‘Would you oblige me by bringing up chairs, my dear? As you can see I am unable to stand without assistance and staring up at you will give me a crick in the neck.’
Immediately her brothers stepped forward. ‘We’ll do it, Uncle John, we are ever so strong, aren’t we Saffy?’ David nudged his brother who reluctantly edged a little closer. ‘I am David and this is my younger brother Tom.’
‘I am delighted to meet you, boys, and shall converse with your sister whilst you fetch the necessary seats.’ He gestured vaguely to the far side of the room. ‘I think you will find what you want over there somewhere.’
Her brothers scampered off and she decided to sit on the window seat, although the cushion looked decidedly damp. She was about to settle when her uncle spoke again.
‘Not on there, you will ruin your pretty ensemble. Could you come a little closer, my dear, I would dearly like to examine the material more closely?’
‘It is from India, my papa was there with the Duke of Wellington, of course, Wellesley had not been so ignobled at that time. Papa was able to ship back a trunk of wonderful silks and cottons.’
He stretched out a sticklike hand and gently ran his fingers across her skirt. ‘I thought I recognised its provenance. I have an attic full of materials and artefacts I brought back with me. They have been mouldering up there these past thirty years and I hope you will make use of them.’
A hideous scraping alerted them to the arrival of one of the chairs. Sapphire was about to remonstrate with her brothers and tell them to pick the chair up and not drag it across the boards, but her uncle shook his head.
‘Let them be, my dear, I care not for any damage they might do. No doubt you have already noticed that this magnificent house is in a sad state of repair. You might have surmised that a lack of funds is the cause, but I have more money than I could spend in one hundred lifetimes. It is ennui that is to blame. I have neither the inclination nor the energy to rectify matters.’
Tom and David arrived, red-faced and triumphant, with a chair each. ‘Here you are, Saffy, you can sit on one of these and we will share the other,’ Tom said.
‘Thank you, boys, shall we position them so Uncle John can see us without difficulty?’
After a further few moments of shifting and banging the seats were satisfactorily placed and she smoothed out the rear of her gown and sat down, and her brothers followed suit. She hoped, for once, that they could sit close together without squabbling.
‘I apologise for not informing you of our arrival, Uncle John, but as you are the head of our family and legal guardians of myself and my brothers, I thought it sensible to set off immediately that I knew of your whereabouts, and not delay matters by waiting for correspondence to be exchanged.’
He chuckled, a sound like corn husks rattling in a sack, and examined her closely. His eyes were the same deep, sea green as hers – her brothers had eyes of blue like their own father.
‘A fait accompli, my dear? I admire your spirit. I cannot think that many young ladies would have set off without knowing if they would be welcome on their arrival. However, you are under a misapprehension if you think that I am the head of the family.’ He said no more and waited for her curiosity to overcome her good manners.
‘I beg your pardon, sir, I was under the impression that you are my only living relative and therefore it is to you that we should apply for protection.’
‘There is another who deserves that title, Lord Ilchester, we share a common bloodline. Our fathers were brothers, so I am his cousin. I am not surprised that you did not know this, your mother was not privy to this information either.’
‘I’m not sure that I understand exactly – are you saying that I should apply to Lord Ilchester and not yourself?’ Her mind was whirling, trying to work out the exact connection between herself and this unknown aristocrat. ‘So we are second cousins, or some such thing, to his lordship? If I am correct, then we share the same great-grandfather.’
‘Exactly so, my dear, Lord Ilchester and I are not friends, but he sends his man of business here once a year to see that I am still breathing. He believes himself in line to inherit my fortune when I kick the bucket. I cannot tell you how delighted I am that he will not now do so.
‘My sister, your mama, eloped with your father and was cut off from the family. I was so disgusted at her treatment that I too left the familial home to make my fortune in India. I never heard from Susan again and had no idea that she had three wonderful children.’ He cleared his throat and delved into his waistcoat to produce a voluminous white handkerchief. ‘Unfortunately my cousin must be considered head of the Bishop family.’ Seeing her confusion he added, ‘He is Baron Ilchester, referred to as Lord Ilchester, but the family name is Bishop.’
‘I have no wish to be anywhere but here with you, Uncle John. Could your cousin insist that I reside with him?’
‘He is not famous for his hospitality or generosity, my dear, so I expect he will be content to have you remain here.’ His dry, rasping chuckle filled the space around them. ‘However, he will be thrown all aback to discover he will not inherit my money.’
She could not help but smile herself. ‘I believe that my brothers and I could be considered Lord Ilchester’s inheritance – not at all what he will be expecting. Anyway, I have no wish to talk about your future demise, we have only just met and I am determined to become your favourite great-niece.’
‘I never married and so have no close family apart from you and your brothers. My life has been devoid of interest and excitement for the past few years but with your arrival I am determined to remain alive for at least another ten years.’
‘I am relieved to hear you say so, Uncle John, and I am equally determined to do what I can to make you happy. I only discovered your existence when rummaging through an old box of letters after my mother and stepfather passed away some months ago. We must not repine, but rejoice that we have finally become acquainted.’
