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And having gone full circle, Rufus groaned and went back to his bed.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
* * *
The dower house was a redbrick square, with none of the character of Southbrook Castle, but, far more important than looks, it was a solid and substantial building. James and Rufus did not accompany them—evidently there were matters at the castle to attend to. Averil didn’t know whether to be glad or sorry that the earl wasn’t by her side. Breakfast had been a hasty affair and she’d only spoken to him once, to murmur a “Good morning,” and although he had smiled he had seemed distant.
Last night seemed like a dream, and she wondered if she had really understood him and his words as perfectly as she’d thought she did. With morning had come doubts, and try as she might Averil could not seem to shake them off.
When the three women arrived at the dower house, Douglas McInnes was already there, and was quick to hand Violet down from the vehicle.
He continued to show a marked preference for the girl, but Averil was relieved to see that the attention had not gone to her head. Far from it, in fact. Violet appeared a little amused by his singling her out, and knew how to keep her distance from the older man. She was a very pretty girl and she’d probably learned such lessons early in her life.
Douglas took a heavy set of keys from his coat pocket and opened the front door, which creaked protestingly. “The Southbrooks haven’t lived here for years, but it’s a good, solid house and it seems a shame for it to lie empty. I’m sure it wouldn’t take much to repair any neglect and set it to rights again.”
Inside the rooms smelt disused and dusty, but far from being dark and gloomy, there was plenty of light coming through the many windows. Some of the rooms were still furnished with old-fashioned, solid pieces. Douglas left them to wander about as they pleased and when they entered the kitchen, Violet became quite animated.
“Oh!” she exclaimed. It was a vast room dominated by a massive stove and a wooden table with a dozen chairs. Like the other rooms the kitchen was well lit and in spite of its size had an air of coziness. Violet began to chatter about the amount of food that could be prepared here, and how she visualized it all happening. “It’s perfect!” she blurted out.
Averil agreed it did look suitable for their purposes and was considerably better than the kitchen at the Home, where they struggled to prepare adequate meals for the occupants. Violet’s ideas surprised her; they were well thought out and sensible.
The rest of the dower house provided her with more ideas. There were rooms that would be suitable for dormitory-style accommodation, as well as private areas. Perhaps they might consider taking in some orphans? Averil had felt for some time that this was a matter they might explore. And some of the distressed women were mothers, so why not accommodate them and their children?
“I can see your mind ticking over,” Beth said, giving her a nudge. “What do you think? Will it do?”
Averil smiled dreamily. “I think so. Of course it’s a long way from the East End, but then that’s the whole point, isn’t it?”
“They can come here and stay for however long you consider necessary, and then they can go out and find work in some of the larger towns. They may never return to London.”
“Many of the women are from outside the city in the first place, and were only drawn into London to look for work, before things went sour for them. It seems to be a recurring theme. I need to talk to Gareth about it, but . . .” She smiled.
“You want to do it,” Beth answered for her.
“Yes.” Averil forced herself to be practical. “There’s the matter of the money needed to make repairs and to keep the place in good condition. Do we buy it outright or lease it from the earl? Perhaps a lease and then, when I turn twenty-one, I will be able to purchase it myself. I feel like it’s my project, Beth. Something I can make my life’s work.”
Beth opened her mouth to remind her that life was more than work, but Violet interrupted.
“Lady Averil, we could grow our own vegetables here.” The girl was looking out the window at an overgrown garden. “The women could tend them and then pick them and finally cook them. Some of them don’t even realize that potatoes grow in the ground. They think they come ready mashed in a pot.”
Averil went to stand beside her. “That sounds marvelous, Violet.” It seemed that she and the girl were thinking along the exact same lines for once, and they exchanged smiles.
After an inedible breakfast at the castle, food was very much on their minds.
“I think it’s a wonderful place,” the girl said wistfully. “You’re going to take it, aren’t you?”
Was she? What if Gareth refused? But Averil knew she’d already decided. “Yes, Violet. I’ll do whatever I can to secure this place for our cause. And, if you’re willing, you can play a part in setting it up.”
Tears filled Violet’s eyes but she held them back, turning again to the window. “I-I’ll have to see,” she murmured. “I mean, I want to, Lady Averil, but there are reasons . . .”
“Of course,” Averil said briskly, hiding her disappointment.
She looked about her with satisfaction. Yes, this would do. It would do very well.
When they returned to the castle, Violet asked if Averil and Beth would accompany her to the kitchen. She looked secretive and yet there wa
s a little smile playing about her lips, and Averil wondered what she was up to, as they followed her into the bowels of the castle.
The kitchen was like a stone vault and was probably the original castle kitchen, with an old-fashioned iron range placed where once the big fireplace would have been. A blackened pot was boiling violently, spitting its contents, while there were vegetables and bowls full of ingredients in various stages of completion jumbled on the scrubbed table. A woman with a round flushed face and wild eyes spun around to face them as they entered.
