by Val Wood
‘What was the third thing?’ she asked softly, her voice trembling. ‘Can it be any worse than what I’ve just heard?’
‘What?’ Freddie said in a dazed manner.
‘You said you had three things to tell me.’
He heaved a breath. ‘Yes. I have decided that, after I have finished at university, I will join my father after all. I will become a lawyer.’
‘But you didn’t want to,’ she protested. ‘Why have you changed your mind?’
Freddie pressed his lips together. ‘There are good reasons. Very good reasons, but I’m not at liberty to discuss them. It’s my decision, mine alone. I have thought long and hard about it and in the long run this is the only means I have to make up to you for this crushing blow. Susannah!’ he exclaimed, his voice thick with emotion. ‘This is breaking my heart!’
‘I know,’ she answered. ‘And mine!’ She put her head on his shoulder and wept.
CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE
1880
‘Laura!’ James had come home from the bank, collected his post from the hall table, opened an envelope addressed in handwriting he didn’t recognize, and, after reading the signature, called to his sister. ‘Are you in?’
‘There’s no need to bellow, James.’ Laura came out of the sitting room. ‘I’m in here.’
‘Mm.’ James followed her into the room, still reading the letter. ‘Where’s Mother?’
‘Out. She had an appointment with Uncle Freddie and hasn’t returned yet. What’s the letter? Something important?’
‘Erm, no.’ He looked across at her. ‘We’ve got an invitation to spend a weekend at Burstall House. Ellis’s place. You remember, we met him when we were in Hedon?’
‘Yes, I do. And I’m invited? What is the occasion?’
‘“Dear Page,”’ James read aloud, ‘“I was pleased to meet you again the other week and thought perhaps we could renew our acquaintance. My sister Amy has suggested that we have a few friends over for a house party this coming weekend, and I wondered if you and your sister would care to join us. The Holderness roads are clear just now, and the weather at the moment is reasonable for November.
‘“It might seem to be an odd time for a social event but we have to fit in with the farming schedule. Do hope it appeals to you. There will be one or two other fellows whom you might know.
‘“Hope you can come. With sincere good wishes,”’ James looked up, ‘“Edmund Ellis.” How can we get out of that?’ he said.
‘Why would you want to?’ Laura asked. ‘I’d like to go.’
‘Oh!’ James said in exasperation. ‘It took ages to clean up the curricle. All that mud!’
‘We could ask Stubbs to drive us. I’d rather anyway. I feel safer with him than when you’re driving.’
‘Oh, thanks!’ he muttered. ‘I suppose we could go,’ he said thoughtfully. ‘It might be good for business. All those rich farmers.’ He grinned. ‘You might even find yourself a husband. Would you fancy living in Holderness? In the middle of nowhere?’
Laura shrugged. ‘I might. I liked it, as a matter of fact.’
‘What did you like?’ Their mother came into the room. She had removed her coat but sat down now and took off her outdoor shoes. Their housekeeper entered, bringing her a pair of indoor slippers. ‘Thank you, Smithy,’ she said softly. ‘Could I have a cup of tea, please? I know it’s nearly supper time, but …’
‘Holderness,’ Laura said. ‘James has had an invitation to a house party this weekend and I’m invited too. Are you all right, Mama? You look strained.’
‘I’m rather – unsettled,’ she said. ‘I was with Freddie when he received a message to return home immediately.’
Laura and James both groaned simultaneously. ‘Mrs Cannon isn’t ill yet again?’ Laura asked.
‘It was the doctor who sent for Freddie this time. He said it was most urgent.’
She didn’t add that Freddie almost didn’t go. ‘I can’t continue with this, Susannah,’ he had said on opening the note, and threw it onto his desk. ‘She’ll drive me into an early grave.’
Susannah had picked up the message and read it. ‘You must go, Freddie,’ she said in a low voice. ‘The doctor says that your wife is in a fatal collapse.’
‘I don’t believe it,’ Freddie said stubbornly. ‘Maria has convinced him that she’s sick. She is sick,’ he’d added bitterly. ‘Sick in the head!’
She had persuaded him that he must return home and that they would complete their business on another day. ‘It will give me another reason to come again,’ she said softly. They had been so careful over the years. Susannah had always made appointments with his secretary, and Freddie had always called her in at some point during their meeting, either to bring in a file or a document or to make another appointment for Mrs Page.
