by Anne Baker
Pete had thought him a young man but he was actually six weeks older than Millie. Thin and rather gaunt, he’d spent months evading capture by the Japanese forces when Singapore had fallen. That he’d succeeded had made Pete see him as a war hero, but he was self-effacing and all they could get out of him was that he’d been lucky enough to have Pete’s cousin who could speak Malay as a companion, and that he’d organised everything.
‘You want to see a copy of last year’s accounts?’ Andrew pulled a chair up to his desk for her and slid a file in front of her. Millie opened it but was looking at the figures through a haze of angry tears. ‘I was so sorry to hear about your husband,’ he went on awkwardly. ‘It must have come as a terrible shock to you. An accident like that alters everything in a moment. I liked Pete. He was a good boss to work for.’
That didn’t help her tears. Neither did the sympathy she saw in his deep green eyes. ‘Shall I ask for some tea for you, Mrs Maynard?’
‘Yes, ring for some tea please.’ She mopped unashamedly at her eyes. ‘James has just told me he’s going to retire and Marcus and his brother are going to take over the running of the company.’
‘Oh!’ He went back to his seat on the other side of the desk. ‘I can see why that upsets you,’ he said gently, ‘but there will have to be changes.’
‘I know that, but Marcus is saying Pete didn’t run the company efficiently, and I know he tried very hard. They’re trying to tell me we made no profit last year.’
‘That isn’t true.’ Andrew Worthington was on his feet again. He turned to the last page of the document in front of her. His finger prodded at it. ‘Here you are, you can see the figures set out in black and white. Your husband lifted the company out of the doldrums of the war years, got it producing again. You can be proud of what he achieved.’
Millie was frowning. ‘That’s what I thought. Well, it’s what Pete told me. We’ve just completed another year, haven’t we? Has the improvement continued?’
‘Yes, the year ended on April the fifth. I’ve started to work on the accounts. I can’t give you any figures yet but it all seems fine. I think the profit will have increased.’ He supported his chin on his hands in thought. ‘Why would Marcus say such a thing when you’d probably know the exact figures? Anyway, it would be easy for you to check.’
Two cups of tea arrived. Millie sipped hers gratefully and tapped at the documents she’d been given. ‘I knew all this because Pete was always talking about the business. He was very involved in it. I couldn’t help picking up basic facts. Marcus must think I’m a fool.’
‘It makes him look a fool. Hang on.’ Andrew Worthington sat back in his chair and thought for a moment. ‘He does know the position is good. His father brought him in to introduce him a few days ago, and we talked about the annual accounts. He knows what the position is.’
‘What? Both he and his father say the company needs stronger management, that progress is slow.’
‘Whatever they are saying, they both understand the current position. Mr Maynard senior would have received a copy of these accounts from my predecessor. Look at the bottom, there’s a list of the managers who received it.’
Millie studied the printed name William James Cornelius Maynard in disbelief. ‘Then why are they saying such things?’ She blew her nose. ‘I know James used to think of me as Pete’s child-wife playing around in the lab, but that was years ago. Surely they’d give me credit for learning something since?’
The accountant was shaking his head.
‘They’ve offered to buy me out.’ She was so upset she felt her head wasn’t working as it should.
‘How much did they offer you?’
‘No figure was mentioned. It was just the suggestion that I’d need money for my new life without Pete.’ Millie stopped and tried again to think. ‘What reason could they possibly have to talk of the business being run down when they know very well it is not? Would that make it cheaper to buy me out?’
His emerald eyes were searching hers. ‘Wouldn’t they expect you to ask for an independent assessment of the value?’
‘They think I’m too stupid to do that. They think I’ll jump at any offer of money. And I think they want to get rid of me, so they talk about the business as if it’s too run down to be worth very much.’
‘How could they expect you to believe that when you work here and can check on the profit being made at any time?’
‘I don’t know, but I want to stay. I’m not going to be bought out.’ She spoke with more feeling than she’d intended. ‘I need to work. I’ve got children to support and making perfumes is all I know.’
‘Good for you. Your husband told me you’d developed quite a “nose”, he was proud of you. Scent is very important in this trade.’
That made Millie feel better, she smiled at him for the first time. ‘It is, but Marcus doesn’t know much about the business and even less about perfumes. It’ll all be new to him.’
‘Then he’ll find that you’re important to the running of this business.’
‘Am I?’ That perked her up.
‘Yes, could anybody else take your place?’
‘Pete would have been able to. He had a good “nose” too, but as general manager he had too much other work. Denis would be able to make a good attempt at it but he’ll be called up to do his National Service as soon as he’s twenty-one, so it’s no good thinking of him.’ She got to her feet. ‘I’m not going to let them put me out. I need to work. I’ll carry on.’
‘That’s the spirit,’ he said.
She went back to her own desk feeling a nervous wreck. She found it hard to believe James and Marcus were saying things to her they knew were false. She must treat it as a warning and not trust anything they told her. She could only surmise that they wanted her out of the business and were prepared to go to any lengths to achieve it.
