by Anna Jacobs
‘Then I’ll leave you to it.’
The house seemed quiet since the doctor left, with nothing for them to do except wait. But it was an uneasy silence, as if a storm was threatening. Jacob went down to work on his plants, nodding to a youth he found sitting outside his back door, with a thin, alert-looking dog by his side.
‘No trouble?’
‘No,’ the lad said. ‘Easiest money I ever earned, this. Any trouble and I’ll send Rover home. Dad’ll know to come running.’
‘Can’t be too careful,’ Jacob said. ‘So stay alert.’
There it was again, he thought as he put in an hour’s work. Friends looking after one another.
He took care of what was urgent but didn’t stay any longer because the lawyer would be coming soon and he didn’t want to be caught all dirty from the garden.
Mr Longley arrived at the big house just before midday, driven again by his friend Sam.
When Jacob heard the motor car in the lane, he abandoned what he was doing, which was pulling up weeds from the garden at the big house. He wasn’t a man to sit still and watch the grass growing where it shouldn’t. Washing his hands hastily under the garden tap and stamping his feet to shake loose any soil, he went back to the house.
He found the two lawyers sitting in the morning room, enjoying a piece of cake and some freshly made scones with Mattie.
They all looked up when he went in.
‘I’ve set a place for you,’ Mattie said. ‘I knew you’d come in once you saw the car.’
‘We’re waiting for the funeral company to bring the coffin and finish laying her out,’ Frank said. ‘She left detailed instructions for her funeral. She wanted her body to lie at rest here, then the will to be read in the drawing room after the funeral. I’m afraid we can’t avoid inviting her family this time, but she wanted you two present at the reading of the will as well.’
‘What concern is that of ours?’ Jacob asked in surprise.
Mr Longley gave a slight shrug and an apologetic smile. ‘I’m just obeying her instructions. Oh, and could you stay on here until the funeral and keep an eye on things? Would you mind?’
‘I can continue working from here easily enough.’ Jacob hesitated. ‘Me and Mattie are worried about what’ll happen to us if Arthur Newington or one of his family takes over the big house. They’d not make easy neighbours.’
All he got in response was another enigmatic smile, which, as he said to Mattie afterwards, was not much help to a man with a business to run and a family to feed.
Chapter Sixteen
At three o’clock on Saturday afternoon, the hearse, a modern motor vehicle instead of the oldfashioned carriage drawn by black horses, drove up to the big house. Mattie and the servants went to peer out of the window of the small sitting room.
‘’Tisn’t right to take her to church in a smelly, noisy machine like that,’ Cook grumbled.
Ben laughed softly. ‘It’s the way of the future, so you’d better get used to it. And anyway, the coffin will be in the back, in the glass part. She’ll do just fine there.’
‘I still don’t like them motor cars,’ Cook said defiantly.
‘You’ll learn to put up with ’em, though. Everyone got used to trains in my great-grandma’s time, didn’t they, even though people said they’d frighten the cows and burn the crops? Which they didn’t. Well, they’ll get used to motor cars just the same. And it’ll be a better world for having them, they’re so much quicker than horses and they don’t foul the streets.’
‘We’ve got trains when we need to go anywhere quickly,’ Cook said sourly. ‘And you’d be cheerful if the sky fell in, young Ben.’ She went to glance in the mirror over the fireplace to make sure her best hat was on straight. ‘Just you make sure no one breaks into this house while we’re at church.’ The worries about her appearance settled, she went back to her post by the window.
The hearse was followed by four other motor cars and several village urchins ran up the lane after them, not daring to come right up to the house, but peeping at them from beyond the gates.
‘Look at them kids. They’d love to ride in a car,’ Lyddie said. ‘So would I, come to that. Have you ever rid in one, Cook?’
‘No, and I don’t intend to, neither. We’d better get back to the kitchen now, don’t you think, Mrs Kemble? The guests will be coming inside soon.’
