Heir to Greyladies (22 page)

‘Of course I’m coming with you. No one’s going to hurt my Joseph.’

Within minutes the three of them were crammed into the small car and it was chugging out of Swindon at a rate far faster than any horse could manage.

Mrs Dalton held on to her hat and prayed her son would be safe, and that they wouldn’t have an accident in this smelly contraption that rattled and jolted along at a terrifying speed.

Mr Dalton was made of sterner stuff. He ignored their rate of travel and addressed the lawyer. ‘Now perhaps you’d explain about this Greyladies place and this fellow who’s causing trouble.’

Norris watched the damned clock hand tick slowly round the face of a big clock with curly gold bits round the edges. Tiring of that, he went to stare out of the window, then moved back to fling himself into a chair. Like his mother, he began to assess the contents of the room, which calmed him for a while.

After an hour had passed, however, he’d had enough and was beginning to wonder if they were trying to fool him to let her get away.

He glared at Miss Bowers. ‘You were wrong in your estimate. Harriet hasn’t come back. And I’ve had enough waiting around. We’ll send the other maid to fetch Harriet back. You can write her a note. I’ll tell you what to say.’

‘I’m afraid I’m not prepared to do that.’

If a mouse had come into the room singing and dancing, this refusal could not have surprised Norris more. He gaped at her for a minute, then yelled, ‘Are you defying me, woman?’

‘If by that you mean, am I refusing to do something which might hurt Harriet, then yes, I am, young man.’ She
waited, as calm as ever, hands clasped in her lap. Just so had she outfaced two generations of naughty children.

Norris could feel the rage that had been building up roaring through his veins, as it had done sometimes when he was younger. It was a long time since he’d allowed himself to become this angry, though. He jumped to his feet, clenched fists raised and took a step towards her.

Before he could do anything, Winifred stood up too, shouting, ‘Norris!’

He ignored her, but she went across and shook his arm. ‘You’re losing control of your temper, son,’ she whispered. ‘Don’t. You might do something you regret. Remember, you have to stay respectable. If you get charged with assault, you’ll get nothing.’

He took a deep breath and closed his eyes for a minute, letting his fists fall.

Winifred spoke more loudly. ‘We can wait all day if necessary, son. Harriet’s got nowhere else to go, after all. And if she tries to run away, she’ll be easy to find with that red hair.’

When he opened his eyes again, he nodded to his mother, grateful for her intervention, then glared at Miss Bowers in a way that said he still intended to make her sorry for defying him.

Her calm expression didn’t change as she raised her book again and began to read.

Norris took two strides across the room.

His mother gasped.

He contented himself with knocking the book flying from the old hag’s hands, then went back to look out of the window. Once he was master here, he’d only let people visit who paid him proper respect, he decided.

His thoughts were interrupted by his mother. ‘We never did get anything to eat and we’ve been here hours. Shall I ring for that maid and ask for some food? I don’t know about you, Norris, but I’m rather sharp set. We had our breakfast so early.’

‘Yes, you do that.’

She rang the bell and when Livvy answered it, said simply, ‘Bring us something to eat and a pot of tea.’

Livvy looked across at Miss Bowers. ‘In the breakfast room, miss?’

‘Where’s that?’ Norris asked.

‘It’s at the back of the hall. We eat all our meals there.’ Miss Bowers looked at Norris, who stared for a moment then nodded permission.

Livvy bobbed her head. ‘Very well, miss. I got something ready in case, just slices of that pork pie, with scones and cake. I’ll take it through.’

Norris watched the way the old hag dealt with the maid. Polite as you please, acting as if they were two friends, not a lady and her servant.

He would give orders more smartly, and expect his servants to jump to it, yes and act far more respectfully to him. He tried it out. ‘And hurry up with it.’

The maid shot him a dirty look. That settled
her
fate. He’d sack her as soon as he was married and had got hold of the house.

Miss Bowers stood up. ‘Shall I show you through to the breakfast room, Mrs Benson, Mr Harding? Joseph, are you joining us?’

