The Windfell Family Secrets Read online

  ‘So, that’s that then. The old bugger’s gone and left me.’ Archie breathed in deeply. ‘I’ll bloody miss the old devil.’ He hung his head and thought of all the things he’d done with his father, and of all the times he’d had opportunities to say how much he loved him, but had never got around to doing so. It was too late now.

  ‘We’ll all miss him. Won’t we, Danny?’ Charlotte sniffed.

  ‘Aye, if only for telling me I haven’t done that right or this right.’ Danny stood at the end of the bed and looked at his grandfather. He’d never seen a dead person before, and he found it strangely fascinating.

  ‘He loved you, lad, and our Isabelle. It’s a pity she wasn’t here to see him pass.’ Archie put his arm around Charlotte. ‘He always said I was aiming too high when I married you, but then he grew to love you, along with my mother; they both knew I’d got a good one in you.’

  ‘Yes, he wasn’t a bad old stick, I grew really fond of him. I just wish he’d have come and lived with us after your mother died.’ Charlotte breathed in deeply, trying to control her grief.

  ‘He’d never have done that, he’d never leave Butterfield Gap. He said the only way he’d leave was to be carried out in a box. Well, he’s got his wish. Dr Burrows, I want to thank you for being with him all this time. He always held you in high esteem.’

  ‘It was a privilege to have known him, Archie. Now I’m going to have to be on my way. I presume you’ll arrange the undertakers and the funeral, and there’s not a lot more we can do this evening.’ Dr Burrows put on his top hat, picked up his bag and made for the door of the cottage.

  ‘Yes, I’ll see to all that. We’ll let him have one more night in the old home. He’d have wanted it that way. I’ll sit with him tonight – can’t let him be on his own. I owe him that. Good evening, Doctor, and thank you once again.’ Archie quietly closed the bedroom door behind the doctor and stood with Danny and Charlotte. ‘Danny, you call in at Jackson’s in Settle, either tonight or first thing in the morning. Tell them that my father’s died and he needs laying out, and a coffin. But take your mother home first. And I’ll stay here until they come, and then I know I’ve done right by my old man.’

  ‘You are stopping here with a dead body!’ Danny looked at his father, not wanting to be in his shoes.

  ‘It’s only your grandfather – he isn’t going to hurt me. He never did when he was alive, so he isn’t going to now.’ Archie smiled at his son. ‘It’s the ones that are wick that you’ve to worry about, not them that are dead. It’s the wick ones that’ll hurt you.’

  ‘Archie, are you sure?’ Charlotte took his hand.

  ‘I’m sure. You go back to Windfell, tell them all that’s happened, and I’ll be back with you by midday. I’ll sleep in the chair next to the fire, and there’s food in the pantry, so I’ll not go hungry. Besides, his milk cow will want milking in the morning; it’ll save one of us riding over first thing. I’ll bring it back with me on my return, it can graze on Windfell’s land until one of us has time to take it up to Crummock. The rest of the stock will be fine; they’ll look after themselves for a day or two. Now, what to do with this old place, I do not know. I presume it is now mine, seeing I’m the only heir.’ Archie rubbed his head and looked through the dimming light of Butterfield Gap’s kitchen.

  ‘We’ll go then, if you are sure. Danny will do as you say.’ Charlotte smiled at poor Danny, who looked shattered. He’d done nothing but chase after people all day, and it was beginning to catch up with him. She leaned over and kissed Archie on the cheek, before following Danny out of the door.

  Once Charlotte and Danny had left, Archie looked around the house of his birth. He lit the cranberry-coloured oil lamp to fight the incoming dark, and climbed back up the stairs to where his father lay. He stood over the old man, whom he had loved all his life. ‘I’ll miss you, Father. What do I do now, without you?’ He looked around the room, at everything untouched since his mother died, as his father hadn’t wanted to throw out anything of hers, he had loved her so much. The washstand with the jug and bowl delicately decorated with violets, and next to them his mother’s hair-brush, still with her golden hairs between the bristles. The love between his parents had been so strong and unfaltering, and he’d never heard them say a bad word between them. At least they would be together again now. ‘Aye, Father, what a day. I knew you were struggling, but I didn’t think I were going to lose you so soon.’

