The Forgotten Family (18 page)

Ted tipped his head back and laughed, the tension leaving his face. ‘She’s quite a character, isn’t she?’

‘There’s no doubt about that.’

On the stroke of ten the next morning they all gathered in the library. Albert nodded to Ted to speak first. He stood and faced his brothers and sisters. ‘Mr Warrender has asked me to tell you what has happened in the search for the missing members of our family. Tommy has been found.’

‘Oh, where is he?’ Pearl asked. ‘We haven’t seen him for about four years.’

‘Probably in gaol,’ Jack remarked dryly.

‘Good guess.’ Ted then went on to explain what had happened. After he’d finished there was a stunned silence.

‘I always knew Tommy was a thief.’ Pearl was obviously shocked. ‘But I didn’t think he was capable of something like this. You saw him, Mr Warrender, do you believe he hurt that poor man?’

‘I honestly don’t know, Pearl.’ Albert glanced at everyone
in the room, and then his eyes lingered on his daughter. ‘I’m not going to lie to you. He gave me two versions of the robbery and I’m not sure I believe either.’

Ellie gave her father a worried look. ‘Perhaps I could write to him?’

‘No, Eleanor.’ Albert spoke firmly. ‘I will not have you communicating with him.’

‘Your father’s quite right,’ Ted said.

‘Don’t you trust him either, Ted?’

‘He’s always been the wild one of the family.’ Ted frowned. ‘I think it would be best if you stayed away from him.’

‘But he’s in gaol.’ Ellie was reluctant to give up. ‘He couldn’t possibly cause us any trouble.’

‘Don’t be too sure.’ Maggie spoke for the first time. ‘Mr Warrender is talking sense. Tommy always did have trouble with the truth.’

There was general agreement, and Ellie had to give way, although her nature would have been to storm into the gaol and see this wayward brother for herself – make up her own mind.

‘Eleanor.’ Her father’s voice broke through her thoughts. ‘There is often one black sheep in a family, and you may have to face the fact that Tommy Bonner is not worth knowing.’

She looked at her other brothers and sisters. They were such nice people. Sighing, she nodded in reluctant agreement.

‘Will you excuse me, sir?’ Maggie stood up. ‘But I must get back to my duties.’

‘Of course. There isn’t anything else we can do at the moment.’

As Maggie turned to leave the room she stopped next to Ellie. ‘It was a lovely party last night, and I’m sorry I was awful to you when we first met. I was wrong.’ She touched Ellie’s hand. ‘I really am very happy to see you, and to know that you’ve been well looked after.’

‘Thank you.’ Ellie was taken aback by her sister’s show of affection. Now she had two brothers and two sisters, and that was a lot to be grateful for.

By the evening they had the house to themselves again, except for Augusta and James, who they had persuaded to stay for another two days. Ellie and Philip were pleased about this because they found James good company. He could ride as well, if not better than them, and had a quiet sense of humour. He often kept a very straight face, and it wasn’t until they saw the glint of amusement in his eyes, that they realised he was making fun of them in a gentle way.

Another person who seemed pleased they were staying was Stanley Rogers. He was taking every opportunity to spend time with Maggie. Also Henry and Albert were enjoying the company of Augusta. For the first time since her mother had died, there was a relaxed air around the house.

After a pleasant couple of days they were all sorry to wave goodbye to their guests. Ellie hadn’t seen much of Maggie, but when they did meet it was on friendly terms. On their
first meeting, Ellie had thought Maggie cold and hard, but that wasn’t the case. She was more like Ted, sensitive and easily hurt, so she had built a wall around her emotions in order to protect herself.

That evening, Ellie studied the list of names. Fred and Hilda had been crossed off, so had the two who had died. There was a tick beside Pearl, Ted and Jack, and now she was able to do the same beside Maggie’s name. She put a big question mark beside Tommy. That didn’t seem too hopeful. Which left Bert and Harry. If Bert had gone to America, then he might be impossible to find. Ellie chewed the end of her pen, murmuring, ‘Where are you Harry? I really have to find you to see what made you so special to me.’

