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Authors: Catherine King
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with my sheep, Mrs Collins hasn’t taken on anyone to do Roberts’s work? Who looks after the pony?’
‘I shall see to him after breakfast.’
‘I shall do it,’ he stated.
‘Will you?’ She was hugely grateful to him. ‘Oh thank you, Abel.’
He gave a silent nod in response. She was used to his grave expression now and went on, ‘Why have you brought down the sheep this early in the autumn?’
‘I lost too many of them last year, what with last winter’s snow and then the rock fall. It’s more sheltered here and I can move the lambing ewes to the barn.’
Beth was impressed by his husbandry. ‘Mrs Collins is lucky to have you.’
His mouth gave a small wry twist. ‘If you say so, madam.’
They approached the back door leading to the kitchen. ‘Will you be staying in the farmhouse with us?’
‘I’ll sleep over the stable where Roberts used to live.’ He deposited the milk pail just inside the kitchen door. ‘Would you tell your mother-in-law I shall be in to see her after breakfast?’
‘Of course.’ On impulse she added, ‘You do not have to behave quite so formally towards me, Abel.’
He did not answer her. He gave her a stiff bow, muttered, ‘Excuse me, ma’am,’ and went off in the direction of the barn.
As she washed up the breakfast pots in the scullery, Beth pondered over his choice of words for the message toMrs Collins. She couldn’t imagine anyone ‘telling’ Mrs Collins anything. Rather, she thought it would be the other way around. She finished her chores quickly and went into the kitchen drying her hands.
Mrs Roberts looked up from weighing out bread flour. ‘Abel said to tell you he’ll be seeing to the farmyard from tomorrow morning.’
‘Really? Oh that is a relief. I can barely look after myself now, let alone the livestock.’
‘You’ve got young legs,’ Mrs Roberts muttered. I’ve already told the mistress to expect him.’
Beth collected her cleaning box and a broom to sweep and tidy the dining hall. She did this cheerfully as she no longer thought of herself as Mrs Collins’s servant. High Fell’s farmhouse was a beautiful home and it contained a few pieces of fine, if old-fashioned, furniture. She enjoyed caring for it. Nonetheless, she looked forward to resting her back for half an hour before emptying the chamber pots. Abel was standing by Mrs Collins as she sat at the table. He seemed to tower over her and she looked angry and uncomfortable. As soon as Beth appeared she left her chair and went upstairs.
‘Is Mrs Collins quite well?’ Beth asked.
Abel gave a rare wry smile. ‘I need medications for my sheep and the farm needs supplies so I’m taking the pony and trap down to Settle.’
‘I don’t see why Mrs Collins would be so angry.’
‘Does she need a reason?’
‘Well no, but if there are things I should know …’ Her voice trailed away. It was Abel’s business and not hers.
‘It is no secret. I have arranged for her to recompense me for taking over Roberts’s duties. She does not care to part with any of her money to me.’
Oh, money again. It was all that Mrs Collins thought about apart from her precious son and his inheritance. But Beth did not dwell on it. She had other things on her mind, most of all her lack of confidence in either Mrs Collins or Mrs Roberts to deal with her approaching confinement. Edgar ought to be here making sure she had everything she needed for the birth of his first-born. She said, ‘Would you take a letter to the post for me? It’s for Edgar. He wrote to his mother to tell her he has been staying at Fellwick Hall these past few weeks.’
‘Very well, madam. Have it ready by morning.’
Chapter 6
Edgar returned to High Fell shortly after Michaelmas Day, full of news for his mother of invitations he had received as the acknowledged heir to Redfern. But not, Beth realised as she listened to their conversations in silence, any request to visit the Abbey.
‘Lord Redfern may not receive me
‘I shall see to him after breakfast.’
‘I shall do it,’ he stated.
‘Will you?’ She was hugely grateful to him. ‘Oh thank you, Abel.’
He gave a silent nod in response. She was used to his grave expression now and went on, ‘Why have you brought down the sheep this early in the autumn?’
‘I lost too many of them last year, what with last winter’s snow and then the rock fall. It’s more sheltered here and I can move the lambing ewes to the barn.’
Beth was impressed by his husbandry. ‘Mrs Collins is lucky to have you.’
His mouth gave a small wry twist. ‘If you say so, madam.’
They approached the back door leading to the kitchen. ‘Will you be staying in the farmhouse with us?’
‘I’ll sleep over the stable where Roberts used to live.’ He deposited the milk pail just inside the kitchen door. ‘Would you tell your mother-in-law I shall be in to see her after breakfast?’
‘Of course.’ On impulse she added, ‘You do not have to behave quite so formally towards me, Abel.’
He did not answer her. He gave her a stiff bow, muttered, ‘Excuse me, ma’am,’ and went off in the direction of the barn.
As she washed up the breakfast pots in the scullery, Beth pondered over his choice of words for the message toMrs Collins. She couldn’t imagine anyone ‘telling’ Mrs Collins anything. Rather, she thought it would be the other way around. She finished her chores quickly and went into the kitchen drying her hands.
Mrs Roberts looked up from weighing out bread flour. ‘Abel said to tell you he’ll be seeing to the farmyard from tomorrow morning.’
‘Really? Oh that is a relief. I can barely look after myself now, let alone the livestock.’
‘You’ve got young legs,’ Mrs Roberts muttered. I’ve already told the mistress to expect him.’
Beth collected her cleaning box and a broom to sweep and tidy the dining hall. She did this cheerfully as she no longer thought of herself as Mrs Collins’s servant. High Fell’s farmhouse was a beautiful home and it contained a few pieces of fine, if old-fashioned, furniture. She enjoyed caring for it. Nonetheless, she looked forward to resting her back for half an hour before emptying the chamber pots. Abel was standing by Mrs Collins as she sat at the table. He seemed to tower over her and she looked angry and uncomfortable. As soon as Beth appeared she left her chair and went upstairs.
‘Is Mrs Collins quite well?’ Beth asked.
Abel gave a rare wry smile. ‘I need medications for my sheep and the farm needs supplies so I’m taking the pony and trap down to Settle.’
‘I don’t see why Mrs Collins would be so angry.’
‘Does she need a reason?’
‘Well no, but if there are things I should know …’ Her voice trailed away. It was Abel’s business and not hers.
‘It is no secret. I have arranged for her to recompense me for taking over Roberts’s duties. She does not care to part with any of her money to me.’
Oh, money again. It was all that Mrs Collins thought about apart from her precious son and his inheritance. But Beth did not dwell on it. She had other things on her mind, most of all her lack of confidence in either Mrs Collins or Mrs Roberts to deal with her approaching confinement. Edgar ought to be here making sure she had everything she needed for the birth of his first-born. She said, ‘Would you take a letter to the post for me? It’s for Edgar. He wrote to his mother to tell her he has been staying at Fellwick Hall these past few weeks.’
‘Very well, madam. Have it ready by morning.’
Chapter 6
Edgar returned to High Fell shortly after Michaelmas Day, full of news for his mother of invitations he had received as the acknowledged heir to Redfern. But not, Beth realised as she listened to their conversations in silence, any request to visit the Abbey.
‘Lord Redfern may not receive me
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