Heir to Greyladies

by Anna Jacobs

  Harriet took a deep breath. ‘I was going to speak to you about my wages and ask you not to pay them to my stepmother from now on.’

  ‘I’m sorry, but as I told you last year, I can’t do that until you’re twenty-one.’

  ‘How can I be head housemaid, when I don’t even have proper clothes to wear? My stepmother wasn’t married to Dad for long and never did anything for me. I shouldn’t have had to give her anything.’

  ‘Hmm. I tell you what I’ll do. We’ll go on paying her the same amount, and you can have the difference between that and your new wages.’

  Harriet shook her head. ‘I’m sorry to disappoint you, but I feel very strongly about this, and if necessary I’ll leave and find a job elsewhere. Mrs Miller agrees I should get my wages now.’ And had offered to give her a reference because she said Winifred had disappointed her. She wouldn’t say why, but after that one comment she’d stopped mentioning her niece at all.

  ‘She agrees? Well … I’ll consult the mistress when she comes back.’

  ‘Thank you. That’s very kind of you. I do appreciate it. I don’t want to leave.’

  ‘I don’t want to lose you, but that doesn’t mean you’ve won. Get back to work now.’

  When Harriet had gone, Mrs Stuart sighed. She didn’t blame the girl, but she could see trouble ahead if the stepmother made a fuss.

  She’d do it if it were left up to her, but she could change nothing without Mrs Dalton’s approval. She was not the employer here.

  Joseph’s mother came into the library and sat down beside him, saying brightly, ‘You and I are going to have tea with General Mortimer, his sister and her husband tomorrow. And his niece.’

  Joseph didn’t groan aloud, but he wanted to. He didn’t like the general at all, who always spoke to him slowly and clearly, as if he were an idiot, and barked orders at those he considered his inferiors.

  ‘You’ll behave yourself, won’t you, dear?’

  ‘Don’t I always?’

  ‘You become very quiet in company. I do wish you’d chat more.’

  ‘They stare at me when I move. I feel like an animal in the zoo. Animals aren’t famous for chatting.’

  ‘Nonsense. You’re too sensitive. And even if they’re a little … surprised at first, they’d soon get used to you if you gave them the chance.’

  But would he get used to them averting their eyes when he walked across a room, he wondered? ‘What’s this one like?’

  ‘Pleasant but a little stupid, I gather. Do be kind to her.’

  What did she mean by ‘a little stupid’ he wondered? None of the young women had seemed very intelligent to him. Oh well, he’d soon find out.

  The following afternoon Joseph followed his mother and their host into the house. His stomach began churning with the usual nervousness as all eyes turned to watch him walk across the room. For once, the young woman stared solemnly, didn’t shudder, didn’t look hastily away.

  Was that a good thing or bad?

  The general introduced them to Mr and Mrs Baudrey, then to their daughter Geraldine, who was fair-haired and pretty enough to make him wonder why she hadn’t found a husband already.

  They seated him next to her on the sofa. Could anything have been more obvious?

  She continued to smile and he quickly realised it was a rather vacant expression.

  When he addressed a remark to her, she replied to his platitudes with her own, speaking as if she’d learnt the phrases by heart.

  ‘Fine summer we’re having, Miss Baudrey.’

  ‘Oh, yes. Summer is a very nice time of year.’

  ‘Do you live nearby?’

  ‘We live near Bournemouth. We’re visiting my uncle. Bournemouth is a very popular seaside town.’ A pause, then, as her mother flapped a hand at her from across the room, she added, ‘Do you live nearby, Mr Dalton?’

  Surely they’d told her where he lived?

  She listened to his reply with that same fixed smile, didn’t continue the conversation, sat smiling vacuously. It was beginning to worry him how like an automaton she was.

  Her mother interrupted, starting them off on a discussion about Miss Baudrey’s pet dog. Again, it was as if the daughter had learnt the responses by heart.

  As the conversation limped along, he realised that Miss Baudrey was more than a stupid young woman. They might dress her womanly body in fine clothes, but her mind was still that of a child. And not a very clever child at that.

