His thoughts were checked when the door was pushed open unceremoniously and Hilda, in a whisper, said, ‘Lady Golding has called.’
This wasn’t the first time in the last few weeks that this lady had called upon them, and he supposed he should consider it an honour. His servants expressed awe at the mention of her name as if she was a holy visitation. But there was nothing holy about this woman: she was a robust, forthright individual, and likeable, but nevertheless, she was of Harpcore’s class, a close friend of his and a woman of the world, and it would be with her like that Nancy Ann would have to associate, and learn…What? Yes, what would she learn?
Hilda’s hushed tone came again, saying, ‘Miss Nancy Ann has taken her in to the mistress.’
‘Well, that’s all right.’ His voice was unduly sharp and the door closed abruptly.
It was a full ten minutes before he decided to go and greet the visitor. But when he entered the room she was apparently on the point of leaving for she was rising from her seat, saying, ‘Well, I won’t tire you, Mrs Hazel. I’m on my way to call on Denny. His head full of arrangements, he’s obviously missing a mother and is treating me as such, and I consider it no compliment.’ She smiled broadly as she turned her glance on Jessica, who, being diplomatic and tactful for once, replied, ‘An elder sister perhaps, but certainly not his mother.’ And at this Pat Golding smiled more broadly still and, inclining her head towards the older woman, said, ‘I thank you. That remark is most kind and will buoy me up for the rest of the day.’ She turned again towards the bed, ‘Goodbye, Mrs Hazel. I shall call upon you soon if I may.’
‘Please do, Lady Golding. You are very welcome. See Lady Golding out, Nancy Ann.’
It was all very formal, and as her ladyship came up with John she merely inclined her head towards him, saying, ‘Vicar,’ then passed on. In the hall she pulled her fur cape tightly up to her neck as she muttered, ‘Don’t you feel the cold, dear?’
‘Not really; I prefer it to the heat.’
Pat put out her hand and touched Nancy Ann’s cheek, saying now, ‘What it is to be young. But wait till you get up there.’ She pointed towards the door. ‘It’s like a hothouse; they have a coal mine delivered every week. And that daft creature is there again. Have you met her?’
‘You mean Lady Beatrice?’
‘That’s who I mean.’
Nancy Ann smiled. ‘Yes, I’ve met her and been introduced to her family.’
‘Oh, did you ever know such a thing? You can understand one or two dolls to compensate for a broken romance, but how many has she brought with her this time? Conway told me she had three bass hampers full. But—’ She leant towards Nancy Ann now, and in a low voice said, ‘She’s not as daft as she makes out. Oh, no, she’s wily. She was wily before her head got muddled. I’ve known her since she was a girl. Do you think when she’s down with her cousin she has maids waiting on her and a bath every day? No, of course not. If I could get into that room when she’s taking a bath I’d be accompanied by a scrubbing brush, and use it. Believe me, Denny’s a fool for putting up with her. And when you get up there, my girl, learn to put your foot down. And not only on her. There’s lots of things behind the scenes in that house which want rectifying; half that lot wouldn’t last five minutes under me. Well, I must be away.’
At the open door she turned and, nodding at Nancy Ann, now said, ‘I wish your wedding was over, my dear, I do that, I’m worn out already.’ Then she smiled broadly, put out her hand again and patted Nancy Ann’s arm before stepping outside and hurrying through the frosty air to her coach.
Lady Patricia Golding marched into Rossburn House and, almost throwing her cloak and fur stole at Robertson, she demanded, ‘Where’s your master?’
‘He…he was in his study, m’lady.’
Without further ado she stalked across the hall and down the passage opposite, past the library, turned right along another short passage and, pushing open the end door, she walked in and surprised Dennison, who wasn’t writing at his desk but sitting in a leather chair by the window. He had been gazing out onto the garden and thinking of the future, but now he was quickly on his feet, saying, ‘My, my, Pat, you came in there like a devil in a gale of wind. What’s your hurry? Sit down. Will you have a drink?’
‘Yes, something hot. I’ve just come from your future wife’s icebox. My, how they exist in that house God alone knows! But I suppose’—she grinned—‘He sees they survive because He needs the vicar. But enough of this. I’ve come to tell you something and it’s just this, Denny. That woman in that bed is not going to last out till June if I know anything.’
‘You think not?’
‘I feel sure not. And you know what that implies: your wedding will certainly be postponed then. Can’t you do anything about it to bring it forward if the invitations haven’t gone out yet? And there’s another thing. When the mother goes you’ll have more opposition from the father; that man isn’t for you.’
‘I’m well aware of that, Pat. But I can do nothing about bringing the wedding forward. Why, I was amazed when I knew it was to be June. If he’d had his way it could have been a village engagement going on for three or four years. No, I couldn’t do anything about it.’
‘Well, that’s up to you…Get me that drink.’
He rang the bell, and when the footman appeared he ordered hot coffee and brandy. A few minutes later, as they sat, one at each side of the fire, drinking the laced coffee, Pat said, ‘Have you seen anything of Rene lately?’
‘Only once since she called here, all light and understanding, and that was at the Fentons last Thursday. I understood from her that she was going up to town the following day.’
