The Penningtons (8 page)

She frowned, giving the question some serious thought. ‘It came about through my father, I suppose. He works on a farm on the outskirts of the town, and Mr Pennington buys eggs, cream and butter from them and my father heard there was a job going there for a young girl. Ma said it was about I time I earned a few bob.’ She shrugged. ‘I’d already left school and I was bored at home and so I said “yes” and here I am!’

And looking very well on it, Steven thought. He said, ‘I noticed from the file that the whole family lives around Bath. At least, I assume so. We have clients called Albert Pennington – I think he lives on Widcombe Hill – and a Mrs Maynard who used to be a Pennington. I don’t know where they live.’

‘I don’t either. I only know their telephone numbers. I can use the telephone,’ she said proudly. ‘It’s not as bad as people think although the operators always sound rather stuffy.’

‘Er yes. Maybe they do. I think they have to be like that otherwise they would get into conversations and waste time.’

She nodded. ‘And it’s Dilys who was married to John Maynard but now he’s dead, and Albert is now married to Hettie. They’re both still alive.’

He smiled. ‘Thank goodness. I was beginning to think the family was jinxed!’

They laughed together at the idea.

Daisy said, ‘I want Monty – that’s what we call Mr Pennington – to live a long time. I like working for him. The only snag is his sister-in-law – we call her Horrible Hettie – because when she comes to visit, which isn’t often, she will insist on interfering. And I’m not sure yet about Dilys.’

‘Some people can be difficult,’ he agreed eagerly. ‘A lot of work that we do as solicitors is a result of family disagreements which have often started in childhood and lingered through the years. Sometimes the disagreements are never settled and last for generations and then I suppose they become family feuds!’

‘Well, I needn’t worry because I’m an only child so I’ll have no one to disagree with!’

‘Whereas I have two brothers and a sister – all younger than me and a mixed blessing!’

Minutes later, when Daisy had departed with the money, Steven hoped he had not been indiscreet. He had been rather overwhelmed by the young woman and now thought he may have overstepped the mark. He was glad that Mr Marsh had not been privy to the conversation but decided, if he ever had a few moments to spare, he would investigate the Pennington family, out of interest. Their files would no doubt offer insights and if Miss Letts came in again, he would be more knowledgeable about her employers. He hoped she would come in again and wondered if he could think of a reason to telephone the Penningtons. If he did, presumably Miss Letts would answer the telephone . . .

Without Miss Letts’ presence, he found the office less bright and thought the sun had gone in but when he looked out of the window it was still shining.

Once a month Hettie and Dilys met in the Pump Room to take a medicinal glass of the Spa’s well-known spring water. This was more an opportunity to be seen in the town’s famous venue rather than a chance to converse but this same morning they each had something to share with the other – and none of it good.

Once ensconced, having each accepted a glass of the famous water, Dilys told her sister-in-law about the man in the soup kitchen queue and Hettie listened silently but in growing horror.

‘He sounds very like the man who frightened Albert!’ she exclaimed, her eyes wide with alarm and proceeded to tell Dilys her own story. ‘So in the end, just to set my mind at ease that we weren’t the only ones he pestered, I
did
call on several of the neighbours, as Albert suggested, but only one had had a similar visit and the fellow was not frightening but only asked for a drink of water and only stayed a moment or two.’ Out of breath, she paused and went on. ‘So why did he upset Albert? You don’t think it was the same man who upset you, do you?’

Dilys sipped the water thoughtfully, trying to retain her poise in case any of the other people ‘taking the cure’ would think her anxious. The elegant Pump Room with its beautiful chandeliers, was a room for quiet contemplation or discreet whisperings.

‘If it was just you and Albert,’ Dilys hazarded, ‘then why hasn’t he contacted Montague? I mean, Hettie, if it’s a family thing . . .’

‘A family thing? Why should it be? As you said yourself, he hasn’t approached Montague.’

Dilys caught the eye of a passing acquaintance and forced a smile. ‘Mrs Forster! How nice to see you. Are you and your daughter well?’

‘As well as can be expected, thank you. And you, Mrs Maynard?’

‘In good health, thank you.’

