Read Online Parthena's Promise by Valerie Holmes - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Valerie Holmes
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it. I have no notion why it should have been placed in the attic. I would have my clothes back where they belong. Be assured, Mrs Hubbart, of course I will speak to my cousin. Let me know as soon as he returns. I would like to surprise him.” She forced a smile.
“Thank you, Miss Munro… Miss, are you feeling well?”
“Why ever do you ask?” Thena looked at the puzzled expression upon the maid’s face.
“Sorry, miss, you just seem… different in some way.”
Thena was shaking herself out of her thoughts as the woman smiled and quickly added, “Well everything changes in time and everything is.” She shrugged her shoulders and Thena watched her run up the stairs as quickly as her feet would allow her to.
Breathing out slowly, Thena walked into the library remembering times spent with her father fondly, and then looked to the adjacent door of his study. If Bertram was not to return till noon there was an hour clear. She entered through the large doorway and stared at the polished walnut desk. It had papers scattered all over it. Her father would turn in his grave at the mess. He had always left everything orderly – always.
She glanced out of the window to see if there was any sign of Bertram returning, but there was not. Curiously, rather than guiltily, she opened a large folder that was on his desk and read the documents that were to hand, glancing quickly over accounts, bills and tenancies.
Looking at the plans that had been drawn, she began to understand the gravity of the scheme Bertram was set on. It seemed he was planning on selling off everything. There was a drawing of the river with the buildings redrawn. It was then that she realised that these new buildings were of a mill and crammed in accommodation for workers. He planned on destroying the Hall, the farms, and consequently the whole village would change.
Another drawing outlined the row of slightly grander terraced housing that would face the village square. They would not fit in with the natural scheme of things at all. It was a lot to take in. If Bertram had his way, this village that had survived the plague and gone on to prosper for centuries was about to become another mill town. There would be nothing peaceful left about it and the house staff would find work, but it would be in a noisy, dusty factory. She must tell Jerome and stop this. How, she did not know, but what of the legacy that went with the land? Perhaps it would have some clause within it that could be used. She put the papers and drawings back as she found them.
She knew that she needed to leave, and in desperation she looked through the desk drawers, but found no more information concerning the will, or the estate; but now she knew at least why he wanted free rein to do as he pleased. Bertram had plans, big plans, but she had a weapon that he knew nothing about and that was Mr Jerome Fender. With that surprisingly pleasant thought she quickly made her way up to her old room. It was very much as she had left it. Hubbart had lit the fire. She could almost believe that time had gone back and her home was hers once more, but time never did that. Her father had said it to her many a time, that time can be a good friend or a heavy enemy, it depended how you used it. They had stood before the grandfather clock in the hallway. It hadn’t worked for years, but he had told her he used time well for it was his friend. She loved his fanciful side, but like the clock his had stopped too soon.
Thena prepared herself to welcome her cousin. He was about to learn that it was not so easy to rid himself of her. Then she had another thought. If her father had left a will and her cousin had hidden, or destroyed it, then perhaps it stood in the way of what he had planned for the estate. In which case, they had a lot to prove, in very little time.
*
Jerome arrived in the village of Leaham, after following the chaise to the estate, knowing that Thena should have arrived safely at Leaham Hall.
“Thank you, Miss Munro… Miss, are you feeling well?”
“Why ever do you ask?” Thena looked at the puzzled expression upon the maid’s face.
“Sorry, miss, you just seem… different in some way.”
Thena was shaking herself out of her thoughts as the woman smiled and quickly added, “Well everything changes in time and everything is.” She shrugged her shoulders and Thena watched her run up the stairs as quickly as her feet would allow her to.
Breathing out slowly, Thena walked into the library remembering times spent with her father fondly, and then looked to the adjacent door of his study. If Bertram was not to return till noon there was an hour clear. She entered through the large doorway and stared at the polished walnut desk. It had papers scattered all over it. Her father would turn in his grave at the mess. He had always left everything orderly – always.
She glanced out of the window to see if there was any sign of Bertram returning, but there was not. Curiously, rather than guiltily, she opened a large folder that was on his desk and read the documents that were to hand, glancing quickly over accounts, bills and tenancies.
Looking at the plans that had been drawn, she began to understand the gravity of the scheme Bertram was set on. It seemed he was planning on selling off everything. There was a drawing of the river with the buildings redrawn. It was then that she realised that these new buildings were of a mill and crammed in accommodation for workers. He planned on destroying the Hall, the farms, and consequently the whole village would change.
Another drawing outlined the row of slightly grander terraced housing that would face the village square. They would not fit in with the natural scheme of things at all. It was a lot to take in. If Bertram had his way, this village that had survived the plague and gone on to prosper for centuries was about to become another mill town. There would be nothing peaceful left about it and the house staff would find work, but it would be in a noisy, dusty factory. She must tell Jerome and stop this. How, she did not know, but what of the legacy that went with the land? Perhaps it would have some clause within it that could be used. She put the papers and drawings back as she found them.
She knew that she needed to leave, and in desperation she looked through the desk drawers, but found no more information concerning the will, or the estate; but now she knew at least why he wanted free rein to do as he pleased. Bertram had plans, big plans, but she had a weapon that he knew nothing about and that was Mr Jerome Fender. With that surprisingly pleasant thought she quickly made her way up to her old room. It was very much as she had left it. Hubbart had lit the fire. She could almost believe that time had gone back and her home was hers once more, but time never did that. Her father had said it to her many a time, that time can be a good friend or a heavy enemy, it depended how you used it. They had stood before the grandfather clock in the hallway. It hadn’t worked for years, but he had told her he used time well for it was his friend. She loved his fanciful side, but like the clock his had stopped too soon.
Thena prepared herself to welcome her cousin. He was about to learn that it was not so easy to rid himself of her. Then she had another thought. If her father had left a will and her cousin had hidden, or destroyed it, then perhaps it stood in the way of what he had planned for the estate. In which case, they had a lot to prove, in very little time.
*
Jerome arrived in the village of Leaham, after following the chaise to the estate, knowing that Thena should have arrived safely at Leaham Hall.
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