The Windfell Family Secrets

by Diane Allen

  She sat in front of her dressing-table mirror and ran her hairbrush through her long blonde hair and looked at herself. The hair she had been so proud of was beginning to show traces of silver now, a telltale sign of how hard a life she had endured, while her once-clear forehead now showed faint worry lines across her brow. She sat and twisted her hair into the usual bun that kept it in place for her daily duties, then pinned it with hair clips. Looking at herself again in the mirror, Charlotte smiled at her reflection. She might have aged a little, but she was still not bad-looking, and her eyes had a twinkle in them that showed a lust for life that she would never lose.

  Her thoughts were interrupted when a knock on the door brought her back to the present.

  ‘Enter.’ Charlotte turned on her stool and waited.

  ‘Morning, ma’am.’ Lily came into the room and smiled at her mistress. ‘Eve said you were awake, but not to disturb you, but I knew you’d be wanting to wash and for me to do your hair. I knew you wouldn’t be in bed, once you were awake. I see you’ve already won me with your hair. I’ll take your jug and bring you some warm water from the kitchen to wash in.’ She reached for the ornate jug and made her way out of the room.

  Charlotte sat and looked at herself again in the mirror and placed her head in her hands. She didn’t want to face the day, not if it meant falling out over Danny’s choice of woman. It was just like Archie to hide away up at Crummock rather than face reality, damn him!

  Isabelle and Danny sat around the long walnut table in the manor’s dining room, discussing the previous day’s celebrations, both taking pleasure in their choice of friends and lovers.

  ‘What did you look like, with that Harriet Armstrong on your arm? She’s a silly giggling ninny,’ Isabelle teased her brother over the breakfast table while she helped herself to scrambled eggs, which Thomson, the butler, offered her while trying not to listen to the two young people. ‘She’s so common, Danny. But I did admire the dress she was in, although the material was cheap.’

  ‘You can just keep your views to yourself. Who are you to say that Harriet is a giggling ninny? You weren’t much better. As for flirting – I was embarrassed when you kept making eyes at Robert Knowles. He’s only a farmer, you know; he’s not William Christie, your precious college boy.’ Danny stabbed his bacon. Isabelle could be so scathing sometimes and she didn’t mince her words.

  ‘William Christie! That’s my mother’s doing. He wouldn’t look at me twice, no matter how much she plots and plans, nor I at him. He loves his books too much. I know Robert farms at Feizor, but I don’t care; he makes me laugh, and his friend Luke is so charming.’ Isabelle grinned and blushed.

  ‘You were such a flirt, I don’t know how you can criticize Harriet. At least she’s only got eyes for me.’ Danny leaned on the table and looked across at his stepsister, in whom he knew all his friends were beginning to show an interest. But he could not see the fascination; Isabelle could be so mouthy and rude, and at the moment she was intent on disliking Harriet, his true love. ‘Now, Luke Clark, he’s a good man, always lets me have a free biscuit out of that big glass bottle they have on the counter of their grocery store. Have you tried them? They are from Carr’s biscuit factory in Carlisle. They are bloody good.’

  ‘You are always thinking of your belly. I’m not bothered what either man does, as long as they treat me right. We should both look for that in a suitor. Remember the mistake my mother made.’ Isabelle smiled at her brother; she loved Danny so much and never thought of him as a stepbrother. ‘Anyway, where’s Father this morning? I saw Mother in the morning room, but there’s not a sign of Father.’ She looked up quickly as Charlotte entered the room.

  ‘He’s gone up to Crummock. He couldn’t sleep, and he left the house just after six o’clock. What mistake have I made then? I just caught the end of your conversation.’ Charlotte walked across the dining room, pulled out her chair and sat down with her children, then sipped her tea as she waited for Isabelle to explain what she had been discussing.

