by Dilly Court
‘I’m new at being a landowner, Mr Johnson. I am trying hard to do what’s right.’
He eyed her speculatively. ‘Talking about what’s right, ma’am, I think you know what happened to young Benny Sykes on board your husband’s ship.’
Daisy shuddered at the memory of the patient brought into the London Hospital suffering from severe burns, which proved fatal. ‘I’ll never forget him, poor fellow.’
‘Well, his mother lives in that cottage.’ Farmer Johnson pointed at a small house a little further down the lane. ‘Poor soul, she struggles to survive on what little I can afford to pay her, but there’s not much she doesn’t know about pig keeping. I’m sure she would be more than eager to help you, and the extra money would make all the difference.’
‘I’ll wait until we have the sty habitable, and then I’ll call on her and see what she says.’
‘An excellent idea, ma’am.’ Farmer Johnson frowned thoughtfully. ‘We’re haymaking at present, and you’ll need winter feed for your horses. The ten-acre field above the creek should yield enough hay to last the season.’
‘I don’t think we’ve any farm equipment,’ Daisy said, frowning.
‘All you need is some strong men with scythes and the ability to press the hay into bales and you’ll be ready to harvest, although you don’t want to leave it any later.’ Josiah tapped his chin with his forefinger, gazing at her thoughtfully. ‘We’ve almost finished haymaking, so as a thank you for saving Ma from death’s door, I’ll send the labourers I’ve hired to help out. I don’t hold with the work gangs organised by men who treat them worse than slaves. My lot are good workers and hand-picked.’
‘Thank you. I’m most grateful.’
‘My boys will make a start later today, if that’s convenient, ma’am.’
‘Yes, that will suit me very well.’
‘You’ll also need to check your barns and make sure they don’t leak, so that the dried bales can be stored.’
‘I’ll do that, Mr Johnson, and thanks again, but I mustn’t keep you any longer. I’m sure you have a lot to do.’
‘You’ll discover what it’s like running a farm soon enough, ma’am. But you must come into the house. Mrs Johnson will be very upset if you leave without seeing her, and Ma.’
‘Of course,’ Daisy said, making an effort to sound enthusiastic. Her mind was buzzing with all the information that Josiah had given her, and she was eager to make a start on making the future of Creek Manor secure. It could no longer be left to chance.
Almost before she knew it, Farmer Johnson’s labourers were busy scything the grass in the ten-acre field, tying it into sheaves and leaving them in the sunshine to dry. Daisy sent two of the housemaids with jugs of homemade cider and hunks of bread and cheese to feed the workers when they took a break in the late afternoon. She walked to the edge of the field to see their progress for herself, and was amazed at the speed with which they worked. These men were itinerant labourers, who went from farm to farm at harvest time, getting work wherever they could, sleeping in barns or sometimes out in the open. They were a tough breed, used to hard labour, and stripped to their waists they were all bone and muscle. Daisy smiled to herself as she watched the housemaids moving between the men, who had slumped to the ground, snatching a short rest. The two girls eyed the gleaming muscular torsos and the men’s sinewy arms with barely concealed admiration, and they giggled self-consciously as they handed out the food and drink. Daisy could hear the deep drone of the men’s voices, but judging by the girls’ reactions, she could imagine that the remarks were suggestive, although meant to be taken in good part and the girls did not seem to be upset.
Daisy set off for the house with a feeling of having achieved something. Until this morning the hay harvest was something she had heard of, but had never thought much about, and now it was part of her plan to bring Creek Manor estate back into profit. Years of neglect by the old squire had taken their toll, but now the land was under new management and if Daisy had her way it would prosper.
Molesworth met her by the front entrance. ‘Well done, madam,’ he said smiling.
‘Thank you, Molesworth. So you think I’m doing the right thing? And please don’t say it’s not your place to give an opinion.’
‘I think you are doing splendidly, madam. Would you like me to bring a tray of tea to the drawing room?’
‘Thank you, Molesworth, but I’m on my way to the kitchen. I’m thinking of getting some chickens and a couple of pigs, and I need to find out if there will be enough scraps to feed them.’
‘A very laudable idea, madam.’
