Fairfield Hall (16 page)

‘Why wouldn’t I, Mr Fletcher? Five miles is a long way for anyone to walk twice a day.’ She nodded towards the other man. ‘Your companion looks in need of a ride in my
trap. Please’ – she moved a little to make room for them both – ‘climb in.’

After a moment’s hesitation, Jabez looked down at the other man, who was much younger than him, but who looked even more exhausted. Jabez sighed and offered his hand to help him up. He
almost lifted him into the trap and then climbed in himself.

‘This is Josh Parrish, Nelly Parrish’s nephew. He’s not well this morning, m’lady, but since we’re the only two in the village who have work in the town, we have to
try to get there.’ He glanced at Annabel and seemed to have to force the words as he added reluctantly, ‘We’re grateful for the ride.’

‘Shouldn’t you be at home if you’re not well?’ Annabel said to the young man. ‘Dr Maybury will be visiting again today and—’

‘There’s nowt wrong with him that a good, square meal won’t put right.’

‘In that case, we’ll soon have you fit again, Mr Parrish. I’m on my way into town now to have supplies sent to the village. By tonight – with my grandfather’s help
as well – there should be enough for everyone, even though you’ll all have to take it steadily at first like the doctor advised.’

‘They’ll want paying first,’ Jabez grunted, ‘afore they’ll give you a crumb.’

‘Then they’ll be paid, Mr Fletcher.’

He stared at her, dumbfounded for once. ‘Why?’ he said at last. ‘Why are you doing this for folks you don’t even know?’

Annabel smiled. ‘I don’t know you yet, but I soon will. You’re my people now and I intend to help you.’

‘Jackson telled me that he’s supposed to have given us all notice ’cos none of us have paid any rent for months.’

‘Well, if he does – and I sincerely hope he doesn’t – then just ignore the notices. You’re staying – all of you – though there is one thing you could do
for me, Mr Fletcher.’

‘Aye, I thought there’d be a catch.’

Annabel smiled. ‘No catch, I promise, but I just want you to give me a chance. That’s all I ask. You seem to be the – um – spokesman for the villagers and I’d like
you on my side. Do you think you could do that?’

Josh nudged the older man and muttered, ‘She’s the only chance we’ve got, Jabez. And she’s already saved Adam’s little babby’s life. Only another few hours
and –’ He bit his lip and Annabel saw tears well in the young man’s eyes.

Jabez stared at her for a long moment and then slowly his wrinkled face, as if it was unused to it, began to smile. ‘Aye, m’lady. I’ll give it a try, but I’ll be watching
. . .’

‘That’s fair enough.’ Annabel smiled and flicked the reins to make the pony trot a little faster.

Annabel left the two men outside their place of work – the town’s smithy. As she drew away she was thoughtful. She wondered what the background of the two men was
and she made a mental note to ask Ben. But then her mind turned to what she had to do today. Her first call was at the stockbroker’s.

It was lucky – very lucky – that this was the same town where her grandfather banked and where his stockbroker had his office. Through Edward Armstrong, she knew both the
stockbroker, Mr Parker, and the bank manager, Mr Hoyles. Both men would receive her courteously, though whether they would be helpful was another matter.

Mr Parker greeted her as an old friend. He’d watched her grow from a young girl, when Edward had first brought her to meet him, into the beautiful and poised young woman she was now. As
she was shown into his office and sat down in front of his desk, she smiled at him. But now, he regarded her solemnly over the top of his steel-framed spectacles. ‘I understand you are to be
congratulated on your marriage, Lady Fairfield?’

It didn’t sound as though he were actually congratulating her but Annabel smiled anyway and thanked him prettily. Then he sighed as he said heavily, ‘I take it you’ve come to
transfer your holdings into your husband’s name?’

‘Certainly not!’ Annabel replied firmly. ‘Thanks to the Married Women’s Property Act I can now manage my own affairs and I intend to do so, though I believe you’ll
need my grandfather’s signature until I reach twenty-one?’

Mr Parker’s expression lightened a little, but his eyes were still wary. ‘Then I take it you’re here merely to alter your name on all the documentation.’

‘Partly – but I need to sell some shares to raise some capital quickly.’

