The Mistress of Windfell Manor

by Diane Allen

  Lucy smiled and squeezed Charlotte’s hand back, trying to fight back the tears that were welling up in her eyes. ‘Take care, lass. I’ve loved you like my own. I wish for you all the happiness in the world.’

  ‘Thank you, Mrs Cranston, your wishes mean a great deal to me. And don’t worry, we are in love, and this day is to be celebrated.’ Charlotte kissed the old cook on her cheek again. How could she ever doubt the love that she and Joseph had between them?

  Lucy made her way down the stairs, shaking her head. She was going to watch a marriage that she knew was not going to be a happy one. The lass should have married her nephew – that would have been a better match. Joseph Dawson was a nowter, a man who got what he wanted by fair means or foul, and Charlotte was going to have to find that out the hard way.

  Wesley’s eyes filled with tears as he watched his only daughter glide down the stairs; she was the image of her mother when he had married her. If only she’d lived to see this day, she would have been so proud. ‘Now then, lass, take my arm and make an old man feel like a millionaire.’

  Charlotte smiled. Her father had scrubbed up well, and for once looked like the wealthy farmer he was. ‘You don’t look too bad yourself.’ She linked her arm into his and they walked down the passageway arm-inarm, picking up her bouquet of lilies from the hallway table before walking out into the hazy autumn sunshine.

  ‘I love you, my lass, I hope you know that. But today you start a new life with that man of yours and, like your wedding vows tell you, you’ve got to love, honour and obey; and what’s yours is his now. That doesn’t mean to say that if he treats you badly I’d turn my back on you, and you know where home is, if you want me.’ Wesley helped his beloved daughter up into the flower-adorned gig and watched as she brushed a tear away from her cheek.

  ‘I love you too, Father. I’ll miss you so much. Crummock will always be my home, but, as you say, a new life with Joseph awaits and I love him so much that it hurts.’ She looked at her father and then at her family home. Far away in the distance she could hear the church bells ringing, her wedding bells beckoning her to the church. ‘Oh, Father, am I doing the right thing? I do love Joseph, but I don’t want to leave home and you.’

  ‘It’ll be right, lass, you’ve a grand home and a good man. We’ve all to grow up sometime, and just be glad you’re not farming on some godforsaken strip of land, like you would have been if you had married that Archie. And you love the man, else you wouldn’t be marrying him.’ Wesley patted her knee.

  Charlotte smiled and kissed him on the cheek.

  ‘Right, come on: we’ve a wedding to go to and it can’t begin without us. Those poor buggers that are ringing those bells will be cursing us. Their arms are going to be dropping off, if we don’t get a move on. Not to say that that man of yours will be wondering where we are.’

  If Wesley could have said ‘Stay’, he would have done, but he’d played a part in this matchmaking and now it had come to fruition. He had to make the most of it, for Charlotte’s sake, regardless of being heartbroken at losing his daughter to Joseph Dawson and his brass.

  6

  Charlotte smiled at her new husband, who sat by her side. It had been a wonderful wedding in the village church at Austwick. Her heart had nearly leapt out of her chest as she’d walked down the aisle to stand by his side. He truly was the most handsome man she had ever set eyes on. And when he placed the wedding ring on her finger, she had to fight back the tears of happiness as he gently kissed her on the cheek and whispered how much he loved her, whilst the vicar looked on.

  This was the happiest day of her life, with the man she loved. Although there had not been many guests on either side, the villagers had made up for the lack of them and had cheered the young couple as they left the church. They cheered even more as Wesley, Joseph and best man Bert Bannister, the mill overseer, threw handfuls of coins for the children of the village. Charlotte loved seeing the children running and scrabbling for every farthing and ha’penny they could find amongst the cobbles, before untying the churchyard gates to let the newly married couple escape. When she and Joseph had finally been able to get to the safety of his coach and horses, he had lent gently over and kissed her with passion, telling her how much he loved her. All her doubts about doing the wrong thing in marrying him disappeared in that second. Of course he loved her, and she him; and life was going to be marvellous from now on.

  The coach and horses turned into the driveway of Windfell Manor and the coachman quickly pulled the team up just outside the steps, as he had done on previous occasions.

  ‘We are here, my darling, at your new home.’ Joseph leapt down and reached for Charlotte as she climbed out of the coach.

