When Midnight Comes

by Beryl Matthews

  Suddenly Elsie’s words came into her head. If that horse was coming to her, then it was coming here. It was nonsense, of course, but that was the only thing in her head. ‘There’s a big horse, black, and he’s coming this way.’

  A sharp intake of breath came from his lordship. ‘Who is riding him?’

  ‘A soldier – and they’ve been travelling for a long time.’ Why on earth did she add that last bit?

  Lord Frenshaw reached across the table and caught hold of her hand. ‘How far away is he?’

  ‘Nearly here – a week, maybe. I can’t be precise.’ She had made that prediction without thinking. ‘That’s all I can see. I’m sorry I couldn’t help you.’

  ‘But you did, Chrissie. You have just given me the news I have prayed for over these long months.’

  ‘I did?’

  ‘Yes, my son is alive and nearly home!’ He turned to the other man. ‘You have your answer. Harry is alive, as I’ve always believed.’

  ‘Really, Uncle, I grant you she put on a good show, but you don’t really believe what she said, surely? Even supposing some of what she told us happens to be true, that military man could be someone coming to tell you, officially, that he died in the Crimea.’

  His lordship was shaking his head. ‘It’s Harry and he’s riding Midnight. Now you can stop pestering me!’

  The nephew glared at Chrissie, and pushing the chair back stood up and stormed out of the room, and she knew she had made an enemy. He would have to be watched because there was something about him that made her uneasy.

  His lordship came and sat beside her. ‘I thought you told me you couldn’t use that crystal ball or tell fortunes.’

  ‘I can’t. If you had told me why you wanted me to do this I would have played the game better. I didn’t know your son was missing. No one has mentioned it to me.’

  ‘He’s an officer in the Light Brigade and was in that disastrous charge at Balaclava. We have not heard from him or the military and have no idea if he’s alive or dead. I have been distraught by the uncertainty, and it is never mentioned here out of consideration for me. My nephew is the only heir to the property, but I have refused to hand it over to him until I receive official confirmation of Harry’s death. You have just given me hope and I am very grateful.’

  ‘I’m pleased to have helped lift your burden a little, but please don’t—’

  He put his hand up to stop her. ‘Whatever you believe about your abilities I choose to believe what you said is true and my son is nearly home. Go to the kitchen now and Cook will make you a good strong cup of tea and we will talk again tomorrow. Bless you, my child, for what you have just done.’

  Worry gnawed away at her while she packed up her things. It had started out as a game, but whatever she had said was now being believed. She respected this kind man and hoped sincerely that she hadn’t added to his worry about his son.

  The butler had arrived to take her to the kitchen and she followed him, pausing at the door to cast one more anxious look at Lord Frenshaw. What was going to happen when his son didn’t arrive as predicted? He would be devastated, and if that other man took over then she would definitely lose her job. The thought of leaving these beautiful animals was upsetting, but the knowledge that she might have given him false hope made her feel sick. Again Elsie came to her mind when she had told her to believe that her predictions would come true, and if she believed hard enough things would work out the right way. Suddenly a sense of calm swept through her as she pictured the horse and rider coming this way. Close – so close – arriving in less than a week.

  ‘His lordship said Chrissie must have a strong cup of tea,’ Dobson told the cook when they reached the kitchen. ‘I’ll have one as well.’

  Cook ordered one of the maids to make the tea and hurried over to Chrissie. ‘Do sit down, my dear, you look so pale. Are you unwell?’

  Chrissie shook her head and sat down, not wanting to talk.

  Cook glanced at the butler. ‘What’s happened?’

  ‘I don’t know, but his lordship was looking very happy and it has wiped ten years off him.’

  ‘Well, there’s only one thing that would do that.’ Cook studied Chrissie with interest.

  The back door burst open and the head groom rushed in. ‘There’s a chance Master Harry will be home within the week. His lordship is rushing around to make sure everything is in perfect order.’

