Jenny Telfer Chaplin (6 page)

Chapter Sixteen

Despite Granny’s protestations that she was far too old to start ‘gallivantin’ about on boats, once she was aboard the ferry bound for Dunoon she thoroughly enjoyed the sail down the Clyde from Govan pier and out into the estuary. If the boat trip was a wonderful experience even that was as nothing compared to her first glimpse of Dunoon.

“Did ye ever see such a glorious sight?” she exclaimed and went on enthusing to any and all as they lined the ship’s rail on the approach to the pier already crowded with returning holidaymakers. “It’s a picture, just a beautiful picture, Elenor. Would ye just look at that cheeky big bird sittin on top o that pile o hampers.”

“It’s a seagull, Granny.” Elenor said.

“Never!
It’s white and fat, and happy looking. The seagulls in Govan are thin and dirty lookin.”

As the trio made their way down the entrance and the road beyond, Mary was startled to hear someone call out: “Mary Gregg!
Mary Gregg over here.”

It was the first time in years she had heard her maiden name being used and with a puzzled frown she turned her head towards the owner of the raucous voice.

Granny immediately intrigued said: “Somebody ye know? Another ghost from yer past? But by the sound and looks o him a pretty solid phantom.”

Mary made no answer to Granny and instead went on staring at the kilted Highlander who had hailed her by name, and her maiden name at that. Unsure how to respond to this greeting, she decided to play it safe and merely gave a nod and a fluttering of her hand in the general direction of the stranger.

Close to, Mary felt blood rush to her cheeks.

It can’t be, she thought, but it is. It’s none other than the coachman from Kinnaird House. Bold as
brass and handsomer than ever. The would-be romantic swain o my youth.

Reaching his side, Mary accepted his outstretched hand which she shook warmly enough. Despite herself she was inordinately pleased to see a kent face this early on her arrival back in bonnie Argyll.

“Well Ah never, if it isn’t Archie Cooper himself. After all these years.”

Archie grinned. ‘Well, Mary at least ye remembered my name. That really is something.”

He nodded absently to Granny then spotting Elenor he said: “Sorry, Ah called ye by the name Ah knew you by, but Ah knew no other although Ah would hazard a guess ye’re a mistress something or other by now.”

“
Ah’m now Mrs Drummond, if ye must know.”

Mary prepared to move on, but Archie bent towards her and with a nod in the direction of Elenor said: “Looks like ye made it to the marriage bed after all. Good for
ye, Mary.”

Mary blushed and annoyed with herself and in a voice much sharper that she intended said: “Right, Granny, Elenor it’s time we were on our way. Miss Patten will be waiting for us up at Ivylea.”

As she made to pick up their assortment of bags and bundles, Archie put a detaining hand on her arm. “Just leave all that to me, Mistress ... Drummond.”

Mary cast a withering glance first at his hand where it rested on her arm and then at Archie’s face. “Thank
ye, but there’s no need. Ah’ve managed this far without yer valuable aid.”

He started to protest and Granny looked somewhat askance at Mary. She realised that the sarcasm in her voice, which she had intended, had most certainly not gone amiss. Pleased with this success she decided to press home her advantage.

“Anyway,” she gave a sugary sweet smile, “Ah mustn’t keep ye from yer duties at the big house. And doubtless ye have a wife and a squad of bairns waiting for ye as well.”

“If ye mean Kinnaird, Ah no longer work there. Ah’m self-employed now. As to the other ...”

He waved a dismissive hand and let his words trail off unfinished.

Hmph.
The same Archie – he’s probably fathered a dozen bairns the length and breadth of Argyll by now, but a legally wed wife of his own? Not his cup of tea.

Archie’s voice broke into her thoughts. “It’s time we were going, Miss Patten hired my pony and trap to escort ye and Ah’ve left wee Tam in charge of the conveyance long enough”

At Mary’s expression Archie laughed. “No need to look so surprised, Mistress Drummond. Surely ye realised Ah was actually waiting for yer party. Ye couldn’t have thought Ah was just standing here like some lovesick swain calling out yer name on the off chance that ye’d turn up out of the blue after all these years.”

He ushered them and their bits of luggage towards the waiting pony and trap.

When Elenor realised she was actually to go in such a stylish mode of travel, she gave an impromptu little jig.

All three adults laughed at such childish exuberance and Archie said: “She’ll make a grand wee Highland dancer, that one. Might even get
herself a medal or two.”

