“Aye, it was in the Gazette…”
“I saw the advertisement…”
“It said to come on Tuesday, so…”
Belle groaned. “Grace, did you put the direction and date in the advertisement?”
“Of course! But I expected the applicants to write to me first, you know. That would be the correct way, not simply appearing on the doorstep.”
Even as she spoke, two more men arrived from the village. “Well, you had better come inside,” she said.
Belle tugged at her sleeve. “Do you think that is wise? Why not invite them in one at a time — to examine their references and so forth. The rest may wait outside until it is their turn.”
“What, stand out in this cold weather? I hardly think so. They may wait in the front parlour, while we talk to each one in turn in the schoolroom.”
Reluctantly, Belle agreed to it.
“I do not like this,” Amy whispered.
“Nor do I,” Belle whispered back. “Let us get through this as quickly as we can.” She consoled herself with the thought that Mama had sanctioned the interview, and that therefore it could not be improper. Her conscience reminded her that Mama knew nothing of the contents of Grace’s advertisement, and would be horrified if she could see what was happening. Belle was horrified herself, but she could not quite think what could be done about it.
Besides, the men had come in good faith, because there was a job to be had. They had come all this way from Brinchester or one of the villages round about, getting lifts from the farmers or carriers, and some must have walked, judging by the mud on their boots. Clearly they were keen for the employment. It would be cruel to send them home again without even hearing what they had to say. They would talk to each man in turn, and then, one by one, they would go away.
So they began. The applicants, now numbering six, were herded into the front parlour, where they squabbled in low voices over the three chairs and settle, and the sisters went into the schoolroom and sat on the benches, while Grace took the teacher’s chair.
“Very well,” she said. “Let us have the first applicant.”
“Which is the first?” Belle said.
“Oh — I do not know. It hardly matters. Just choose one, Belle.”
Taking Amy with her, Belle opened the door to the next room. “Who is first?”
At once, an argument broke out, voices were raised and two men began pushing each other.
Belle jumped backwards, pulled Amy out of the room and slammed the door. Her heart was beating so hard she could hear it thundering in her ears.
“What are we to do?” Amy said, her voice rising in panic.
From beyond the door, something crashed over.
Just then, there was a loud rat-a-tat-tat on the front door.
“Oh no!” Amy wailed. “Not more of them!”
“However many of them come, Amy dear, we will deal with them. We are daughters of Allamont Hall, and we are not deterred.”
Belle turned grimly to the door.
9: Interview
The knocker rattled again, louder. Behind her, in the front parlour, the shouting was interrupted by another crash.
Then a blessedly familiar voice from outside. “Miss Allamont? Are you all right, Miss Allamont?”
Belle ran to the front door and flung it open. Outside, Mr Burford stood, hand poised to knock again.
“Oh, Mr Burford, thank God you have come,” Belle cried. “Please, please, get rid of them, for they are fighting and I do not know what to do!”
“Of course, Miss Belle,” he said, as calmly as if she had asked him to pass the salt. “Where are your sisters? Not in there, I trust.”
“No, they are in the other room.”
“Then if you and Miss Allamont will wait in there and keep the door closed, I will deal with your visitors.”
But this sensible scheme fell apart immediately. From both sides of the little hallway, doors opened.
On one side, an angry face appeared. “I am first!” he yelled, as another man pushed through from behind.
On the other side, Hope’s anxious face peered out. “What is going on, Belle? Oh! Mr Burford!” Behind her, the rest of the sisters hovered.
“Stand aside, ladies,” Burford said. Then, raising his voice to be heard above the hubbub, “Gentlemen, you will all leave at once! Now, I say! Do not make me use force.”
The first of the men, who was rather large, looked him up and down, and snorted with laughter. “Really? Like to see you try.”
Without any hesitation, Burford grabbed the front of the man’s coat with both hands, and lifted him up. Then with a single movement, he tossed him bodily through the door as the man yelped in injured surprise.
