Elizabeth Elgin - Daisychain Summer

‘Lass!’ He folded her to him, awkwardly patting her back.

‘Reuben! Let me look at you,’ she smiled tremulously. ‘So long …’

‘Too long, Alice. But come you in. I’d heard tell you’d be arriving today. I’ve been watching out for you.’

‘News still travels fast, in Holdenby.’ She closed the almshouse door behind her. ‘I hope you’ve got the kettle on.’

He had. He nodded to the tray, set ready with cups, then asked, ‘And where’s that little Daisy, then?’

‘Fast asleep in her cot, with Julia watching over her. I’ll bring her to see you, in the morning – Drew, too.’

‘Aye. I like to see the boy. Her ladyship brings him, sometimes, when she visits us pensioners. He’s growing into a fine lad – a Rowangarth Sutton if ever I saw one.’ He looked at her, meaningfully.

‘He is, thanks be. And I’m coming to accept that nothing of what happened was his fault,’ Alice said softly. ‘All at once I saw him not as –’ She stopped, cheeks flushing. ‘I saw him as Julia’s son. He said, “Hullo, lady,” when we met. That was when I began to see things differently. And tomorrow, Lady Helen will be his legal guardian. It’s why I am here – to sign the papers.’

She could talk to Reuben and not watch every word she said. Reuben knew about Drew’s getting: knew everything.

‘And how’s Tom? Seems he got himself a good employer. Gentry, is the man?’

‘N-no. I wouldn’t say Mr Hillier is gentry , exactly. But he’s a gentleman and so taken with Daisy.’ Best they should talk about Daisy. ‘Makes a real fuss of her. And Tom’s well, and a fond father. There’s nothing too good for his little girl. It’ll be the start of his first real season at Windrush Hall, come October. Since we went there, he’s been busy rearing birds, and stocking up. There was only rough shooting and vermin shoots for Mr Hillier, but this year the game birds are thick in the covers. There’ll be good sport.’

‘You’ll be wanting to be back before it all starts, lass. It’ll be Tom’s busy time.’

‘I know,’ she smiled guiltily. ‘I’ve got to stop this gallivanting about. I’ve been away from home twice, this summer.’

‘Home? Is home down there now, Alice?’ Reuben lifted the kettle, pouring splashing, steaming water into the teapot.

‘Home’s where Tom is though we’ll always be northerners, him and me. It felt as if I’d never been away when I got into York and saw the Minster.’

‘You travelled up with Miss Julia, didn’t you?’ Reuben stirred the pot, noisily. ‘What was her doing in London this time?’

‘Legal business – about Aunt Sutton’s estate. I met up with her in London. I was glad of her company. It’s a long journey, with a baby.’

‘So you’re happy, lass? It turned out all right for you?’

‘I’m happy, Reuben.’ She picked up the teapot. ‘But I worry about you and I miss you. I wish you’d come and live with Tom and me. We’ve got three bedrooms.’

‘An’ you’ll need them all when you have more babbies! Thanks, lass, but I manage well enough, here. This little house is easy to keep warm; at Keeper’s, I rattled about like a pea in a tin can. And there’s Percy for company. Percy Catchpole’s retired – didst know?’

‘I did, but I’d still rather you were near me.’

‘And I’d rather you were here, Alice; you and Tom living beside Brattocks Wood, like we alus thought it would be. I looked forward to seeing you and him wed, and bairns around you.’

‘But that can’t ever be, Reuben. Rowangarth has no need of a keeper, now.’ She took his hand, holding it to her cheek. ‘Even if Giles had lived, he’d not have wanted birds reared to be shot out of the sky. He was against any killing. And come to think of it, if Giles had lived me and Tom wouldn’t have been married.’ She sipped her tea, frowning. ‘There won’t be any keeper here, for a while. Drew won’t be handling a gun for another ten years.’

‘You’re right – but even old men have dreams. You can’t blame me for wanting you up here, even though it would have its drawbacks – if you see what I’m getting at?’

‘You mean I wouldn’t have felt easy living near Pendenys? You are right – and as for Tom being here, when him and Elliot Sutton could meet and cross swords – oh, no! I’d always be on edge. Tom has a temper on him when he’s roused; best we’re well away from Rowangarth.’

‘So Tom’s still bitter about young Sutton?’ He held a match to his pipe, puffing thoughtfully, avoiding her eyes.

‘He is, Reuben. When he found out who Drew’s real father was, I never saw him so mad. He went white and quiet and walked out of the house; didn’t come back for hours. He said he’d shot better Germans. Tom can hold a grudge for ever. Some things he’ll never forgive and one of them’s Elliot Sutton.

‘So you see, that’s another reason we couldn’t come home to Rowangarth – not if something happened to make it possible. If Elliot and me chanced to meet, it might stir something up; something about Drew, I mean. While I’m out of sight I’m out of his mind.’

‘But Elliot Sutton is bound to have seen young Drew from time to time.’

‘I accept that, Reuben, but Julia is very protective of the boy. As far as she’s concerned, Drew is her brother’s child. Julia isn’t afraid of Elliot as I am, though she hates him every bit as much as me, because he got through that war without ever getting his boots mucky, whilst Andrew was killed. She’ll never forgive him for that as long as she lives. But forget him. Tell me, what’s been happening in Holdenby.’

‘Not a lot, ’cept that the Reverend Parkin was buried, last week. Another of her ladyship’s friends gone, though it’s thought hereabouts that Mr Nathan is looking for a living and Holdenby vicarage might suit him nicely. And talking about those Pendenys Suttons, talk has it that yon’ Elliot is courting serious.’ Without meeting Alice’s gaze, he refilled his teacup.

‘Talk by way of Will Stubbs, I shouldn’t wonder.’

‘Will had it from Pendenys’ groom, so there’ll be a grain of truth in it. Some foreigner, I believe. Seems no one at Pendenys had seen hide nor hair of him these last weeks. Busy chasing the lass around London, I shouldn’t wonder. But while he’s down there he’s out of your way, now isn’t he? No chance of you bumping into him whilst you’re here.’ He patted her hand reassuringly.

‘I’ll be able to walk in Brattocks Wood, then?’ All at once, she felt less uneasy.

‘Don’t see why not. I’d mention it, though, to the woodman; tell him who you are. Suppose you’ll be wanting to have a word with they old rooks?’ he winked.

‘You remembered, Reuben! But good news or bad it’s best told to the rooks.’

‘Surely no bad news?’

‘None at all. I’d just be catching up with things, and oh, Reuben,’ she sighed, ‘it’s so good to be back. I didn’t realize how much I’ve missed you and Rowangarth and – and everything .’ And even though he didn’t hold with such goings-on, she cupped his face in her hands and gently kissed his cheek. ‘But me and Tom are happy, and there’s a home for you in Hampshire, so think on. And I’d best not stay too long – not tonight.’

Wouldn’t be polite, for one thing, and for another, Daisy Dwerryhouse would soon be clamouring for her evening feed and there was no one but she could give it her.

‘You’ll come again tomorrow, lass?’

‘I’ll come, Reuben – and Daisy and Drew. I promise.’

The air held a hint of chill as she walked back to Rowangarth and dusk came suddenly as it always did, in late September.

Dear Reuben, Alice thought dreamily as Daisy fed gently at her breast. He hadn’t changed in the almost two years since she left. He was snug in the little almshouse with his dogs for company and Percy not far down the road when he needed to talk about the old days; times when there had been two coachmen at Rowangarth and three gardeners – and three apprentices living in the bothy: Robert and Giles away at school and Miss Julia a tomboy who would one day grow up to beauty.