CHAPTER TWO

Mr Lowe received Lord Reculver’s indecisive letter a week later and wrote to Anna, saying, Reading between the lines, I suspect he’d like to take up our offer of a valuation but something is stopping him doing it. However, he hasn’t said no – so with your agreement I’ll give it another week, then write again .

Anna replied to the effect that she was content for him to deal with the matter as he saw fit. In truth, she wasn’t content – she was impatient. Surely, either his lordship wanted to sell or he didn’t? She tried to work out how old he must be. She’d been twelve when she met him and he’d seemed old to her; but he probably hadn’t been much older than Mama was now … somewhere in his mid-fifties … so, eleven years on, he wasn’t exactly senile, was he? Or perhaps he was delaying in order to find out exactly how interested Hawthorne’s was in acquiring the collection, thus enabling him to calculate how high he could drive the price?

A faint smile lit Anna’s face. If it was that, he had a surprise coming. She hadn’t broached the matter with Mr Lowe yet … but if things got as far as a valuation, she intended to do it herself. Thanks to Papa’s tuition, there was no one at the manufactory who could assess quality better than she could; and no one, she suspected, who would drive a harder bargain.

Of course, if she did do the valuation, it would mean spending a day or two at Lord Reculver’s home near Gloucester … but if she took her maid with her and perhaps a female assistant from the manufactory, it would be perfectly proper. Needless to say, there would be the usual tedious argument with Mama over it but Anna wouldn’t let that stop her. She intended to play an active role at Hawthorne’s and the sooner Mama came to terms with it, the better.

***

At Reculver Court, a few days after he’d written to Mr Lowe, Daniel learned that his mother had taken all the scent bottles and snuff boxes out of the cabinets and was painstakingly cleaning them with her own hands. This, he decided, could be interpreted in two ways. But at least it proved that she wasn’t merely ignoring the matter until it went away which meant he could continue hoping for the best.

By the time the second letter came from Mr Lowe, Rebecca was able to tell him that the collection was gradually being put back where it came from.

‘To be fair,’ she said, ‘while Mama was cleaning the pieces, they’d been occupying every available surface in both her sitting-room and bedroom – so she needed to put them away before something got damaged. And the cabinets were her only option.’

‘You’re saying that it isn’t necessarily bad news,’ remarked Daniel. ‘But neither is it the other sort. Has she said anything to you?’

‘No. You?’

‘Obviously not. But I’ve had another enquiry from Hawthorne’s so I’ll have to raise the subject with her again.’ He slouched back in his chair. ‘I sent samples of the Sèvres dinner service to Mason’s in Cheltenham. They’ve offered a hundred and fifty pounds for it – less than half what it’s worth, I suspect – but better than nothing.’

‘So you’ll take it?’

‘Yes.’

‘And the scent bottles?’

He shrugged. ‘I have absolutely no idea what Hawthorne’s might offer for those. I found an old receipt regarding one Father bought six years ago which cost ten pounds fifteen shillings. If they’re not worth less than he paid … well.’

‘A hundred at ten pounds each?’ breathed Rebecca. ‘ Really? ’

‘Perhaps.’

‘Surely that will sway Mama?’

‘We can but hope,’ he said, preparing to leave the room. And then, recalling something, ‘By the way, Kit writes that Sophie says she’ll join Drusilla Colwich in sponsoring your come out if and when it happens. But he won’t let her commit to anything until after the baby is born – which will be in late August, they think.’

Rebecca flushed a little. ‘Considering Lady Hazelmere has never even met me, that is remarkably generous of her. You have very, very good friends, Daniel.’

‘Yes,’ he agreed, once more heading for the door. ‘The best.’

Anthony had visited three times since the day Father’s will had been read. He’d toured the estate with Daniel and been a mine of useful, highly practical advice on how to improve matters. Some of this – namely, those parts not requiring capital – Daniel had managed to implement.

Benedict, having been once more sent north of the border by his brother, hadn’t managed a return visit yet but promised to come as soon as he could.

Christian, reluctant to spend much time away from home while Sophia was increasing, had been only once – and that well in the wake of his letter admitting what he’d done regarding the debt to Fleetwood’s. But he wrote regularly and continued to offer further help if only Daniel would accept it – or if the situation reached crisis point.

