by Dilly Court
‘There might be some in the home farm.’ Mrs Grimes reached for the butter. ‘Not that I venture over there. I don’t like cows and sheep – nasty smelly things. But again, someone will have to go for supplies soon. Smeaton used to take the dog cart and drive to the farm several times a week.’
‘That could be a job for you, Captain,’ Essie said, taking a seat beside Falco. ‘That is when the snow clears. Can we last that long, Mrs Grimes?’
‘We’ll have to, miss. Although things might get difficult if these conditions last for a week or more.’
After the meal was finished and everything cleared away, it was time to start work clearing the detritus left by Smeaton. According to Jenifry, he had taken Raven’s study for his own use and the smell of stale spirits and tobacco smoke still lingered in the room. Empty wine bottles were littered on the floor; the carpet was badly stained, and there were burn marks where cigars had been stamped out. Ashes had spilled out of the fire basket to cover the hearth, and the furniture was coated in a thick blanket of dust. Essie backed out of the room and closed the door. ‘We’ll leave this for later. It’s Raven’s private place, but he’s not here, so we’ll start on the drawing room, then the dining room and so on.’
‘It’s been left for months, miss,’ Jenifry said sadly. ‘It will take forever and a day to clean all the rooms.’
‘Well, we have to start somewhere.’ Essie turned to Sadie, who was standing behind her, clutching a mop and bucket. She could see that the child was longing to go outside and it seemed unfair to keep her from enjoying the newly fallen snow. There would be plenty of time for working. ‘Why don’t you get a basket from Mrs Grimes and go to the henhouse to collect eggs?’
‘May I really?’
‘Wrap up warm,’ Essie said, smiling. ‘Maybe the captain could help you. I can’t imagine him wielding a broom or a mop.’
Sadie needed no second bidding and she raced off in the direction of the kitchen, calling for Falco.
‘So it’s just you and me, miss,’ Jenifry said, shaking her head. ‘We’d best make a start.’
‘One room at a time, that’s the best we can do – and you can call me Essie. I’m not one of the gentry, I’m just an ordinary person.’
‘I don’t think so, miss. You’re not like us, but that ain’t a bad thing,’ Jenifry added hastily. ‘We’ll rub along well enough, I’m sure.’
‘Maybe we’d best begin in the drawing room.’ Essie waved a duster at Jenifry. ‘Lead on, you know this house much better than I do.’
‘If I didn’t know different I’d think you be one of the family, miss.’
Essie chose to ignore this remark. Even so, Jenifry’s innocent observation stirred memories of brief moments with Raven when they seemed to teeter on the brink of something more intimate than mere friendship. She squared her shoulders, pushing such thoughts from her mind as she followed Jenifry through the maze of corridors.
They had barely scratched the surface when Sadie burst into the drawing room, pink-cheeked with excitement. ‘Look out of the window, Essie.’
‘I’ve seen the snow, and I’m too busy to admire the view,’ Essie said impatiently.
Sadie grabbed Essie’s arm and tugged her towards one of the tall windows. ‘Look out and see for yourself. You, too, Jenifry.’
Essie leaned on the windowsill and her hand flew to her mouth. ‘Well, I never!’
Jenifry joined them and she emitted a long sigh. ‘Thank goodness. They’ve come.’
‘Who are they, Jenifry?’ Essie asked, although she already knew the answer. The long procession of men and women who were plodding ankle-deep in snow, were those whom Smeaton had sent packing. The army of maidservants, stable boys, under grooms, footmen, gardeners and cleaning women were headed by a determined-looking woman, who could be none other than the redoubtable housekeeper, Mrs Wills, who was accompanied by a small man dressed in tweeds.
‘Thank the Lord,’ Jenifry whispered. ‘Mrs Wills and Mr Havers, the steward. We’re saved.’
