It was three days before the doctor was able to reach them. It had stopped snowing, but the only way he had been able to travel was on a sledge drawn by a farmer’s carthorse. After examining Albert he confirmed that the ankle was broken, but Nanny had made a good job of setting the bone, and that Albert did not appear to have suffered anything worse from the experience. He calmly ignored his patient’s bad language when he told him that he must stay in bed for a week.
‘How long is this bloody thing going to take to mend?’
The doctor pursed his lips. ‘You should be walking normally in a couple of months. It’s a bad break.’
‘And how am I going to run the estate?’
‘What about your brother-in-law?’
‘He’s got enough to do with his own place.’ Albert’s face was like thunder.
‘Losing your temper won’t help.’ Nanny came into the room, puffing from the exertion of climbing the stairs. ‘If it hadn’t been for Eleanor shouting at everyone to move themselves, you’d have frozen to death out there.’
‘I know.’ Albert sighed deeply, resting his head back against the pillows. ‘But there’s so much to do.’
‘You’re going to have to find someone to help you over the next few weeks.’ Nanny stomped towards the bed. ‘What about Ted?’
‘I could get him to do some things, but he will have his hands full dealing with the new land, though this blasted weather will hold up work on clearing the fields. Ted is hiring workmen and organising the building of the house. We want to get it under way as soon as the weather permits.’
Ellie had been listening to this exchange, impatient to speak. Now she could hold back no longer. ‘I can help, Father. You tell me what to do. It’s time I learnt more about running the estate.’ She sneezed, her nose red from a heavy cold.
Nanny tutted, seeing her for the first time since she arrived. ‘What are you doing up, Eleanor?’
‘I can’t stay in bed any longer, Nanny. I haven’t got a fever. It’s just a cold.’
‘Well, what can you expect going out in that atrocious weather? You were like a block of ice when you arrived back. You’re as bad as your father for not allowing other people to do things for you.’
‘Father was out longer, but he hasn’t caught a cold.’
‘Ah, well, that’s because he’s strong; always has been. And if we don’t watch him, he’ll be hobbling around the house tomorrow.’
Father and daughter exchanged conspiratorial glances. Nanny, who turned to the doctor, hadn’t missed the look. ‘I’d better go and see that some sticks are made for the master. We can argue until we’re out of breath, but these two are going to do whatever they please.’
‘I’m afraid you’re right.’ Doctor Brewster’s expression was resigned. ‘I’ll warn you one more time, Mr Warrender, keep off that ankle or you could end up with a permanent limp.’
‘I won’t put it to the ground, but I’m not staying in bed.’
‘Always was strong-willed,’ Nanny muttered as she headed for the door. ‘Better get those sticks made.’
When she’d left the room and could be heard tapping her way down the stairs, Albert laughed. ‘That’s one person who has improved because of this. She’s in her element ordering people around again.’
‘I’ll be leaving then.’ The doctor picked up his bag. ‘I’ll be back in three days, and try to do as you’re told – both of you. I came close to losing two of my favourite patients.’
‘I was never in danger, doctor.’ Ellie sniffed.
‘Anyone out on a night like that was in danger.’ With a wave, he left.
Albert patted the bed for her to come closer. ‘Have I thanked you for saving my life?’
Her chuckle turned into a cough. ‘At least twenty times.’
‘Now it’s twenty-one.’
She tipped her head to one side. ‘You haven’t answered my request.’
‘And what was that?’ He pretended not to remember.
‘Let me help you. I can do it, I know I can.’
He nodded. ‘It is time you became more familiar with the workings of the estate. All the books are in my study, so I’ll hobble along tomorrow and we’ll go through them together. While the weather’s bad I will teach you the daily routine, but you will not go out until the snow has cleared.’
Ellie nodded, excited by the prospect of learning about the business side of the estate, and doing something useful.
‘I’ve received a letter this morning from Augusta.’ Albert handed it to Ellie to read. ‘Though how it was possible to make deliveries in this weather, I really don’t know. However, as you can see she has invited us to stay with them in London. We’ll have to decline the invitation, and that’s a shame, because by the time I am able to travel again, they will be on their way back to Yorkshire.’
‘It can’t be helped, Father. Mrs Montague will understand.’ Ellie hid her disappointment, for she would love to see James again.
‘Write and explain, Eleanor.’ Albert laid back his head and closed his eyes.
‘I’ll do the letter today.’ Ellie studied her father’s drawn face. The ordeal in the snow had taken more out of him than he was admitting. She stood up. ‘Sleep now.’
Over the next two weeks, Ellie worked with her father, trying to assimilate all the information he was telling her. She hadn’t realised just how large a task it was. Her father had always seemed to deal with everything without rush, or fuss. Whenever he had time, Ted joined them, eager to help in any way he could.
At last the snow began to thaw, but this only seemed to add to her father’s frustration. She endured his moods without a word – at least, she only lost her temper once or twice. It was a good thing they loved each other, or they would have come to blows at times. He was not a man who accepted infirmity with good grace, and the household staff was tiptoeing around him in an effort not to incur his wrath.
A sudden shaft of sunlight burst into the study, and Albert hauled himself up, hobbling over to the window on the sticks he had been provided with. Nanny kept a sharp eye on him to see that he didn’t try to walk without them.
Ellie gave an exasperated sigh. ‘Will you please sit down, Father. The doctor said you must stay off that ankle.’
‘I’m bloody well off it!’ he growled, waving his foot in the air. ‘The snow’s almost gone. Go and ask them to get the carriage ready and I’ll check Lower Farm to see how they’re coping.’
