Chapter Six
Up in the study, Lord Merton and Mr Stevens had spent some time going through the books and prioritising the work that needed to be done. Dickie was determined to get the urgent matters dealt with as soon as possible, but wanted to know how much money he needed to transfer into the estate account. At least with Larry out of the picture he could be sure how the money would be spent.
Inspector Money had started by searching the desk drawers, but as Mr Stevens had intimated, it was clear it hadn't been used in some time. "Do you think I might get any information from the butler, if I asked?" he asked Dickie.
"From the look of him today, I doubt it. And if I know one thing about Hargreaves it's that he has a propensity to gossip." Dickie commented "Especially after he's had a couple of glasses of beer. If you want to keep this quiet, he is not a man to arouse suspicion in."
"I don't suppose you know of anywhere in the house there might be a safe? Or strong box of any kind?" The Inspector queried.
"There's a small safe in the housekeepers office because she was always in charge of the sundry expenses and payroll. The main safe is in here and was used for the most valuable pieces of Merton jewellery, major contracts and the like." Dickie moved across to the wall behind the desk and pulled aside a landscape in oils "I wonder…." He manipulated the dial, and sure enough it opened. "Well, that answers that: empty." He turned to look at the Inspector.
"You mentioned Merton jewellery?" The Inspector raised an eyebrow.
"Yes. Not exactly the Crown Jewels, but there were a few nice pieces. By rights they should belong to Isobel, but I doubt she would have worn most of it. The boys had a few pieces left specifically to them in my first wife's will, but not much." Dickie looked thoughtful "It may be that, if they lived in London most of the time, they have the bulk at Merton House"
The Inspector nodded, making a note "Any idea how much they might be worth?" He asked.
"I have absolutely no idea" Dickie looked slightly surprised "I've never really considered. I suppose the insurance people will have a record of that, and maybe a more thorough description for you too."
"Yes, good thinking. Who are they insured with please?" The Inspector asked.
"All our insurance is with Rayner and Sons. Do you know them? Or shall I find the details?" Dickie asked
"No, that's fine. They're a big firm in London and we work with them quite a lot" replied the Inspector, making another note "I've got some good contacts there who will be able to help me out on the QT". He looked pensive for a moment. "I don't suppose you've noticed if anything else is missing in the house?"
"Things have perhaps been rearranged a little, but I'm not sure anything is missing. It might be better to ask the insurers which pieces are the most valuable and then we can try to locate them?" Dickie suggested. The Inspector pointed his pencil at Dickie in agreement before making more notes in his notebook.
Just then, Isobel arrived and noticed the worried look on Dickie's face.
"I don't wish to add to the bad news, but I've just had a very interesting conversation with Mrs Pearce" Isobel started. "The household accounts are empty, just like the estate account. These are outstanding supplier bills, and this is the payroll ledger. The staff haven't been paid since the end of August." She looked up at Dickie, who closed his eyes and hung his head. "Mrs Pearce has the full household records, but I just remembered a couple of the dates so I wouldn't arouse her suspicion. There was a big house party from the 10th of July - a good 40 guests - and a large shooting party for the 12th of August. Do they tie up with any of your withdrawals Mr Stevens?"
Mr Stevens started to leaf through the estate ledger "Yes, here there's an amount taken on the 10th of August, but it's not so clear in July. There were 3 withdrawals of various amounts on the 8th, 14th and 18th" Stevens looked up.
"Mrs Pearce mentioned that she had on occasion had to ask for additional funds." Isobel opened the payroll ledger. "The staff here is much bigger than I would expect, although my experience is only hospitals. Mrs Pearce mentioned that big parties would sometimes happen with little notice and Mrs Grey had asked her to maintain a big staff permanently so they didn't have to hire in at short notice."
"But they haven't been paid, you said?" The Inspector asked.
"No, the last deposit in the household account was at the beginning of September, and that was less than usual" Isobel looked apologetically at Dickie "The local suppliers won't extend any more credit. Mrs Pearce has been relying on the Home Farm for produce otherwise the staff may not have eaten either"
Dickie sighed "I'm sorry Inspector, but in order to resolve this situation I'm going to have to make some immediate changes here. It might start a few rumours, but hopefully they will stay local in Yorkshire and won't reach ears in London"
"I understand m'lord. It can't be helped." The Inspector nodded.
"I've asked Mrs Pearce to draw up lists of who is essential to maintain the house, and who she would normally employ. What will you do about the outstanding amounts?" Isobel asked.
"Add it to the total, I suppose. I will need to go and see the bank in York tomorrow morning and arrange the funds" He looked at Isobel with concern "We will need to dismiss all those who are not essential, I think, in order to try and recover. But I'd rather we could pay them in full when we tell them. Will you and Mrs Pearce be able to arrange references?"
"I'm sure we will. She seems a fair and sensible type. Would you be prepared to let people stay until they find something else or somewhere to go?" Isobel asked. "I do still have some contacts in York and Ripon that could probably help."
