Prue Phillipson - Hordens of Horden Hall

by Height of Folly

  She was bearing a delicate Japanese vase full of snowdrops. “Look here, Papa Ted. From your lawns. Never fear, I have left thousands.” His mother loved to have her own names for her intimates. Soon after she had acquired a new father-in-law and learnt that his name was Edward she asked him if she might call him Papa Ted and he found it charming.

  “He won’t read my letter from Bel. You take it. I’ve nothing private that my May can’t see.”

  She looked laughing into Frederick’s face. “Are you shy because it’s a love letter between two old folks? Why not? Love doesn’t suffer from illness you know.”

  He was blushing. “You’ll see,” was all he said and crept out of the room to go somewhere to think because his life might be on the verge of a great transformation.

  His steps led him to the garden. Where better to think than in the clean swept winter light? What will she think of this place, he was asking himself. She has seen Versailles as well as the Chateau Rombeau’s hopeful imitation. But here there is no pretence of a garden. Nothing has been disciplined. The lawn will be cut when the snowdrops and crocuses are over and there are some fine trees but they do not march in straight lines. There are hedgerows, not geometric hedges. Horses graze the paddock and there are hay meadows speckled all over with flowers in summertime. The gravel of the drive is raked at the front from time to time but there is no great vista from the gates. You wind your way among clumps of woodland and come upon the house by surprise. It’s true there are a few evergreens in tubs by the steps and along the terrace but the stonework there is flaking and discoloured if you look closely. Inside, all along the gallery, there are portraits of ancient Branfords sadly in need of reframing. Some of the upper rooms are unusable from damp. Is this what a north-country girl would expect of an earl’s mansion?

  He came to the little summerhouse and yanked open the door. It scraped on the stone floor because the hinges were worn. The benches inside bore embroidered cushions, so faded that the scenes depicted were indecipherable. He sat down and it was there his mother found him, still thinking.

  “Well,” she said, “what are you going to do about Deborah Horden, Fred?”

  She sat down by him, folded her arms and gave him her best slit-eyed, lips- compressed grin.

  He shook his head. “I haven’t got anywhere. All I’ve been trying to do is see her here, imagine her exploring and looking at everything.”

  “That’s a good start anyway.”

  “Is it? You haven’t seen ustogether,walking about arm in arm. People laugh.”

  “And isn’t that a lovely thing? Don’t we want more laughter in the world? Ishall laugh and when I’ve done laughing I shall love her to bits.”

  “Oh, Mother. You make it sound so easy.”

  “Why make life difficult? You want a wife, she wants a husband. Your grandfather wants the Branford line to go on and on and I just want you to be happy.”

  “I was very happy with Mary.”

  “And will be again.”

  “But this one is not like Mary. She is strong, formidable, the French would say, quick-witted, a master of every task she undertakes and what a memory she has!”

  “You are trying to frighten me. She is still a woman. How much of her grandmother’s letter did you read?”

  “I seemed to grasp it all in a moment before I knew I should not be reading it.”

  “I read it slowly aloud. Her grandmother has known her since birth and should have a fair understanding of her nature. She believes Deborah loves you. That girl may be all you say but if she loves you she has seen in you qualities she admires.”

  “Are they enough? Will she not come to despise me over the years when familiarity has overtaken us?”

  “But you have left one thing out of the list of her qualities – her sense of humour. Have you not told me how much you laughed together over people and places and situations? It was that that warmed me to her. I thought if I have to yield you to another woman I could to her. I wouldn’t intrude on your marriage. I might ask Papa Ted if there is a cottage empty that I could have.”

  “Oh Mother, I would never wish that. You have your own wing here.”

  “And I was hardly in it while you were away for he wanted me so much.”

  “That will always be the case. But Deborah lives with family members in a smaller place than this. How could she notlove to have you here? But Mother, what did Grandfathersay to the letter? Will Smyth warned me that Deborah was beneath me in rank and almost accused her of being a fortune hunter.”