The boys were becoming restless – she recognised the danger signs. ‘David, Tom, why don’t you go on an adventure and explore this room? I’m hoping you will discover a bell to ring so that we might ask for refreshments. It is a long time since we ate our picnic.’ They tumbled from the chair and dashed off leaving her to talk to their uncle undisturbed. ‘I apologise for the interruption, I hope you do not think me presumptuous...’
‘This is to be your home now, my dear, and you must do whatever you want. I have a small and loyal staff, but like myself, they are past their prime. I shall hand over the running of the household and estate to you. You must do whatever you want to improve things, both inside and out. I shall set matters in hand first thing tomorrow.’
Tom raced back followed by his brother. ‘We found the bell-strap and pulled it, Saffy. Shall we wait by the door?’
‘Can we ask for cake when someone comes?’ David said.
‘Just tell whoever it is that we would like some refreshments brought here. We must leave it to Cook to send what she has available.’ She turned to her uncle who was watching this exchange with interest. ‘What time do you dine? The boys usually have nursery tea and this is always served early.’
‘I do not dine as such, my dear, my appetite is small and I usually just ask for a tray to be sent whenever the mood takes me. In future we will formalise things and eat at whatever time suits you.’
‘I should like my brothers to eat at their usual time, if that is agreeable to you? I should like to eat as soon as they are settled for the night. I hope you do not wish me to dress for dinner?’
He shook his head. ‘I scarcely dress for the day, my dear girl, and have no intention of going through the bother of changing my raiment more than once in twenty-four hours.’
The door at the far side of the room opened and yet another elderly retainer stepped in. Immediately the boys explained what they wanted and the old man nodded and smiled. Without consulting her uncle or herself he vanished and the boys raced back, their boots loud on
the uncarpeted boards.
‘That was Dobson, he said that he is going to speak to the kitchen and trays will be sent at once,’ Tom announced proudly.
David elbowed his brother out of the way. ‘How can he speak to a kitchen? Kitchens don’t have ears. You’re stupid, Tom.’
‘That’ll be quite enough of that, thank you, children. You know perfectly well what Tom meant, David, so it is you who is being silly. You are supposed to be on your best behaviour and I am disappointed in both of you.’
Their faces collapsed and David’s bottom lip quivered. Sapphire hated to correct the boys, but she wanted them to grow up with good manners and they no longer had parents to instil this into them.
‘Now then, young man, don’t look so miserable. I think your sister is feeling a bit crotchety, perhaps she needs to go and have a lie down.’ Uncle John winked at her and she hid her smile behind her hand.
David instantly recovered his joie de vivre, and forgetting his earlier nervousness at meeting his great-uncle he moved to his side and then leaned trustingly against the old man’s blanket-covered knees. ‘We get sent to bed sometimes without supper, but Jenny always brings us up something later on.’
His brother joined him so the two boys were like bookends on either side of Uncle John’s knees. ‘Saffy doesn’t have a room to go to yet, so she’d better stay here with us. I’m ever so hungry, I expect she is too.’
‘I certainly am, Tom, and had no intention of going anywhere until I have eaten my fill.’ She looked around the room for a suitable table and spied what she needed in the gloom at the far side. ‘I should like you both to help me move that table so the food can be set out on it when it arrives. I think we had also better bring another chair so we can all sit down to eat.’
By the time they had arranged everything to her satisfaction the double doors opened and two parlourmaids, staggering under the weight of laden trays, were escorted in by Dobson. Sapphire was unsurprised to see that even the parlourmaids were well into their middle years.
‘Thank you, this looks quite delicious. Please will you send my thanks to Cook and tell her that we will not require anything else tonight.’
The maids bobbed, but did no more than smile before leaving them to serve themselves. Obviously they stood on no ceremony here. ‘Sit down, boys, tuck your napkins into your collars and then I shall serve you. What would you like? We have pasties, a vegetable soup, cold cuts and pickles as well as fresh bread, butter and cheese. To follow there is fruit and what looks like an apple pie, plus slices of fruit cake.’
No sooner were the words spoken than she realised she should have offered to serve her uncle first, but it was too late to take this back. She smiled apologetically and gestured towards the food, but he shook his head, obviously in no rush to have his own meal.
Once her brothers were happily munching she turned her attention to him. ‘I am going to have a bowl of this delicious soup, followed by cold cuts, and bread and cheese. Would you like the same, Uncle John?’
‘I shall have whatever you are having, my dear, I believe that for the first time in years I am hungry. Having somebody to eat with has restored my appetite somewhat.’
When they were all replete she gave the boys permission to get down and continue their exploration of the huge, sparsely furnished chamber. They wandered off, chatting and exclaiming, their demeanour and their prodigious appetite reassuring her they were content with their new abode.
‘Do you think I should write to Lord Ilchester, Uncle John?’
‘Not a bit of it, my dear girl. One of the outside men in my employ will no doubt pass on the information soon enough. When I come to think of it, I am overdue the annual visit. No doubt his minion will appear in due course and I shall be obliged to introduce you all.’
‘If you will excuse me for a moment, I shall clear away the debris from our meal and then we can talk in comfort.’ When this task was completed and she had shuffled the table out of the way, she resumed her seat and was ready to ask some pertinent questions.
