Like Father, Like Son

by Diane Allen

  ‘Yes, what can I do for you?’ He gazed at the young girl in front of him and noted her dress. She’d not be buying anything of worth, dressed in clothes like that.

  ‘I . . . I have a ring for sale. My grandmother left me it, and it just doesn’t suit me.’ Polly stood in front of the old man and pulled her precious grandmother’s ring off her finger. She held it within her two fingers for a second, thinking twice about parting with it and hoping that her grandmother would have understood.

  ‘I see, well, pass it over to me. I only buy secondhand goods of decent quality. I’ll not be interested if it’s just glass.’ The sharp-voiced man placed it in his hand and peered at it through his small purpose-made magnifying glass, taking his time examining the cut of the stones and the gold-carat markings, which spoke of the ring’s quality.

  ‘Well, it’s certainly not glass. This is a quality piece. Your grandmother was a very lucky lady.’ He looked again, before raising his head to look at Polly. ‘Are you sure you should be parting with this? Once I’ve bought it, you can’t have it back.’ He looked at the young lass in front of him. She must be desperate to sell such an heirloom.

  ‘Yes, I’m sure – it’s of no use to me. I’d rather have the money to add to buying my home.’ Polly fought hard to keep back the tears.

  ‘Your home – where’s that then?’ The old man was filled with curiosity.

  ‘Paradise, down Garsdale. It’s up for sale tomorrow in the Crown, and I need every pound I can raise.’ Polly bent her head, for she didn’t like folk knowing her business.

  ‘So you are Danny Harper’s lass. I heard he was back. Your grandfather must be turning in his grave. I went to school with Edmund, you know.’ The jeweller twiddled the ring in his fingers and looked at Polly. ‘This is worth quite a bit, lass. Your grandfather had a good eye when he bought this. Now, what to offer you . . . ? If I send it down to London, it will make a nice sum.’

  Polly felt sick as the old man looked at her and then at the ring. Please let him offer something decent, she thought, so that she could do her bit towards buying back her home.

  ‘Can we say a hundred pounds? I can probably make a bit more, if I do send it down south.’ He looked at her over his spectacles.

  Polly looked at him, thinking about how her grandfather had taught her to barter. ‘Can you make it one hundred and twenty-five? I do need every penny!’

  ‘Mmm . . . I don’t know.’ The diamonds twinkled in the dim light of the shop, as if enticing him to make the offer. ‘Go on, then. Edmund was a good man, and I’ll get my money back somehow.’

  Polly breathed a sigh of relief. Now she could help Tobias at the auction tomorrow night.

  The Crown was full with drinkers and with people who were interested in seeing just how much one of the oldest farmhouses and land was worth at auction. Polly entered with Tobias and took a seat in the corner of the snug, where the auction was to be held. There was a poster on the whitewashed walls, telling of the auction and of the designated two lots. Polly’s stomach was churning. That was her home they were advertising; that was what she and Tobias had come for. She looked around the room. There were one or two farmers she recognized, and the auctioneer was flicking through the relative papers, with the solicitor by his side. She felt as if the whole room was looking at her, as Tobias bought her a gill of ale and squeezed her hand tightly.

  ‘Thank you. Tobias, I’m going to give you this. I thought it might help towards the sale tonight.’ Polly pulled her money out of a bag that Daisy had lent her. ‘Just in case you need it. I know you’ve struggled to raise the cash.’ She bowed her head, as she didn’t want him to be embarrassed by her knowing.

  ‘Where did you get this from? We’ll manage. So far there looks to be only me interested in it. Gerald Winterskill says it looks promising.’ Tobias quickly flicked through the money. ‘There’s over a hundred here. How did you get it?’ He looked worried.

  ‘My grandmother’s ring. I couldn’t think of it going to a better cause than saving my home.’ Polly looked at her bare finger.

  ‘Then I’ll buy it back tomorrow morning. We’ll buy this farm tonight at a reasonable price, you’ll see.’ Tobias lifted his pint to his lips and then stopped in mid-flow as Danny Harper and Bill Sunter walked in through the doorway and sat up at the bar. The room went quiet as the drinkers looked at Danny, the lad who’d stolen money from his own father and then run away, disowning his own unborn children. One of the farmers spat onto the paved stone floor of the snug and announced that he ‘was fussy who he drank with’, then left to go and drink in the posh end, with a few more farmers following.

