Recollections of Rosings (13 page)

    She rose and indicated that she had to rest before going out, and Becky, grateful for the time she had been allowed, left feeling quite satisfied.

    That night Rebecca, well pleased with her friend's plan, wrote to her sister Catherine, but in so doing revealed little of her intentions.

    
Dearest Cathy,
she wrote:

Catherine and Lilian were seated in the parlour when Rebecca's letter was delivered.

    On opening it and scanning its contents, Catherine looked at her daughter and smiled, clearly pleased at what she saw.

    Then, she read it again, more carefully, before handing it to Lilian.

    "Look, dear, your aunt Becky invites you to come up to London and spend a few weeks with her. Would you not like that?"

    Catherine had noticed that since the departure of Mr Adams for France, Lilian had seemed somewhat distracted. She completed all her usual tasks and went about her work without complaint, but her mother could see she was not herself. Clearly she was missing him, Catherine thought, and Rebecca's invitation could be just what she needed.

    Lilian's initial response was not promising. "I do not wish to go up to London, Mama," she said. "I never enjoy it; it's too busy and crowded. Whenever we travelled there with Papa, I was cold and bored and could not wait to come home."

    Catherine was not so easily discouraged.

    "But, my dear, that was because your papa was usually too busy to escort us around to all the interesting places there are to visit and we always stayed at the same small hotel. If you go to your aunt, you will be staying at her home in one of the best streets in town, and Becky will see that you are never bored or cold. Besides, do you not wish to see a performance of Schoo
l
for Scandal
?"

    Lilian appeared to relent. "I will admit it is the one thing that makes me consider accepting the invitation—I have so enjoyed reading it, I should love to see it performed."

    "Well then? Let me write to Becky and say you will come," said Catherine but Lilian was not yet ready to capitulate.

    "No, Mama, let us wait a day or two—there is no hurry, is there? Let me think it over and perhaps by Wednesday, we will send Aunt Becky an answer."

    Catherine agreed; she had sensed that Lilian was keen to delay her decision in order to learn what had happened with Mr Adams's mother. If, as he told them, she was seriously ill, even in danger of dying, it was possible his return would be delayed by some weeks. As the only male relative, perhaps it would be his responsibility to attend to a number of matters affecting the family.

    Catherine understood her daughter's restlessness and decided to wait a day or two before writing to Rebecca. It would do no harm to let Lilian make up her mind without any persuasion from her, she thought.

    On the following day, the warmth of the weather encouraged them to take a walk in the woods, which were beginning to reflect the onset of Autumn with the first cool nights of the waning Summer. The bright greens and golds that had clothed the trees were beginning to give way to patches of russet and red, while drifts of fallen leaves crunched crisply underfoot.

    "I love the woods like this," said Lilian. "Mama, if we must leave the Dower House next year, where shall we go? I should hate to be too far from this beautiful place."

    Catherine was taken aback at her question; it was not something she had anticipated at all and she did not know how she should answer. Even as she struggled to think of something comforting to say—for in truth she had no firm answer to the question—a familiar figure appeared at the end of the path.

    It was Mr Burnett and he had in his hand a letter.

    He greeted them cheerfully enough, but there was no doubting the gravity of his countenance as he said, "I was coming over to call on you; a letter has just reached me this morning, from Mr Adams."

    "What does he say? Is his mother's condition improved?" asked Catherine quickly, while Lilian looked at Mr Burnett earnestly, hoping he did not have bad news for them.

    "I am very sorry to have to tell you that the news is not good; his mother Mrs Adams died three days ago, very peacefully, I understand, but it does mean that John Adams will have to extend his stay in France. He writes that it falls to him to arrange the funeral and attend to all the family matters, including the settlement of his mother's estate. Being the only male relative, his two sisters depend on him to be there until the conclusion of these questions. He send his regards and apologies."

    "Does he say when he may return?" asked Lilian in a soft voice.

    "Not in so many words, I rather think his return may be delayed by at least a few weeks, perhaps even a month. I am not entirely familiar with the processes of the laws of inheritance in France, but I imagine it will take some while to settle all the matters that are likely to arise," he replied.

    "Do you know if his mother's estate was a large one?" asked Catherine and almost immediately regretted her question; she had not meant to pry. "What I meant was, is the disposition of it likely to be complicated?"

    Mr Burnett said he had no specific knowledge of Mrs Adams's estate but he had understood from John Adams that his father had no estate as such, only a successful wine business in the Bordeaux region, but his mother's family owned a farm and a vineyard.

    "I am not privy to the extent or value of it, Mrs Harrison, but I gather it was sufficient to support the family quite comfortably. I expect it will be divided among her three children."

    While no more was said on that subject, Mr Burnett walked with them as they returned to the Dower House and was invited to come in and take tea with them, which he gladly agreed to do. Whilst her mother went upstairs to change her shoes, Lilian asked Mr Burnett if he would let her have Mr Adams's address in France.

