The Old House at Railes: A heartwarming rags to riches Victorian family saga by Mary E. Pearce

Author:Mary E. Pearce [Pearce, Mary E.]
Language: eng
Format: azw3
Tags: historical romance, country living, historical saga, 1800s fiction, love triangle, country life, family sagas, victorian romance, rural romance
Publisher: Wyndham Books (Family Saga)
Published: 2019-05-12T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eight

Martin had been abroad for a month, travelling on the Continent. When he stepped from the train at Chardwell station, almost the first thing he saw was a board with two posters on it. One announced the forthcoming sale of Hainault Mill, the other the sale of Newton Railes. Each property was to be sold by auction, without reserve, unless previously sold by private treaty.

Outside, in the station yard, he hired a fly. But he did not go straight home to Fieldings. Instead he went down into the town to call on Sampson Godwin, formerly his guardian, still his solicitor and close friend.

The following morning, at eleven o’clock, Alec Stevenson was shown into the study at Railes, where Charles Yuart sat writing letters. At Stevenson’s request, the servant was sent with a message to Katharine, asking her to join them there. When she and the two men were seated together, Stevenson explained the reason for his visit.

‘I have asked you to be present, Mrs Yuart, because what I have to say concerns you both, though it may not at first be obvious.’ He then addressed himself to Charles. ‘I have been approached by a certain gentleman who has offered to buy Hainault Mill, together with all its machinery, etc., by private treaty, at a price to be agreed, and to let it to you on a three-year lease, at a rent also to be agreed, so that you may resume operations there and begin normal trading again.’

Yuart stared. He answered curtly.

‘Kind of him, whoever he is, but if he is acquainted with my circumstances, as he surely must be, he will know that I have no money to resume operations, nor any hope of obtaining it at the present time.’

‘The gentleman is aware of that and is willing to advance you the sum of two thousand pounds for the purpose, which sum you will repay when the state of your business enables you to do so.’

‘Who is this gentleman?’ Yuart asked sharply.

‘Before answering that question I must, further, inform you that the same gentleman wishes to buy Newton Railes, together with its contents, and has made a specific offer for it.’

‘Very well. You have informed us. Pray go on.’

‘He offers twenty thousand pounds for the estate, which sum comprises fifteen thousand pounds for the land and five thousand pounds for the house. He will also buy such of the contents as you are obliged to sell, at a figure to be agreed, subject to independent evaluation.’

Charles and Katharine sat silent and still. Stevenson spoke again.

‘It is a very generous offer.’

‘I don’t know that it is,’ Charles said. ‘It is certainly higher than the figure you thought Railes would fetch, which makes me wonder whether your other estimates might also be wrong. If this one anonymous buyer is prepared to pay more than you expected, perhaps there are others who would pay more still. My own feeling is, therefore, that this gentleman should take his chance at auction, along with everyone else.

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