Thornhall Manor

by George Benton

  Once before in Annie’s life had she faced such sadness: when she had given up Rebecca, her sister’s baby. From then on she had watched her growing up from afar, longing to be with her.

  Nervously rearranging the flowers by the window, Annie regained her composure.

  “These flowers are lovely, Rebecca.”

  “Yes, they’re from William.” Annie was turning to leave the room when Rebecca said, “Don’t go, Annie. Please stay a while longer. Tell me of your visit to Europe.”

  Annie mentioned the weather, Paris, Vienna, and how she enjoyed being a lady’s companion to Lady Newman, but this meant nothing to Annie now. Her thoughts were only for Rebecca.

  “Do you remember when we were picking flowers and you fell over and cut your knee, and the games we used to play? Your favourite was chasing butterflies.”

  It was then Mary came into the room and noticed tears running down Rebecca’s face.

  “Now, Annie, we mustn’t overdo things, must we?”

  Annie kissed Rebecca on the forehead and said, “I’ll see you tomorrow, my dear.”

  Annie then left the room, leaving Mary to rearrange Rebecca’s pillows.

  Mary’s heart was heavy with anxiety, especially when Rebecca said, “I can’t remember, I can’t remember.”

  “Good morning, Doctor. Let me help you with your coat.”

  “I wish it was, Ned. I have sad news. William’s been arrested - they say for the murder of Peter Nesbit.”

  Mary overheard the sad news as she came down the stairs.

  “Rebecca must not know of this. Somehow we must keep this from her.”

  “Now, Mary, why are you so anxious about Rebecca?”

  “Doctor, I’d rather not say until you’ve examined her.”

  “It’s been a long time, Mary. Don’t you think you should go up?”

  “We will know, Ned, soon enough.”

  Suddenly they heard the sound of the Doctor’s heavy footsteps descending the stairs. He stopped on the bottom step.

  “She’s with child, Mary.”

  He could tell by Mary’s face that this came as no surprise.

  “Ned, don’t forget plenty of hot water.”

  Ned seemed to be all fingers and thumbs. Nothing seemed to be going right. He needed another brandy to steady his nerves. He could hear movement upstairs and the sound of muffled voices.

  “Hot water, Ned!” called a voice.

  “There you are, Annie. Is everything all right?”

  “Don’t worry, Ned.”

  Time seemed to stand still. The house was so quiet, until the sound of a baby crying was heard.

  Dr Haywood gave a long sigh of relief. It had been a long and difficult birth and a surprising one.

  “It’s a boy, Mary.”

  He wrapped a blanket around the baby and handed the baby to Rebecca. How would Rebecca respond - this poor girl with no recollection of whom the father might be?

  Annie stayed with Rebecca while Mary accompanied Dr Haywood downstairs.

  “It’s a boy, Ned. Rebecca’s fine, thanks to the good doctor. There you are,” she said, handing Dr Haywood a large glass of brandy. Mary remarked, “Let’s hope the baby doesn’t grow up like his father. Oh, what that poor girl must have gone through!”

  “Peter Nesbit’s not the father of that child, Mary. It’s William.”

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  A WARNING

  “So you’ve decided to return, William.”

  “Yes, I think it will be for the best, John. I owe Steve so much. I don’t know what I’d have done if it wasn’t for him. William, there’s something you should know. I wanted to tell you before. It’s about Paul.”

  Before he could say more he was interrupted by “There’s a Lieutenant Morgan to see William Bradley, sir.”

  John could see the surprised look on his brother’s face.

  “Show him in, Jeffrey.”

  John shook Lieutenant Morgan’s hand firmly.

  “I can never thank you enough for what you’ve done for my brother, sir.”

  “It was my pleasure, sir.”

  John could see by their long embrace the great affection between these two men.

  “William, I’m here to warn you. You are in grave danger.” He then handed him a letter.

  William noticed the address: ‘Lieutenant T. Morgan, c/o Admiralty, Portsmouth’.

  Looking across to the Lieutenant he said, “It’s from Steve.”

  The letter read:

  I hope you receive this letter in time. I beg of you to help him once again. That most unsavoury character you both had the misfortune to travel with, Sergeant Killjoy, has visited my spread twice and I’ve been warned that he made enquiries at the inn. I’ve also learned of late that he is now on his way to England. Please contact William at your first opportunity. Tell him it’s no longer safe to return to Australia. It’s been a miserable time for me. I’ve missed William so much. I’ve decided to sell my spread to the government and I’m hoping to arrive in England by June.

  All the best,

  Steve Bradley.

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  THE ARREST

  “Wake up, Clare. We are home.”

  Paul and Clare leapt from the coach into their father’s arms.

  “I’ve missed you two.”

  “We’ve missed you too, Father.”

  As they walked up to the door of the town house together, Paul looked up and saw the curtains move in an upstairs bedroom. They followed their father into the drawing room. How different their homecoming was this time, with no mother to welcome them. Paul held his sister’s hand. The tears in her eyes showed that she too was remembering the sad loss of their dear mother.

