‘I see.’
‘So, I am sorry to say that the reading of the will might be delayed for a few more days.’
‘That’s bloody inconvenient, I must say.’
‘Furthermore, my lady, I must just mention that his lordship spoke to me about some alterations to his will during the final days of his life and the will has been changed.
‘What kind of alterations are these?’ asked Fanny.
‘Nothing to alarm you, my lady. They just relate to bequests to a member of the domestic staff, and they are in accordance with his wishes, I can assure you.’
‘Well, please hurry it up, will you? I need some money to pay bills, suppliers and such. They are pressing us for payment.’
‘I will do my best, my lady. I can clear up the bequests to the staff quite quickly. Those are quite straightforward. It would just entail me coming to the Hall and speaking to each of them individually and handing them a letter with a cheque.’
‘OK, so when would you like to come?’
‘May I, perhaps, come and see you this afternoon. Would that be agreeable?’
‘Yes, how about 1.00pm?’
‘Yes, that would be fine.’
‘Who do you need to see then?’
‘Mr Raymond Jenkins and Mrs Adina Jenkins, Mrs Beryl Aldis, and Mr Stephen Savage.’
‘I’m not sure if they’re all available, but I’ll make sure that they are informed, Mr Green.’
‘Thank you, my lady. I will see you at 1.00pm.’
Jenkins was lurking by the study door.
‘Did you hear that, Raymond? The reading of the will has been delayed. Bloody nuisance. We need the money to pay bills, don’t we?’
‘Yes, and some people are becoming rather impatient.’
‘Apparently, his lordship made some changes to the will. It seems that he left you something, also Adina, Mrs Aldis and Savage.’
‘Did I hear you say that he is coming here at 1.00pm?’ said Jenkins, stifling his glee.
‘Yes, Raymond, will you make sure the others are available for when Mr Green comes? He needs to give you all a letter and a cheque.’
‘Yes, my lady. Thank you.’
‘Oh, and when he does get around to reading my part of the will, I think it would be best to have a witness. Would you help me with that and sit in?’
‘I’d be glad to be of service, my lady.’
‘Oh, and by the way…’
‘Yes, my lady?’
‘I do need you, you know, and not just as an employee.’
Jenkins shut the study door, so they could speak in private. Now that they were alone, he could revert to calling her Fanny. He didn’t always know where he stood with her, as when the mood took her, she could be very cold and ruthless. At other times, she could be amorous. Alcohol was usually the factor that made the difference. They’d been intimate, but she professed guilt that they had gone behind Adina’s back. Fanny had, on at least two occasions, in her passion, declared that she and Raymond might be together, were it not for his marriage. He held high hopes for their relationship. Raymond felt he could say almost anything to her. So, he took his opportunity.
‘Fanny, I haven’t had much chance to speak to you alone since the death of his lordship. How are you holding up?’
‘I’m getting used to the situation, Raymond. Let’s just say that I’m taking it one day at a time.’
‘Have you had any thoughts about the future?’
‘In what way do you mean? You and me?’ asked Fanny.
‘You know how I feel about you. But, I mean, things in general: the estate, the staff. They’re all worried, you know.’
‘I’m sure they are, but I really don’t know what I want to do yet. As purely an exercise in taking stock I’ll have the estate, the Hall and the land valued. I think there are eighteen acres, in all. There’s also the house in Bedford Square. I just want to know how much I’m worth.’
‘Do you think you might sell up, then?’
‘We’ll have to wait and see. I’ve got no plans to go anywhere, Raymond. I just need to get a grip on what Jeremy has left me. I’ll find out more later when the solicitor finally gets around to reading the will.’
‘The staff need to be reassured, Fanny. As you know, there are seven staff here and three at Bedford Square whose lives are on hold. They deserve some indication about the future, don’t you think?’
‘Let’s just get the will over with and I’ll have a better idea, OK?’
Fanny got up and left the study to go to her room to bathe and get dressed.
Raymond was sick to his stomach. He’d never felt so uncertain about the future. And what form would that future take? Would he be central to Fanny’s life? She’d told him that she was not interested in the usual fops she came into regular contact with and that he was her man. He felt very insecure. What of Adina? He wasn’t at all sure he wanted to be with her any more. Raymond knew that soon he was going to have to take a difficult and probably painful decision, and, for that, he would need to know where he stood.
Raymond got on with his day, which consisted of washing and polishing the Rolls. Since the passing of his lordship, he was at something of a loss. There was no longer a gentleman for him to look after and Fanny tended to look after herself. As for Beryl, she was now only cooking for one.
At 12.55pm precisely, Geoffrey Green arrived at the Hall. He was shown into the dining room by Jenkins, and soon after they were joined by Fanny.
‘Good afternoon your ladyship.’
‘Good afternoon, Mr Green. I hope you’ve some good news for me. God knows, I could do with some.’
‘There is no change to the situation as I explained it this morning, I’m afraid, my lady. Although I must confess that it is a slight change to the usual format, my dealing with the bequests separately; however, I thought that the members of staff might need the money to tide them over.’
‘My husband made no mention of any changes to the will.’
