by Dilys Xavier
‘Ah, yes, qualified maybe. But well experienced? No!’
Anna smiled tolerantly and gave her mother a peck on the cheek before she went to bed. But peaceful sleep was difficult to find that night. She tossed and turned, went down for a drink two hours later, and then tossed around a good while longer as she planned her venture. Her mind would not let her settle for a good night’s rest.
Anna spent most of the night thinking until she heard the early dawn chorus. She looked out through the window as the eastern sky paled with the first hint of daylight. Minutes later, she finally slipped into a sleep full of the escapades of her ancient buccaneering Welsh ancestors fighting for their lives on the high seas.
Chapter Seven
When Anna finally woke in the morning she felt as though she had been in a fight, but as the thought of the manor house filled her mind again, all her aches and languid feelings slipped away. She jumped out of bed, showered and dressed, and was downstairs long before Ieuan Rees was due.
Too excited to eat a decent breakfast, she nibbled on a piece of toast as she watched through the window for the builder’s van to arrive. As soon as it pulled up outside the house she ran to open the door, but the man who stood on the doorstep with a broad grin on his face was Ieuan Rees’s son, local heart throb, David.
‘I’ve called to see the lady of the manor,’ he said, in a stage voice, bowing graciously, but then changed his tone to something more serious. ‘Dad asked me to come instead of him. He’s in the middle of a big job… burst pipes … and jobs like that can’t be left waiting.’
‘Oh, I see. Will you be able to give me a quote?’ Anna said, looking at him doubtfully. ‘You got enough experience to do that?’
‘Course I have.’ David frowned, obviously annoyed at her question. ‘Done it often enough. The old man trusts me, so don’t let it worry you.’ He fiddled with the keys to the van. ‘Well, you coming, or not?’
Anna settled in the front seat and stole a sly look at the man at her side. She knew he was two years older than she was, and that he had always been extremely popular with the girls. With his good looks, that was only to be expected; he was tall and muscular, with a tousle of dark brown hair and a healthy glow to his cheeks. His smile dimpled his face, and that smile had never failed to jerk hearts whenever he turned it on. He had been going out with Mary Powell for over a year, and everyone was expecting to hear about an engagement, but last night Anna had heard gossip that it was all off—he had dumped her.
‘So tell me what all this means, Anna.’
David listened in silence until she had finished telling him the story.
‘Looks like you’ve come into a fortune then?’
‘Hardly. My mother calls it a misfortune.’ She sniffed and pulled a face. ‘I’m keen to hold onto the place, David. It’s my heritage.’
‘Oh, boy,’ he exclaimed, jabbing his finger at the scene that lay before them as they drove up to the front of the house. ‘Look at that! ‘All yours? The land, and woods as well?’
‘Yup. All of it.’ Anna grinned broadly as she scrambled out of the van, then giggled as she whispered in his ear.
‘What? You’ve got that much money as well? You don’t have to worry then.’
They walked up to the house, and David cast his eyes over the roof. ‘Yes, it’s plain to see some of the pan tiles need replacing, but it’s not too bad considering the age of the building, and the fact it’s high and catching the wind off the sea. Finding tiles to match could be a big problem though; they’re damn old, those stone tiles.’
They wandered inside, and went over the whole house, with David making a careful note of all the urgent repairs needed. ‘This house is solid and because it’s built on rock, there’s no rising damp. You’re lucky.’ Then he jerked his thumb at the wall at the back of the house, where Anna had noticed the damp patch. ‘That tiny patch over there is nothing to worry about; it’s only a broken downpipe, and we’ll soon fix that.’ Then he pointed to the plaster relief figures high on the wall of the main hall. The white mural reached almost the whole length of the wall. Set high against the lofty ceiling, it depicted a busy scene of mariners on a tall ship, and was so well crafted that it was possible to see every detail of the action.
‘You don’t usually see anything like that around here,’ he said. ‘It’s beautiful. It’s over four yards long and in a near-perfect condition.’ Then he swung around. ‘Did the solicitor say the money you inherited wasn’t enough for repairs?’
‘That’s what he said.’