Determined to get in the last word Mary said: “She already has medals and a silver cup for her dancing.”

As Mary was welcomed back into the drawing room of Ivylea she felt as though she had never left. The beautiful room looked as opulent as ever. Its all-embracing comfortable ambience was a joy, especially to someone like herself fresh from the confines of a Govan single end.

The pleasure of being once again at Ivylea was as nothing compared to the unrestrained delight Mary experienced when she entered her new home, Stable Cottage. It was all and more than she had ever imagined even in her wildest dreams. In Mary’s eyes everything was perfection. With tears in her eyes of such happiness as she had never before known in her entire life she turned to Granny and Elenor and said: “Well, girls Ah think we’ll be happy here, don’t ye? Our very own wee cottage, even a patch of garden for ye, Elenor, where ye can grow flowers.”

Elenor danced her usual jig and Granny grinned.

Mary with a puzzled expression took a closer look at Granny.

“Ah’m Ah dreaming or what?”

In a strangely slurred voice Granny said: “Aye, this cottage is like a dream. More like a miracle to the likes o us.”

Mary wagged a mock admonitory finger. “Now then, Granny, as ye well know it’s not the cottage Ah’m referring to.”

Granny gave a broad smile which she beamed first at Mary then Elenor.

“You’ve got teeth, Granny!” Elenor squealed.

With one deft movement Granny removed her teeth and holding them out for view in her hand said: “That’s right, trust a wean to notice first. Mind ye at what such teeth cost Ah should be charging folk for a keek at my dentures.”

“When did ye get them and how?”
Mary said.

“When ye first tellt me that Ah was wanted on the voyage – that ye really wanted me with ye in Dunoon ... Ah wanted to be a credit to ye, same as wee Elenor ... Ah wanted ye to be proud o me. One o my church friends said that the new Glasgow Dentorium would give ye a new set o wallies if ye could pay half-a-crown a week. Ah thought maybe since ye had to give two weeks notice to the Matron at the Cottage Hospital Ah’d have time to get my teeth.”

Mary laughed. “Anyway, put yer ... wallies ... yer teeth back in and let’s have a look at ye.”

“If ye don’t mind, Mary, Ah’ll finish my story first. Ye see Ah can’t speak right with them in. So Ah’ll just be shoving them in my mouth on special occasions – high days and holidays like.”

“But if you’ve put yourself in hock for half-a-crown a week for God knows how long –” Mary stopped abruptly and frowned. “Where did ye get the first payment and what are going to do about the rest?”

Granny laughed. “That’s the best bit o the story. Somebody told me to forget the Dentorium – just get along to Paddy’s Market. Ye can pick up a set o wallies there for next to nothing. After all, dead folk don’t need dentures.”

“So that’s what ye did, Granny?”

“Aye, but there was no need for ye to worry about the cost.
All these years ye’ve been payin me ninepence a week. With eating at yer house, all Ah had to pay was the rent on my single end, so Ah stashed the rest in a tin under my bed.”

Both Mary and Elenor laughed.

“Seeing as Ah had a great bargain with my teeth, with some o the money Ah had left, Ah treated us to a wee mindin for our new house. Ah bought it at Paddy’s Market too. Wait a minute and Ah’ll fetch it through.”

Mary sat wondering what useless, perhaps hideous, so-called bargain the old woman had picked up at the notorious junk market.

Seating herself at the table Granny slowly unwrapped her gift. A pair of silver candlesticks emerged. They were beautiful.

Elenor and Mary stared in disbelief at them.

“They’re not silver,” Granny said, “At least pewter the barrowman said.”

Mary picked one up and examined the delicately engraved four-leaf clovers that decorated the base and stem. She turned it over and gasped. On the base were hall marks like the ones on Matron Calder’s silver at the Cottage hospital. The marks Matron had explained to Mary.

“There was some sort of cloth on the bottom, but it was real manky so Ah took it off when Ah cleaned the candlesticks. They fair needed it.”

“The cloth would be green baize or felt. They’re lovely, Granny.
One on each end of the mantelpiece with Elenor’s cup in the middle. Ah know these will bring us luck. But ye got a better bargain than ye thought.”

Mary pointed out the hall marks and explained their significance to Granny, who laughed. “They were at the bottom of an old cardboard box Ah rummaged through. To think the
barrowman said Ah could have the lot for the same price – it was just some old junk he’d picked up at a house clearance sale.”