‘He gave me to understand that, due to his illness, he did not expect to live many more years and he was anxious to get his affairs in order. The staff bequests were a very recent addition to the will. It was all signed off by his lordship; I can assure you of that, my lady.’
‘But why the delay?’
‘Unfortunately, these things take time.’
Fanny did not begrudge the staff their individual bequests, but she knew when she was being patronised. She realised she had no other option but to go along with the solicitor and his approach to administering the family estate.
The solicitor placed his briefcase on the table and he undid the buckles. He withdrew a folder from the inside of the case. The will, written on parchment, was placed in front of him and he smoothed the pages down.
Green asked to speak to Raymond Jenkins and the others. Fanny summoned Jenkins, who escorted the solicitor to the kitchen, where they were met by Adina, Mrs Aldis and Savage. Green used the office to speak to the individual staff members in private. He handed each an envelope containing a letter and cheque made out in their favour in the sum of their individual bequest. Lord Roding had been very even handed in his largesse, with each of his four senior members of staff receiving a cheque for three hundred pounds.
They all reacted with surprise, gratitude and respect. Beryl Aldis, when told of the sum that had been left to her, was very emotional.
At the conclusion of this supplementary piece of business, Jenkins escorted Geoffrey Green to the front door. Jenkins was again left with a feeling of nausea. He was pleased to receive the money, of course he was. But the ex gratia payments seemed to have an air of finality about them. He was sure that they were kindly meant, but, in his eyes, they represented a pay-off. Life was about to change for them all, one way or another.
23
DAY TWENTY-THREE
‘Raymond, will you fetch my suitcase? It’s in the bedroom.’
‘Yes, my lady. Then I’d better go to the garage to collect the Rolls.’
‘No, Raymond. I shan’t be needing the Rolls today.’
Fanny had appeared in the hallway, dressed in her finery. Although she was totally dressed in black, she looked stylish and elegant.
‘Don’t you want me to drive you, my lady?’
‘No. I’ll get the train.’
‘But, isn’t it my job to drive you wherever you want to go?’
‘Not for much longer.’
‘I’m sorry. What does that mean?’
‘Look, Raymond, I’m thinking of making a few changes anyway. I know his lordship loved it, but I won’t be needing such an expensive motor in future.’
‘Does that mean I shall be out of job?’
‘I’ve not made up my mind yet. We’ll have to see how we get on. Anyway, you can run me to the station if you want to.’
Raymond felt as though he’d been punched in the stomach. He didn’t dare question her further or show his lack of confidence. He simply didn’t know whether she was speaking as his employer or hinting at some enhancement of his future position as her lover. He drove her ladyship to the railway station in silence. It was clear that she had her mind elsewhere and didn’t want to talk. Her ladyship was about to take herself off to London to “sort a few things out”.
*
The train was already at the platform, so he dutifully followed her, carried her bag and placed it inside the first-class carriage. Fanny stood at the open door and having first checked that there were no witnesses, she thanked him by kissing him on the cheek. That was a positive sign, he reassured himself.
He had walked on to the platform believing that now he was no more than her ladyship’s butler, but as he walked away he allowed himself to dream that he was still her ladyship’s lover. He realised, though, that he was subject to her whim and fancy, and this diminished him as a man. Whichever way it went, unless he took charge of his life, he would remain at her mercy. He had never felt such turmoil.
Raymond and Fanny had engaged in intercourse on two memorable occasions after he’d driven her to society functions. She had always found them intimidating, and could never throw off the feeling that she wasn’t worthy and didn’t belong. She was of the hoi polloi, and she was constantly reminded of the fact. On those occasions when she had been drinking heavily, she would seek the company of Jenkins, who would be only too happy to provide comfort and satisfy her needs. Unfortunately, he’d made the fatal mistake of reading too much into their stolen sexual encounters. He cursed himself for ever having dared think he might be a part of her future. He felt anxious, excluded and surplus to requirements.
He reflected on the fact that he was over twenty years older than her, yet here he was, totally dependent on her every mood. He hated being in this position. He vowed that he was going to begin a new life in which he would exercise more control. A better life. A life alone.
*
‘Well, that’s her ladyship on her way,’ said Jenkins as he entered the kitchen. He hung up his coat and joined Beryl Aldis and Stephen Savage at the table. As Beryl poured him a cup of tea, Jenkins reached across to the sideboard and switched on the wireless. ‘Don’t mind, do you, Beryl? The news will be on in a minute.’
‘No. Carry on.’
‘Anyway, that’s one fewer mouth to feed,’ said Jenkins.
‘I feel a bit redundant to be honest, Ray. There’s only us servants left. And, as for young James, I’m having to find jobs to keep him busy and I’m running out ideas. He’s starting to become a bloody nuisance.’
‘In what way?’
‘He won’t leave the twins alone. They think it’s hilarious, and they keep flirting with him and leading him on. He keeps trying to get one or other of them on their own. I don’t think he knows which one he’s talking to at any one time. It’s like a game to them.’
The twins were happy enough in their own way and quite oblivious to what was happening around them. There was still a house to clean and they would just carry on as if nothing had really changed.
