Angelique (39 page)

One green bottle hanging on the wall
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Audrey explains to teach them about numbers and animals she uses songs whenever possible. She adds with a smile. “It also gives the children the chance to let off steam by singing loudly.” She gives me two more examples.

Old Macdonald has a farm. One man went to mow a meadow
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As the kids enthusiastically sing the songs I look around the classroom. There are about eighteen kids in the class of mixed ages as Audrey indicated. I recognise some of them from the estate. After introducing myself I answer a series of questions posed by the children I am very impressed by the things they ask me. At the end of the session we do a tour of the immaculate gardens containing a duck pond and pig sty.

The children insist on introducing me to the pigs and two of the retired gardeners. I congratulate everyone for their effort and thank them for allowing me to visit their school without an invitation.

As I walk back to the estate I consider the new information I have learned today.

So Cecil is a Reeve on top of his other duties, the man is a miracle. I wonder how much we actually pay him for doing all these duties on our behalf. I shall have to look into things like that and what exactly the estate consists of.

I laugh to myself as a thought strikes me. Imagine my army pals especially Billy if I told them, on top of everything else I also own my own pub and I have met Toots Wife and his kids, unexpectedly I admit but I enjoyed my visit to the school.

On returning to the estate I seek out Cecil in his silver room and inform him of my discovery regarding the pub and the school. We make arrangements to have a meeting after Christmas to discuss the matter with the family solicitor present with all the relevant details. He does reveal however the estate consists of a variety of businesses in the locality including the village post office, the smithy and the mill.

When I mention my visit to the school he informs me we also own that as well. He reveals it was the General who purchased it when the authorities would not fund major repairs and closed it down.

The General had it refurbished added the extra land and reopened it for the estate and local children’s education. Cecil enquires. “What do you think of the Teacher my Lord?”

“I only met her briefly but she appears to be running the school in a fantastic manner I recall the kids didn’t look so happy in the school I attended.”

“Yes my lord since she took over she has introduced all kinds of innovations. We are very lucky to get her my Lord, it’s all thanks to you sending Jim and his Wife here.”

“Does the estate pay her wages Cecil?” He smiles and reveals.

“When she first came here we did but her various enterprises make the school self financing it is even beginning to show a profit. These are used to further fund the school projects she has introduced. What began as a school project is fast becoming a community one. He laughs as he explains. “Mrs Hartley has an uncanny ability to draw others into her schemes.”

“Our teacher has some more ideas but we will discuss them at our next annual meeting at Easter. I hope you will be able to attend my Lord?”

I begin to realise what a huge responsibility the Lord of the manor role consists of. It is only recently I have shed my business worries in France onto my friends and partners. Here I am with even more headaches, fortunately I have Cecil to guide me, what would I do without him?

As I am about to leave he confides Toot is in Dover purchasing tickets and reserving seats on the train for himself and his companions for the trip up north tomorrow. It looks like everything happens tomorrow. Gunter and I also leave in his flying contraption tomorrow, weather permitting. I have actually left the room when a thought strikes me I pop back in and ask

“By the way Cecil what is a Stubble Goose?” He smiles and answers. “I see Bill has been revealing our customs. We all really enjoy Michaelmas day of course it is the day when the tenants pay their annual rent to the estate. But it is also a great social occasion. We get to meet all of the tenants their wives and families informally. The General even hired a travelling fair on the estate for the kids to enjoy of course that included all the village kids regardless if they where children of the tenants. A great deal of home brewed cider is also consumed by their parents on that day. To answer your question, the actual goose feast is an old custom revived by the General The stubble goose is just an ordinary goose but after the harvest they are turned loose on the field to feed and fatten up on the fallen cereal.”

“Oh! Thanks Cecil it sounds great to me. I am sorry I missed this year’s shindig I shall look forward to being involved in the festivities next year. I am thinking the General will be a hard act to follow Cecil.