  As the day passed both children felt uneasy. There seemed to be some mystery. They knew someone was in the room upstairs, but who? The next day at the breakfast table Paul decided to ask.

  “Will our guest be joining us this morning, Father?”

  His question took John completely by surprise.

  “I’m afraid not, Paul. He needs to rest after his long journey.”

  “Will he be staying here long, Father?”

  “No, I’ve made arrangements for him to leave today. Unfortunately I will have to go with him. I’ve written to Annie asking her to stay here with us. I’m sorry to leave you both alone. I’ve had a word with Jeffrey, and he’s going to keep an eye on you until Annie arrives. This is not the homecoming I had in mind for you both. I’m sorry.”

  As Jeffrey cleared away the breakfast things he said, “Will there be anything else, sir?”

  “No, thanks, Jeffrey. No, wait. I’d like you to go along to the bank with a few documents. Give them to a Mr Hardy and tell him I’ll be away for a day or so.”

  “Oh, Father, could we go. It’s such a fine day.”

  “I don’t see why not. It will do you both good.”

  It seemed strange being back in the hurly-burly of the London streets after the quiet of the country.

  “Look, Clare - the flower girl. Do you remember Father always stopped to buy Mother flowers?”

  There were lots of other street traders and the pavements were crowded with people

  On their way home after delivering their father’s documents to Mr Hardy they had a frightening experience.

  “Excuse me, young sir. We are looking for a William Bradley, who we have reason to believe is staying at your house.”

  A tall, rather gaunt man in shabby clothing stood before them.

  “Why do you ask?”

  “He’s wanted for murder.”

  “Murder!”

  Terrified for their father’s safety, they quickened their steps. Soon they broke into a ru
n.

  Jeffrey could see the fear on the children’s faces as he opened the door.

  “Oh, Father, thank God you are safe!”

  John was taken completely by surprise. With their arms around his waist, he ruffled their hair.

  “Now, what’s this all about?”

  Suddenly Jeffrey was knocked off his feet as three men rushed past him.

  “William Bradley, formerly known as William Foster, we arrest you for the murder of Peter Nesbit.”

  The man coming down the stairs Paul recognised straight away. He was the man who had picked him up on the churchyard path, the man with the scar on his face.

  “You have the wrong man. I’m William Bradley.”

  Shocked, puzzled, terrified - that’s the best way to describe their feelings.

  John was the first to break the long silence: “That’s a nasty cut, Jeffrey. Pour yourself a brandy and attend to that right away. Now now, Clare, dry your eyes. It’s all over now.”

  “Father, what will happen now they’ve taken him away. He’ll be on trial again for murder.”

  “My brother never committed murder.”

  “He’s your brother? I don’t understand, Father.”

  “Paul, I’ve had to live with a secret - yes, William is my brother and your father.”

  Paul could not believe his ears.

  “My father? Oh no!”

  Paul and Clare listened intently as John told them everything. “Paul, I love you as a son. You mean everything to me, but there comes a time when it’s best to tell the truth. I’ve never been happy not telling you, but with your mother’s illness it was impossible.”

  Chapter Twenty-Eight

  STEVE BRADLEY RETURNS TO ENGLAND

  Steve shook Lieutenant Morgan’s hand firmly. “It’s nice to be back in the old country again. Where’s William?”

  The Lieutenant shepherded Steve into the Sailor’s Arms, and over a flagon of ale he told him how William had been arrested and was now in Newgate Prison.

  “Is there nothing we can do?”

  “I’m afraid not.”

  “Can I visit him?”

  “Yes. I’ve made arrangements for you to stay at his brother’s home in London. From there you will be able to visit William.”

  Lieutenant Morgan introduced Steve to each member of the family: “This is John, William’s brother, Paul, his sister Clare and, a dear friend of the family, Annie.”

  “Well, I’ll be damned if it’s not Annie Potter.” He took her in his arms. “Don’t say you don’t remember me, Annie. I’m the husband of Betty, your sister.”

  Although he was now grey-haired, wrinkled and browned by the sun, she recognised Steve straight away. Nobody in the room moved. They just stood there as Annie, with tears streaming down her face, hugged Steve.

  The evening was drawing to a close as Steve Bradley relived those years in Australia to everybody’s delight - especially the children’s. He told them of his voyage, his imprisonment, Betty’s death and William’s arrival.

  But it was Annie who surprised not only Steve but all the family when she said, “The day they arrested you and my sister, your baby daughter was not taken to an orphanage. Unfortunately, I was in service and single, but my dear friends Mary and Ned brought her up as their own and gave her a good family life. They never got around to telling her who her parents were. They called her Rebecca.”

  Steve and the children listened intently to Annie as she told him everything.

  After a long silence, Steve looked across to Paul and Clare and said, “That makes me your grandfather.”

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  THE PRISON VISIT

  “Now, you will see that he gets these,” she said, handing Steve a large bag.

  He knew full well that the guards, not William, would enjoy the contents.

  “Yes, Annie.”

  There was Annie and the two children waving to him as the coach moved away.

