Thornhall Manor (6 page)

Chapter Twenty-Four

THE DOCTOR IS CALLED

With Rebecca in his arms, William kicked at the door.

“Oh, my God, what's happened?”

“Thank God you've found her. It's all right, Mary - she's all right.”

William carried Rebecca up the stairs to her bedroom. Gently he laid her on the bed. Mary just stood staring at Rebecca as she lay there motionless.

“Oh, God, what have they done to you?”

It wasn't long before Mary had her tucked up in bed. She picked up her wet clothes and made her way downstairs.

“William, you must go to Dr Haywood. Tell him to come at once.”

“She'll be all right, Mary, won't she?”

“I hope so, Ned.”

“First things first, Mary,” Dr Haywood said as Mary followed him back down the stairs. “I can't do much more at the moment. The next twenty-four hours will tell. Now, William, let's have that shirt off.” Dr Haywood listened intently whilst tending his wounds. “Hallo - what's this?” While bathing the deep cut on his face, he noticed a birthmark high on William's shoulder.

“Oh, that. That's the family birthmark. In our family the firstborn boy always has the clover mark.”

“Thank you, Ned,” said the Doctor as Ned helped him to remove his coat when he returned the next day. “How's our patient this morning?”

“Doing fine. Mary's with her now, Doctor.”

Standing at the bottom of the stairs, Ned could hear, “Good morning, Rebecca. I hope Mary's been looking after you.” He heard no more as the door closed.

Ned eased himself into the fireside chair, leant back and closed his eyes. He felt he needed these few moments to himself. He found it hard to believe the evil that had taken place at the manor. Some time later he heard the heavy footsteps of the Doctor as he made his way down the stairs.

“Ned, when will Annie be back?”

“Sometime next week, Doctor.”

“The sooner the better. My concern is for Mary, Ned. She's done wonders for Rebecca, but she needs help.”

Chapter Twenty-Five

A BOY

“I had a wonderful time - went to places I'd previously only dreamt about. Now, that's for you, Mary, and that's for you, Ned. These are for Rebecca. And to think I never wanted to go!”

Annie had been on a six-month tour of Europe as a lady's companion to Lady Newman, a friend of Kathleen and John. Annie spoke with an air of excitement about her travels, but to Mary it was just a voice in the background.

“Mary - something's wrong.”

These words brought Mary back to reality.

“Annie, I want you to sit down. I've got something to tell you.”

Sitting down one minute, and nervously pacing up and down the next, she listened as Mary explained what had happened during her absence.

“Where is she now?”

“She's safe in her bedroom.”

“I must go to her.”

“Annie, there's something you must know first. You must prepare yourself. You will be as a stranger to her, but Dr Haywood said maybe in time her memory will return.”

The book Rebecca had been reading fell upon the floor as Annie cuddled her in her arms and kissed her on the cheek. The look of surprise in Rebecca's face was indeed that of a stranger. A long silence followed as both struggled to find the right words to save their embarrassment. Annie turned away, but not before Rebecca noticed the tears in her eyes. Rebecca was puzzled.

Once before in Annie's life had she faced such sadness: when she had given up Rebecca, her sister's baby. From then on she had watched her growing up from afar, longing to be with her.

Nervously rearranging the flowers by the window, Annie regained her composure.

“These flowers are lovely, Rebecca.”

“Yes, they're from William.” Annie was turning to leave the room when Rebecca said, “Don't go, Annie. Please stay a while longer. Tell me of your visit to Europe.”

Annie mentioned the weather, Paris, Vienna, and how she enjoyed being a lady's companion to Lady Newman, but this meant nothing to Annie now. Her thoughts were only for Rebecca.

“Do you remember when we were picking flowers and you fell over and cut your knee, and the games we used to play? Your favourite was chasing butterflies.”

It was then Mary came into the room and noticed tears running down Rebecca's face.

“Now, Annie, we mustn't overdo things, must we?”

Annie kissed Rebecca on the forehead and said, “I'll see you tomorrow, my dear.”

Annie then left the room, leaving Mary to rearrange Rebecca's pillows.

