CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Summer passed and the work on the house and stables continued. The servant’s quarters were in the attic under the roof, and even though most of the roof was finished, the bedrooms needed to be renovated. While the bedrooms were being worked on, the servants lived on the third floor in rooms that would normally be reserved for guests. This meant Anne could accommodate only a few servants.
She had engaged a butler, two footmen, a cook and a scullery maid. Daniel was without a valet and Anne without a lady’s maid. If she needed help dressing, she knew she could always call on Bonny, and Daniel was used to doing for himself. The large crew of workmen lived in the village or paid to stay in local homes. Daniel paid the bill for all the rentals.
By the time October came around the stable was finished. At the moment it lodged Amit, Daniel’s two Arabian mares and the two carriage horses. Anne also had Molly and Tucker and a lovely young thoroughbred gelding that Daniel had surprised her with. She had named him Bonfire because of his bright chestnut coloring.
“The stable is cozier than the house is right now,” Anne remarked to Daniel as they walked together around the unoccupied paddocks to see what else could be done before the weather changed.
“At least the ceilings won’t fall on us and most of the roof is finished,” Daniel said. “We have a few nice rooms to live in and the kitchen is almost done. The men can carry on with the inside work throughout the winter.”
“We’ll survive,” Anne said cheerfully.
He smiled at her. “Thank God for your sweet disposition, Annie. Most women would be distraught living in a house that is filled with dust and noise.”
“I’m so happy to see Grex coming to life again that I believe I could tolerate almost anything.”
She wanted to say, “As long as I have you, I can tolerate anything.” But she didn’t say it. She knew the parts of him he showed to her, the tender lover, the dedicated horseman, the socially conscious factory owner. But so much about him was still unknown. He had a desk in the library that was piled high with letters and communications from a vast array of banks and solicitors and businessmen in London, but he never received a personal letter. They never spoke of anything outside the horses, the renovations on Grex, and – because she was truly interested – he kept her current with what was happening with the factory.
It was at full employment, he told her. The cottages were filled with laborers and their families, and the weaving was going smoothly. No one worked more than eight hours a day. Daniel’s famous or infamous phrase, depending upon the mindset of the speaker, was: eight hours work, eight hours recreation and eight hours sleep. He did not employ women or children. Nor was it necessary for them to work, as the men made enough to keep their families comfortable. And, even with the outflow of money on salaries and upkeep, Daniel was on track to recoup his initial investment and make money.
One chilly late fall afternoon Anne and Daniel were walking back to the house with Dorothy trotting at Anne’s heels. They had been discussing the prospect of taking over the home farm again, when they passed Amit’s paddock. The stallion had been separated from the mares by the carriage horses and Anne’s horses, and he was restless in the energizing cold air. When he saw Daniel, he whinnied and came galloping up to the stone wall that separated him from the road.
“What’s this all about, eh?” Daniel asked, as he went over to the horse. “I gave you a good ride this morning.”
Amit threw up his head and galloped to the far side of the paddock, showing them his back. Once there he looked over his shoulder at Daniel, and Daniel grinned. “He’s so conceited,” he said to Anne, his voice filled with affection. “He thinks the world revolves around him.”
Amit came trotting back to them, his head held high, his black mane blowing, his tail floating behind him, and Anne laughed. “He is conceited, true. But he has a lot to be conceited about.”
Daniel rubbed the stallion’s arched neck, and then he and Anne continued their walk back to the house, chatting companionably.
# # #
Two days later Anne and Miss Bonteen were measuring the parlor floor so Anne could order a new rug, when the butler, Thornton, came to the doorway. Anne, who had just finished writing down the dimensions Miss Bonteen was reading out, looked up and said, “Yes, Thornton?”
“My lady, someone has called to see Mr. Dereham.”
This had never happened before. “I see,” Anne said, trying not to show her surprise. “Did you find out who it is?
“Yes, my lady.” The butler’s face was immobile. “He gave his name as Mr. Owen Dereham. He said he was Mr. Dereham’s father.”
“His father?” Anne said in a shocked voice.
“That is what he said, my lady.”
Miss Bonteen said, “I will go to the door and speak to him, Anne. If he is indeed who he says he is….”
Anne said faintly, “Thank you Bonny. You had better bring him in here.”
Miss Bonteen followed Thornton out of the room.
Anne stood, clutching her notebook in her hand. She didn’t know what to think, but she had an instinct that this sudden appearance from the past would not please Daniel.
She was still frozen in the middle of the room when she heard the sound of footsteps coming down the hall. Miss Bonteen came into the room first, followed by a sturdy-looking man dressed neatly in the kind of clothing the local farmers wore when going to church. His hair was light brown, his shoulders were wide and he looked to be in his fifties.
He looked nothing like Daniel.
Anne rallied. “How do you do, Mr. Dereham. I am Daniel’s wife, Anne. I fear my husband is not available at the moment, but if you care to wait he should be with us shortly.”
“Thank you ma’am,” the strange man said.
“This is Lady Anne,” Miss Bonteen said sharply, in objection to the plebian ma’am.
“Sorry.” the man said, not seeming embarrassed by the correction. “Lady Anne.”
“Won’t you come in and have a seat?” Anne asked. “I was just going to send for tea.”
“Thank you, ma’ …Lady Anne. A cup of tea would taste real good. I’ve had a bit of a drive and my horse is weary and hungry as well.”
