Too Close to the Sun (13 page)

‘I’m sure there isn’t.’ He paused. ‘You do seem rather – preoccupied at the moment. Though it’s hardly to be wondered at.’

She nodded. ‘I suppose I am. I haven’t had the most successful morning.’

‘Is it anything that I could help with?’

‘No – but thank you, anyway.’

‘Would you care to tell me what it is?’ Then he smiled. ‘Or do tell me to mind my own affairs, if you wish.’

She shrugged. ‘Well, there’s no harm in telling you. I’ve been to see the landlord in Corster – to ask if he could let us stay on for a further month. I’m afraid he ended up refusing.’ She would say nothing of the events that had led to his reneging on their agreement; it would serve no
purpose, added to which it was an embarrassment she wanted to put behind her.

‘Well, that’s an unfriendly thing to do, I must say,’ Mr Spencer said. ‘Surely he can’t have someone already waiting to move in. It’ll take him a while to let the place anyway, I should think. Who is this man, by the way?’

‘His name is Grennell.’

‘I think I’ve heard of him.’ Mr Spencer nodded. ‘Did he give any reason for his refusal?’

‘Oh, Mr Spencer,’ Grace said, ‘I’d really rather not talk about it, truly. I need to put my mind to dealing with the situation we’re in. We have to be out of here by the tenth of next month.’

He looked at her a little more closely at this, and she, feeling his eyes upon her, felt as if he could read her thoughts, read the shame she felt at the experience at Grennell’s hands.

‘Well, it certainly doesn’t give you much time, that’s for sure,’ he said, stroking his chin. ‘What do you plan to do with all your possessions?’

‘I wish I had the answer to that. I had planned to bring in the auctioneers, but now there won’t be time. It looks as if I shall have to find a dealer who will just take everything off my hands. I can’t see any other course.’

‘I think that might be the only thing. I do know one or two dealers. If you like, I could get in touch with them and see what their situation is. Would you like me to do that?’

The offer was so welcome. How could she refuse? ‘Well,’ she said, ‘I have to say that I think that is most kind of you. I honestly don’t quite know where to begin.’

And all at once the events of the past weeks, her father’s illness and death, and then that morning’s encounter with Mr Grennell and all that it entailed, seemed to push her beyond the edge of her control. Like a cup being overfilled,
she was suddenly incapable of containing herself, and tears welled into her eyes and threatened to spill over.

She spoke no word, but just stood on the cobbles, one hand clenched at her mouth, fighting to keep the tears at bay.

‘Oh, Grace – Miss Grace.’ Mr Spencer started to reach out to her, but then drew back his hand. ‘Please – I can’t stand to see you cry. Tell me what it is. I’m sure it can all be sorted out.’

When she said nothing, he gestured towards the house behind her. ‘Shall we go inside? I think you should sit down. We’ll have some tea and perhaps you’ll tell me what it is. Please?’

She took a breath and brought herself more nearly under control. ‘Billy’s indoors,’ she said. ‘I don’t want him to see me upset. His world’s all topsy turvy as it is.’

She stepped away, moving across the yard, purposeless, directionless, coming to a halt beside the well. Mr Spencer hesitated a moment then moved to stand facing her again.

‘So you have to be out of here in less than a fortnight?’ he said.

‘According to Mr Grennell, yes.’ She shrugged. ‘Of course, he’s acting perfectly within the law, so I can’t challenge him in any way. I’ve just got to find somewhere else to live, and that’s that. And find a place soon.’

‘D’you have anything in mind?’

‘I shall go out tomorrow and start looking. I bought a copy of the local paper when I was in Corster this morning, so perhaps there’ll be something advertised in it. I have to find a new post too. It’s not enough just to find a place to live, I also have to find some means of paying for it.’

He stood in silence for a few moments, then said, ‘I’ll make some enquiries in the area. Perhaps someone will know of some available, suitable rooms. Do you mind where you go? Within reason?’

‘No, I don’t mind. So long as it’s not the ends of the earth. I just need to find a decent place for the two of us – and where Billy can go to school. Perhaps I should find a position first – wherever it might be – and then concentrate on finding somewhere to live. The trouble is, there’s so little time.’

He nodded. ‘Well, let’s see what we can do. In the meantime, don’t worry about finding a dealer to take your things. I’ll go and see one now and try to arrange for him to come and see you.’

