Cherry Tree Lane (23 page)

‘Well, let us in, damn you!’

‘You can come in, sir, but no one else. Miss Newington’s orders.’

‘How can she give orders if she’s had a seizure?’

‘It’s only a mild one. She’s in full possession of her senses and can still speak.’

As his master entered the house, Robins tried to follow him, so Jacob beckoned Ben forward. For a moment it seemed as if the fellow would still push forward, but his master made a gesture to stay back.

‘Wait there for me, Robins.’

Ben went to stand to one side of the hall, arms folded, expression grim.

Jacob locked the front door behind them and turned to see that the visitor had already started up the stairs.

Catching up with him on the landing, Jacob moved swiftly past him, leading the way up the stairs to the next floor.

‘Why did you put her up here?’

‘It’s the bedroom she’s always used. She didn’t like the master bedroom, apparently.’

He knocked on the door, barring the way until Mattie opened it.

She looked past her husband. ‘Miss Newington will see you now, Mr Newington, but only for a few minutes. She’s very tired.’

Arthur pushed past her without a word, which made Jacob breathe deeply. Mattie went to stand beside Miss Newington.

Jacob listened in disgust as Arthur put on a plummy, sympathetic voice, which sounded as false as it probably was.

‘Good evening, Emily dear. I’m sorry to see you in this condition.’

She gave a slight nod.

Arthur turned to the Kembles. ‘You two can leave now. I wish to speak to my cousin in private.’

It was Mattie who answered. ‘I’m sorry, sir. Miss Newington has asked us to stay with her while you’re here.’

‘There’s no need whatsoever for that. What do you think I’m going to do, hurt her?’ He turned back to his cousin. ‘Tell them to leave.’

‘No. They stay.’

His face went red and the look he threw sideways at them was thunderous.

Jacob smiled slightly, folded his arms and leant against the door. Mattie stayed where she was, beside the bed.

Left on his own, Robins went round to the rear of the house, but to his annoyance, two more strapping young men were standing just outside the kitchen, chatting to the young maid through an open window.

‘Did you want something?’ one of them asked.

‘Just stretching my legs.’ He carried on round the side of the house but the taller one followed him. He turned. ‘If you’re wise, you’ll not anger my master. When he inherits this place, you could be thrown out of your home.’

The young man grinned. ‘Our cottage don’t belong to the big house no more, so that’s a bit hard for him to do, ent it?’

‘You’ve been warned.’

‘Shaking in my shoes, I be!’ He laughed.

Robins continued without a word till he got back to the car, where he leant against the bonnet. He’d make personally sure that young fellow regretted his impudence.

Upstairs, Arthur drew in a deep breath and forced a smile to his face. ‘Emily, my dear, my wife and I would like you to come to us, so that you can be properly cared for.’

‘Staying here.’

‘But you’ve no one to make sure you’re all right.’

‘Mattie and Jacob.’

‘Who?’

‘She means us, sir,’ Mattie said.

‘They’re strangers, Emily. You need family at times like this.’

He glared at the maid, but she didn’t seem to care that he was angry, any more than her husband had. Young people today had no respect. In his father’s time, folk like these wouldn’t have dared defy their betters. He turned back to his cousin. ‘Do be sensible.’

‘Seen … my lawyer. He’s keeping an eye … on things.’ She paused, closed her eyes for a minute as if gathering her strength to continue. ‘Don’t want you … here again.’

The words came out slowly and it was clear that it took a huge effort for her to speak. Arthur wished with all his heart that the damned fool of a woman would drop dead and be done with it. He didn’t believe she’d really left the house to anyone outside the family, and if she had, he’d contest the will and claim undue influence. No, she’d have left it to his children or grandchildren, and they knew better than to cross him, so they’d let him take charge. ‘I think you’re wrong, Emily.’

‘My choice.’

For a moment or two she stared at him in that knowing way that had always made him feel as if she could tell what he was thinking. There was nothing else he could do tonight, but if she thought he was giving up, she was wrong. ‘I shall leave you, then, but I’ll be back tomorrow to make sure you’re all right. I’ll bring my wife.’

