Mr Staveley was kind enough to accept his cousin’s explanation without demur. He quite understood, he told her. It was a mistake that anyone could have made.
‘And what of the hairpins, Mrs Wright? Do you know what has happened to them?’
Here, for once, the good lady felt on totally solid ground.
‘Well, as you mention them, Mr Berkeley – such an odd thing – they have actually turned up this very day. The maid went into Miss Owens’ room only this morning to strip the bed – and there she found the hairpins secreted between the sheets.’
‘She found the hairpins in Miss Owens’ bed?’
‘Yes. I must admit it seems a little strange.’
‘But how ever would hairpins end up in someone’s bed?’
‘I have no idea, Mr Berkeley. I have to say, it does seem a little singular. I had thought that she must have hidden them there, though I wondered that she had not taken them with her at the time.’
Mr Staveley was suddenly hit with a novel idea.
‘Could you ask Will to come down for a m...moment, M...Mrs Wright?’ he asked her.
‘Will?’
‘Yes. There is so...something I should like to ask him.’
A little puzzled, but still grateful that her crimes had been let off with so few recriminations, Mrs Wright graciously agreed to ring the bell and ask for her older son to be brought before them. They awaited him, silently and a little nervously, in the drawing room. He appeared after a short delay, liquorice around his mouth - this presumably having taken the form of a bribe to come down - in the company of one of the maids.
Luckily he recognised in Mr Staveley the person who had mended his model boat, and was more than usually inclined to behave.
‘Now Will,’ said Mr Staveley gently, kneeling down to talk to the lad. ‘Now, I want you to listen to a little secret of m...mine. I want to tell you a secret and then I want you to tell me whether it’s true or not. Will you do that for m...me, little breeches?’
Will nodded gravely and stuck some more liquorice in his mouth.
‘Good lad. Now, do you rem...remem...remember M...Miss Owens, your governess? I think a clever young lad like you will remem...remember her, will you not?’
Will agreed that he did, indeed, remember Miss Owens. He had actually quite liked her.
‘Well, do you know, I seem to think that a little lad rather like you used to try to tease her just a little b...bit. And a little lad like you, be...being a clever little lad, was always finding new ways of teasing her – would you not say, Will?’
Will agreed that a little lad like him might well try to tease a governess a little, though he would certainly not mean any real harm.
‘Well, and what b...better way for a clever young lad to tease his governess than to p...place things in her b...bed every now and then. Is that not the case, Will? Might a little lad like you sometimes try to tease his governess b...by placing things in her b...bed occasionally?’
Will agreed that a little lad like him might well place items in the governess’ bed if ever he got the chance.
‘Aha. Now we have it. So tell m...me, Will – tell me what items a little lad like you could hide in the governess’ b...bed.’
And so Master Will explained it all to Mr Staveley – how Mrs Staveley, having gone into the guest room for something one evening, leaving her door ajar, had enabled Will to slip into her bedroom and borrow the first things that came to light – those things being some pins that he had found on the table in front of him. And what better lark than to put them into Miss Owens’ bed? What a screech she would give out when they stuck into her. Why, they might prick her anywhere. It would be so much fun. But it had been a couple of days before he had been able to slip into her room, and it had been on that very morning that Miss Owens had gone away and he had not been able to see the results of his latest prank after all. It was most disappointing. He had looked forward to hearing her scream.
Mr Staveley rose from his knees, well pleased with his little piece of detective work. He ruffled Will’s hair, found a farthing secreted behind his ear, presented it to him, and sent him packing with the maid back to the nursery once more.
And finally it was Mr Berkeley’s turn.
‘Well, we appear to have sorted most things out quite amicably, Mrs Wright,’ he said suavely, giving her a somewhat insincere little smile. ‘There only remain the questions of Miss Owens’ unpaid salary and Mrs Staveley’s finances to deal with and then we shall leave you entirely at your ease...’