‘I thought so,’ Daisy said smugly. She continued on to the kitchen where she sat at the table and shared a pot of tea with Cook, while they discussed the possibility of feeding pigs and chickens on kitchen scraps.
‘It’s what we always used to do in the old days, madam,’ Cook said with a nod of approval. ‘The late mistress was very sensible, like yourself, and all the table leftovers were saved and all the vegetable peelings and the like were tipped into a bin, and fed to the animals, fresh each day. But the late squire wasn’t interested in that sort of thing, and the pigs and hens went to their Maker – well, at least they made a few roasts and some savoury stews.’
Daisy drained her teacup and rose to her feet. ‘Thank you, Cook. We’ll do as you say when the animals arrive. Now all I have to do is make sure that the piggery and henhouse are in good order and we’ll go ahead.’
‘If I might make a suggestion, madam?’
‘Yes, Cook, what is it?’
‘You’ll need someone to look after the animals. We used to employ a pig man and someone to clean the henhouse.’
‘Of course. I hadn’t thought of that.’
‘My nephew is looking for work, madam. He’s young and healthy and he could do both jobs.’
‘That sounds promising,’ Daisy said hopefully. ‘Ask him to come and see me.’
‘Yes, madam. I will.’
The next few weeks passed so quickly that Daisy was left wondering exactly how she had occupied her time before she became a farmer, a land agent and generally someone to whom all the local people suddenly brought their problems. She divided her time between visiting the tenants and collecting their rents, although these visits generally turned out to be sessions where she learned about their families and the diseases of plant and animal, let alone the sniffles and snuffles of the children, which might turn out to be one of the dreaded sicknesses of childhood that took so many lives. Everyone knew that Daisy had trained as a nurse in London, and that she had helped to care for the victims of the cholera epidemic, and she found herself giving medical advice, examining rashes, tending to sprained ankles and other minor ailments, which were considered too trivial to take to the doctor, who charged a fee. Daisy’s opinion was respected, and it was free.
Then there were the renovations on the cottages owned by the estate. These had been put on hold while Daisy could not access Jay’s bank account, but now she had authority to write cheques and draw cash she was able to hire craftsmen to complete the work while the weather was fine. All this helped to keep her mind off Jay’s sudden departure. Once again she had been left in a state of limbo, neither a wife nor a widow, and yet still legally tied to a man who seemed to have forgotten her existence. There had been no news of the Lazy Jane and Daisy had not seen Marius since the ship sailed. He would have no reason to contact her as they were no longer partners, and she was too busy to even think of travelling to Maldon on the off chance of finding him there. She tried not to think about him, but he was a link to Jay, and somehow his continuing absence felt like a betrayal of their friendship. If she were being honest she had to admit that she missed his company, and his sense of humour. Marius had a way of putting what had seemed to be an insurmountable problem in perspective. But he had obviously moved on and was fully occupied making new business contacts, and she had enough to keep her busy.
Then there was the wedding. Toby and Min
nie had originally opted for October, but they had brought the date forward, having found a suitable house in Sidney Square, just a short distance from the hospital. An invitation arrived from Minnie’s parents and the wedding was to take place in her father’s church at Little Threlfall in Hertfordshire.
Daisy had barely finished reading it when her aunt arrived, flushed with excitement and breathless.
‘Have you received your invitation, Daisy?’ Eleanora slumped down on a chair in the morning parlour, fanning herself vigorously. ‘I’ve walked all the way from the ferryboat, and I couldn’t wait for your uncle to come home. I’m so excited, Daisy. Of course we’ll go together to Hertfordshire, and Minnie’s parents have kindly offered to put us up in the vicarage, providing they have room or they’ll book us accommodation at the local inn. Does your invitation say that, too?’
‘Yes, Aunt. I’ve only just finished reading it.’
‘Of course I’ll have to have a new bonnet for the occasion, no matter what your uncle says. He’ll spend any amount of money on fishing tackle, but if I want anything I have to practically go down on my knees and beg.’
Daisy knew that this was an exaggeration, but she did not want to spoil the drama of the occasion for her aunt. She rose to her feet to tug at the embroidered bell pull. ‘We’ll have some tea, or would you prefer coffee?’