Mr Parker raised his eyebrows. ‘I – see,’ he said slowly and Annabel could see that he was dying to ask why, but was far too circumspect to do so. He managed and advised
Annabel on her stock holding, but it was not his business to ask why she wanted to sell some of her shares and at the present time, Annabel was not prepared to confide in him. It wasn’t that
she didn’t trust him – he was a fine stockbroker – but she feared he might try to persuade her not to spend her money in the way she intended.

Mr Hoyles was a different matter. When, over an hour later, she entered his office, the large, ebullient bank manager greeted her with outstretched arms and a kiss on both cheeks.

‘I don’t greet all my customers like that,’ he laughed, his double chin wobbling. ‘But you are rather a special young lady to me – have been ever since your
grandfather first brought you to this bank to open an account for you on your tenth birthday. And your account has grown steadily over the years and more rapidly recently, with your clever stock
market deals.’ He gestured towards the chair in front of his desk, inviting her to sit down, then took his place behind the desk, dropping heavily into a chair that squeaked protestingly. He
leaned back and linked his fingers across his rotund stomach and smiled benignly at her. ‘And what can I do for you today, my dear? I presume you wish to change your name on your accounts in
view of your recent marriage.’

‘That and other things, Mr Hoyles,’ Annabel said, drawing off her gloves. Now here was a man in whom she was happy to confide completely. Indeed, she was obliged to do so for she
needed his help.

‘I don’t know whether you know or not,’ she began, for this was not her father’s bank, ‘that upon my recent marriage, my father paid my husband a substantial dowry.
I understand that it was supposed to rescue the ailing Fairfield Estate.’ She spoke calmly and rationally even though deep inside her was a burning resentment against the two men who had
treated her so callously for their own ends. But for the moment, her mind was not on herself but on the starving villagers. ‘It seems, however,’ she went on, ‘that that money has
been used solely to safeguard Fairfield Hall and the estate.’

Mr Hoyles’s expression was now very serious. He leaned forward and rested his forearms on his desk as he said quietly, ‘You know I cannot discuss your husband’s affairs with
you, even though this is where he banks. But, go on.’ They stared at each other across the broad expanse of his desk and, shrewdly, Annabel guessed his intention. He could not tell her
anything, but if she were to say what she believed to be the facts and he did not deny them, then she would be able to glean most of the truth.

‘I presume that the ten thousand pounds has paid all or part of a loan or whatever it is on the house and land.’ She paused and Mr Hoyles said nothing. ‘But – if
I’m right – it has not left anything with which to revitalize the estate.’ Still he remained silent. ‘I have been told by my sister-in-law that –’ here Annabel
paused. She did not intend to tell him everything that Dorothea had said. Choosing her words carefully, she went on, ‘Mr Jackson has been instructed to give everyone on the estate – and
that includes the tenant farmers and all the dwellings in the village – notice. It is hoped that new tenants will be found to pay what I’m guessing will be extortionate rents.
Personally, I doubt the sense in that anyway since no one in their right mind is going to take on tenancies with exorbitant rents, especially considering the dilapidated state of the farms and
cottages.’

‘I agree,’ Mr Hoyles said briefly, able for once to make a comment.

‘So, I intend to help the tenant farmers and the villagers get back on their feet and see that they are charged affordable rents when they are able to start paying them again.’

‘Your husband has agreed to this?’

‘He knows nothing about it. He’s away playing soldiers.’ Immediately, she regretted her sarcasm and the hint of censure against her husband her words held. And yet, she was
angry with him for not noticing that his people were in dire need.

‘And the dowager countess? Does she approve?’

‘It’s of no consequence. She takes no interest in the running of the estate and my sister-in-law has no empathy with the villagers.’

‘I must warn you that whatever you spend, my lady, you are unlikely to recoup it.’

Annabel shrugged. ‘I realize that. But it’s only money and there are people’s lives at stake here.’ She leaned forward to emphasize her point. ‘The villagers are
starving, Mr Hoyles. We have to act swiftly.’

He nodded. ‘I had heard that there was suffering amongst the villagers. What can I do to help you?’

‘I have this morning asked Mr Parker to sell some of my shares and my grandfather will have to countersign my instructions. This may take a few days for the money to come through. In the
meantime, could you advance me a loan so that I can pay the town’s tradesmen whatever they are owed and buy more supplies for the villagers?’