‘Oh, yes, she goes up to town quite a bit. And you know who she sees up there?’
‘Is this a guessing game? She has many friends, as you know.’
‘Well, Larry Freeman wasn’t one of her closest, was he? He was jealous of her association with you and she was jealous of the power he seemingly wielded over you. But it came out just in casual conversation on one particular night. I was having a word with Jim Boyle and he happened to turn the conversation in his undiplomatic way to you and her, and what your relationship was now, which led, as usual, to his dripping bits of tittle-tattle. And in this case it was that your late friend Larry and your late mistress Rene seemingly meet in London, and not infrequently. He had seen them once dining together and at another time riding at Rotten Row. Now what do you make of that?’
‘I wouldn’t know unless I gave it some thought.’
‘You don’t need to think about that. Neither of them loves you now. No matter what kind of a front she puts on, the quieter she is, the smoother she is, the more dangerous I would sense her to be. By the way, how are your finances?’
‘Oh, Pat! Pat.’
‘Never mind, Oh, Pat! Pat. You can’t have lost much lately because you haven’t been playing, but last year by all accounts you went through a hell of an amount. Now, as I told you then and I’m telling you now, you can’t keep it up.’
‘I…I don’t intend to, so don’t worry.’
‘Oh.’ She took a gulp from her cup, then wiped her lips with the back of her thumb before saying, ‘The instinct that has caused you to warm your bed in the past will soon be provided for legitimately; and how long you remain faithful, that depends. But the gaming is a different problem altogether. You’re not a lucky gambler, you know, Denny.’
‘I’m like everyone else, Pat, I have runs.’
‘You had one winner with your horses last year. And that’s an expensive business alone, but the cards can outdo it. You know I’m speaking the truth and I’m not going to apologise for taking the liberty of talking the way I’m doing; I’ve always done so since I first knew you, and I’m not changing now. I seem to have taken over from where your mother left off. I often used to wish I was a little younger. I would have made a damn sight better bed warmer than the one you picked.’
‘Oh, my dear Pat.’ He turned awa
y, his face screwed up with suppressed laughter. ‘What will you come out with next?’
‘What I’ll come out with next is to repeat the main cause of my visit here this morning when I should be with George in Newcastle supporting him supporting Roland who is determined to stand for the by-election in Fellburn. That son-in-law of mine hasn’t got an ounce of sense in his head, yet he thinks he can beat the Tory candidate. Now that’s something you should do, take up politics, get into Parliament. That would steady you up.’
‘My dear Pat, I don’t need any more steadying than I am at present. I’ve never felt steadier in my life.’
She drained the last of the coffee, then pulled herself to her feet, saying, ‘Say those same words to me after three years of marriage and I’ll believe you’re a changed man. Now I’ve got to go, but let me finish what I meant to say; marry that girl as soon as possible. The mother apparently wants to see her daughter settled, so that would be an excuse for bringing the wedding forward.’
‘I couldn’t do it, Pat.’ His tone was emphatic. ‘That would be utterly cruel. It would be like saying to her: you were going to die in July after having seen your daughter settled, but now you won’t last that long, so I would like to bring the marriage forward, that’s if you wish to see it. No, no; things must stand as they are, I must take my chance.’
‘Well, all I can say is, if she dies and the wedding is postponed, as it surely will be, prepare yourself for a fight with that man, because the girl’s loyalties will be torn asunder. And from the way she talks she looks upon her father as someone special, an embryo saint. Anyway, I must be off. Think about what I’ve said, not only about her, but about your two friends. I never liked Larry Freeman and he never liked me. I used often to think, put a couple of horns on his head and you would have a good replica of the devil and someone just as smooth.’
‘Go on with you.’ He pushed her gently in the back. ‘You forget that he was a good companion to me for years.’
‘Yes, anyone can be a good companion if they have board and lodgings free and their gambling debts and their bills paid. Oh—’ She was trotting towards the door as she said, ‘I would be a friend to you myself if you would make me an allowance of two thousand a year, provide me with shooting and fishing for my married brood and grandchildren, travelling expenses, holidays abroad. Think about that an’ all. I’m sure George wouldn’t mind.’
‘You’re incorrigible. Get on your way, woman.’
In the hall the footman had helped her on with her cloak, and she flung her great fur stole over her shoulder, then saying, ‘Don’t see me off, you’ll get your death,’ she turned to depart but he laughed at her suggestion and, taking her arm, led her towards the coach, and when she was seated he leant forward and said, ‘Thanks for everything, Pat. I appreciate your concern and I’ll think on it.’
‘You do.’ She nodded at him.
He closed the door, gave a signal to the coachman, then stood for a moment watching her carriage being driven away before returning to the house and into the study again. And there, sitting down by the fire, once more he leant forward, one elbow on his knee, his closed fist supporting his chin, and as he stared into the flames he asked himself what he would do if the wedding was postponed. He had been firm with himself during the past weeks and had hoped his firmness would stand by him for the weeks ahead. They were now in the middle of April with only May to go. But what would happen if Pat were proved to be right? Well, in that case he would just have to go up to town every now and again and have a few days at the club. Anyway, he would have to go up next week; there was the business of the bank to see to.