As Mrs Forster drifted past, the smile vanished and Dilys continued in a low voice. ‘But how do we know that he hasn’t been to call on them? Maybe he did call and they haven’t thought to tell us about it. Perhaps they thought it unimportant or maybe they were out at the time. If he called at Park View and that slip of a girl dealt with him she might not have the sense to tell Montague about it.’ They stared at each other in dismay.

Hettie said, ‘Maybe we should go over there and find out. He may be harmless and we might be worrying about nothing but . . .’ She shrugged.

After some whispered discussion it was finally decided that as soon as they found another housekeeper they would use that as an excuse to visit Montague and they would then inquire, in a casual way, about the mystery man.

‘Which brings me to another matter,’ Dilys announced. ‘We really cannot expect that young woman to do all the housework and the cooking. I suspect the house will be neglected, simply because there are not enough hours in a day for Daisy to do the work even if she wanted to.’

‘Well, if we find a suitable housekeeper the problem will be solved.’

‘But what if Montague doesn’t like any of them? He’s paying the wages, remember. We can’t insist. He can be very awkward when he chooses.’

Hettie drained her glass. ‘Do you think this water really does you any good?’

‘I have no idea. I don’t suppose it does any harm and it’s supposed to have all sorts of vitamins and things.’ She frowned. ‘Perhaps, until we find a replacement for Miss Dutton we could find her a woman to do the heavy work. Scrub the floors, wash and mangle and dry the washing. The work my Mrs Gray does.’ She looked thoughtful. ‘Maybe she would do it for Montague. She only works for me part-time.’

‘Just put in two or three hours a week?’ Hettie asked. ‘Is that what you mean?’

‘Exactly.’

Hettie hid her surprise. Her sister-in-law was being very cooperative. She had frequently boasted that Mrs Gray was ‘a veritable workhorse’! On an impulse, before the cooperative mood faded, she brought up the question of Montague’s financial situation. ‘We must reassure ourselves that he is capable of handling what must be a fair income. Possibly he has investments, bonds or shares. If he’s as forgetful as I think he is, he could let things slide. I wonder whether we should talk about this problem with the solicitor.’ She looked at Dilys. ‘It wouldn’t be fair if we allow him to flounder if it means losing money. Family money, in effect.’ She hesitated. ‘It’s our money in a way, because if he dies first it will come to us.’

Dilys pursed her lips. ‘I’m not sure that Desmond &Marsh would deal with us without written permission from Montague – and we won’t get that unless he’s declared unfit, in some way.’

‘Maybe one of us could talk to his doctor.’

‘It would have to be me. I’m his sister. You’re only a Pennington by marriage.’

Hettie bridled. ‘What difference does that make? I’m part of the family and if you did not exist I would be a perfectly acceptable person – and it was my idea.
I
shall go.’

The room was filling up and as they had finished drinking they felt it only fair to surrender the table so they gathered up gloves and purses and left the Pump Room and stood outside, still talking.

Hettie said, ‘I wonder how much of Cressida’s money has gone.’

‘Presumably she left it all to Montague. She had no one else to leave it to.’

‘But why should he need it?’ Hettie demanded. ‘Montague’s comfortably well off and he rarely seems to spend any of it so he’ll hardly be using Cressida’s money. I wish he
would
spend some on the house. It’s beginning to look dilapidated, don’t you think?’

Dilys sighed. ‘A little shabby, perhaps. I’ll find another possible housekeeper and we’ll both go over there and see what can be done to improve matters. I don’t like that girl being alone with him. If he were to take a tumble . . . or have a fit of some kind, she’d probably panic.’

And on this gloomy note they once more agreed and then went their separate ways.

Two days later, which was Wednesday, Hettie sat in the doctor’s waiting room as arranged, waiting for the afternoon surgery to begin, and trying to avoid the other patients who were sharing the large space with her. It was an airy, high-ceilinged room with chairs against three walls and a table in the centre on which piles of magazines had been arranged. Hettie was pretending to read ‘Country Homes’, having already flipped through ‘The Literary Scene’ without finding anything to interest her. She wondered how many copies of these magazines were sold each month and how many were actually read while they languished on private coffee tables, or in doctors’ and dentists’ waiting rooms.

Suddenly she became aware that the receptionist was trying to catch her attention. Abandoning her magazine she hurried to the desk.

