The Forgotten Family (20 page)

Albert sat on a felled tree and motioned for James to join him. ‘I expect you miss your father.’

James nodded. ‘I used to be able to talk everything over with him.’

‘Can I help? I’m a good listener.’

‘I am going to be very presumptuous, sir.’ James had decided to speak freely. He was upsetting everyone today, so why stop now? ‘This is none of my business, but would you answer a question for me?’

‘If I can.’

‘How do you know that the Bonners aren’t going to try and get you to support them for the rest of their lives?’ James shifted uncomfortably. ‘I shouldn’t be asking you about your affairs …’

‘No, you shouldn’t, but this is something that is obviously troubling you, so I will tell you. I suppose this doubt has come about because of the way we are providing for Ted.’

‘Well, yes.’

‘The answer to your questions is that I don’t know, but it is a chance I am prepared to take. I would never have given Ted a job and a house if he hadn’t proved himself. Pearl, Dave and Jack have their own business and it gives them a decent living. They are happy with that, and have never once indicated that they wanted my financial help. Maggie is happy working for your mother. From what I’ve seen of them so far, I believe they are all fiercely independent people. The only one I have any qualms about is Tommy, but he’s in prison for ten years, and will not be able to cause us any trouble for some time.’

James gasped. ‘I didn’t know that.’

‘A friend of mine investigated the case, but Tommy was proved guilty without a shadow of doubt. He lied to me when I visited him, so I won’t try to help him further. I
have told him this and he’s furious, for he really did think I would be able to get his sentence reduced.’ Albert sighed. ‘He was wrong. That leaves only two of the children unaccounted for, but we believe one of them may not even be in this country. My daughter wants to find Harry, but all our efforts to trace him have failed.’

‘Why don’t you put a notice in the London newspapers? Someone might know where he is.’

Albert nodded. ‘It might be worth a try. Now, will you answer a question for me?’

‘That’s the least I can do after you have been so frank with me.’

‘Why are you concerned about the Bonners?’

‘I’m not sure, but watching the gathering in the house, I suddenly felt uneasy. I was afraid they might try to take advantage of you and Ellie.’

Albert studied James thoughtfully, then said, ‘I would
never
allow that to happen.’

A simple statement, but when James looked into Albert Warrender’s eyes, he knew it was true.

‘Did you sleep well, Mrs Montague?’ Ellie asked at breakfast.

‘Very well, thank you.’ Augusta glanced at the clock. ‘And so did James by the look of the time. He’s usually around long before this. I wonder if he’s still sleeping?’

‘I am wide awake, Mother. Good morning, Ellie.’ James strode into the room, dressed for riding. ‘And I’m very hungry.’

‘Have you been out already?’ Ellie helped herself to more bacon and eggs, hovered over the mushrooms before deciding against them. ‘You should have told me and I’d have come with you.’

‘I like to ride on my own in the early morning.’ He slanted her a grin. ‘I didn’t think you would be up at that time.’ He sat down at the table, his plate heaped with a little from just about every dish available.

‘It’s certainly given you an appetite. And, I am always up at dawn.’ She was about to take a mouthful of her bacon when she saw a man arriving. Her knife and fork clattered down on the plate, food forgotten, as she leapt to her feet. It was Mr Steadman. She hadn’t seen him for months. He must have news. Perhaps he’d found Harry.

‘Excuse me, please.’ She hurtled from the room, and was in time to see the butler coming out of her father’s study.

‘Was that Mr Steadman?’

‘Yes, miss.’

Knocking on the door, she turned the handle and looked in. ‘I saw Mr Steadman arrive, Father. May I come in?’

When he beckoned her forward, she stepped in and closed the door behind her. ‘Do you have news, sir?’

‘Before you tell us I’ll order refreshments. You must be hungry and thirsty, Mr Steadman. Please sit down.’ Albert called the butler and gave the instructions.

Ellie waited impatiently until the food arrived, and was relieved when her father asked Mr Steadman to tell them what he had found out.

‘I have finally been able to discover what happened to the one called Bert. This happened two years ago, and I’m afraid the news isn’t good.’ Mr Steadman put down his cup and pulled a small book from his pocket, reading quickly through some notes. Then he cleared his throat. ‘He was on a ship bound for America. He worked his passage as a cabin boy, but he never got there.’

‘What happened?’ Ellie braced herself for the bad news she knew was coming.

‘There was a terrible storm, and three men were washed
overboard. One was your brother, Miss Warrender. There was no chance of rescuing them from the rough sea.’

‘Oh, that’s terrible.’ Ellie trembled as pain flooded her. She would never know what this brother had been like. Never see him. It surprised her how much the death of an unknown brother could hurt. ‘That was an awful way to die. It’s dreadfully sad.’