Managing the staff at Starcross Abbey was, Essie decided, like commanding an army, but fortunately she had Havers to work with the tenants and oversee the work in the grounds, and Mrs Wills could have given the Iron Duke a few tips when it came to getting the best out of her staff. They lacked a butler, but Falco seemed to enjoy captaining the indoor servants in the same casual manner that he had employed on board the Santa Gabriella. He sat at the head of the table during meals in the servants’ hall, with Mrs Wills on one side and Essie on the other. However, this arrangement found little favour with Mrs Wills, who insisted that Essie should dine apart from the servants. As someone who was favoured by both the Earl and his cousin, Lady Alice, Miss Esther Chapman was set apart from those below stairs and ought to be treated as if she were a member of the family. Sadie’s position was equally ill-defined, and, although not related by blood, she might as well have been Essie’s younger sister, but Sadie seemed to see herself as one of the maids. Essie solved the dilemma by insisting that they were all part of the Starcross family and they worked together, therefore it was logical that they should also dine together.
Even so, and as the days and weeks went by, Essie’s position in the household became more like that of mistress of the house, with Falco spending much of his time going between Starcross and Daumerle, keeping Alice informed of their progress. Mrs Wills deferred to Essie on most things and it fell to Essie to check the accounts and agree the menus each day. She found herself with more time on her hands and she used it to explore the house and grounds. She spent hours in the library, studying the history of Starcross. The original medieval building had started out as an abbey, and during the dissolution of the monasteries had only narrowly escaped being razed to the ground. Sir Raven Dorincourt was created the 1st Earl of Starcross by Henry VIII and there the dynasty began. Successive generations built onto the house and it was interesting to see how Starcross had changed over a period of several hundred years. There were secret doors concealed cunningly as bookcases or wall panels, and hidden staircases used by the servants so that they did not disturb the family or guests.
The snow melted and spring was just around the corner. As the weather improved Essie explored the garden, chatting to the gardeners who were pleased to share their knowledge and years of experience with her. Havers charged the head groom with finding her a suitable mount, and Essie discovered that the bay mare he had chosen was a delight to ride, and much easier to handle than the animals they had ridden in Italy and Australia. Havers took her on a tour of the estate and they visited the home farm and the tenanted farms. The days passed all too quickly and Essie was beginning to feel so much at home that she suffered from pangs of conscience. She had written to her father several times, but had received no reply. This in itself was not a concern as she knew that he disliked putting pen to paper and the only printed matter he ever read was the occasional newspaper. Books and learning were not part of his daily life, but she worried about him and planned to return home at the first opportunity.
Alice visited every so often, and she made it clear that she had no intention of going to London until she was completely satisfied that Daumerle was in good order, and that everything at Starcross was running smoothly. She was delighted with the progress that Essie and Falco had made, and at the beginning of April she decided to spend a few days with them in order to catch up with some old friends who lived close by. Essie was alarmed at first when Alice announced casually that she had invited some of their neighbours for dinner the next day, but a quick consultation with Mrs Wills confirmed that the housekeeper was used to this sort of thing and Cook was pleased to show off her culinary expertise. Essie breathed a sigh of relief and left them to work out the menu, but she was still nervous, and she waited until she had a few moments alone with Alice.
‘I don’t really fit in here,’ Essie said as the door closed behind Cook, who had just handed a draft menu for Alice to approve. ‘I’m neither a house guest nor a servant. Perh
aps it would be best if Sadie and I took our meal in the servants’ hall tonight.’
Alice stared at her in astonishment. ‘Whatever makes you say that? You’re as much a guest here as any of my friends. You’ve done more for Starcross than you can possibly imagine. It’s lacked the hand of a mistress for so long that I was afraid the old place might crumble into dust.’
‘That’s hardly true,’ Essie said, chuckling. ‘I’ve only ever kept house for my pa in Limehouse. You can’t compare that to managing a household such as this. The credit goes to Mrs Wills and Cook.’
‘Utter nonsense,’ Alice said firmly. ‘You’re a natural, only you don’t realise it. Servants are only as good as the mistress who handles the reins. Raven left everything to Smeaton and you saw how that turned out. Mrs Wills and Cook were powerless to do anything other than obey him. Had he been left in charge much longer I fear he might have done irreparable harm.’ Alice lowered her voice, glancing over her shoulder as if she were afraid of eavesdroppers. ‘In fact, I have a feeling that he was the one who tipped off the revenue men. I’ve always suspected that it must be someone close to the family who had discovered that Freddie was involved with the smugglers.’
‘What would he gain by that?’