“Right, Granny, teeth in or out, are ye ready for yer first tea in our new house?”

Chapter Seventeen

Once back at Ivylea and again in ‘the bosom of the family’ as it were, Mary knew it would be all too easy to slip into the role of the prodigal daughter, sit back and enjoy having Elenora organise life for her and Elenor. But after a very short time she realised that such a pampered lifestyle was most definitely not for her. With a twinge of guilt she knew exactly how Ted had felt all those years ago, when, having struck a blow for independence, he had all but frogmarched her on to a ferry bound for Glasgow.

So when Miss Patten’s cook/housekeeper gave her notice three weeks after Mary’s arrival, Mary insisted that no replacement should be looked for. She and Granny would take over.

One evening as Mary and Elenora sat alone in the drawing room Mary explained how her feelings had changed towards Ted, regarding his ‘dragging’ her away from Ivylea.

“Ah now know that that particular phase of my life was an essential facet of my ongoing spiritual journey.”

Elenora nodded. “Now that you have accepted that and even come to terms with your past suffering, I would say you are most definitely gaining in spiritual knowledge and enlightenment.”

With tears in her eyes and choking her voice, Mary said: “It’s all thanks to
ye that Ah have learned anything of such matters–”

“No, please do not thank me. It’s spirit who – all right through me, I suppose – it’s spirit who are teaching and helping you. The best thanks you can give them is to be kind to everyone you meet in this life and remember, whatever brave front a person puts on with which to face whatever life throws at them, in the troubles of life, we are all fighting a hard battle.”

“Ah think now Ah understand that whatever problems, anxieties, even disasters that come into our lives in facing up to them and dealing with them as best we can, we emerge stronger and better prepared for the next challenge.”

“Yes, Mary, you are indeed learning. There is another great truth to hang onto: you will never get more than you can cope with. Things will always be as they are meant to be. In
fighting your way through, you are, at the end of it all, in a much better position of real hard-won experience to help others in their hour of need.”

As Mary left the drawing room that evening her head was buzzing with ideas.

Ah know now why spirit has brought me back to Ivylea at this time. We should hold psychic evenings, parties, with lectures from Elenora on spiritual enlightenment, trancing and healing sessions. Where could anyone find a more lovely setting than right here? Of course, we’d need more domestic help. Ah’ll discuss this with Elenora. Surely with the help of our spirit friends it can be done.

In no time at all, it seemed as if Mary, Elenor and Granny had never known any other lifestyle beyond that of Ivylea House, Stable Cottage and the hills and glens of Argyll. Not only were they all more than happy with the arrangements but Mary and Granny between them were able to see to the smooth running of the ‘big hoose’ as Granny called it. For Mary, her functions in this regard set aside any residual feelings of being beholden to anyone’s charity.

One morning as Mary, humming
contentedly, went about the business of tidying up the drawing room, plumping up cushions, setting anti-macassars straight, and dusting the many valuable ornaments, Elenora entered and smiled.

“That’s what I like to see.
A woman happy in her work.”

“Oh, Elenora.
Ah love Ivylea and everything about it. How could Ah not be happy?”

“Yes. I could see how much you enjoyed last night’s sitting ... it went very well. We got a lot of messages through. There was just one thing, Mary. When one of my guests mentioned Archie Cooper I sensed your discomfort ... surely, no problem there?”

Mary clutched her duster as if holding to a lifeline. “Archie Cooper? No ... er ... it’s just ...”

Elenora looked sternly at her. “Mary, you forget that I am psychic. I know there is something about that man that is upsetting you.”

Mary started to protest all knowledge of Archie Coooper and Elenora said: “Put down that duster. Sit down. Now tell me what is troubling you. Apart from anything else, I do not wish an atmosphere of disharmony, secrets, and mistrust in Ivylea. Surely you already know how important it is to my psychic work for this to be a haven of peace, harmony and loving thoughts.”

“Ah don’t know where to start.”

“At the beginning is usually the best place.”

Mary sighed. “When Ah was a young kitchen skivvy up at Kinnaird, Archie was the coachman there. A handsome young man, if Ah’m being honest. Well, one night as Ah was passing the stables he appeared out of the dark and tried to kiss me.”

Elenora laughed. “Indeed. Is that all? A stolen kiss and nothing more?”