I hope you know how much I appreciate your input into the running of the estate and the hard work you and your Wife undertake. Come new year I want to sit down with you and talk about remunerations for yourself and the rest of the staff.”

Cecil waves his hand and informs me. “We are more than satisfied my Lord, the General was a very fair man and believe me when I tell you, my Wife and I are happy with our lot as it is.”

“That’s ok Cecil but we should still meet and discuss it. When I learned you hadn’t had a holiday for years it appalled me.”

“That was our choice my Lord.”

“Yes ok Cecil but things are going to change. I have my motives. I can’t have my right hand man exhausted, how would I manage without you? And supposing your Wife cracked under the pressure. Who would be able cook my steak and kidney pudding and Jam Roly Poly like her?

By the way I forgot to ask what time do you leave in the morning?”

“Toot is running us to Dover station in the Rolls for the six o’clock train my Lord. We hope to be in London to get an early start up to Newcastle. I hope this is satisfactory?”

“Of course that is Cecil. What about a hotel I hope you find a decent one. No scrimping Cecil. I want you three to enjoy the trip and not be out of pocket.”

“I will take care of everything my Lord. Regarding a hotel, when I telephoned to inquire regarding a suitable one I was informed we are to be guests of Lord Armstrong for the duration of our visit. Arrangements have been made to collect us at the station and delivery us to his house in the country where all the innovations are located. The engineer is also arranging a tour of the factory. From my conversation with him it appears Lord Armstrong is quite excited about our interest in his inventions and he was an acquaintance of your late Grand Father.

All being as planned we shall be home again in five days.”

“Well Cecil as usual you have the matter in hand. All I can do is wish you, a pleasant trip. I’ll see you at dinner tonight?”

“Yes my Lord it should be interesting.” As I leave the room for the second time I wonder why he remarked that dinner this evening should be interesting.

I join Denise in our room. Mathew is having his time with Emily and Pamela. I describe the great day I have had enthusiastically. Meanwhile Denise began undressing ready to bathe. The sight of her bare body is very inviting. Feverously I cast off my clothes and join her in the huge bath. The foreplay ends in the double bed when we make passionate love.

Dressed for dinner Denise and I join the others in the lounge for pre dinner drinks. The Ladies look fantastic in their finery. I note with a great deal of satisfaction Mother also wears the tiara I was instrumental in rescuing from the pawn shop in Birkenhead. As I glimpse myself in one of the many mirrors dressed in my monkey suit I realise how my life has changed in a few short years. At one time I would have ridiculed toffs dressed in this manner I now adapt as a matter of course for an evening meal. Now I am very much part of the toffs scene.

Marcel and Gunter look equally grand in their dinner suits but they appear more at ease than I feel. Sometimes I yearn for the old days when a huge bacon or fish and chip butty sufficed for supper dressed in what I had been wearing all day. When we all are gathered Cecil enters the lounge accompanied by two of the maids bearing large brown paper parcels. A hush settles over the room, Cecil and the maids leave.

I am intrigued and wait impatiently for someone to explain the intrusion. Denise whispers.

“Well go on my Cheri aren’t you going to open your presents.” Excitedly I rip the parcels open to reveal a full length leather flying coat, a helmet, fur lined boots and gauntlets, a cork life jacket a set of goggles, last but not least a pack marked with a German emblem.

Gunter roars with laughter the others join him as I model the flying kit. My face must be a picture when Denise announces. “Cheri now you can fly without a care in the world. I hope I have covered every eventuality.” She then addresses Gunter. “Gunter my dear friend I hope you won’t take offence I am not questioning your piloting skills but your life jacket and parachute are in your room.”

I muse, so that is where Toot has been all day. He has been on an errand for Denise to the Army and Navy shop in Dover where they sell surplus military equipment. She kept that secret from me very well I must admit.” Gunter examines the articles and expresses his approval particularly of the purchase of the German parachute. He explains when I remark about the need to have a German parachute as opposed to a British manufactured one. “Not to worry Adam, your friend Toot has made the right choice. The German parachute is of a much better quality and far more reliable than the British one. They have had more experience using them and their design is far superior to the British parachute as a result.” He evidently feels the need to explain in detail to the gathering when he hears a few tuts of disapproval.