‘No. Stay away.’

‘You don’t know what you’re saying. Of course we’ll be back. We’re your only family.’

‘No.’

‘My dear Emily—’

She seemed so frail and tired, Mattie looked at Jacob and he stepped forward.

‘I’m afraid I must ask you to leave now, sir. Miss Newington has said what she wants to and must rest.’

As they were going down the stairs, Arthur asked, ‘What did Dr Blair say about her condition?’

‘It was Dr Crawford who came, sir.’

‘What? That fellow deals with the poorer folk. Why on earth did you send for him?’

‘Cook says he’s been Miss Newington’s doctor for a while now, so naturally we sent for him. And he said she should make a full recovery if she rested and was careful.’

‘He said that?’

‘Yes, sir. It’s quite a mild seizure, apparently.’

‘Then let’s hope he’s right.’

But once they’d driven away, Arthur stopped hiding his anger. ‘Those damned Kembles have wormed their way in with my cousin. Did you try to get in the back way?’

‘They’ve got two other men stationed there, sir.’

‘Then force won’t do it. We’ll have to try something else, won’t we? Good thing I have friends in useful positions.’

Towards the end of the morning Sam went for a stroll along the street, giving himself a rest from dusty documents and boredom, wishing his father didn’t believe young lawyers couldn’t be trusted with anything except the simplest of everyday transactions. When he saw Arthur Newington striding along the street and then entering the rooms of Thaddeus Ransome, the local magistrate, he stayed where he was, half-hidden by a horse and cart.

What was Newington doing there? Was it just a coincidence or did it have something to do with Miss Newington?

Sam hesitated, then strolled along and turned into the back alley that led to the rear of these buildings for tradesmen’s deliveries. On such a beautiful day, most windows were open to let in the pleasant spring air. He knew which was the room Ransome used and with a wry smile at himself for doing this, he crept along until he could stand between an outhouse and the house itself.

Praying that no one would come out and discover him, he wondered if he was close enough to hear anything. But since both men were a little hard of hearing, he had no difficulty listening to the conversation.

What he heard had him hurrying off to the post office to send a telegram.

When he got back to his father’s rooms, he found that Ransome was now closeted with his father and the clerk was waiting for him.

‘Mr Painton is annoyed that you left your office, Mr Samuel, and asked me to remind you that those papers are wanted today.’

‘Yes, all right. I’ll get them finished. Just needed to clear my head.’

The clerk’s expression said he didn’t approve of young men having the freedom to do this. Like master, like man, Sam thought as he sat down at his desk with a sigh.

He wondered what Ransome wanted with his father and got up on that thought, slipping into the stockroom and opening the window there, from whence he could hear most of what they were saying.

Second time I’ve eavesdropped today
, he thought with a grin. The smile soon faded as he heard what they were discussing.

Frank Longley had spent a restless night worrying about the situation. He wasn’t certain what to do next, but couldn’t neglect his other work in order to keep going out to Shallerton Bassett, so went into his rooms as usual.

Just before one o’clock the telegraph boy turned up. Frank ripped open the envelope with a sense of foreboding. The little strips of white paper glued to the beige-coloured form rarely brought good news and this one was no different.

AN
HAS VISITED MAGISTRATE.
P
LOTTING TROUBLE.
B
ETTER COME QUICKLY.
S
AM.

Frank cursed under his breath, then slung things he might need into his briefcase and rushed out to catch the next train. In Wootton Bassett he ran all the way to Sam’s father’s rooms.

As soon as the clerk heard his name, his attitude changed and he refused point-blank to disturb Mr Samuel.

After arguing for a few minutes in vain, Frank went outside, wondering what to do next. As he paced up and down, he saw the alley which led to the rear of the building. He and Sam had played there as lads. With a smile, he slipped into it, climbing over the locked gate to knock on the window of his friend’s office, which looked out onto the backyard.

When he explained that he’d been denied entry, Sam looked grim.

‘What’s going on?’

‘I’ll tell you what I know and what I suspect once we’re on our way. I’ll just get my hat and join you in a minute. Can you get back over the gate?’