It pleased her that she had an ally working here, Andy Worthington had made her realise she was in quite a strong position. He was on her side. She wouldn’t be fighting the Maynard clan without support.
A few days later an official envelope was pushed through Millie’s front door while she and Sylvie were having breakfast. It seemed the consequences of Pete’s terrible accident would never be over. It advised her that the inquest would be held the following week in Holyhead at ten thirty in the morning, and that both were required to attend.
She rang Valerie, who said, ‘I’ve been told to attend too and so has Helen, because we got Dad out of the water. Helen’s husband will lend us his car so we can all go together. He’s going to find the petrol from somewhere.’
‘I have Pete’s car here,’ she choked.
‘Eric’s would give us more room and we’ll need it because we’ll have to take the children.’ Eric had been lucky enough to buy a big new car just before the war started.
‘Thank you, I’m glad Sylvie and I don’t have to go on our own.’
‘Shall we stay at Hafod the night before to make sure we get there on time? With the children it will make it easier.’
‘Yes, whatever suits you, Val.’
When she told Sylvie, she said, ‘I don’t want to go. I couldn’t.’
Millie put her arms round her and gave her a hug. ‘I’m afraid you’ll have to, love,’ she said. ‘It’s the law of the land.’
They packed their funeral clothes to wear to the inquest and, as arranged, Helen drew up at their gate in mid-afternoon on the day before. Millie had always enjoyed the journey, with the lovely scenery of mountains and small hill farms on one side and the seascape on the other, but today nothing would ease her troubled mind. She and Sylvie sat on the back seat with the twins between them.
Since their hurried departure from Hafod, the house had been cleaned and tidied as it always was by Mrs Olwen Jones who lived in a nearby cottage. When
they arrived, there was a jug of fresh milk in the larder and a vase of fresh flowers picked from the garden on the living-room table. Valerie had brought most of the food they’d need for dinner tonight and breakfast and lunch tomorrow.
She said to Millie, ‘Why don’t you and Sylvie take the twins for a walk along the lane while Helen and I unpack and get the dinner on the table?’
‘We could give baby Jenny an airing in her pram at the same time,’ Millie said. They set off in the late evening sunshine. Millie was glad to stretch her legs after the long car journey but it bothered her that Sylvie wouldn’t even look towards the jetty and the sea. Tonight it was calm, benign and beautiful. She could almost feel Pete’s presence in the lane with them. Oh Pete, Pete, if only you were with us, it would seem like a normal holiday break.
Helen got them to Holyhead in good time the next morning, and the officials in charge were relaxed and polite. Millie had the impression they saw it as a low-key affair. They started on time and she was the first witness to be called to the stand. Then it was Sylvie’s turn. Everybody was very gentle with her and she managed to give her evidence clearly though tears were streaming down her face. When she came back to her seat, Millie put an arm round her shoulders and pulled her closer.
The proceedings were conducted at a fairly brisk pace. The children were very good and were passed over to other family members while their mothers gave evidence. They heard from the doctor who had been called to the jetty, then came the evidence found at the post-mortem and the coroner gave the verdict as accidental death.
‘Thank goodness that’s over,’ Helen said as she led the way out to the car.
‘It’s all very well for them to call it routine,’ Sylvie sniffed, ‘but it was about my dad and it didn’t seem like routine to me.’
‘It’s all over now,’ Valerie tried to comfort her. ‘All we have to do is learn to manage without Dad.’
‘That’s going to be the hardest part,’ Helen said with a little sniff.
After they’d eaten lunch at Hafod, she drove back to Liverpool and dropped Millie and Sylvie at home. ‘Would you like to come in for a cup of tea?’ Millie asked, feeling much in need of one.
‘No thanks,’ Valerie said. ‘The twins are beginning to get stroppy after being confined in the car for so long. Better if I get them home.’
Millie nodded. ‘Thank you both,’ she said as she kissed them goodbye. ‘You made it all bearable for me and Sylvie.’
Millie had found the inquest easier to get through than she had expected and afterwards the days began to pass quietly. She’d been in touch with Pete’s life assurance company, filled in the forms they’d sent her and complied with their requests. They’d confirmed that all was in order and they would pay out but explained that the money would be sent to his executor to be included in Pete’s estate.
His will had named his solicitor, Alec Douglas, as his executor and Millie had spoken to him two or three times about the will. He’d told her that James had questioned its validity.
‘I did suggest to Peter that he might consider putting the half share of the business in a trust fund for his sons, but he said, “I don’t need to do that. I trust Millie, she’s their mother and she’ll know how to manage things. They’re her sons too, she’ll look after them.”’
Millie could feel the tears burning her eyes again. Any mention of Pete brought back the terrible feelings of loss. She hoped after this she’d completed all the formalities associated with his death and could put them behind her. What she needed was to get used to her new life and learn to stand on her own feet. She craved peace to enable her to get on with it. When Mr Douglas rang her again and said he’d like her to come in and see him, she thought he’d completed the task.
‘No, I’m sorry, I’m a long way off that. I’ve applied for probate but I’m afraid there’s a difficulty I need to discuss with you.’