Mary's heart was heavy with anxiety, especially when Rebecca said, “I can't remember, I can't remember.”

“Good morning, Doctor. Let me help you with your coat.”

“I wish it was, Ned. I have sad news. William's been arrested - they say for the murder of Peter Nesbit.”

Mary overheard the sad news as she came down the stairs.

“Rebecca must not know of this. Somehow we must keep this from her.”

“Now, Mary, why are you so anxious about Rebecca?”

“Doctor, I'd rather not say until you've examined her.”

“It's been a long time, Mary. Don't you think you should go up?”

“We will know, Ned, soon enough.”

Suddenly they heard the sound of the Doctor's heavy footsteps descending the stairs. He stopped on the bottom step.

“She's with child, Mary.”

He could tell by Mary's face that this came as no surprise.

“Ned, don't forget plenty of hot water.”

Ned seemed to be all fingers and thumbs. Nothing seemed to be going right. He needed another brandy to steady his nerves. He could hear movement upstairs and the sound of muffled voices.

“Hot water, Ned!” called a voice.

“There you are, Annie. Is everything all right?”

“Don't worry, Ned.”

Time seemed to stand still. The house was so quiet, until the sound of a baby crying was heard.

Dr Haywood gave a long sigh of relief. It had been a long and difficult birth and a surprising one.

“It's a boy, Mary.”

He wrapped a blanket around the baby and handed the baby to Rebecca. How would Rebecca respond - this poor girl with no recollection of whom the father might be?

Annie stayed with Rebecca while Mary accompanied Dr Haywood downstairs.

“It's a boy, Ned. Rebecca's fine, thanks to the good doctor. There you are,” she said, handing Dr Haywood a large glass of brandy. Mary remarked, “Let's hope the baby doesn't grow up like his father. Oh, what that poor girl must have gone through!”

“Peter Nesbit's not the father of that child, Mary. It's William.”

Chapter Twenty-Six

A WARNING

“So you've decided to return, William.”

“Yes, I think it will be for the best, John. I owe Steve so much. I don't know what I'd have done if it wasn't for him. William, there's something you should know. I wanted to tell you before. It's about Paul.”

Before he could say more he was interrupted by “There's a Lieutenant Morgan to see William Bradley, sir.”

John could see the surprised look on his brother's face.

“Show him in, Jeffrey.”

John shook Lieutenant Morgan's hand firmly.

“I can never thank you enough for what you've done for my brother, sir.”

“It was my pleasure, sir.”

John could see by their long embrace the great affection between these two men.

“William, I'm here to warn you. You are in grave danger.” He then handed him a letter.

William noticed the address: ‘Lieutenant T. Morgan, c/o Admiralty, Portsmouth'.

Looking across to the Lieutenant he said, “It's from Steve.”

The letter read:

I hope you receive this letter in time. I beg of you to help him once again. That most unsavoury character you both had the misfortune to travel with, Sergeant Killjoy, has visited my spread twice and I've been warned that he made enquiries at the inn. I've also learned of late that he is now on his way to England. Please contact William at your first opportunity. Tell him it's no longer safe to return to Australia. It's been a miserable time for me. I've missed William so much. I've decided to sell my spread to the government and I'm hoping to arrive in England by June.

All the best,

Steve Bradley.

Chapter Twenty-Seven

THE ARREST

“Wake up, Clare. We are home.”

Paul and Clare leapt from the coach into their father's arms.

“I've missed you two.”

“We've missed you too, Father.”

As they walked up to the door of the town house together, Paul looked up and saw the curtains move in an upstairs bedroom. They followed their father into the drawing room. How different their homecoming was this time, with no mother to welcome them. Paul held his sister's hand. The tears in her eyes showed that she too was remembering the sad loss of their dear mother.

As the day passed both children felt uneasy. There seemed to be some mystery. They knew someone was in the room upstairs, but who? The next day at the breakfast table Paul decided to ask.

“Will our guest be joining us this morning, Father?”

His question took John completely by surprise.

“I'm afraid not, Paul. He needs to rest after his long journey.”

“Will he be staying here long, Father?”