‘Your deposit account already has a healthy sum in it and I’ll arrange a transfer of that to your current account so that you may make cheques out immediately, which I will ensure
are honoured. And we’ll arrange a temporary loan too,’ Mr Hoyles agreed readily and smiled as he rang a bell to summon his chief cashier. ‘But of course I, too, will need to see
your grandfather.’

‘I’ll make sure he calls in to the bank. Will tomorrow morning be soon enough?’

‘Certainly. Any cheques you make out today probably won’t be presented immediately, so as long as everything is in place by tomorrow that will be fine.’ He paused and added,
with a note of caution in his tone, ‘You’re a very astute businesswoman, Lady Annabel, for one so young, but I wonder if you realize just what a considerable amount of money it is going
to take to restore the estate?’

Annabel treated him to her most winning smile. ‘I had been wondering what to do with the money I have made – and am still making. Rather than just buying more and more shares, this
seems like a very worthwhile investment.’ Mr Hoyles still didn’t look convinced, but Annabel went on, ‘The Fairfield Estate is now my future and – if I’m blessed with
children – it’s their future too. And in the meantime, I’ll be helping the tenants get back their livelihood. They’ve been treated rather shabbily, I fear, though that is
just between you and me, Mr Hoyles.’

‘Of course,’ he murmured, his gaze still on her lovely face that had not only beauty but also a steely determination. He took a deep breath as he said, ‘I will make sure the
bank supports you in your worthy endeavours, my lady.’

An hour later, armed with her chequebook and the promise of ample funds to be available in her current account to meet any cheques she needed to make out, Annabel stepped out into the market
town’s main street. She made her way at once to the grocer’s shop. As she entered, there were three customers and the proprietor behind his counter. All four heads turned to look at
her, but she took her place in the queue behind the other women. When they’d all left, whispering to one another, Annabel approached the counter.

‘Good morning. I am Annabel Lyndon and—’

‘I know full well who you are and I’m sorry to say it, but you’re not welcome in my shop.’ The man stood tall and rotund behind his counter, a white apron stretched
around his middle.

‘Then would you be kind enough to tell me the amount that is owed to you by both Fairfield Hall and everyone in Fairfield village too? I will pay you in full and then find another
supplier. I’m sure there must be another grocer in the town, or I could travel to Lincoln, of course. It’s not so many miles away.’

‘Ah well, now, m’lady, there’s no need to be hasty. You’ll not find another establishment within easy reach to compare with my shop. And if you’ve come to pay up,
then—’

Annabel’s eyes gleamed. ‘I have and I have also come to buy a quantity of supplies which I intend to pay for at once.’

‘It’ll take me a few moments to add everything up that’s owed.’

‘Then I’ll go next door to the butcher’s whilst you do.’ With that, she turned on her heel and left the shop with the man staring after her, his mouth half open.

More or less the same words were exchanged in the butcher’s shop further along the street. He was reluctant at first to serve her but then the shopkeeper almost fell over himself in his
eagerness to retain her custom. When she returned to the grocer’s, he was waiting for her with an itemized bill in his hand. Annabel glanced at the total and was not surprised that the man
had refused to serve her. For a small businessman, he was owed a great deal of money by Fairfield Hall and the villagers. She glanced up at him. ‘I promise you this will not happen again. And
now, if you will make up this order as soon as you can and add it to this account, I will settle at once. You will take a cheque?’

For a brief moment the man looked uncertain again. He hesitated and bit his lip.

‘Mr Hoyles is my bank manager. If you wish to check with him first, I am happy to wait.’

The man relaxed and nodded. ‘That’ll be all right, m’lady. It’s where I bank too.’

‘There is just one more thing. Are you able to deliver to Fairfield? I won’t be able to get everything in my trap.’

‘Of course.’

‘If there’s a charge for delivery then please add it to the bill.’

‘Since you’re settling everything, I’ll not charge on this occasion, though in normal circumstances, I do make a small charge to come out to Fairfield.’

Annabel nodded as she left his shop to make similar arrangements with the butcher. The goods were promised for delivery later in the day.