by Val Wood
‘Not know! How could he not know?’ Clementina remonstrated. ‘What’s the matter with him? He must have known if he sent Amos!’
‘Ah! Well, that was me,’ Edwin admitted. ‘I thought you’d wish to be here to entertain your cousin.’
Clementina shot a look of pure loathing at her brother but he seemed unperturbed.
‘Your father also said that he would be bringing a guest home,’ Rosalie added to fill the silence.
‘Who?’ Clementina and Edwin asked, whilst Howard walked across to the window and Polly thought she saw a smile play about his mouth as he crossed in front of her.
‘That I don’t know,’ Rosalie said, adding, ‘Will you excuse me? I’ve rather a headache and would like to lie down for half an hour.’
Polly rose too, saying, ‘And I must go and tuck Louis up for the night.’
‘Louis?’ Clementina said peevishly. ‘Not another guest?’
Polly smiled sweetly. ‘A lamb; one that Howard rescued from a snowdrift. I’ve been feeding him. He likes to see me before he goes to sleep!’
She was gratified to see Clementina’s nonplussed expression and Howard’s grin as she followed Rosalie out of the room.
‘I’ll come with you,’ Rosalie whispered to Polly out in the hall. ‘I haven’t really got a headache. I just wanted to get out of there.’
Polly pulled a face. It wasn’t her place to comment on Rosalie’s relations, but she was pleased that they were not hers. She pulled on the galoshes. ‘Do you think Clementina will mind my using her rubber boots?’ she said.
‘She might.’ Rosalie followed her down the steps, and they ducked down as they passed the dining room window so as not to be seen. ‘We’ll have to get you some of your own. Maybe Howard would know where to buy them. It seems strange not to have any shops nearby.’
When they asked him, Howard told them that now the weather was improving the packman would be arriving soon, though he doubted if he would carry galoshes. ‘Scarborough’s the place,’ he said. ‘Lots of shops there. Ask Clemmie; I’m sure she’d relish going back, but she’ll have to persuade her father to let Amos take you.’
Neither of them knew what a packman was and he explained that it was a traveller in goods; a pedlar or hawker, who visited country districts carrying silks and cottons and household items, the sort of thing a housewife might need.
‘A travelling shop?’ Polly said. ‘So they don’t have to go out to the nearest town?’
‘That’s it,’ he said. ‘There are times when we can’t get out, as you saw when you came, but the weather then was changing for the better. Sometimes we are locked in for weeks on end.’
‘So the cook or housekeeper or farmer’s wife has to be prepared?’ Polly said thoughtfully. Being a town girl she was used to having butchers, bakers and haberdashers on her doorstep.
‘Yes,’ Howard told her. ‘And they have to be very thrifty, so there’s rarely anything wasted.’ He looked at them sideways, ‘For instance, if they kill a pig every single part of it is used – even its squeal!’
‘Goodness!’ said gullible Rosalie, but Polly raised her eyebrows and heaved a shrewd sigh.
They didn’t see Clementina again until the following day when they met for the midday meal. Luke had not yet returned.
Clementina was quite chatty to Rosalie, asking her whether there were theatres and balls in Hull and if she had a good social life. She studiously ignored Polly, not speaking to her or asking her anything about herself. Polly was quite relieved that she wasn’t expected to answer questions about her life, but felt that Clementina had guessed that she had been Rosalie’s servant before she became her friend.
After they had eaten, Polly excused herself. Howard seemed preoccupied and wasn’t joining in the conversation and Clementina was monopolizing Rosalie while Edwin sat picking at his nails, and she felt neglected and of no account. Outside the dining room door she bent down to fasten a shoelace that had come undone and heard Clementina’s voice quite clearly.
‘What a very odd young woman Polly Parker is, Rosalie. I warrant she hasn’t always been your companion. She was your maidservant, wasn’t she?’
Polly heard the sneer in her tone and gasped. How would Rosalie answer?
‘Polly is my best friend,’ she heard her say. ‘What she was before is unimportant. We have much in common, having both lost our mothers on the same day.’
‘Well, so you might have,’ Clementina answered. ‘And I’m sure it’s very noble of you to treat her so well, but you don’t need her now. I suggest you dismiss her; she will find other work, especially if you give her a reference.’ Polly reeled. She heard Clementina laugh as she said, ‘I can be your best friend now, Rosalie. We can have such fun together.’
