A Stranger in Honeyfield Read online

  Now she turned to face Filmore, who was still standing by her side. She edged quickly to the other side of the lectern and continued loudly, ‘I shall not be marrying a man who has treated me unkindly today and not respected my grief.’ Taking off her engagement ring, she hurled it at Filmore’s face.

  As he ducked instinctively the silence was still so absolute that the ring could be heard tinkling as it hit the floor and rolled on.

  He reached out and grabbed her arm. ‘You are not yourself, Georgina.’

  She tried to shake him off, but he was holding her more firmly this time. She was looking afraid of him now. ‘You’re hurting me. Let me go!’

  Two of the officers stood up. ‘Can’t resist rescuing a damsel in distress,’ one of them said loudly.

  They marched to the front, saluted briskly and the same man said, ‘Do you wish to go with this chap, Miss Cotterell?’

  Again she tried to free herself, but in vain. ‘No. I do not.’

  ‘Let her go, you.’

  ‘She’s my fiancée and I will thank you not to interfere.’

  ‘She just gave you your ring back, so she’s not your concern now, what?’

  There was quite a hubbub from the congregation, but Mrs Cotterell said nothing more. She continued to sit stiffly upright with a look of outrage on her face and the way she was looking at her daughter was a threat in itself.

  The two officers moved to either side of Georgie and with a nod of thanks, she went with them to the second pew full of military.

  Filmore bent to pick up the ring and returned to his place next to Mrs Cotterell.

  What on earth was going to happen now? Bella wondered. But she was glad Georgina had broken with that man. Philip had hated him, hated the idea of the marriage, blamed it all on his mother’s nagging.

  Chapter Three

  The service ended and Georgina sobbed openly as a cloth-covered board bearing bouquets of flowers and a stone plaque were lifted and carried out. Four of the officers moved forward to help perform this final service and the minister looked at them uncertainly, then gestured to them to take their places.

  Hearing the other woman’s agonised weeping for her twin made Bella weep too. This time she didn’t attempt to stop the tears rolling down her cheeks, couldn’t have done.

  As the pall-bearers paused for a moment just beyond their pew, Georgina moved sideways to grab Bella’s arm. ‘Walk with me. Please.’

  As they fell into place behind Mrs Cotterell and her son, Tez and another officer also slipped out of the pew to walk behind them. Was it really necessary to form a protective barrier between them and Spencer? Bella wondered. But the others knew so much more than she did about the people here today that she simply did as Tez and Georgina wanted.

  Mrs Cotterell ignored the two younger women completely and continued to move slowly forward on the arm of her son. Her face was like a pale shadow beneath the heavy black veil which she’d pulled down from the crown of her hat.

  Bella found it impossible to hold back more tears as the minister spoke the final words at the graveside and the plaque was lowered to a place that had been prepared for it among the family headstones. She waited till the others had sprinkled earth on the ground in front of it to pick up a handful as her own token.

  ‘Stop her! Don’t let her defile his grave!’ Mrs Cotterell cried suddenly from the other side of the hole. ‘She’s nothing but a whore!’

  Bella made no attempt to respond to this gratuitous insult but tossed down her own handful of earth in tribute to the man she’d loved. This ceremony seemed unreal, like the worst of nightmares, but she wasn’t going to be drawn into an argument, whatever they said or did. Not now, not with poor Philip’s body lying in France and this plaque the only sign of his life left to his family in England.

  As people began to move away, Georgina clutched Bella’s arm again. ‘What am I going to do? Where can I go? Mother will make my life unbearable if I go home.’

  ‘I’m sure my landlady will let you stay with me for a few days. You can share my room and I can lend you some money, if you need it.’

  ‘Thanks, but I drew some money out of the bank yesterday. I had a feeling I’d need it. My main worry is to find somewhere to live, a place where my mother can’t get to me. I daren’t even go back to the house for my clothes.’

  Bella didn’t know what to suggest, but if Philip’s sister needed help she’d do anything she could.

  The red-haired young officer who had been standing nearby moved closer. ‘Couldn’t help overhearing. Don’t know if you remember me, Georgina?’

