A Loving Family

by Dilly Court

  ‘It’s not exactly a palace, but it’s given us shelter,’ Jacinta said mildly. ‘It’s better than the two rooms we had in Broadway Wharf, although I don’t suppose you remember them very well.’

  ‘Of course we do, Ma.’ Stella stopped peeling potatoes at the sink and turned her head to give her mother an encouraging smile. ‘It might not have been grand, but you made it a home for us.’

  ‘I remember watching the ships on the river,’ Freddie said thoughtfully. ‘I always wanted to go to sea like Pa.’

  ‘It’s not a bad life, boy.’ Perry added another drop of brandy to his own cup. ‘And a grog ration makes it more bearable.’

  Freddie stared at him, eyebrows raised. ‘Were you in the Navy?’

  ‘Aye, for ten years, but that was enough for me. I’d seen all I wanted to see of the world and I didn’t sign up for more.’

  Jacinta gazed sorrowfully at her son. ‘But for my mistakes you wouldn’t have been sent to sea when you were just a boy.’

  ‘As Perry said it’s not a bad life, Ma. It was hard at first, but you might say I grew up in it and now I’m a boatswain’s mate. I’m well on the way to being promoted to boatswain.’

  ‘And you’re happy with that, Freddie?’

  ‘I think so, Ma. After all I don’t know anything else, and now I’ve found my family I’ve got something to work for and to come home to. I want to see you all safe and settled and then I’ll be a happy man.’

  Perry slapped him on the back. ‘Well said, young fellow. I take my hat off to you for those sentiments, but you might change your mind about life at sea when you meet the right girl.’

  ‘Did you ever meet the right girl, Perry?’ Belinda paused with a paring knife in her hand as she prepared the carrots for the pot. ‘Was there a great sorrow in your life that blighted your view of all womanhood?’

  Spike leaned his elbows on the table, eyeing the brandy bottle. ‘Can I have a drop more?’

  ‘You’ve had enough, my boy.’ Perry slipped the bottle back into his pocket. ‘There was a young lady once. A pretty little thing with big brown eyes and a tumble of soft curls that made you want to run your fingers through her hair.’

  ‘That sounds very romantic.’ Stella put the potatoes on to boil. She moved to the table and sat next to Belinda. ‘Tell us about her, Perry.’ She picked up a carrot and started to peel it.

  ‘We was engaged to be wed.’ Perry sighed heavily. ‘Then I come back from sea and found she’d married someone else. In the family way she was and she swore it weren’t mine.’ He smiled apologetically. ‘Begging your pardon, ladies; I know it’s not the sort of subject to bring up in mixed company, but I’ve always thought I had a kid somewhere. He’d be about Spike’s age and just as spiky as this one’s name would imply.’

  Spike downed the rest of his tea. ‘I’ll be your boy, Perry. You can be me archangel and I’ll be the son you might have had.’

  ‘Sounds good to me.’ Perry ruffled Spike’s fluffy hair. ‘You and me are a great team, boy. Tomorrow we go back to work. We’ll find something against Gervase Rivenhall, and we’ve got that job from chambers to see to as well. We must do that first or there’ll be no money to pay for our board.’

  Stella finished the carrots and took them to the stove. ‘You needn’t worry about that for now, Perry. We can manage on what I make at the shop until you get your money. After all, we haven’t paid you for all the work you’ve done so far.’

  ‘I expect to get paid on results,’ Perry said stoutly. ‘So far, no result, no fee charged.’ He sniffed the air appreciatively. ‘That chicken smells good.’

  ‘Tell you what,’ Freddie said, rising to his feet. ‘Let me buy you a pint before we sit down for supper. I’ve got my pay and I’ll give some to Ma, but I can afford to stand you a drink or two.’

  Perry was quick to follow his example. ‘That sounds like an invitation I can’t refuse.’ He handed the brandy bottle to Stella. ‘See that Mrs Maud gets a nip in her tea. The poor soul looked exhausted when I left her in the parlour. That bloody cat was quiet too, so they must have been tired out by the journey.’

  Stella smiled. ‘Thanks. I’ll take her tea in now.’

  ‘Can I come with you?’ Spike stood up, eyeing Perry hopefully.

  ‘Course you can, son.’ Perry held out his hand. ‘Come on. Us men will get out of the way and leave the ladies to create a feast.’

  ‘Men have it easy,’ Belinda said as the door closed on them. ‘I sometimes wish I’d been born a man.’