‘Mrs Pennington, we don’t seem to have any notes for you. I’m a little confused.’

‘I thought I had explained,’ Hettie told her irritably, aware that the other patients were listening to the exchange. ‘I’m here on behalf of my brother-in-law Montague, who is unable to attend. He is elderly and rather frail and I want to speak to his doctor on his behalf.’ She hoped it sounded reasonable.

‘Certainly, Mrs Pennington. Then I shall send in his notes. The doctor will need them.’

After another five-minute wait Hettie was called in to the doctor’s consulting room and found herself shaking hands with an elderly man whom she took to be in his mid-sixties. He had greying hair and a tired smile. In fact there was a general weariness about him which Hettie hoped might prove to her advantage. A younger, more alert doctor might see through her little plan.

He was reading a thin file which she presumed had been provided by the receptionist.

‘And what exactly is the matter with your brother-in-law?’ he asked after a very brief final glance at the notes. ‘He has no history of serious illness.’

‘No, that’s right,’ she agreed. ‘We are, on the whole, a very healthy family but I fear that the last time we visited him – that is my sister-in-law and I – we found him rather vague and forgetful . . . that is, compared with the last visit which was about two months ago.’

‘You are saying that this deterioration has not been gradual but rather sudden?’

‘That’s it exactly, doctor. We don’t visit very often – he values his privacy, you see, and this noticeable vagueness took us by surprise.’

‘Does he live alone?’

‘No. He did have a devoted housekeeper but she has left very abruptly and we are trying to replace her. In the meantime there is a young housemaid caring for him as well as she can.’

‘Are you connected to your brother-in-law by telephone?’

‘Yes.’ Hettie was become uneasy. This conversation was not going quite the way she had intended. The doctor was showing little concern for his patient.

After a moment’s thought he said, ‘I suspect you are worrying unnecessarily, Mrs Pennington. With no previous history of anything serious, I do not see his present condition as particularly worrying. We all become a little confused if we live long enough but it is not a sign of disease. Simply a result of growing old. Is your brother unhappy in any way?’

Hettie tried to think of some way he might be, but failed. ‘I think not, doctor, but . . .’

‘Then I can put your mind at ease, Mrs Pennington. I would suggest that your brother is in no danger. The maid can reach you if anything worrying happens.’ He adjusted his spectacles and smiled. ‘The telephone is a wonderful thing, is it not?’

‘But suppose he has a fall?’

‘Suppose I have a fall. Suppose you do. It can be dealt with. When the new housekeeper takes up her position she will no doubt report to you if there is a problem.’

‘Ye–es. Naturally the telephone makes things easier but . . .’ Hettie knew that she had insisted on dealing with this discussion herself and felt that there was no way she could return to Dilys without a satisfactory outcome. She decided on the truth and leaned forward confidingly. ‘The truth is, doctor, that my brother is a wealthy man but has no idea of how to cope with it . . . in the future, that is. My sister and I are fearful that he is already becoming a little senile and may be being exploited by his staff.’ Did that sound reasonable? She hoped so.

‘Ah! Now we have it.’ He smiled in what Hettie considered a somewhat patronizing manner. ‘The family money. Yes. It can be a problem. What you want to know from me is whether or not your vague, forgetful brother might be persuaded by unscrupulous people, to spend his money unwisely. I cannot answer that except by saying that I would have to visit him and make an assessment on his mental state and, if necessary, call for a second opinion from a psychiatrist qualified to determine the extent of your brother’s deterioration.’

‘So this is not a simple matter, doctor.’

‘Oh no! It occurs quite frequently but –’ he held up his hand, smiling – ‘I’m happy to say that in most cases the deterioration is not sufficient to warrant such interference. Sometimes –’ he leaned forward and lowered his voice – ‘sometimes we realize that it is simply a ploy by the relatives.’ He rubbed a finger and thumb together. ‘Money! They are hoping to gain control!’ He sat back, his expression enigmatic.

‘Good gracious!’ she said weakly.

‘In an
extreme
case we would then recommend a power of attorney which means that someone else would be appointed to look after his interests and deal with any problems, financial or otherwise.’

At last! Hettie tried to hide her relief. ‘Let us hope this is never necessary,’ she said quickly, ‘but at least I now understand the way the process works.’