“Edin Ronson I presume,” Edward enquired looking over to the third guard.
“Yes, My Lord.”
“Okay, let him go!” Edward shouted over.
Obeying his order to the letter, both guards let the man go which meant he went face down onto the ground with a bump.
Edward shook his head in disbelief and walked over to the man known as Edin.
“Get up!”
A man in his forties, with thin almost pointy features, grumbled as he slowly got to his feet, before lifting his hand up to the side of his head. Touching it tentatively he made a hissing sound before eventually looking up to Edward.
“My apologies for the method in which you were dragged out here. I merely asked them to fetch you,” Edward said realising he should probably think more about his orders before making them.
Edin Ronson just screwed his face up and grumbled under his breath.
“Have they told you who I am?” Edward asked wondering why the man hadn’t so much as acknowledged his presence.
“They have not, but I can assume by the tabards being worn by your soldiers, you have come from the capital,” Edin replied in a somewhat nasal sounding voice.
“Well, partly right. I am Lord Edward Smyth, and I believe this is my home. You are merely looking after it for me.”
Edward watched carefully as he waited for a response. The man before him twitched slightly as if nervous, twiddling with his fingers before speaking.
“Begging your pardon, My Lord. I was led to believe you would not be here for some time.”
Edward couldn’t be certain what Edin had been told in regards to his posting. He supposed that had the war been a prolonged one, then it would have been quite likely his stay in Miranor would have also been longer. However, the fact that Edin Ronson had tried to pretend to others that he was in some way noble and had requested the guards to refer to him as such was actually a serious offence. Edward could, if he so wished, have the man arrested and charged, yet he had no intention of doing that, at least not yet. Knowing Edin had been overseeing things in Nackleton, Edward was quite aware that he would be a good source of information. Moreover, Edward needed all the updates on what he had actually inherited as regards land, monies and more important, the responsibilities he was obliged to uphold.
After requesting the guards who had fetched Edin outside should return to their posts, with new orders, Edward suggested that he be shown inside. With a sense of trepidation Edward slowly climbed the three stone steps that led up to the doors and waited for Edin to enter first. He was greeted by a large, bright and airy foyer that had the main staircase running up in front of him and doorways leading off both to both the left and right. He immediately spotted several marks on the walls that suggested something had been there but had recently been removed.
“The Merrington family were permitted to take their portraits with them,” Edin said as he noticed what Edward was looking at.
“Yes? What do you want?”
Edward heard the question and turned to see who Edin was talking to.
“Begging your pardon My Lord, it seems your wagon driver has decided to follow us in,” Edin explained.
Edward couldn’t help but chuckle as he spotted the look on his father’s face.
“That’s my father,” Edward replied.
Edward watched as Edin seemed to squirm once more, just confirming his earlier assessment of him being a somewhat creepy man.
“Father, you better bring our guest in here as well,” Edward added wanting to discuss things with Frederick Elthan before making up his mind on how much freedom he was willing to allow him.
In all fairness to Edin, the house was clean and in good order, but here and there was further evidence of items having been removed. As Edward was shown around the house, he could tell that much of the furniture was of high quality and had probably cost a lot of money to manufacture. A large oval, highly polished table with twelve matching chairs positioned around it took pride of place in what Edin described as the formal dining room. With a large stone fireplace at the far end, and a vast window at the other, Edward thought it would make a good room should he ever decide to entertain guests.
Moving on into the kitchen Edward was surprised to find it bereft of life. Sure, the worktables, cupboards, rows of pots and pans were all there, but nobody was working. The ovens were clearly not lit, and just to verify the point he held his hand over the top to check for warmth. As he suspected, they were cold, and from the dust that had settled on the top of them, they had not been lit or cleaned for some time.
“I dismissed the cooks when I arrived…The lady who cleans makes me my meals at her home and brings them in, for a little extra in her wages, to cover the costs of course,” Edin explained.
“Okay, we’ll need to re-hire then.”
“I could cook,” came the familiar sound of his father’s voice from behind him.
“No, you’re not here to make my dinners,” Edward replied declining the offer.
“What am I suppose to do?” Stanley asked holding his hands up.
“Not this,” Edward replied unsure of how his father would accept a more relaxed life having been used to working for so long.
Trying to find a compromise, Edward suggested his father could clean up a little and get the ovens lit if he insisted on doing something.
“I’m afraid the pantry is empty,” Edin added somewhat unsure as to how Edward would react.
Knowing it wasn’t Edin’s fault for there not being any food in the house, Edward reached down to his coin purse. After loosening the opening, he tipped several coins out into the palm of his hand before replacing them inside. Instead, he handed the full purse over to his father, “Perhaps you can go into town and restock the pantry for me.”
Stanley gave a big grin and took the coins, “Oh, see you’ve found me a job already,” he quipped.
