by Diane Allen
Middleton went quiet, bent down to pick his cap up and slowly made his way to the door. The whole time Alice held Will’s shotgun to his spine. He opened the door, spat once again, put his cap on at an angle and walked out of the yard without so much as a glance at his fellow workers. Alice and Will stood on the doorstep watching him, his coat flapping and arms swinging as he turned the corner and disappeared from sight.
Having heard every word of what had gone on inside the cottage, the rest of the men stood silent, their faces sombre as they awaited their final paypacket. They were regretting the times that they had moaned about their work; it might not have been up to much, but at least it put food on the table and a roof over their heads. Now things looked bleak. As each man emerged from the cottage clutching his money, he paused to solemnly shake hands and mutter promises to stay in touch. In reality they didn’t know what the future held for them.
Once the last worker had left the kitchen, Will breathed a sigh of relief. It had been the worst day’s work he had ever had to do and he felt sorry for his ex-workers. Work was hard to come by and he didn’t know where they would end up.
‘Thank God that’s over,’ said Alice. ‘If that Middleton had said another word, I swear I’d have shot him. Ignorant brute.’ She was sweeping the kitchen floor, pushing the broom with a vengeance as she cleaned up all traces of the muddy boot prints that had been left on the stone slabs. ‘I’m glad Nancy didn’t wake up when he started losing his temper and shouting: it would have made her nervous and upset her.’
‘Aye, he’s one that I’ll not be sorry to see the back of. I’ll miss some of the others, though. Still, if all goes well, I might be able to rehire them.’ Will took his accounts book and the few pounds he had left over and locked them in his sturdy sideboard.
‘That was a good idea the pair of you came up with. Shows what you can do when you put your heads together. Once the conversion’s done, the marble works will make two good houses. And as soon as they’re sold, you can build them two new houses. All in all, it should make a good investment for the both of you.’ Alice set aside the broom and busied herself washing dishes.
‘Aye, I can’t wait. Starting next week, I’m going to have a hell of a tidy-up. I need to get hold of the scrap man first – might as well get what money we can from the old machinery. But that’s all I can do for the time being. I wish that architect friend of Gerald’s would get a move on with the plans. Last thing I want is to be sitting around here with nothing to do.’
Alice turned from the sink to look at her brother. ‘Nancy will enjoy having you around. She needs your support.’
‘Aye, but do I want to be around her? She’s near driven me mad of late. I tell you, lass, if she hadn’t any brass, I’d be thinking about doing a runner. I didn’t know what I was taking on – why didn’t you tell me how bad she was?’ Will was standing in the kitchen doorway, staring out at the drizzle and the mist that was starting to form around the fell.
‘She’ll get better once the baby’s born. Not long to go now, so be patient; you’ll soon be a dad and that will change everything.’ Alice went to her brother and put an arm around him. ‘With all this money you and Gerald will be making from your new project, you’ll be lord of your own manor before you know it.’
‘Aye, well, we’ll see. It’ll take a while to get everything in place. In the meantime, we’ll have to live on Nancy’s allowance and be content with that.’
‘Is someone talking about me?’ Nancy, fresh from her afternoon nap, entered the kitchen.
‘No, Nancy. It’s been a bit of an afternoon, that’s all. Will’s just laid off the workers – I’m surprised the shouting didn’t wake you up.’ Alice beckoned for her to sit down. ‘Will was only saying it’s a good job we have your allowance to live on, until the houses get built.’
‘What houses? What are you talking about? Nobody ever tells me anything!’ Nancy demanded in an aggravated tone.
‘You were there when Gerald and Will talked about closing the marble works and changing it into houses. That way they can keep Stone House turning a profit for them.’ Alice squeezed her hand.
‘I can’t remember. I can’t remember anything. My head feels all fuzzy. I can’t think straight any more.’ Nancy turned to Alice, her eyes pleading for an explanation.
‘Don’t worry, love. You let us worry about that. We’ll take care of things, won’t we, Will?’
‘Aye, nothing to fret about, all’s in hand.’ Will grabbed his coat and cap from the hook by the door. ‘Right, I’m off up to the works to make sure all’s straight. It’ll be funny to walk up there and not have any workers around.’