‘Tea, I mean coffee, please, dear. Perhaps we could have a day’s shopping in London before the wedding. I want to purchase a new bonnet, and maybe some lace gloves, too. I can’t let Toby down by looking like a drab.’
Daisy resumed her seat. ‘You would never look like that, Aunt. You are one of the smartest ladies in Little Creek. I’m sure everyone envies you.’
‘I don’t know about that, dear,’ Eleanora said with a smug smile. ‘Although Grace did cast covetous looks at the mousseline afternoon gown I wore to evensong. The vicar is quite penny-pinching when it comes to buying clothes, so I believe. If I had a new bonnet bought from one of those smart shops, it would be the talk of Little Creek.’
‘Then that’s what we must do. I’ve been working hard, and I think I’ve earned a day off.’
Eleanora gave her a searching look. ‘And still no news of Jay?’
‘Not a word, Aunt.’
‘But it’s weeks since the ship sailed.’
‘Yes, I know, but I’m no longer in contact with Marius, so I have no news of the Lazy Jane.’
‘But surely his crew live in the village, dear.’
‘You’re right, Aunt. I’ve been so busy that it simply didn’t occur to me. I’ll visit Eli Ramsden’s wife – she might know something – and there’s always Clem Guppy’s mother. Although I’d rather avoid her, if possible.’
‘Excellent, Daisy. Now when will we go to London? I’m excited by the prospect of a day out, and perhaps we could stay the night at an inn? Could we afford such an extravagance, dear?’
Daisy smiled. ‘I think we deserve a treat, Aunt.’
Eleanora beamed at her. ‘Maybe we could have tea at Gunter’s? I love ice cream.’
‘Whatever you want, Aunt. It will be my treat. After all you’ve done for Toby and me, it’s the least I can do.’
‘It’s been a pleasure and a privilege, my love. Your uncle and I weren’t blessed with children of our own, but we couldn’t love you more.’
Daisy gave her a hug.
Later that day, after seeing her aunt off on the ferryboat, Daisy called on Eli Ramsden’s wife, only to find that she knew nothing. She had not heard from Eli since the Lazy Jane last set sail. It was disappointing, but Daisy decided that if Mrs Ramsden had no knowledge of the ship’s progress, there was little likelihood of Mrs Guppy having any more information. Daisy returned home feeling puzzled and ill at ease. It was not unusual for voyages to take longer than expected, but Jay had not been himself and she could not help wondering if he had been well enough to take back command of the vessel. She comforted herself with the knowledge that Eli and Clem were experienced seamen, and they would not allow Jay to endanger the ship.
The trip to London was organised. Daisy had contacted her brother, letting him know that they would be in town for a few hours, and Toby had replied by telegram, inviting them to stay in Sidney Square. The house had been renovated and he was living there on his own until after the wedding. It was an invitation that was too good to refuse, and Aunt Eleanora’s almost childish excitement was contagious. Toby was at Bishopsgate Station to meet the train and they took a hackney carriage to his new home, where they left their overnight bags. A quick tour of the four-storey terraced town house was followed by luncheon. Toby had taken on a cook-housekeeper, who proved that she was as adept in the kitchen as she was at keeping house. Eleanora was full of praise and she insisted on meeting Mrs Fulton, to compliment her personally on the lamb collops and braised peas, not to mention the strawberry tart. The housekeeper bustled off to make coffee, and Toby blew his aunt a kiss.
‘You could give the Diplomatic Corps a few lessons, Aunt. I’m sure Mrs Fulton will try to outdo herself every time Minnie and I entertain from now on.’
‘Where is the dear girl?’ Eleanora asked, wiping her lips on a spotless white table napkin.
‘She’s gone to stay with her parents until the wedding,’ Toby said ruefully. ‘Thank goodness it’s only for a month. I miss her so much.’
Daisy reached out to pat his hand. ‘She is a lovely girl. I know you’ll be very happy together.’
He smiled and squeezed her fingers. ‘I agree, Daisy. I’m the luckiest chap alive to have met someone like her. I only wish you could be as fortunate.’
