university, he had assured Josiah he would finance his grandson’s education himself, and his granddaughter’s too if he was spared long enough. So it did not occur to Josiah that those fees had ceased with the dominie’s death. His own concern was for his housekeeper, Maggie McLauchlan, whom he valued and respected. In spite of Fingal’s reassurance that her home was safe, she had looked exhausted and deeply troubled since her husband had suffered a stroke ten days ago.
Although he was only thirty-two, he had known since he was a boy that his own health was precarious, but he had learned to accept the old doctor’s advice to make the best of each day and he had already survived years longer than had been expected. He had been surprised when his great-uncle, on his mother’s side, had died and left him the small mansion house of Crillion Keep, along with the surrounding land. It was not a large estate, but it gave him a secure living and amply provided for his needs. In the letter his Great-Uncle Cedric had left for him, he had bade him enjoy each day which God might grant him and if it gave him satisfaction to ease the burdens of those who needed help then he must follow his heart. There was one proviso: neither Eliza Ross, nor her offspring, were to benefit from the Crillion estate. The old man had been shrewd enough to assess his stepsister’s avarice, just as he had known of his own yearning for knowledge and his ambition to pass on his learning had he not been thwarted by ill health.
Josiah understood his uncle’s wishes because they both remembered Eliza quarrelling bitterly with his father when she could no longer drain his coffers. Josiah’s own mother had died shortly after his birth. When he was four years old, his father had married a widow with a fourteen-year-old daughter, Eliza. Looking back, he realized she had been jealous of him from the first day she arrived in his home. She had resented the kindness and affection her mother had shown towards him.
As the congregation filed out of the little kirk, Mr Cole caught Mary’s eye and indicated his wish to speak with her outside. Shedrew Janet to one side, reluctant to answer the questions she knew many of the parishioners were longing to ask, and she was thankful Mr Cole did not delay in seeking her out.
‘I see ’tis true, then?’ he greeted her, lifting his bowler hat politely as he reached her and Janet. ‘You’ve left your position at the schoolhouse, Mistress Scott?’
‘Ye-es,’ Mary heard her own voice quaver alarmingly.
‘Well, well,’ Mr Cole was saying, ‘I do believe God has answered my prayers, then. The dominie’s loss will be my gain. As I explained in my letter, my wife is growing increasingly frail. She needs care, help in the house and with the meals, you understand?’ He broke off, frowning at the large, ruddy-faced man who was hovering close by. He was not one of his customers but Cole had seen him in church from time to time. He had a vague recollection that the man lived at the north end of the parish, maybe even in the next parish. There had been some talk about him amongst the elders but this was not the time to dwell on gossip. The tailor turned his attention back to Mary with a questioning glance.
‘Well, would you consider a full-time situation in my home, Mistress Scott?’
‘I would be glad of it, Mr Cole but Janet—’
‘Good, good, I know how neat and correct you are with the ledgers too. I shall be glad of your help with the orders for a few hours each week. You will eat with us but unfortunately I can only offer you the small room at the back for your accommodation….’ He looked towards Janet apologetically. ‘Your daughter will be staying at the schoolhouse, no doubt, and—’
‘No!’ Janet was almost as surprised as Mr Cole when the words burst from her of their own accord. ‘No,’ Janet repeated, ‘I do not want to attend the dominie’s school.’
‘I see. But….’ A look of
Although he was only thirty-two, he had known since he was a boy that his own health was precarious, but he had learned to accept the old doctor’s advice to make the best of each day and he had already survived years longer than had been expected. He had been surprised when his great-uncle, on his mother’s side, had died and left him the small mansion house of Crillion Keep, along with the surrounding land. It was not a large estate, but it gave him a secure living and amply provided for his needs. In the letter his Great-Uncle Cedric had left for him, he had bade him enjoy each day which God might grant him and if it gave him satisfaction to ease the burdens of those who needed help then he must follow his heart. There was one proviso: neither Eliza Ross, nor her offspring, were to benefit from the Crillion estate. The old man had been shrewd enough to assess his stepsister’s avarice, just as he had known of his own yearning for knowledge and his ambition to pass on his learning had he not been thwarted by ill health.
Josiah understood his uncle’s wishes because they both remembered Eliza quarrelling bitterly with his father when she could no longer drain his coffers. Josiah’s own mother had died shortly after his birth. When he was four years old, his father had married a widow with a fourteen-year-old daughter, Eliza. Looking back, he realized she had been jealous of him from the first day she arrived in his home. She had resented the kindness and affection her mother had shown towards him.
As the congregation filed out of the little kirk, Mr Cole caught Mary’s eye and indicated his wish to speak with her outside. Shedrew Janet to one side, reluctant to answer the questions she knew many of the parishioners were longing to ask, and she was thankful Mr Cole did not delay in seeking her out.
‘I see ’tis true, then?’ he greeted her, lifting his bowler hat politely as he reached her and Janet. ‘You’ve left your position at the schoolhouse, Mistress Scott?’
‘Ye-es,’ Mary heard her own voice quaver alarmingly.
‘Well, well,’ Mr Cole was saying, ‘I do believe God has answered my prayers, then. The dominie’s loss will be my gain. As I explained in my letter, my wife is growing increasingly frail. She needs care, help in the house and with the meals, you understand?’ He broke off, frowning at the large, ruddy-faced man who was hovering close by. He was not one of his customers but Cole had seen him in church from time to time. He had a vague recollection that the man lived at the north end of the parish, maybe even in the next parish. There had been some talk about him amongst the elders but this was not the time to dwell on gossip. The tailor turned his attention back to Mary with a questioning glance.
‘Well, would you consider a full-time situation in my home, Mistress Scott?’
‘I would be glad of it, Mr Cole but Janet—’
‘Good, good, I know how neat and correct you are with the ledgers too. I shall be glad of your help with the orders for a few hours each week. You will eat with us but unfortunately I can only offer you the small room at the back for your accommodation….’ He looked towards Janet apologetically. ‘Your daughter will be staying at the schoolhouse, no doubt, and—’
‘No!’ Janet was almost as surprised as Mr Cole when the words burst from her of their own accord. ‘No,’ Janet repeated, ‘I do not want to attend the dominie’s school.’
‘I see. But….’ A look of
Similar Books