‘I’m not hungry. I’ll stay here. But I’d be grateful if someone could pass me my book.’

Norris laughed. ‘I’m not letting you out of my sight, so you’re coming with us. But you don’t need to eat if you don’t want to. Why waste good food on a runt like you?’

‘Someone will have to push me, then.’

Norris jerked his head towards Miss Bowers, who went to the back of Joseph’s chair, pretending to help him sit in a more upright position before she moved it.

Harriet heard the discussion and the plans to have lunch in the morning room. She was hungry too. It felt wrong to be hungry when you were in danger, but her stomach had rumbled several times.

If they all left the sitting room, perhaps she could leave the hiding place and go for help? She could climb out of the window so that the man in the hall didn’t see her.

She listened to them leave, then stood up, her hand reaching for the lever. Light blazed out between her and it, like a barrier, so she sat down again. But after a few minutes, she began to feel as if she was suffocating and no amount of reasoning made her feel better.

She had to leave the hiding place, just had to.

When she reached for the lever this time, no light came between her and it, so she took that as a sign she would be safe and pulled it.

Fresh air poured into the small space as soon as it began to open and she pressed closer to the gap, waiting for it to be wide enough to go through, looking out to check that she was alone in the room.

And she was, thank goodness.

A few seconds later, she was able to squeeze through the half-open door, sighing in relief.

‘I thought so,’ a voice said and Norris stepped out from the other side of the fireplace, grabbing her arm.

Her heart nearly stopped with the shock of it.

He smiled. ‘There had to be a reason they were so keen to move me out of this room. And here you are. I’ve got you now, Harriet, haven’t I? And I’m not letting you go again. You belong to me now, you and your big … beautiful … house.’

His voice took on a gloating tone. ‘There’s no one to help you. I’ve got my mother watching the cripple and that old hag. My friend Pat is sitting in the hall to stop anyone leaving, and my driver is watching your cook and housemaid. I’ve thought of everything.’

‘I won’t give you my house.’

He smiled. ‘You will after we’re married.’

‘
Married?
I’d never marry you.’

‘Oh, you will once your stomach starts swelling. You’re not leaving this house again till you agree to wed me.’

She felt sick at what he was implying. And he was right about one thing: who was there to save her from him if he attacked her? As he’d said, a man in a wheelchair and a tiny older woman.

She tried to pull away from him, but he dragged her towards him and gave her a kiss, which made her feel sick. She couldn’t get away from him, so stood rigidly still until he moved his head back.

Then she spat in his face, not surprised when he slapped her so hard he sent her flying across the room, sending the smaller pieces of furniture in her path tumbling about like skittles.

But at least it got her out of his arms.

And she didn’t regret doing it, however hard he hit her. She’d do it again, every single time he touched her.

Three men from the village, led by Sam Pocock, made their way quietly through the gardens at Greyladies, stopping when they heard footsteps behind them.

He nodded to the others, putting one finger to his lips to warn them to be quiet as he waited for whoever was following them to come into sight.

‘Oh, it’s you, Flora. Are you on your own?’

‘Yes.’

‘You’d be safer staying with my wife. Sounds like we have a violent fellow and some roughs at Greyladies.’

‘I want to help. I can show you how to get right up to the laundry door without being seen. It’s locked, except on washing days, but I know where the key is, so we can get inside without being seen from the kitchen.’

‘Good idea.’

They followed her along the far wall of the stables, through a room where feed would be stored when there were horses. Now it was empty, the surfaces and floor dusty.

As they left it, Sam bumped into Mickey and the lad let out a yell.

Sam hastily clapped one hand to his mouth. ‘Shut up, you fool. They’ll hear you.’ He removed his hand. ‘Do you know what’s going on?’

‘There’s three men pushed their way into the house. One of them’s in the kitchen trying to flirt with Phyllis, but she don’t like him. I been keeping an eye on them through the windows. They don’t know I’m here.’