  Her eyes gave away her anxiety. She turned again and again to her mother to check that everything was all right.

  He was relieved when tea was brought in and the conversation became broader. Afterwards the general suggested sitting in the garden, and to Joseph’s relief, Geraldine ignored her mother’s frowns and plumped down on the grass to make daisy chains.

  He let the other adults do the talking and watched the poor girl fiddling with the flowers, then hanging one chain of daisies round her wrist.

  Her mother was looking daggers at her, so he bent down and asked her to make him a chain, putting it on his own wrist. That at least seemed to please the mother.

  When it came time to leave, she put her arm round her daughter’s shoulders and expressed a hope that they’d see him again soon.

  He didn’t share her hope, so merely inclined his head.

  There was no point in trying to talk frankly to his mother in the carriage, since it wasn’t a long drive and they had the top down, so could be overheard. It was an effort to hold his anger in until they got back.

  ‘I see your father’s returned. Come and join us in the sitting room, Joseph dear,’ his mother said when he’d dragged himself up the steps and through the front door to where she was waiting for him. ‘Ah, here’s Pollins with your wheelchair. You must be tired now.’

  He was tired, and his back and hip were aching. He wanted nothing more than to lie down with a hot-water bottle and rest. But he couldn’t refuse to join his parents, so followed his mother into the sitting room, guessing what was coming.

  His father gave one of his harrumphs and took up his favourite position in front of the fire.

  ‘Did your business in London go well, William?’

  ‘No. Things were worse than I’d expected.’

  ‘Oh dear.’ His mother sat down in her favourite armchair.

  ‘How did your tea party go?’

  ‘Geraldine’s a charming girl, isn’t she, Joseph? Pretty, too.’

  He shrugged, unwilling to agree to make any complimentary remark about the general’s niece in case it gave them ammunition for their arguments.

  ‘We’re hoping you’ll see your way to getting better acquainted with Geraldine, Joseph dear. She’ll come into a substantial amount of money when she marries, a very nice sum indeed. And though she can’t afford to be picky about a husband, because she is rather stupid, her parents are concerned to find her a kind husband, one who’ll look after her.’

  ‘I’m not interested in the job, thank you very much. And I’m picky about a wife.’

  His mother made a gentle shushing noise. ‘Don’t speak hastily, my dear. Remember, it’d set you up for life in great comfort if you married Geraldine.’

  Joseph looked from one to the other. ‘Even if I intended to marry – which I don’t – I could never marry someone like her. She’s a child still, and always will be. Stop pretending she’s merely stupid. It’s far worse than that and living with her would bore me to tears … if it didn’t drive me insane first. And what if the taint passed to her children?’

  ‘You needn’t have children by her.’

  ‘That is surely one of the main purposes of marriage?’ And watching one of the gardeners with his son over the past year or so had made Joseph realise that he’d like to have children. That had surprised him.

  ‘I’m not going to get angry at you,’ his father declared, ‘because I can see this has come as a shock. We’ll give you time to get used to the idea.’

  ‘I shall never get use
d to the idea of marrying that poor helpless creature for her money – nor could I sentence myself to a life with her.’

  His father looked across at his mother. ‘You talk to him! He’s obviously in one of his moods. I’ve been patient long enough. This must be sorted out. Especially after what I found out in London.’

  When his father had gone, the silence was deafening.

  Then his mother said quietly, ‘Your father is quite determined about this.’

  ‘So am I.’

  ‘Think about it, my dear boy. You’d have your own home.’

  ‘With Geraldine.’

  ‘You needn’t see her except at mealtimes. She has a devoted maid who looks after her and a dog to play with.’

  ‘Dolls as well, I suppose? What sort of marriage would that be? A travesty. People would laugh at us and we’d be social outcasts.’

  He rolled his chair back. ‘No, Mama. There is no argument you can bring to bear on me that will make me agree to marry her.’