“No, I've made arrangements for him to leave today. Unfortunately I will have to go with him. I've written to Annie asking her to stay here with us. I'm sorry to leave you both alone. I've had a word with Jeffrey, and he's going to keep an eye on you until Annie arrives. This is not the homecoming I had in mind for you both. I'm sorry.”

As Jeffrey cleared away the breakfast things he said, “Will there be anything else, sir?”

“No, thanks, Jeffrey. No, wait. I'd like you to go along to the bank with a few documents. Give them to a Mr Hardy and tell him I'll be away for a day or so.”

“Oh, Father, could we go. It's such a fine day.”

“I don't see why not. It will do you both good.”

It seemed strange being back in the hurly-burly of the London streets after the quiet of the country.

“Look, Clare - the flower girl. Do you remember Father always stopped to buy Mother flowers?”

There were lots of other street traders and the pavements were crowded with people

On their way home after delivering their father's documents to Mr Hardy they had a frightening experience.

“Excuse me, young sir. We are looking for a William Bradley, who we have reason to believe is staying at your house.”

A tall, rather gaunt man in shabby clothing stood before them.

“Why do you ask?”

“He's wanted for murder.”

“Murder!”

Terrified for their father's safety, they quickened their steps. Soon they broke into a run.

Jeffrey could see the fear on the children's faces as he opened the door.

“Oh, Father, thank God you are safe!”

John was taken completely by surprise. With their arms around his waist, he ruffled their hair.

“Now, what's this all about?”

Suddenly Jeffrey was knocked off his feet as three men rushed past him.

“William Bradley, formerly known as William Foster, we arrest you for the murder of Peter Nesbit.”

The man coming down the stairs Paul recognised straight away. He was the man who had picked him up on the churchyard path, the man with the scar on his face.

“You have the wrong man. I'm William Bradley.”

Shocked, puzzled, terrified - that's the best way to describe their feelings.

John was the first to break the long silence: “That's a nasty cut, Jeffrey. Pour yourself a brandy and attend to that right away. Now now, Clare, dry your eyes. It's all over now.”

“Father, what will happen now they've taken him away. He'll be on trial again for murder.”

“My brother never committed murder.”

“He's your brother? I don't understand, Father.”

“Paul, I've had to live with a secret - yes, William is my brother and your father.”

Paul could not believe his ears.

“My father? Oh no!”

Paul and Clare listened intently as John told them everything. “Paul, I love you as a son. You mean everything to me, but there comes a time when it's best to tell the truth. I've never been happy not telling you, but with your mother's illness it was impossible.”

Chapter Twenty-Eight

STEVE BRADLEY RETURNS TO ENGLAND

Steve shook Lieutenant Morgan's hand firmly. “It's nice to be back in the old country again. Where's William?”

The Lieutenant shepherded Steve into the Sailor's Arms, and over a flagon of ale he told him how William had been arrested and was now in Newgate Prison.

“Is there nothing we can do?”

“I'm afraid not.”

“Can I visit him?”

“Yes. I've made arrangements for you to stay at his brother's home in London. From there you will be able to visit William.”

Lieutenant Morgan introduced Steve to each member of the family: “This is John, William's brother, Paul, his sister Clare and, a dear friend of the family, Annie.”

“Well, I'll be damned if it's not Annie Potter.” He took her in his arms. “Don't say you don't remember me, Annie. I'm the husband of Betty, your sister.”

Although he was now grey-haired, wrinkled and browned by the sun, she recognised Steve straight away. Nobody in the room moved. They just stood there as Annie, with tears streaming down her face, hugged Steve.

The evening was drawing to a close as Steve Bradley relived those years in Australia to everybody's delight - especially the children's. He told them of his voyage, his imprisonment, Betty's death and William's arrival.

But it was Annie who surprised not only Steve but all the family when she said, “The day they arrested you and my sister, your baby daughter was not taken to an orphanage. Unfortunately, I was in service and single, but my dear friends Mary and Ned brought her up as their own and gave her a good family life. They never got around to telling her who her parents were. They called her Rebecca.”

Steve and the children listened intently to Annie as she told him everything.

After a long silence, Steve looked across to Paul and Clare and said, “That makes me your grandfather.”