‘How did you manage to stay free of them?’

‘I was working in the garden when they arrived, weeding. They were all looking towards the house. The big fellow knocked on the door and when Flora answered, he shoved her back into the house hard. Visitors to Greyladies don’t do things like that, so I crouched down behind a bush and stayed there. They didn’t see me.’

‘Well done. Go on. What happened next?’

‘A bit later the big fellow come out an’ told one of ’em to come in and sit in the hall. He told the one driving the car to go round the back and not let the cook and the maids leave the house. Got a loud voice he has, I heard it plain as anything. So I knew for certain they were up to no good. When the third fellow druv that car round to the stables, I followed him. An’ he didn’t see me, neither.’

‘Why didn’t you go to the village for help?’

‘I seen Flora run along the side of the garden and I reckoned she was fetching help. I saw her white apron through the leaves, saw the bushes move as she passed. If that townie driving the car knew anything, he’d have noticed her too. But he didn’t. I thought I’d best stay an’ keep an eye on them.’

‘Good lad. Follow us and don’t make any noise. Don’t do anything unless I tell you.’

Mickey nodded vigorously, but couldn’t help adding, ‘It’s exciting, ent it?’

‘No, it damned well isn’t. They may be hurting Miss Latimer or Miss Bowers, and it’s up to us to stop them. Now, keep quiet.’

He gestured to Flora and she took the lead again.

They got to the laundry and she opened the door, but Sam held up one hand. ‘I want to see for myself what’s going on before we go into the kitchen. I’m going to look in from outside. If I yell, never mind hiding, come running into the kitchen and help me.’

Five people nodded their heads. The three other men were determined, Flora was terrified and young Mickey’s eyes were blazing with excitement.

Sam came back a couple of minutes later. ‘The fellow’s sitting there guzzling tea. Livvy’s setting out food on plates. No sign of Phyllis.’

‘Shall we go in and capture that fellow?’

‘No. Not yet. The one in charge may threaten the ladies if he hears us. I reckon we’d be best taking ’em by surprise.’

‘I could go round the other side an’ peep in the windows of the sitting room, see what they’re doing,’ Mickey volunteered.

Sam bit his lip. ‘No, I’ll do that. I need to know what’s going on. I have a bad feeling about this.’

He came back a short time later, frowning. ‘Mr Joseph and Miss Bowers are in the little room at the back. That fellow’s got Miss Latimer in the front room, got hold of her arm, he has. Looks like he’s hit her, because her face is all red on one side. I thought you said she’d hidden, Flora?’

‘Miss Bowers said she had, but she must have tried to escape, thinking they’d all gone into the breakfast room.’

‘Looks like he tricked her, then. We’ll have to split up. We can—’ He stopped, listening.

‘That’s another car,’ Mickey said. ‘Shall I go and have a look?’

He’d gone before Sam could stop him, coming back soon afterwards to say succinctly, ‘Gentry. Two old men and an old lady, with a driver.’

‘We’ll have to wait and see what happens. If they’ve just come calling on Miss Latimer, they’ll be sent away. Gentry won’t be no good in a fight, anyway, ’specially if they’re old.’

‘Listen!’ Mickey said suddenly. ‘There’s another car coming.’

‘Your ears are better than mine,’ Sam said, then a few seconds later he nodded. ‘You’re right. There is another car. Who the hell is it now?’

He grabbed Mickey by the scruff of his neck to stop him running to find out. ‘I’ll go.’

When the first car drew up, the two men got out.

Dalton pushed his wife back inside. ‘You stay there, Sophie.’

‘I’m not sitting out here if my son is in danger inside the house.’

Mr Lloyd looked back down the drive. ‘Please do as we ask, Mrs Dalton. We don’t know where the others are. They were just behind us. I think we’d better wait for them.’

‘I saw a cart pull out in front of them,’ Sophie said. ‘It’ll have slowed them down.’