‘If he’s at a loose end, send him out to me I’ll give him something to keep him out of mischief, said Savage, ‘Anyway, have we got a date for the funeral yet, Mrs A?’
‘Not yet,’ interrupted Jenkins, ‘the funeral is still to be arranged. And, as tradition has it, it will be followed by a wake, so we’ll have that to sort out. I must say I’m not looking forward to it and I’m at a loss as to who we should invite.’
‘I must say I’m dreading it, as well’ said Beryl.
‘Well I’ve yet to receive any instructions from her ladyship regarding the form or scale of the funeral. The master and Lady Fanny had few mutual friends, and there are no family members to invite, so it’s likely to be quite a modest affair. Sad really, he deserves better than that.’ said Jenkins.
‘Yes, we’re at the end of an era, all right. Things are going to be a bit different around here. It’s the youngsters I feel sorry for. Do you think that her ladyship will sell up the Hall and the estate, Raymond?’ asked Beryl.
‘I took the liberty of asking her what her plans are, only this morning. I don’t think she even knows what she wants to do herself.’
‘If the worst does come to the worst, Sidney and I could start a new life with our money. We’ll probably open a tea shop,’ said Beryl.
‘Very nice too,’ said Jenkins.
‘When my cheque clears, there’ll be three hundred pounds winging its way towards me. I could do quite a lot with that, I reckon. That’s, of course, provided the police don’t charge me with something,’ said Savage.
‘That won’t happen, Steve. You should have never been arrested for the sister’s murder in the first place. I told the police and anyone else who would listen that you wouldn’t do such a thing,’ said Beryl.
‘Thank you, Beryl. Much obliged.’
Beryl couldn’t quite work out whether Savage was being sarcastic.
‘I really would like to find a woman and get married,’ said Savage, ‘Get our own cottage and a small holding. Maybe I could even still have one or two children. I’m pretty sure there’s life in the old pecker yet.’
‘Sounds lovely, Steve. Do you know any women?’
‘I’ve got a couple of irons in the fire, Beryl,’ said Savage, tapping his nose.
‘Best of luck with that,’ said Jenkins. ‘Anyway, what have you been doing with yourself the last few days?’
‘Just keeping myself busy walking the dogs and looking after the game birds. Trying to keep the poachers at bay. I don’t think Lady Fanny cares much about the garden, so I’m just doing the lawns and leaving the flowerbeds to look after themselves, for now. As for the summer house, I still can’t bear to go near the bloody place.’
‘Anyway, Raymond, I’ve got an idea,’ said Beryl. ‘Whatever her ladyship’s intentions are, why don’t we hold our own wake in memory of Lord Jeremy?’
‘Why are you asking me, Beryl? It sounds as though you’ve already got something planned, as usual?’
‘You’re right, I’ve been thinking. As you know, I’m always careful where food is concerned. I hate waste. Well, the larder is full to the brim with meats and things, and if we don’t use them up in the next couple of days, they’ll go off and will have to be thrown away. His lordship wouldn’t have liked that at all. So, why not have a banquet of our own to pay our respects to his lordship’s memory?’
Savage smiled broadly. ‘That’s a smashing idea, Beryl, but won’t we have to ask her ladyship’s permission first?’
‘No, she wouldn’t mind, but she needn’t know about it, anyway. Kitchen management is my job. We’re only using up our surplus stock, after all. So, how do you fancy a meal j
ust for the staff? I’m sure they’d enjoy it and it’d cheer us up no end.’
‘Well, I think it’s a marvellous idea,’ said Jenkins. ‘There might also be a few bottles of beer in the cellar that are on the turn as well. We could use those up at the same time.’
After the news had been and gone, Jenkins walked through to his office intending to examine the accounts. Beryl followed on behind.
‘How are things with the household expenses, Ray?’
‘Not too bad. I’ll need to speak to her ladyship again and ask her for an injection of cash into the household account. It’s getting a bit low now. She’s having to wait for the reading of the will before she has the money released and we can pay the bills. If we do hold this wake, will we have enough food for the week?’
‘Yes, I think so. There’s plenty of tinned stuff, fresh fruit and veg. That’ll see us through to the end of the week, Ray.’
‘I’ll give her a call later and ask her to transfer some money, even if it’s only a small amount to cover the staff wages. They must be paid first. Of course, we need to pay our suppliers, but if it comes to it, they’ll just have to wait a bit longer. The sooner we find out what she’s going to do, the better. I hate this not knowing.’
‘Tell me about it. Have you paid your cheque in yet, Ray?’
‘No, not yet.’
‘I was just thinking that we ought to keep the fact that his lordship has left us some money to ourselves. The youngsters won’t have received anything in his lordship’s will. It’s a shame, but it’s all about time served.’
‘I’m sure we’d have heard about it by now, if they had. Lord knows what young James would do if he were to be left three hundred quid,’ laughed Jenkins.
‘No, but, anyway, we don’t want to rub their noses in it, do we?’ said Beryl.
‘I agree. The reality is, though, that they could be out of a job.’
‘So, what do you think? Shall we do lunch or dinner?’
‘Lunch on Saturday I think. We don’t want things getting out of hand, and I’ll expect to see everything cleared away by 5.00pm.’
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