In truth, it was just an excuse to get out of the cottage. Will was fed up with humouring his new wife and listening to baby talk, and having to endlessly repeat things because Nancy couldn’t remember having been told. Already he was sick and tired of this being-married lark. Given the chance, he’d welcome being free and single again.
17
‘Are you ready, you two? The horse and me are waiting. I don’t know why you women take so long. God only knows what you get up to.’ Will waited in the bright sunshine, impatient to set off. He was meeting Gerald at the manor to go over the plans that had been drawn up for the new houses.
‘We’re coming. You should know better than to rush a pregnant woman – we had to make sure we looked our best, didn’t we, Nancy?’ Alice helped her sister-in-law into the trap, Nancy’s swollen belly showing that the unborn baby was growing. ‘You’re going to have to be more patient when you’re a father, what with all the sleepless nights and nappies. But I’m sure you’ll cope.’
She climbed in and sat opposite Nancy in the back. Behind her she could hear Will grunting and mumbling under his breath in response to her dig at him.
‘We do need to get there for dinner time, not supper – get a move on,’ Alice prompted.
Will finished lighting the cigarette that hung from the corner of his mouth and whipped the horse into motion.
With the trap finally moving, Alice and Nancy sat watching the countryside go by and listening to the steady pace of the horse’s hooves. In the dale, farmers were cutting the grass to make into hay and the warm air was filled with the smell of sweet grass drying. It was a beautiful day and even Will began to relax a little, breaking into a merry out-of-tune whistle.
‘It’s nice to see home.’ Nancy gazed at the manor with tear-filled eyes as the trap slowed to a halt by the front steps. ‘I forget how much I love this place. Not that I don’t want to be with Will, but it would be nice if the cottage was a little larger.’
‘It won’t be long now. Gerald and Will have agreed that the first house to be built will be for the two of you and the new baby to live in. Then you can rent your cottage out.’ Alice knew Nancy had been missing the luxuries of the manor and she could understand how she felt. She had forsaken so much for the love of Will and he did not appreciate it.
‘Nancy, my love, you’re blooming!’ Gerald took hold of his sister’s hand to support her as she alighted the trap.
‘Thank you, Gerald. I feel fine sometimes, but how I miss this place.’ A tear rolled down her cheek.
‘Now, don’t get upset. You know we are always here and that you are always welcome.’ He escorted her into the manor, then turned to help Alice alight. ‘Alice, how are you keeping? I see you’ve brought the sunshine with you.’ His eyes twinkled with mischief, but he lowered them when he noticed Will watching him.
Alice couldn’t take her gaze off Gerald as he escorted her up the steps. It had been a few weeks since she had seen him and every day she had fantasized about his dark features. Crossly she reminded herself that she had no business thinking about him in that way. So far as he was concerned, she was just a servant girl. She chattered brightly in an effort to cover her inner turmoil.
‘Thank you. It’s such a beautiful day, we had a lovely journey, and Nancy’s been coping ever so well. She just got a little tearful when she sa
w the manor. You must admit, there is quite a difference between this and where we live.’
‘Ah, but that will soon change. You should see the plans I’ve had drawn up; the new family will not want for anything with the house we are to build. Come on, Will, leave that animal to Jack and come and join us in the study.’
Once the men were engrossed in their discussion of the plans, Mrs Dowbiggin came in with a tea tray and began serving the two women. ‘Miss Nancy, it’s lovely to see you.’ She gave Nancy a hug and fussed over her as she poured tea and passed out the cups. ‘How’s things with the baby?’ she whispered, not wanting the men to overhear ‘women’s business’.
‘Mrs Dowbiggin, I miss you. Are you taking good care of my brother? And where’s Faulks? Is he well?’ Nancy, shaking with emotion, clutched Mrs Dowbiggin’s hand.
‘We are fine, Miss Nancy, so stop bothering about us and just look after yourself and that baby. That’s all that matters now.’