  ‘Philip always called me Georgie and so should his friends. I hate being called Georgina. Only my family and Francis do it.’

  ‘I’m Harry Lewison. You and my sister were at school together and you stayed at our house a couple of times. Penny’s married now but her husband is away a lot, serving in the navy. She’s staying in the depths of the country in a cottage belonging to a distant relative who has a farm. She’s finding it very quiet and I’m sure she’d welcome some company.’

  ‘You’re Penny’s brother. Of course. That’s why you looked familiar.’ She stood there indecisively. ‘What do you think, Bella? Should I see if Penny can take me in for a while?’

  ‘You’re absolutely sure you want to be done with your engagement, Georgie?’

  ‘Oh, yes! More sure of that than anything else.’

  ‘Then from what Philip said about your mother, you definitely can’t stay at home any longer. And staying with your old school friend will be better than staying with me, where there isn’t a spare bedroom and I can be transferred at any time.’

  ‘You’re right.’ Georgie blinked furiously. ‘I don’t know why I’ve grown so timid. I used to think for myself. Thank you for helping me today.’

  Bella got out her notebook, scribbled her present address down and tore the page out. ‘This will always find me. My landlady, Mrs Sibley, is a darling and even if I’m transferred, she’ll forward any letters.’

  Georgie took the paper and shoved it in her handbag. ‘Thanks.’ She hesitated, then gave Bella a hug. ‘Thanks for everything today. Please stay in touch.’

  ‘I’m glad to help.’ Bella turned to Tez. ‘Is there any chance you could take Georgie to see if this Penny can give her a bed for a few nights?’

  Harry intervened again. ‘No need. I’m going to spend the night with my sister and can drive you there, Georgie. But we’d better leave straight away. Looks like that Filmore fellow is bringing in reinforcements.’

  ‘Mother’s lawyer is away in London. That’s his partner, Mr Marley. I’ve not had much to do with him but he’s probably just as much on her side as Mr Polbrook. Let’s go quickly.’ Georgie turned to flee.

  Bella grabbed her arm. ‘Wait. It’d be better to face them now and make sure the lawyer realises you’re leaving of your own free will.’

  ‘I never thought of that.’ But Georgie still looked terrified.

  And Philip’s mother looked icily furious.

  Mrs Cotterell came up to them, accompanied by Spencer and a silver-haired man in an old-fashioned high-collared shirt. Filmore followed them and stood slightly to one side, the scowl still painted on his face.

  ‘I’m making allowances for how upset you are today, Georgina,’ Mrs Cotterell said. ‘You don’t realise what you’re doing. You must come home and lie down till you feel better. We’ll get the doctor to give you something to calm you.’

  Spencer said nothing, but the look he gave Georgie promised retribution not support. Bella was surprised to see the lawyer looking from him to his mother in faint puzzlement. Wasn’t he part of this?

  Her mother’s remarks seemed to stiffen Georgie’s spine. ‘I am upset, very, at the loss of my twin. But I know perfectly well what I’m doing today. I didn’t want to get engaged to Francis in the first place, but you persuaded me, Mother, and he seemed kind. However, as soon as I had his ring on my finger, he changed and started ordering me around
as if I was nothing. Telling me not to speak at my twin’s funeral was the final straw. I do not wish to marry Francis and nothing you say or do will make me change my mind.’

  Filmore stepped forward. ‘Don’t say anything you’ll regret, Georgina. We can discuss everything later. Your mother needs your support today of all days.’

  Georgie scowled at him. ‘There’s nothing to discuss. I won’t marry you. As for my mother, she has Spencer to support her. He’s always been her favourite. He doesn’t even have to go away to fight, because of his poor health. I’m going to make a new life for myself from now on and maybe I’ll join the VADs too.’

  ‘You’ll never manage on your own,’ her mother said scornfully. ‘You’ll dither around and get into debt because you’ll need to find a job. And with your lack of skills, you’ll only earn a pittance. You’ve always had an unstable temperament and you need your family’s support.’

