HOLCROFT HOUSE
That evening
The year of Our Lord 1405 in the sixth year of the reign of Henry IV
Adam and I returned to Holcroft House that evening to find the entire household crammed into the kitchen. Even the twins were there, one each upon Saskia and Blanche’s knees. Iris held an inconsolable Louise, while Will looked on, one eye obscured by the cloth he pressed against his face, his mouth twisted by violent words. I stood in the doorway, my body gripped by an invisible vice that squeezed the very breath from my lungs. My heart pounded painfully as my imagination tried to come to terms with what I saw. Clearly, bad news had once again touched the house. My only thoughts were for Tobias. I tried to speak, when Karel looked up.
‘Anneke!’ he bounded from Blanche’s arms. Betje wriggled out of Saskia’s and I barely had time to kneel before they flung themselves against me, howling.
The rest of the staff clambered to their feet, Adam finally managed to hold and silence the hounds.
‘Thank the good lord you’re home, Mistress Anneke!’
‘Master Adam, it’s so good to see you!’
‘Oh, Adam, if only you’d been here …’
‘The wickedness of people …’
‘Evil, pure evil …’
‘If I get my hands on them, I won’t be responsible …’
The cacophony of voices was more than I could stand. ‘Quiet! Please, all of you!’ I shouted from the floor. The voices ceased. One of the dogs whined. Saskia stood wringing her hands; Blanche screwed her apron into a ball while Will glowered at a spot on the wall. Louisa looked up and Iris shook her head in sorrow. The twins huddled closer.
Words stuck in my throat. I was aware of everyone staring at me, concern shaping their features.
‘Saskia,’ I gasped. ‘Tobias? Is he … What have you heard …?’
‘Tobias?’ said Saskia, puzzled. ‘Oh, you poor lamb,’ she swooped and raised me to my feet, pulling me against her breast before holding me at arm’s length. ‘Nee, Mistress Anneke, nee. It’s not Tobias. God love you. It’s her.’
‘Her?’
‘Mistress Jabben,’ said Blanche sourly.
I moved out of Saskia’s embrace. The twins clutched my skirts. ‘What’s wrong with her?’ My heart began to beat strangely.
‘Wrong?’ spat Saskia. ‘Where do I begin?’
Adam stepped forward. ‘Enough. What’s happened?’
Saskia pushed her hair, which was in disarray, from her forehead. ‘To her? Nothing. Though, may the good Lord forgive me, I wish it had.’
Will made a noise of agreement.
‘I’m sorry, Mistress Anneke,’ Saskia’s face was drawn, old. ‘We couldn’t stop her. We tried, but she said it was her right and that we were to do nothing. We thought about fetching you, or the sheriff, but you were too far away and mayhap the sheriff would’ve prevaricated …’
Fear was swiftly replaced by a cold, hard shell. ‘For goodness sakes, Saskia, what are you talking about?’
It was Blanche who answered, sinking back onto her stool. ‘Mistress Jabben has left the house. Normally, we’d be celebrating our good fortune — oh, don’t look at me like that Adam Barfoot, you know we would. Mistress Anneke here too if I’m not mistaken.’ The twins exchanged a look. I frowned in warning. ‘It’s true,’ Blanche added with a defiant huff of air.
‘Please, just tell me what she’s done.’ I sat on the bench and pulled the twins closer.
‘What she’s done —’ said Saskia, coming forward to stand in front of me, ‘is rob you blind, Mistress Anneke. She’s taken everything she could lay her hands on — all the merchandise from the shop, what was left in the warehouse and more. A cart came this morning, not long after you and Master Adam left. There were two men, hired by Master Makejoy, I’ve no doubt. Marched through here like they owned the place and began loading up under Mistress Jabben’s directions.’
‘We tried to stop them,’ said Will. ‘But they threatened us. Said they were working within the law. And, when I said I wanted to see something in writing, one of the men punched me.’ He removed the cloth he’d pressed against his face to reveal a very swollen, half-closed eye. ‘Said I’d find it harder to read with only one … Fool didn’t know it’d make no difference, can’t read nohow.’
