Authors: Gwen Kirkwood
‘I will give it to Adam and I will make sure he does not forget. It will be lovely to have a tea party at Crillion Keep and Granny says you are going to feed us in Mr Saunders’s favourite wee dining room so we have to be good and mind our manners.’
‘I’m sure you will do that,’ Janet laughed. ‘And Beth, if you would like a girl for company you can invite Evie Bell to join us if you like. The days are much longer now so I could ask your father if he will take her home in the pony and trap later that evening.’
‘Oh, I’d love that,’ Beth said eagerly.
The small tea party went well and Josiah guessed Janet had enjoyed preparing it as much as the youngsters. Janet knew he enjoyed her caramel custards with the sweet golden sauce and beautifully smooth egg custard but he was pleased and touched to find she had made one specially for him.
A few weeks later, Janet felt she should have guessed life could not go on so happily but her heart sank when the Ross coach drove up to Crillion Keep again. This time it was clear Mrs Ross and her son had come to stay because she had brought her own maid and a great deal of luggage. The moment she alighted she informed Mrs McLauchlan that she required accommodation for her coachman and her maid as well as herself and Henry. She and Joshua were getting ready to drive to Home Farm in the pony and trap. They both enjoyed these little jaunts and their discussions with the Bells and seeing round the animals. Mrs Bell always
made a special afternoon tea for them but Janet knew they would not be going today when she heard Josiah demanding to know the meaning of Eliza’s invasion of his home.
‘It is your own fault,’ she stated sullenly. ‘You refused to help with Henry’s debts. Now Edward is insisting he must leave for the army next week. You wrote him a letter giving him your support so he will not think of us hiding here when he returns to find we have gone. So, dear brother,’ she sneered, ‘you with your Christian principles can scarcely put us out into the road. We shall stay until Edward changes his mind about the army. My poor boy could be sent to foreign lands.’
‘Most young men would relish such a project,’ Josiah said. ‘I would have gone if my health had permitted it.’
‘But Henry could be killed!’
‘Not necessarily. Knowing Henry he will take care of his own skin even if they do engage in battle.’
‘He’s not going, I tell you!’ Eliza snapped. ‘I have already told McLauchlan she must have rooms prepared for us and for my maid and the coachman. He cannot return or Edward would demand to know where he had taken us.’
‘I see,’ Josiah said, his eyes narrowing thoughtfully. ‘I am sure you can make yourselves comfortable. I have some business to attend before I join you and I shall need to hire extra staff since you are inconsiderate enough to double my household without any warning.’ He rang the small silver bell on the hall table and when Lizzy Semple came hurrying through the green baize door at the far end of the passage he beckoned her closer.
‘You may go and find Donald and tell him I shall not be needing the pony and trap to visit Home Farm today. Ask him to send Mark Wright to Mr Bell to tell him we shall visit as usual next week, then I need to see Donald in my office as soon as he is free, please.’
‘Yes, sir, very good, sir,’ Lizzy bobbed a clumsy little curtsy but Josiah knew it was for Eliza’s benefit more than his and he hid a small smile.
‘Oh, and Lizzy, we shall need extra help while we have visitors staying. I believe you have a sister? Do you think she would
care to come in daily to help you and Mrs Mossy with the fires and the bedrooms and general cleaning, or Mrs McLauchlan might require help in the kitchen. Four extra people will mean more food to prepare.’ He cast a glance at Eliza but she returned a stony glare.
‘My sister has a baby, sir but I know she would be glad to earn some extra money,’ Lizzy said tentatively.
‘We don’t want any screaming babies here!’ Eliza snapped, stepping forward. ‘You must order some of your tenants to help in the house, Josiah!’
‘Oh, sir,’ Eliza’s face fell with disappointment. She knew her sister Emma would be glad of the work. ‘I-I think our mother would look after the baby if it is only for a week or two.’
‘It will not be longer than that, Lizzy,’ Josiah said firmly, ignoring Eliza’s indignant gasp. ‘Take an hour off this afternoon. Call on your mother and sister, then let me know.’
‘Emma’s husband is Jim, the under-gardener, sir. I could ask him to go home at midday instead of eating his piece in the garden shed. He could ask Emma.’
‘Very well, Lizzy.’ He smiled kindly at the earnest young maid. ‘You’re a good girl. Most young women would have seized time off.’