Albert watched his daughter struggle to accept the news. ‘I’m so sorry, my dear.’

She straightened up. ‘Thank you for finding out for us, Mr Steadman. There is only Harry left now. Have you had any luck with him?’

‘No, it’s as if he disappeared into thin air.’ He turned to Albert. ‘I’ve done all I can, sir. If I didn’t know otherwise, I’d say the man doesn’t exist.’

‘I understand, and there’s no point in you pursuing a hopeless task.’ Albert stood up. ‘Thank you for all your help, Mr Steadman.’

Ellie looked at them in alarm. Her father was giving up the search. ‘Oh, we must find Harry,’ she pleaded. ‘Please, there must be something we can do.’

‘Mr Steadman has done everything he can, Eleanor, but I will try one more thing. For the next month we’ll put a notice in the London newspapers asking if anyone knows the whereabouts of one Harry Bonner. If that fails, then you will have to accept that he can’t be found.’

‘Thank you.’ Ellie let out a shaky sigh. There was still a glimmer of hope. She stood up. ‘I must go and tell Ted the sad news.’

There was no sign of her brother at the house, so
Ellie began to walk along the rows of newly planted fruit trees. They were small now, but it would be a beautiful sight when they were larger and in full bloom. She tried to concentrate on her surroundings in an effort to ease her deep disappointment. That must have been a terrible way for a young man to lose his life.

‘Ellie!’

She glanced up and saw Ted striding towards her from the wooded area. He had soon dropped the name of Queenie. ‘What are you doing here?’

Try as she might, her distress showed as her bottom lip trembled. ‘We’ve had news about Bert.’

He placed an arm around her shoulders, knowing this wasn’t going to be a cause for celebration. ‘Come back to the house. I’ll make us some tea, and you can tell me all about it.’

They said nothing until they were sitting down with cups of steaming tea in front of them. Then Ted asked, ‘What’s happened to him?’

He listened in silence, and when she had finished talking he slapped the arm of the chair, and swore, ‘Poor bugger!’

Ellie wiped a hand over her eyes. ‘What makes it worse is that he was so close to realising his dream. If only he could have made it.’

Ted nodded. ‘I’ll tell the others.’

‘I wish it could have been happier news.’ She looked at her eldest brother. ‘Tell me what he was like.’

‘He was a strange kid. Darker than the rest of us, and we used to joke that Mum must have got too friendly with the barman at the Red Lion.’ Ted’s smile was strained. ‘He
was a loner, a dreamer, always yearning for green fields and open spaces. I remember him telling us that in America there was room for everyone.’

‘I’m sad I’ll never meet him.’

Ted stood up and walked over to the window, gazing out at the young orchard. ‘He’d have loved this place. He hated London’s crowded streets and the squalid house we lived in.’

‘Mr Steadman said this happened two years ago.’ She went and stood beside her brother. ‘I wonder what he’d been doing before then?’

‘No idea.’ Ted sighed deeply. ‘I wish we’d all kept in touch, but we didn’t. Each one of us had only one thought, and that was to get out of Whitechapel.’

From the little she had seen of the place that was understandable. ‘There’s only Harry to find now. Do you think he’s still alive?’

‘If he was then we’d have heard from him. I think he must have died or was killed soon after he left us. As I’ve already told you, he was the best of the bunch, and I don’t believe he could have survived out there on his own. He was too young, too trusting, and too gentle.’

Ellie gulped back the tears, lifting her head, refusing to give up hope. She whispered, ‘He might still be out there somewhere.’

‘If he is then he’s hidden himself well.’ Ted squeezed her shoulder. ‘There isn’t much chance. Mr Steadman hasn’t found any trace of him, has he?’

‘No, and he’s done all he can.’

‘Then we must face the fact that he’s gone.’

Ellie’s mouth set in a firm, stubborn line. ‘Not yet.’

The sound of approaching horses put a stop to their conversation. They went outside to greet her father, Uncle Henry, Philip and James.

Albert dismounted first, striding towards them. ‘I’m sorry about your brother, Ted. If you’d like to go and tell Pearl and Jack now, then Henry and I will take over for you today. Just tell me what needs to be done.’

‘Thank you, sir.’ Henry joined them and they walked towards the trees with Ted listing the work planned.

‘I had better get on, as well.’ Ellie unhitched her horse, glancing at her cousin and James. ‘I’m going to check on the upper pasture. Do you want to come? Father wants to know if the grass has grown enough to put the sheep there for a while.’

Philip grinned. ‘That’s why I’m here. I’m your chaperone for the day.’

‘I didn’t know I needed one.’ Ellie mounted.

‘Your father’s instructions, and I wouldn’t dare disobey him.’

‘You sound frightened of him.’ James laughed at the notion.