‘Then he’s talking through his hat.’ David’s reply was fast and emphatic. ‘Anyway, what would he know about building costs? I like his nerve to make assumptions; he should stick to his own job.’ He swivelled around to Anna. ‘What’s his reason for saying that? What’s it to him?’ David tucked his pencil behind his ear and slipped his notebook back into his pocket.
Anna’s face lit up as she felt an urge to throw her arms around David Rees through sheer joy at his opinion, but contained herself. ‘So you reckon I’ve got enough?’
‘Most definitely. This won’t cost a fortune, unless you get silly and go to town with unnecessary additions. I’ll have to work it out, discuss with you what else you want done, and note any improvements you add before I can quote the final figures, but as for the basic necessities, and a few new doors and windows, you don’t have any worries on the face of it.’ He placed his hands on Anna’s shoulders and looked down at her with a smile. ‘Don’t worry your head about this. We’ll manage fine.’
Anna’s blood pounded through her at his touch, but she was soon in control as David elaborated. ‘Your idea is fantastic and I’ll help all I can.’ Then he gave a quick shrug. ‘The place is shabby. It could do with a few coats of paint and some smart wallpaper, but all that’s cosmetic, and certainly not beyond your personal reach.’ He chuckled loudly. ‘You’re going to be busy, and as far as the painting’s concerned, give your friends a brush and a can of paint and get them busy.’ He looked around, with a satisfied nod. ‘I think that about sums it up.’ He glanced at his wristwatch. ‘Fancy a drink and a ploughman’s?’
Anna could barely believe what she was hearing. A surge of excitement ran through her. She’d always had a soft spot for David, but had never showed it—not while he was with Mary Powell. But now the situation had changed, hadn’t it? He was free, she was free, and they enjoyed each other’s company.
‘Why not?’ she said, trying to sound casual.
David nodded and with another of his special smiles, made for the vehicle, his arm linked in hers to help her over the uneven ground. He began to go into details of what he would do, then stopped.
‘Hey, I’m jumping the gun a bit,’ he said. ‘I’d better shut up and leave all the suggestions to you, but I really am quite excited for you over this place. You lucky so-and-so.’ He jerked his thumb back at the house. ‘Tell your mother I wouldn’t mind a white elephant like that for myself.’
They went to The Castle Inn in the next village, and relaxed in the lounge with their drinks. They briefly reminisced about schooldays and went on to talk about their future aims and dreams. Finally, they got round to the proposed repairs to the house in greater detail. David glanced at his watch again. ‘Don’t know about you,’ he said, ‘but I had my breakfast ages ago. Shall we order lunch?’
While they ate, the conversation lapsed, but when they had finished David frowned as he rubbed his fingers over the light stubble on his chin. ‘Not that it’s any of my business, but I’ve been thinking. That solicitor gave you all the wrong ideas about the old house. Don’t listen to him. It’s none of his business anyway, so if I were you I’d forget what he said, and do what your gut feeling dictates – whatever that is.’
Anna nodded effusively. ‘I will. Letting it go to The Trust would be out of the question. I’ve decided to keep it.
Chapter Eight
Anna hurried home and as she walked into the kitchen Margaret placed her hands firmly
on her hips and stared at her, her mouth set in a straight line of annoyance. Her eyes flashed to the clock. ‘And where’ve you been all this time? Why didn’t you phone to say you’d be late? You realise your meal is spoiled now?’ Margaret fetched what she had kept warm in the stove, plonked it on the table, and pointed to it. ‘You won’t like that now.’
She paused for a few moments, and then verbally attacked Anna again. ‘So what did David Rees say?’ She narrowed her eyes. ‘And your face is all pink, so what’s up? I know there’s something making you look like that, so come on, out with it.’
‘It’s okay, Mum,’ Anna said, throwing her arms around her mother, ‘it’s going to be all right.’ She twirled Margaret around the kitchen. ‘Guess what? David said the solicitor’s talking through his hat.’
‘Did he now? So how would he know?’ Margaret released herself from Anna’s grasp. ‘Are you going to trust the opinion of a youngster against that of a solicitor?’
