Chapter Three
Emma looked up at the big house and felt rather small. Was she really to stay in a place this grand? This is not at all what she expected when she had woken up this morning. As the car came to a halt in front of the main doors, she swallowed hard. The chauffer gave her a reassuring smile as she reached to open the car door. A little unsure what to do, she hesitated standing beside the car.
"Hello Carson" said Isobel "Has Lady Cora told you anything of our eventful day?"
" She has indeed, m'lady. Nanny is expecting you." Mr Carson intoned. "If you would like to join the family in the Drawing Room, tea has just been served"
Isobel carried John into the Abbey as Dickie turned to Emma "Come on Emma, we'll make sure you get settled in" He extended his arm to invite her to enter ahead of him. She took a deep breath and put her best foot forward.
It took everything Emma had not to gawp at her surroundings as they entered the grand hallway. This was like a palace compared to the places she had worked in in London. She quickly decided that she would need to concentrate on the people around her to avoid being completely overwhelmed. Lady Merton was heading across the room, so she quickly followed. She seemed to be heading towards a lady dressed in one of those dark nanny uniforms she had seen in the grand parks, and she hoped that this one wasn't as snooty as those old fashioned ladies. As they approached, Nanny's face broke into a wide smile and Emma relaxed a little.
"Halloo Lady Mert'n. Is this wee Master John?" Nanny only had eyes for her new charge, her strong Scottish accent sounding strange to Emma. Nanny reached out to shake John's hand as Isobel smiled. "I'm Nanny MacGregor wee one, and I'll be look'n after ye a'day. But farst, I'll let ye meet the ither Childr'n while I get ya bags unpack'd, eh?"
"Thank you Nanny, you're very kind" Said Isobel
"Och, not at all. He looks a sweet wee thing. I'm sure he'll be nae bother" Nanny turned to Emma "An' ye must be Nurse Emma, yes?"
Emma dropped a bob, not knowing what else to do and answered "Yes Nanny".
"Aye, well good. We'll go and get the wee man unpack'd while he enjoys some family time, and be back in a ha'f oor." Nanny nodded, and turned to walk up the grand staircase.
Emma hesitated "I'm sure if you go with Nanny she will show you where everything is and where you can stay tonight. We'll be up after tea". Isobel reached out a hand to pat Emma's arm "Don't worry, Nanny will look after you" Emma hurried to catch up with Nanny before she disappeared around the corner. She was sure if she lost sight of her she would get lost, and maybe never be found again!
Isobel turned to Dickie and gave him an amused little smile before turning back to the Drawing Room door "Well, little man. Time for your grand entrance!"
"Isobel! Here you are! And is this the new arrival?" Cora hurried over to meet them.
"I'll get you a cup of tea" Dickie said quietly in her ear as he stepped away to the table. Isobel looked worriedly after him: did he not want to show off his grandson? That was a worry for later. Right now, she needed to explain what was happening to the family.
-TW- -TW- -TW-
After tea, Isobel and Dickie accompanied the children back to the nursery. George was excited and insisted on showing Grandpa Dickie all his toy soldiers. He also made him promise that he would read a story later, and Dickie agreed with a chuckle "Of course I will George, but right now Grandmama and I need to speak to Nanny. You be good and eat all your tea" He ruffled the lad's hair. George gave him a broad smile and stated "I always do!" before running off to play.
Dickie watched him go: could it possibly be like this with one of his own flesh and blood? Or was George so wonderful because he was Isobel's family? He had a deep seated fear that John would be just like his father and grandmother. He'd failed twice already, did he really want to fail a third time?
He sighed and crossed the room to where Isobel was in discussion with Nanny. John had been whisked away for a feed and a change. Nanny seemed to be concerned about something, but without much experience of babies Dickie found it difficult to understand why there was a problem. He was sure Isobel would explain it later. Then Nanny turned to the table behind her.