‘No.’ She folded her arms, defiant. ‘You can’t go bouncing around over ground that is still rock hard.’
He glowered at her. ‘You’re getting as bossy as Nanny. I’ll do what I blasted well like.’
As he started for the door, she beat him to it, blocking his way.
Staying where she was, she shook her head. ‘I don’t often defy you, but in this case I will. We didn’t all risk our lives to find you, only for you to hurt yourself again. For once, you’re going to do as you’re bleeding well told.’ Her accent slipped back fifteen years.
For a long moment he just stared at her, then he began to laugh. ‘Your memory is very selective, for you have continually defied me. I’ve been far too lenient with you. I should take a slipper to your backside for this insubordination.’
Her mouth twitched at the corners, knowing that her little ploy had broken his bad mood. ‘I’m stronger than you at the moment, and you’ve never hit me. You won’t start now because you know I’m right. I want to see you striding along in your usual way, not limping like a cripple.’
‘I’m a terrible patient, aren’t I?’
‘I’m not arguing with that.’ She held his arm to help him back to the chair. ‘I promise I’ll go and check on things tomorrow, and take Mr Rogers with me. Now the snow is clearing, Ted will be busy.’
He nodded. ‘I’m told the men have made a start on the house at last.’
Ellie could see he was fretting about not being able to get out. ‘Uncle Henry and Ted are quite capable of dealing with everything. And the farm manager knows how to look after the stock. He’s been doing it for twenty years. You must learn to trust us all, Father.’
‘I find that hard. I’ve always dealt with everything myself. Even when I was in Parliament I still made the rounds to see that everything was all right and give instructions where needed. I can see now that I should have an estate manager like all the other landowners. But you are quite right; until this damned ankle heals I shall have to do as I’m told.’
There was a sharp knock on the door, and they looked at each other, saying, ‘Nanny.’
‘Come in,’ Albert called.
The door swung open and the elderly woman surveyed them with a critical eye. ‘Stopped shouting at each other, have you? Could hear you all over the house.’
‘Eleanor’s becoming a tyrant, just like you.’ Albert controlled his smile with difficulty.
‘Good.’ Nanny nodded in satisfaction. ‘You make him keep off that foot.’
‘I try, Nanny, but he’s very stubborn.’
‘Don’t I know it.’ Nanny pursed her lips. ‘The problem is he thinks he’s immortal, and after that scare, he ought to know that he isn’t.’
Albert sat there, foot resting on a stool, and a glint of amusement in his eyes. There wasn’t a sign of the earlier irritation. ‘With you two watching my every move I might as well behave myself. It will save a lot of trouble. Eleanor, will you tell cook that we’ll eat in here as we still have a lot of work to do. Will you join us, Nanny?’
‘I might as well, seeing as I’m here.’
Albert winked at his daughter. ‘Make that lunch for three.’
The days flew by as Ellie became her father’s eyes, touring the estate and reporting back to him on every small detail. Her daily lessons were suspended, much to Philip’s disgust, and he begged to be allowed to go with her. Although he liked Mr Rogers, he didn’t like being the only pupil. Ellie, however, was happy with her new role, relishing each new day. She was even more delighted when her father listened to her opinions on how to solve problems as they arose, and with an estate as large as this, it was often. Her father would ask her what she would do in each case, and she almost burst with pride when he agreed with her solution. If he thought she was not right, he would explain why, and suggest another way. Their discussions sometimes became rather heated, for, like her father, she was not one to give way on a point when she felt her idea was the best. Eventually, she would bow to his greater wisdom, and in this way she was learning fast.
After one such exchange, Albert studied her long and hard.
‘What have I done?’ she asked, knowing that look.
‘I’ve always known that you had a sharp mind, but until recently I hadn’t noticed how you have blossomed and grown. Your reasoning is clear. You are becoming wise, Eleanor.’
She smiled, his praise meaning so much to her, and it told her she was doing a good job for him while he was incapacitated. She would miss this when he took over again. ‘I love helping you.’
‘I can see that.’ He gazed into space for a moment, deep in thought, then he turned back to her. ‘Would you like to train to be my estate manager?’
‘Oh, I would!’ She couldn’t believe this. ‘But I’m a woman and we are not considered suitable for such responsibility.’
‘I don’t give a damn what the world in general thinks. The only thing that matters to me is if a person, male or female, is capable of doing the work. And I believe you are.’
She gazed at him in astonishment. ‘You’re serious?’
‘I wouldn’t have offered you the job if I wasn’t. You love the land, and with your natural enthusiasm for everything, you could manage rather well.’
‘I accept, I accept!’ She cried out in joy. ‘I think I should write to Mrs Pankhurst and tell her I’m going to be the first woman estate manager.’
‘I’m sure she would be delighted. But don’t be too hasty to accept. You will have to serve a rigorous teaching period under my stern tutelage. We’ll fight and disagree, for we have differing views on many things.’
She just grinned, relishing the prospect.
‘And I may well be wasting my time, for one day you will marry and then your husband will take over when I am no longer capable.’
‘He will not!’ She was horrified. ‘I’ll never allow a husband to tell me what I can or cannot do.’
‘You are going to have to find a very tolerant husband. You’ll have to choose wisely.’
‘I shall.’ She tipped her head on one side, studying him intently. ‘I’ll have to find someone like you. Though I doubt that will be possible. The creator threw away the pattern after you were made.’
Albert shook his head ruefully, well aware of his own flaws. ‘With relief, I expect, determined not to make the same mistake again.’
When the dinner gong sounded, they were both roaring with laughter.