He had kissed Susannah tenderly before she left and said softly, ‘One day, Susannah. One day!’
‘So who invited you?’ she asked James now. ‘One of your business associates?’
‘No, the farmer fellow that Laura and I met when we were in Hedon. Edmund Ellis.’
‘Ah, yes.’ Susannah’s eyes flickered. ‘From Skeffling. So will you accept?’
‘I’d like to,’ Laura said. ‘But James is bothered about getting his curricle mucked up.’
‘Ask Stubbs to take you,’ her mother said. ‘The curricle won’t be safe at this time of year. If there’s rain, ’roads will flood. It’s such low-lying land.’
‘Won’t you need the carriage?’ Laura asked.
Her mother shook her head. ‘I can manage without it for a day or two. I’m not planning on going anywhere.’
James replied to the letter, accepting the invitation, and on the following Saturday morning they set off. Edmund Ellis had written again giving them directions to the house and they had given these to Stubbs.
‘Middle o’ nowhere, looks like,’ he grumbled. He was a lugubrious character, but both James and Laura had an idea that he was quite looking forward to the adventure of going out of their usual area. ‘It’s to be hoped we don’t get bogged down and have to stay all winter.’
‘So who are you inviting to this supper party?’ Joseph Ellis asked Edmund. ‘Usual crowd of young people?’
‘Most of them you’ll know, Gramps,’ Edmund said. ‘Some of Amy’s friends and some of mine; and Cousin Mark is coming too. You’re sure you don’t mind? We’ll try not to make too much noise.’
‘I shan’t mind the noise,’ Joseph said. ‘Though your aunt Julia might. We’ll have to send her to bed early. Any young women coming? Any I haven’t met, I mean?’ He raised his eyebrows at Edmund.
His grandson grinned. ‘Yes, as a matter of fact. A real corker, Gramps. Met her a few weeks ago along with her brother. He and I were at school together, though I can’t say I really remember him. But that’s why I invited him.’
‘Well don’t forget you need a wife who’ll settle in Holderness, or she’ll always be scooting off elsewhere.’
‘Like Grandmother, you mean,’ Edmund said pointedly.
‘Exactly!’ Joseph said, but privately thought that it was just as well that Arlette spent so much time in her native France, for otherwise neither of them would have any peace.
‘Yes, that just might be a difficulty. She lives in Hessle and strikes me as being an independent young woman, used to a lively social gathering.’ Edmund pursed his lips. ‘Don’t think she’d be the type to like a quiet life in Holderness. She seemed very spirited.’
‘Where did you meet her?’ his grandfather asked.
‘At the Fleet in Hedon. She and her brother were touring the area and were staying the night there.’
His grandfather’s eyes glazed over. ‘Indeed?’ he said and gave a small sigh. ‘I haven’t been there for a long time.’
‘Are we nearly there, Stubbs?’ James called irritably.
‘Can’t say, Mr James,’ Stubbs called back. ‘I think it’s somewhere hereabouts. We’ve just passed a sign which s
ays Skeffling.’
‘Don’t be so impatient, James,’ Laura said. ‘We’ll be there when we’re there.’
‘Here it is, sir,’ Stubbs called through the roof hatch. ‘Burstall House.’
He slowed to let the horses through the gated entrance and up the long drive, which ran between thick woodland. Laura peered out. It must be lovely in the spring, she mused. There’ll be bluebells and primroses in there, I should think. She saw a track leading through it and wondered where it led.
They crossed over a moat and the drive divided, the left hand side going, she assumed, to the back of the house and the right to the front. This Stubbs took, driving round a wing of the grey brick building to arrive at the main entrance, facing the estuary.
‘Hope we’re not the first to arrive,’ James muttered. ‘Though he did say come any time.’
‘It’s lovely!’ Laura breathed. ‘And look, James. The moat goes all the way round. The river must have burst its banks at some time so it was dug to keep the water out.’
‘Mm,’ James murmured and drew in his breath. ‘Bet the house is draughty.’
