Obsession by Lorrimer Claire

Author:Lorrimer, Claire [Claire Lorrimer]
Language: eng
Format: epub, azw3, mobi
Publisher: Severn House Publishers
Published: 2013-06-19T04:00:00+00:00

TWELVE

December, 1867

Brook had gone up to London to the firm’s offices for an important meeting concerning the future expansion to the family’s estates in Jamaica. His father had invested in the first rail road currently being built out there. It extended the existing line from the capital Kingston to Spanish Town and Brook felt the time had come to purchase some neighbouring land and start growing a crop of bananas and citrus fruit to supplement the income from the sugar cane.

With the new rail road planned the Jamaican hinterland was opening up and produce could be moved down to the port more easily, but first he needed to try and persuade the cautious company directors of the advisability of this plan. He would stay two or three nights at his club, he had told Harriet, and would take the opportunity to buy Christmas presents for Charlie, his father and her. He would also look for something suitable for Una’s large brood as she and her family would be enjoying the festive season on holiday with them at Hunters Hall.

The house was a hive of activity, the bedrooms aired, beds made up and fires lit to ward off any dampness. Cook was busy preparing all the food for such a large number of visitors – Una and Patrick now had seven children – batches of mince pies, four large Christmas puddings, a Christmas fruit cake for the adults and pastry gingerbread men, marzipan angels and an iced chocolate cake for the children.

Although Cook was hot, flustered and spent a lot of time giving endless orders to the overworked kitchen maids, Harriet knew she was actually enjoying the challenge. As a rule, she had only to prepare food for Brook and herself, the staff and an occasional visitor or two. She made clucking noises about all the extra work she had to do but, in reality, she was looking forward to having a house full of children.

‘Mrs Kent has a soft spot for the little ones,’ Harriet remarked, smiling at Brook. ‘In particular Charlie who, when he can escape his nanny, makes his way to the kitchen where she gives him a toffee apple or a cinnamon biscuit or other such treats. The other day, I found her with him on her lap, regaling him with his favourite nursery rhymes, his favourite, needless to say, being “Diddle-diddle dumpling, my son John, Went to Bed with his trousers on …” She substitutes “Charlie” for “John”. Now it sends him into peals of laughter. When she hears Maire searching for him, she hides him behind her chair and swears she hasn’t seen him – a useless fib as the seat of his trousers is usually white with flour after sitting on Cook’s lap.’

Brook, too, spoiled the little boy. Both Harriet and Maire, his nanny, would have liked to have done so but they tried to be less indulgent – not that he seemed in any way spoilt. He simply took it for granted that everyone loved him as he did them.

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