‘I think you should know that although I have experience of running a household, I have no knowledge of how a place as large as this should work. Neither do I have any inkling of the management of so vast an estate. I think you must reconsider your generous notion to hand control of both over to me.’
He looked at her as if she were an escapee from the Bedlam Asylum. ‘Good heavens, you have quite misunderstood my comments. I have no wish to burden you with such tedious details – what I would like you to do is just tell me how you think I could make things better here, and I shall put things in motion. That said, I’m quite certain you can manage this house without my interference. I might be in my dotage, my dear, but I’m well aware we are woefully understaffed and the house is desperately in need of renewal and refurbishment.’
He sighed and brushed back a strand of his straggly grey hair. ‘When I bought this place thirty-five years ago I was hopeful I would find myself a suitable bride and that she would take the house in hand. However, the young lady I had set my heart on married another and I never found anyone else I could contemplate spending my time with.’
Her eyes brimmed at his sad story. ‘I am sorry to hear that you were disappointed in love, Uncle John. I can do nothing about that, but I promise you I shall do everything in my power to make your declining years happy and comfortable.’ She gestured towards his legs. ‘Forgive me for asking, but in what way are you incapacitated?’
‘I suffered a seizure many years ago and it left me partially paralysed – the feeling in my left side returned eventually, but I believe my legs are too weak to support me anymore.’
‘Do you not wish to be able to go outside, to walk about and play with the boys?’
His eyes flashed and she feared she had angered him. ‘Of course I do, there is nothing I should like more.’
‘In which case, Uncle John, we will work towards that end. I believe that when you are eating properly and have more to interest you, things will improve rapidly. In the meanwhile, however, I shall send for a bath chair so your valet can take you outside to enjoy the late spring sunshine.’
‘I shall leave matters in your capable hands. Tomorrow we shall start to restore this wonderful building and the estate.’
Sapphire jumped up and embraced him, shocked to find how frail he was beneath her touch. ‘I care not about my surroundings, my priority is restoring you to good health.’
On that note they parted. She collected her brothers and they bowed politely and said their goodnights. There was a footman waiting outside to conduct them to their accommodation, which was fortunate as the house was so large that she would never have found her way.
Jenny was waiting eagerly to greet her. ‘We have fallen on our feet here, miss, and that’s for sure. You wouldn’t believe the size of the room I have – three times as big as the one I had before. I have unpacked your trunks with the help of a chambermaid and another maid has done the same for the boys.’
‘Thank you, Jenny, for all your help today and yesterday. You must go and eat your supper now, I shall not require you again this evening. I shall put the boys to bed myself and then I shall retire. Although I am delighted to be here, I do wish we had known about Mr Bishop before now and so could have been part of his life for longer.’
‘From what I’ve heard, Mr Bishop is not long for this world. Such a shame, he is loved by his staff and is a generous employer.’
‘I refuse to believe it, Jenny. He is certainly frighteningly frail, but now I’m here I’ll ensure he’s eating more and gets out into the fresh air. If I had been incarcerated in that gloomy room for years on end I too would sink into a decline.’
When she eventually slid between the sheets and settled down for the night her head was not full of expectation and relief that she had found a wonderful home with a loving relative for herself and the boys. Instead the spectre of Lord Ilchester arriving and demanding to take control of their lives kept her awake.
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Chapter Three
April, Ilchester Abbey.
Gideon Frederick William Bishop, better known in the vicinity as Lord Ilchester, was attempting to make sense of the accounts his mother had presented him. He was tempted to hurl the book across the room and just pay the damned bills without comment.
He dropped his head into his hands and wished he was anywhere but here, surrounded by the detritus of his dear mama’s extravagance and the growing pile of unpaid invoices he was discovering in boxes and drawers in his departed father’s study.
Being the oldest son he had always known he would one day take over the family estates, but he had not thought the time would come so soon for him to step into his father’s shoes and assume the title. His parent, a hardened drinker and heavy gambler, had broken his neck in a riding accident two months ago leaving Gideon to pick up the pieces. His mother had seemed more relieved than devastated by her husband’s death and certainly his sisters, Emily and Elizabeth, and his younger brother Henry, did not seem unduly saddened by their father’s sudden departure. The girls had always been close to their father, so one would have expected them to be devastated by his sudden demise.
They had been more angry than upset as their come out had been postponed. He wished his sisters were as beautiful on the inside as they were on the outside, that they were less like his deceased parent and more like their mama. They had been indulged and petted by his father since they were out of leading strings and he blamed this for their lack of character.
It would be good when he could discard his armband and his family could came out of black – he had decided that three months was more than sufficient to wear mourning clothes and if anyone in the neighbourhood thought differently, then he did not give a damn about that.
For all his faults his father had not gambled away the estates, nor had he neglected his duties as a landlord. The villages, farms and smaller properties were in good shape and, as far as he could see, it was just the household bills that had been neglected. It appeared that his mother let money trickle through her fingers like sand and his father had indulged his sisters and given them whatever they desired. His brother, at thirteen years of age, was away at school – Henry had returned briefly, but had been eager to get back to his friends.
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