John stood in the street and looked at the children playing games. It reminded him of his promise for the school. Now he was more determined than ever to saveHollyoak.
Robert came outside, wrapping a scarf around his neck and putting on his cap. He was a worn looking man in hisfifties.
“Ready, sir,” hesaid.
“Come, walk with me to the pens,” Johnsaid.
They walked to the end of the village where the sheep were kept when they weren’t grazing. They went inside the first building and leaned against the railing of the firstsheepfold.
“Robert, you know how I’ve kept promising to set up a school for thechildren.”
“Aye, sir. But it’s been a promise a long timea-coming.”
“I know, Robert. I’m truly sorry, and that’s why I wanted to talk to youtoday.”
John looked into the pen and studied the sheep. “Here’s my problem. When we had that outbreak of blackleg a few years back I needed to take out a loan with my father-in-law. Now the note is due and I can’t payit.”
John turned to Robert. “I’m telling you this in the strictest of confidences, youunderstand.”
Robert nodded. “It’s close with me, sir.Narya word shall I say—not even to theMisses.
“I used Hollyoak as collateral for the loan, and if I can’t pay up I’ll lose the house and you all will lose theschool.”
“Then what’s to be done,sir?”
“So my question for you, Robert, is—when is the earliest we can sheer and get the maximum at market for thewool?
Robert scratched the side of his bristly face. “I reckon it’d be at least mid-October. Before that, it’ll all be scratch and worthnaught.”
John grimaced. That’s what I was afraid of. I’ve got to pay the loan by the end of October. And you’re certain we couldn’t start sheeringnow?”
“But it’s not just about sheering. You’ve got to bundle and transport the wooltamarket. Then there’s the auction and how long is it before you usually get paid after that?” Robertasked.
John nodded. “A good two weeks later, if we’relucky.”
“Aye. My pointexactly.”
John just looked at the sheep and nodded. He turned and clapped Robert on the shoulder. “Keep up the good work, my man. I’ll just have to find another way, Iguess.”
He turned togo.
“Good luck with ye, Your Grace. You’re a clever man. You’ll find yourway.”
As John walked back through the village to his horse, he looked at the simple cottages. What kind of lives did these people live he wondered? Growing up in wealth and privilege he had given little thought to the day to day lives of his workers until they pleaded with him for a school. Now, whenever he came through the village he became increasingly aware of the plight of his workers. The cottages were shabby and drear and the children playing in the street were poorly dressed and certainly in need of aneducation.
It made him more determined than ever to find a solution to his problem, and it opened the door for thought about other aspects of his worker’slives.
He mounted his horse and rode out of the village. But he couldn’t face going home. Instead, he directed his horse toward the open fields where he could let his horse loose and ride the rolling hills at full speed. He needed to feel the exertion of the steed under him—the wind blowing through his hair, scouring his face and stinging his eyes. He rode until both he and the horse were exhausted and he stopped at the top of a hill and dismounted. He stood looking back. In the far distance, he could see Haverford House. It looked small and insignificant. That was how he felt. He sat on the grass and let the horse graze as he struggled tounderstand.
What would his father make of all of this if he were alive? Never in his family’s history was there every any diminishing of Haverford. It had always been a strong bulwark in all of southeast Britain. He should never have built that house for Annabel. But how could he not? She was his life. She was his love. He felt at the time that he should spare nothing to please her. But then came the blackleg and there was nothing to be done but take the loan from his father-in-law.
Of course, in hindsight, everything always looked different. Could he have done other than he did? Would he? And in all honesty, he would not. He had made his best judgement and even though the outcome was not to be desired, he would have done none other than what hedid.