Now, on his way to Mama’s rooms with the possibility of a thousand pounds dancing in his head, Daniel was hoping crisis point might be averted a while longer.

A single glance was all it took to tell him that all the Hawthorne pieces were back on their shelves. Then Lady Reculver looked up from the letter she was writing and said, ‘Do we really need to sell my scent bottles, Daniel?’

‘Yes. If Hawthorne’s offer a good enough price, I’m afraid we do.’

‘And the snuff boxes?’

He nodded. ‘Those, too. I know you don’t like it, Mama. In truth, I’m not happy about it either. But there’s little choice. Since Father’s death, we’ve been a hairsbreadth from ruin. And though I hesitate to say it, if he’d lived … it might already have happened.’

She flinched and looked away. But finally, she drew a long, clearly painful breath and said, ‘Very well. Do what you must.’

‘Thank you.’

‘Will they – will the pottery people send someone to fetch them?’

‘Not to begin with. Someone will come to value them and make sure none of the pieces are missing or damaged.’

‘They are not,’ she said indignantly. ‘I have always taken the greatest care of them!’

‘Of course. But Hawthorne’s won’t make an offer until they’ve seen the goods.’ He hesitated, unsure how much to tell her or to promise. ‘Even if they’re worth no more than Father paid for them, they could still bring in a substantial sum of money.’

‘And if they are not?’

God , thought Daniel, please let that not be the case. Give me just one bit of good luck .

‘Let’s just hope for the best, shall we?’

Later, glancing at Lowe’s letter whilst preparing to reply to it, he suddenly realised that the fellow hadn’t expressed his condolences. Was it possible he didn’t know that Father was dead? No. Surely not. Anyone meticulous enough to comb through twenty-six years’ worth of ledgers to catalogue every piece Lord Reculver had purchased would presumably keep an eye on the obituaries in the Morning Chronicle so he’d know if his regular clients were still alive or not. On the other hand, perhaps he’d risen to the position of manager in the three years since Father had stopped buying. And it scarcely mattered, did it? Shrugging the thought aside, Daniel picked up his pen and gave Mr Lowe permission to send someone to examine and value the collection.

Though whether or not I decide to sell , he added, will naturally depend on your offer .

Then he signed, folded and sealed it and gave it to the butler for posting.

***

Whilst unenthusiastically ordering new gowns for her visit to the Anstruther house-party, Anna waited impatiently for news from Mr Lowe. And when it finally came, she called for the carriage and went immediately to the manufactory to discuss the next steps with him in person.

‘His lordship is definitely prepared to sell?’ she asked.

‘Subject to our offer, he says.’

‘Understandable.’ She took her usual chair and sat facing him across his desk. ‘Do you have some thoughts on that?’

‘Yes. Lord Reculver’s earliest purchases retailed at around eight pounds and the more recent ones, between ten and eleven. I’ve made a list of which pieces he bought and how much he paid for each one.’

‘Excellent. And their current value?’

‘As a general rule of thumb?’

‘Yes.’

‘Well, then. Limited edition pieces hardly ever come up for resale, so the ones that do go for as much – or sometimes a bit more – as half again of the original price,’ said the manager. Then, with a slight shrug, ‘But that is at auction with more than one interested party bidding. Our case is different.’

‘Quite. So we start below that. Thirteen for a piece that cost ten?’

He thought about it and finally said, ‘I’d start a bit lower. Say twelve pounds? Then, as necessary, increase in ten shilling increments … but drawing the line at anything beyond fifteen.’

‘That’s reasonable,’ nodded Anna. Then, in response to his expression, ‘There is something you wish to say?’

‘Something I feel I should say, Miss Anna.’

‘Then do so.’

‘Even buying back the pieces at their original prices will be a significant investment. Buying them at up to half as much again …’ He paused. ‘Well, there’s no need for me to spell out the figures. I’m sure you’ve already thought of them.’

‘I have. But, in addition to acquiring the Reculver collection for our exhibition, I would also be buying examples of my father’s finest work.’ She smiled suddenly, a rare smile that few people ever saw. ‘That may be a sentimental reason rather than good business sense – but, to me, it’s an added inducement. Sufficient, in fact, to persuade me to support the cost of the acquisition personally.’