The door opened and a maid came hurrying down the wide steps. She dipped her knee. ‘Mr and Miss Page? Mr Edmund sends his apologies for not being here to greet you, but he’s had to go over to one of ’farms. He’ll be back by three o’clock. If you’d come this way, sir, miss, I’ll show you to your rooms. I’ll get a lad to help ’coachie with your luggage.’
Good. Laura was pleased that Edmund Ellis wasn’t there. It will give me a chance to look round without appearing nosy. It’s so grand, she thought as she followed the maid up a wide staircase, yet it’s homely too. There were walking sticks and rubber boots in the hall and a faint smell of wet dog, but the floor was richly polished and scattered with Indian rugs, and there were some fine pieces of furniture – French, she thought.
Her room, which was next to James’s, faced the estuary and from the window she could see the buffeting waves, the progress of ships and barges and the low-lying banks of Lincolnshire across the water.
‘It’s wonderful,’ she said, thinking it was James and turning as the door opened. But it was the maid bringing in clean towels.
‘Beg pardon, miss,’ she said. ‘Trust everything is to your satisfaction?’
‘Oh yes, it is,’ Laura enthused. ‘What a fine view!’
The girl nodded agreeably. ‘I’ll be serving afternoon tea in half an hour, Miss Page,’ she said. ‘Miss Julia likes it at that time. She said if you’d like to join her.’
‘Thank you,’ Laura said. ‘I’ll just change and be down in fifteen minutes.’
The maid took the towels into a small dressing room and then withdrew, and Laura reluctantly gave up her position by the window. She took off her hat and then looked candidly at herself in a long free-standing mirror. She had dressed warmly, knowing that she was coming to a country house which might be cold. She had on her cotton embroidered combinations, the shaped chemise and wide drawers fitting snugly beneath her pale blue day dress. This had a separate tunic top, buttoned to the neck, and a low, draped bustle. I’ll take off the tunic, she decided. The bodice is plain and will be perfectly suitable for afternoon tea if I wear a string of beads. They surely won’t be formal out here in the country! And then I’ll change later for supper.
James knocked on her door. ‘I’m going down,’ he said. ‘I’ll take a walk outside until it’s time for tea.’
‘Don’t be long,’ she called after him. ‘And mind you don’t get your boots dirty!’ she added with some sarcasm.
She brushed out her unruly hair and tied it in a loose chignon at the back of her neck, and then searched in her leather bag for a lace cap. Miss Julia? Who is she? she wondered. If she’s elderly she’ll expect me to wear a cap. Or is she perhaps another sister of Edmund Ellis?
She found a cap, pinned it on her hair and opened the door to go down. There was a low murmur of voices, male and female, though she couldn’t hear any actual words. She glanced along the corridor and to the landing. There were several doors, including one at the end which she guessed led to a second staircase. She went towards the main staircase and stood with her hand on the banister. A grandfather clock ticked in the hall below, and as she stood there one of the doors downstairs opened and a man came out.
She saw that he was elderly; his hair had probably been fair and was streaked with white. The grandfather, she thought. He was tall, but had a slight stoop as if he was used to bending his head. He didn’t look up and Laura began a quiet descent, her hand lying lightly on the rail and her gown rustling slightly.
He glanced upwards as if sensing her presence and she saw the sudden shift of his head and the abrupt movement as he grasped the banister finial. His lips parted and she saw them form unspoken words.
‘Good afternoon,’ she said softly, for she thought she had startled him, although surely he was expecting guests. ‘Is it Mr Ellis?’
He stared at her for a second, then blinked and put his hand first to his forehead and then to his mouth. ‘Yes.’ His voice came out in a husky croak. ‘Forgive me.’ He transferred his hand to his chest and she saw his fingers shake. ‘Wh – whom have I the pleasure of addressing?’
‘My name is Laura,’ she said. ‘Laura Page.’
CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX
My God! Joseph gazed upwards. Mary-Ellen! He mouthed her name. Am I dying or hallucinating? He put his hand on the banister, which felt solid and substantial beneath his fingers as he clasped it. Then the apparition spoke.
‘Mr Ellis?’
He hardly knew what he said; only that he blurted out something. But as she came closer, he saw that there was a difference. She was perhaps taller; her hair was not quite as dark as Mary-Ellen’s had been, and she displayed an air of cultured confidence as she swept down the stairs. Yet there was an undefined similarity. She wore the same aura of boldness, a challenge almost, as Mary-Ellen always carried.