Anna dismissed her mother’s question with a wave of the hand. ‘You bet I am. A solicitor is not in a position to quote figures for repairs, but David is,’ she said, swinging around to face her mother. ‘And he took me out to lunch today.’
‘David Rees did?’
‘Yes. He’s real cool, Mum; in fact he’s the most gorgeous guy I know.’
‘Stop being juvenile, Anna, and tell me what he said… about the manor I mean.’
‘Common sense things really, like warning me not to go overboard on cosmetic things, but he convinced me that what is necessary is well within my means as long as I’m careful.’ Her eyes sparkled as she thought about it. ‘The good news is he’s quite sure the repairs won’t cost anything like Mr James suggested, and on Monday he’ll give me a written quotation and a starting date, if that’s what I want.’
Margaret threw the used teabags into the bin with more force than was needed. ‘Of course it’s what you want, and don’t we all know it?’ She switched on the kettle to make fresh tea and pursed her lips again. ‘All right, lass, you go ahead. I know you will do what you want, whatever I say. But remember,’ she said, turning around and lifting a warning finger, ‘there’s no more money knocking around once you’ve spent what you’ve got. I stick by what I said. I think you should pass on it, and hand it over to The Trust.’
Still too excited to even comment on her mother’s advice, Anna just could not leave the old documents alone. She read them one by one several times. ‘Listen to this 1742 Inventory of George Williams, Mum. He was the Colonel’s great grandfather, and lived on his sugar plantation on the south west coast of Jamaica.’
“Six feather beds and twelve feather pillows.” She looked at her mother and giggled. ‘Sounds like the start of a Christmas rap.’ Then she became serious again. ‘Feather beds must have been a real luxury to them,’ she continued. ‘And just listen to this. ‘‘A back gammon table, a German flute, several boxes of books…” She looked up at Margaret. ‘This gives a good idea of how they lived all those years ago. So, George, my great grandfather, seven or more times removed, played the flute and back gammon, and he was literate.’ She gazed into the distance for a few moments. ‘It’s incredible to think they considered such everyday items worthy of being included in a legal inventory.
There’s more, too,’ she said, rustling excitedly through the bundle of papers and waved a document yellow with age. This is dated 1742, the last will and testament of the same George.’ She read silently for a few minutes. ‘Ah, there are three sons and two daughters named here, who they married and where they lived.’ She giggled as she read out parts of the will:
“My best sword to my eldest son, Thomas. My second best sword to my second son, George. My best pistole to my eldest son, Thomas, and my second best pistole to my second son, George.” I’m surprised how it goes on and on about the most mundane things.’
She folded the documents, and looked seriously at Margaret as she stuffed them back into the folder. ‘These documents are so far back they don’t really concern me, but I’ll read them for fun if nothing else. I wonder,’ she said, deep in thought and tapping the folder, ‘if there are other descendants from these people still around.’ She gave a brief shrug and sighed. ‘But I must get my priorities right; it’s the house I need to sort out because I intend to keep it. Okay Mum?’
Anna lifted the telephone. ‘Hi Liz, I’ve already given you and Dot the lowdown on my inheritance, but if you’ve got any useful ideas about what I can do there, let me know pronto. Come up for a chat tomorrow, and I’ll ask Dot to come as well. I need loads of ideas about what to do with the place. We’ll go for lunch after to The Rising Sun, my treat.’ She smiled as Liz replied, and, looking very pleased, replaced the receiver and then dialled Dot’s number, giving her the same invitation.
She relaxed in her chair. ‘Liz and Dot are coming up so we’ll have a good chat about what I could do there.’ She looked intently at her mother. ‘Take that worried look off your face, Mum; everything’s going to be fine. You’re more than welcome to join us, if you’re interested.’
‘You gotta be joking, lass,’ Margaret quipped.
Anna got up, crossed the room and folded her arms around her mother. ‘Come on, Mum, cheer up. We’re on the way to a bright new future, so be happy. Be happy for me if nothing else.’