Polly fled out of the hall and down the steps towards the back of the house and the stables. How could she, she thought tearfully. How could anyone be so cruel? Suppose Rosalie is persuaded? What will I do?
She went into the stable and leaned against the wall and the lamb came towards her, nudging her knees. Howard had said that soon he would be able to go out on to the moors with the other sheep. Polly had resisted, saying he wasn’t ready; now tears trickled down her cheeks as she realized that she would lose him altogether if she had to go away.
The stable door swung open and Edwin looked in. ‘I thought I might find you here,’ he said. ‘Did you hear what Clemmie said? She’s hardly the soul of discretion.’
His voice was soft and she thought he was being sympathetic. She brushed away her tears. ‘I didn’t mean to listen,’ she said. ‘But the door was open.’
‘Oh, it was quite deliberate,’ he said, coming closer. ‘She intended you to hear.’
‘Why?’ she asked. ‘Why would she?’
He reached out a hand and touched her cheek. ‘Because she’s a spoiled brat. Poor little Polly,’ he murmured. ‘If you’re nice to me I’ll make sure that you’re able to stay.’
She took a breath as he put both hands on the wall behind her, effectively trapping her within his arms. She put up her hand to push him away. ‘Please don’t do that,’ she said.
He bent his head towards hers. ‘That’s what I like about you,’ he whispered. ‘Such an independent spirit. I’d think you are a very fiery young lady.’
‘I am,’ she said, giving him a shove. ‘Please get away from me.’
He laughed and put his face against hers. ‘Don’t want to. Not without a kiss first, and then maybe something more after.’
Polly turned her head away as he searched for her mouth. ‘Get off me,’ she said angrily.
‘As I thought,’ he murmured. ‘A lady of passion.’ He put his hands on her waist and ran them up to her breasts. ‘And how lovely you are, Polly, hiding your curves beneath your gown!’
She punched his chest. He was so close, his body pressing her to the wall so that she couldn’t move. ‘Get off me,’ she repeated. ‘I’m a guest in your house! How dare you treat me like this?’
With his knee pressed against her and one hand holding her fast, he lifted her skirt with the other. ‘You’re not a guest,’ he smiled. ‘You’re a servant girl, like Clemmie said.’
With a mighty effort she forced him off her and with her fist swinging she hit him across his face, making him stagger. She hit him again and headed for the door.
‘If you dare to touch me again,’ she shrieked, ‘I’ll tell your father.’
Edwin stroked his reddened cheek. ‘Just you try,’ he snarled. ‘I’d tell him that you led me on with your promises.’
Polly kept her hand on the door ready for escape and looked at him. ‘He wouldn’t believe you,’ she whispered, but she felt sick. Why would Luke Kingston listen to her, a stranger, rather than his own son?
She heard someone whistling and she stepped outside into the yard and safety. Howard came round the corner. ‘There you are, Polly,’ he said. ‘We wondered where you’d got to.’
‘Why?’ she said, feeling agitated and as if
she couldn’t trust anyone. ‘Who’s looking for me?’
He frowned. ‘Well, Rosalie for one, but I’m going up the moor to check on the sheep. I wondered if you’d like to come.’
‘No, thank you,’ she said. ‘I’m going indoors.’
‘Is Louis all right?’ He continued to gaze at her.
She swallowed. ‘I think so.’
‘There are some lambs due. I’m going to bring the ewes down. Are you sure you don’t want to come?’
She shook her head, hardly daring to speak. ‘No,’ she said. ‘I don’t feel well.’
Howard raised his eyebrows. ‘You too? I just met Rosalie in the hall and she excused herself to go to her room.’ He smiled. ‘I hope it’s nothing catching.’
‘It isn’t,’ she muttered. ‘Nowt that men can catch, anyway.’
‘Ah!’ He glanced towards the stable, where the top door was swinging. ‘Is someone in there?’ he asked. ‘The door needs fastening back or the hinge will break.’
Polly licked her lips and glanced nervously at him. ‘There might be,’ she said.
‘What’s the matter, Polly? Has something happened?’
She didn’t answer and he frowned. Then he strode to the stable and looked in. ‘Edwin!’ he barked. ‘Come on out. What the hell are you playing at?’