  “John, have you ever visited Newgate Prison?”

  “No, thank God!”

  “It’s damp, dirty and completely under the control of the prison guards. I tell you this to warn you. I know from experience. Only one visitor is allowed at a time, John. You are his brother - don’t worry about me.”

  How right Steve was! It was cold and damp, with only a small shaft of light entering the cell. Words were not needed as the two brothers embraced each other.

  “Oh, William, why did you come back home?”

  “Don’t worry, John, about me. What will be, will be.”

  Suddenly, standing there was Steve. William was overcome with emotion.

  “How did you manage to get past the guard?”

  “It’s amazing what a golden sovereign can do.”

  “It’s wonderful to see you, Steve. Hardly a minute has gone by when you’ve not been in my thoughts.”

  “I’ve missed you too, me lad.”

  There were tears in both men’s eyes, and John could see the great bond that existed between these two men.

  “My lad, that’s quite a shiner you’ve got there.”

  “Believe it or not, one of my prison guards is Sergeant Killjoy.”

  “Have you any idea what’s been planned for you, William?”

  “Having been found guilty, it’s Australia or life in Newgate Prison.”

  “Now, William, time is short. Firstly, did you kill Peter Nesbit? I have to ask this, William.”

  “No, he was alive - injured but alive, when I left him.”

  “Now, your brother has arranged for me and Annie to stay at Rose Cottage. I’m hoping with Annie’s help that even after all these years I might find out what actually happened to Peter Nesbit. Did he die? Maybe he is still alive - who knows!”

  Chapter Thirty

  A SCORE TO SETTLE

  The swaying and bumping of the coach brought back happy memories of other visits to Rose Cottage with the children, John and Rebecca. Annie wondered if Steve, seated opposite, was asleep or just resting his eyes. How old he looked now compared with the young man who married her sister Betty. ‘It is strange how one man can ruin so many lives,’ she thought. ‘Now, after all these years, will we be able to discover the truth, I wonder?’

  It was late afternoon, and the rain was lashing down when they arrived at the Coaching Inn. Annie stood by the large open fire, and after a few words with the innkeeper Steve returned with two glasses.

  “There you are, Annie - that will warm you up.”

  They made their way outside and sat at a large oak table.

  “I don’t know if it’s the fire or that drink, Steve, but I feel much warmer now.”

  Leaning across, he gently squeezed her hand. “Annie, never in my wildest dreams did I ever think this day would come. Maybe, God willing, justice can be served.”

  It was only then that she really understood Steve’s hatred of Peter Nesbit, and she realised he was not only out to help William but to settle an old score.

  They left the inn and made their way down the muddy lane to Rose Cottage.

  Steve would never forget that first meeting with Mary and Ned. Before he was even introduced he found himself cradled in Mary’s arms, being kissed on the cheek; then Ned’s powerful handshake made his fingers go numb.

  “Steve, I can never thank you enough for what you’ve done for my son.”

  Regaining his composure, Steve allowed Annie to take his coat.

  “Sir, you have a son to be proud of.”

  After this early excitement and an excellent meal, he listened to Mary then Ned. He realised the helplessness they must have felt, not knowing whether their son was alive or dead, and then how they must have felt when Dr Haywood received a letter saying William was alive and well, g
iving them hope that maybe one day they would all be together again.

  As the evening drew on Steve no longer felt alone, but part of a family. He turned the conversation back to his days in Australia and brought a smile back to their faces.

  “You know, William owes his life to the Aborigines. They nursed him through a fever and took him into their little family group. Although unable to speak the language, he made friends with the children and used to play games with them. Then one morning he woke to find they’d gone - disappeared into the bush.”

  Steve would have continued, but he could see the tiredness on Ned and Mary’s faces. Maybe, with so much to tell, another time would be more appropriate.

  Annie and Mary were laughing as they made their way up the stairs to retire for the night, leaving the two men alone.

  “It’s so good, Steve, to hear Mary laughing once again.”

  “Ned, I want to visit Thornhall Manor and to see what I can discover about the day of the fire, and William’s arrest. If I’m to help William, I need to know everything. After all these years I still hope to find some small piece of evidence that might save him.”

  “There’s not much I can tell you that Annie and Mary have not already told you, Steve. But there is one very strange thing. They found the squire, Mr Wheeler, in his wheelchair on the lawn in front of a blazing Thornhall Manor, unable to talk or move. How he got there is a mystery.”

  “Is he still alive, Ned?”

  “No, unfortunately he died a few days after the fire from pneumonia. I’ll never forget that day, Steve - the thunder and lightning, and how they found the coach on its side but no sign of Peter Nesbit. Now, Steve, if it’s your intention to visit Thornhall Manor, I warn you there’s not much left after the fire. Tomorrow Mr Pegington will be passing. He always calls in for a chat. He will be passing the manor and he’ll be only too pleased to drop you off and pick you up on his return.”

  Chapter Thirty-One

  AMONG THE RUINS

  “Anyone at home on this fine sunny morning?”