Mattie nodded and as she went through the servants’ door at the back of the hall, glanced back to see that Mr Longley was the first to enter the house. He’d brought his wife with him and beckoned to Mattie.
‘Is there anything I can do to help?’ Mrs Longley asked, after the two women had been introduced.
She had such a friendly smile, Mattie didn’t feel offended. ‘Not really. Cook is very capable. We’ve plenty of food for the mourners when they get back from church. It’s set out in the morning room. Come and look at it, tell me if it’s all right.’
Mrs Longley studied the table. ‘There’s more than enough and you’ve set it out beautifully.’
‘It’s Cook who did that. My husband found some port wine in the cellar.’ She pointed to the decanter on the sideboard. Not that she’d be drinking it. She’d never had a glass of wine in her life and although she’d tasted beer once or twice, she didn’t really like it. Give her a freshly brewed cup of tea any day.
‘The Newingtons are coming into the house,’ Mr Longley called. ‘We’d better go and greet them, my dear.’
‘I’ll wait in the kitchen with the others.’ Mattie hurried off.
Lyddie stationed herself at the partly open door to the kitchen area and kept up a running commentary for the others.
‘Mr Arthur looks in a bad mood again. He’s got his wife with him, ooh, and his son and daughter-in-law, but his daughter isn’t there. They’re all wearing black.’
So were the servants. Mattie had had to do some quick alterations on another of the dresses from the attic to make sure she was decently clad. It was tacked together loosely in parts and she was praying the stitches would hold.
She wished today was over, wished they knew who would inherit this house, knew Jacob was worrying about that too, however much he pretended to be cheerful. He was outside now, talking to the young men who were still helping keep an eye on the house. She kept looking out of the window at him, thinking how attractive he was, how lucky she was to have met him.
She saw Lyddie watching her and felt herself flushing. The young maid gave her a knowing, but friendly smile, as if she’d guessed what she was thinking.
Did her feelings for Jacob show so clearly, then? Mattie wondered. She’d grown fond of him so quickly.
In the hall, Frank took on the role of host, which immediately set Arthur’s back up.
‘I’d have thought it’d be for me, as Emily’s closest relative, to receive the guests today,’ he said in his overloud voice.
Frank kept a smile pinned to his face. ‘My client left very clear instructions for the funeral. I can show you them if you wish. Perhaps you’d like to go into the drawing room?’
Arthur’s wife tugged his arm and he moved on, still grumbling. His son followed, saying nothing and ignoring the lawyer’s outstretched hand. His daughter-in-law didn’t trouble to hide her boredom and disinterest.
Their wealth and comfortable lifestyle clearly didn’t make these people happy, Frank thought.
Although he’d not been invited, the magistrate walked into the house, his eyes challenging the lawyer to try to deny him entrance.
‘Mr Ransome. What a pleasant surprise to see you here.’
‘Newington invited me.’
Well, both of you are in for a few shocks today, Frank thought, but said only, ‘Through there, please.’
In the drawing room, the Newingtons sat with Ransome, looking down their noses at the Longleys and Sam Painton.
The ones who really cared about Miss Newington are in the kitchen, Frank thought. These people care only about her will.
�
�Is there to be a viewing of the body?’ Mrs Newington asked unexpectedly.
‘No. My client didn’t wish for that.’
She let out a huff of displeasure and said no more.
When the coffin, which had been lying on the big dining-room table, had been carried outside, everyone got back into their vehicles to be driven in state the half mile to the village church.
The Kembles followed the gentry in the dog cart, driven by Horace and accompanied by Cook and Lyddie. It was a bit of a squash, but Sarah sat on her father’s knee and Luke squeezed into the last six inches of the bench seat, sitting sideways.
Both children were very quiet today, Mattie thought. They’re probably overawed by the company and the circumstances.
And so am I. But she held her chin up and tried not to let her nervousness show.