  ‘Oh, dear God, what have I done? Please help!’ Chrissie groaned in despair. He really believes what I told him. Please – please bring him home quickly. I never wanted to do that – I never wanted to hurt anyone. It was just supposed to be a game.

  The excited chatter in the kitchen was deafening and she quickly finished her tea and stood up. She had to get out of here and nearly bumped in to one of the stable hands who had also come in.

  ‘Red’s playing up something terrible,’ he told the head groom. ‘We can’t calm him down and he’ll hurt himself if he doesn’t stop.’

  The attention turned to Chrissie but she was already running. The thumping could clearly be heard and she hurtled in, dumping her things by the ladder and running to Red’s stall, shouting, ‘Stop that, Red! I’m coming.’

  When she entered the stall she had to dodge the flaying hooves to get to him, and reaching out she wrapped her arms around his neck, speaking softly. ‘What’s the matter, my lovely boy? You tell me all about it.’

  It was quite a tussle, but he eventually quietened as he listened to her soft voice, although he was still tense.

  ‘Well done,’ the head groom told her. ‘Are you hurt at all?’

  ‘No, he wouldn’t harm me. He needs to be in the paddock so he can run off what is troubling him.’

  ‘We’ve been trying to do that, but he wouldn’t let us move him.’

  The animal allowed her to lead him out, and once in the field he began to gallop round, kicking his legs. Eventually he ran over to her, snorting and his sides heaving. When she asked him if his tantrum was now over he shoved her so hard she nearly lost her balance.

  Laughing, she turned to the head groom. ‘He’s all right now.’

  ‘That’s a relief. Perhaps he knows his master is nearly home.’

  In the struggle to calm down Red she had quite forgotten about that and it felt as if a bucket of ice-cold water had just been thrown over her. The next few days were going to be a nightmare for her.

  And it didn’t help when a couple of days later the nephew came up to her, gloating that he would soon be in charge now, and his first task would be to dismiss her.

  Chapter Ten

  ‘How is Red Sunset now?’

  Chrissie spun round to face Lord Frenshaw. She had seen him the day after that disastrous game with his nephew, and she had tried to convince him that although what she had said appeared to fit his son, it was merely a coincidence, but to no avail. He was still convinced his son was on his way home. She turned her thoughts back to the horse and answered the question. ‘He’s all right as long as he’s in the field. He complains when we bring him in, though.’

  ‘Hmm. Perhaps he needs a mate?’

  ‘Maybe. We’ve checked him over carefully and can’t find anything wrong with him.’

  He looked at her intently. ‘Are you all right?’

  ‘No, I’m not,’ she answered without hesitation. ‘I’m going to lose my job, and I don’t want to leave here.’

  ‘Why do you think you are going to lose your job?’ He frowned at the puzzling remark. ‘I am the only person who can do that, and I haven’t any reason to take such action. You work hard and have earned the respect of the other hands.’

  ‘When your son doesn’t come home in the next few days you will be angry and tell me to leave.’

  ‘I most certainly will not! You have made it quite clear that you don’t believe you can tell fortunes, but there is no mistaking that what you said was uncannily accurate and it has given me hope.’ He studied her unhappy expression and something dawned on
him. ‘Has my nephew been threatening you?’

  She nodded miserably. ‘He came by yesterday when you were away from the house and told me that as soon as he takes over I will have to leave. And he said that thanks to my reading it will be very soon, because you will have to hand over the estate now without delay.’

  ‘I’ll deal with him!’ He turned to walk away and then spun back to face her. ‘Your job here is secure for as long as you want. What you did was at my bidding. I was tired of his continual pressure to hand the estate over to him, and although you had no idea why I made such a strange request, you did a remarkably good job. It will keep him away from me for a while and give me time to see that he never becomes master here. When my son comes home he will deal with this.’

  ‘But, your lordship—’

  He held up his hand to stop her. ‘I know how you feel about this, Chrissie, and I apologise for causing you so much worry. However, be assured that whatever the outcome you will not be dismissed while I have any say in the matter. You have my word.’