Chapter 38
Having sorted out their final questions to both gentlemen’s entire satisfaction – Mr Berkeley being given an absolute promise of eight pounds, being the eight months’ salary owed to Maggie, whenever it could be retrieved, and Mr Staveley being given immediate possession of the five pounds that he had sent for his mama and the two guineas that Mrs Wright had taken for the jewels as well as the promise of total control over his mama’s money – though they would need to speak to Mr Wright for the details on that - they then felt it quite permissible to retire to the public bar at the Royal Hotel for a couple of celebratory bevies and some mutual congratulation before going their separate ways home.
‘But before I quite forget, Mr Staveley,’ said Andrew, as they made their way together up the Esplanade towards the Royal. ‘Mrs Berkeley and I were wondering whether you would do us the honour of joining us for the afternoon and thence dinner tomorrow? The state of the tide will be perfect for a little rock-pooling with the children. We generally get down to the cove once or twice a month, and despite its now being well into October it is still perfectly pleasant, if one wraps up well enough. We are hoping that Miss Owens will join us, and perhaps entertain us for a little while on the pianoforte after dinner. My sister and her husband will join us for the meal.’
Mr Staveley had hardly required these further inducements to visit Belvoir House. He had not been relishing the thought of spending several more evenings in the house of his cousin and had already been planning to take his meals at one of the excellent hostelries that Weymouth had to offer, for the fast-disappearing remainder of his stay.
‘Then we shall take that as a firm arrangement, shall we? We shall probably aim to reach the cove by about four o’clock. That should allow us a good hour on the beach before we need to get back to the house. We will put a spare chamber at your disposal, if you would care to bring your evening things with you. You will need to be prepared to get a little wet and dirty during our foray on the beach, I’m afraid!’
The possibility of getting wet and dirty appeared to put Mr Staveley off the idea so little that, well before four o’clock the next afternoon, he found himself in the company of three small children, their two parents, old Sally, George the footman and an ecstatic Maggie, clambering down the hillside to a rocky little cove which was dotted with enticing pools and crevices. He had thought to bring some peace offerings with him in the form of a wooden doll for little Kate and some farm animals for Rob and Andy – all expertly carved by himself - but, though these were enthusiastically received, with some most polite curtseys and beaming thanks and hugs from the children, he very soon ascertained that they were totally superfluous to requirements. Used as he had been to the greedy and noisy demands of his cousin’s five children it was quite a surprise, and certainly a pleasure, to come across three similar youngsters whose behaviour, if not quite perfect, was so well-mannered and undemanding as to leave him quite at a loss.
Mr Staveley soon revealed yet another useful talent as soon as they reached the cove. For whilst Mr Berkeley had spent many a summer holiday by the sea as well as living his early years at Weymouth and knew a good deal about the life to be found therein, Mr Staveley turned out to be totally at home with all things marine including, amongst others, not only the names of all the creatures to be found in the rock pools but such fascinating details as to which ones ate which, how they caught each other and how they spent their leisure time whilst awaiting th
e next tide. He was therefore soon to be discovered, together with his host, both minus their shoes and stockings, like the children, acting as the fount of all knowledge when Kate and Robert discovered something new.
‘So, what have we here?’ he demanded, as first one and then the other of the two older children came running gleefully over to him with their finds. ‘Aha. That’s a good animal to find. Well done, M...Master Robert. He’s a b...baby hermit crab. See his shell? It does not b...belong to him at all. He has m...moved in to som...someone else’s shell. Can you think why?’ and then ‘So, M...Miss Kate – you have found a wonderful little creature there. Can you count his legs? Yes, there are eight of them. Now, what other creatures do you know who also have eight legs? .... So, do you think that this creature could b...be another exam...example? You are right, of course. He is known as a sea-sp...spider. He is very tiny, is he not? He is quite a grown up sp...spider already, however – he will not grow much m...more than this.’