“Anyone else? No? Then go at once, and do not return,” Burford said sternly.
Retrieving hats and smoothing coats, with nervous glances they crept past him and out of the front door, which Mr Burford slammed shut behind them.
“Such impudence!” he said, eyes flashing. “Such behaviour in the presence of ladies. It is unforgivable. But you are perfectly safe now.”
“Thank you, Mr Burford,” Belle said, a little breathlessly, for she felt rather shaken, as if she had been running too hard. “We are all greatly obliged to you.”
Hope gazed up at him adoringly. “Oh, Mr Burford, you were quite splendid!”
“Did a little boxing at Oxford, Miss Hope,” he said. “Never expected it would be of any use, but there you are.”
The sound of the door knocker made the sisters jump, and Hope emitted a little squeal.
“Ah, this will be Miss Endercott with reinforcements,” Burford said.
Opening the door proved him to be right. Behind Miss Endercott were Mr Thomas the carpenter, and several other men that Belle did not immediately recognise.
“You saw them off, then?” Miss Endercott said. “Well done. Are you girls all right? That must have been an unpleasant experience for you. We heard the shouting from some distance away.”
“We are perfectly all right now, thank you, Miss Endercott,” Belle said.
“Mr Burford rescued us,” Hope said, her eyes shining.
Burford blushed, and shuffled his feet. “H-H-Happy to b-b-be of service, M-M-Miss Hope.”
“I planned to walk down here myself, after I read your note, Miss Belle,” said Miss Endercott. “Not that you could not have managed perfectly well by yourselves, but if you had had any concerns, I thought it might help to have another opinion. But when I saw so many people making their way here, I thought it best to send Mr Burford down at once. Mr Turner, Mr Willow and Mr Price were so obliging as to come along as well, although fortunately their assistance was not needed. Oh, and this is Mr Oak, the person you mentioned in your letter, Belle. He was asking directions of Mr Price, so I brought him along since he has an appointment.”
She waved forward a young man of much better appearance than any they had yet seen. In manner and dress, he looked far more the gentleman.
“Oh, Mr Oak!” Grace exclaimed. “Do come inside. Thank you for your assistance, gentlemen, Miss Endercott, but I think we can manage now.”
“Perhaps Miss Endercott might be so good as to stay?” Belle suggested. “Since she has been kind enough to offer, and I am certain has more experience of such matters than we have.”
Grace hesitated, but Miss Endercott stepped inside the cottage. “Thank you, Miss Belle. I shall just sit in the corner and not say a word, you know.”
With many expressions of gratitude, the sisters waved farewell to their rescuers, and followed Miss Endercott and Mr Oak into the schoolroom.
Mr Oak was everything they could have hoped for — pleasant, unassuming and educated. When they asked about his injured leg, for he had a pronounced limp, he explained that the blame was entirely his, and he should have realised that the horse he had been supplied with was unsettled and liable to bolt. He did not offer the information, but when they asked about his connections, he told them of
sisters and cousins married into some very notable families. He talked amusingly of his time with the Duke and Duchess of Mortshire, with little stories of the three boys who were his particular charge. His stay at Glenelg Academy was less happy, for the regime was a harsh one, which he thought cruel for boys so young. Belle was entirely of the same mind, and approved very much of his decision to leave as soon as a suitable post offered. He was currently residing with his sister in Brinchester, for she was recently widowed.
“Tragically, her husband suffered some financial losses shortly before his death, so that now she must manage as best she can on very little income. I hope by my presence in the neighbourhood to offer some support to her and her three children, both by visiting as often as I may, and also perhaps by contributing a few shillings here and there, as I can spare them. I know the salary offered here is not high, but I believe that with care I can manage to save a little.”
The sisters were most affected by this demonstration of brotherly solicitude, and, to Belle’s mind, the young man felt just as he ought. His references were scrutinised and no fault could be found with them. Miss Endercott thought to enquire as to his knowledge of Greek, Latin and history, but he answered every question perfectly, and the ladies were pleased to offer him the post of Lower Brinford schoolmaster on the spot, which offer he immediately accepted.