  The relief was immense as she watched him walk away and it felt as if a great weight had been lifted from her. He was a strong, determined man, and would not give up easily. He also knew that the chance of his son arriving soon was doubtful, but to hold on to the belief that he was returning had given him some comfort – short as it may be.

  The spring was back in her step and she set to work mucking out the stalls with a smile on her face.

  Charles returned immediately to the library and began to compose a legal document. He sent for his lawyer and by the time it was finished he had arrived, and it was then duly signed and witnessed.

  ‘I’m not sure you would win if your nephew contests this,’ the lawyer told him. ‘You could end up with a long battle ahead of you.’

  ‘I am aware of that, but it would at least delay his claim to take over. It needed to be done while I am still legally in charge of this estate according to my son’s will. If he should be declared dead, then I will have little choice in the matter, but I will delay as long as possible.’

  ‘You understand that if your son does return, then this document will be useless.’

  ‘When that happens I shall have great pleasure setting fire to it, but in the meantime my concern is to protect this estate and its workers. Since the unfortunate death of my eldest nephew, who was Harry’s stated heir, that has placed Edward in line to inherit and he is determined to do so.’

  ‘That was your eldest brother’s son?’

  ‘Yes, and unfortunately both died in a carriage accident a year ago. My son doesn’t know that, so is unaware that Edward is now in line to inherit.’

  ‘You obviously don’t trust this nephew.’

  ‘I happen to know he has huge gambling debts, although he thinks no one is aware of that, and my fear is that if he gets his hands on this estate he will sell it to pay off those debts. I can’t let that happen.’

  The lawyer nodded in understanding. ‘I can see your dilemma. If you get any trouble, then call me. We could probably string this out for some time.’

  ‘That’s what I wanted to hear.’ Charles smiled then, feeling much relieved. ‘I’ve managed to shut him up for a while. Thank you for coming so quickly.’

  When the lawyer left Charles put the document in a safe place, quite aware that this was a desperate act on his part, but hopefully it would cause a delay in Edward making a claim to the estate. All he needed now was Harry to return. Where are you, son? he murmured to himself. We need you.

  After her talk with Lord Frenshaw, Chrissie was much happier, and as she cared for the animals she adored, the days slipped by. There hadn’t been a sign of the other man and everyone seemed pleased about that. When she mentioned this to one of the hands he told her the nephew was not liked and didn’t have the first idea about caring for such strong, unpredictable animals. ‘They need a strong hand with love behind it, and that’s where you excel. You have earned their respect. We’ve never seen anyone ride them bareback before, and they don’t even try to toss you off.’ He laughed.

  She grinned. ‘I think they are awfully tempted, though.’

  Two weeks went by and Chrissie was completely happy to see his lordship was still smiling, and that assured her she hadn’t done any harm. She would have been dismayed if she had caused him more distress. With his son missing he must be suffering enough.

  ‘Chrissie!’ the head groom called. ‘Where are you?’

  ‘Laying fresh straw in the mare’s stall.’

  His head appeared over the door. ‘Leave that. The blacksmith is trying to change Red’s shoes and he’s having trouble with him. Go and tell the animal to behave himself, will you? You’re the only one he listens to. It’s no wonder the master didn’t take him to join the Brigade. He can be so difficult.’

  They had their own blacksmith and she hurried over to the forge to find the man standing in front of Red Sunset with his arms folded and they were glaring at each other. ‘You’ve lost one of your damned shoes and another is loose. I’ve got to put new ones on for you, and you’ll feel much more comfortable after that – you stubborn beast.’

  ‘Having trouble, Bill?’ she asked, holding back her amusement.

  ‘Thank goodness you’re here! Tell this cantankerous animal to behave himself. He’s already tried to knock me over twice. I’ve told him we’ll send him off to the cavalry instead of keeping him for stud, but it hasn’t made any difference.’