Mr Lowe’s brows soared. ‘You – you’d buy the collection yourself? ’

‘That’s what I said.’

‘That is extremely generous. Are you quite sure?’

‘Perfectly. But I’ll want something in return.’ The smile faded and she continued to hold his gaze. ‘I want to conduct the valuation myself.’

If her offer had surprised him, this made him glad he was sitting down.

He said, ‘May I ask why?’

‘Because I know I could do it – and, if you’re honest, you know it, too.’

‘Well, yes. But –’

‘Please don’t tell me it would be inappropriate or anything else my mother will undoubtedly say. I want to play a more active role in the company and this is one way for me to do so. I can judge quality and condition and you have told me what I need to know regarding price. But I have another advantage over anyone you might send from the manufactory. It will have to be done in Lord Reculver’s own home and will take more than a day, which means briefly being his lordship’s guest.’ She paused to let the words sink in. Then she said, ‘I mixed with the aristocracy in London. I know how they behave and how many of them think – which gives me an advantage.’

‘I daresay it does,’ agreed Mr Lowe uneasily. ‘But won’t his lordship find it somewhat … irregular? An unmarried young lady arriving to conduct a matter of business with him?’

‘Not when that young lady’s name is Hawthorne,’ replied Anna flatly. ‘And it will all be tediously proper, I assure you. I shall take my maid so that Mama doesn’t have an apoplexy. And I would also like to take a senior female employee – Sarah Thompson, perhaps – ostensibly to assist me but, in reality, for the look of the thing.’

Mr Lowe knew he probably ought to nip this idea in the bud but doubted his ability to do so. There was a certain amount of logic to what she said; as for her ability to conduct the valuation as well, if not better, than anyone other than himself, he couldn’t dispute that. Despite his wife’s opposition, Oliver Hawthorne had managed to teach his daughter as thoroughly as he would have done a son. And the manager had no doubt that if Anna had been a son, she’d be sitting in his own chair right now. So he put his misgivings to one side and said, ‘When do you want to go?’

‘As soon as possible. I’m committed to ten days in Suffolk next month. So any time in the next two weeks would be best if it suits Lord Reculver’s convenience.’

He nodded. ‘And am I to tell his lordship that the valuer will be yourself?’

‘In some respects, that might be best,’ she conceded. ‘But I’d sooner not give him the chance to delay things by raising objections … so I think we’ll present him with a fait accompli .’ Rising, she shook out her skirts, then held out her hand. ‘I leave the arrangements to you, Nathaniel. Let me know when they are in place.’

***

Mr Lowe wrote asking if the following week would suit Lord Reculver’s convenience. His lordship replied that it would. Mr Lowe then told him to expect Hawthorne’s senior valuer together with an assistant by mid-afternoon, Monday next. Daniel saw little need to reply – so he didn’t. Instead, he went to communicate the news to his mother and sister.

‘I can’t imagine they’ll be here more than a couple of days,’ he said. ‘But we’ll need to arrange bedchambers for them, Mama.’

‘I’ll see to that,’ said Rebecca quickly. ‘Two of the guest rooms in the east wing can be made habitable quickest. They haven’t been used in a while so it’s just as well we have a few days’ grace for cleaning and airing.’

Daniel smiled his thanks at her and then, looking back at their mother, ‘It will also be necessary to move the collection from here to –’

‘No!’ said her ladyship forcefully. ‘I’ll give it up when I must and not before.’

‘Mama … they can’t examine and catalogue the wares here in your sitting-room. You don’t want them underfoot. They will need space to set the pieces out and separate those they’ve looked at from those they haven’t. Since we never use the formal dining-room, I thought they might as well work there where they’ll be out of everyone’s way – unless you have some objection?’

She shrugged apathetically. ‘No. I suppose not.’

Reaching over to take her mother’s hand, Rebecca said, ‘I know it’s horrid, Mama, and I feel for you – truly, I do. But Daniel wouldn’t be doing this if he had any other choice. Unfortunately, he doesn’t. Surely you can see that?’

There was a long silence. Then, on a heavy sigh, Lady Reculver said, ‘Yes.’ And to Daniel, ‘Take them away, then. Do it tomorrow while Becky and I are at church so I don’t have to watch them disappearing. And now you may both leave me to enjoy your father’s gifts while I still have them.’