  For a moment Georgie seemed to hesitate, then she shook her head again. ‘That’s not true. And I have enough money to go into lodgings. One room will be paradise as long as I have it to myself.’

  ‘You’ve been persuaded to act foolishly by these people who turned up today. Poor Philip made some very dubious friends in the army and—’

  ‘I haven’t been persuaded by anyone. Philip’s friends never came near me, didn’t speak to me till I asked for their help today.’ She turned to the lawyer. ‘Mr Marley, I’ve been dealing with your partner until now, but since Mr Polbrook handles my mother’s affairs, I think I should get a lawyer of my own. I’ll let you have his name. Once I’m over thirty, I’ll gain control of my annuity, will I not? So it’s just a question of surviving for four more years.’

  He looked at her in puzzlement. ‘You gained control of your money when you turned twenty-five, actually, as did your brother.’

  Georgie gaped at him, then stared reproachfully at her mother. ‘But Mother, you said it was thirty!’

  Mrs Cotterell was looking flustered.

  The lawyer took over. ‘I handled your grandmother’s affairs and therefore her bequests to you and your brother Philip. Arrangements were the same for both of you. You could have taken control of your money once you turned twenty-five, Miss Cotterell, but you wrote to tell my partner that you had no head for business and wished your mother to handle things until you married Mr Filmore, after which he would take over. Have you changed your mind about that?’

  ‘I didn’t write any such letter!’

  ‘You’re sure you didn’t assign management of your money to your mother?’

  ‘No. Definitely not!’

  ‘See how forgetful you’ve become,’ Mrs Cotterell said quickly.

  Georgie ignored her mother. ‘Mr Marley, I am not forgetful and I didn’t want my mother to handle my money. I’d like to take back control as of today.’

  Mrs Cotterell opened her mouth, but her son nudged her and shook his head, so she said nothing, but the look she gave her daughter spoke more of hatred than of love.

  There was a pregnant silence till Mr Marley said, ‘Once my partner recovers from his illness, I’ll inform him of the changes you wish to make. In the meantime I’ll make sure your new instructions go on record. It will help if you put your exact wishes into writing, with two witnesses, and send that to me as soon as possible.’

  Bella saw Filmore and Spencer exchange glances. They looked as if they were plotting something so she said quickly, ‘Why don’t we do that now? I have a notebook and it’ll only take five minutes to write a short letter. Is that all right with you, Mr Marley?’

  He nodded. ‘Certainly. A bit unorthodox but I can quickly draw up a document that will hold firm, if you’ll allow me to borrow your notebook. I have my fountain pen with me.’

  She passed him her notebook, he took out his pen and leant on the top edge of a tombstone, writing rapidly. This took only a few minutes and after he’d showed it to Georgie and gained her approval, he made a copy.

  Bella and Mr Lewison witnessed Georgie’s signature on both papers then the lawyer gave one copy to Georgie and put the other safely in his breast pocket. ‘Good. That’s done. Now, I’ll also need your bank account details, Miss Cotterell. I gather you have recently set up a new account at the Midland Bank but there are no details on record for it at our rooms.’

  She looked at him blankly. ‘I haven’t opened a new bank account. I still have the same account as previously and it’s at Barclays Bank.’

  If anything he became even more glassy-eyed but it was obvious he was shocked. ‘Quite a muddle, then. If you will contact both banks, I’ll make sure the details are sorted out completely to your satisfaction. And I can assure you that your affairs will be dealt with exactly as you instruct from then on. I was your brother’s lawyer and he trusted me. I hope you’ll do the same, but if you wish to find another lawyer, I’ll understand.’

  She studied him, then nodded. ‘If Philip trusted you, so will I. But please keep my information carefully locked away from … other people.’

  ‘Oh, I will, believe me.’ The look he gave Mrs Cotterell and the two men standing on either side of her was a warning as much as anything.

  ‘And please don’t pay any of my annuity money into this Midland Bank account, which has nothing to do with me. In fact, please don’t take money out of my Barclays account, either.’