Andrew had found Kathryn, Maggie and Sally some relatively flat stones on which to perch themselves, and had thoughtfully asked George to provide them with some extremely comfortable cushions to go on top. With Sally keeping a watchful eye upon little Andy playing happily with some broken shells close by, Kathryn and Maggie were able to direct their attention towards the energetic activities then being undertaken on the rocky beach in front of them. They were both taking great enjoyment from watching the gentlemen’s pleasure, as well as that of the children, and exchanged more than one amused smile as, firstly, Mr Berkeley and then one or other of his children rushed back for Mr Staveley’s opinion on the miscellany of animals and sea plants that their afternoon’s activity had discovered. Indeed, both gentlemen appeared to be having a whale of a time. They seemed to be as keen as the children were on identifying what exciting life forms had chosen to make the rocky cove their home and, their own excitement serving to infect everyone else as well, they were all soon busily engaged in dashing from one little pool to the next as someone, somewhere, discovered something new. Indeed, so anxious were they to share their enthusiasm with everybody else that on several occasions – and much to Maggie’s delight - both Mr Berkeley and Mr Staveley scurried over to where the ladies were sitting in order to gain some extra admiration of their finds.
‘I fear that Mr Staveley’s talents are wasted out at sea, Miss Owens,’ Kathryn remarked as, reluctantly, the little party determined that the fading light and increasing chill were signalling the need for an immediate return home. The ladies decorously turned their backs as the two gentlemen dried their feet and replaced their stockings and shoes. ‘He appears to have a way with children, much as Mr Berkeley does. It would be such a shame were he never to have a family of his own.’
Maggie blushingly agreed. The same thought had crossed her own mind, together with the rather more daring one that she would very much like to be the lady to bear him his son. The thought of it made her feel deliriously happy. She laughed as Mr Berkeley swung little Andy onto his broad shoulders. She laughed again as Mr Staveley and Mr Berkeley took little Kate by the hands and swung her along between them, and readily agreed to do the same for Rob, with the ever-obliging and cushion-encumbered George.
The dinner was a good one – not too grand, but varied, and very tasty. Captain and Mrs Wright had walked up to Belvoir from their house on the quay and had joined the party for the meal. Given her sensations at the last formal dinner she had attended – and the disastrous results of it – Maggie was quite surprised to find that she was perfectly contented and at ease at this one. The gentlemen – all lively and good-humoured – sparred with each other throughout the meal. The ladies – all similarly good humoured and pleased that the gentlemen were having so much fun – were more than happy just to listen and feel amused.
The two naval gentlemen were busily engaged in enthusing over the speed, fire power and seaworthiness of their very own ship. It seemed – from what they were saying at any rate – that not only was ‘Leveret’ one of the newest and handsomest sloops in the whole of His Majesty’s extensive fleet but she was also the quickest of all of her kind, and perfectly well capable of holding her own in a fight.
‘So tell us exactly how you came by your lucky break in the first place, Captain Wright,’ invited Kathryn. ‘Jane told us what you had said in your letter but we have heard none of the detail. Who was this Admiral whom you happened to know? I have not heard you mention him before.’
‘Oh no,’ replied her brother-in-law. ‘It was not at all down to me, you know. He was Staveley’s acquaintance. We simply bumped into him in the street.’
‘Quite literally, I’m afraid,’ confirmed Mr Staveley, looking a little bashful. ‘I regret that I was walking along Holborn with the Captain here when m...my attention was taken by the model of a Frigate in ‘Noah’s Ark’. The rigging was all to p...pieces. I was so ab...absorbed in trying to sort it all out in my m...mind that I b...bumped into the Admiral as he was coming down the steps. It was lucky that I did not knock him quite to the ground. I fear I have previously m...managed to do so on more than one occasion.’
‘And I understand that you had provided some service to this Admiral at one time, Mr Staveley?’
‘Well, it was nothing to sp...speak of really,’ said Freddy, modestly. ‘He had m...managed to get himself caught up in a little skirmish in Sta...Stabroek one evening. It was nothing much – just a few locals taking exception to so...something that he said. I b...believe a lady to have been involved and he was trying to defend her good name, or so...something of the sort. Anyway, as luck would have it I just hap...happened to be in the vicinity at the time. Though I’m not a great fighter I daresay I do look the p...part,’ smiling. ‘Anyway, I roared quite loudly and threw m...my arms about a bit and somehow m...managed to clout one of them on the head. It see...seemed to do the trick. They were all so bosky – begging your p...pardons, ladies – I daresay they thought me a tremendous milling cove. They found themselves quite unable to p...put up any resistance whatsoever.’