  Stella made a fresh pot of tea and filled a cup, adding a generous tot of brandy. ‘I’ll take this to Aunt Maud and then we can talk about what we’re going to do tomorrow, Ma.’

  ‘My mind is made up,’ Jacinta said with a defiant lift of her chin. ‘I’m going to Heron Park and demand to see Gervase. I’m not afraid of him now.’

  ‘We’ll all go with you. He’ll have to listen then. We’ll refuse to leave until he’s agreed to go through with the divorce. You can tell him that your memory has returned and you know how the poor girl died. That should convince him.’ She was about to leave the room when the door opened and Perry burst into the room waving a copy of the Daily News.

  ‘You’ll want to read this, Mrs Rivenhall. This concerns you.’

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  JACINTA SNATCHED THE newspaper from him and her hands trembled as she read the article out loud. ‘Prominent member of society found murdered. Mr Gervase Rivenhall’s body was discovered in the grounds of his country estate, Heron Park, last evening. The police are investigating his death.’ Jacinta sat down suddenly, allowing the paper to fall to the floor.

  Stella scooped it up. ‘It doesn’t say how he died or if there are any suspects,’ she said dazedly.

  Perry looked over her shoulder, and his lips moved silently as he studied the newsprint. ‘I’ve got contacts in the Met. First thing tomorrow I’ll see what I can find out, but I don’t think anyone is going to grieve over Mr Rivenhall’s sudden demise.’ He shot an apologetic glance in Jacinta’s direction. ‘Begging your pardon, ma’am.’

  She smiled vaguely. ‘I’m not going to pretend something I don’t feel. I’m glad he’s dead, and I hope it means that Kit and Rosa come into their inheritance.’

  ‘Will they, Perry?’ Belinda took the newspaper from Stella and read the article. ‘Does this mean that they’ll get their home back?’

  ‘I’m not a lawyer, Miss Belle. I wouldn’t like to say, but it depends if Mr Rivenhall left a will.’ He sent a questioning look to Jacinta. ‘Would you know if he did, ma’am?’

  ‘No. We weren’t on those sorts of terms.’ Jacinta rose somewhat unsteadily to her feet. ‘I detested the man, but it’s still come as a shock.’

  ‘But you’re free, Ma,’ Stella said quickly. ‘That’s the good part. You can marry Mr Hendy and forget all about Gervase Rivenhall.’

  Belinda nodded in agreement. ‘That’s right, Ma. You’re a widow now.’

  ‘Maybe he left the house to you, ma’am,’ Perry said, grinning.

  ‘But if Kit has inherited the estate he might be able to buy himself out of the Army,’ Stella murmured, half to herself.

  ‘We’ll have to wait and see.’ Jacinta picked up a chamber candlestick and lit the candle with a spill. ‘I’m very tired. I think I’ll go to my room.’

  ‘And I’ll go to the pub and make sure that young Spike hasn’t persuaded Freddie to treat him to a tot of gin. No wonder the boy’s stunted if that’s what Ronald Clifford fed him every night so that he didn’t witness his crooked dealings.’

  Belinda stifled a yawn. ‘I’m going to bed too. It’s been a long day and I’m worn out.’ She followed her mother from the room.

  Stella laid her hand on Perry’s arm as he was about to leave. ‘Is it possible to find out if there’s a will? Do you know which solicitor Mr Rivenhall used?’

  ‘No, miss, but I’m well in with the lawyers’ clerks. It could take some time but I might be able to discover some
thing.’ He rammed his battered top hat onto his head. ‘I’m off then. This has been quite a night and it’s not over yet.’

  She smiled. ‘Don’t let my brother drink too much, Perry. I’m relying on you to bring them both home reasonably sober.’

  He tipped his hat. ‘You can trust me, miss.’

  Stella was in the shop kitchen finishing off a batch of iced buns when Rosa burst into the room. Her cheeks were flushed from the cold and her eyes sparkling as she embraced her friend. ‘I’ve come home early,’ she said happily. ‘I know it’s wicked to be glad that someone is dead but I can’t mourn Uncle Gervase. He was a hateful man and he treated us so badly.’

  Stella held her at arm’s length. ‘You’re getting covered in icing sugar, Rosa. You’ll ruin that lovely fur cape.’

  ‘It is beautiful, isn’t it? Tommy’s mother gave it to me as an engagement present. It’s Russian sable but she said that it never really suited her, and anyway she has a wardrobe filled with furs and beautiful clothes, so I hardly think she’ll miss it.’ Rosa did a twirl. ‘It is rather fine though, and it’s lovely and warm. The roads are still covered in snow and once or twice I thought we were going to have an accident but the Langhornes’ coachman is very capable.’

