They sat together on an iron garden seat in the back gardens of Bolton Manor.
Hatton, the butler, had suggested they wait there while he spoke to Lord Robert.
Siobhan, following the direction of Blackie’s gaze, and then glancing at him, knew how he felt. He did not like the gardens, she could tell for sure. His face was full of dismay.
‘They need a bit of work, don’t they?’ she said, her eyes on him intently. ‘Poor gardens.’
‘I’d say a lot of work,’ he replied. ‘They’re a right mess … a muddle, sure and they are. No plan. Bushes, flowerbeds, the lawns, a fountain where it shouldn’t be. And the lake obscured by more bushes.’
‘I bet you could put it right?’
‘Aye, I could that. But I’m not going to, Siobhan. I’m aiming to be a builder of houses, not a gardener now.’
‘I know. But it’s a shame. Maybe you could recommend somebody.’
‘I can’t,’ he said brusquely, a tone not usual for him.
‘Oh, here comes Lord Robert, down the terrace.’ Immediately Siobhan stood up and so did Blackie, and they walked towards the terrace.
‘Welcome, Blackie,’ Lord Robert said. ‘How nice it is to see you again after all these years.’
‘Thank ye, and it is a real treat for me to see ye, too, Lord Robert.’
‘A treat indeed. Hatton told me how you ran into Siobhan today. Quite by accident. A lucky accident, I’d have to say. Apparently you were able to have a bite together.’
‘Yes, Your Lordship. And thank ye for letting me stay the night. Siobhan and me, well, we talked a lot, and I knew the last train to Leeds would get me in very late.’
Lord Robert exclaimed, ‘You’ve always got a bed here, Blackie! Why, we’ve known you since you were a child. And there’re plenty of rooms empty in the male servants’ quarters. Just make yourself at home.’ He hesitated, then added, ‘Could you walk around these gardens with me? You could give me some sound advice, I feel sure of that.’
‘Of course, m’lord.’
Blackie raised his eyebrows at his cousin as he followed Lord Robert down the terrace. Siobhan smiled and excused herself to go back to the kitchen to chat with Cook.
As they strolled around the garden together, Lord Robert pointed out things that genuinely troubled him. He thought the lawn wasn’t trimmed enough, the bushes appeared cumbersome, and he disliked the flowerbeds, which were a mess.
Blackie, as always, listened intently, whilst noting many details that were wrong. When Lord Robert finally paused, Blackie said, ‘Bolton Manor is pure Georgian architecture, early Georgian. And it’s perfect, well-built and quite grand. But, ye see, Your Lordship, a tradition from that period is gone. It’s disappeared.’
‘What do you mean exactly?’
‘The Georgian tradition was to build a house on a hill and then create a lake at the bottom of that hill. A large man-made lake.’
‘Of course! And the house would be reflected in the lake. It was considered to be a vanity, in a way.’
‘These bushes block the view of the house in the lake, m’lord. That’s wrong.’
‘They have to go, don’t they?’
‘I’d say so, m’lord. And the gardeners have to cut the lawns several times a week. It always has to be flat … as a pancake … so, very short blades of grass. And all those flowerbeds …’ Blackie stopped short, grimaced as he waved his hand at them, and finished, ‘They all have to be dug up and replanted elsewhere.’
‘I see,’ Lord Robert murmured. ‘But it will be a dull-looking area, won’t it?’
‘I be thinking the best thing there would be a parterre, Your Lordship. Elegant they are, and they would stretch right across, from that wall to the far edge of the lawn.’
Lord Robert stared at Blackie, a sudden look of comprehension entered his eyes, and he nodded vigorously. ‘Of course! A parterre would be absolutely glorious. And how clever of you, Blackie, to solve my problems so swiftly.’ He cleared his throat, and asked, ‘I wonder, well, er, would you take it on, Blackie? I would see you are well compensated.’
‘It would be an honour, Lord Robert, under normal circumstances, but I want to be a builder of houses now. Also, I start a new job on Monday, building a conservatory for a client of ours.’ He straightened up slightly, and said in a solemn tone, ‘My uncle’s made me his partner.’
‘Congratulations, Blackie. That is a wonderful promotion. However, think seriously about working on these gardens. I’m sure with your innate talent you’d get them shipshape quite quickly. And I would pay you well. Extra money is always useful.’
‘All right, m’lord, I’ll think about it. ’Tis perhaps possible for me to fit it in. I’ll have to let ye know. Could I come back in a few weeks to discuss it?’
‘I’m afraid not, Blackie. I have urgent business in London and will travel there early tomorrow.’
Blackie felt a pang of disappointment. His thoughts turned to his cousin, and, wanting to see her again, he took a deep breath and ventured, ‘Will her ladyship be coming to London also, m’lord?’
‘No, probably not. She is only here at Bolton Manor very briefly and then will be staying at her parents’ estate in Skipton. They’re rather old, you know, and not in the best of health. However, I believe she will return here for the shooting in August.’ He smiled a little grimly and murmured, ‘Bolton Manor is not her ladyship’s favourite place, and …’ He paused, cleared his throat, continued. ‘We do tend to lead separate lives and I’m afraid I do tend to be very tied up with my business.’
‘I understand,’ Blackie answered. ‘But ye will be here for August the twelfth, won’t you, Lord Robert?’
Lord Robert nodded, and they continued to walk through the gardens, now speaking about the trees. At the back of Blackie’s mind, the word money lurked temptingly. He hoped he hadn’t passed up a great chance.