  He couldn’t hide his surprise. ‘It’s not for me to take money out, Miss Cotterell. It’s your bank account.’

  ‘Well, Mr Filmore took money out of the Barclays account two days ago, apparently authorised by my mother, the manager told me. I only found out about it when I went into the bank yesterday. I was going to ask about it when we got home today.’

  Filmore cleared his throat to get their attention. ‘We needed new financial arrangements since I’ll be handling your money after we’re married and—’

  ‘We are not getting married,’ Georgie said again, this time loudly enough for the mourners still lingering in the churchyard to hear her. ‘There is no way I’m going to change my mind about that.’

  ‘I’m sure Mr Filmore will pay back the money straight away, then, given the new circumstances,’ Mr Marley said. ‘Please check your bank account tomorrow afternoon to make sure that’s been done and let me know if it hasn’t.’

  ‘I will. Um, can I ask? How do you know all this?’

  The lawyer’s expression slipped a little and he threw a quick disapproving glance at Mr Filmore. ‘Since my partner will take a while to recover from the pneumonia, I will have to take charge of his clients’ affairs. I decided to take a quick glance at your details this morning and I found some of what had been happening rather … let us say, puzzling. So I went through the recent paperwork for the annuities rather more carefully than I would have done.’

  ‘I see. Thank you for doing that.’

  ‘I also discovered a list of the jewellery you inherited from your grandmother, Miss Cotterell. There are some valuable pieces and most of them are stored in our safe, though they really should be in the bank vault. What do you wish to do about them?’

  ‘I’d be grateful if you’d check that every item is there, because I have none of them in my possession and I know my mother has borrowed pieces from time to time.’

  A faint look of surprise again escaped the lawyer’s control. ‘I shall attend to that for you.’

  ‘And there are my clothes and personal possessions.’

  Mrs Cotterell intervened. ‘Surely you can leave them where they are till you calm down and come home again, Georgina?’

  ‘I’m never coming back to Westcott.’ Again Georgie appealed to the lawyer, ‘Surely I have a right to my possessions?’

  ‘Of course. But can you not pack them yourself?’

  ‘I daren’t go back home.’

  ‘Ah. Then I’ll send someone to do it for you. That will be all right, will it not, Mrs Cotterell?’

  She gave him a sour look and inclined her head.

  ‘I’ll have to le
t you know where I am later,’ Georgie added.

  ‘If you like, they can be sent to my mother at our London address. I think you’ll be staying with Penny, so Mother can send them on to you.’ Mr Lewison waited for her nod and when the lawyer asked for the address, he pulled out his card and held it out.

  Mr Lewison turned to Georgie. ‘If that’s all, could we leave now, do you think? Penny’s expecting me and she worries if I’m late.’

  Once the others had left, Tez touched Bella’s arm. ‘I’m not feeling well now, I’m afraid. Would you mind if we left straight away, Miss Jones?’ He stared down at his hand. ‘I may be missing two fingers, but they still feel as if they’re there, and very painful they are, too.’

  ‘I’ve heard before of that happening,’ she said. ‘I’m happy to leave at once.’ She tried to scrub away the dampness from her tears surreptitiously.

  Tez turned to Mr Marley while she was doing that and said quickly in a low voice, ‘I’m sure Miss Jones will be safe in your hands for any other business matters, but if there’s ever anything I can do to help, don’t hesitate to call on me. Or my mother.’

  ‘I won’t hesitate. If I may say so, Mr Tesworth, you’ve helped greatly already today. I’m sure your friend, were he still with us, would be most grateful that you’ve helped his fiancée. I hope your hand recovers quickly.’

  Mrs Cotterell had been moving to intercept her daughter and Georgie muttered a quick farewell to Bella and avoided her mother by walking out with Mr Lewison through the graves.

  The older woman stood scowling while her son and Filmore continued to mutter together.

  Wooden-faced again, the lawyer offered his arm to Mrs Cotterell. ‘Shall I escort you back to the car now, ma’am? Your guests will be waiting for you at the house. I can wait and collect your daughter’s clothes while we’re at it. And any pieces of jewellery that are hers.’