The business being concluded, Miss Endercott returned home. The sisters showed Mr Oak over the whole of his new domain, not forgetting the small garden, pig pen and chicken coop. He was delighted with it all, expressing his gratitude again and again, and declaring himself the luckiest man alive.
“So when might we expect you to begin, Mr Oak?” Grace said.
“I have few arrangements to make, and only a few clothes and mementos of my poor dead wife to pack, so I could be in the cottage by Friday or Saturday, and perhaps ready for the first pupils on the Monday following. Is this too quick? You must forgive me if so, but I have no other employment, and now that I have seen the splendid arrangements you have contrived here, I am eager to begin as soon as I may.”
“No, that is exactly as I hoped,” Grace said. “There are a few more things still to be got for the kitchen, but we shall have those when the carter comes through on Thursday.”
“Excellent,” Mr Oak said. “The house is very well equipped, and will be more than adequate for my needs. The schoolroom is well provided for in many respects, but there are a few items…I hope you will not mind if I make one or two suggestions, for I am sure you wish to provide every aid to the education of the children hereabouts.”
“Oh, certainly,” Grace said. “You may speak freely. What do you feel is missing?”
“Why, a globe, Miss Allamont. The children must be able to see the entire world. And perhaps some larger maps of key areas — England, Europe, Africa and so on. And books, of course. I noticed that there are few books apart from the Bible.”
“Oh, yes! We must have a globe and some maps. What an excellent idea,” Grace said. “And books, of course. You must write and order whatever you need, Mr Oak. You may tell the suppliers to send the bills to Belle, for she deals with the money now.”
“Does she, indeed? How efficient you ladies are. But it might be more expeditious if I were to purchase the necessary items myself. That way we may be sure to have everything in hand before the first pupils arrive.”
“You are too good, sir,” Grace said.
“Indeed, it is no trouble at all. Perhaps you may not be aware, Miss Allamont, but the price is always a little better if one can offer cash to a shop. These people love to have coins in their hand immediately, rather than wait for a bill to be settled.”
“Of course,” Grace said. “Belle, give Mr Oak some money.”
“How much do you think will be necessary?” Belle said.
“Oh, a hundred would cover everything amply.”
“A hundred pounds!” she said, shocked. “That is a great deal of money.”
“So it is, so it is, but it is hard to see how it could be done for less. Perhaps if I leave some of the maps until later, and I might be able to negotiate a better price… it may be that sixty would be enough.”
“I can give you fifty for now, and the rest later,” Belle said, firmly. “You will just have to do the best you can with that.”
She opened her reticule, and counted the money into Mr Oak’s waiting hand. “Thank you, Miss Belle,” he said. “You may be sure I will keep an accurate reckoning of everything I spend.”
With everything concluded satisfactorily, the sisters prepared to walked together into the village, Belle to settle some of the tradesmen’s accounts, and her sisters to visit Mr and Mrs Wiseman’s interesting haberdashery shop.
“You will not mind if I look around the schoolhouse one more time?” Mr Oak said. “I should like to determine how best to arrange the furniture.”
“By all means do so,” Grace said. “We will return on Friday to ensure you are settling in. Goodbye until then, Mr Oak.”
He bowed gracefully, and they left him to survey his new kingdom alone.
~~~~~
There followed several days of steady rain which kept all the Miss Allamonts at home. Belle had no wish to leave it, however, for the fever which had befallen Miss Bellows had transferred itself to both Amy and Belle, and they kept to their bed for several days, even missing church. Belle was well enough to spend a little time in the drawing room after dinner on Sunday, where both Miss Endercott and Mr Burford, with many expressions of concern, sat either side of her.