  “It was Papa Ted who planned it from the beginning when he first wrote to Bel about you meeting her abroad. He thinks you should take horse at once and ride to Northumberland to claim her.”

  Frederick sat up and clasped his hands to his face. “That was my very first thought as I saw the letter. A great urge gripped me to be with her, just to be in her presence again!”

  His mother got up. “There you are then. It’s getting chilly in here. A passing cloud. Shall I give orders to Peter to pack up and be ready to accompany you?” He saw she was laughing. “Two mounts and a pack animal should be sufficient or would you go by the stage?”

  He pulled her down. “Don’t tease. The sun is out again. Truly I don’t know what Deborah feels. She parted from me so speedily.”

  “Tore herself away, against her will. It was that newspaper article and then my letter and her family’s.”

  Frederick wanted to believe that. But now he saw his mother was looking suddenly thoughtful, staring ahead at a blackbird on the lawn.

  She turned and faced him. “I’ve remembered what Bel said towards the end. Something holds Deborah back, something she would want to tell a prospective husband. Did you see that part of the letter?” Frederick shook his head. “Then you’d better go to Horden Hall and see her and hope she tells you and that it is no great matter after all. But mind, Bel says no one must tell about the letter. If you take any action at all it must be on your own initiative.” She stood up again. “We won’t give Peter orders just yet because the roads will still be bad, but Papa Ted says he is going to write to Bel to explain about his illness. So I say youshould write for him – to Bel not Deborah – and apologise for the long absence of letters. Then add a note that you have business in Newcastle and would love to call at Horden Hall and make her acquaintance.”

  Frederick stood up too and squeezed her waist. “That I would gladly do, dear Mother, except that I have no business in Newcastle.”

  She gave her twinkling laugh again. “Of course you have, silly boy. You are going to find a bride.”

  “Oh! A six foot tall bride? Oh mother will I not be a laughing stock?”

  “Well if that’s of more significance to you than getting hold of a rare gem among women then, as Bel said in her letter, there is no more to be said and I am a little ashamed of my boy.” She was still laughing but he knew she meant it.

  CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

  A packet of letters arrived at Horden Hall as the family was finishing breakfast on a snowy mid-February day. Bel was able to secrete hers into her lap while the others exclaimed over one from France.

  “Can it be news of the baby?” Eunice asked Daniel. It was addressed to Sir Daniel and Lady Wilson Horden but Eunice always passed such letters to him first. Bel snorted a little at this but Eunice would quote the Bible. “‘The husband is the head of the wife,’ Mother Bel, and though I do not always agree with Daniel that precept keeps everything in order. Abandon it and families will be in chaos.”

  Daniel had the seal broken and unfolded the letter. John never wrote much but this time it was a eulogy on the new baby girl born that very day. “She is tiny,” Daniel read out, “but perfectly formed with a fuzz of jet black hair. Netta was wonderful and the château is celebrating with freely-flowing wine. She is to be Diana Maria. I did press for Eunice or Deborah but they all feel those names are a little stiff and puritanical. I trust Mother and Deb will not be hurt.”

  Deborah shrugged
her shoulders. “As both their children are to be French Catholics and we will scarcely ever see them it matters little what their names are.”

  Bel was impatient to read her own letter. She looked round the table and saw they were all finished. She got to her feet. “Let us give thanks anyway for a safe delivery.”

  They all rose and Daniel pronounced the thanksgiving they always spoke after meals at Eunice’s insistence. He added their gratitude for the arrival of Diana Maria and a prayer for the health of mother and child.

  Bel always gave a secret grin at his efforts to be fluent extempore but now she was anxious to escape to her own room and without saying why she hurried out and began to mount the stairs before anyone could inquire if she wanted something and couldn’t Suzette run and get it for her.

  Safe at her desk under her window she cut open the seal. She feared the letter would say Edward Branford was dead because the writing was not his but she had no sooner glanced down it than she was laughing and clapping her hands.