  ‘You look radiant.’ Stella turned to her mother, who was stirring dried fruit into cake mixture. ‘Doesn’t she look happy, Ma?’

  Jacinta nodded. ‘Yes, indeed. Will you return to Heron Park now, my dear?’

  ‘I hadn’t given it a thought.’ Rosa’s smile faded. ‘I don’t know if it’s possible or even if I’d want to live there without Kit, and I’d miss all of you terribly.’

  ‘Well, the house needs someone there to look after it.’ Stella smoothed icing on the last bun and stood back to admire her work. ‘What will happen to the servants, for one thing? There ought to be someone in charge.’

  Rosa frowned thoughtfully. ‘I suppose that ought to be you, Jacinta. You were his wife.’

  ‘That’s something I’d rather forget.’ Jacinta spooned the mixture into a cake tin. ‘I never had anything to do with the servants. Gervase left the management of the household to Mrs Kendall. I suppose she will simply carry on until the new owner of Heron Park takes up residence, and that might be you and your brother, Rosa.’

  ‘All the same, I think you should pay a visit to your old home and make sure that everything is running smoothly.’ Stella gave Rosa an encouraging smile. ‘I’ll come with you, if you like. Perhaps we could look for your uncle’s will, or at least find out the name of his solicitor. He must have kept papers in his study that would give us some information.’

  ‘He was so mean he probably didn’t employ a solicitor.’ Rosa selected a bun and took a bite, licking the sugar from her lips with a satisfied sigh. ‘I’m sorry, but I’m starving. I didn’t have time to eat breakfast and it’s past midday.’ She popped the remainder into her mouth. ‘Tommy is waiting outside in the carriage. I’ll pay for that, Stella, and take a couple for him. He has a very sweet tooth.’

  ‘I’m sure I can afford to let you have them for nothing.’

  Jacinta looked up from her work. ‘What plans did you have, Rosa? I mean, are you going to stay with us or are you returning to Portgone Place?’

  ‘I’ll stay in London until the wedding, but Sir Percy said we can’t think of getting married until the summer. He doesn’t approve of whirlwind courtships. He’s a dear, but rather old-fashioned.’

  ‘Then we’ll see you back at the house.’ Stella picked up the tray and was about to make for the door when Jacinta called her back.

  ‘If I may make a suggestion, why don’t you girls get Tommy to escort you to Heron Park today? If you arrive in the Langhornes’ barouche it will look much better than turning up in a hired chaise. You’re still a Rivenhall, Rosa. You might even discover that your uncle honoured his promise and left the estate to Kit. You need to find that will.’

  ‘Ma’s right.’ Stella carried the tray into the shop and set it down behind the counter. She turned to Rosa. ‘The legalities could go on for months, even years.’

  ‘It’s a lot to ask of Tommy,’ Rosa said, frowning. ‘We’ve come a long way and he has to make the return journey.’

  ‘What’s a lot to ask of me?’ Tommy stood in the shop doorway, stamping his feet and rubbing his hands together. ‘I’m sorry, my love, but it’s freezing outside. I really must hurry you.’

  ‘Jacinta and Stella think we ought to visit Heron Park,’ Rosa said with a persuasive smile. ‘That’s what I meant when I said it was a lot to ask of you. It would make it impossible to travel back to Essex this evening.’

  ‘I don’t see the problem, my sweet. Presumably you’ve got a full complement of servants in the old place, and if Mrs Rivenhall and Stella were to accompany us it wouldn’t be improper for me to stay. The horses could rest overnight and be fresh for the journey home tomorrow.’

  Stella glanced at her mother. ‘Would you feel up to that, Ma? We could leave Belle and Aunt Maud in charge of the shop and be back by midday tomorrow.’

  ‘I’d hoped never to see that place again,’ Jacinta said wearily. ‘But I suppose I must face my fears. I will come with you, but first I want to make sure that Maud is willing to help Belle in the shop.’

  Noakes greeted them with tears in his eyes. ‘Miss Rosa, I thought I’d never see you again. We’ve been in a terrible way since the master’s death. No one tells us anything, and we’re afraid we’ll be turned out on the street.’

  ‘We’re here to sort things out, Noakes.’

  ‘Will you be staying, Miss Rosa?’

  ‘Tell Mrs Kendall that we’ll be four for dinner this evening.’

  ‘Does that include the lawyer, Miss Rosa?’

