer, and when Sorrel comes we shall ride every day. And when Mr Linton comes back I shall ask him if I might go with him around the estate.’

  ‘But, don’t you see—? Oh, of course, this is what Henry meant when he said you hadn’t any idea of what was right and proper.’

  Annie bristled. What else had he been saying about her.

  The frayed feathers on Mrs Burnby’s hat nodded as she emphatically gave her opinion, and Annie made a mental note that when next she visited York she would bring back some new trimmings for Mrs Burnby.

  ‘You can’t stay here alone without a husband, especially when Henry is away.’ She lowerered her voice though there was no-one to hear them. ‘You must have a female companion. You must realize that?’

  How very strange these people were. Annie was baffled. Mrs Burnby presumably knew or guessed that Harry was born out of wedlock and that her marriage to Matt had come later. Yet now she was trying to protect her reputation. ‘I don’t know anyone I could ask,’ she said. ‘I have no female friend who could possibly come.’

  ‘Then we must advertise for someone,’ she mused. ‘I’ll tell you what we’ll do,’ she sat back with a smile. ‘You can have my Danielle until we find someone. I can manage without her, I think, just for a short time.’

  Annie was filled with dismay. To have a female here, a servant who was probably higher born than she was. She’d want to dress her hair and help her dress and would expect her to behave in a ladylike manner! No, she couldn’t. She wouldn’t!