Mr Lloyd looked round, frowning. ‘No one’s come to the door to check what we’re doing here and they must have heard us coming. I don’t like the looks of this.’

When a car turned into the drive, Norris cursed and shook Harriet hard, dragging her out into the hall out of sight. His mother joined them.

‘Who are you expecting?’ he asked.

‘No one.’

‘Then you can tell whoever it is to go.’

Winifred intervened. ‘She can’t answer the door with a big bruise on her cheek like that. You’re a fool hitting her, Norris.’

‘She
spat
at me.’

His mother rolled her eyes. ‘And what did you do to her first?’

‘He tried to kiss me.’ Harriet shuddered.

Winifred shook her head. ‘Can’t wait, can you, son? It’ll be your undoing that impatience will. I’ll answer the door. Take her to the others in the sitting room. Pat can come and help you keep an eye on them. You keep hold of Harriet and make sure she stays quiet. But control yourself, for goodness’ sake.’

Miss Bowers and Joseph both gasped when they saw Harriet’s bruised face, then glared at him.

He glared right back. ‘You two had better stay quiet, or you’ll get a thump that’ll knock you senseless.’ He jerked his head towards Joseph and asked Miss Bowers, ‘Does the idiot understand that?’

‘I’ll make sure of it.’ She spoke slowly and clearly, ‘Joseph, dear, please keep quiet. If you don’t, the nasty man will hit you.’

Joseph nodded and pretended to shrink back in his chair.

As the room became silent, Norris listened intently. ‘They haven’t knocked on the door yet. What are they doing out
there?’ Even as he spoke they all heard another car come along the drive and stop in front of the house.

Norris dragged Harriet across to where she could see out of the window. ‘Stay back. I know Mr Lloyd, but who are them others?’

‘Those two standing together are Joseph’s parents. The other’s Mr Greenlow, the local magistrate. I don’t know the bald man.’

‘Come over here, old woman. Do you recognise that one to the right?’

Miss Bowers moved forward to stand by his side. ‘He’s called Murborough. He and Mr Greenlow are our local magistrates.’

‘Damnation. They’re coming to the door.’ His grasp tightened on Harriet’s arm and he pulled her to him, squeezing her throat with one hand. ‘All of you keep quiet or there’ll be trouble. Understand?’

She nodded and the others stayed still.

They heard the door knocker go.

Winifred went to open it. ‘Miss Latimer isn’t well, so I’m afraid she can’t have visitors.’

‘Who are you?’

‘Her stepmother, here to nurse the poor girl. Please give her time to recover and do come again.’

There were sounds that had Norris frowning, then he heard his mother say, ‘No! Let go. I need to close the door. Pat! Come and help me!’

Pat looked at Norris, who nodded, still keeping his hand over Harriet’s mouth.

But she took him by surprise, biting him hard and screaming for help before he could silence her again.

Joseph raised his voice, also calling for help, and Miss Bowers began yelling, too, moving away from Norris too quickly for him to thump her as she deserved.

Cursing, he threw Harriet down on the floor and ran towards the door. As he did, Joseph rolled his wheelchair forward and snatched an ornament from a nearby table, hurling it at him.

Growling with anger, Norris paused to kick over the wheelchair, but even when lying on the ground, Joseph managed to tug at the nearby rug, and though he couldn’t drag Norris down, he did manage to throw him off balance and slow him down. By that time Harriet had scrambled to her feet and grabbed a poker, ready to join in the fray. But Norris had left the room and she hesitated.

‘Well done, Joseph,’ Miss Bowers said calmly. ‘There’s a lot of noise out there. Shall we arm ourselves and see what they’re doing?’ She went to pick up the fire tongs.

In the hall all was chaos, with the men from the village fighting with Norris and the two men he’d brought. All three of the intruders were big men and fighting dirty, trying to gouge eyes and kick their opponents where it hurt most.

Mr Dalton shoved his wife behind him, looked round for a weapon and found a walking stick in the hallstand. He began slashing at one of the men from behind.