  ‘Sorry, Mother, I was just saying that you were mistaken in thinking Robert Knowles took my eye, as Danny has pointed out that he farms at Feizor – not that being a farmer is anything to be ashamed of. Look at Father, he’s a true gentleman.’ Isabelle covered her tracks quickly. She and Danny had known the truth about her father from the day they were able to sit in the manor’s kitchen listening to the kitchen staff gossiping. Neither had ever let their parents know that they knew, although sometimes curiosity got the better of them both, before deciding such things were best forgotten; besides, both could not wish for better parents, and Charlotte’s true father did not deserve a second thought.

  ‘Robert Knowles – I think you are telling me lies, Isabelle. I saw the way you looked at him. Where is that dreadful kitten he gave you? I hope you are keeping an eye on it. What a silly birthday present to give you. I suppose one of the farm cats will have had kittens and they’ll want homes for them – it’ll have cost him nothing.’ Charlotte smiled silently to herself while she buttered her toast. The Knowles were a good family who farmed a stone’s throw away from Crummock. Isabelle could do worse, although Robert would know nothing about cotton, so he would be useless if Isabelle was ever to inherit Ferndale Mill, which gave the family its wealth.

  ‘Bobby’s in my bedroom. He’s perfectly clean and has slept on my bed with me.’ Isabelle was quick to defend her birthday present.

  ‘Is that the kitten or Robert, little sister?’ Danny couldn’t stop himself.

  ‘Danny, wash your mouth out! We will have none of that, not until you are both respectfully married. What did Miss Armstrong think of your home, Danny? I believe she works in the jeweller’s, your father informs me.’ Charlotte waited and watched for both children’s response.

  ‘She thought it was beautiful, Mother, but was disappointed that she did not get to meet you. Yes, she does work for Dora Bloomenber. I think old Ezera, before he died, treated Harriet more like his daughter, as he and his wife had not been blessed with family of their own.’ Danny waited for his mother’s response. He’d known that once Harriet said who she worked for, she would not be welcome in the family home, but she had decided to tell the truth, regardless of his mother’s reaction.

  ‘Mrs Bloomenber will be my aunt, won’t she, Mother? I’m right in thinking that she was my father’s sister? Not that you have ever told me, or that I have ever been introduced to her.’ Isabelle caught her breath and felt inwardly sick, for this was the first time she had dared to mention Dora Bloomenber and her knowledge that Dora was her aunt. She’d always been secretly fascinated by her father and his family, but knew it hurt her mother too much even to mention his name. Harriet had unknowingly given her the chance to ask other questions that she had never dared to raise, and she wasn’t going to waste the opportunity. She’d also decided that, despite Harriet being common, Danny was obviously in love with her, and Harriet working for her father’s relations should not be held against the girl.

  Charlotte was shocked. ‘How do you know that? Dora Bloomenber is not someone I would want either of you to be associated with; or Harriet.’ She threw down her napkin and looked at both of her children, who were obviously in cahoots. She had dreaded the day this woman entered into their lives, as Charlotte knew she surely would. And now her daughter was telling her that she had known about Dora, and about her real father. ‘She is pure poison, Isabelle, which is why she has never been mentioned in this house, and I forbid you to have anything to do with her.’ Charlotte’s voice trembled as she looked across at Danny and Isabelle. She felt physically sick at the thought that for years Isabelle and Danny had been keeping the secret of Isabelle’s parentage to themselves. She had fought so hard to protect Isabelle from the scandal that her father had cursed the family with, and now it was out in the open.

  Danny sighed, not quite knowing what to say and do. The tension between his mother and sister was unbelievable, and he felt guilty knowing that it was the introduction of Ha
rriet into the family that had brought it about. ‘Isabelle, tell Mother just how much we both know about the past. Perhaps it’s for the best that she knows all. After all, it is a secret that is better out in the open. We’ve both been pretending for so long that we knew nothing.’

