The Fugitive Queen by Fiona Buckley

Author:Fiona Buckley
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Scribner

14

Captive Bird

I parted Clem from his mother by calling Sybil and asking Cecily to advise her on a local supplier for some new wall hangings. Then I fetched Pen and let her ask Clem a few questions herself. It was the kind of thing she needed to learn.

She pleased me. The young are adaptable and willy-nilly, Pen, who had hated Tyesdale so much to begin with, was now developing the feelings of an owner. She asked sensible things, such as what Clem, as steward, would do if this or that should happen and what kinds of decisions he would be prepared to take on his own responsibility.

Clem in turn made sensible replies. In his mother’s presence, both he and his brother seemed tongue-tied but probably they just couldn’t be bothered to shout for a hearing. Away from Cecily, Clem was both forthcoming and shrewd. Of his own accord, he remarked that he’d see that old plows weren’t left rusting in the fields. “Did tha know there was one in t’barley field? That field’s due to be left fallow next year and have cattle grazing in’t. They’ll fall over that old plow and hurt theirselves.”

“You mean it’s still there?” I said. “I told Whitely to have it removed.”

“I saw’t on t’way in,” said Clem simply. “And if t’coffers’ll run to’t, I’d have that moat drained and refilled and stocked with fish. I saw a pair o’ ducks there as we came in. No reason why you shouldn’t have ducks in plenty and duckling for dinner whenever you fancy, but t’moat’s too dirty as it is. There’s a stream feeds it that’s choked with weed and wants clearing but likely thee’d have to hire men in for t’job.”

I exchanged small nods with Pen. After that, it was only a matter of settling when Clem should come. He wanted to go home, put his belongings together, and talk to his betrothed. “I can settle a date for t’wedding now. Peter’ll be pleased. He’s got a fancy for us two to get wed on t’same day. No reason why I shouldn’t move in here beforehand, though. I can come in a week if that suits.”

We all shook hands on the bargain. I went to tell Cecily and when she and Clem had gone, I explained to Pen that although one day dismissing unsatisfactory servants was another thing she must be prepared to face, I thought I’d better deal with Whitely on her behalf. Then I went to give that gentleman his marching orders. I sent Tobias out of earshot, saying that a domestic matter had delayed our departure for Bolton, and asking him to take Mary Seton for a walk outdoors. I also asked both Sybil and Brockley to attend me at the interview. At home I could have dealt with Whitely alone, but in the north I was permanently nervous.

It was unpleasant. Whitely first of all stared at me in disbelief, and then embarked on a stream of self-justification. He had been left to carry Tyesdale on his own for years on end.

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