Maggie secretly wondered whether Mr Staveley was being a little too modest about his role in the affair. She somehow doubted that a bunch of ruffians would entirely throw in the towel after so trivial an intervention as the one to which he had just that moment admitted.
‘Well, your bravery – or bravado, appears to have stood you in good stead, Mr Staveley,’ Mr Berkeley was saying, as the ladies stood up to leave. ‘It has got both you and John your ship – and well deserved too, if you don’t mind my saying so – very well deserved indeed.’
It was whilst they were finishing their port that Mr Staveley raised the subject of his mother’s finances with Mr Berkeley once again.
‘For I find m...myself in a little dilemma, Mr B...Berkeley,’ he said, smacking his lips appreciatively as he drained the glass for at least the seventh time. ‘For though I am m...more than glad that m...my cousin no longer has access to m...my mother’s balsam I must admit that she will find it singularly difficult to m...manage it on her own. Even without the confusion that besets her at times, she is a lady after all and m...my father used to do all that sort of thing on her be...behalf. She is not much used to having to m...manage it all on her own.’
Mr Berkeley nodded.
‘Yes, and with you away it will be impossible for you to manage it for her. I daresay you could ask Mr Brewer to do it. I have known him well these several years now. He is quite a hard business man and will sometimes take a few risks, but as long as you are quite specific in your requirements – what you are happy for him to do and what you are not - I am confident that he would follow your instructions as you wish.’
Mr Staveley reddened a little at the mention of Mr Brewer’s name.
‘Yes, I sup...suppose he would’, he agreed. ‘I expect he would do his b...best for her.’
‘I am convinced of it, Mr Staveley, but if you would like me to I should be more than happy to oversee him for you. You could ask him to consult me prior to
taking any decisions in relation to your mother’s money. That way, at least, you could be sure of no one person taking overall control.’
Mr Staveley looked instantly relieved.
‘Would you do that for m...me, M...Mr Berkeley? I should b...be devilish grateful. It would certainly set m...my mind at rest.’
‘Well, before you set off for Portsmouth – and preferably when neither of us has had quite so much to drink – we must make sure and take an hour to run through exactly what you want and I will engage, as far as I am possibly able, to ensure that your wishes are entirely carried out. Indeed, it would probably be a good idea to involve Mr Wright in such a discussion – preferably away from the influence of his wife. He will know exactly what he has done with the money so far and can hand over the accounts as we do so.’
They sealed their understanding with another couple of glasses before retreating a little unsteadily from the dining room to join the ladies in the drawing room. Maggie - perhaps hoping through this activity to prevent herself from pining entirely away whilst Mr Staveley had remained quite hidden from view - had already taken her place at the pianoforte and, when the gentlemen appeared, was part way through a charming piece by Mr Haydn which she was executing with a great deal of delicacy and skill. After the coffee it was Kathryn’s turn to take to the instrument and she immediately struck up a lively country dance.
‘For whilst I am becoming a little too rotund for dancing just at present,’ she explained, laughing, ‘I know that my husband would dearly love a dance and my playing is so vastly inferior to that of yours, Miss Owens, that this is about all I could possibly manage for you anyway.’
Poorly executed or not, the music was sufficient to encourage not only Mr Berkeley – who immediately offered his hand to his sister – but Mr Staveley – who bravely did the same to Maggie - onto his feet, while Captain Wright, whose consumption of his brother-in-law’s port had been a little more circumspect than that of his companions, went over to the pianoforte and offered to turn the sheets. Indeed, as Kathryn’s playing was at about the same standard as Mr Staveley’s dancing – that is, not very good at all - the activity very quickly degenerated into a free-for-all which grew increasingly hysterical the more the participants missed their steps and whirled chaotically round and round the room. Two dances were sufficient to see all four of them collapsing, giggling uncontrollably, onto the various sofas and chairs about the room and for Jane – probably quite kindly – to replace her sister-in-law at the instrument to provide them with a glee for them all to sing along to in order to finish off the night.
An Indelicate Situation (The Weymouth Trilogy) Page 19