  ‘What’s this?’ Tommy demanded. ‘I thought you didn’t know your uncle’s lawyer?’

  ‘Nor do I, Tommy.’ Rosa turned back to Noakes. ‘Where is this person?’

  ‘In the study, Miss Rosa. He’s been going through the late master’s papers since early this morning.’ Noakes glanced anxiously at Jacinta. ‘He said he was doing it at your bidding, ma’am.’

  Jacinta drew herself up to her full height. ‘I think we should see this man and find out who gave him permission to go through my husband’s things.’

  ‘Well said, Ma,’ Stella whispered.

  ‘Quite right.’ Rosa nodded with approval. ‘There’s no need to announce us, Noakes. We’ll handle this ourselves. Come, Tommy.’ She marched off with a purposeful set to her shoulders.

  Jacinta hesitated. ‘Ask Mrs Kendall to have rooms made ready, Noakes, and a fire in the morning parlour would be most welcome.’ She linked her hand through Stella’s arm as they made their way towards the study. ‘I’m shaking from head to foot.’

  ‘No one would know. You did that magnificently.’

  ‘The servants always terrified me, Stella. I’m not made for this sort of life.’

  ‘You’ll be free from it all the moment we find out what Gervase had in mind, and then you need never set foot in Heron Park again.’

  Jacinta said nothing, but Stella could see that simply being in the house was bringing back unhappy memories. She gave her arm an affectionate squeeze as they followed Rosa and Tommy into the study.

  ‘Who are you?’ Rosa stared at the flamboyant character who was sorting through a pile of papers on Gervase’s desk.

  ‘Yes, what right have you to be here?’ Tommy demanded.

  ‘I am Herbert Chiltern, the late Mr Gervase Rivenhall’s lawyer.’ Chiltern struck a pose that would have received a round of applause had he been acting a part on the London stage. ‘Whom have I the pleasure of addressing?’ He brushed a lock of hair back from his forehead, revealing a ruffled shirt front and cuffs strangely at odds with the severe cut of his pinstripe suit.

  ‘I’m not sure it’s a pleasure,’ Tommy said coldly. ‘My name is Thomas Langhorne and this lady is my fiancée, Miss Rosa Rivenhall.’

  ‘How do you do, Miss Rivenhall?’
Chiltern bowed from the waist, creasing his features into a smile that had he been a guard dog could have been mistaken for a snarl. ‘It is a pleasure to meet you at last. Your late uncle spoke of you often and fondly.’

  ‘I doubt that,’ Rosa said coldly. ‘Uncle Gervase couldn’t stand the sight of me or my brother.’

  ‘And these ladies,’ Tommy said hastily, ‘are Mr Rivenhall’s widow, and her daughter, Miss Barry.’

  Chiltern sidled out from behind the desk to take Jacinta’s hand and raise it to his lips. ‘We meet again, ma’am. It’s always a pleasure to see you.’ He acknowledged Stella with a nod of his head and a sickly smile.

  ‘I remember you now, Chiltern,’ Jacinta said, snatching her hand away. ‘I thought I’d forgotten everything about that fatal evening, but now it’s coming clear in my mind.’

  ‘I’m sure I don’t know what you mean, Mrs Rivenhall. My visits to Heron Park have only ever been for professional reasons.’

  ‘That’s not true. You were a close friend of Mr Rivenhall’s. What are you doing here now?’

  Apparently unabashed, with the smile still lingering on his lips, Chiltern moved away. ‘As Mr Rivenhall’s solicitor it behoves me to settle his affairs.’

  ‘But not to go through his papers,’ Rosa said angrily.

  ‘There is the matter of his last will and testament which has to be sent for probate, Miss Rivenhall, and the estate cannot run itself.’

  ‘That has nothing to do with you, sir.’ Tommy reached across the table and picked up a document tied with red tape. ‘Do I take it that this is Mr Rivenhall’s will?’

  ‘I believe so.’

  ‘Then this should be handed to Mr Rivenhall’s family. Your duty has been done, sir.’

  ‘Are you dismissing me, Mr Langhorne? I don’t think it is up to you.’

  Jacinta stepped forward and took the will from Tommy. ‘As Mr Rivenhall’s widow I think it is up to me to make that decision. I have no need of your services, Mr Chiltern. I will instruct my own solicitor if I need legal advice.’

  Chiltern’s face flushed to a dangerous shade of puce. ‘I have been Mr Rivenhall’s adviser for twenty years, ma’am. I do not work for nothing.’