‘Oh, that would be so kind of you,’ she said.

‘Well, you won’t get a lot for it, one never does in that kind of transaction, but at least it will be off your hands and you’ll have a little something.’

He drew some water for the pony, and watched as it drank its fill. Then he said goodbye and climbed up into the driver’s seat of the trap.

Grace watched as the vehicle turned out of the yard and into the lane, then she went round the rear of the yard and into the house. There was no time to dwell on her problems. She must try to get them sorted out. In the meantime Billy would be wanting his dinner.

That evening, Billy said his goodnights to Grace preparatory to going up to the little room in which he now slept alone. ‘Are you coming up to see me?’ he asked as he took up the lighted candle, and Grace replied, ‘Of course. When do I not?’ Their mother had always gone up to see him safe in bed, and since her death it had fallen upon Grace or their father to give this particular little comfort. Now with their father gone, it was down to Grace alone.

She continued with her mending for five more minutes, then put it aside and went up the stairs. A tap on Billy’s door, followed by a called ‘Come in,’ and she opened the door and went inside.

In the light of the bedside candle Billy lay with his eyes open, the sheet drawn up to his chin. As she moved to the bed he slid over under the covers to allow her space to sit. She patted his knees. ‘Are you all right?’ she said as she sat down.

‘Yes.’

‘Did you have a good day today at the farm?’

‘Yes.’

‘Is it all going well? – Mr Timmins’s harvest?’

‘Yes. I heard Mr Timmins say they’ll start with the barley tomorrow.’

‘And will you be going back there to help?’

‘Yes, if it’s all right.’ There was a slightly anxious note in his voice, as if he feared being forbidden.

‘Of course it’s all right. Just so long as you’re wanted there, and that you don’t get given too much to do.’

‘No, I can do it.’

‘I’m sure you can.’

His hand came out from under the covers and briefly brushed at her wrist. ‘Do we still have to leave, Grace?’

‘I’m afraid so. And there’s something I haven’t told you. We have to leave earlier than I’d anticipated. We have to be gone from here in less than two weeks.’

In the dim light she could see the look of consternation that flashed into his eyes and settled. ‘But the harvest won’t be in by that time.’

Grace shrugged. ‘Well – I’m sorry about that. But we don’t have any choice.’

‘Everything’s changing again,’ he said.

‘I know. I’m sorry.’

A little silence fell in the room. In the quiet Grace could here the singing of the blackbird in the cherry tree beyond the window. Then Billy said:

‘Grace …?’

‘Yes? What is it?’

‘Pappy used to look after us, Grace, didn’t he?’

‘Yes, he did, and very well too.’

‘Yes.’

‘Yes, indeed.’

‘Who’s going to do it now? Who’s going to look after us now?’

‘I am,’ Grace said. ‘I am.’

‘No, I agree it isn’t a large room,’ the woman said in response to Grace’s comment, ‘but it’s a pleasant room. And the outlook is very nice.’

Mrs Packerman was in her late forties, with greying hair, a large chin, and a heavy bosom. She wore an apron and a little heart-shaped lace cap, and, right now, an expression of jolliness and good humour. She was the landlady of a lodging house situated just off one of the main streets in Corster, and Grace was there because she had seen in the window the sign saying Rooms to Rent.

Grace stood in the middle of the room – or as close to the middle as it was possible to get, what with the bed, the wardrobe, a chest of drawers and a washstand and sundry other items taking up so much space.

‘Really,’ Grace said, ‘I was hoping to find a larger room – with two beds in it. To have a bed for my little brother …’

‘Well, that could come expensive, dear,’ Mrs Packerman said. ‘How old’s your brother, anyway?’

‘He’s eight.’

The woman gave the hint of a snort and a little chuckle. ‘Eight – and expects a bed of his own? Whatever next. Oh, he sounds a very grand young man. Perhaps he’ll be too grand for the likes of us.’

‘It’s not that,’ Grace said. ‘But I’m a restless sleeper lately, and he needs to get his rest.’

‘Well, if you’re set on it, I could get the truckle out for him. He’d be comfortable enough on that. Mind you, it’d
cost extra – what with all fresh bedding to be supplied. It’s all extra work, my dear.’