"We also found these in the young Master's suitcase." She passed a sheaf of papers to Isobel "I hav'nae looked at them closely, but I believe they're better off wi' you"
"Thank you Nanny." Isobel gave them a brief glance "Hopefully they'll give us a bit more of an idea about John. I'll let you know if we find any thing useful" Nanny nodded "And I hope Emma helps you as much as she can. We know nothing about her really, so anything you can tell us; we'd be grateful"
"I don't think she knoos a whole lot aboot being a nursery maid" Nanny looked sceptical "but she seems a steady, friendly lass. The wee uns have tak'n to her quickly, and tha's usually a good sign. Will we see you later?" She remembered Isobel liked to look in on the children when she stayed at the Abbey.
"Yes please Nanny, if you don't mind?" Isobel replied.
"I have promised a story to a certain young gentleman" Added Dickie with a small smile.
Nanny laughed "Aye, I'm sure he wheedled that oot of ye very well! Around 7 would be best, if ye don't mind. Jus' right for bedtime"
"Of course not. We'll see you then" Isobel left with a smile and a wave to the children.
Once in their room, Dickie sat on the bed heavily. He was quite grateful that Mrs Hughes always gave them the same room when they stayed at the Abbey: it was a fairly regular occurrence and it made the place feel more like a family home rather than being an imposition on close friends. Isobel was over at the dressing table sifting through the papers. "Anything interesting?" he asked quietly.
"I'm not really sure." mumbled Isobel, absorbed in her task "I'm not sure I know what some of these papers are. Ah! Here's his birth certificate! That's good. Oh!" Isobel's hand went to her mouth. She turned to look at Dickie tenderly and crossed the room to sit beside him. "Look"
Dickie looked down at the document in the familiar format of a birth certificate, and read the details.
"Eighteenth of June. Humph! Anniversary of Waterloo! Is that prophetic, do you think?" He noticed she had tears in her eyes, and turned back to the page. His breath caught. "John Richard Grey" He whispered.
Isobel put her arm around him and leaned her head on his shoulder. "He's named after you" she said brokenly. "Lord knows Larry and I dislike each other. Intensely. But he can't hate you as much as you think if he named his first son after you?"
Dickie sat very still and quiet.
He couldn't really explain what he felt. Elated? Yes, a little bit. It made it feel more real that the bundle in the nursery was actually his grandson. Confused? Greatly! What was Larry playing at? He hadn't told him that he had a grandson at all, then names him Richard?
He stood up suddenly, not noticing that Isobel nearly sprawled on the bed as his support disappeared, and paced the room a couple of times before stopping at the window to look at the view. He would never understand his boys! Never!
He became aware that Isobel was talking to him. "I'm sorry Darling, I wasn't listening"
"I was just saying that today has been quite a day. It's been a lot to take in and I'm worried it's taken a lot out of you. Would you like a proper rest before we change for dinner? We still have a good hour." Isobel was worried that the trauma would manifest in a physical way. She hated seeing the effect his sons could still have on him, even when they weren't here.
"Yes, maybe." Dickie turned to the dressing table "You said there were some other things?" He sifted through the papers himself "I'd have to read them, but some of these look like contracts of some description. Rather strange thing to send with John. Ah! Larry's Last Will and Testament: I'm sure that's not worth me reading. A couple of share certificates. What looks like a Post Office savings account in John's name. Nothing of significance from the looks of things" He rubbed his face tiredly "Maybe a lie down would be a good idea"
He wandered over to the bed and took his shoes off as Isobel bustled about closing the curtains and chattering about something he wasn't paying attention to. He lay back on the pillows and stared at the ceiling. What on earth was going on? He was starting to get the feeling that maybe John would be with them a long time. Why else would John have arrived with his birth certificate? He should read those papers: Maybe they did hold a clue?
-TW- -TW- -TW-
Life settled into some sort of routine over the next week or so. It had been discussed and agreed that John would be better in the nursery at the Abbey for the time being. Dickie was assured that it really was no problem, and it made sense for the children all to be together. He and Isobel were frequent visitors, and slowly but surely Dickie was subconsciously beginning to plan a future that included every step of his grandson's life. Was he finally going to experience the family life he'd always yearned for?