Mrs Dowbiggin blew her nose on a lace-trimmed handkerchief, disguising the fact that her eyes, too, were brimming with tears. Having looked after Miss Nancy since she was a girl, she had missed her terribly. At times she’d even found herself missing the tantrums, wishing she could hear her screaming upstairs and smashing ornaments. Life had been so quiet without her.
Putting on her cheeriest voice, the housekeeper brushed Nancy’s arm and said, ‘Not long now – another three months and we’ll be hearing the patter of tiny feet. Your mother would have been so proud. I’m knitting, you know – it gives me something to do of a night.’ And then she began sniffing into her handkerchief again, upset but trying not to show it, as she shuffled out of the room.
Alice sipped her tea and watched the two men reading the plans in the bright light that was streaming through the open study windows. She liked the study, with its green walls lined with bookcases; it gave her a secure feeling. Seeing Gerald seated at his desk like a proud statesman, she couldn’t help but think how things had changed since her first meeting with the Frankland family. Then her mind returned to the present as she observed Nancy, her features drawn and tired. Thankfully, this was one of her better days. There were times when it was all she could do to remember her own name, let alone anything else. The sooner the baby was born, the better for all concerned.
‘Beg your pardon, sir, but I thought you might want to see this.’ Faulks entered the study waving a crisply ironed newspaper. ‘The paper boy sends his apologies at the lateness of his delivery, but as you can see by the headlines it could be grave news, especially for your Russian colleagues.’ Flustered, he set the paper on the desk in front of his employer.
‘What’s all this fuss, Faulks? What on earth are you talking about?’ Disgruntled, Gerald picked up the paper and scanned the front page. The colour drained from his face as he read.
‘What is it? What’s wrong?’ said Will, seeing his reaction.
‘Archduke Franz Ferdinand, heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne, has been assassinated in Sarajevo by a Serbian nationalist. This could have terrible consequences if the Austrians retaliate by attacking Serbia. Russia is sworn to defend the Serbs, while Austria will turn to their German allies for support.’ Gerald placed the paper on his knee, his face grim as he contemplated what would happen if, as he feared, the great powers of Europe went to war.
‘Oh, so it’s nowt for us to worry about, then, just a load of foreigners fighting among themselves. From the way you were looking, I thought good old King George had died! Come on, let’s get back to these plans; never mind the paper.’ Will leaned over the architect’s drawings, trying to make sense of them all.
‘For God’s sake, man, there are people I love in Russia! If war breaks out, their lives may be in danger. And you expect me to put all thought of that aside for the sake of building a few houses? There are more important things in this world than making money.’ Thrusting the plans away, Gerald sprang to his feet and went to the window, the newspaper still clutched in his hand. ‘A beautiful day like today, sun shining, family all around me, but I feel a dark cloud blotting the horizon.’
Nancy went to her brother’s side and laid her hand on his shoulder. ‘You’ve always got us, dear. It’s better we forget our ties to Russia. The time has come for us both to move on and find happiness here.’ Smiling, she kissed him lightly on his cheek before returning to her seat next to Alice.
‘Aye, come on, man, nothing’s happened yet. Don’t go looking at the black side. These bloody foreigners always kiss and make up; the whole thing’ll have blown over by next week.’ Will patted him on the back.
‘I hope you’re right, old man. I pray that you’re right and I’m wrong, because otherwise we’ll be building these houses for nothing.’ Gerald came away from the window and poured two whiskies from the decanter on his desk. He handed one glass to Will and downed the contents of the other in a single gulp.
Will looked at the crystal whisky tumbler filled with golden liquid. Never having drunk the stuff before, he followed Gerald’s example and threw it back in one gulp. Coughing and spluttering, eyes watering and cheeks turning red as the spirit warmed his insides, he wheezed, ‘Now I know why they call it firewater! Give me a pint of best bitter, any day.’
Gerald patted him on the back and laughed. ‘It’s a taste that grows on you after a while. Same thing’s true of bloody foreigners.’
‘Aye, you can keep them and all. Nearest thing to foreign I’ve ever seen is Lancashire, and that was enough for me.’ Will laughed and coughed again as he leaned over the desk.