‘But that’s not all,’ continued Blanche. ‘The evil chicken-necked cow took as many rugs, goblets, linen and clothes she could lay her greedy hands on. You name it, she claimed it. Said it was her due, that the Sheldrakes owed her, and she was going to take what was rightfully hers.’
My heart began to pound. The chest in my room … My stomach lurched and nausea rose in my throat. The irony that, after all, Hiske may yet have ruined my plans was not lost on me. A bitter laugh escaped, earning me surprised glances.
‘When we realised what was happening, that it wasn’t just Master Joseph’s and thus Lord Rainford’s unsold merchandise she was claiming, we whipped through the house and brought as much as we could in here —’ Saskia’s arm swept the kitchen.
Searching the room with new, frantic eyes, I noticed how crowded it was — not just with people, but objects. There was the rug from the solar and some of the tapestries that had adorned its walls were rolled next to the door. There were the instruments from Father’s office, a small table and some Venetian glass by the stove. Near the door to the main part of the house stood the chest containing the twins’ clothes. There were furs, blankets and decorative plates, a brush and mirror and so many other things piled on benches or on the floor. Even the table was groaning under the weight of dishes and implements. I studied the earnest, indignant and furious faces of those around me and imagined them rushing through the house, trying to snatch things before Hiske could and racing with them down here to protect them. I could see Hiske’s face when she understood her intention to strip the house was thwarted. But of my chest, there was no sign. Prying the twins from my side, I stood hastily and began to push things out of the way, lifting bundles, ignoring the mess as they tumbled on top of each other and struck the floor.
‘Whatever we could salvage from her clutches, we did.’ Saskia lifted a stack of scrolls into her arms as I tried to shove them off a counter. ‘We figured she wouldn’t dare touch a thing with all of us to guard them, and we were right.’
‘I rescued that,’ said Karel, pointing to one of Father’s old sextants on top of a box.
‘I took that!’ said Betje, indicating Father’s rather crumpled star chart. Blanche moved it out of my way.
‘We did what we could, Mistress Anneke,’ said Saskia softly, watching me sadly as I sorted through the chaos, not understanding my purpose.
I searched the mounds and muddles of cloth, uncovering what I could, each discovery fuelling my growing sense that all was lost.
Then, I saw it.
Over by the milk pail, peeping from under the furs that had been stripped from a bed, was my chest. Wading towards it like one possessed, I knelt and hefted the furs to one side. I was aware of Saskia and Blanche trading glances. Will’s mouth was hanging open; Iris backed away confused and alarmed. Louisa sought Karel. Only Adam was unperturbed by my behaviour and Betje, who clambered over things to join me.
‘What’s wrong, Anneke? Why are you messing everything up?’ asked Betje quietly.
Everyone waited for me answer.
Slowly, I raised the lid of the chest. Lifting the tunics, kirtles, undergarments, scarves and hoods out of the way, I rummaged around, brushing against some leather shoes, a tightly wound curl of ribbon and a couple of books. Then, my fingers found what I so desperately sought. Lifting it out carefully, I brought the bound pages into the light. With a sigh of relief, I sank onto my heels and sent a swift prayer to the Holy Mother that this had been spared.
Within the yellowing pages I clutched so tightly were the recipes my mother used to make her special ale. Though I was sure I remembered how, knowing I had these was the closest I would ever come to having Mother beside me. They’d been passed down through generations of de Winter women, all of whom had made ale and other brews to delight their kin and neighbours. All the quantities, additions, timing and measures that my Dutch ancestors had used for centuries. Upon these pages, painstakingly recorded by Mother and hers before her and so on, were the recipes I believed would be my salvation; what would make our ale more desirable and sought after than any other brewed in town. The moment Hiske banned me from brewing, I’d hidden this book, knowing that if she found the recipes, she would have had them destroyed. Never believing I was shoring up our futures, I’d thought I was preserving a beloved keepsake.
Relief flooded me. I pressed the pages to my chest and bowed my head. The scent of marigolds, lavender, sunshine, laughter and love seemed all around me. ‘Mother,’ I whispered. It was a moment before I was able to face the others, but when I did, it was to hold the pages aloft triumphantly.