Grace said nothing, and Mrs Packerman waited; she could not but be aware of Grace’s lack of enthusiasm. ‘Well, it’s up to you, dear,’ she said. ‘I’m sure you won’t find anything similar at a better price.’

Grace nodded. She was aware of this. And she could not continue as she was. She had come into Corster that morning with the express purpose of finding somewhere for Billy and herself to stay. Time was passing all too swiftly, and if she didn’t find a place soon, the two of them would find themselves on the street. She had chosen to look in Corster as, being a town, it was certain to offer more opportunities. And also, once she was living there she would surely find it a more convenient place from which to seek out work.

This lodging house was the fifth one that Grace had visited, and with all its drawbacks, it nevertheless looked to be the most promising. Two of the others had just been far too expensive, a third had refused to have Billy there – ‘Sorry, miss, but no children,’ – and a fourth had been situated next to an abattoir, and the smells had so permeated the offered room that Grace had felt almost sick.

So this one was the best that she had seen. And, she reminded herself, it didn’t have to be perfect; it wasn’t for ever, only until she got settled with a position. Then, once she was earning some money, she and Billy could look around and find something much nicer. Also, he could go back to school again, something he would want to do.

And she had to decide on a room without delay. Now there was only a week to go before Bramble House had to be given back to Mr Grennell. She had thought briefly of going to see him again and pleading for a little more time, perhaps appealing to his better nature. But she could not. She had her pride and it would not allow her to stoop so
low. She would manage. She and Billy would manage. Taking it a day at a time, all their obstacles would be overcome.

‘Yes,’ she said to Mrs Packerman, ‘I’ll take the room.’

‘And will you want the truckle, dear?’

‘No. We’ll manage without it, thank you.’

Mrs Packerman gave a broad smile. ‘That’s fine, then, dear. And I’m sure you won’t regret it. When will you want it from?’

‘A week today, if that’s all right.’

‘Yes, that’s all right, dear. Though I shall need a deposit – the first week’s rent.’

‘Yes. Yes, of course.’ Grace opened her purse and began to count out coins.

‘And once you move in I shall want the remainder of a month’s rent in advance.’

‘A month’s rent?’ A month’s rent would be such a large sum, and would make a great dent in her finances. ‘Does it have to be a month?’ she said.

‘Oh, I’m afraid it does, dear. I’ve nothing against you personally, of course, as I don’t know you. But if you were aware of the number who try to do a moonlight flit the day before the rent is due, you’d understand. Sorry, my dear. Take it or leave it, that’s the way it is.’

‘All right.’ There was nothing else for it. Grace sighed. ‘I’ll have the money ready.’

After leaving Mrs Packerman’s house Grace headed at once for home. There was no time to waste, for she had made an appointment for a dealer from Corster to visit Bramble House and look over the contents. The day before, she had been visited by one from Harbrook – a Mr Clemmer of Clemmer and Sons – the visit arranged by Mr Spencer who had gone to call on the man on Grace’s behalf. The dealer, a house-clearer by trade, had not spent long at the house; he
hadn’t needed to; from long experience he had cannily, with a practised eye, taken in the contents of the house and Samuel Harper’s workshop.

Grace stood by waiting while he walked around. At least the livestock had already been sold, she reminded herself. Mr Timmins from the nearby farm had called the day before, and after some deliberation had made Grace an offer for the creatures. She had accepted it, and later that day he had come with one of his farmhands and taken the animals away. The chickens, the goat, the pig, all had gone. Most affecting of all, though, was the loss of the Robin, the pony. Grace and Billy had wept when saying their goodbyes to him, and the two of them had turned away as he had been hitched up to the trap and driven out of the yard for the last time. They would never see him again.

Now Mr Clemmer, having looked over the effects of the house and workshop, made Grace his offer. But the sum he had offered was so small, a pittance it seemed, and Grace had made a gentle protest.

Yes, he had said, it was true that there were two or three good pieces, but there was also a great deal that he would never sell. She could, if she wished, go to an antiques dealer who would come and do his cherry-picking and pay her for three or four items – but what about the rest of it? ‘Do you want to be left with a house half full of worthless furniture and odds and ends?’ he said. ‘No dealer would go for that. Yet that’s all you’d be left with.’

Then, seeing the dismay in her face, he had added, ‘Well, you think about it and make up your mind. Let me know in the next day or two.’