  On either side of the grand steps the new staff of Windfell stood, welcoming their master and new mistress on their wedding day. Parlour maids, butler, gardeners and footmen all bowed and wished the newly-weds congratulations, while the housekeeper, Mrs Dodgson, stood at the head of them all, looking sombre and unsmiling.

  ‘Make way, make way.’ Joseph lifted Charlotte off her feet and carried her, laughing and screaming, over the threshold with all the staff cheering.

  ‘You’ll hurt your back doing that. Where’s all the rest of them?’ Mrs Dodgson growled as she followed the newly-weds inside, directing serving girls, butlers and the cook back to work.

  ‘They are on their way.’ Joseph laughed as he placed Charlotte down on her feet in the middle of the grand hall. ‘Is all in hand, Mrs D.? Have you done us proud on our wonderful day?’

  ‘We’ve done as much as we can, and I hope it meets with your satisfaction. Go in and see for yourself.’ Her face never changed expression as she looked Charlotte up and down.

  ‘Doesn’t Charlotte look beautiful? Every bit the lady of the manor.’ Joseph summoned the underbutler to open the doors to the guests, whose carriages he could hear approaching, while he talked to his housekeeper.

  ‘She’ll do. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’ve a wedding breakfast to organize.’ Dora Dodgson glared at Charlotte, without wishing her any congratulations or making her welcome.

  ‘I don’t think your Mrs Dodgson likes me – she never has a kind word for me,’ Charlotte said to Joseph.

  ‘Nonsense, that’s just her way. And she was close to May; she hasn’t got over her death yet. She probably thinks I’m marrying too quickly. I’ll have a word with her later. Now come, let’s take our places in the dining room, my darling. I think you will be impressed with your wedding breakfast.’

  Charlotte’s face filled with awe as Joseph opened the heavy walnut doors into the dining room. Two long tables were covered with cream tablecloths decorated with swags and roses, and both were laid with the finest of silver and crystal. The tables were fit for a king to dine at. The sideboards were laden with dishes of fruit, delicate desserts and a selection of drinks, so that the serving staff could quickly fill any empty glass that needed replenishing. Three timid maids curtsied to Charlotte and Joseph as they entered the room, and the butler bowed and smiled to them both, then pointed to their places in the centre of the largest table.

  ‘We will greet our guests at the doorway, thank you, Yates, and then if you can show them to their seats.’ Joseph linked his arm through Charlotte’s and stood proudly next to her, eager to greet their guests to the marital home.

  ‘It is beautiful, Joseph. I’m so happy, and I’m glad that we kept it quite small. I thought at one time my father was going to invite everyone in the district. However, sense prevailed, thank goodness.’

  ‘Yes, I know. We have thirty guests, but it is quite intimate. Thank heavens he saw my reasoning for not asking Mrs Cranston. It would have been embarrassing for him. The poor woman would have been most uncomfortable; she would have been out of her depth.’ Joseph shook the hand of the Mayor of Settle as he walked in with his wife on his arm. She curtsied to Charlotte and looked her up and down, before they were ushered to their seats.

  ‘You are right, my dear, but she is
more like family. She has more right to be here than the Mayor of Settle and his wife.’ Charlotte smiled and shook the hand of another dignitary who wished them both well.

  ‘Charlotte, we have to impress by having the right connections. Being best friends with a cook on an outlying farm is not going to impress anyone. Besides, I don’t want to be seen condoning your father’s affec-tions for his servant – it is not done in polite society.’ Joseph shook another councillor’s hand and turned to look at Charlotte.

  ‘You mean, you know that my father loves Mrs Cranston? Does everybody know about their “understanding”?’ Charlotte looked horrified.

  ‘I’m afraid so, my dear. Let me say that it does not bother me in the least, as long as he doesn’t flaunt his infatuation. And inviting her here today would have done just that.’ He patted Charlotte’s hand for comfort, sensing the horror on her face, which betrayed the fact that she thought the skeleton in the family cupboard was not public knowledge.

  Charlotte smiled at the arriving guests, but behind her smile lay worry. Her father was obviously the talk of the district, with his love for the family cook. How could she hold her head up and act like a lady? It would perhaps be better if her father was to marry Lucy Cranston. Either that or sack her. Either way, it was the cause of talk and gossip among the local gentry.