  After the preliminaries in which he had described his grandfather’s long illness Frederick Branford had written, ‘I amvery happy that henow feels well enough to spare me for a short while and I wonder if I might presume on my acquaintance with your grandson andgranddaughter to pay a call at HordenHall in the spring whenthe weather ismore clement. My grandfather says he wisheshe could accompany meashe wouldbedelighted to meet you after the long and pleasant correspondence you have had togetherand to share his memories ofCambridge days spent with your dear husband. He sends his greetings to you all and my motherasks me to add her good wishestoo.

  I will await yo ur reply beforeI make any arrangementsto stay in Newcastle whence I might give myself the pleasure of visiting you, butpraytellmeifitisnotconvenientorifthereisanytimewhen you may be from home.

  I will b emosthonouredto make youracquaintanceand thatof Sir Daniel and LadyWilsonHorden and renew my friendship with your grandsonand his wifeand your granddaughter.

  I am pleased to sign myselfyour humbleservant,

  Frederick Branford.

  Bel hugged herself. What an intelligent boy! He has not mentioned my letter at all which means I can show hisletter to Deborah and not be suspected of any underhand work. Stay in Newcastle indeed! With a little shuffling around we can make him and I presume his man very comfortable here. Well, if they have done rejoicing over another little Horden – more of a Rombeau Deb says quite bitterly – I will give them this news. Sweet girl, you may be on the way to having a babe of your own this year if things can be hurried along. I shall live to see it, God willing.

  She trotted downstairs, her old knees suddenly frisky. Deborah and her father had moved to the Estate Office while

  Eunice had taken Ruth to the kitchen for a cookery lesson. “Never mind what servants you may have when you’re married,”

  Bel heard her saying, “you should be ashamed if you don’t know

  what food goes into every dish and how to make them.” “Before you start,” Bel said at the door, “I’d like you to come to

  the parlour for I have a piece of news in myletter.”

  “I didn’t notice you had one, Mother Bel. Very well we will delay

  for five minutes, but, Ruth, youare making dinner today and a

  pudding too.”

  Bel collected Deborah and Daniel who were examining one of

  the rent books.

  “I need you all,” she said, “for I have to know what answer I am

  to make.”

  Curious, they sat down in the parlour and with no preliminaries

  she simply read out the letter. She couldn’t help peeping over her

  spectacles to watch Deborah’s face. From the moment she read,

  Honoured Madam, My grandfather regrets his long silence. .

  Deborah’s flushed cheeks and brightened eye showed Bel that she

  knew who the writer was. When she reached the request to be

  allowed to come and pay his respects Deborah’s hands were up

  over her face. They didn’t hide her joy from Bel. It was everything

  she had longed to see.

  Daniel was the first to speak, with his eyes too on Deborah’s

  face.

  “Well, did I not tell you I would be happy to invite him here? I

  am glad he has invited himself. We can put him up, can’t we

  Eunice? In fact he could have John and Jeanetta’s room which is

  the biggest after ours. If they come back I am minded to make over

  Nether Horden Grange to them. Lord Branford will bring a man I

  suppose. There’s Ursula’s old attic but it’s very small. Or he could

  sleep in his master’s dressing-room or Matt’s room over the

  carriage house.

  “What interests me,” Eunice said in her careful way, “is that he

  doesn’t say he has businessin Newcastle though he proposes to

  stay there. One doesn’t call onpeople in Northumberland from

  Hertfordshire. The journey is quite an undertaking. But yes, I’m

  sure we can accommodate him for a few days.”

  Daniel laughed. “Some weeks, I hope, since he is coming so

  far.”

  Ruth said, “I think it’s a cold letter. He speaks of his friendship

  for John and Deb.” She peered at her sister’s face. “Why didn’t he

  write a love letter to you?”