  Chapter Seven

  The other servants were full of it. Mr Joseph had quarrelled with his parents and the master was furious, snapping at everyone, family and servants alike, not caring who heard what he said to his son.

  Harriet listened to the gossip, wondering how much of it was true. Mr Joseph was so quiet and polite, she couldn’t imagine him quarrelling with anyone.

  ‘Has Mr Joseph said anything to you?’ Cook asked.

  ‘No, of course not. We only ever talk about books. I’d not presume to discuss his personal life, let alone ask him embarrassing questions, any more than he would ask me such things.’

  Mrs Stuart came into the room. ‘Quite right, Harriet. And the rest of you shouldn’t be discussing the family’s business, either.’

  But that didn’t stop the gossip when the housekeeper wasn’t nearby, and though she didn’t join in, Harriet couldn’t help overhearing the titbits of information they’d overheard and then passed round in whispers.

  The quarrel was because the master had found a young lady for Mr Joseph and they were determined that he’d marry her.

  The young lady had a lot of money, no one had any idea how much.

  No one knew what she was like, but they guessed ugly, or why else would she marry a cripple?

  Joseph watched his parents get out of the carriage which had brought them from the railway station and enter the house. They’d gone rushing up to London two days previously after receiving a telegram.

  They both looked tight-lipped as he ran his wheelchair into the drawing room to greet them. His mother was standing holding one hand to her forehead, an ominous sign. When he went across, she reached out to grasp his hand briefly, then flung herself down in her favourite armchair.

  ‘Didn’t you enjoy your visit this time, Mama?’

  ‘Not all of it.’ She looked at her husband as if asking him to take over the conversation.

  ‘We’ve run into a bit of trouble, I’m afraid. Well, more than a bit. It’s Selwyn – to cut a long story short, he’s been spending too much and needs his debts paying. We’re going to find it hard to do that.’

  Joseph could feel himself stiffening. He hoped this wasn’t leading round to him. And trust Selwyn to overspend. He already had a huge allowance but used the excuse of being the heir to a country mansion to indulge himself in whatever took his fancy, without counting the cost, not to mention gambling on anything that moved.

  ‘We shall have to rent out the town house to some rich Americans or some rich industrialist.’

  ‘That’s … terrible.’

  ‘As a result, we really need to sort out your future once and for all, to make sure you’re secure. Just in case Selwyn does it again.’

  Joseph felt angry at that. Why should his life be dictated by what Selwyn did? ‘Oh? Who are you going to introduce me to next?’

  ‘We saw the Baudreys in town. They’re still interested.’

  ‘Well, I haven’t changed my mind.’

  ‘They’ll agree to you having your own quarters if you marry Geraldine. You’ll only need to see her at breakfast and dinner.’

  ‘And even that would be too much. I feel sorry for the poor girl, I really do, but I’m not tying myself to her for the rest of my life.’

  ‘You’re not likely to find anyone else to marry who can offer you as much.’

  Joseph stared at him in amazement. ‘Offer me as much? She can’t offer me anything I’d want from a wife.’

  ‘Then you’re a fool. You need money and she can offer you plenty of that.’

  ‘I don’t want to get married at all. I know what I am.’ He looked down at his twisted body with a grimace.

  ‘I’m sorry, but I must insist.’

  Joseph looked at his father. ‘You can’t insist. I’m over twenty-one.’ He wondered suddenly if he could get a job as a tutor. He was enjoying teaching Harriet, seeing her mind develop. It might be worth looking in the newspapers, seeing what sort of tutoring jobs were advertised. If he could earn his keep, he could let the interest on his small inheritance build up over the years.

  How much did it cost to live simply, in a small house, anyway? He didn’t even know that.

  A hand on his shoulder made him glance sideways. Only his mother touched him like that. He’d not noticed her coming to stand beside him. ‘Joseph dear, I’m afraid I agree with your father. We need to get you settled.’

  ‘But not imprisoned in an unbearable situation, surely?’

  She looked across at her husband. ‘Perhaps we can look round for other possible matches, William.’