  ‘By heck, tha’s put on a good spread here, lad. Tha’s right, we couldn’t have put this on up at our place, could we, our lass?’ Wesley Booth looked down at the line of cutlery and wondered where to begin, as the footman placed a steaming bowl of soup before him.

  Charlotte leaned over and whispered in his ear, ‘Start at the outside of your cutlery and work in with each course,’ as her father looked puzzled as to which spoon he should use first. ‘And that is your side plate.’ She felt embarrassed by her father. How could he show her up on her wedding day?

  ‘This must have cost a fair bob or two, Joseph. I bet tha’s glad tha doesn’t do this every day.’ Wesley watched everyone eating their soup and tried to copy their manners. He could sense that Lottie was watching his every move and he didn’t want to let her down.

  ‘I don’t ever aim to do this again, Wesley. Your beautiful daughter is the only wife for me.’ Joseph sipped his soup and smiled.

  ‘Here, here, Joseph, and a beautiful wife she is,’ the Mayor of Settle cheered. His wife gave him a warning glance as she delicately wiped her lips with her napkin.

  ‘Glad to hear it, lad. You’ve got a grand home here, just needs filling with a few bairns running around the place, livening the spot up a bit. But I’m sure you’ll not need my advice on how to remedy that. Eh, lad?’ Wesley grinned and sat back in his chair.

  ‘Father!’ Charlotte was horrified. He wasn’t talking about his sheep, now that he was at her wedding breakfast. And it was she who would be producing the grandchildren he was hinting heavily about.

  ‘I don’t know if I want children. I need to focus on my business, and children would only get in the way. However, it is for Charlotte and me to discuss, and not dining-table conversation.’ Joseph sat back and looked at his father-in-law. He really was a crude, rough, uneducated man. Thank heavens Charlotte had manners. She was not out of place in any society, but at the same time he was sure she would do as he bade, if only to keep her in the lifestyle that she craved. As for children, he wasn’t fussed; they would only hinder him and be a drain on his finances, and he didn’t really want any. He was not the sort of man to sit, of an evening, bouncing demanding children on his knee.

  Charlotte looked at the two men in her life. They never would agree; they were two different breeds, and neither of them was thinking of her. She would like a family, some children to love and nurture; but children – or the lack of them – had never been discussed before the wedding. She was now the wife of Joseph, whom she loved dearly and had just promised to obey. If he didn’t want children, then she would have to obey his wishes, for that was her lot in life now. It would be a pity if she was never going to be a mother. However, Mother Nature would probably play her hand and children would come along in the end, of that she was sure. She had expected that, once married to Joseph, parenthood would surely follow. A pang of disappointment came over her. She would love to have at least two children to call their own.

  The last guest had gone, and Joseph and Charlotte were finally on their own as they sat in the parlour.

  ‘Well, Mrs Dawson, we have had quite a day. I think we impressed everyone with our home and the wedding breakfast.’ Joseph sat in his high-backed chair next to the fire and looked across at his beautiful new wife.

  ‘Yes, my love, we did indeed. How can I ever thank you? I’m sorry my father sometimes overstepped the mark. He’s used to talking to his farming friends, and they always say it as it is.’ Charlotte sensed that Joseph was not happy with her father and felt she had to apologize on his behalf.

  ‘It makes no difference to me, but if he wants to go up in society, he’s going to have to change his ways, and I won’t have my private life discussed. I suggest, my dear, that what goes on within these four walls stays within these four walls.’ He stood up and placed his hand on the large Adams fireplace.

  ‘Of course, I understand.’ Charlotte bowed her head. Gone were the days when she could be open with her father, for her first loyalties belonged to Joseph now. She looked up as the parlour door opened.

  ‘Ah, Mrs Dodgson, thank you for joining us.’ Joseph cupped his hands behind his back. ‘I just needed to have a word with you. Charlotte is now my wife, and I wish you to respect her as much as you did the late Mrs Dawson. She is your new mistress and, as such, you will do as she wishes.’ He turned before the housekeeper could answer, and gazed at the oil painting above the fireplace.

  ‘I will do as you wish, sir. I know I’m only here to serve you, and now the new mistress. Lily, the lady’s maid, is waiting for Mrs Dawson. She needs to discuss her needs and see what else is expected of her.’