  Danny laughed. ‘Aye, bugger off. You always were a funny old bugger. And I should have guessed you’d be here, with that bastard there. Has he come to hold your hand, while I make you homeless?’ he cried, glaring at Polly and Tobias. ‘You should have been at home looking after me – your father – instead of rolling about in bed with him.’

  Gerald Winterskill stood up. ‘You are not helping matters, Danny. The sooner we get this auction over, the better.’

  ‘Huh! A man should say what he thinks, instead of skulking. Isn’t that right, Bastard?’ Tobias didn’t rise to the taunt and just stared at the vulgar, self-centred man who reminded him of his own father, who had called him by the same name.

  The auctioneer checked his pocket watch. He’d give it another minute and then he’d start the auction. He’d be glad when he was out of this hate-filled room, for the atmosphere was overpowering.

  ‘Get yourself in there. You have to see what it makes.’ Dora Dinsdale pushed her grandson Matt into the small room and sat next to him near the doorway. Matt glanced across at Polly and gave her a faint smile, but didn’t dare say anything.

  ‘Well, isn’t this a nice family gathering?’ bellowed Danny sarcastically. ‘Could it be that you are all after my money. For God’s sake, man, get a move on. Let’s get the bastard of a place sold.’

  The auctioneer looked at the solicitor, who gave him a reassuring nod, and then came the moment that Polly had dreaded all her life.

  ‘Ladies and gentlemen, we have here today two lots. The sixteenth-century farmhouse known as Paradise, with four bedrooms, three downstairs rooms – including a kitchen – and various outbuildings. I’m sure you’ve seen the details. And lot two: the surrounding fifty acres of pasture and meadowland.’ The auctioneer stood up with his gavel in his hand and looked at the peering faces. ‘I’ll start with the house. What are you going to give me? How about seven-fifty? Anyone? Come on – it’s worth that, at least?’ He looked around the room at the faces he knew and they all shook their heads. ‘Five hundred?’

  Tobias raised one hand and nodded his head. Polly squeezed his other hand tightly.

  ‘Five hundred to Mr Middleton, thank you, sir. Any more bids?’

  ‘Aye, six hundred here.’ Bill Sunter lifted his hand. Danny was standing next to him, grinning.

  Polly’s heart sank. Bill Sunter couldn’t own her house. He just couldn’t live there – her grandfather had hated him.

  ‘Any more offers?’ the auctioneer yelled.

  ‘Six-fifty,’ Tobias shouted.

  ‘Seven hundred.’ Bill Sunter leaned back on the bar and smirked at Tobias.

  Tobias rose from his seat. ‘Mr Winterskill, could you ask him if his bids are honourable. I believe Simon Hodgkin is in the next room, and I think you will find that Mr Sunter may not have the funds to cover his offer.’ Tobias smiled as he sat down. He could tell by the look on Bill Sunter’s face that he didn’t want his affairs to be made public.

  ‘Why, your father was right: you are a bastard in more ways than one,’ said Bill.

  ‘Aye, I may have been. But I’m right with folk, when you aren’t.’ Tobias liked the way Bill was squirming.

  ‘Tell him, Bill. You could buy that bugger out, ninety times over.’ Danny slapped his best mate on the back and laughed.

  ‘Gentlemen, we are selling this house. Can I have
your attention, please!’ The auctioneer tried to gain control as a buzz filled the room. ‘We are at seven hundred pounds: is that bid still standing?’ He looked at Bill, who nodded his head.

  ‘Right, with you, Mr Middleton.’

  Tobias shook his head and hesitated, looking into Polly’s eyes, sensing her loss at losing her home to the man whom her grandfather had hated.

  ‘Seven hundred and fifty.’ He squeezed Polly’s hand tight.

  ‘And you, Mr Sunter?’ The auctioneer looked at him.

  Bill Sunter dropped his head and shook it. ‘Nah! Let the bastard have it. I can do better than that, but I must have been mad, wanting to buy that bloody spot.’ Danny Harper whispered in his friend’s ear and didn’t look best pleased with his friend’s decision.