As Margaret frowned and lifted a warning finger, Anna added, ‘Don’t worry, I know what you’re going to say, and yes, I’ve already posted a letter of application to use Hope House as a business premises, so that’s in hand now. I don’t think the council will refuse; after all, it’s providing work locally, and bringing people into the area. It’ll be good, I promise.’
‘Well, I don’t share your enthusiasm, but it’s pointless to try and dissuade you now you’ve set your heart on the idea.’ She dropped a kiss on her daughter’s forehead. ‘I wish you every success. You could pull it off, and okay, I’ll contribute whatever I can. I may as well, because I do know something about hotels.’
Chapter Nine
Anna was delighted that her mother had at last agreed to side with her and help. A smile played around her lips as she sat thinking on her good fortune. As well as sorting out what to do with Hope House, she decided it would be good to investigate her family history as best she could; she needed to find out whether or not she was the only living descendant of the Williams family.
Considering the number of names in that will, there had to be other descendants, because families were big in those days. It was a comfort to know her ownership was safe as long as she held on to the property, but surely there were distant relatives out there who could present a problem should she let the Hope House Estate go. But even if she did ditch it, someone else with a claim couldn’t possibly know she had done so. Or could they?
She frowned as she pondered. There was no real cause for concern at the moment, but it niggled her that she had to be cautious and remain financially sound enough to hang onto Hope House.
Her interest in delving into the colonel’s life history was suddenly keener, and she wondered how to find out more about him. Just then, she wondered if a family resemblance had been handed down so that she could spot a similarity in someone living today, but there were no photos from that period, and anyway, she had no-one in mind to target. It was an idle thought, until she remembered the portraits! She jerked into life; they had to be worth a closer look. Surely there would be a likeness of Colonel Thomas Williams or one of his brothers that could rest at the back of her mind. Until now, she had been so absorbed with other things she had not even thought of looking.
‘Got some jobs that need doing up at the house,’ Anna told to her mother the next morning at breakfast, ‘so I’ll make an early start, but I won’t be too late coming home.’
‘And that’ll be a nice change,’ Margaret quipped. But you won’t be home for lunch today then?’
‘No. I’ll do some shopping first and go to the house afterwards. Don’t worry about food for me. I’ll take a sandwich
for elevenses, but I’m expecting Liz and Dot to look in and we’ve planned to go to The Rising Sun for a decent lunch. If you need to contact me, the manor house number is on the hall table.’
‘I can remember those numbers. You were wise to ask for such an easy string of digits.’
With her mind full of exciting ideas, Anna parked her car out front and opened the front door of her manor house. It was only as the heavy oak door closed behind her with a soft thud that Anna felt strangely cut off from the outside world. She shuddered as the silence of the old building closed around her like a mantle. She stood still, gazing around the huge hall and wishing Liz and Dot were already there. She pulled a jib, shrugged, and headed for the room where the sun streamed in and made everything look bright and cheerful.
The four paintings in there were of different people, but one portrait was of a John Williams. Next, she went to the dining room where she found two more, neither of which was named Colonel Thomas Williams. Her spirits fell; she hoped this would not happen in every room; surely his portrait had to be there somewhere. She walked into the large sitting room where she found two portraits of beautiful ladies and one of a sailing ship, but the names meant nothing to her.
As she came out into the hall, her eyes fell on three paintings hanging on the side of the staircase. Anna was especially taken up with the stunning beauty of a very young woman named Letitia, whose face was framed with cascading blonde curls. Another was of a house similar to Hope House, and the third was of a man in uniform. Annoyed for not having taken much notice of them before, she hurried across and drew a sharp breath as she read the caption, Colonel Thomas Williams, St James Militia, Jamaica.
‘That’s him,’ she squeaked, as she gazed upon the handsome image of her great, great, great, great grandfather. ‘There you are, sir.’ She smiled and touched a finger kiss to his lips. ‘I’ve searched everywhere for you.’ She stood back and studied the portrait, wondering if it should hang in a better spot where no one could miss it. After all, it was the most important one there, and she had missed it until now. If that’s where it had always been, then that’s where it should stay, she thought, finally deciding not to move it.