Seven
Dennison had been away in London since Tuesday, and now it was Saturday and the letter she had received from him this morning had asked her to be at the House around four o’clock. He had begun his short letter with ‘My dearest one’, and ended with ‘Your loving Denny’.
She hadn’t imagined she’d miss him so much. She had got used to seeing him every day even if it was for only a short time, and the thought had entered her mind that if she were never to see him again her life would become empty. She had spent most of the time in the sickroom, but today her mother had insisted that Pratt drive her to the House and in good time to welcome her fiancé home.
When she stepped down from the dogcart she thanked Pratt, then walked across the gravel and up the steps to the terrace. She had learned not to knock on the door, and so, turning the big ebony handle, she pushed the heavy oak door open, crossed the vestibule to the glass-fronted double doors that closed off the hall and, opening one of them, she entered. At first the hall appeared empty until, from the far corner, two surprised figures turned and stared at her. One was Robertson, the second footman, the other was the pretty woman whom she saw in church on a Sunday, the one who hadn’t been in the line-up when she was first introduced to the staff and whom she had not encountered since. The young woman was evidently flustered: she dipped her knee, bowed her head, then scurried away, while Henry Robertson came quickly forward, saying, ‘Good afternoon, miss.’
‘Good afternoon, Robertson.’ She had noticed before that of all the male staff he was the most pleasant and that his voice did not hold the stiff superior tone of the others.
‘Has your master arrived yet?’
‘No, miss, but—’ He glanced towards the big grandfather clock with the complicated face, whose strike boomed as loud as the church bell, and he said, ‘It’s a little early. Can I get you some tea, miss?’
She stood uncertain for a moment. If she had tea it would be served by the butler or one of the housemaids, and, try as she would, she could not rid herself of the feeling of awkwardness in their presence. So, smiling at the man, she said, ‘No thank you. I think I shall take a walk. It’s the first really fine day we’ve had for some time. The sun is quite warm. Should…should your master return before I get back, you can tell him I am walking in the direction of the farm.’
‘I’ll do that, miss, yes.’ He hastily opened the glass door for her, then the front door, and he inclined his head in a bow as she walked past him. And as she went across the drive she told herself that if the attitude of the rest of the staff was like that of Robertson she would have no trepidation in becoming mistress of this vast establishment.
She turned the corner of the house and into the courtyard formed by the north side of the house and outbuildings along the other two sides. In going this way she wouldn’t have to pass the kitchen quarters. Six horses were kept here for the carriages, the rest were in stables at the farm with their own men to look after them.
Two horses had their heads over their half-doors and she went towards one and held out her hand, and the horse rubbed its wet muzzle against her palm. She did the same with the second horse and was about to move away when, from the empty stable next door, a young man stepped, and at the sight of her, he raised his cap, then smiled, saying, ‘Good day to you, miss.’
The unmistakable Irish voice caused her to pause and she looked at the man. He was a stranger in the yard, she hadn’t seen him before; what was more strange still he looked like one of the McLoughlin boys, but he was a young man, well in his twenties.
She said, ‘You are new here?’
‘Aye, miss, yes. Me name’s Shane McLoughlin. I’m…I’m’—his face went into a huge grin—‘I’m one of them McLoughlins. You had notice, I understand, miss, of one or two of me brothers years gone by and put them rightly in their place.’
She blushed even as she smiled and replied, ‘There were six and two threes of us in those days, I think.’
‘You could hold your own, miss, you could hold your own by all accounts. You see, me bein’ the eldest, I was away in service. I was with Mr McMahon, you know over in Northumberland way, but he died and the place was sold up. But I wanted to be with horses and when this job was going here and it was near me home, well, I thought, it’s for me.’
At the back of her mind she knew that she shouldn’t stand her
e allowing this servant to chat to her like this, but it was so different, so refreshing.
‘How is your family?’
‘Oh, they are all doin’ well, miss, especially since me da died, God rest him. There were fifteen of us at the end and not one of us sorry to see him go, ’cos, you know, he’d neither work nor want. Me ma’s never been so happy in her troubled life, miss, an’ we all stand by her.’
She wanted to laugh out loud, really loud: there was an ache in her waist almost like a pain. She must go.
She was about to give him a last word when two men appeared from out of a door at the far end of the yard, and at the sight of her they stopped for a moment. Then one came forward. It was Gillespie the groom, and after casting a sharp glance at the Irishman, he looked at Nancy Ann, saying, ‘Is everything all right, miss?’
‘Oh, yes, yes. I…I was just having a word with’—she almost said Shane—‘McLoughlin here. I’m acquainted with his family. I’m pleased to see that he has come into Mr Harpcore’s service.’
She inclined her head towards him; then looking at Shane who was now straight-faced and looking not a little apprehensive, she added, ‘Give my respects to your mother when you next see her. Tell her that I am so glad she is well.’
A light spread over the man’s face for a moment and, touching the forelock of his thick black hair, he said, ‘I’ll do that, miss, with pleasure, I will, I will. Thank you, miss.’
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