I hardly expected to see my friends so late, but, taking my summer suit, I headed to the House in hopes. As before I found a hip bath awaiting me, and, though supper was obviously over, Tim appeared with a covered tray as soon as I entered the Room. I was to have a cold collation while the others took their dessert. Samuel Bowman was just returning from serving her ladyship hers.
Between mouthfuls of one of Beatrice’s wonderful pies and a miniature salmagundi, I recounted the various conversations I had had, trying to edit out any references to the relationship between Harriet and me, as perceived by the estate workers and villagers.
Beatrice picked up on the element of fear I mentioned. ‘“Fear of someone with power” were the words you used at luncheon. That must point the finger at his lordship – or, given her behaviour, at her ladyship.’
Samuel in particular looked outraged. ‘Do you realize what you are saying?’
But Beatrice continued quietly, ‘I think we’ve all realized that this might be a possibility. But you mentioned Luke, too – and we all know he has a hasty temper. Could he be … no, surely his lordship would not protect him.’
‘I worry about this speculation,’ Harriet said. ‘Surely we should wait to hear what Elias can tell us as he and the sergeant pursue their enquiries.’ She looked around the table with a pleasing authority. ‘Now, I am troubled by the news from Wolverhampton, and I have a proposition on which I would welcome your views. I can understand that Maggie does not want to be seen by Matthew or by Mr Davies. But I wonder if a visit from a woman would create the same sense of shame – from Mrs Davies, of course, and from Beatrice or me.’
‘I would be happy to go, Harriet, but as a housemaid she answered to you.’
‘Neither lady can go unaccompanied, of course,’ Samuel said. ‘And I am not sure that the landlord of the Royal Oak would be the right sort of chaperone.’
I could have shaken his hand there and then. ‘Marty is one of the finest men I’ve ever met, in his own quiet way. But if it would make you more comfortable, Harriet, of course I would be more than happy to offer my services – and if you would prefer Marty’s too I’m sure he would oblige.’
She nodded. ‘What do you think, Samuel? Beatrice?’
Beatrice simply offered an impish smile. Samuel spread his hands. ‘Sadly, for the sake of utmost propriety, I do believe Mr Baines ought to be one of the party.’ As if aware he was casting a shadow over the company, he added, ‘And did you learn anything else, Matthew?’
‘Two things. That Mr Pounceman cancelled our meeting—’
‘So would I, were I suffering from his condition,’ Samuel exclaimed. He dropped his voice confidentially; the effect was to make him sound quite ghoulish. ‘It is hardly any trouble in the young but in an adult male both painful and, I understand, potentially serious. He has’ – he paused for effect – ‘he has the mumps.’
Did he mean to sound so comic? I certainly thought he was taken aback by the gleeful laughter that greeted the revelation – but then he joined in with a will, even providing his immaculate pocket handkerchief for Beatrice to mop her tears.
‘Poor man: I must try to remember him in my prayers,’ Harriet said, though with no marked degree of sincerity. ‘Very well, Matthew, what was the second thing you learned – though I am not at all sure that the first counts. It was, after all, Samuel who provided the important information.’
‘True. Now, would one of you be kind enough to pass me that peach? This is better demonstrated than explained.’ I took the fruit, placing it with my fingers spread where Elias had suggested.
Unsurprisingly my friends looked bemused.
Harriet, however, lit up with laughter. ‘Of course. But you may need to adjust the angle of your thumb. Oh,’ she said, ‘if only we could all go outside – then we’d see if you’ve mastered it!’ What was wrong? She had clapped her hands to her mouth as if trying to reclaim the words.
She had almost given away one of her cherished secrets. She had shared it with me once, and I glowed to realize how privileged I was. As such, it was my duty to rescue her. If only I knew how. ‘I have been boasting to Harriet of my bowling skills,’ I began, not inaccurately. ‘I showed her how I held the ball – but Elias, now in his role of wicketkeeper, of course, thinks I can improve the flight. But I fear the flight of a peach would not be very straight, and when it bounced it would spoil a lovely summer treat. I once worked on an estate where the maser grudged every penny he had to spend on his land and even on his succession houses. Yet he constantly complained when his neighbours had earlier fruit or vegetables than he. And his pineapple pits were a disgrace.’
‘Our masters are not always wise,’ Samuel said, in view of our earlier conversation rather stating the obvious. But I was grateful as he embarked on a long anecdote involving an earl, no less, who used to instruct his butler to water the wine. The thought of wine sent him to the sideboard, where he had put a lovely dessert wine we could not resist.
The following morning found me bright and early at the Royal Oak, where Marty was supervising his outdoor lad swilling down the yard. When it was clean enough to satisfy him, he sent the boy, aged about ten, on his way.
Once his back was turned, Marty shook his head. ‘If only he knew his letters, Matthew. Anything I ask he can do, except he gets bored because he’s so quick to master it.’
‘We need a village school,’ I said firmly. ‘So does every village. Meanwhile, why don’t you teach him?’
‘Patience – or rather lack of patience.’
