When their mother returned, they all gathered in the dining room for lunch and they were just finishing it when Hetty appeared. ‘Mr Pembroke is here asking to see the master, ma’am. What shall I tell him?’
Dorcas rose from the table. ‘But my husband should be at the works,’ she said with a frown. ‘Show him into the drawing room.’
‘Yes, ma’am.’ Hetty bobbed her knee and rushed off to do as she was told, while Dorcas swept after her.
She found Mr Pembroke, the bookkeeper at the brickworks, standing in front of the marble fireplace she had had shipped from France, nervously rolling the brim of his hat around.
‘Mr Pembroke. I’m a little confused. Hetty tells me that you wish to see my husband but I believed he was already at the works?’
He shook his head, his face grave. ‘He hasn’t been there at all today, ma’am,’ he answered respectfully. ‘And I don’t know what to do. He promised me that he would give me the money to pay the suppliers this morning and I’m afraid they are not prepared to wait any longer. Without fresh supplies I shall have no choice but to shut the business down until the outstanding debts are settled.’
‘Outstanding debts?’ Dorcas looked horrified. ‘What are you talking about, man? Ours is a thriving business!’
‘Itwasa thriving business,’ he gulped. ‘But I’m afraid it hasn’t been classed as such for some time now and people are baying for the money they are owed.’
Dorcas tutted with annoyance. This man clearly didn’t know what he was talking about. And where was Gerald? Blast the man.
‘Tell me how much you need and I shall go to the bank and get the money for you immediately,’ she told him imperiously.
He withdrew a piece of paper from his pocket and handed it to her and when she saw the amount written on it her face paled, although she otherwise remained calm.
‘You may go now,’ she said dismissively, drawing herself up to her full height. ‘And I shall bring the money to you later this afternoon.’
‘Much obliged, ma’am.’ He gave a little bow and scurried from the room like a frightened rabbit as Dorcas hurried away to order the carriage to be brought round to the front of the house for her.
An hour later she swept into the bank in Nuneaton in a beautiful dark-blue velvet two-piece costume with a matching hat trimmed with white feathers, and demanded to see the bank manager immediately.
Within minutes he had ushered her into his office and, after shaking her hand, he offered her a seat.
‘I am so glad you’ve come, Mrs Winter,’ he began. ‘I asked your husband to call in some weeks ago.’
‘Really?And why would you do that?’
‘To discuss his, er .?.?. situation.’
‘Whatsituation?’
He swallowed, making his Adam’s apple bob up and down in his throat, before saying cautiously, ‘About the bank loan he took out some time ago to keep his business afloat. He hasn’t made any of the repayments. And so it is with deep regret that I have to inform you we now have no other option but to foreclose on the loan.’
Dorcas gasped and her hand flew to her mouth. ‘B-but there must be some mistake,’ she croaked.
He shook his head and took a file from his desk drawer. Opening it, he circled a large number before pushing the paper towards her. ‘This is the amount outstanding.’
Her eyes popped as she stared at the staggering amount on the paper, then on legs that had suddenly turned to jelly, she rose, telling him, ‘I’m sure there must be some way we can settle this matter, Mr Davidson. I shall go and see our solicitor immediately. Good day to you, sir.’ She took the folder containing the unpaid bills and, cheeks burning with humiliation, sailed from the room with what dignity she could muster.
One thing was for sure, Gerald was going to have some explaining to do when she got her hands on him, but first she would seek their solicitor’s advice.
Chapter Two
It was almost two hours later when Dorcas returned home, her face puce with rage.
Hetty hurried into the hall to take her hat and coat, smiling cheerily, but her smile vanished after taking a glance at her mistress. ‘Good afternoon, ma’am.’
‘Has the master returned?’ Ignoring the girl’s shocked expression Dorcas almost threw her outer garments at her.
‘I, er .?.?. haven’t seen him, ma’am.’ Hetty was nervous now.
‘Then I must assume that he hasn’t come out of his room today, and I’m not surprised.’