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
Polly watched the two men confront each other.
‘Get out of my way,’ Edwin snarled. ‘Get back to work.’
‘What are you doing skulking in there? Have you upset Polly?’ Howard’s voice was tense and he seemed barely able to contain his temper, which surprised Polly as he usually seemed so calm and self-controlled.
‘It’s nothing to do with you what I’m doing.’ Edwin put his face close up to Howard’s. ‘So keep your nose out of it.’ He stalked away, back towards the house.
‘What did he do, Polly?’ Howard came back to her. ‘Did he try to compromise you?’
‘Erm.’ Compromise me? Is that ’same as molest me? She blinked. ‘He was after a kiss,’ she said. ‘And summat more if he could get it.’
Howard swore. ‘Try not to be alone with him,’ he said. ‘He’s a rake, I know that for sure.’
‘He – he came into ’stable,’ she told him, hoping he didn’t think that she had encouraged Edwin. ‘He must have followed me after what Clementina said.’
He looked startled. ‘Did you hear what she said, or did Edwin tell you?’
‘I heard,’ she said in a low voice. ‘Edwin said that she intended me to hear. That it was deliberate.’
‘I’m sorry, Polly.’ He put his hand on her arm but she flinched and he drew it away. ‘They are not nice people.’
‘Why do you stay?’ she asked. ‘Why do you live with them?’
He gave a little shrug. ‘It’s my home. And because of Luke. He doesn’t know half of what goes on; and if I left the farm would go to rack and ruin. He can’t farm it alone and Edwin does nothing. But ...’ He hesitated. ‘One day I might.’
Polly left him and went back to the house and he turned to go down the track, whistling for his dogs who went bounding after him towards the moor.
When she went inside, Clementina was sitting in the hall by the fire. ‘There you are, Polly,’ she said sweetly. ‘We were wondering where you’d got to. Rosalie was quite anxious. I said you’d turn up sooner or later.’
‘Like a bad penny?’ Polly said. ‘Yes, course I would. I’ve been having a chat with your brother, as a matter of fact.’ She stared right at her. ‘He’s very fond of you, isn’t he? He’s got such a good opinion of you.’
Clementina looked at her warily and her cheeks flushed. ‘Why, what did he say?’
Polly laughed and it sounded forced even to her. ‘I couldn’t possibly tell you, Miss Clementina. That’d be breaking a confidence. But he described you very well.’
She turned away and went upstairs to look for Rosalie. She found her sitting on her bed and weeping with anger.
‘I’m so sorry, Polly,’ she said. ‘Clementina is a beast! I knew that you would have heard what she said.’ She wiped her eyes. ‘Are you very upset? You know that I would hate it if you left; in fact I wouldn’t stay. I’d go back home even, to an empty house.’
‘I was upset,’ Polly stood beside her. ‘I don’t mind admitting it. But I can put up with those two if you can. I just love this place. It’s so wild and untamed and there’s so much space. I don’t want to go back to ’life I had before.’
Rosalie heaved a deep breath. ‘Well then, we’ll stay.’ She blew her nose. ‘Those two? Do you mean Edwin? He’s very arrogant, but he’s not as bad as Clementina. Oh, how nice it was before she came back!’
‘It’s her home, Rosalie. We’re the outsiders,’ Polly said, deciding not to go into the subject of Edwin’s behaviour. ‘Mebbe she resents us, or me anyway; she’s probably quite pleased to have you here. She must get very bored with her own company. I don’t think she even likes Howard very much.’
‘No, I don’t think she does,’ Rosalie agreed. ‘And he’s so very nice.’
Polly looked at her. Did Rosalie find Howard attractive? She was surprised to feel a sudden spasm of jealousy, but it swiftly went away. It would make sense for them to be attracted to each other, she thought; and there was I thinking he was my friend.
Polly looked out of the window and saw Clementina striding round the corner of the house as if towards the stables. She hadn’t changed into her riding costume but had draped a shawl over her shoulders. She wondered if she had gone in search of her brother to find out what he had said about her.
‘Shall we go for a walk?’ she asked. Rosalie agreed and they put on their outdoor clothes. Polly felt guilty at spurning Howard’s invitation to go on to the moor with him and suggested they might try to follow him. But as they came to the top of the stairs the front door was being opened by Dora, Mrs Moody was hurrying up the kitchen stairs and Luke Kingston was calling out something to Sam Little who was outside on the front drive, holding the reins of two horses.