At the church Jacob took his place near the hearse with the other pall-bearers, all of them men from the village except for Mr Longley. This left Mattie to take the children in, so she slipped into the church with the servants and they found seats at the rear. The place was crowded with villagers paying their respects.
But just as she was settling down, Mr Painton came to the rear of the church and stopped at the end of their pew. ‘Places have been saved for you and your husband next to us, Mrs Kemble.’
Mattie looked at him in shock. ‘There’s no need for that, sir. We’ll be quite comfortable here.’
‘It was Miss Newington’s wish and Mr Kemble is a pall-bearer so will be sitting there. Please join us there.’ He looked at the children. ‘Perhaps you two can stay with Cook and Lyddie?’
They nodded in obvious relief.
Since he was still standing there, drawing everyone’s attention, Mattie didn’t like to argue and moved forward. But she stopped in panic when he gestured to her to enter the front pew of all, which was usually reserved for the leading figures in any community. She’d never sat in a front pew in her whole life.
The Newingtons and Mr Ransome were in the other front pew, looking across at her with outrage on their faces.
In the pew behind them, Mrs Henty was also glaring across at her.
She didn’t look that way again but took a seat next to Mrs Longley and bent her head in a quick prayer.
Then the organist played a long minor chord and started a slow tune that Mattie didn’t recognise. Everyone fell silent.
She glanced quickly over her shoulder to see the coffin being slowly carried in by the six pallbearers, with her Jacob and Mr Longley at the front. It seemed to take a long time till they set their burden down on the velvet-draped stand and took their places in the pews, leaving Mr Henty at the front with the coffin.
A quick glance sideways at Jacob as he sat down next to her showed him to have a wooden expression on his face and Mattie guessed that he too was finding it uncomfortable to be at the centre of attention. His hand sought hers. He gave it a quick squeeze and kept hold of it underneath the folds of her skirt. That made her feel a lot better.
Mr Henty stumbled his way through the service, seeming unnerved by the presence of the Newingtons and the magistrate, because he kept glancing their way and stammering.
It was hard to pay attention and Mattie heard bits and pieces only:
‘I am the resurrection and the life, saith the Lord: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live …
‘We brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away …’
That set her thinking. She’d brought nothing to Shallerton Bassett with her, and yet fate had given her a husband and a home. She prayed to be worthy of that wonderful gift and gave heartfelt thanks to her Maker for it.
When Mr Henty had finished, Arthur Newington stood up, clearly intending to deliver the eulogy, but Mr Longley moved quickly to the front.
Although he spoke quietly, Mattie was close enough to hear him say to the irate gentleman, ‘Sorry. I’ve got instructions about this part of the service as well.’
‘I don’t believe she’d exclude her relatives.’
Frank produced a piece of paper and Arthur snatched it out of his hands. He scanned it, said, ‘Shameful!’ in a very loud voice, thrusting it back at the young lawyer, not caring that it missed the outstretched hand and fluttered to the floor.
Frank picked it up, then went to stand behind the lectern. He waved the piece of paper. ‘My client left instructions for her funeral with me a while back, which I’ll try to follow. She wanted me to tell everyone how much she’d appreciated the welcome she got from the people of Shallerton Bassett when she inherited the house unexpectedly and came to live here. And she particularly wanted me to thank the three servants at the house for their loyal and willing help, also Jacob Kemble and his wife.’
At the rear of the church, Cook let out an audible sob and buried her face in her handkerchief.
Jacob blinked his eyes and sniffed a couple of times.
‘And she wanted me to tell everyone that she’d made her will in the full knowledge of what she was doing. She hopes you’ll treat the new owner of Newington House as kindly as you’ve treated her.’
Another glance showed Mattie that the villagers were nodding their heads to one another, clearly pleased with these acknowledgements.
‘Didden mention her cousin, did ’er?’ an old man near the back said suddenly, his voice echoing clearly round the church. He was hastily shushed by his relatives.
‘Well, ’er didden,’ he said defiantly.