‘That was an interesting and entertaining few days, don’t you agree?’ Augusta and her son were back in London and enjoying coffee after dinner by a roaring log fire. ‘You said you would reserve judgement on Albert Warrender until you knew him better. So, what do you think of him now, and Eleanor, of course?’ Augusta asked.

Stretching out his long legs, James gazed into space for a moment as he thought about the man they had been staying with. ‘The overriding impression is that he thinks everything through carefully before making a decision, and when he does, he will not easily change his mind. He’s confident in his own abilities, and with good reason, as far as I could see. He has a fine estate, and it’s well managed.’ James leant forward. ‘He’s a strong man, but he does have a softer side. He cares
about people, especially those in need, but preferring to give them the means to help themselves rather than hand out money as a temporary relief. Hence the way he’s befriending the Bonners.’ James frowned fiercely. ‘Not that I’m sure he’s doing the right thing there. However, it would be foolish to underestimate him. He would be a good man to have as a friend, but a formidable enemy.’

‘I agree.’ Augusta put her cup back on the table. ‘But I believe that the real reason he’s helping the Bonners, is for his daughter. He adores her, and makes no effort to hide the fact.’

‘And she knows it, not being averse to using that to her advantage when necessary. But she’s also wise enough to give way when he refuses her requests. They are very close, Mother. I swear they can read each other’s minds.’

‘I can understand that. I also found out how they came to adopt her, and he had no hand in buying her.’

‘Ah, did he tell you?’

‘No, Nanny did.’ Augusta looked pleased with herself. ‘Always go to the person who sees all.’

‘The servants.’ James sat back. ‘So what did she say?’

Augusta spent the next half an hour relating the story to her son.

When she had finished, James let out a pent-up breath. ‘He did the only thing he could in the circumstances to protect a vulnerable little girl, and that was to adopt her legally. That clears up any doubts we may have had about him.’

Augusta nodded. ‘Eleanor may have come from humble
stock, and will never be quite tamed, I think, but she’s a fine girl.’

‘And a fine horsewoman.’

She laughed at her son. ‘Ah, well, that says everything about her, doesn’t it?’

‘Absolutely. She also dances very well, but she cannot curtsy without toppling over.’

‘I shall have to see what I can do about that.’

‘You’ve made arrangements to see them again, Mother?’

‘Of course. We must return their hospitality.’

February arrived on a bitter cold wind and heavy snow. Ellie was kneeling on the window seat in the library, her nose pressed to the cold glass, watching anxiously for her father. It had begun snowing when he had left this morning, but during the last two hours the weather had turned very nasty. He should have returned as soon as he saw how bad it was becoming. Even Philip hadn’t been able to come for his lessons.

Unable to keep still any longer, she jumped up and began exploring the bookshelves, trying to find something to interest her. There were several spaces where Jack had borrowed books. Not only was he working his way through Uncle Henry’s library, he had now started on theirs. He came as often as he could to see them, but the first thing he did was head for the library. She wished that she could remember when she had been a little girl and living with them. But try as she might, her first recollections were of living here, safe and secure. How different her life would have been if her mother
and Uncle Henry hadn’t brought her to this lovely house. Now she had seen Whitechapel, she knew just how lucky she had been.

The light was fading fast. Where was her father? Then a movement caught her eye. There was something out there, and coming closer. She rubbed her hand over the window to clear it where her breath had misted it over. It was a horse … a horse without a rider, trailing its reins …

With a cry of alarm, she shot out of the room, calling for help. The butler and footman were with her immediately.

‘Quickly, please,’ she gasped, struggling into her coat and boots. ‘Father’s horse has come back on its own. If he’s out there hurt he’ll die in this weather. We’ve got to find him!’

The footman tried to restrain her, but she fought him off. ‘Get all the men.’

Throwing open the door, she stumbled her way over to the horse who was clearly distressed, trembling badly. The snow was almost up to her knees, making it a struggle to move forward, but her mind was crystal clear. She shouted orders to the men already arriving to help. A stable boy took charge of the horse, leading it back to the stables.

‘We’ve got to find my father, so saddle up the horses!’

‘We can’t take the animals out in this weather, miss.’ The head groom was shaking his head. ‘The snow’s too deep.’

‘Then we’ll walk. Fetch brandy and blankets. He was going to Lower Farm, so we’ll go in that direction.’

