CHAPTER FIFTY

JAMIE RECEIVED A letter from Mrs Greenwood. Within the large envelope was another, sealed and waxed with his father’s seal and addressed to his lawyer Smithers.

Mrs Greenwood had written: ‘After your father’s funeral I washed and dried all the bedding and put it away, and then asked one of the maids to help me turn the mattress on his bed. You perhaps wouldn’t have known that your father liked a firm bed and had placed a board beneath the mattress; it’s been there for many a year. When we turned over the mattress, I found the enclosed envelope in the middle of the board. As I don’t have Mr Smithers’s address, I’m sending it on to you to forward to him. Your brother is presently on his honeymoon following his marriage by special licence, otherwise I would have given it to him.

‘I might be speaking out of turn, Dr Lucan, but I feel that I should mention that shortly after Master Felix called in the young lawyer when your father was unwell and not at all himself, Mr Lucan, your father that is, on one of his better days, asked me to witness his signature on a deed, and said to me that he intended to put things right. I didn’t know what he meant and he didn’t ask me to post anything and I never saw the document again; I’m guessing but I think perhaps this might be the same document, as I never saw him put pen to paper again, God rest his soul.

‘Bob Hopkins told me where you were staying, but didn’t know if it was to be a permanent address so I’m sending it post-haste. I hope it arrives safely.

‘We’re all sad here, missing your father and all of you but looking back on a good life. We must hope for the best and trust that it turns out well for us all.

‘I send my best wishes for your future.’

She had signed herself ‘Mrs Amelia Greenwood’. Amelia, Jamie had thought. I never knew that was Mrs Greenwood’s name. He turned over the sealed envelope in his hands. I wonder what it contains. He had an appointment booked with Smithers on the following Monday to discuss the terms of his father’s Will and decided to take the envelope with him rather than sending it by post.

On Monday, Jamie discovered that Smithers had been furious over the new conditions in the Will. His junior, Binks, had told him that Roger Lucan wished to make changes to his Will, and he had asked Binks to ride out to Holderness to deal with it, as he himself was busy with a complicated lawsuit. Binks had told him on his return that there were only minor changes, and he was shocked to hear that Roger Lucan had died so suddenly just a few weeks later. After going over the Will he had called Binks in and discovered that it was Felix, the eldest son, who had written to say his father wished to change his Will, and that Roger Lucan had simply signed at the place indicated.

‘Although I was surprised, as I felt it had previously been set in stone, there was nothing I could do, unless the Will was challenged. And you can do so, if you wish,’ he’d added, ‘though it might take years.’

‘I’ve decided that I will do so,’ Jamie told him. ‘For my sisters as much as anyone.’ And then Jamie handed Smithers the envelope sent to him by Mrs Greenwood.

Smithers called for coffee to be brought in whilst he perused the papers, and Jamie watched as the lawyer frowned, shook his head, silently muttered and occasionally looked up at him with a bemused expression.

‘This puts an entirely different complexion on matters,’ he said eventually, ‘and I must discuss it with my partner, and also have further words with Binks, who I’m afraid might have overstepped the line. This’ – he looked down at the document – ‘this Amelia Greenwood, do you know her?’

‘Why, yes. She’s been in my father’s employ since my mother’s day. A most loyal servant.’

‘And nothing to gain from the Will?’

Jamie shook his head. ‘No. An appropriate amount perhaps.’

The lawyer sat back in his chair. ‘Well, in this codicil, your father claims that he wishes the original Will which was drawn up some years ago to be strictly adhered to, and adds that the Lucan estate shall not be sold for at least ten years after his death, shall be run by a member of the Lucan family or let to a suitable person chosen by both his sons, and the proceeds from it shall belong to his daughters, Frances and Mary Lucan.’

Jamie was astonished, and yet felt hugely relieved and vindicated. But then he said, ‘But the estate has been sold.’

‘Has money changed hands? I haven’t had any paperwork and it would have to come through me as I hold the deeds.’

Jamie didn’t know, but guessed that it might have done unless Felix had borrowed money on the strength of the sale; how else would he have afforded the carriage that Bob Hopkins described?

He told Smithers about the carriage and pair, and the lawyer gave a cynical smile. ‘If he has married already then it is of no consequence: his wife will have to pay for it. It cannot come out of your father’s estate.’

Smithers stood up from his desk and extended his hand. ‘Thank you for coming, Dr Lucan, and might I add my congratulations on your medical achievement. I think I can safely say that we can reverse and conclude this debacle to everyone’s satisfaction. Your brother may put in an objection, of course, but as he will still be the major inheritor I feel that he might let it pass; it would not do for a scandal to blight his marriage.’

Christmas week at the Maritime was extremely busy and they closed only for Christmas Day, a large part of which was spent in discussion of Nell’s latest letter, in which she told them she was going to be married to a tavern keeper and they would open the tavern as a music hall, which was to be the very latest entertainment.