‘I’ve been trying to work it out,’ Alice said seriously. ‘Perhaps he held a grudge against him – I don’t know – but he certainly took advantage of Raven’s absence.’
‘Didn’t you suspect that something was wrong?’ Essie asked, mystified by Alice’s admission. ‘You said you visited here quite often.’
‘I did, and Smeaton was either clever, or crafty as a fox. Everything appeared to be running smoothly and nobody told me anything to the contrary. He must have made dire threats to silence Mrs Wills and Cook or they would have said something. So you see, Essie, you’ve brought about a small miracle and for that I’ll be eternally grateful, and so will Raven when he hears what you’ve done. Don’t worry about your position here – you are a dear friend and you will sit at table with us this evening with as much right to be there as I have.’
Wearing a gown borrowed from Alice for the occasion, Essie sat by the fire in the drawing room awaiting the arrival of Sir Robert Lawson, his wife, Priscilla, and her younger brother, Oscar Bankes. Alice had warned Essie that Oscar was a ladies’ man, and not to be taken seriously. Essie said nothing, but she remembered only too well the unwelcome advances of Diggory Tyce and many others on the river who had attempted to seduce her and failed. Falco declared that he would challenge any man to a duel who dared to take advantage of either of his ladies, receiving a sharp rebuke from Alice, who told him to mind his own business.
Falco retreated to a side table to pour himself a tot of brandy, leaving Alice seated on the sofa with an embroidery hoop in her hand, although Essie knew that it was just for show as Alice was no needlewoman. It suited her, however, to be seen carrying out a ladylike pursuit, although Essie doubted if her friends were fooled by this affectation. Sadie was absent even though she had been invited to join them for dinner, but she had begged to be excused. Essie knew that it would have been an ordeal for the twelve-year-old and she had not pressed the point. Alice had accepted Sadie’s refusal with good grace, or maybe it was relief; Essie did not know and she did not pursue the matter. Now it was her turn to suffer from nerves and she turned with a start as the door opened and James ushered the guests into the room.
Alice rose to her feet and the embroidery hoop slid onto the carpet, unnoticed. She glided across the floor, her hand held out in welcome. ‘Prissy, Rob and Oscar, how lovely to see you.’
Essie went to stand beside Falco and they waited in silence while Alice greeted her friends as if they had been separated for years. Eventually Alice turned to Essie with a beaming smile. ‘Come, my dear. Allow me to introduce you to my oldest friends.’
Suddenly the room seemed twice as large and the distance between them might as well have been a mile rather than just a few feet. This would be her first test in polite society and Essie was nervous. Her mouth was dry and she was afraid her hands were sweating as she crossed the floor to meet them, but, even if they suspected her lowly background, Alice’s friends were too polite to be anything other than friendly and charming. When the introductions were over and everyone was seated sedately sipping sherry, Essie knew that she was being scrutinised carefully and everything about her person, from her coronet of dark curls to her hazel eyes and shapely figure, was being noted. She hoped that Lady Lawson did not recognise her gown as one of Alice’s cast-offs, and she wished that Oscar Bankes would stop ogling her. Then, after a moment of awkward silence when conversation flagged, Falco took centre stage. Quite what their guests thought of a foreign gentleman who liked to talk about himself was concealed beneath a mask of good manners, but Essie suspected that they were dying to discover how Lady Alice Crozier had become involved with such a colourful character.
After a long monologue Alice cut Falco short before his stories became too risqué. She enquired about the Lawsons’ children, reeling off a list of names that left Essie puzzled as she tried to imagine a child called Beltane, and then it became obvious that they had gone on to discuss the wellbeing of the Lawsons’ animals. It seemed that both Sir Robert and his wife paid more attention to their dogs and horses than they did to their five children. Falco was looking bored and it was a relief when dinner was announced.
Mrs Grimes had excelled herself and Falco had seen to the wine himself, having spent some time in the cellar sorting out the best vintages and a suitable wine for each course. The result was that they were all in various stage of intoxication by the time the meal ended. Essie had felt light-headed after one glass of sherry and she had just sipped her wine, but the others had quaffed theirs with obvious enjoyment. The volume of sound had risen with each course and the silliest joke seemed utterly hilarious, resulting in gales of laughter. Essie’s sides ached by the time the ladies retired to the drawing room for coffee, leaving the gentlemen to enjoy their brandy and cigars. Essie had been waiting for Falco to burst into song, but he was well away with stories of derring-do on the high seas when she left the dining room.