  He looked out of the small bedroom window and watched as bats escaped on their nightly venture from under the eaves and, looking out across the valley, he saw a dim glimmer of light at Crummock, as Arthur and Mary lighted their oil lamps and placed them in the windows. He remembered when he had come back home to tell his parents that he was to marry Charlotte and farm Crummock, and live at Windfell. And he started to talk to his dead father again.

  ‘You always said I was mad to want Lottie Booth, Father. But I’d always secretly loved her since I was sixteen, and I still love her now. Rosie was a good wife and mother, and I’d have made the best of it when she got pregnant by me; and I did love her, once we were married, and I was true to her. I remember you playing hell with me and telling me to do the right thing by her. It broke my mother’s heart, I know. I’ll always remember her crying as we read our vows, and it broke her heart again when Rosie died, leaving me with our Danny. Aye, our Danny, he nearly cursed me the other day when I pulled him up over the lass at Ragged Hall. He’s no idea about life yet. Trouble is, he’s a lot like me, Father; likes to have his cake and eat it, always got a smile on his face, especially for the ladies. I must have caused many a sleepless night for my mother. I’m sorry I’ve been far from the perfect son. I hope you and my mother forgive me, for not being here as often as I should have been, and for not listening to you both. I know now how much you worry over your own children.’

  Archie lifted the oil lamp up near his father’s face and whispered, ‘God bless you, Father, give my love to mother when you see her.’ And then he slowly made his way down to the kitchen, where he decided he’d sleep in the Windsor chair until Jackson’s, the undertakers, came to prepare his father and best friend, ready to be put to rest.

  8

  ‘Well, he had a good turnout. There were a lot of faces there that I hadn’t seen for a long time. He’d have been happy, if he’d have been able to see how many were there to pay their respects.’ Archie took off his mourning jacket and stood in front of the Adam fireplace in his shirt and waistcoat, undoing his cravat, before helping himself to a glass of whisky. ‘That cravat has been driving me mad all day.’

  ‘Yes, he’s had a good send-off, he couldn’t have wished for more. And the Jacksons had done him proud with the coffin.’ Charlotte sighed and then sat down next to Isabelle. ‘Are you alright, Isabelle? I couldn’t help but notice you were crying.’ She patted her daughter’s hand and smiled at Isabelle’s tear-stained face.

  ‘I’ll just miss him. I didn’t see him much, but he was always very kind to me.’

  ‘Aye, he never had a bad word for anyone; always said you should live and let live. Although, if you stepped out of line, you’d know about it. You think I’m an old devil, our Danny, but you should have been brought up by my father. You’d not have got away with half that you do with me.’ Archie grinned at his son.

  ‘Didn’t think that was possible. I don’t seem to get away with nowt.’ Danny poured a small whisky and looked out of the parlour’s window, wanting to escape from the feeling of gloom that had been surrounding them since his grandfather’s death.

  ‘I spoke to Walker, the solicitor, at the funeral. You all know that I couldn’t find my father’s will when we looked through his house. In fact I don’t think he made one, as he never spoke of it to me. However, Walker says there shouldn’t be a problem. I’m his only son, so Butterfield Gap automatically comes to me. Which leaves me wondering what to do with it, as it’s hardly big enough to make a decent living on. Isabelle, it’s no good for you; you’re no farmer,
and you’ve no suitor as of yet. Which makes me look at you, Danny: do you fancy taking it on? It might give you an incentive to get proposing to that lass of yours.’

  All eyes turned to look at Danny, who seemed shocked.

  ‘No, Father, not Butterfield Gap, it’s only thirty acres. Thirty acres of the roughest moorland you could wish on me. I couldn’t make a living there. I do appreciate your offer, but it’s not for me.’ Danny didn’t want the smallholding, or the ties it brought with it, but at the same time he knew he appeared ungrateful.

  ‘It would be a roof over your heads for you and Harriet, until you get started, and we’d give you an allowance to help – you’d not be penniless.’ Archie stood with his hands behind his back and scowled at his son. If he’d have been offered that, when he was with Rosie, he’d have been down on his knees thanking his father.

  ‘I might not want to marry Harriet just yet, have you thought of that? And I want to make my own money, not be reliant on an allowance and be forever in your pocket,’ Danny spouted out to a surprised family.