  Isabelle left her seat and pulled up a chair next to her mother. She’d known all her life that Charlotte had been lying to her regarding her parentage, but was also aware it had only been done to protect her. ‘Mother, I love you dearly – we both do – and that is why we never talk of my father and his sister. As Danny says, we know all about my father and what he did to you; we’ve heard people gossiping about him since we could barely walk, let alone talk.’ Her eyes filled with tears, for she had wanted to tell her mother all this for so long, but hadn’t wanted to hurt her. Isabelle reached for her mother’s shaking hands and looked into her worried eyes. ‘We know my father, Joseph Dawson, was a cad and a murderer, and that Dora Bloomenber is probably just as evil.’

  Charlotte looked at both her children – the children she loved and would gladly lay down her life for. ‘I’ve been thinking for so long that it would break your heart if you were ever to find out, Isabelle. And then yesterday, on your birthday, the past came back to bite me, when Harriet said she worked for Dora Bloomenber. I knew that your father’s terrible ways could no longer be hidden. You know that Archie has brought you up as his own and loves you dearly. He will always regard you as his.’ Charlotte kissed her daughter’s bent head. ‘Danny, please be careful. Dora is a nasty piece of work. I wouldn’t want you influenced by her.’ She held out her free hand for Danny to take.

  ‘Mother, I know that you and Father love us both equally. I’ll make sure I keep Dora at a distance. After all, Harriet only works for her – Dora’s not her mother.’ Danny squeezed his stepmother’s hand. ‘Even my snotty stepsister has stood up for me this morning, which is quite a shock to the system.’

  ‘Eh, less of the snotty. And I expect your support when I find the man of my dreams.’ Isabelle lifted her head from her mother’s chest.

  ‘I’m just so glad it is all out in the open, as both your father and I have not slept a wink for worrying. If there’s anything else you need to know, just ask me.’

  ‘No, it’s in the past, Mother. Archie is my father and Danny is my brother – it’s as simple as that. I have hated hiding all that I have known about my parentage, and I know Danny has, too. Perhaps Harriet courting Danny has laid bare the past and all its secrets.’ Isabelle kissed her mother’s brow.

  ‘From what I understand, Dora hated her brother, so Harriet says. He treated her as badly as he did everyone else. So I don’t think she’ll give us any trouble.’ Danny leaned back in his chair.

  ‘So Harriet knows about all the scandal, and Dora talks about it?’ Charlotte was taken aback.

  ‘Yes, but as I say, it’s history now. What does it matter? You own the mill and employ half of Settle and the district, and my father is one of the leading farmers of Craven. Times have moved on.’ Danny poured himself another tea and looked at his sister and mother, thinking of all the worry that had been caused by one selfish man. He could never be like that.

  ‘Your father’s gone to Crummock with the weight of the world on his shoulders. He knows I’ve worried about Harriet and her connections all night. Now it seems you’ve heard it all, over the years. I’ll be honest, Danny. I told your father that I didn’t want Harriet in the house, and that he had to try and stop the romance you are both entwined in. I’m still unsure about you courting her, but I suppose time will tell; as long as she doesn’t come between us all – your father and I would never allow that. I do know what loving someone means, and I know love conquers all things, so from this day on you have my blessing.’

  Charlotte pulled her chair back from the table. She had a busy day ahead, with a visit to the mill later in the morning, and a social meeting with Tom Beresford from the Craven Lime Company in the afternoon, but the confession around the breakfast table had taken her by surprise.

  ‘Both your father and I have been so careful in trying to protect you from any harm. We both have so many bad memories, and of course your father was broken-hearted when your mother died, Danny. I feel guilty about not discussing it with you both before now. There just never seemed a right time, and I thought there was nothing to be gained by unearthing the past.’ Charlotte stood up, although her legs felt like jelly and her stomach was churning.

  ‘Mother, all we have ever known is love and protection from you both, so we need no apologies. I was curious about my father when I was younger, but I simply had to ask any of the servants downstairs, if I needed to know anything about him. They were quite forthcoming with their thoughts, while I was helping them with the chores. Please believe me that nothing anybody says or does can hurt me. I’m glad Harriet has entered our lives, as it’s made us talk about my father.’ Isabelle smiled across at her mother and brother.