Sir Robert and Oscar were happily drunk when they rejoined the ladies, and Falco was tottering slightly but was still able to enunciate without slurring his words. Lady Lawson tried to reprimand her husband, but she seemed to have trouble in finding the right words and she was reduced to giggles, which ended in a bout of hiccups.
‘Fresh air,’ Falco said boldly. ‘That’s what we need. A breath of air will cure you, my lady.’
‘No, r-really.’ Lady Lawson covered her face with her hands. ‘I – I’m all right.’
‘Capital idea, Falco.’ Sir Robert grabbed his wife’s hands and pulled her to her feet. ‘Come along, Prissy. Best foot forward. The cold night air will set you right.’
‘I know, Rob. Let’s go the secret way.’ Oscar grinned stupidly, tapping the side of his nose and winking.
‘What are you talking about?’ Alice demanded. ‘You’re drunk, Oscar.’
‘So am I,’ Oscar said stupidly. ‘You’re squiffy, Alice.’
His brother slapped him on the back. ‘You’re stewed to the gills, man. Let’s show the ladies how we used to escape from the house when the old earl was angry with Raven and Freddie.’
‘What is this?’ Falco wagged his finger. ‘I hope you’re not taking my ladies into danger.’
Alice leaped to her feet, swaying a little, but sobering rapidly. ‘Shut up, Falco. You have no say in this.’ She peered up at Sir Robert, studying his face in close detail. ‘What are you talking about, Robbie?’
‘Shhh.’ He held his finger to his lips. ‘Don’t let the others hear you. It’s a secret passage down to the beach. Smugglers,’ he added, nodding his head. ‘That’s how the Dorincourts made their money.’
Alice stared at him, frowning. ‘What a lot of rot you talk, Robbie.’
‘Honest,’ he said, crossing his heart. ‘Hope to die.’
‘You can’t speak to my husband like that.’ Lady Lawson staggered to her feet, her hiccups seeming to have been cured. ‘He’s a magistrate, you foreign gentleman.’
‘I’m Italian, my lady,’ Falco said with dignity. ‘If there’s a secret passage – let’s see it.’
Oscar chortled with laughter. ‘Follow me. I’ve been longing to do this again.’
The entrance to the secret passage was in Raven’s study. Despite his inebriated condition, Oscar knew exactly which panel to press and a door opened in what had appeared to be a solid wall. A gust of musty air wrapped itself around them and Essie shivered apprehensively.
‘Hold on, Oscar,’ Sir Robert said, clutching his brother-in-law’s coat sleeve. ‘We can’t take the ladies down there. They’ll break their ankles.’
Alice pushed past him. ‘Nonsense, Robbie. I had no idea that this was here. I’m going with Oscar. You can follow us or stay here, it’s immaterial to me.’ She gave Sir Robert a shove that sent him staggering backwards, narrowing missing treading on his wife’s toes. ‘Hold my hand, Oscar. I can’t see a thing.’
‘Wait for me, my lady.’ Falco dived into the passage, his voice echoing off the narrow walls and low roof as he begged her to take care.
‘At least give me a chance to fetch a lantern.’ Essie was suddenly sober. ‘This is madness.’
‘I’m going, too.’ Lady Lawson stepped into the passage. ‘Give me a candle, Robert.’
Reluctantly he picked up a candlestick. ‘All right, Prissy. Go ahead. I’m right behind you.’ He turned to Essie with an apologetic smile. ‘I’d stay here if I were you.’
‘I wouldn’t miss this for anything.’ Essie followed him into the passage, holding her skirts above her ankles. Water seeped through the sandstone, trickling down the walls to form deep puddles in the uneven ground. Further on there were shallow steps leading downwards into what seemed to be the bowels of the earth. No one spoke but their laboured breathing echoed off the low roof, and the occasional hiccup was followed by an exclamation of annoyance from Priscilla.