‘Nothing’s wrong, Betje. Nothing.’ Adam smiled and nodded at my little sister. She grinned at him.
‘Not any more,’ I agreed and swept Betje into my arms and carried her to the table and perched her upon it. She wriggled till she cleared a space.
‘But Mistress Anneke … the house …’ said Saskia, only now daring to release what was in her arms. Parchment, linen and a goblet tumbled onto the table.
‘It doesn’t matter,’ I laughed. ‘I was likely going to have sell most things anyway. We will make do. All that matters is that I have this.’ I clutched the small book. ‘And that we have each other.’ Looking at their faces, I beamed.
‘Not Doreen,’ said Will. ‘She went with Mistress Jabben.’
‘She even had the gall to offer me and Blanche a position in her house — Mistress Jabben that is.’ Saskia sniffed and raised her chin.
I studied them, my loyal servants, my family, and my heart filled. I looked at the table, scattered with odds and ends. Karel was twirling an iron object. Will was watching me with his one good eye, his other closed completely now. Louisa’s tears had ceased and she reached for Betje and encouraged her off the table and onto her lap. Saskia appeared resigned, Blanche and Iris perplexed. All of them were looking to me, bewildered by my sudden composure after my frantic search amid what they perceived as another disaster. But this was nothing to me … if anything, it was cause for celebration.
Hiske was gone — the last obstacle to my plans — or so I thought.
Crossing to one of the cabinets in the corner, I shoved the books and blankets aside with my foot, opened the door and peered inside. I could sense the glances and frowns behind me, the slight apprehension that had started to fill the room.
‘What are you looking for?’ asked Blanche finally. She didn’t like anyone prying in her cupboards — not even me.
‘Ah, here it is,’ I said, and removed a jug of wine. Setting it on the table, I looked around. ‘Pass some goblets and mazers, would you, Iris?’
Checking with Blanche first, who nodded brusquely, Iris made some space and lined them up.
‘Adam, if you would be so kind?’ I gestured to the jug. Adam took his knife out of its sheath and knocked the wax and cork off the top.
‘Shall I pour?’ he asked. I nodded.
‘Mistress Anneke, begging your pardon,’ said Saskia as Adam handed her a brimming goblet, waiting until she took it before passing a mazer to Blanche. ‘But have you heard a word we’ve said?’
‘Every single one, Saskia.’
‘Are you sure?’ she examined my face. ‘On top of losing the house, you’ve been robbed blind and instead of demanding restitution or sending Will for the watch, you stand there with some bits of paper, flashing those dimples of yours and offering drinks around like it’s the last supper!’
I smiled. ‘Not the last. On the contrary, it’s the first. The first supper in our house. You see, something very important happened today and I want to share it with you.’ I quickly explained what eventuated at Scales Hall and my plans. Adam, as I’d hoped, filled in the gaps and informed everyone what their duties would be over the coming weeks. As he spoke, I watched their faces. There was surprise, confusion, a little nervousness — all of which I shared. But, most of all, there was excitement and determination. Bless them, they wanted my venture to succeed as much as I did.
Adam finished and I lifted my goblet. ‘So, let’s raise our drinks, shall we? For, as of tomorrow, we’re no longer Holcroft House, traders of fine goods. When day breaks and the cock crows, we begin our transformation.’
‘Into what?’ asked Saskia.
I rested my eyes upon each of them in turn. ‘Into Holcroft House, the home of Sheldrake brewers — makers of the finest ale in all of Norfolk.’
There was a beat before everyone raised their vessels and in voices ringing with excitement, chorused: ‘To Sheldrake brewers, makers of the finest ale in all of Norfolk.’
‘Nay!’ cried Will, spluttering as he swallowed his wine too quickly. ‘Not Norfolk. Why stop there? As God is my witness, Mistress Sheldrake will be the finest brewer in all of England.’
As the servants cheered and Karel and Betje clapped, I met Adam’s eyes across the room. ‘In England,’ he mouthed and raised his mazer.
‘In England,’ I echoed.
With the love and support of these people, that night I believed anything was possible.