Mr Longley moved to the coffin again and gestured to the other pall-bearers to join him in carrying it outside to its final resting place.
Mrs Longley smiled at Mattie. ‘We’ll let that lot go first,’ she whispered, gesturing to those in the pew across the aisle.
As if she’d have tried to push ahead of them, Mattie thought.
The sun was shining so brightly as she stepped out of the porch that she was dazzled and stopped moving, then realised she was holding up the rest of the congregation and moved on hastily. She would be glad when Jacob’s duties let him come to stand by her side again.
Everyone gathered round the open grave, the villagers at a respectful distance from the funeral party, the Newingtons and Ransome on their own at one side. A quick glance showed Mattie that Luke and Sarah were standing next to Lyddie.
At a nod from Mr Henty, Arthur Newington picked up a handful of dirt and cast it down on the coffin. As his wife and son did the same, Mr Henty began the final part of the service and the other mourners followed suit.
‘Forasmuch as it hath pleased Almighty God of his great mercy to take out of this world the soul of our sister here departed, we therefore commit her body to the ground …’
When the coffin was in its grave and enough earth had been ceremonially scattered over it, Arthur Newington made no pretence of bowing his head to say a final prayer, but led his family at a rapid pace back to their vehicle.
‘Did you leave your guards on duty?’ Frank asked Jacob.
‘I did. No one will get into the house till we’re back.’
‘Then we needn’t hurry,’ Frank smiled. ‘See you up there.’ He strolled back to Sam’s car with his wife.
Jacob beckoned to his children and they all got into the dog cart again. This time it was the first vehicle to leave, because the driver was having trouble starting the Newingtons’ car. People from the village were standing around it, smiling broadly, and someone from the back of the crowd asked if it’d been fed today.
The driver’s face was dark red with anger, just like his master’s.
When they got back, Horace reined in the horse at the front door while Sam stopped his car nearby.
‘Not here, Horace. Take us round to the back,’ Jacob said.
‘No. I ent doin’ that. Miss Newington wanted you two in the funeral party, so you should go in the front way, like the others.’
‘He’s right,’ Cook said. ‘But we’ll carry on looking after
the children for you. I daresay you two would like something to eat, wouldn’t you? And you’ll be comfier in my kitchen.’
Luke nodded enthusiastically.
‘Mind your manners, then,’ Jacob said and led his wife into the house. They waited in the hall for the young lawyers to follow them inside.
‘Surely I’m not needed now?’ Mattie said to Mr Longley, when he gestured to her to lead the way into the drawing room. ‘There’s a lot to do in the kitchen. I should be helping Cook.’
‘You’re needed at the reading of the will, Mrs Kemble. I’m sure Cook can manage perfectly well.’
‘Why am I needed?’
‘All shall be revealed in due course.’
With a sigh she took Jacob’s arm again, but pulled back when the lawyer tried to seat her and Jacob at the front of the room, at a right angle to the others. ‘Not here!’
‘Please trust me on this. I need you to be here.’
So they sat down, and judging by his stiffness, Jacob felt as uncomfortable as she did. He ran one finger under his shirt collar, wriggling uncomfortably, and she gave him a quick nudge in the ribs and whispered, ‘Sit still!’ She didn’t want to give that horrible man any reason to insult them again. Not that he needed much excuse.
When the Newingtons came in, Arthur stopped to glare at the Kembles, turned to his son and said loudly, ‘Damned upstarts! In my day servants knew their place and didn’t try to keep company with their betters, let alone take places at the front of the room.’
‘I asked Mr and Mrs Kemble to sit there,’ Mr Longley said coldly. ‘And for a good reason.’
Angry at Mr Newington’s rudeness, Mattie raised her chin defiantly, but it was difficult to keep a calm expression on her face with all four of them looking at her as if she was a lowly worm.
Mr Longley cleared his throat and rustled his papers. ‘If everyone is ready, I’ll begin.’
Suddenly, they were all attention.