  Charlotte shook her head. ‘I don’t know; those gossiping servants, they saw it all, but they were my rock when I needed them, along with your Great-aunt Lucy. Bless her soul, I would never have managed to buy the mill or afford to live here, without her.’

  ‘Great-aunt Lucy, who was your father’s cook and very close friend.’ Danny laughed.

  ‘Is there nothing you two don’t know?’ Charlotte glanced at Danny, and the impish look on his face told her that he knew the truth regarding her father’s relationship with Lucy Cranston.

  ‘Not a lot: we hear and see everything, don’t we, Izzy?’ Danny grinned.

  ‘We certainly do.’ Isabelle smiled, for twenty-one years of secrets had just been laid bare – the best birthday present she could have wished for.

  3

  Charlotte sat back in the gig. She’d never realized that both children had kept so many secrets to themselves, and the conversation had completely thrown her. She couldn’t help but question herself for keeping so much from Isabelle – had she done the right thing? It seemed so, as Isabelle had shown no interest in her parentage and had always accepted Archie as her father, despite secretly knowing the truth.

  ‘Lovely day, ma’am.’ Jethro smiled at his mistress, who was obviously deep in thought, as she had not said a word to him since she had climbed into the gig at Windfell.

  ‘It is indeed, Jethro.’ Charlotte looked at the man she had employed since he was a young lad. Had he told Isabelle about her father? She couldn’t help but wonder.

  ‘Mister Atkinson was away in good time this morning, ma’am. Is everything alright up at Crummock?’ Jethro asked, making idle conversation as he urged the horse on towards the mill.

  ‘Fine, thank you, Jethro. He just couldn’t sleep, and they are in the middle of scything their main meadow, so he went up to help. You know what it’s like: many hands make light work, especially when the weather’s like this. Best to get the grass mown, dried and into the barn, ready for winter.’

  ‘He likes to keep to his roots, doesn’t he, Mister Atkinson? Many a person would just sit back and give the orders, but not him. He’s a good man.’ Jethro smiled.

  ‘That he is, Jethro. I was a lucky woman the day he married me.’ Charlotte looked around her, watching the sun play on the sycamore leaves as the horse and cart trotted down the lane towards the mill.

  ‘Aye, but he knew he’d got a good catch with you, ma’am. You may have had your problems at the time, but he knew you were a determined woman.’ Jethro had been thinking about the past, like everyone else, since Isabelle’s birthday and couldn’t believe where the time had gone.

  ‘That’s the trouble, Jethro. Nobody ever forgets, and my family is a little bit more public than most. Still, I’m not complaining, because we want for nothing and at least the mill is back making a profit and everything seems to be going well. You might be able to help me, Jethro! Do you know anything about the Armstrongs at High Winskill? I don’t know much about them, apart from occasionally seeing the mother.’ Charlotte was aware that Je
thro knew everything there was to know about all the local families in the Dales, and so she waited.

  ‘Is this because Mister Danny was walking out with Miss Harriet yesterday? I noticed them when I was grooming Sheba.’ Jethro turned around and looked at Charlotte quickly, before concentrating again on the path in front of him.

  ‘You don’t miss much, do you, Jethro? Yes, it is. You know me: I like to know what or who I’m dealing with, and Harriet is a slight worry. No matter how much I try to deny it.’ Charlotte waited.

  ‘They are a good enough family, ma’am. Harriet’s father, Ted, will have inherited High Winskill up near Pen-y-Ghent from his father, and he’s steady enough. Her mother thinks herself a bit better than she is, and I bet she leads old Ted a fair dance, wanting things just right for her and her daughters. Agnes, the oldest, married Roger Warburton last year; she was the flighty one, so be thankful Danny isn’t walking out with her, and that it’s Miss Harriet has taken his eye!’ Jethro hesitated.

  ‘Yes, go on. Tell me about Harriet.’ Charlotte stared at Jethro.