  ‘Danny, what’s got into you? Show your father some respect.’ Charlotte looked at her ungrateful stepson.

  ‘I don’t mean to be disrespectful, but you are all pushing me into marriage, and I don’t know if I want that just yet. I’m sorry, Mother, but I won’t have my life planned for me.’ Danny looked at his family, put his glass down and stormed out of the room.

  Charlotte looked at Archie. ‘Well, we all know where we stand now. I can’t understand it; a few weeks ago he would have lain down his life for Harriet. Now, when we mention her name, he flies up at us. I wish I’d never looked at that shop, if that’s what is upsetting him. I’ve a good mind to change my mind, as I haven’t signed the lease yet. I thought I was doing right, when I made Harriet welcome in the family. I thought he loved her.’

  ‘Please, don’t change your mind, Mother. Harriet and I have so many good ideas and all of my friends are going to support us. I’ll talk to Danny and see what’s wrong with him. I know Harriet loves him dearly – she never stops talking about him,’ Isabelle pleaded.

  ‘I tell you what’s wrong with him. He’s had his head turned by that flibbertigibbet at Ragged Hall. I sent him over there the other month, and he’s never been the same since. He talked to Amy, old Bill Brown’s lass. All the farm lads in the district are sweet on her, for she’s got a way with the men, not to put too fine a point on it. As long as he only talked to her, if you know what I mean.’ Archie’s temper with his son was getting the better of him.

  ‘Father, remember we have Isabelle present,’ Charlotte reminded her ruddy-faced husband, before saying exactly how she felt about Archie’s confession. ‘Daniel had better not have been seeing that worthless girl and be cheating on Harriet. I’m disgusted with him – he’s certainly no gentleman, if he has.’

  ‘Anyone who has an ounce of respectability doesn’t associate with Amy,’ Isabelle pointed out. ‘She does have a reputation, and none of my circle ever associate themselves with her. Our Danny’s a fool if he’s got caught up with her. I may not have been keen on Harriet, when she was first with Danny, but I’ve grown to like her. She will be an asset to the family, and I think both of us will work wonderfully together in the shop. Besides, to hear her talk, Danny has almost promised his hand to her, so he can’t possibly go back on his word. It would cause such a scandal.’ Isabelle was astonished at her brother’s lack of morals and judgement.

  ‘That’s why Mrs Armstrong came here. I thought there was something more to it than a social call and enquiring about Harriet’s position in the shop. She knows Danny’s proposed on the quiet to Harriet. He’s going to make our family the talk of the district if he’s not careful. Oh, the scandal of it! Going back on a betrothal of marriage, for the sake of the local trollop – and that’s what she sounds like to me.’ Charlotte stood up and paced the floor.

  ‘Aye, I wish I’d never sent him over there. I thought he had more sense, and even if Amy did give him the eye, I thought he loved Harriet enough to ignore her.’ Archie turned and looked at himself in the mantel mirror and saw an older version of his son staring back at him. Who was he to judge Danny? It was history replaying itself, at his expense this time.

  Later in the evening Isabelle decided to speak to her brother; after all, her new business life was in jeopardy, as well as the respected name of the family. A decent man did not offer to marry a respectable woman and then change his mind.

  ‘Mother and Father are worried about you, Danny, and so am I, come to that.’ She sat in her brother’s bedroom on the side of his bed while he looked out of the window, with one of his arms resting on the wooden panel of the frame. ‘We all love you and want the best for you.’ She looked at herself in the large oval mirror of the mahogany wardrobe and waited for a reply.

  ‘Worried about me, are you? Worried what I might do next, you mean. Worried that I won’t do what’s best for the family.’ Danny turned and looked at his sister.

  ‘Father says it’s Amy Brown that’s turned your head. Is he right? She’s not a patch on Harriet, you do know that, don’t you?’ Isabelle looked at her disgruntled brother as he sat next to her on the bed.

  ‘So that’s what he thinks, is it? Well, he’s right: she has, or not so much turned my head as opened my eyes. I thought that I loved Harriet, and I do. But there’s so much more out there – Amy’s shown me that; she laughs when she wants to laugh, she doesn’t care about formalities and what people think of her. All I hear at home is what is expected from me: to act the perfect gentleman, to run a farm, get married and step into my father’s shoes when the time comes. I’m twenty-three, not two hundred and three.’ Danny ran his hands through his long blond hair and looked at his sister.

