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Authors: Audrey Howard
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please . . .’ Charlotte’s face twisted in her agony for her brothers but particularly for her little brother who was still a baby in many ways. Without her he would not survive the rigours of a public school; away from home, even one such as this, he would not . . .
‘The answer is in your hands, Charlotte. There is a school, a decent school near York where the older boys could go and which, of course, is within easy travelling distance. You and your Mr Armstrong could get over there in a day, or have the boys to stay with you at King’s Meadow. I doubt they would wish to stay here with myself and my wife but they would be quite welcome if they did. I also wondered if Mr Armstrong would be willing to have Robert to live with you at his home, after you are married I mean, since you seem to think he would not be able to cope with boarding school. There is a very good grammar school in Dewsbury, I believe. He seems very eager to have you for his wife so I’m sure he would be agreeable to this plan. If not, or if you feel you cannot bring yourself to marry this very rich, very pleasant gentleman then you must make your own arrangements for your future. I believe there is always a need for governesses. Of course, the boys will still be sent to boarding school, all of them.’
There was a long silence, a silence heavy with the threat of a strong man who would have his way whatever the consequences to others. At one fell stroke he was to rid himself of his family, at least the housing of them. He was willing to pay for an expensive education for them; after all he was, or would be, well able to afford it and besides, his friends would not comment on it adversely since it was entirely proper to send older boys to public school. Most families of his class did. And it was quite understandable that a newly married man would want to have his bride to himself. Further, what could be more natural than to have his daughter, who was of marriageable age, wed to a man of means and property, a man with a good name?
He sat down behind his desk, reached out and took a cigar from the box, put it to his lips and lit it, blowing smoke up to the ceiling. He smiled. Charlotte watched him and her eyes glittered with such contempt, such hatred, such loathing even, that another man might have looked away in shame. But Arthur Drummond was no ordinary man as his behaviour towards his children, especially his daughter, in the past had shown. He was a dark, perverted man and for a strange moment Charlotte felt sorry for the woman who was to be his wife. She had no idea what kind of man she was to marry but then what was that to her, now !
Charlotte turned on her heel and walked towards the door, her head held high, her shoulders squared, her back straight. She opened the door and without another word walked through and up the passage to the hallway. Kizzie was standing at the top of the stairs waiting for her. Kizzie had bathed her face earlier, her own wet with tears, no word spoken, at least not between them though Kizzie had had enough to say in the kitchen.
‘Lass?’ she questioned, putting out a hand then withdrawing it as Charlotte walked past her. Later Charlotte would break down and cry in her arms but at that moment she was caught in an icy world from which she could not escape.
‘I’m all right, Kizzie. I’ll have a cup of tea.’
‘Let me bring tha’ summat ter eat. Tha’ve ’ad nowt since—’
‘No, please, just a cup of tea and then I must go and see the boys. Is Miss Price with them?’
‘Aye.’
‘Well, I shall send her away for I must talk to them. I believe I shall have the power to do that now, Kizzie, at least for a while. It really is quite amazing . . .’
‘What is, chuck? ’Asta got summat—’
‘It seems I am to be married, Kizzie, and very soon.’
‘Lovey . . .’ Kizzie’s voice was no more than a whisper.
‘So you see I must go and talk with my brothers. I’d be obliged if you
‘The answer is in your hands, Charlotte. There is a school, a decent school near York where the older boys could go and which, of course, is within easy travelling distance. You and your Mr Armstrong could get over there in a day, or have the boys to stay with you at King’s Meadow. I doubt they would wish to stay here with myself and my wife but they would be quite welcome if they did. I also wondered if Mr Armstrong would be willing to have Robert to live with you at his home, after you are married I mean, since you seem to think he would not be able to cope with boarding school. There is a very good grammar school in Dewsbury, I believe. He seems very eager to have you for his wife so I’m sure he would be agreeable to this plan. If not, or if you feel you cannot bring yourself to marry this very rich, very pleasant gentleman then you must make your own arrangements for your future. I believe there is always a need for governesses. Of course, the boys will still be sent to boarding school, all of them.’
There was a long silence, a silence heavy with the threat of a strong man who would have his way whatever the consequences to others. At one fell stroke he was to rid himself of his family, at least the housing of them. He was willing to pay for an expensive education for them; after all he was, or would be, well able to afford it and besides, his friends would not comment on it adversely since it was entirely proper to send older boys to public school. Most families of his class did. And it was quite understandable that a newly married man would want to have his bride to himself. Further, what could be more natural than to have his daughter, who was of marriageable age, wed to a man of means and property, a man with a good name?
He sat down behind his desk, reached out and took a cigar from the box, put it to his lips and lit it, blowing smoke up to the ceiling. He smiled. Charlotte watched him and her eyes glittered with such contempt, such hatred, such loathing even, that another man might have looked away in shame. But Arthur Drummond was no ordinary man as his behaviour towards his children, especially his daughter, in the past had shown. He was a dark, perverted man and for a strange moment Charlotte felt sorry for the woman who was to be his wife. She had no idea what kind of man she was to marry but then what was that to her, now !
Charlotte turned on her heel and walked towards the door, her head held high, her shoulders squared, her back straight. She opened the door and without another word walked through and up the passage to the hallway. Kizzie was standing at the top of the stairs waiting for her. Kizzie had bathed her face earlier, her own wet with tears, no word spoken, at least not between them though Kizzie had had enough to say in the kitchen.
‘Lass?’ she questioned, putting out a hand then withdrawing it as Charlotte walked past her. Later Charlotte would break down and cry in her arms but at that moment she was caught in an icy world from which she could not escape.
‘I’m all right, Kizzie. I’ll have a cup of tea.’
‘Let me bring tha’ summat ter eat. Tha’ve ’ad nowt since—’
‘No, please, just a cup of tea and then I must go and see the boys. Is Miss Price with them?’
‘Aye.’
‘Well, I shall send her away for I must talk to them. I believe I shall have the power to do that now, Kizzie, at least for a while. It really is quite amazing . . .’
‘What is, chuck? ’Asta got summat—’
‘It seems I am to be married, Kizzie, and very soon.’
‘Lovey . . .’ Kizzie’s voice was no more than a whisper.
‘So you see I must go and talk with my brothers. I’d be obliged if you
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