Winifred added her bit to the confusion by seizing an umbrella and belabouring any opponent who came near her.

In the confusion Norris realised there were too many of them for him to win, damn it!

Bitter at the failure of his grand scheme, he figured the best he could do was escape. He feinted to one side, slipping
past the two elderly magistrates, punching one of them as the old fool stepped forward, hand held up in a stop gesture.

No one seemed to have thought that one of them might run away, so Norris was able to run into the kitchen. Winifred went to bar the way to anyone following her son, giving a man who tried to pass her a hard shove, screeching like a banshee and delaying pursuit.

In the kitchen, Norris shoved Livvy aside when she tried to hit him with a saucepan. As he ran out into the back garden, he knew he’d lost his prize, but he didn’t intend to lose his liberty as well. He’d enough money on him to hide out somewhere, then maybe he’d go to Australia or Canada, somewhere far away.

He wished he knew how to drive one of those motor cars. There were three of the damned things standing around. He’d be able to get a lot further in one of those.

Or they’d be able to pursue him more quickly.

He had to move fast and find somewhere to hide until nightfall.

When the two remaining intruders were overcome and tied up, Sam Pocock wiped a bloody lip and grinned at his friends. ‘Got ’em, didn’t we? Nasty buggers in a fight. And
she
was helping ’em.’ He scowled at Winifred.

Harriet looked across at their prisoners. ‘Where’s Norris? There should be another man.’

Winifred chuckled. ‘My Norris got away.’ She began to laugh, a rusty sound with no mirth in it. ‘He always was good at looking after himself, my son was.’

Mr Greenlow moved forward. ‘Some of you go and look for this fellow. Who knows what he looks like?’

Sam stepped forward. ‘Don’t matter what he looks like. Any stranger in the village will stand out like a bear at a tea party. We’ll find him for you, sir.’

‘Good man. Good man.’

Sam and Chas set off at a run.

Now that things had quietened down, Mr Dalton moved towards his son. ‘There you are, Joseph. We’ve come to take you home. You really shouldn’t have run away like that, but I’m prepared to forgive and forget.’

His son leant back in his chair with a grim smile. ‘There’s nothing to forgive, Father, and I’m not coming home.’

‘Don’t be a fool.’

‘You have no say in what I do with my life from now on.’

Mr Dalton spluttered and choked in shock at this. ‘But what else can you do but come home?’

Joseph turned to Harriet, who was standing by the side of his wheelchair. He eased himself upright, standing proudly beside her. ‘I’m going to marry Harriet and live at Greyladies.’

The smile she shared with him left his parents in no doubt about how the two of them felt about each other.

‘But that fellow Harding may come back!’ Dalton protested. ‘You won’t be safe here.’

‘I doubt he’ll be stupid enough to return,’ Joseph said. ‘And it makes no difference if he does. I’m not hiding myself away from now on. I’m going to marry the woman I love.’

‘You can’t marry a
servant
,’ Dalton protested. ‘Think of the family name. It’d be a disgrace.’

Sophie Dalton pushed past him. ‘Don’t be so stuffy,
William. It’s clear they love one another and I want to see my son happy.’

‘But what about our
standards?
We’re gentry. She’s … just a maid.’

‘You can take your standards and hang them on the washing line,’ she retorted. ‘And actually, if she owns this house, she’s a very rich maid. But I don’t think Joseph is marrying her for her money.’ She cocked one eyebrow questioningly at her son.

He smiled. ‘No. I’m marrying Harriet because I love her and for some reason she doesn’t seem to mind what I’m like.’

‘I love what you’re like,’ Harriet said at once. ‘You’re Joseph and that’s more than enough for me.’

Mrs Dalton sniffed away a sentimental tear at hearing words she’d never expected in connection with her youngest son. ‘Congratulations then, my dear Harriet. I’m sure you’ll make my son happy and I hope you won’t hold a grudge for what my husband just said about you. He’ll come round eventually, I’m sure. I hope you’ll let us both visit you.’