  ‘Right, Paradise Farm House is sold to Tobias Middleton. Please see Mr Winterskill here, to go through the paperwork after the auction of the land. Before I go any further, who is interested in the land? I presume you are, Mr Middleton, as it always has belonged to the house?’

  Tobias nodded his head as the auctioneer looked around the room for interest. There was none.

  ‘Perhaps, Mr Harper, Mr Winterskill, yourself and Mr Middleton could come to an agreement on the price. I can hardly hold an auction for one man.’

  Danny Harper slammed down his pint on the bar and swore.

  ‘It’s either that or withdraw it from sale.’ The auctioneer waited.

  ‘You’ve bloody won. Give me five hundred quid for the land and then it’s yours.’ Danny scowled. He needed the money more than the land, and as soon as it was in his hands, he was off.

  Tobias stood up and offered him his hand to shake on it.

  ‘Just fucking get it signed for.’ Danny stood over Gerald Winterskill as he put the paperwork in place.

  Polly watched as Tobias went through with everyone what he needed to do. Her head was light with relief. Paradise was safe, and hopefully her father would not hang about the dale much longer.

  ‘He’s bought it then. The wealthy bastard’s bought it for you, I suppose?’ Matt came and sat next to her.

  Polly nodded. ‘We are to be married, so he’s bought that as my wedding present.’ Polly blushed.

  ‘You always have been the lucky one. You’ve landed on your feet, with that one. At least he’s better than our father is. He isn’t up to much, is he?’ Matt bowed his head. ‘I don’t think things are good at the dairy. Bill hasn’t paid the farmers for their milk this month. He likes his drink and women too much, that’s his trouble.’ He looked at his sister, who now appeared even more beautiful with a flush of true love on her cheeks. ‘Did you know that Maggie has had a baby girl? She was early, but they are all fine. Her mother was full of it yesterday morning.’ Matt smiled. ‘Can you imagine Maggie in charge of a baby? She can hardly look after herself.’

  ‘I hadn’t heard. How lovely – she’ll be thrilled. I must ask Tobias if we can go and visit on a good day, when he’s not busy. I wonder what they are calling her?’ Polly smiled at the thought of her friend and her newborn in her cottage in Swaledale, and hoped that Maggie’s father had paid for it.

  ‘I think they said she was called Ivy, but you know me: I might have got it wrong.’

  ‘Matt, I hope you’ll be all right. Do you think the dairy will close?’ Polly was concerned. Even though Matt had hurt her in the past, he seemed low in spirits and not at all himself.

  ‘I’ll be fine. Look, now that Tobias is returning, I’ll be on my way. I can’t be his favourite person.’ Matt slopped off back to his grandmother, who grabbed him by his arm and they walked out of the snug.

  ‘There you go, Miss Harper. Paradise Farm is all yours, my dear. I’ve even asked old Winterskill to put the deeds in your name – that is, until we are married.’ Tobias held both Polly’s hands tightly for everyone to see.

  ‘You make me sick. It’ll not last, as you’re both too much alike. Fuck you both! I hope that you’ve nothing but worries.’ Danny sneered, then picked his coat up and left, with Bill Sunter following in his wake.

  ‘Don’t listen to him, my love,’ Tobias said. ‘We will be happy. We’ve got one another, and no worries. He’s not worth calling your father – just like mine wasn’t. I hope to prove an excellent father to our children. However, we had better start with an engagement first. We will pick up tomorrow the ring that you sold. Let’s hope that the jeweller still holds it. Your grandmother and grandfather will not be at rest until we retrieve it.’

  ‘How many children were you planning on us having, Tobias?’ Polly blushed.

  ‘Oh, at least three or four. It was no fun being an only child. Besides, Grouse Hall needs filling; all those rooms need some laughter in them, so let’s brighten up the place.’ Tobias squeezed her tightly.

  ‘And Paradise – what do we do with that?’

  ‘That’s for you to decide, my dear.’ Tobias smiled.

  ‘Could I rent it to my brother? He’s going to be out of work, from what he’s just been saying. And he’s so low in spirits.’ Polly knew that was a lot to ask, but it would make the night complete.