Edin showed Edward the lounge and library, both of which were fully furnished and clean, a sign that the house cleaner had been doing her job. Aside from two offices and a further informal room generally used for eating and just relaxing, there was also the entrance down into the cellar. After lighting a lamp that hung on the wall beside the door, Edward followed Edin down a set of stone steps. In the flickering lamplight, he could see a vast open area, interspaced by brick columns which evidently supported the main part of the house. Here and there he could make out dark shapes, which Edin explained were old pieces of furniture and general clutter that the Merrington family had acquired over the years. At the far end was another door, “That is the treasury, My Lord,” Edin told him as he headed in that direction.
“Is there much in it?” Edward inquired.
“I have been collecting this year's taxes from the locals and added to what had been left by the previous occupants, I’d say your finances are sound. Of course, that will all depend on how many staff and soldiers you plan to hire, and my wages of course,” Edin added at the end peering up towards Edward as if judging for a reaction.
Back up in the main house, Edward followed Edin to the staircase. Although quite wide it was dwarfed by some of those he had seen in the royal palace.
“There are eight bedrooms upstairs, of which I occupy one,” Edin said as the pair walked side by side.
“There are also a couple of spare rooms that are just full of more junk. Perhaps they could be used for more bedrooms if you require them?”
“I think eight is more than enough,” Edward replied.
“Aside from cooks, you will probably have to hire a few more staff to oversee the upkeep of the house. Oh! Perhaps a gardener and a couple of stablehands if you plan to have horses.”
Edward just nodded his head in agreement and being as this was all new to him, just agreed to everything Edin said. He supposed that if he took on a few staff and see how they managed he could decide for himself if he would need more or not.
“Are you staying around for long?” Edward asked, realising that n
ow he had arrived in Nackleton, Edin’s job was pretty much over.
“If it is okay with you, I’ll stay another week or so, just until I have everything in order, so I can hand over to you.”
Edward shrugged, “Sure, whatever you think is best.”
After leaving Edin to continue with whatever job he had been doing before his arrival, Edward ventured back into the foyer where Frederick Elthan was waiting beside two guards. Still bound at the wrists by a pair of metal manacles, the man looked somehow strange. Edward wasn’t quite sure what it was about him, but it was as if he had given just given up and accepted whatever fate awaited him. Only after he had dismissed the two guards to allow them to get settled in, did he turn his attention to his prisoner.
“Now what am I going to do with you?” He asked. While the question was spoken aloud, Edward meant it only as a passing moment of thought. Frederick said nothing in any case, standing there with his head hung low.
“And the next question is how far I can trust you? Do I risk taking these things off?” He added reaching down to Frederick’s bound wrists.
As he grabbed the other man, Edward noticed that the magical bangle placed there by Lady Oakley and Nerina was still in place. On contact he felt the slightest of chills run up his arm, something he now knew was his body telling him that magic was present. However, this was slightly different in that it was not a strong or prolonged sensation but merely the slightest hint. Edward wasn’t sure how magic worked, but being as Frederick was still wearing it, suggested that the spell or enchantment placed upon it was still somehow there, even though neither of them two were anywhere close. Wondering as to whether this might be the cause of Frederick’s somewhat sullen, broken state of mind, Edward decided to take a chance, a big one.
“I’m going to take these off you,” Edward said as he started twisting the screws that fastened the manacles around Frederick’s wrist. Somewhat wary of how he would react, Edward removed the shackles slowly but stayed alert just in case Frederick made any sudden movements. As it was, the man barely flinched.
“Come on, walk with me,” Edward said.
Keeping a watchful eye on Frederick, Edward suggested they head outside and venture around the back to see what state the garden was in. Unfortunately, the pathway around the side of the house already had weeds growing from it, and the garden and lawns were anything but neat and tidy. Having no gardener to keep on top of things, it seemed nature had quickly taken control. The grass on the lawn was several inches tall and of varying lengths, with the odd weed having intruded upon it. The flowers in the garden had all died off and what remained of them had been left in the soil. Again the weeds had quickly gained a foothold, and Edward knew that finding someone to deal with this would have to be a priority before everything became overgrown.
The garden to the rear of the property was divided into two and had a hedge to block the view of the rear section, the one furthest from the main house.
“Vegetables!” Edward said, quite shocked at his discovery. It seemed that Lord Merrington had sectioned off part of his own garden to grow his own produce. While much of it had either died off or turned to seed, he quickly spotted a few winter vegetables that perhaps might be okay to use.
“Don’t suppose you like gardening?” Edward asked turning his attention back to Frederick, who had remained completely silent and subservient since his release.
“I used to help our gardener in Bargsea as a boy, but Father put a stop to it.”
Edward took a step back. Unsure as to whether it was just because Frederick had finally said something or that this so-called evil man liked gardening.
“You want to work in the garden for me?” Edward asked unsure as to whether he was actually making a big mistake or not.