“Did you know the British Generals forbade the issuing of parachutes to their flyers until late on in the war?”

“Why would they do that Gunter, please explain?” Mother requests.

He responds. “I hate to criticise your Army and particularly you’re Generals but I am afraid they are responsible for the deaths of many of your own bravest men. They refused to allow the pilots to carry parachutes in their planes. They assumed if the pilots had the means of escape they would not fight the enemy with as much vigour. As they had no conception about flying themselves they reasoned if the planes were damaged in combat the pilots should land them rather than abandon them by taking to the parachute. The Generals are still in the dark ages and think the cavalry, infantry and artillery are the real fighting force and consider the planes with distain. On the other hand the enemy issued parachutes from the beginning of hostilities thereby saving many of their trained pilots to fight another day.”

Mother protests with feeling. “Surely there must be some of the General Staff that appreciate the power of the aeroplane?”

Gunter replies. “I am afraid their opinions were swayed by their leader.”

Mother makes a request. “Please elucidate Gunter”

He pleads. “I really don’t want to discuss the war Angelique on this lovely evening in such beautiful company.”

The others do not agree and protest.

Mother requests. “You know Gunter we led a sheltered life in England, all we knew about the war is what we were spoon fed by the newspapers. I now suspect it was heavily censored by the government.

I would welcome some insight into what it was really like over there.” The rest of the company agree with her.” Gunter under pressure reluctantly complies. “To give you an example of the General Staff’s thinking. I can do no more than quote General Foch.

He as you are aware was appointed Marshal of France and was the supreme allied commander. When asked by a reporter for his opinion regarding using aeroplanes, as weapons during the war he stated. “Aeroplanes are interesting toys but are of no military value.”

There is a stunned silence. Grunter shrugs his shoulders and takes a sip from his drink. I feel the need to say something.

“Gunter is right about the bloomin Generals, it’s a wonder we won the war with those idiots leading us. I have personally been bombed, strafed and machine gunned by enemy planes. Believe me if there are any wars in the future in my opinion the aeroplanes will be a force to reckon with. By the way it was the decision of the Generals that the infantry should only advance towards the enemy at a walking pace. I saw the result of that ridicules criminal order by the hundreds of casualties we sustained. Then there was the rolling barrage fiasco. Have you any idea how many of our own men died as result of that stupidity?”

A silence prevails until Gunter informs us. “On a rough estimate, and these are your war departments figures seventy five thousand of your own soldiers were casualties of the rolling barrage. Although the Americans joined the war towards the end their Generals appeared to have become affected with the same stupidity. Approximately ten thousand American soldiers died on the last day of the war because the American General Pershing insisted on fighting until the last minute. From reliable reports I have heard the German soldiers were shocked when they were attacked by them up to the very last minute before the armistice was declared.”

Mother remarks in a shocked voice. “Good God we never heard of these happenings during the war. How we were kept in the dark is a national scandal.” The others agree with Mother. I reveal what I witnessed at the front on the last minute of the war. “The last casualty I evacuated from the front line was a young chap shot in the face by a sniper ten minutes before the actual cease fire.” I add after pausing for a moment. “Lucky for him I suppose he survived his wound. I met him later in a recovery hospital. Surprisingly he was thankful to be alive very cheerful, but massively disfigured.”

“Good God!” Denise whispers sympathetically. “The poor boy, what kind of life will he have now I wonder?”

I reply. “I don’t know Denise I was told by the record clerk he is only twenty, married with two children.” I turn to my Mother and ask.

“Do you remember those crippled ex army chaps begging outside the Cathedral in Canterbury?” I am about to continue ranting about some of the wartime cock ups I have witnessed I feel the anger welling up in me. I cease talking suddenly as I realise all eyes are upon me.