‘Let’s hope, for all our sakes, that you never go any further,’ said Gerald, pouring another drink. This time he sipped it slowly and thoughtfully.
‘Gerald seemed to be very worried by the news. I think he might know more about it than he let on.’ Alice was sitting with Will on the wooden bench outside the cottage watching the sun set over Combe Scar. For fear of upsetting Nancy, they had not spoken of the incident in the study while in her presence; the journey home had been spent chatting about the new houses and their visit to the manor instead. Only now that she had retired to her bed, leaving brother and sister to sit outside until it was time for them to sleep, were they able to discuss it.
‘It’ll be nothing. I’ve never even heard of this fellow that got killed, so how could it make any difference to us that he’s dead? We’ll get them houses built and we’ll make as much brass as Gerald. Then we’ll give everyone a run for their money.’ Will finished cleaning his shotgun and blew down the barrel. ‘It’s a grand night. I’m just going to have a wander up the fell and pot a rabbit or two. Are you coming with me?’ He jangled some cartridges in his pocket and put his cap on.
‘No, I don’t think I will. I want to sit here a while longer and mull things over. Nancy’s been good today, but who’s to say what she’ll be like tomorrow? She wears me out some days.’
‘Aye, that’s why I’m going up the fell – need a bit of time to myself. I tell you, Sis, it’s a high price I’m paying for a bit of extra brass.’ He put his shotgun over his shoulder and walked away.
‘You’ve only yourself to blame,’ she retorted, but he didn’t hear her. Alice shook her head. Will had everything to look forward to – new big house, doting wife, a baby on the way – and he still wasn’t satisfied. He’d only been married a couple of months and already his patience with Nancy was wearing thin. Hopefully, when the baby came along, things would be different.
Her thoughts returned to Gerald and the expression on his face as he studied the newspaper. Something had disturbed him a great deal, and that worried Alice. Unlike her brother, Gerald knew all about politics and world affairs. Not only had he travelled the globe and lived in Russia for a while, he’d attended Sedbergh School and been a cadet. He wouldn’t have been alarmed without cause.
The glorious sunset soon made her forget her anxieties, bathing the countryside in shimmering hues of gold and orange. The screeching of diving swallows made way for the high-pitched squeak o
f bats as they clambered out of their daytime hiding places to glide through the dusky skies on dark, leathery wings. Alice shivered as the temperature fell with the disappearance of the sun. It was time to go in and wait for Will’s return, although, knowing him, it could be early morning before he ventured home.
She lit the oil lamp and placed it in the window, catching sight of her reflection in the glass. What a state she was in! Alice took a loose strand of hair and twisted it behind her ear. She’d gone to the dogs since moving out of the manor. Maybe now that plans for the houses were coming along, she could convince Will to buy her a new dress and perhaps a hat to go with it. Tomorrow she would suggest that they take a ride into Kendal for some baby clothes and then she would try and steer Nancy past that shop she liked, the one on Stramongate. They always had such beautiful materials in the window. Yes, that would be the best way to go about it: once Nancy came around to the idea, Will wouldn’t be able to say no. She hummed to herself as she sat at the table darning Will’s socks. When they visited the manor to show off the new baby, she’d be all dressed up in her new dress, new hat, maybe even new shoes. She wanted to look pretty next time she saw Gerald, because it would be her he’d be looking at, not the baby.
18
‘Gerald, good to see you.’ Colonel Fredericks stood up from behind his desk and shook Gerald’s hand firmly. ‘I wondered if you would be showing interest. I take it you’ve heard that Germany declared war on Russia yesterday? It’s only a matter of time till good old Blighty gets pulled into it. Damned shame, but we’ll soon show them.’ He indicated for Gerald to take a seat. ‘So, what can we do for you, old man? D’you fancy a posting?’
‘That’s what I was hoping for, sir. I reckon I’d be more use with a gun in my hand fighting for my country than potting the occasional pheasant or rabbit.’ Gerald had thought long and hard before catching the train to Carlisle and requesting an interview with his father’s old friend, the colonel of the Border Regiment. The news that Germany and Russia were now officially at war had made up his mind.