  ‘He is indeed out of work. The bank is foreclosing on Bill Sunter tomorrow; he’s bankrupt. So I think your brother would make an ideal tenant. I’m not so sure about your grandmother, though, although she seems to keep him in line. Come, let’s go home and tell my mother and Sam the good news. I can’t wait to see their faces. Mother can organize the wedding banquet she’s been planning for years.’ Tobias took Polly’s arm and walked out of the Crown, wishing everyone a good evening as they went.

  Outside, snow had started to fall very lightly. The moon shone and illuminated the houses and streets of Hawes.

  ‘Confetti from heaven, Polly. And it’s for us two: we have your grandparents’ blessing.’

  Polly looked at Tobias. She loved him with every inch of her heart. And yes, they would have three or four children, or even more, because with him by her side they could do anything. Grouse Hall would be a home of happiness, and Paradise would always be hers, no matter what.

  25

  Polly stood outside the porch of Paradise. Her home was at last back in safe hands. She played with the engagement ring on her finger and thought about how tender Tobias’s kisses had been, as he slipped the ring onto her finger. She smiled as she thought of the jeweller; his joy at their union had been obvious. He’d wiped his eyes, dismissing his tears, and then stood back and smiled at them, knowing they were deeply in love. There weren’t many couples to whom he wished such good luck, but Hawes was abuzz with the news of Bill Sunter’s downfall and of the Middleton lad from Grouse Hall buying Paradise for the love of young Polly.

  She smiled. A few months ago she had thought everything was lost, and now she had everything she ever wanted. She might not be farming Paradise herself, but she was going to be living at Grouse Hall, which was even better. Instead of a few tens of acres of land, she’d have hundreds. She’d have the finest china to eat from, and purebred horses to ride on. With Tobias by her side, she’d want for nothing. They’d raise a family to be proud of and make a name for themselves. If only her grandparents were alive to see the outcome to all the times of grief.

  She sighed as she turned the lock and opened the door into the kitchen that she knew so well. Tears filled her eyes as she looked around at the mess her father had left behind him: the table and chairs tipped over, and the ashes from the cold fire scattered beyond the hearth. He didn’t deserve to be called her father; he was nobody to her and she was glad to see the back of him. He had cared for none but himself.

  It was cold in the kitchen, with no fire lit in the grate, but Polly wasn’t there to stay – just to pick up her belongings – so she quickly scouted around the house for treasured trinkets that reminded her of home. She sat on the edge of her grandparents’ bed and lovingly ran her finger around the only photograph there of her grandparents, and thought about how much she missed and loved them. But Tobias would soon be here to take
her back to his mother’s: a house filled with love and joy at the upcoming wedding, and a new family who would love her once again. In return she would prove to them all that she was a strong Dales lass, who knew her own mind, but would also be faithful until the day she died to a husband and family she knew she would always love. Everything was in place to look forward to now; there was no need to look back. Polly sniffed. Enough, she told herself – she was strong. Nothing and nobody would ever make her cry again.

  Tobias closed the farmyard gate behind him and lingered for a while. The hall’s roof was white with snow, as was the surrounding countryside. He remembered the days of his youth when he shivered like a dog under the kitchen table, half-frozen and half-starved, black and blue from the beatings his father had given him. No child of his would ever be treated like that. No child – no matter what their parentage – deserved to be treated like an animal, unfed, unloved and unwanted. How he had hated his father, his father’s friends and the dark, unwelcoming place that Grouse Hall had been then. It had been his prison, a place of despair. Now, with his beloved Polly by his side, they would turn it into a place of love, with children laughing in the passages and a welcome to whoever visited. The dark days were behind him; he had to bury his dark memories of the past and make a new life. Aye, it was time for change, and Tobias welcomed it with open arms. He was already being talked about with more respect, after challenging the honour of Bill Sunter, and buying Paradise for love. The memory of his father was already being eroded. Evil would not get the better of him and Polly – he’d see to that.

  ‘Go home, Rex,’ Tobias shouted at his dog as he climbed up into his trap. ‘I’m off to collect the woman I love, and I hope she will always love me. A new life, Rex, that’s what we’ll make together; a new life, lad. You’ll see.’