Mary felt the blood rush to her face.

“Yes, that’s it. He tried to steal a kiss. But Ah certainly scared him off – Ah went on every time Ah saw him about waiting for the marriage bed.”

“Nothing too tragic about that story, Mary, apart from perhaps missing a chance of later happiness with the handsome young man.
And who could blame him for trying his luck with you. After all, you were something of a beauty, kitchen skivvy or not.”

Mary gave a rueful shake of her head. “That’s all in the past, but when ye sent him and his pony and trap to pick us up at the pier, Ah’m afraid Ah was rather rude to him. Ye see Ah didn’t know then what Ah know now …”

Elenora nodded. “You mean about his young wife dying in childbirth and the wee boy on whom he doted later dying of the scarlet fever?”

“Honestly, when Ah think of what Ah said, knowing myself the awful pain of bereavement, Ah could bite out my tongue. As Ah recall Ah snapped something at him about getting back to his wife and squad of bairns. How was Ah to know his wife and only bairn were both dead?”

Two weeks later Mary answered knocking on the front door to find herself face to face with Archie Cooper.

He grinned broadly. “Aha, it’s yerself Mistress Drummond. Before ye get the wrong end of the stick again, it’s yer employer Ah’m here to see. And before ye shut the door in my face, let me tell ye that Miss Patten is expecting me, on a matter of business.”

Mary adopted her grandest manner and ushered him into the spacious front hall.

“If ye will wait here. Mr ... Mr ... Cooper, Ah will announce ye to Miss Patten.”

A short time later Mary was summoned to the drawing room and Miss Patten ordered a tea tray, “and some of Granny’s treacle scones. Bring enough cups and sweetbites for three. I wish you to join us, Mary, for this business concerns you.”

Mary was now thoroughly intrigued as to what this ‘business’ could possibly be. Uncomfortable at the thought of having tea with Archie Cooper after her terrible gaffe, Mary delayed as long as possible her return to the drawing room.

While she was still dawdling over setting the tea tray, Granny said: “Mary! It’ll be next week before ye take that tray in. The tea will be stone cold and ma scones will be like rock cakes. Be off with
ye.”

Archie Cooper was on this second cup of tea and third scone. Mary had barely touched her tea and had eaten and said nothing. When Archie looked pointedly at the mantelshelf clock, Elenora placed her cup on the saucer.

“Now, to business.
Before I detail my plan, which if it is to succeed and be of any benefit to all of us, must depend on complete harmony and trust.”

Archie and Mary glanced at each other, and Elenora nodded.

“So, if there is any bad feeling or any unfinished business between any of us it must be resolved amicably before we go any further.”

Remembering her conversation with Elenora, Mary took her cue and said: “Archie, Ah apologise wholeheartedly for the inappropriate remarks Ah made the day ye met us off the boat. Ah had no way of knowing ...”

Archie picked up on her sentence. “Ah understand, so not another word. By the same token how was Ah to know then that ye also had been widowed. Ah waded in with both feet with cutting remarks of my own. Can we now let bygones be bygones?”

Mary nodded her agreement.

Elenora smiled. “Excellent. After all, we all of us say and do things we later regret – so in this case no harm done”

As if she had been summoned
After a discreet knock on the door Granny entered bearing another tea-tray.

“Ah just thought, Miss Patten, that maybe a fresh pot of tea and some more dainties might be welcome at this point.”

“Granny, for somebody who professes not to believe in what you call, ‘all this supernatural mumbo-jumbo’ you seem pretty well tuned in to the thoughts of others. Thank you for the tea. Now, since I have a business matter to discuss with Archie and Mary will you please see to it that we are not disturbed until I ring. Thank you.”

Turning to Mary and Archie, Elenora continued: “I have decided to move from evening and afternoon sittings to perhaps having weekend sessions. This will obviously mean extra work for you, Mary, and I will arrange for additional help in the house – perhaps your sister-in-law may be prepared to come for the weekends, Archie? Now, this is where you come in, Archie, I would want to hire your services for the entire weekend to be free to transport my guests to
and from the pier on arrival and departure but also to and from the town when they are at leisure over the weekend. If you would also be prepared to function as a temporary butler on those occasions that would be excellent. Also, I hear you are something of a handyman? There is some work needing to be done in the upstairs bedrooms before we have guests, and if you could find some men to work on the grounds to tidy everything up that would be very helpful.”