"Of course, as long as I'm not paying them" Dickie looked apologetic.
"I understand" Isobel nodded "I'll just go and update Mrs Pearce, then I'm afraid we should be going. We're expected at the Abbey for dinner tonight"
-TW- -TW- -TW-
"It's good to be home" sighed Dickie as they entered Crawley House.
"Would you like a rest before we get changed?" Isobel asked "I'm worried it's been a very trying day. If it wasn't Mrs Field's day off, I'd suggest we stayed home tonight"
"If you don't mind, can we go up to the Abbey early? I'd quite like to see John I think"
"Of course. You go up and I'll arrange a pot of tea and let Stokes know the plan" Isobel smiled and headed to the kitchen. Hopefully half an hour with John could lighten the mood a little.
As they entered the Downton nursery, the children were just finishing supper before bedtime. Isobel calmed the older children and encouraged them to finish their milky drinks by offering to read them a story. While George sat on her lap, she read Jack and the Beanstalk with all the voices. Dickie snuck into the bedroom where the babies were being settled.
"Good Evening m'lord" whispered Emma "Can I help you?"
"I was just hoping for a few minutes with John before dinner, if that won't disturb him too much?" Dickie asked.
"He's a bit grouchy today m'lord. His teeth are giving him some bother" Emma smiled at John who was busy chewing on his fist "But he seems to like having you around, so I'm sure he'll be fine. If he falls asleep, just lay him in the crib."
Dickie accepted John into his arms and felt the reassuring weight of the lad. John sighed and settled himself a little, obviously content. Emma hurried next door to help Nanny with bedtime.
"Hello John, it's your Grandpa. I'm sorry we weren't here earlier, like we usually are. We were sorting out some of your Father's mess. But you're safe here where you are, and I'm going to make sure that whatever happens you grow up surrounded by people who care for you and only want the best for you." John looked at him intently "You are very precious and I'm going to make sure you know how much you are loved. You'll grow up big and healthy and strong. I'll teach you how to play cricket, listen to you practice your piano, watch you learn to ride, and so many other things. It's going to be a wonderful adventure little man. You're going to love every minute."
Noticing that John was asleep, he gave him a soft kiss to the head before laying him in the crib and covering him with a blanket. So tiny and fragile thought Dickie, how could they leave him behind? Whatever the circumstances, I'm not sure I could do it.
-TW- -TW- -TW-
Isobel awoke from an uncomfortable dream. She was in a house she didn't know, wandering endless corridors but never able to find her way out or the thing she was looking for. The room was pitch dark: no light from the moon or the banked fire. She listened for Dickie: she could tell from his breathing he wasn't asleep.
As her eyes adjusted to the dark she rolled over to look for him. He was lying on his back staring at the ceiling. "Have you slept at all?" she asked quietly.
"I don't think so" Dickie replied "Too much going through my mind."
Isobel closed the distance between them and cuddled up to him. "Whatever you're worrying about, none of it is your fault you know. Larry has done it all. Or rather not done it." Isobel sighed "If I hadn't turned up at Cavenham that day, coerced you into marrying me. If I hadn't let you give up Cavenham because I prefer Crawley House, then none of this would have happened."
"You cannot be serious!" exclaimed Dickie "You actually think that you bear any of the blame in this.. this … debacle?!"
"Well, yes." mumbled Isobel "If we hadn't married, you would still have been running Cavenham. If I had been braver and taken on Larry and Amelia - staked my claim, as it were - we may both have been there. How can I not accept some of the blame?"
"I don't want you to even think that again, let alone say it" stated Dickie "This time with you has been the happiest days of my whole life." He turned to lay a reverent kiss on her head "Even knowing what I know now, I would not change a thing about the time we have spent together." He paused "Well, that's not quite true. I'd go back to that dreadful dinner and make you marry me by offering to move to Crawley House then and there. If I want anything, Isobel, it's to have spent more time with you, not less."
Isobel changed her position to lay her head on his chest "I do love you so, Dickie Merton" she whispered.
Dickie sighed again "I should have stayed more involved in the running of Cavenham maybe. I know when I left I was quite poorly, but once we knew things would be alright I could have done more. Truth is, I didn't want to. I'd been brought up to understand my duty, I'd assumed my responsibilities as expected, I'd done what was required and trained an heir. Life here was so wonderful, I didn't want to spoil anything by taking myself away to work at something I had endured for so long." He paused "It wasn't always so dreadful as all that, but often you only do a thing because you don't know there's another way of being. Once I knew, living the life I always had didn't feel like something I wanted to do anymore."
He turned to take Isobel in his arms "Whatever happens, I don't want to lose what we have. I don't want whatever is going on to change the way we are together. I love you Isobel. I want John to know what it's like to grow up knowing a loving home, feeling secure in the people around him. I don't want this to set the tone of his life, or ours."
Isobel leant over to kiss him "Whatever this is, we can face it together. We're stronger together. We can protect John, and raise him to be a man you can be proud of. All things are possible, my love".