  Deborah had now put her hands in her lap and was trying to

  look unconcerned. She doesn’t know whether to laugh or cry, Bel

  thought. I believe I was wrong not to show it to her alone first.

  Then she could have poured out her heart to me.

  “I hope you will keep your tongue under control if he does

  come,” Deborah snapped at Ruth. “If he asks me to marry him I

  haven’t decided if I’ll accept him.” She rose, tall and straight, and

  stalked out of the room.

  Ruth pouted. “Of course she’ll accept him. She’ll be a countess

  and never have to do any work. I’ll have him if shewon’t.” Eunice began solemnly to upbraid her so Bel stood up. “I’ll go

  to Deb. I shouldn’t have done this so publicly. But Dan, I presume

  I may write and tell the man he has no need to reserve lodgings in

  Newcastle.”

  He nodded. “God knows I don’t want to lose her but it will be

  her decision.”

  Bel tapped at Deborah’s door and went swiftly in. She was

  prone on her bed but not angry at the intrusion. She jumped up

  and flung her arms round Bel’s neck.

  “Oh Grandmother, I will have to tell him about Ranald.” “And he will say ‘I too have loved and lost’ and then you can

  marry him.”

  “ Willhe say that? The cases are very different. And if he does

  am I sure? Marriage is such a great thing. We are one under God

  for the rest of our lives. Have I been independent too long? I

  would be saying goodbye to Horden and all of you.”

  “Nonsense. The stage coaches are up and down the Great

  North Road all the time. Do you imagine your parents wouldn’t

  come to see the grandchildren? And you would bring them up to

  see Northumberland. I wager the roads will be better cared for as

  soon as peace comes about.”

  “Darling Grandmother, you are always full of hope. I dowant

  children and no one else wants to marry me. Indeed, as Ruth

  pointed out, hehasn’t said so either. It is a courtesy visit which his

  grandfather has persuaded him to make on his behalf. He thinks

  John and Jeanetta are here and he would like to see their boy.” “He wants his ownboy I wager. He wouldn’t be going to this

  trouble to pay his respects to me! Look, let me just go and write a

&
nbsp; friendly reply. I shall start ‘My dear Lord Branford, We will all be

  delighted to welcome you to Horden Hall and you must not think

  of staying anywhere but here when you visit Northumberland.’

  There it is half done already. Do you want to enclose a message

  yourself?”

  “I had better not. Just my greetings of course.”

  Bel nodded and was trotting to the door when Deborah

  suddenly said, “I have to love his body, don’t I? I loathed Bill

  Warner’s. Did you love Grandfather’s body?”

  Bel stood still and tried to think. “ Before, no, not in the way I

  think you mean. I just loved and wanted him. I didn’t separate the

  man into soul and body. He was Nat and he had to be mine. That

  was all. I suppose he was not one you would turn to look at in the

  street. Fair like your father but not nearly so tall or handsome of

  feature, but pleasant-faced. I loved him but I didn’t think about his

  body. Afterwards, yes I loved every bit of him.”

  Deborah looked down at her. Those sea-green eyes were full of

  gratitude.

  “I knew I could speak plainly to you and you would be open

  with me. Do you see the difference between us? You were a virgin.

  I am not. There’s no one else to whom I can say this. I think about

  the act. I think about it too much. Is that a sin?”

  Bel was only a little disconcerted. This imposing woman could

  not shed the experience she had had as a young girl with a wild,

  towering hulk of young manhood. The girl was still inside

  remembering her brief and thrilling passion and wondering how it

  would be with a mature man, small and compact and of a quiet

  disposition, a man whose body she had thought about but without

  a feeling of arousal.

  Bel beckoned her to the window seat and they sat down

  together. “Describe Frederick to me.”

  “Oh.” She began hesitatingly. “Medium height for a man. Well,

  a little shorter than John. He’s all of a piece, neat arms, legs, firm

  body, no sagging. His face? He shaves very smoothly, a neat round