‘I am.’ Philip pretended to shake with fear. ‘No one crosses Uncle Albert. His wrath is something to behold.’

‘When have you ever seen my father angry?’ Ellie glared at her cousin.

‘Often. You ought to see him and my father sometimes. And there was that time when one of the workers was caught stealing. Your father picked him up and threw him so hard the man was sprawled out on the ground.’

‘He deserved that. He was in the main house where he had no right to be, and father helped him outside. The man was lucky he wasn’t handed over to the police.’ Ellie looked at Philip in amazement. ‘That must have been ten years ago. We were only children.’

‘I know, but it made a great impression on me. Your father is very strong and I decided then and there that it would be unwise to make him angry. You’re the only one who can get away with that.’

‘You do exaggerate, Philip.’ Ellie urged her horse into a trot as her cousin came up beside her.

‘I’m not.’ Philip turned to James, who was now the other side of Ellie. ‘And it’s not a good idea to upset her, either. She’s just like her father. Strong and handy with her fists.’

Ellie leant across to swipe at him.

‘See what I mean.’ Philip ducked, and then galloped off, laughing and calling out, ‘I’ll get to the pasture before you.’

They made a race of it and Ellie beat them by a neck. She dismounted and bent down to pick a handful of grass.

‘Looks good.’ James did the same, then stood up and swept his gaze around the field, nodding in approval.

‘Perfect.’ Ellie wandered to the top of the rise, then stopped to take in the view. The countryside was spread out in a patchwork of different shades of green. The trees in the distance marked the boundary of her father’s estate, and it never ceased to amaze her just how much land they owned. If only Bert had stayed in this country, they could have given him the open spaces he longed for.

‘Your father has a fine estate.’ James’s voice cut through her thoughts.

‘But yours must be just as pleasant,’ she said, ‘and it’s larger, my father told me.’

‘Hmm,’ was his only comment.

‘I don’t know how you can leave it for so long each year.’

‘It isn’t easy, but,’ he winked, ‘I had to come and see you, didn’t I?’

‘What nonsense,’ she teased, secretly pleased by the thought that he had come just to see her. It wasn’t true, of course. He had come to keep his mother company, because she loved London with its shops and theatres. ‘Come on, I’ve got to tell Jim that the pasture is good and he can move the sheep.’

‘Shouldn’t you report back to your father first?’ James frowned.

‘She’s his estate manager now.’ Philip patted his horse before mounting. ‘He lets her make decisions. Mind you, I wouldn’t trust her.’

He moved away quickly in anticipation of her retaliation.

‘But I thought you said in your letters that you were only helping your father until he recovered from his injury.’

‘I did such a good job that he’s decided to teach me everything about running the estate.’ She frowned when she saw James’s expression of disapproval. ‘If you say it isn’t right for a woman to be doing this work, then I’ll belt you, James.’

‘Oh, oh, watch out,’ Philip warned. ‘She means it.’

‘Then I’d better keep my views to myself.’

‘That would be wise.’ She couldn’t hide her disappointment of his attitude. He clearly disapproved,
and that was a surprise because his letters had given no indication that he was prejudiced against women taking on responsible jobs. She decided to test him further. ‘What do you think of Mrs Pankhurst and the WSPU?’

‘You wouldn’t want to know.’

The sharp tone of his voice answered her question. Her eyes were full of devilment. ‘James, you are living in the dark ages. I’ll have to see if I can change your mind while you are here. I’ll ask Father to invite some of the ladies, shall I?’

Philip shrieked in horror. ‘Come on, James, it’s no good arguing with her on this subject. Let’s beat her to the farm.’

Her cousin came first this time, and Ellie slid from her horse, rounding on Philip. ‘That’s cheating. You had a head start.’

‘No, I didn’t.’ He ducked behind his horse as she advanced on him.

‘I’m sure Mr Rogers would be appalled if he could hear you lying.’ Ellie stopped, her head on one side, puzzled. ‘It’s only just occurred to me, but why aren’t you in the classroom?’

‘I told you; I’m your chaperone for the day. Everyone else was busy, and …’ He smirked. ‘Mr Rogers was happy to let me off because he wanted some time off to take your sister out.’

‘Maggie?’

‘Oh, Ellie, you ought to see your face. Don’t tell me you didn’t know? Our tutor has been excited about her coming here again.’

‘Excited?’ Ellie was bemused. ‘That doesn’t sound like Mr Rogers.’

‘Nevertheless, it’s true.’

She turned to James. ‘Do you know anything about this?’

‘I believe they’ve been corresponding and have formed an affectionate relationship. Mother is expecting to lose the best personal maid she has ever had.’

This was pleasant news after hearing about the death of her brother Bert. Her face lit up. Mr Rogers and Maggie would suit each other very well.