Once outside the door, Rebecca said, ‘Well … that might have been worse, I suppose.’

‘Might it?’

‘Yes. At least she didn’t change her mind.’

‘No. She just made me feel as if I’d killed her cat.’

She gave a tiny choke of laughter. ‘That’s absurd!’

‘Is it?’ He dragged a hand over his face. ‘She blames me, Becky. And if she blames me now , what will she be like once those cabinets are empty?’

‘She’ll get over it. What else can she do?’ She gave his arm a squeeze and said, ‘Cheer up, Dan. At least I’m on your side.’

‘I know – and I’m grateful. All this would be even harder if you weren’t.’

Rebecca fell silent, wistfully wondering if her brother would ever be quite the same light-hearted man he’d been before. Since Papa’s death, he didn’t joke any more and rarely laughed either. Instead, he’d grown progressively quieter and more serious.

He looks perpetually tired , she thought. And older .

She said tentatively, ‘After the people from Hawthorne’s have been, why don’t you go away for a few days? It would do you good. And if all goes as we hope with the scent bottles you’ll be able to relax a little, won’t you?’

Daniel pressed his lips together to stop himself telling her just how badly he wanted to get away. Away from the suffocating atmosphere in the house and the seemingly endless problems on the estate. Away from the crushing weight of worry that lived permanently inside him. In the months since Father’s death it seemed that scarcely a day had gone by without something needing mending or patching up, all of it done on a shoestring and none of it a permanent solution. And then there was the knowledge that the only thing saving him from disaster had been Kit paying off the loan to Fleetwood’s when he had. But Daniel never forgot for a second that the debt existed, that he still couldn’t repay it – and that it was now owed to his oldest friend. As to the scent bottles, he didn’t dare rely on them and wished Rebecca wouldn’t either.

Finally, as lightly as he was able, he said, ‘Perhaps. After we have the results of the valuation and if nothing dire happens in the meantime … and if Mama doesn’t baulk at the idea … I’ll think about it. But first things first.’ As usual .

***

Anna waited until Mr Lowe notified her of the dates set with Lord Reculver before informing her mother of her intentions. As expected, she conjured up a storm.

‘ What? You’re going to do what? ’ gasped Mrs Hawthorne, horrified. ‘Are you mad? You can’t possibly go and stay in a gentleman’s home – and one, moreover, with whom you’re not remotely acquainted. It isn’t decent. Your reputation will be utterly destroyed!’

‘No, it won’t. Ruth will go with me and also one of the women from the – ’

‘Your maid and a – a working-class female? You think that makes it any better? It doesn’t. And as if all that wasn’t quite bad enough, you will be working as well – for all the world like a common employee or a tradesperson.’

‘Not quite, Mama. I’ll be Miss Hawthorne of Hawthorne’s Porcelain.’

‘That’s not what Lord Reculver will see. He’ll judge you by the company you keep and the fact you’re doing a job . Under those circumstances, the last thing he’ll see is a lady .’

Anna managed to refrain from asking what was so terrible about that. Instead, she said calmly, ‘Whether he does or not, his lordship is a gentleman . What’s more, he must be at least sixty years old, he’s been a client of Hawthorne’s for over two decades and – since he’s preparing to sell a collection gathered over all that time – financially embarrassed.’

‘Be that as it may, it is no reason for you to take a personal role in the matter. I am appalled, Anna! If this gets out, how are you ever to make a suitable match?’

‘Since the only reason Lord Reculver is considering selling to us rather than going to auction is because he doesn’t want the world knowing his business, there is no reason why it should get out, as you put it,’ retorted Anna, fast losing patience. ‘And as far as my marriage prospects go, any husband of mine – should there ever be one – will need to accept that Hawthorne’s is part of my life and destined to remain so.’ She stood up and, when her mother opened her mouth on what was undoubtedly further argument, said, ‘Enough, Mama. I am going to Reculver Court the day after tomorrow and that is final.’

***

As soon as the house was behind her and the carriage turned on to the road, Anna experienced a sudden feeling of exhilaration. She’d done it. She had escaped the confines of her usual life, even if only for a few days. And who knew? Perhaps this was just the beginning.