Daisy withdrew her hand swiftly. She knew that Toby meant it kindly, but criticism of Jay still had the power to hurt her. ‘It wasn’t Jay’s fault,’ she said stiffly. ‘It was the accident that robbed him of his memory.’
‘And she still hasn’t heard from him,’ Eleanora added crisply. ‘The ship might have sunk, for all we know.’
‘What does Marius say?’ Toby looked from one to the other. ‘Haven’t you heard from him, Daisy?’
‘No, and I’m not likely to,’ she said, sighing. ‘Jay made it clear that I had nothing to do with the business. He wanted to deal with Marius himself. I don’t expect I’ll see him again.’
‘He has an agent in Maldon, hasn’t he, Daisy?’ Toby said thoughtfully. ‘You could visit him and ask for Marius’s address. You did well in Jay’s absence, and Marius is a friend.’
‘Yes, indeed.’ Eleanora said, nodding. ‘He seemed such a nice young man, and I don’t wish to be unkind, Daisy, but I think that Jay behaved badly, even allowing for his lack of memory.’
‘It’s all in the past now, so may we change the subject?’ Daisy rose to her feet. ‘I’ll go and tidy up, if you don’t mind. We have a lot of shopping to do this afternoon, Aunt.’
‘Yes, dear, I know. I’ll be ready as soon as I’ve had my coffee.’
Toby stood up and went to open the door for Daisy. ‘I’m off duty at six o’clock, so I suggest we go somewhere nice for dinner – my treat, of course.’
‘That would be lovely,’ Daisy said, smiling.
Toby’s words and those of her aunt had unsettled Daisy, but she put her worries behind her as she and Eleanora explored the shops in Oxford Street. They tried on bonnets and hats trimmed with feathers, flowers and seductive veils. Eleanora put aside a confection of pink roses and ostrich feathers, opting instead for a more matronly blue silk bonnet. Daisy had already picked a dashing straw hat for herself, and a more conservative style for Mary. They left the hat department laden with bandboxes and moved on to where shawls were displayed. There was a dazzling array and so many that it was almost impossible to choose between creations in delicate lace, fine wool and exotic Indian prints, shimmering with gold thread. Eleanora did not need much encouragement when it came to purchasing a particularly fine example of the French lacemakers’ art, and Daisy purchased a more practical, but still luxurious woollen shawl for Hilda. Then, having exhaust
ed the possibilities in that department, they turned their attention to gloves. They were shown woollen mittens and gloves made of peccary leather, embroidered silk and glossy satin. Then the shop assistant produced a range of fur hats and tippets, although it was still midsummer, but she assured them that these would sell out quickly at the first sign of autumn. Daisy purchased scarves and woollen mittens for Judy and Molly, and gloves for the tiny hands of Pip and Nate.
Exhausted by several hours of shopping, Daisy and her aunt made their way to Gunter’s and treated themselves to a selection of cream cakes and bowls of delicious ice cream. They returned to Sidney Square laden with packages and bandboxes. Eleanora paid the cabby and Daisy could tell by the way he grinned and doffed his cap that the tip had been generous. Laughing and chattering like a couple of excited schoolgirls, Daisy and her aunt took their purchases upstairs to Eleanora’s room. They tried everything on again, admiring themselves in the dressing-table mirror.
‘May I try your hat on again?’ Eleanora said eagerly. ‘I know it’s too young for me, but it is so pretty.’
Daisy fingered the black lace shawl that Eleanora had purchased, acting on impulse. She wrapped it around her shoulders. ‘What do you think of me in this, Aunt?’
Eleanora abandoned the hat with a rueful smile. ‘I may be too old for such a confection, but black lace is too matronly for you, my dear.’
‘That’s just the trouble,’ Daisy said, shaking her head. ‘I’m a married woman, but I might just as well be a spinster.’
‘Well, Daisy, I’m afraid you will have to bear it, no matter what. There’s no escaping your fate after you’ve taken your marriage vows. We married women are very much at the mercy of our husbands. I count myself very lucky to have a good man like your uncle.’
‘I suppose I’m fortunate in a way,’ Daisy said reluctantly. ‘I might not have a loving husband, but I am free to do things my way. I would find it quite hard if Jay were to return suddenly, especially if he wanted to take over the running of the estate.’