‘You leave this to us, Miss Warrender.’ The footman tried to urge her back indoors. ‘Stay inside. We’ll find him.’

She shook herself free and glared at the men now assembled. ‘Don’t you bloody well give me orders!’

‘The master will never forgive us if anything happens to you.’ The butler, now wrapped from head to toe in clothing, intervened.

Snatching a blanket from one of the men, Ellie wound it round her head and shoulders. ‘If we don’t find him soon he won’t be alive to forgive anyone. Now, move your bloody selves.’

As she stomped off towards Lower Farm, the others followed without further protest. Her outburst had triggered something deep inside her memory, and the picture of a bunch of ragged children had flashed before her eyes with a scruffy urchin crying for ’Arry. It had been so brief that she couldn’t hold on to it, and neither did she want to. Her only thought was for her father, maybe injured, snow covering him – maybe already dead.

No, no
! She shook herself and pressed on, head bowed against the blinding snow. Please God, lead us to him in time, she prayed, silently. Progress was painfully slow, but Ellie was oblivious to the cold, her eyes scanning the snow for any sign that a horse had come this way. The lanterns the men were carrying shone an eerie light on the glistening snow. They had spread out in a line to cover as much ground as possible, not daring to lose sight of each other in the white wilderness, but there was little hope of finding tracks with the snow falling like a curtain.

Suddenly, there was a shout from the left. Ellie scrambled through the snow, slipping and sliding her way over to the direction of the call. She reached one of the grooms holding a lamp high and pointing in front of him. ‘What is it?’ she gasped. ‘I can’t see anything.’

‘I saw something move. I’m sure I did.’

They all surged forward, the blizzard so bad it was hard to see anything.

‘Father! Father!’ Ellie shouted. ‘Are you out there? Please answer.’

There was a faint sound, and Ellie strained to hear. Perhaps she was mistaken and it was only the wind howling?

‘Father.’

‘Someone answered. It came from straight in front, I think.’ The butler was already moving forward, with Ellie and the footman trying to run.

A dark figure rose from the ground when they were nearly upon him.

‘Father!’ She threw herself at him, sobbing in relief, and holding him tightly around the waist. ‘Oh, thank God!’

‘Are you hurt, sir? Your horse came home without you.’ The footman was already supporting Albert.

‘I’m glad the animal made it back.’ Albert gave a ragged sigh. ‘He slipped and threw me. I think I’ve broken my ankle. I was trying to reach home on my hands and knees.’

Ellie stepped back from her father, taking the blanket from her shoulders to wrap it around him.

‘You keep that, miss.’ The footman had another one in his hands and wrapped it round Albert. ‘Now, Mr Warrender, let’s get you home.’

With one man either side of Albert, they lifted him by putting one hand each under his legs. They had to move slowly to avoid slipping or dropping their burden. Ellie moved out of the way, relieved to have the men helping. Her father was alive, but it was imperative to get him in the warm. From the lantern light she could see that he was in considerable pain by the tight line of his mouth. Catching hold of two of the estate workers, she pushed them forward.

‘Go as quickly as you can and warn them back at the house. I want a fire in my father’s room, and hot drinks ready for everyone.’

Every step of the way was torture for Ellie. After the joy of finding her father alive, she was anxious to have him home and tended to. It seemed to take an age but, eventually, the welcoming sight of the house was in front of them, candles and lamps blazing from almost every window to guide them home.

Nanny was just inside the entrance, leaning heavily on her cane, a determined look in her eyes. ‘Take him straight upstairs,’ she ordered, ‘and remove those wet clothes. You too, Eleanor. There’s plenty of water on the boil, so you can have a hot bath. We’ll take care of the master.’

‘We must summon the doctor, Nanny. Father thinks he might have broken his ankle.’

‘You won’t get anyone out here tonight. I’ve set bones before. Now, go!’

The house was in uproar with servants running around, being directed by a suddenly fierce woman who Ellie had always known for her gentle nature. The man she had
looked after from a baby to an adult was hurt, and she was going to see that he was properly taken care of, even if it took every last ounce of her failing strength.

Knowing it was useless to argue, and there was little she could do at the moment, she ran upstairs to do as Nanny had ordered.