When three days later she was ushered into his office, he looked grave and she knew immediately that something was wrong.
‘I’m afraid I have some bad news for you, Mrs Maynard. I’ve been trying to collate your husband’s investments and bank account monies. You gave me a list.’ He riffled through the papers on his large desk. ‘Yes, here it is, but I’m afraid the total doesn’t amount to a great deal, probably not as much as you or he anticipated.’ His solemn eyes behind rimless glasses surveyed her face. ‘Does he have any other bank accounts or investments? Money that you’ve forgotten, that should be included in this list?’
Millie could feel herself going cold. ‘No, I don’t think so. Pete wasn’t much concerned about money. He hardly ever spoke of investments or savings.’
‘I see.’ He sighed. ‘Well, the problem is that he has left legacies to his five children totalling fifteen thousand pounds and there would seem to be insufficient monies accruing to his estate to meet that sum.’
‘What about his life insurance?’
‘Yes, I have the two thousand seven hundred sixty-nine pounds from that. It was taken out a long time ago. Yes, almost forty-six years and unfortunately the war altered the value of money out of all recognition. I also have statements of the three bank accounts.’ A sheet of paper came across the desk to her. ‘Here are the figures. You’ll see that another seven thousand three hundred pounds is needed to cover payment of the legacies.’
‘Oh dear, so the children won’t get as much?’
‘Yes, they will, but it will have to come from the residue of the estate which he has left to you.’
‘What?’ She was shocked and stared at him open-mouthed.
‘The residue includes his house, his half share of the family business and all his goods and chattels. The house, I understand, is free of mortgage.’
‘Yes.’ She’d understood that to mean she’d always have a home for herself and her children. ‘It belonged to his grandfather and it was handed down the family to Pete.’
‘I’m afraid the law requires that your husband’s wishes are carried out to the letter. What remains of his estate, the residue, cannot be calculated until that is done. In other words, in order to pay the legacies he’s gifted to his children, money will have to be raised from his estate.’
Millie felt suddenly cold. ‘That seems—’
He held up a plump hand. ‘It can be done, you mustn’t worry. For instance, it would be possible to raise money against the value of the house, a mortgage in reverse so to speak.’
‘Yes, but we’ll need the house, it’s our home. The children will need a home.’
‘I realise that, but it doesn’t mean you’ll have to sell it. You’ll still be able to live there. It’s a substantial house, I understand.’
‘Yes, but wouldn’t the mortgage in reverse mean monthly repayments?’
‘Yes, or it could be sold and a smaller house bought for your use.’
Millie felt paralysed. She’d spent all her married life in that house. It was spacious and comfortable and the only permanent home she’d ever known. She forced the words out at last. ‘I don’t want to sell it.’
‘There are other ways, of course. Perhaps sell some of the goods and chattels such as the car?’
‘Not the car, I need that. Anyway, it wouldn’t be possible to raise enough on that.’ She thought for a moment, ‘But there’s Hafod, I could sell that, and I’d be glad to see the back of the boat.’
He sighed, ‘Well, there is a difficulty there. I’m afraid Hafod didn’t belong entirely to your husband. That house and its contents were left to Peter and James jointly by their father. I understand they enjoyed holidays there as children. When probate is granted you will inherit half of it, so you would need to ask James if he would be willing to buy your share and advance you the money to meet the cost of the legacies.’
Millie felt near to panic. ‘James hasn’t been near the place for years. He�
�s not in good health and I don’t think he ever leaves home. I’d be afraid to mention Hafod to him in case he asks me to buy his share.’
‘Oh dear. You could raise money against your share of the business.’ That really sent shivers down her spine. Millie had made up her mind to refuse James’s offer to buy her out but would she be able to now?
‘No, I want to keep that.’
He seemed to lose patience. ‘I think you should discuss this as soon as possible with someone who can advise you on financial matters,’ he said. ‘Possibly your husband’s bank manager will be able to help.’
Millie felt dazed. ‘The legacies will have to be paid before the will can be settled?’
‘Yes, I’m afraid so.’ He stood up as if to indicate he’d explained it all, so she stood up too.
She’d not anticipated anything like this but she didn’t doubt the truth of what she’d been told. Pete had enjoyed the good things in life, he’d looked upon money as a commodity to be used, and he’d always been very generous to his friends and family. She was not going to have anything like as much money to live on as she’d first thought. Would she have enough to continue to live as they had?
As she walked up the wide leafy road, Millie assessed the home she expected to inherit. Pete’s grandfather had had it designed by an architect and built to his own requirements in 1887. It had many bay windows both rounded and square and lots of ornamental brickwork. She’d thought it enormous the first time she’d seen it, but somehow Pete’s family seemed to spread through its many rooms. It didn’t bother them that some were rarely used. Somebody would go in and dust them sooner or later. Once there had been an enormous garden too, but when the shortage of domestic labour began to bite during the Great War, Pete’s father had sold off some of it as housing plots.
Millie was not the sort of person who could keep her troubles to herself and as soon as she saw Sylvie, she poured her worries out to her.