He asked her name and was again thrown into a state of shock when she gave it. It cannot be, he thought. Pull yourself together. It is a common enough name.
‘Joseph Ellis.’ He gave her a slight bow and extended his hand to her as she stepped off the stairs. ‘You must be my grandson’s guest?’
She dipped her knee graciously as she took his hand. ‘My brother James was at school with Edmund.’ She smiled, and his heart turned over. ‘Though I don’t think they were friends. We met recently and he was kind enough to invite James for the weekend in order to renew their acquaintance.’ She smiled again and leaned forward. ‘Perhaps I’m here to make up numbers,’ she whispered conspiratorially.
‘I’m sure you are not,’ he murmured. ‘I cannot think that that would ever happen to you, Miss Page.’
The front door opened and James and Edmund came in together, chatting animatedly and laughing over something.
‘Miss Page!’ Edmund hurried towards her and gave a bow. ‘How very nice to see you again. You’ve met Grandfather already, I see.’ He beamed at her. ‘Do forgive my attire,’ he said, displaying his shabby tweed jacket and muddy cord breeches. ‘We’ve had a bit of an emergency. A pregnant cow became stuck in a ditch and it was all hands to get her out.’
‘Did you manage it?’ his grandfather asked. ‘Is she damaged?’
‘No, she’s fine,’ Edmund said heartily. ‘But we’ve put her into the top barn so we can keep an eye on her. I beg your pardon, Miss Page. I’m sure you don’t want to hear this.’
‘Well,’ Laura said, ‘it’s preferable to discussing embroidery stitches!’
There was a second’s silence and then they all laughed. James pulled a wry face and, turning to Joseph Ellis, introduced himself, saying, ‘James Page, sir. How do you do? Please excuse my sister, Mr Ellis. She has an odd sense of humour and is quite unconventional.’
Joseph nodded. ‘Glad to hear it. Where are you from? Not from round here?’
‘No, sir, from Hessle. Lived there since we were children.’
&n
bsp; ‘Your parents from Hessle, are they?’
‘Our father died when we were young,’ James said. ‘We don’t remember him. He was a naval officer and spent a good deal of time abroad. He was originally from Southampton.’ He glanced at Laura for confirmation.
‘Somewhere near Portsmouth, I think,’ Laura countered. ‘Though I don’t know how they met.’ A small frown creased her forehead as if she had just remembered or thought of something. ‘Possibly he came into the port of Hull.’
‘Shall we go in?’ Joseph held his hand towards a half-open door. ‘Julia and Amy will be wondering what we’re doing out here in the hall.’ He held the door open for Laura, covertly scrutinizing her as she passed in front of him.
Introductions were made to Joseph Ellis’s sister, Miss Julia, who was dressed for afternoon tea, wearing a grey silk gown and a black lace cap on her head, and to Edmund’s sister Amy, who was capless but wore a pretty muslin dress and had a piece of embroidery on her knee. ‘Come and sit by me, my dear,’ Miss Julia said to Laura, ‘and tell me all about yourself.’
She looked up and dimpled at Edmund, who dropped a kiss on the top of her head. ‘Aunt Julia, don’t be asking Miss Page if she does good works,’ he said, and added softly to Laura, ‘Great-aunt Julia is known for her benevolence all over Holderness. But she will try to draw everyone into her schemes. Where have you been today, Aunt?’
‘Oh, I haven’t been out at all,’ she said. ‘I’ve been getting things ready for the Christmas bazaar. There’s such a lot to do,’ she told Laura. ‘And so many people who need help. But you, Edmund,’ she said sternly, ‘had better get changed immediately. Whatever will Miss Page think of your coming in to tea in your working clothes?’
Edmund raised a quizzical eyebrow at Laura who gave a slight shrug of unconcern. It is nothing to me how he behaves, she thought. It’s his home; he can do whatever he wants. Contrarily she was flattered that he apparently didn’t feel that he had to behave in a formal manner because they had invited guests, or hide the fact that he was a working farmer. She had become disillusioned with young men who always did and said the right thing, yet left her unsure whether they really meant it.