  She made the blacksmith stand away, and reaching out she rubbed Red’s nose, speaking softly. ‘Now what’s this all about, my beauty? You’ve got to let Bill work on you because if you keep throwing these tantrums they will send you off to some war and you might get killed. That would break my heart, and I know you wouldn’t want to upset me, would you?’

  He pushed his head into her hands and she nodded to Bill. He approached carefully and when there was no move to stop him he got on with his work while Chrissie stayed where she was.

  When he’d finished he nodded with satisfaction. ‘I fear he is getting worse than his half-brother, Midnight. The master was the only one who could control him, but they are probably both dead by now – more’s the pity.’

  ‘No, no.’ She shook her head emphatically as denial swept through her. ‘We mustn’t give up hope. They are alive.’

  ‘We all hope that is true, but it’s been too long without news of any kind.’ His sad smile told her he didn’t hold out much hope. ‘Take Red back to the paddock for me.’

  She led the animal outside, and with a bunk-up from Bill, leapt on to the horse’s back. He trotted happily to the paddock, and as she left him and closed the gate, there came the call, ‘Rider approaching!’

  This was her order to run to the front of the house and take care of the visitor’s horse. When she saw the animal she was horrified. His head was drooping in exhaustion and looked as if he was unable to take another step. With her whole attention on the animal she grabbed his reins, completely ignoring the rider, so angry by what had been done to this horse. Cradling the horse’s head she told him gently that he was safe now and she would look after him. Oblivious to what was going on around her she led him to the stables.

  Her first task was to feed and water him just a little at a time, and then she began to brush the dust of the journey from him. It was while she was doing this she saw the scars on his body. ‘Oh, you poor darling!’ she cried. ‘What beast has treated you so cruelly? No wonder you are in such poor condition.’

  When he was clean he took another drink of water and, unable to stand any longer, he settled down on the fresh straw. Not wanting to leave him, she sat next to him, watching and ready to run for help should it be needed.

  She stayed there all night, refusing to leave him, and by dawn he was on his feet again, his head up and looking round with interest. ‘Feeling better now, are we?’ she asked him as she set out his feed. ‘You eat up and get your strength back. I’ll see what I can do to get you away from your crue
l master.’

  ‘And how do you intend to do that?’

  She spun round and had to look up at the tall man who had just walked in.

  ‘No animal should be treated like this,’ she said defiantly, unable to hold back her anger.

  He was staring at her, his pale-grey eyes raking over her as if he couldn’t believe what he was seeing. In one swift movement he swept the cap from her head and watched in disbelief as her dark hair tumbled loose around her shoulders.

  ‘What the hell are you dressed like that for?’

  ‘I’m a stable lad and can’t do the work in a frock.’

  He shouted for the head groom, and pointing to Chrissie, demanded, ‘Explain what a girl is doing working in the stables.’

  ‘Lord Frenshaw engaged her, sir, and she’s the best stable hand we’ve ever had. Her love and understanding of these difficult animals is amazing. She can control them when everyone else is having difficulty. She has been with your horse all night, refusing to leave his side. That’s how concerned she has been for him.’

  With his mouth set in a grim line he began running his hands over the animal, inspecting him thoroughly.

  Chrissie watched, eyes narrowed and ready to step in if he did anything to hurt the poor animal. The horse didn’t seem to mind; in fact he even nuzzled the man when he rubbed his nose. She was puzzled. Why would there be such affection between them if he had mistreated the horse? Had she been hasty in her assumption that he was to blame?

  The head groom was smiling. ‘Midnight looks much stronger today, Major Frenshaw.’

  Those words nearly knocked her off her feet with shock. She hadn’t noticed. Her only concern had been for the welfare of the suffering animal and nothing else had mattered. He was jet-black and even the scars hadn’t made her realise the truth. ‘Oh,’ she gasped. ‘He was hurt in battle. I do apologise for my harsh words, sir. That was unjust of me.’

  His only response to her apology was a brisk nod. ‘We can put him in the paddock now.’

  ‘No, sir, he needs rest and quiet for at least another day. He feels safe and happy in here for the moment.’