Hannah

I went shopping last weekend in Marple, as I wanted something new and fresh for my meeting today. My black hat works well with it, although I had considered buying one to match, but thought better of it, deciding that my purchase was sufficient for the time being. When my income is reduced as the capital will have gone down with the purchase of my house, I will have to learn to curb my extravagances. But a smart suit is surely part of the image of a home owner that I wish to reflect.

The suit is made of a fine dove grey wool. The coat is trimmed with silk tassels, and velvet appliques outlined in fine silk braid.  The matching dress has a Brussels’s lace collar with grey tucked chiffon overlay and silk velvet bows on the sleeves.

I had to walk down to Lane Ends to catch the bus which was due at 11, and it was somewhat late. It times its journeys to coincide with the train arrivals and departures in Marple - and if the train is late, the bus will also be late. It was 11.15 before it arrived. There were several others on the bus, but I found a seat to myself and didn’t converse with any of them.

We took quite a time covering the seven miles or so to Glossop, stopping in Chisworth, Charlesworth, Gamesley and Dinting on route. I was interested to see that we went by Melandra Castle - which had been mentioned by Horatio in his talk about Roman coins. It is only a ruin now, nothing to show for it, and not even a very good view. Ours from Bench Wells is better.

It was almost 12.30 when we finally got to the town square and I hoped it would not be far to the Norfolk Arms Inn. But having asked the driver, I was told that it was just down to the main street and then on the right.

It was a lovely day and I thought it propitious for the experience which I must admit I have mixed feeling about. I know that Horratio wishes to have a relationship with me, and in many ways I wish it too - but I am nervous, as it has been some time since I have been involved with a man. And of course, always at the back of my mind is the fact that Horatio is married, and if something untoward should happen, I could not depend on him to stand by me. But perhaps I am getting ahead of myself. Perhaps this will be a business lunch and nothing more. I am assuming that I am the only one invited, but it may be that there will be roomful of others from our road.

I turned in the door, and was pleased to see Horatio sitting there just near the door.

“My dear,” he said, taking my arm. “You look lovely. I have counted every minute as an hour and was so pleased to see you coming through the door.”

“I am pleased to see you too, Horatio. Tell me, are there others from the group coming as well?”

“No, of course not. I hoped that you would realise that from the hand written message I put at the end of your note.”

“Well, I did assume that was the case, but thought I should ask, in case I was in error.”

“I have ordered for us, and they have set out a table for us at the far end of the dining area. I hope you will approve of my choice. Can I offer you a sherry before our meal?”

“Oh, that would be lovely, Horatio.”

“Sweet or dry?”

“Sweet.”

And I heard him give the order - two sherries, one sweet and one dry.

We sat in the lounge area to have our drinks, as he said the meal itself was ordered for 1 o’clock.

“And was your meeting with Mr. Abraham a success?”

“Well we went over all the various points, and I paid the expected deposit of £500. The farm manager was also there, and he will come to inspect the farms, while Mr. Abraham and his surveyor come to see to the houses.”

“When will they come?”

“He didn’t commit himself - only that it will be before the end of the year, and they will give me notice. He will want either me or my representative to go with him when he does his tour of the houses. I hope that I might be free - but if I should not be, could I leave that to you?”

“Oh, what would I have to do?”

“Nothing except accompany him to each of the houses that we are hoping to buy, introduce him to the current occupant, and just be there if any questions or problems arise. But as I say, I don’t expect it will come to that. I should be able to do that task myself. Don’t you worry your pretty little head about it.”

When we had finished our drinks, the waitress came and indicated that our food was ready for us, so we made our way to the table set with a glorious view over the countryside. I was so pleased that it was a sunny day and everything was working out so well for us.

“I have ordered a salad and quiche, and then a cobbler for dessert. I hope that will suit.”

“Yes indeed. Best not to have too much food in the middle of the day.”

“May I offer you a glass of wine?”