‘Very well, a school it must be! But it won’t happen tomorrow, sadly. Now, Marty, I wonder if I might pick your brain about another youngster – little Maggie. Mrs Faulkner suggests that she and Mrs Davies should go together to speak to Mrs Batham and demand to see the child. I cannot imagine Mrs Batham rebuffing the two of them, especially as Mrs Faulkner was almost in loco parentis to Maggie. If you have no objection to the notion, and haven’t yet written to Ianto, might you suggest it?’
He nodded slowly. ‘But how would the good lady get to Wolverhampton?’
‘She’d need an escort, of course – and for various reasons it would be good if you were one of them and I the other.’
‘What’s her ladyship say about it? Your walking out together, man, not this journey.’
‘We have not informed her yet. But logically she should have no objection. I could name any number of butlers and housekeepers who are married yet continue with their employment—’
‘Married! It’s gone that far?’
I shook my head. ‘By no means. But she is the first woman I have ever met who inspires such sentiments and …’ I broke off, ashamed by my hackneyed words.
He held up his hand. ‘Matthew, my friend, if she is the one, don’t delay, I beg you. I am glad that I had at least a few years with my beloved …’ He swallowed. ‘I promise I will say nothing, and, if you wish, I will pooh-pooh any rumours, though they’re so rife no one will believe me.’ He looked at me sideways. ‘If an engagement is in the air, then I wonder if it might be politic to speak to her ladyship. Upfront and honest, if you see what I mean. I know it’s risky, but if she just happened to find out …? Anyway, of course I will suggest to Ianto the possibility of a little outing for the three of us. Especially if we could improve it by having lunch at that hotel near the railway.’
‘You don’t think Mrs Davies would be offended?’
‘It’s a temperance hotel, and we’d invite her husband too. I’m sure Ianto would agree to a change from her cooking. Everyone deserves a bit of a treat, if they can get it.’
‘They do. It will be my treat and no arguments, Marty. As for your advice about Mrs Faulkner and me – you’re sure it’s not a bit premature?’
‘Is it? Only you two can say that.’
Why had I never grasped until now that, should she deign to, her ladyship could watch what was going on in the grounds of her son’s estate? It wasn’t just the lake that she could see. A bizarre desire to wave at the blinds of her boudoir shook me. They were still closed, of course, even though the morning sun was shining warmly and it was a treat to be out in it.
Clearly I needed a very private conversation with Harriet – but one I must not rush. I recalled her shock when I first kissed her – not a physical one, so much as a profound fear of … something. Until I knew what that something was, I did not want to push her into anything for fear of losing her altogether. For that reason I must not seek her out, not offer any more pressing attentions than I had so far – all of which seemed to be happily received, I had to admit. Apart from that first, impulsive denial. Instead I knocked on Samuel’s pantry door, where, using a magnifying glass, he was engaged in checking the state of the huge silver epergne which usually dominated the state dining room.
‘It takes three footmen to carry this safely,’ he said. ‘But three is an awkward number. I’m always afraid I shall see a dent on it when it comes in here for cleaning.’
I scratched my head. ‘George is very busy with work on the roof just now,’ I said. ‘But surely when there’s a wet day he could make a little trolley for that.’
‘I believe you’re right!’ He gestured various dimensions. ‘Yes! You could let down one side to ease the epergne in place, then fasten it up … What a good idea, Matthew. But that wasn’t what brought you here, not at this hour of the day.’
‘In fact it was an entirely private matter, one that I hardly like to broach. Samuel, some time ago you mentioned your interest in Beatrice. It’s clear that you take as much pleasure in each other’s company as Harriet and I do in ours. The whole village is apparently expecting to hear our banns read any Sunday now; I dare say they gossip just as much about you two. The problem is, what if this comes to her ladyship’s ears? You know her so much better than anyone else in the House. Knowing how loyal you are to her, to the whole family, I understand that you might not want to answer this question, but I must ask anyway: how would she respond – in either case?’
Sighing deeply, he put the magnifying glass back in its velvet lined box before he answered. ‘I do not care to speculate. Even ten years ago, there was always courtesy in her treatment of me. Offhand, dismissive – because I am, when all is said and done, a servant. But even at her coldest, she maintained her dignity. Since the death of his lordship’s father …’ He broke off, shaking his head – in a way the Bard described, more in sorrow than in anger. ‘In answer to your question, I might escape the worst of her temper, because there is, of course, almost a tradition of the family butler marrying the cook or the housekeeper. But I have been in her service for enough years to point out, with some humility, that she would not like the effect on her comfort, on the smooth running of the entire house, if I left, taking my bride with me.’
‘I, on the other hand, am a newcomer with whom she has already crossed swords. Sadly for her, she can’t dismiss me: only his lordship can do that. But she could get rid of Harriet, couldn’t she? Which would thrust her into a … it might mean she feels obliged to enter a marriage she does not want.’
‘My friend,’ he said, putting his hand on my shoulder, ‘there is no doubt in my mind that she loves you. But I can understand that you would like the relationship entered into absolutely freely. And there is something in her past – no, I’ve no idea what it is … She won’t even tell Beatrice.’
I nodded slowly. Before I could speak, the clock, a particularly intrusive one, struck the half hour. ‘Heavens! I shall be late at my desk.’
‘Don’t worry: if anyone asked I should say you were advising me about the epergne.’