Frederick nodded his head, and for the first time since he had met the man, Edward noticed the slightest hint of a smile appear.
“Do you promise not to cause me any trouble or try and run away… You know I can’t watch you every hour of every day, and I’d rather not have to keep you in shackles.”
“And you will let me live here and tend your gardens?” Frederick asked.
“Sure… But you’re not planning on killing me are you?”
“I’ve seen enough death for one lifetime,” Frederick replied, exhaling loudly as he spoke.
“Okay then. Frederick, you are my gardener. I’ll pay you for your work of course, and you can live in the staff quarters of the house. How does that sound?”
“Good,” Frederick replied. “Can I start now?” he asked.
Edward just gestured with his hand for Frederick to go ahead and watched a while as the man seemed to spring into life. As if the mere purpose had energised him, Frederick bounded across the soil towards the vegetables.
“These cabbages will be okay to use!” he shouted back towards Edward.
“Excellent. Put whatever you think is useful in the kitchen…I’ll leave it with you,” he added.
Edward actually felt fine leaving Frederick to get on with the garden, and surprisingly had no worries that the man would merely do a runner the moment his back was turned. Of course, even if he did try, he would have to get out of the grounds first and then the main gates if he managed to get that far. Without a horse, any money or supplies and with the onset of winter almost upon them he probably wouldn’t get far anyway. Pushing the thought from his mind, and thinking he had made the right decision he headed back inside.
By late afternoon, Stanley had returned, after being out in the town for quite some time. Edward watched on as a couple of the soldiers helped unload two carts of food and supplies. These were not only for the house but for the small guard’s quarters as well, but from Edward’s perspective, it dawned upon him that he wouldn’t be getting much change, if any. At least with the pantry full, they wouldn’t be going hungry anytime soon. Catching his son watching, Stanley called over, “I got some bargains! I’ll rustle us up some dinner when I’m done.”
“Okay,” Edward called back, seemingly happy that his father appeared content enough.
Edin had already sent the word out that Lord Smyth was now residing at the main house, and he was looking for staff. Apparently, it was deemed a big thing, and getting employment there was very much sought after. Edward thought it was probably better having it that way than have no one apply because nobody wanted the jobs. The downside to the vacancies being popular choices did mean that the list of applicants was already two pages long. Being as this was something he wanted to get done sooner rather than later, he duly asked Edin to arrange the interviews for the post of cook for that day. While this was only one of several posts he had available, it at least would make a start.
As a result, a line of people waited patiently in the foyer of the main house, overseen by three of Edward’s new guards just to make sure everybody remained in order. One by one they were called into one of the offices on the ground floor, and duly seen by Edward and his father, with Edin on hand to explain the details of remuneration and duties. As a man who had some experience in cooking, Stanley had taken it upon himself to question each applicant. This was something Edward didn’t mind, and in truth, he had to admit that had it just been him interviewing he would have probably just given the jobs to the first two people.
However, Stanley seemed happy to take control of things and explained to Edward that aside from two cooks, working alternate shifts they would also need a couple of kitchen assistants. While Edward thought this was unnecessary, especially as there would only be just the two of them living there, Edin agreed this was probably the minimum number required. While it was true that once Edin had left it would only be Edward and his father, as a lord and nobleman, he would be expected to host dinners, parties and other such functions; something else that needed to be allowed for when calculating the budget. At least Edward felt comfortable knowing that his finances were okay, and was glad that Lord Merrington had not cleared the vaults of his treasury before leaving to attack
Lord Oakley in Scarwood.
After an hour of seeing random people for the positions on offer, Stanley finally rounded it down to the number they required. Both cooks were women in their forties and had bags of knowledge and experience, especially as one had claimed to have worked for the Merrington family before. The two assistants were much younger and would be expected to train as cooks, and learn while helping out. One was a young woman who Edward had thought very nervous and unsure of herself, but his father seemed to see something in her that he didn’t. Lastly, the second assistant post was to be offered to a young lad, probably no older than sixteen but had impressed both Edward and Stanley. Not only had he appeared clean and tidy in his appearance, but seemed genuinely enthusiastic about cooking and learning from someone with more experience; that person being Stanley. As a matter of fact, Edward thought that his father would have happily talked to the lad for hours about his time in the inn. Thankfully, Edin had seen fit to intervene, and after agreeing the finer details of the post, the young lad was asked to start work in the morning.
After the interviews were over and Stanley had followed through on his promise to make them their evening meal, the three of them sat down to discuss what else they needed to do. Mainly, it was Edin doing the talking and Edward listening, but he did add his own bits here and there where he thought he had something to offer to the subject at hand. Aside from further interviews for the other house staff, there were the accounts to go through, and for Edin to explain to Edward the ins and outs of his book-keeping system.
“I would recommend you hiring a personal assistant to look after your financial affairs,” the man had told him.
The Battle for Endallen Page 22