  ‘People prepared to put up with a cripple don’t grow on every tree, dammit. You’ve been looking for two years now. And you know we agreed to stand firm about this, Sophie.’

  Joseph dug his fingers into the palms of his hands. Cripple. How he hated that word. And though he already knew and was hurt by the way his father was ashamed of him, it wasn’t usually brought out into the open so brutally.

  ‘But we can surely give Joseph time to consider his future more carefully? Get used to the idea?’ his mother pleaded, squeezing his shoulder gently.

  ‘We’ve given him time, dammit all.’

  His father did that, too, Joseph thought, talked as if he was too stupid to understand. He shouted, ‘I’m here with you and there’s nothing wrong with my hearing. If you have something to say, say it to me, not to my mother.’

  He was pleased to see his father look shocked at this, opening and shutting his mouth as if he didn’t know what to say.

  Joseph was so furious he turned his chair round and wheeled it out of the room. They didn’t try to stop him so he paused outside the door to eavesdrop, not ashamed of doing it, either. Sometimes it was the only way to find things out.

  He saw his mother’s reflection in the hall mirror. She’d gone across to her husband and was standing close to him. Her voice sounded clearly.

  ‘Well, let’s give him a little more time, William. It’s a big step to take. I’ll talk to him again when we’re all calmer, reason with him gently.’

  ‘He’s beyond reason. What we need to do is threaten him with what will happen if he doesn’t do as we ask.’

  Joseph could just imagine his father glaring at her, jutting out his chin in that stubborn way he had.

  ‘He’ll come round. He’s a reasonable boy and—’

  ‘Boy? He’s a young man now, turned twenty-three as he just pointed out! You baby him too much. I’m going to threaten him with a dose of reality. I’ve had enough of soft words and coaxing. He needs stronger medicine.’

  Joseph decided he’d better make his way to the library. He didn’t want one of the servants to catch him eavesdropping, or worse still, his father.

  Harriet too had heard much of what her employers had been saying, because sounds carried in the spacious hall and stairwell. Why they so rarely bothered to close the doors, she didn’t understand. Did they think the servants were deaf?

  She shouldn’t have been listening,
but with them going on at Mr Joseph, she couldn’t help stopping on the landing above just for a moment.

  When he came out of the drawing room, he stopped to listen too, and she didn’t blame him for eavesdropping. Her heart went out to him, he looked so unhappy.

  She didn’t move until he’d continued on his way and closed the library door behind him.

  Then she went quietly about her work. At one point, she stopped to shake her head at the Daltons thinking they were short of money. She’d consider herself rich beyond her wildest dreams if she had even a hundredth of what they possessed.

  It wasn’t likely she’d ever be rich, but if she was, she wouldn’t waste it on living so extravagantly and selfishly. She’d live in modest comfort and take great satisfaction in helping others.

  But she wasn’t rich, so she’d better get on with her work.

  Mrs Stuart was called to her mistress’s small sitting room. ‘Welcome back, ma’am.’

  Mrs Dalton gestured to a chair. ‘It’s good to be here. I don’t know why, but London seemed so grey and dirty, far worse than usual. Is everything all right?’

  ‘Well … there’s something else I need to tell you, ma’am. It’s Harriet.’

  ‘Never tell me she’s in trouble too?’

  ‘Oh, no, ma’am, certainly not. She’s not at all interested in men and she’s still one of the best workers we’ve ever had. I know she’s young, but I’ve taken it upon myself to promote her to head housemaid, as we discussed. I wouldn’t have done it in London, but in a country house her age is not as important. It is about getting the work done, after all.’

  ‘I don’t mind at all.’

  ‘There’s a small problem, though, and I’ve not been able to persuade Harriet to let this matter drop. We’ve been sending most of her wages to her stepmother and Harriet wants that to stop. We turned the same request down last year, but perhaps we should reconsider now. Apparently the woman was only married to her father for a short time and there doesn’t seem to be any love lost between the two of them.’