Luke was taking the arm of the woman by his side and ushering her into the hall. She was of medium height, slim and elegant and dressed in a dark red riding costume. On her fair head was a jaunty hat with a frivolous feather.
‘Mrs Moody,’ he said, ‘will you send up tea and a plate of Cook’s scones with jam and cream? This is Mrs Radcliffe. She has come to stay. I trust you have a room prepared for her?’
At the top of the stairs Rosalie and Polly stared at each other, their mouths in a round and delighted Oh.
The housekeeper bobbed her knee. ‘Yes, sir. It’s all prepared. Perhaps you’d like to take tea first and rest yourself before you go up to change, ma’am?’
‘She means so that she can swap rooms,’ Rosalie whispered. ‘She was expecting a gentleman.’
They heard Mrs Radcliffe murmur something and Luke nodded. ‘Shall we go down?’ Rosalie urged mischievously. ‘Meet her before Clementina does?’
Polly nodded, her eyes sparkling. She had been right. Here was a romance, she decided, and Luke Kingston was clearly not too old; it was quite obvious by the way he gently led his companion into the drawing room.
They ran down the stairs, holding up their skirts, and knocked on the door before entering. ‘Uncle Luke,’ Rosalie began. ‘We heard you arrive and – oh, I do beg your pardon.’ She dipped her knee and Polly did the same. ‘We wanted to tell you we were going walking.’
‘Come in! Come in!’ he said. He seemed very animated but in an anxious way. ‘I thought it might be Clemmie come to chastise me for not being here when she arrived. She did come back from Scarborough, I suppose?’
Before they could answer, Mrs Radcliffe, who was standing by the window, said, ‘My dear!’
‘Oh! Sorry, yes. Anna, I’d like you to meet my nieces; erm ...’
Rosalie came forward and put out her hand. ‘Rosalie Kingston,’ she smiled.
Polly too came towards her and, dipping her knee again, s
aid, ‘Polly Parker, ma’am.’ She dropped her voice and whispered, ‘I’m not a niece. I’m a friend of Rosalie’s.’
Anna Radcliffe laughed. It was a happy sound, Polly thought, as if she laughed often.
‘I’m very pleased to meet you,’ she said. ‘I’m an old friend of Luke’s, who was a dear friend of my late husband. Do you have to dash away now? Do stay and talk for five minutes.’ She took a seat near the fire. ‘Luke has told me so little about his family. I knew he had a son and daughter and a nephew, of course, and I’ve been looking forward to meeting them, but I can’t recall you saying anything about your beautiful nieces, Luke.’
She shook her head at him in mild reproof and Rosalie and Polly both smiled. She was a breath of fresh air, Rosalie thought, whilst Polly prayed that Anna Radcliffe was going to be a permanent addition to the family.
‘Perhaps that’s because we haven’t been here very long,’ Rosalie explained. ‘We arrived just a few weeks ago and as a matter of fact we only met Clementina yesterday when she arrived home.’
‘I’m longing to meet her, and Edwin and Howard. Are they nice?’ she asked conspiratorially. ‘Do you all get on well? I have a son and daughter,’ she said, before they could answer. ‘Jonathan is sixteen and still away at school, and Elizabeth is fourteen. Ah! Tea.’ Mrs Moody, in a clean white apron and cap and carrying a china teapot, came in behind Dora, who was carrying a laden tray.
Dora placed the tray on a low table and Mrs Radcliffe thanked her. Dora flushed and bobbed and backed out of the room, unused, it seemed to Polly, to receiving such gracious thanks.
‘I’ll pour, Mrs Moody,’ Mrs Radcliffe said. ‘Oh, there are only two cups! Are you not staying for tea?’ she asked Rosalie and Polly.
‘Dora’ll bring more cups, ma’am,’ Mrs Moody said quickly. ‘I didn’t realize the young ladies were here.’
‘Thank you,’ Rosalie said. ‘That would be nice.’
Luke Kingston sat down opposite his guest and, giving a deep sigh, stretched out his legs. It was almost as if he had cleared a hurdle. ‘Where is Clemmie?’ he asked. ‘Is she out riding?’