“Oh, I wasn’t expecting that as well as the sherry, but as you have bought the bottle, yes, I will have a small glass.”

So Horatio filled my glass half full and his all the way up. We spoke little as our food was served, and I noticed that every so often he would refill his glass, and put another drop or two in mine. The food was excellent, and I can’t say when I had enjoyed a meal more. But the pleasure was as much due to the company as anything else.

We ordered coffee, and it was now getting past 2. I knew that I must catch the 4 o’clock bus to be back at the time I had hoped, but there was a later bus at 5 if I missed that one.

As we sat sipping our coffee, Horatio said, “I stayed here last night. In fact I have engaged the room for tonight too, but I may or may not use it.”

I rather expected what was coming next, but I was nervous all the same.

“Will you come up there with me now? I have told the staff that I was expecting my wife this afternoon, and that is who they think you are. What do you say?”

“I don’t suppose sitting in your room for an hour or so would be improper. After all no one around here knows either of us, and it would be so much easier to talk if we were in somewhere private.”

So Horatio thanked the waitress, and told her to put the cost of it on his bill, and then we made our way towards the staircase.

“I hope all was well with your meal, Mr. and Mrs. Whittington,” came a voice from the front area.

“Yes, thank you. It was perfect,” said Horatio.

And just as we approached the bottom of the rather grand staircase I heard a voice.

“Sis, is that really you?” And there was my brother Samuel. He has a farm in Charlesworth, and I see him very seldom, and was as surprised that he was here as he no doubt was to see me.

“Samuel. What a surprise,” I said, trying to sound as normal as possible. “I was just having lunch after a meeting with Mr. Whittington. Have you two met?” I asked, knowing full well that they hadn’t.

“No, I don’t believe so,” said Horatio, holding out his hand. “You are Samuel Hammersley, is that correct? You see, I do know Margaret, and as she is Mrs. Harrison’s sister, I presume she is yours too.”

“Yes, that is it,” said Samuel, shaking Horatio’s outstretched hand. “And what sort of business is it that the two of you are discussing here?”

“I am intending to buy my property, Samuel. Mr. Whittington has organised a consortium of buyers from within our community and we are acting together to buy our property from Lord Howard of Glossop. Mr. Whittington and I have had a meeting today with Lord Howard’s man of business, Mr. Andrew. I am acting as Mr. Whittington’s assistant in the negotiations, and will be showing Mr. Andrew and the surveyor around our properties, so it was deemed important that I should know him in advance.” I cross my fingers behind my back that Horatio would not say anything to contradict my story, but he too seemed relieved that I had thought up an excuse so quickly.

“Well, I am here having sold some of my sheep at the market and thought to have a drink before I get back home. Will you join me?”

“No, thank you, we have already eaten, and I’ve a few more things to see to before I get the bus home,” I said. So there was nothing for it but for Horatio and me to make our way out of the Inn and back into the town.

“I am so sorry, Horatio. I had no idea that he would be there, but I don’t know how else we could have handled it.”

“No indeed, Hannah. I think under the circumstances, you said the right thing. Now shall we find a bench in the park where we can be alone for a few minutes, even if it will not be the sort of privacy that we had originally hoped for.”

So we settled in a quiet part of the park, and he put his arm around me, took my hand, removed my glove so as to hold it closer and told me sweet nothings for the best part of an hour. We thought it better that I go back by bus as I had suggested that I might do, and he would go back to the inn, cancel his stay for the evening, and pay his bill, and then make his own way back to Ludworth. We weren’t able to make any further arrangements for an assignation, but I am sure that Horatio will think of something else before long.

The bus stop was outside the Market Square, just across the road from the Inn, and it was on time, and my trip home was both pleasant with the memory of my time with Horatio, but also tinged with disappointment for that which I know he planned for - and I had hoped for too. But there will be another day, I thought, as I got back to my house well before five, and waved to Mary next door in her garden, to let her know that I had returned.