  ‘Oh, Danny, have you been seeing Amy on the quiet? You’ll break Harriet’s heart, you know. She loves you dearly.’ Isabelle reached for her brother’s hand and squeezed it. ‘Everyone knows what Amy’s like; she’s friends with all the men of the district, and that’s why she’s not the marrying kind, and one day she’ll be a lonely old lady. Unless she gets caught out with a child.’ Isabelle blushed, for such things were never talked about between her and her brother.

  ‘Well, at least she’s happy and has plenty of male company. Unlike you; hardly any male suitors knock on our door for you. What happened to Robert Knowles? Left you with a mucky kitten and never came back again.’ Danny smiled at his sister.

  ‘Robert’s as daft as a brush, just like his kitten. Anyway, you might be surprised: there might be someone calling on me shortly, you’ll have to wait and see. But seriously, Danny, don’t go back to Amy, she’s just playing with you. I hope you haven’t got too friendly with her and done something you might regret. Harriet does love you, and our parents just want the best for you, no matter how much they moan.’ Isabelle hugged her brother and kissed him on the cheek. ‘We all do.’

  ‘Sometimes I wonder.’ Danny kissed her back; he knew Isabelle was trying her best to keep the family strong. God help him if there was a hint of scandal in the Atkinson family: that would never do. After all, there was no skeletons in their cupboard; they’d only been the talk of the district a few years back. Danny couldn’t help but think there was a hint of hypocrisy in the family’s reaction to his actions. ‘I’ll see. Amy is, as you say, perhaps not the right choice for a gentleman, but she’s such fun and I can talk to her so easily. I feel content when I’m in her arms. And, Isabelle, please don’t tell our parents, but I lay with her the last time I was there. I know I shouldn’t have done, but it just happened. She made it all seem so easy and natural. Sex is untalked-about in this household, and Harriet won’t even show me her ankle.’ Danny blushed at a worried Isabelle; this wasn’t something you confessed to your sister.

  ‘Oh, Danny, how could you? Harriet’s a lady, unlike Amy. You’ll just have to hope nothing comes from this dalliance. Father would kill you, if he knew.’ Isabelle scowled; she hated Amy Brown for leading her brother astray
.

  ‘But never mind me. Who’s this Romeo who’s going to be calling on my little sister?’ Danny felt awkward about his admission and changed the subject quickly.

  ‘Not telling, you’ll have to wait and see.’ Isabelle’s mood lightened. ‘Anyway, you don’t know him – he’s not one of your smelly friends, all cow dung and sheep.’ She laughed and got up from the bed.

  ‘I’ll make you tell me.’ Danny jumped up and threatened to tickle his sister.

  ‘You’ll have to catch me first,’ Isabelle screamed and started running.

  Downstairs Charlotte and Archie listened to the screams and giggles from above.

  ‘Sounds like Isabelle has brought him round. I knew Danny couldn’t sulk about things forever.’ Archie looked across at Charlotte.

  ‘We’ll see. They are as thick as thieves, them two. Secrets are their strong point, if you remember.’ Charlotte sighed.

  Danny decided to walk up to Ragged Hall from the road that led up along Eldroth. It was a warm, hazy September day and the bees and hornets buzzed around him and his horse as he walked with a joyful heart into the farmyard of Ragged Hall. He tethered his horse to the iron ring that was attached to the side of the barn and walked to knock on the open farmhouse door. He felt that he was betraying his family, as his heart beat faster at the thought of seeing Amy and hearing her voice; he was captivated by her, and although he knew Isabelle and his family were right, he didn’t want to believe them.

  He lifted his hand to make his presence known, but before he could do so, he heard laughter coming from within the barn. He turned and almost ran across the yard to see his beloved Amy, stopping short as he reached the barn doors. There he stood still for what seemed an age, but was in reality only a few seconds. Right in the middle of the newly mown hay, frollicking with her skirts above her knees, was Amy with another man. Danny stood and stared at them. It was true that Amy was nothing but a trollop; she didn’t love him. He cursed as he dropped his crop and reached for it quickly, hoping no one had heard him, then he swiftly untied his horse and walked it out of the yard.