Frank grinned. ‘I haven’t lost my old skills.’

As he waited at the front of the building, he heard his friend arguing with his father from the big bow-windowed office at the front. They were both shouting but the words weren’t clear.

When Sam came out to join him, he was flushed with anger. ‘We’re going to have a hard time getting justice done. They’re ganging up on her – and you.’

‘I feel guilty about involving you.’

‘I’d rather know now what my father’s like when push comes to shove. I didn’t become a lawyer to support rich folk who break the law. And if that makes me an idealistic young fool, I don’t care. And it’ll not upset me too much to work elsewhere. He hasn’t trusted me with anything beyond what a clerk could deal with since I started.’

‘That’s why I set up my own rooms.’ Frank clapped his friend on the shoulder. ‘Thanks, Sam.’

‘You’re welcome. Now, let’s get my car started. It’s just down the street.’

As they drove out of town, they didn’t speak for the first mile or so, then Sam said, ‘I wonder if you’d like to take on a partner in your practice? I have a small legacy. I can put some of that in as my contribution. I’m not sure whether I’ve just resigned or whether he’s sacked me, but either way, I’m not going back to work there.’

‘Oh, hell, I didn’t mean you to lose your job.’

‘I didn’t believe Pa would go this far to support his friends. I thought he had more integrity.’ He sighed. ‘Well, do you want a partner?’

‘Of course I do. But you won’t be earning much for a while.’

‘Doesn’t matter. My godmother left me enough to manage on. I’ll have to move out of home, though.’

‘We could fix up the top floor of the building, turn it into a flat. There are several rooms up there.’

‘Done.’

But Frank still felt guilty about his friend. And worried about whether they’d be too late.

Two cars drove up to the house in the early afternoon and the watchers upstairs and down saw Arthur Newington get out of one, smiling and surveying the house with a distinct air of triumph. An elderly gentleman got out of the other vehicle.

Jacob groaned. Thaddeus Ransome, the local magistrate, a man the poorer people in the district detested. Jacob had never been involved with the law, but knew the man treated offenders harshly. He didn’t know how he’d manage to hold out against him.

The driver strode up the steps, grinning broadly, and knocked on the door.

Jacob waited until Robins had knocked again before going to answer it. He told Ben to stay close by as he opened it. The man outside looked at his master, as if asking for permission to push inside, but was waved aside.

Arthur Newington mounted the steps in a leisurely manner and waited for his elderly companion to join him at the top before speaking to Jacob. ‘We’re here to see my cousin.’

Jacob had received his orders and intended to stick to them. ‘Miss Newington has instructed me not to let you in, Mr Newington, but—’

Arthur turned to the other man and said, ‘See! This fellow keeps people away from her. It’s a plot. They’re taking advantage of her.’

His companion poked a finger in Jacob’s chest. ‘I’m the magistrate and—’

‘I’m well aware of who you are, Mr Ransome. If you’ll let me finish speaking, please? I can take your name up to Miss Newington and ask if she’ll receive you.’

‘I’m here on official business and whether she wants to see me or not, I’m coming in.’ He suddenly thrust the flat of his hand against Jacob’s chest, taking him by surprise and shoving him backwards. ‘Do not try to stop me or I’ll have you arrested for interfering with an officer of the law going about his duties.’

Jacob hesitated, then gestured to Ben to let the two of them past. However, when Robins made to follow them, he shoved the man back far enough to close and lock the door.

‘What are you doing?’ a voice roared from the foot of the stairs.

‘Following Miss Newington’s orders, sir,’ Jacob said. ‘Keeping the doors locked at all times.’

‘Stay down there.’

But he followed them up the stairs.

‘Did you hear me, fellow?’

‘I’ve been appointed officially to—’

‘Stay where you are!’

Jacob hesitated, but it’d do no good for him to be charged with contempt, or whatever imaginary offence those two chose to drum up. He turned to Ben and murmured, ‘Get one of the lads to send a telegram to Mr Longley. Ask Cook to give you the money.’

Ben nodded and slipped out towards the back.