    "I should like, and I am sure Mama would also wish, to write to him and convey our condolences. It is the least we can do. After Papa's death, Mr Adams was exceedingly helpful to us, as indeed you were, Mr Burnett. I should not like him to think that we were unappreciative of his kindness," she said and Frank Burnett was quick to respond. "I am quite certain that he would never think such a thing, Miss Lilian, but of course you can have the address, it is at the bottom of the last page of the letter, if you wish to write it down…" and so saying he handed her the letter.

    Lilian went directly to a bureau by the window and, taking out a sheet of note paper, wrote down the direction, perusing the letter swiftly before returning it to Mr Burnett.

    "I intend to write myself, and when I do so, I shall let him know that Mrs Harrison and you are both aware of his present situation. It will put his mind at ease; he appears concerned that you may be inconvenienced by his delayed return."

    Lilian hastened to assure him that no such thing had even crossed their minds and urged him to reassure Mr Adams that he should not think so at all.

    "It is his duty to attend to the needs of his sisters, and he must not think even for one moment that we would wish him to do otherwise. I am quite confident Mama would agree with me," Lilian said.

    Despite her confidence, the return of her mother and the entrance of the maid with the tea tray ended their conversation, which now turned upon the work in progress at Rosings.

    On this subject, Frank Burnett had some good news. "Mr Jonathan Bingley is coming down to Rosings next week," he said, "and in the absence of Mr Adams, I am to see him and discuss the consequences flowing from the decision of the trust to accept the proposition to demolish that part of the building that was too badly damaged to restore. I understand Mr Darcy and the other trustees have agreed this is the best course of action."

    Catherine was delighted to hear that Jonathan Bingley was expected and had a plan of her own, which she intended to put to him when he arrived. "Do you know if Mrs Bingley is coming too?" she asked, to which Mr Burnett replied that he believed this to be the case, as the couple were to attend a dinner party in London later that week and had planned only to stay overnight at Rosings.

    "Anna, Mrs Bingley, is my cousin and I should be very happy to accommodate them here," said Catherine, smiling. "Indeed, I should like to write at once and invite them to dine with us at least. Perhaps you would care to join us, Mr Burnett?"

    Frank Burnett thanked Catherine and accepted her invitation; he did not stay long after he had finished his tea and left, having thanked the ladies for their kind hospitality.

    Once he had left them, Catherine turned to Lilian and asked if she did not think it was a good thing Jonathan Bingley was coming to Rosings.

    "Now, if he brings Anna with him, that would be doubly delightful, do you not agree, my dear?" asked Catherine.

    Anna, who was Jonathan Bingley's second wife, was an accomplished artist with a penchant for interior décor. She had spent many years in Europe studying art and music and had been responsible for much of the elegant refurbishment of Netherfield House. Lilian, who admired Anna Bingley greatly, agreed that it certainly was. Her mother's next question afforded Lilian an unexpected opportunity.

    "Now, Lilian dear, I have had a thought; if Jonathan and Anna are returning to London, would it not be convenient for you to travel with them to your aunt Becky's place?"

    Since learning that Mr Adams would not return for some weeks and obtaining his address in France, Lilian had begun to think more positively of the prospect of spending a few weeks with her aunt in London. She had thought it would give her the chance to write to John Adams, something she had not been able to do without explaining her actions to her mother.

    This time, therefore, it was Catherine's turn to be surprised when Lilian replied, "You are quite right, Mama, it would be much more fun than travelling alone or with a maid for company. You know how much I like Anna. I believe I should enjoy travelling to London with her and Mr Bingley very much."

    Catherine beamed. "I hoped you would say that. Anna is a remarkable woman and I was sure you would find the prospect of travelling with them enjoyable. Now, shall I write to your aunt Becky and say you will come?" she asked.

    Lilian nodded, smiling with pleasure.

    "Yes, Mama, I think that would be a very good idea," she replied.

    Jonathan and Anna Bingley arrived late on the afternoon of the following Thursday, having accepted Catherine's invitation to stay at the Dower House. They were made most welcome and Catherine's pleasure was increased when they revealed that they would be staying not one night but two, because they had to be in London on Saturday afternoon.

    "We are due to attend a Parliamentary dinner at the invitation of my sonin-law Colin Elliott, who is to join Mr Gladstone's ministry. Anne-Marie and Mr Elliott are already in London and we shall be joining them," said Jonathan and Catherine expressed her pleasure at the news.

    "Indeed? I always knew Mr Elliott would do well; he is such a conscientious member of Parliament. Please do convey our sincerest congratulations."

    Later, after they had rested and changed for dinner, they were joined by Mr Burnett, who appeared to be very much at ease with the Bingleys. He was interested, he said to Jonathan, in the forthcoming election.

    "Would you say the discontent with Mr Gladstone is widespread?" he asked and Jonathan replied that he could not be certain because he was no longer in the Parliament.

    "But I do hear from my son-in-law that the working people, who had very high expectations of the man they used to call 'the people's William,' are somewhat disillusioned. I am not intimately aware of the issues, though. Are you familiar with their grievances?" he asked.

    Frank Burnett revealed then the rather surprising information that he had a cousin involved in the Trade Union movement among the engineering workers of the North East. As all eyes were turned upon him, he said, "He is working actively to get the men at the engineering works a nine-hour day."