Bella, however, had long decided that they would close to the public on New Year’s Day, and hold a special private dinner. Those invited were Dr Lucan who, it had been noticed by all, had been seen walking out regularly with Miss Bella, Dr Birchfield, and Reuben of course, who had been unofficially declared a father figure to Bella, a figurative grandfather to Henry and a good friend to Sarah. Also coming were Joe and Alice and their baby girl Victoria, named in honour of the queen. William, who had now abandoned his crutches, would be there; and Carter and Adam were going to help serve the meal and dine with them.

On the day, Reuben and Dr Birchfield arrived a little early. They had been friends for many years, ever since the doctor had left his country practice and had come to live in Hull. They sat comfortably and at ease by a roaring fire in the saloon, each with a large brandy bowl in his hand, swirling the golden liquid as they talked and waited for luncheon.

‘I have a feeling that today, the first day of the New Year, might be a momentous one,’ Reuben murmured.

‘Mm, how come?’ Birchfield reached for yesterday’s newspaper. ‘The Times correspondent says it’s still bad at Sevastopol. I wonder how the citizens can survive under such a siege.’

‘Ja, it’s to be hoped that the war can be resolved soon,’ Reuben agreed. ‘There have been many British lives lost this winter. Conditions are bad for all sides. I’ve no love for the Russian politicians or generals, but the soldiers are ordinary men just as ours are.’ He nosed the brandy, enjoying the aroma. ‘But I was not thinking about abroad, but of something nearer home.’

Carter, in a smart black jacket, shirt and trousers, came across from the bar counter and asked if they would like another brandy; they both tipped their heads back to finish what they had and agreed they would.

‘Excellent.’ Birchfield handed over his glass.

‘Yes, sir.’ Carter nodded politely. ‘Onny ’best for ’Maritime.’

Jamie came in through the front door. The shoulders of his greatcoat were sprinkled with snow and he was rubbing his gloved hands together. ‘My word but it’s cold.’

‘How did you get on with the birthing?’ Birchfield asked him.

‘A boy.’ Jamie grinned. It was his first birth, and a breech. ‘Fortunately it was the mother’s sixth child and after I’d turned it she needed little help from me after all, in spite of calling me out.’

‘I was just saying to Birchfield here,’ Reuben eyed Jamie intently, ‘that I thought today would be a momentous one.’

‘Really? The start of a New Year should be, I suppose,’ Jamie replied nonchalantly, though his eyes creased humorously. ‘Excuse me, I’ll just hang up my wet coat and greet our hostess.’

The two men gazed after him as he crossed the room and went through the door into the private area.

‘I knew the Lucan family very well,’ Dr Birchfield murmured. ‘I think I might have mentioned it.’

‘You did,’ Reuben replied. ‘Several times,’ and turning his gaze to the fire, he sighed.

‘He’s very like his mother,’ the doctor continued. ‘Warm, thoughtful, all her attributes.’

Reuben nodded pensively and sipped his brandy. When the door opened again he looked up. Jamie followed Bella through into the saloon.

The two older men gazed at Bella. She was wearing a gown of deep rose and her thick dark hair, normally kept in check at the nape of her neck, tumbled about her soft and dimpled cheeks and on to her discreetly bare shoulders. Her eyes were bright yet tender and winsome, and her lips parted in an uplifted smile as she came towards them, her gaze alighting on Reuben.

‘I was just saying to Reuben,’ Dr Birchfield said softly, ‘that I knew Dr Lucan’s mother. Did you know that?’

Bella nodded. ‘Dr Lucan has spoken of it.’

‘She was a very beautiful woman.’

‘Was she?’

‘Very beautiful; in her features and in her spirit.’

The doctor’s eyes never left Bella’s face and Reuben, following his gaze, murmured, ‘Aber ja! Yes, indeed!’

Both men gave a small smile of remembrance as Bella’s cheeks flushed and each gave an undetectable sigh, wistfully wishing that lost youth might return.

Bella moistened her lips and looked again at Reuben. ‘I’m getting married,’ she told him.

Jamie put his arm around her shoulder. ‘So am I,’ he murmured.

Reuben put down his glass and held out his arms, and Bella moved away from Jamie to bend and kiss his cheek. He took a deep breath and cleared his throat. ‘There you are,’ he said huskily to his companion. ‘What did I tell you?’

Bella didn’t hear the inner door open but Jamie did, and his wide smile encompassed Sarah, who was wiping her eyes on a handkerchief, Joe, who grinned back at him, Alice carrying baby Victoria, William bringing up the rear and giving him a thumbs-up; and Henry, who first looked hesitatingly at Jamie, who signalled for him to come, ran across to him.

Bella turned and gazed round the room as a sudden beam of sunlight broke through the stained-glass etching on the door and reception screen, sending a shower of iridescent rainbow hues dancing across the ceiling and walls of the saloon. Then she saw her mother and brothers and Alice gathered together, Henry by Jamie’s side, and Jamie with his hand outstretched towards her.

She stepped to his side and, slipping her hand in his, she rested her head against his shoulder, and he tenderly kissed her cheek. This, she thought joyfully, is the beginning of yet another chapter in our lives, and she raised her head to let her lips touch his.