Ruth, her maid, occupied the backward facing seat and gazed through the window in silence. At an inn on the outskirts of Worcester, they stopped to collect Mrs Thompson – a pleasant-looking widow of around forty and one of Hawthorne’s most gifted painters. She settled beside Ruth and, while her valise was strapped on, said, ‘I’d like to thank you for this opportunity, Miss Hawthorne. It’s been a good while since I travelled more than a couple of miles from home … not to mention having the chance to see such a rare collection as his lordship has.’’

‘Mr Lowe gave you his lists?’

‘He did, Miss. They’re in my bag. I reckon they’ll be useful for ticking off the pieces as we see them and maybe adding a mark regarding condition.’

Anna nodded but said, ‘It may be best to make our own lists for that along with an initial suggestion as to value. But we can decide on that once the task is in front of us.’

Conversation after that was minimal and Anna was glad since it gave her an opportunity to consider something she’d said to her mother.

Any husband of mine will need to accept that Hawthorne’s is part of my life and destined to remain so.

After her semi-disastrous London season, she had largely given up on the idea of marriage. In the first place, she had never met a gentleman she had really liked , let alone one with whom she could imagine any kind of future. And, more importantly, she suspected that a husband’s opinions on her involvement with Hawthorne’s would be much the same as Mama’s. The only difference would be that a husband could enforce his will on her more successfully than Mama could.

Now, for the first time, she took a moment to question that assumption. Because, while it was true that most gentlemen probably shared her mother’s rigid views on how a lady ought to behave and what a wife should or should not do … surely there must be some who did not? Men with a more modern outlook and an open mind?

In theory at least, Anna supposed that one of those might be a better alternative to spinsterhood and a life with Mama. But where to find one? she asked herself with wry amusement. Does the species actually exist? Or might I as well go hunting for unicorns?

***

By the time the carriage turned into the drive of Reculver Court, it was a quarter before four and all three travellers were extremely grateful to reach journey’s end.

The butler opened the carriage door and let down the steps … then froze, his eyes travelling to each of their faces in turn before settling on Anna’s. He said, ‘Pardon me, ma’am. But perhaps there is some mistake? We are expecting two gentle—’ He broke off and tried again. ‘That is to say —’

‘You are expecting the senior valuer from Hawthorne’s Porcelain,’ cut in Anna, extending her hand in a manner which had him automatically offering his arm so she could alight. ‘I am she. My assistant, Mrs Thompson and Jenkins, my maid. And you are?’

‘Flynn, ma’am. Lord Reculver’s butler.’ Clearly unsure of his ground, he helped the other women down and told the solitary footman on the steps behind him to take the luggage to the east wing. Then, once more to Anna and leading the way inside, ‘Please follow me, ma’am. I will summon the housekeeper to show you to your rooms. And if I may have your card, I will apprise his lordship of your arrival.’

Stripping off her gloves and mentally kicking herself for not having anticipated the need for a card, Anna said firmly, ‘It would be best if I first made his lordship’s acquaintance – since, if you were expecting a man, presumably so was he. Is he available?’

‘I will ascertain, ma’am. But who shall I say – ?’

He stopped as a pleasant voice from above called, ‘Did I hear a carriage, Flynn?’

A tall, auburn-haired gentleman ran down to the turn of the stairs … before coming to an abrupt halt on the half-landing and staring at the trio of women below him.

He wasn’t the only one who froze. Anna did, too.

She had seen this man – presumably Lord Reculver’s son – before, although not for some time. On perhaps a handful of occasions, she’d watched from an upstairs window when he came to the school to take his much younger, dark-haired sister home for the holidays; had watched him catch her about the waist and whirl her around, laughing, plainly as delighted to see her as she was him. And unseen above them, Anna had thought him, not only the most handsome man she’d ever seen, but something much more. He’d been warm, good-natured and wholly unembarrassed by a public show of affection most other gentlemen were incapable of. With her unwanted debut creeping ever closer, it was natural to wonder, somewhat wistfully, if she might meet him in London because … well, just because .

She hadn’t met him in London; but she was going to meet him now. And judging by his expression it wasn’t going to be nearly as pleasant as she’d once thought it might be.

~**~** ~