  Charlotte could have sworn she read hatred in Mrs Dodgson’s eyes as she glared at her. ‘Thank you, Mrs Dodgson, I’m sure we will become used to one another in time. I’ll go and join Lily and let her know my daily routine. Do we have anything planned for tomorrow, Joseph?’ She rose and stood by the side of her husband.

  ‘No. I’ll have to go and make sure there are no problems at the mill, and I thought you might like to acquaint yourself with the staff and the house. Mrs Dodgson, would you mind staying with me for a while, once Charlotte has gone. I need to discuss a small problem that we have.’ Joseph held Charlotte’s hand and kissed her lightly on her cheek. ‘I’ll be with you shortly, my dear.’

  ‘I’ll leave you two to discuss things. Good evening, Mrs Dodgson. Don’t be too late, my dear.’ Charlotte squeezed Joseph’s hand and then walked quickly out of the parlour, past the dismissive housekeeper. She lingered next to the closed parlour doors, in the hope of hearing the conversation between master and servant, but the door was too thick. So she quickly made her way up the grand stairs to the master bedroom, where her lady’s maid was waiting for her.

  ‘Good evening, ma’am.’ The young, pretty, blondehaired woman curtsied and smiled.

  ‘Good evening, Lily, you must be my lady’s maid, I take it?’ Charlotte looked at the young lass standing before her, not quite knowing who was the more nervous between them.

  ‘I am, ma’am. I’ve laid out your nightwear and have pulled the sheets down. I’m here to help you undress and make you ready for bed.’ Lily blushed, knowing that it was Charlotte’s wedding night.

  ‘Thank you, Lily. I’ll let you into a secret: I’ve never had a lady’s maid before. So this is all new to me.’ She smiled.

  ‘It’s new to me as well, ma’am. There isn’t much call for ladies’ maids in Settle, but my mother says I’ll be good at it, and Mr Dawson seemed to think that I’d suit you.’ Lily blushed again and stoked the coal fire, so that the fire was nice for her new mistress to undress in front of. ‘Your dress is beautiful, m
a’am. I’d love to get married in something like that. All the staff were speechless when you stepped out of the carriage with Mr Dawson.’

  ‘Thank you, Lily, it has been a perfect day. Now, would you like to unbutton and unlace my dress. I’ve felt like I’m going to faint all day. Mrs Cranston laced me up so tight this morning.’ Charlotte stood in front of the mirror and looked at herself and the young maid. The reflection showed two young women in grand surroundings, both of whom were going to have to get used to their new roles in life. ‘That’s better, Lily, at long last I can breathe.’ She smiled at her young helper as the maid carefully laid out the wedding dress and underskirts, then gently slipped a nightdress over her head.

  ‘The downstairs maid has filled the wash jug up with warm water, ma’am, if you need a wash in private.’ Lily pointed to the marble-topped washstand, with a jug and bowl waiting for her to use. ‘I’ll take your shoes down to the footman to polish, while you are making yourself comfortable, and then I’ll come back and brush your hair before you get into bed.’ She had the sense to know that her mistress needed time to herself and smiled, thinking of her mistress’s wedding-night antics, before disappearing with the shoes down to the servants’ quarters.

  Charlotte quickly took the opportunity to wash herself while alone. At least her lady’s maid respected her privacy, she thought, as she washed herself with the warm water, feeling it refreshing her. She then sat on the edge of the bed and gazed around her. The bedroom was beautiful. She’d helped Joseph choose the heavy curtains at the windows, and the Gillow’s furniture complemented the warm decor of the bedroom, just as they had imagined. It was a long way away from her whitewashed bedroom at Crummock. Her mind flitted back there for a short while. Her father had gone home more than a little merry. She didn’t blame him, for it was after all her wedding day, but she wished he had been more careful with what he said. She could see that was going to be a sore point between her and Joseph. Oh, Joseph! Tonight was their wedding night. What was she to expect? The most she had ever done was kiss him. And for him to say he didn’t want children! If they were to be intimate, then children would definitely follow; and of course they had to be, for that’s what marriage was all about. Besides, her father was right: she’d like some children, especially a daughter to spoil and pamper in this beautiful home, otherwise what was the point of their marriage?