Anne looked at Miss Bonteen. That lady promptly said, “I’ll go and make sure Mr. Dereham’s horse is being taken care of, my dear.”
“Thank you, Bonny. And will you tell Thornton we would like some tea.”
“Of course,” Miss Bonteen replied.
Anne gestured to the blue velvet armchair that was placed at right angles to the sofa. “Please, Mr. Dereham, make yourself comfortable. Tea should be here shortly.”
The man went to the chair and Anne seated herself on the sofa, turning to face her guest. He had a farmer’s face, brown from the sun, with wrinkles at the corners of his hazel eyes. His broad, stocky body looked strong and muscular.
Anne said, “Is Daniel expecting you, Mr. Dereham?”
The man gave a short laugh. “No, he is not, Lady Anne.”
“I see,” Anne said, who didn’t.
The tea tray came in and Anne was grateful for the ceremony of tea pouring to provide a little conversation. She had no idea what she could – or should – say to this man who claimed to be her husband’s father.
She took a sip of her tea and said, in some desperation, “Your arrival will be a surprise to Daniel, then?”
“I’m damn certain it will be a surprise.” The man who claimed to be Daniel’s father returned his cup to its saucer with a clink. “That laddie has a lot to answer for to his mother, and that’s what I’ve come to tell him.”
“Is his mother all right?” Anne asked.
“She is, and no thanks to him. She’s worried herself sick for ten years, and now he’s back in the country – for over a year! - and he doesn’t send a word to her. Not a single word! Well, I’m here to set him straight on what his duty is, Lady Anne, whether he likes it or no.”
Anne stared at Daniel’s father in fascinated horror. What on earth is Daniel going to do when he sees him? When he hears him?
Mr. Dereham’s face relaxed a trifle as he looked at her. “I’m sorry to swear in your own sitting room, Lady Anne. But I’m that angry with the lad…”
Anne, whose ears had been alert for a sound in the hallway, heard it now. Footsteps. Daniel’s footsteps. She would know that light tread anywhere.
The door opened and Daniel came into the room. Mr. Dereham stood up and the two men faced each other. Daniel’s face was white and his eyes were blazing.
“What are you doing here?” His voice was pitched low but it reverberated with anger.
“I’m here to tell you to come and visit your mother,” Mr. Dereham said. Then, unsteadily, “Christ, lad, but it’s good to see you.”
“I’m afraid I can’t return the compliment,” Daniel replied icily.
“For God’s sake, lad, you’re not sixteen anymore! You’re a grown man, not the boy who ran away to India because he heard something he didn’t like. You broke your mother’s heart when you left, did you know that?”
Daniel’s expression didn’t change. “She knows why I left. You know why I left. Nothing has changed since I took ship for India ten years ago. You knew I was safe – once I was established I sent you money every month. I’m still sending you money…”
“We don’t want your damned money!” Mr. Dereham took a few steps toward his son. “We want you to come home and visit us! Your mother is longing to see you. Come back with me. You know how much she loves you…”
Daniel held up his hand. His color had returned and his expression was bleak. “If she loved me so much she shouldn’t have lied to me. You can stay here the night then return home in the morning.”
For the first time since he had come in, Daniel looked at Anne. “I’m going out to the factory for a few days. Give him some food and a bed, but I want him gone in the morning. Do you understand?”
Speechless, Anne managed a nod.
Daniel turned and strode out of the room, closing the door behind him.
Anne stared at the closed door, then slowly turned to look at her guest. He looked almost as furious as Daniel. She said quietly, “I’m very sorry, Mr. Dereham. I’ve never seen Daniel so upset. I’m sure he’ll get over it.” She wasn’t sure at all, but she had to say something.
Dereham collapsed into his chair as if he hadn’t the strength to stay on his feet. As Anne watched him, his anger drained away to be replaced by sadness. “Damn stubborn youngster,” he said, as if to himself. “I thought, after all those years in a foreign land, he’d be ready to see his mother again.” He thrust his hand through his hair. “God, what am I going to tell Maria? Her heart will be broke a second time.”
Anne felt totally out of her depth. “Perhaps if you give Daniel a little more time?” she ventured.
He looked at her as if he had forgot she was there. “Oh, Lady Anne.” He sighed. “Don’t worry, I won’t be trespassing on your hospitality for the night. I can easily find an inn for me and the horse.”
“Absolutely not,” Anne said decisively. She was not letting this man get away; she had too much she wanted to ask him. “I will have a bedroom made up for you, and don’t worry about dressing for dinner. We don’t bother half the time. As you will notice, the house is under construction.”
Dereham relaxed. “Thank you, lass. If you don’t mind, I could rightly use a wee drop of whiskey right now.”
“Of course.”
Anne rang the bell and Thornton came in. Anne gave the order and the butler returned promptly with a crystal decanter and glass on a tray. When Dereham had finished his whiskey, Anne looked at his weary face and decided to hold her questions for dinner.
“You look tired,” she said sympathetically. “I’ll show you to your room myself. We dine at seven, so you’ll have time for a little rest.”
“Thank you, Lady Anne.” He rose to his feet. “I was hoping for a happier outcome to my journey.”
Anne felt sorry for the man. In truth, she had been deeply shocked by Daniel’s behavior. What could have happened between Daniel and his mother to have provoked him, at the age of sixteen, to leave his family and his country for India? Anne planned to do all she could to find out the answer to this puzzle before Daniel’s father left for home tomorrow.