‘You’re far too soft with your staff, Josiah,’ Eliza said sharply. ‘She’s only a maid.’
‘Excuse me, Eliza. I have things to attend in my office. I shall see you and Henry at lunch. Where is he, by the way?’
‘He has already gone to his room. He was late home last night and I had to waken him earlier than usual to pack his clothes. The poor boy is exhausted.’
‘He is scarcely a boy now he is in his twenties. A spell in the army with some discipline would do him a world of good.’ He turned away before she could reply and went into his office. He knew Janet was waiting for him there and he gave her a wry smile as he sank into his own leather chair on the opposite side of the desk. He ran his fingers through his hair and sighed. The door had been ajar so Janet had heard most of the conversation.
‘I’m afraid we shall have no peace for a while but the first thing
I shall do is write to Edward Ross and tell him his family arrived here without my invitation. I will send Donald with the letter in the morning. Edward is away from home until tomorrow.’
‘I will help Mrs McLauchlan with the extra cooking,’ Janet said.
‘Oh no, my dear. I will not have you slaving after Eliza or Henry.’
‘I enjoy cooking,’ Janet said with a smile. ‘It will irritate Mrs Ross less if I keep out of the way, especially if she thinks I am doing extra work on her account.’
‘I shall leave it to you to do whatever makes you happiest, Janet, but don’t tire yourself out, my dear, and you must eat with us. I need your support. I find it gets more difficult to remain civil to Eliza every time I see her, and as for Henry, he is the most aggravating and idle young man I ever knew.’
‘I know.’ Janet leaned across and patted his hand. She no longer felt so young and gauche with Josiah. He treated her like a favourite younger sister and they were at ease with each other. She gave him a sympathetic smile, though she would have preferred to eat her meal with Maggie McLauchlan.
‘I have sent for Donald. I will ask him if Peggy can give her mother a hand in the kitchens too.’
‘Very well but I will go there now,’ Janet said. ‘There will be four extra for lunch and no warning so I imagine Mrs McLauchlan will be getting flustered. I have noticed Henry has a good appetite for all he is still slim.’
‘Very well, my dear. I will see you at lunchtime and we shall make the library our sanctuary afterwards. Neither Eliza nor Henry enjoy reading.’
‘Thank you.’ Janet smiled, glad of his understanding if she avoided the visitors.
When Donald came to see him he gave him the letter to be delivered to Mr Ross and asked if Peggy would help with the cooking.
‘Another thing, Donald,’ he frowned slightly then went on quickly, ‘do you think you could find a bolt, or even two, from the joiner’s shed and fix them on Janet’s bedroom door, please?’ Donald’s head jerked up and his eyes widened. ‘I hope the bolt
will not be needed and I trust you will be discreet? Perhaps you could fix them while we eat lunch?’
‘Aye, sir, I’ll do that. But I – er, I hope there will not be trouble.’
‘I hope not too but Janet is a very pretty young woman. Perhaps you could advise her to lock her door. I have no wish to frighten her so it is better if she thinks it was your idea to fix the bolts. I promised Janet she would be safe here but my bedroom is downstairs and I could not run to her aid if she needed me.’
‘Aye,’ Donald said slowly, ‘’tis best to be prepared. I’ll see to it.’
Janet was surprised when Peggy told her later that afternoon that Donald had fixed a bolt to her bedroom door.
‘There is a lock on the door already but I have never used it.’
‘I’m not saying Master Henry is like that brute Foster, but ye’re a bonny lassie and I reckon he has noticed. Promise me ye’ll take care, Janet. A key can easily be removed and go missing. I’ve seen the way he prowls around. He’s as stealthy as a cat.’
‘Please thank Donald for me.’ Janet hugged Peggy. ‘I hope they will leave soon.’
‘We all hope that,’ Peggy agreed with feeling.
The first night of the Rosses’ visit Janet was almost asleep when she remembered about the bolts. She didn’t think she was in any danger. Henry had been pale-faced and ill-looking at both lunch and dinner. Even so, she got out of bed and groped her way to the door in the darkness.
The following day, Henry was more lively, having recovered from his hangover of the previous day, but Janet was tired after being busy in the kitchen helping Maggie and Peggy with the cooking. She retired early and remembered to bolt her door before she climbed into bed. She had worn one of her new dresses for dinner and she would have had to be blind not to notice the gleam in Henry’s pale eyes or the wariness in Josiah’s.
