Chapter 7

"My, my, aren't they paying you enough as a manager at the inn that you have to be a bookshop keeper too?"

"Divorce is costly," he snapped back

"It doesn't have to be this way John, we could stay married, come back with me to London," she puts on the charm she knew used to work on him, "I want my husband back by my side. Please Batesy, remember the good times? We were so good together," she purred as she moves close and reaches out to touch him.

John shakes his head and moves backwards, she is unbelievable, it scares him to see her like this - one minute she's fiery and sarcastic, next minute she's all sweet and seductive. "Why do you want me back? So I could be humiliated as the cuckold husband?" he replied angrily, "Forget it!"

"Well, if you won't be persuaded, you know I can destroy you as you have destroyed me," she changed her demeanour immediately. "What would your employers think of a thief in their midst? You won't find another job without a reference - think about that. I can make your life hell and don't think I won't." She took a short breath before continuing, "Tell you what, I have an idea - you can have your divorce if pay me a year's allowance and I'll keep silent about your past. What do you think?"

"Blackmail? Didn't think you'd sink that low! Where do you think I'm going to find that sort of money - as you've pointed out I'm working in two jobs now. Besides, the decree nisi is issued, I'm getting a divorce whether you like it or not. And you realise that without a job I won't be able to pay you anything anyway. You have as much to lose if you want to play this game" he shot back.

"Hah, you forget I have a job - yes it may not be much, but I can earn a living. Whereas I can and will make sure you'll never find another job. Your choice - pay me an allowance or lose your job. Or better yet, retract the divorce and come back to me."


John sat in his cottage that night staring into the fireplace, unable to have any coherent thought, all attempts at reading the book on his lap were given up. He had moved into the cottage when he was made the manager, it was a large cottage for a single person and was furnished with the basic furniture, the walls were bare with no personal effects to speak of other than his collection of books; it is not what one would call a home - he was sure that it will become a home when Anna is his wife. But now, with what Vera is threatening to do, he's not so sure any of his grand plans will come to fruition, let alone keeping his job - any job, if she goes ahead with her threat. There is no chance in hell I'll retract the divorce and I can't afford an allowance, he thought bitterly, and even if I did, what will stop her from demanding more and more? Why did he ever think it was a good idea to go to gaol instead of her and to have her use it against him now, he was angry at himself more than anything - he clenched his hand into a fist and hit the wooden side table next to his armchair repeatedly until it hurt but he didn't stop, he kept punching until his knuckles were red and raw; when he finally stopped he sank back into the chair and sobbed uncontrollably.


Initially, Mr Lancashire wasn't sure if Bates was up to the job, but he always believed in giving people a chance and he had not been disappointed; far from it, he had been most impressed by his work ethics and integrity. He pride himself as being a good judge of character, and he has been right so far in all the staff he had hired over the years - well, except for that one girl (he does not want to dwell on that), but one in fifty years is a pretty good record. In the 50-odd years he ran the inn, since taking over from his father, he had come across the hard-luck stories, the good-for-nothing-charmers, and he can usually pick the deceitful ones a mile away. It was harder with Bates, there was something about him that was not so easy to read, he is aloof - some might say arrogant, he is impassive and reserved - then again, most men were brought up to be stoic. Bates had a good reference from Lord Grantham's butler, but he knows a good reference was not the only thing that made him employ him - there was something about him he can't quite place, he just knew he should trust his instincts.

He still lived in the cottage next to the inn, as he had all his life; since his wife passed away he goes to the inn a few times a week, ostensibly to check that it is running smoothly, but it is more out of a habit than a necessity. After all, Bates has everything under control, the staff are working well and the business is thriving. Bates has certainly been a good manager, he reflects. His 79th birthday is fast approaching and he feels he should plan for the inn's future. He wished that one of his three sons had shown an interest in taking over the business, as it is, all of them have moved away from Yorkshire, preferring life in the city.

This morning, he awoke to find it a lovely sunny day, he reminds himself that he is retired and really should be enjoying a well deserved rest, he decides to take a long walk along the canal. There were children feeding the ducks - they remind him of grandchildren in London he rarely sees; young lovers walking hand-in-hand reminds him of his dearly beloved wife, how he misses her. He was lost in his thoughts when a striking, tall, dark haired woman shook him out of his reverie; "Mr Lancashire?"