“You are very pale, Miss Belle,” Burford said. “Are you cold? Should you like to sit nearer to the fire? Perhaps if we build up a good blaze… I should not like you to catch another chill, not with an already weakened constitution. You must take the greatest care of yourself.”
While he busied himself with the fire, Miss Endercott said briskly, “I am glad to see you are a little recovered, child. And your sister? She still keeps her bed?”
“Yes. She felt the first effects a little after I did, so I expect her to be much improved in a day or two. Fortunately, the others are all well.”
Miss Endercott grunted. “John — Mr Burford — has brought some books to while away your convalescence, from the library in Brinchester. I do not know what they are — some nonsense or other, I daresay. He reads far too many novels for a clergyman, in my opinion.”
With the fire blazing merrily, Burford returned to his seat. “The finest art of the author is to be found in a novel, Miss Endercott. Sermons and histories have their own attractions, naturally, but oh, what skills are displayed in a novel! What energy, what imagination, what peerless use of the English language! To create a novel, Miss Endercott, so that a reader believes with absolute faith that the persons described therein are living creatures, with hearts that beat, and minds that think, and souls that lead them to glory or disaster — ah, that is as great an achievement as any in our civilisation.”
“If reading novels causes you to espouse such nonsense, then I believe you should abandon the practice immediately,” she said in severe tones. “Great achievement, indeed!”
He laughed good-humouredly. “Miss Belle will understand, when I tell her that I have obtained a copy of Belinda at last. Such a tale! It is not at all what I was expecting, but I could not stop reading it for a moment. I shall be most interested to hear your opinion, Miss Belle.”
“And you shall, sir, in time. But I believe your attention is wanted elsewhere.”
He looked around, to see Hope waving to him from the far side of the room, her face wan. “Oh!” he said, in a surprised tone. “Miss Hope. Of course. You will forgive me, Miss Belle, if I…?”
“By all means, Mr Burford. And thank you so much for the books.”
He strode away to his eager audience, and by the time he sat down beside Hope, his face was as red as his hair.
Miss Endercott sighed. “For a brief time, I had thought we were making progress. But it is not so. Ho
w disappointing.”
Belle had not the least notion what she was talking about, but she had no energy to enquire, so she merely smiled.
~~~~~
The following day, Grace felt obliged to brave the mud to visit the schoolhouse to see how Mr Oak was managing on his first day. She returned later in the morning very dejected.
“He is not there, nor can I find that he was ever there again after we last saw him. There were four small children waiting, but no teacher and no fires lit. I cannot imagine what has become of him.”
“This rain has kept everyone indoors,” Amy said. “I am sure that he will appear as soon as the roads are fit enough for travel.”
“But that is not the worst of it,” Grace said. “There were drawers left open in the kitchen and all the spoons and knives are missing. I have the most horrid suspicion that Mr Oak has gone, never to return, taking the spoons with him.”
Belle was too shocked to say a word. It was Amy who voiced the dreadful thought.
“And fifty pounds, sister. He has stolen our fifty pounds.”
10: Hiding Places
“I have been very foolish,” Belle confessed to Miss Endercott and Mr Burford, when they called the following morning. Only the two eldest sisters were at home, sitting beside the fire in the morning room, Grace having taken the others to make a full inventory of the cottage, to see what else was missing.
“Do not berate yourself, Miss Belle, for I was completely taken in by him myself,” Miss Endercott. “So well spoken, so obviously an educated man and his clothing of good quality. Even his references were convincing, and I assure you, I am not a gullible person as a rule.”
“Even so, I should not have given him money,” Belle said, her hands twisting. “I should have insisted that his suppliers send the bills to me. It is entirely my fault. I should have known…”
“Miss Belle,” Burford said gently, “no censure can be applied to one who acted in good faith with great generosity of spirit. It is better to be too trusting and occasionally be duped, than to be suspicious of the whole world. You have lost fifty pounds which you can well afford, while he has put his immortal soul at risk.”
Belle (The Daughters of Allamont Hall Book 2) Page 8