During the night, she thought she heard footsteps passing her door but she pulled the blankets over her head and was soon sound asleep again. The following night, she couldn’t believe it when she noticed the key had been taken from the lock on the inside of her bedroom door. When she went to bed, she made sure she bolted her door securely and she offered a silent prayer
of gratitude to Donald, and to Peggy for prompting him to fix the bolts, or so she thought. Later, when the old house was silent, she was sure she could hear someone outside her door. She sat up and lit the candle. She saw the doorknob turn slowly and silently, but the door did not open. She lay still barely daring to breathe. Someone muttered an oath. It had to be Henry since there was only him and his mother, besides herself, on this floor. Mrs Mossy and Lizzy slept in the servants’ quarters and used the back stairs, while Maggie McLauchlan went home to her own cottage at night, as did Lizzy’s sister, Emma, who had agreed to help out while the Ross family were here.
In spite of the bolts, Janet’s heart was racing. Please, God, don’t send any more trouble, she prayed silently. The only person she yearned for was Fingal and that could never be when she belonged to Josiah. It was a long time before she could sleep again and she felt jaded the following morning as she helped Maggie McLauchlan with the breakfasts.
‘Mr Saunders has simple tastes but Mrs Ross and her son are never suited,’ Maggie grumbled. ‘They don’t know what they want. If I cook kidneys they want fish and if I make fish they want mushrooms or scrambled eggs or the Lord knows what. It is a waste of good food when half the parish are near starving. According to Riley, their coachman, they are the same at home, but Mr Ross is easy-going and fair in his dealings so long as no one tries to cheat, or idle their time away. He says there’s been tension for weeks with the quarrels between Mr Ross and his son.’
‘You seem to have had a good talk with the coachman,’ Janet said with a smile.
‘Aye. I’m glad there’s more than me doesna like Mrs Ross and her son.’
After her broken night, Janet felt too irritable to cope with the moods of their visitors so she sought refuge in the office; it was one room they never entered. She left the door slightly ajar so that Josiah knew where to find her. He had begun to leave most of the ledgers to her and she loved using the metal nibs he had given her. He kept a detailed diary of every event on his small estate. She guessed it was because his health had never allowed him to
be as active at supervising as many of the gentlemen with large estates who employed managers. Janet admired the way he tried to be fair and just to all his workers.
‘My grandfather would have said you were a true Christian,’ Janet told him with a smile. ‘He judged men by their actions rather than their words.’
‘Your grandfather was a fine man himself and a good judge of people. I think Crillion Keep, and all those connected with it, will be safe in your hands, Janet, when my time comes.’
‘Oh please, please don’t think about dying,’ Janet pleaded. ‘Do you feel ill?’
‘No, my dear. I can’t remember when I felt so well, or so content, and I know that is due to your cheerful company and Mrs McLauchlan’s care for my welfare. Nevertheless, it reassures me to know you will do your best to carry on here and treat everyone kindly and fairly, and with compassion when needed. I have great faith in you, my dear, young though you are. I hope you will choose wisely when you need a companion. We all need help.’
Janet was thinking about this conversation as she sat behind the big desk. She had just finished reading the last letter from Fingal for the fourth time. He wrote regularly if he could and his letters were the bright stars in Janet’s world, although she never admitted it even to herself. Her reverie was disturbed by loud voices and the sound of quarrelling in the hallway. It was Mrs Ross and her son Henry.
‘I’m bored to tears already and we’ve only been here a few days. What am I supposed to do all day?’ There was a bang like someone kicking a wooden stair or the oak settle. ‘Why can’t you make the old skinflint pay off my debts, then we could go back home.’
‘You sound like a sullen schoolboy!’ his mother said. ‘Even if I could persuade Josiah to pay your debts again, your father is determined to send you to the army. You must stay out of his way until he calms down after your last escapade. You could learn how to run the Crillion Estate. After all, it will be yours when Josiah dies.’
‘Estate!’ Henry gave a mocking laugh. ‘It’s no bigger than a pocket handkerchief. I shall sell it. No doubt Lord Swinbourne will be pleased to buy it since he owns nearly everything else around here. I hear he likes to dictate to people in his power.’
Janet could visualize Henry’s sullen face. He did sound like a spoiled child. She heard him kick something again and hoped it was not the settle.