amp; Minnie was right about her bum!
All that from a single glance! Arent you impressed?
The other woman was young-my age-bit older? — lovely slim figure-God-even when I did my anorexia thing I never got to look like that! — big boned us Heywoods-family gene thing-except this other woman-Clara Brereton her name is-turns out to be a relative of Lady Ds-so how come she doesnt look like a Hereford ready for market? In fact shes gorgeous-if you like your women fashionably skinny-which most men seem to-so-bringing my psychological objectivity to bear once more-I resolved to hate her!
Tom amp; Lady D greeted each other fondly-genuine on both sides from the look of it-tho I noticed she calls him Tom-while he only gets close enough to familiarity to call her Lady D-unlike Mary who refers to her-disapprovingly-as Daphne Brereton!
Credit due-the old bird did ask after Toms sprained ankle. He told her the story of how he got it-made it quite funny- amp; she brayed a laugh.
While this chitter chatter was going on I got a close-up of the Jeep- amp; I noticed someone had added to the general air of dereliction with a bit of graffiti-scrubbed off but not so efficiently I couldnt make out the letters P OLR amp;MUDR-which-I guessed from the gaps-added up to POLLUTER amp; MURDERER. Made me think of the sign outside the pig farm. Not only Mary who doesnt care for Lady D!
She was saying shed been going to call in at Kyoto House-Tom said lets go back there now amp; have some tea-she said no she couldnt possibly do that-Mary would have so much to do having just returned-he said Mary amp; the children would never forgive him if they discovered hed missed the chance of bringing Lady D home with him-she said it was flattering but she couldnt possibly impose- amp; somewhere in the midst of all this Tom amp; me had been translated into the backseat of the Jeep.
As I got in I realized someone had answered Toms knock at Witch Cottage-a stocky oriental looking woman-who was watching us-inscrutably-like an extra in a kung fu movie. Tom-whod gone round to the other side to get in-didnt notice her-but Lady D did- amp; she called out-Good day to you-Miss Lee-I hope you- amp; your ancestors-are well-which I took to be some sort of Chinese greeting. For a moment the womans mask slipped- amp; she looked daggers (or maybe-in view of her profession-needles)-at her ladyship-then gave a stiff little bow- amp; went back into the cottage.
Im getting the feeling that-living in Sandytown-everyone is expected to know their place-which is-Lady D on top-the rest below!
Lady D was still saying she wouldnt come in-as she came in- amp; twenty minutes later was saying she definitely wouldnt stay for tea-as the first cup was poured. Nice technique-getting whatever you want without having to be grateful for it.
But on the whole-I was more amused than alienated by her on first meeting. Good humored-long as she got her own way-showed a lot of interest in dad amp; the farm-said shed heard that Heywood of Willingden knew a bull calf from a bale of hay-treated the kids in the old fashioned country way-gave them 50p apiece amp; then ignored them.
Soon her amp; Tom got to talking about plans amp; development amp; visitors amp; such. Big event next Sunday-to celebrate progress amp; say thanks to those concerned-is a party at Sandytown Hall-my ears pricked when I heard them refer to it as a hog roast-remembering the nickname of Lady Ds 1st husband! — but seems it just means theyre going to barbecue a pig. I got bored- amp; concentrated my clinical gaze on Clara- amp; tried to draw her out.
It was like trying to take a bone off old Fang-except she didnt growl.
Quiet as a nun-contained-gave nothing away-maybe shes got social problems-serve her right for being so good looking! At least when the time came to go-she offered to help with washing up the tea things-but Lady D was on her feet- amp; would brook no waiting. Whatever auntie wants-auntie gets!
I helped Mary clear up. Tom headed off to his study to work on his computer-declaring that Lady D was like Sandytown itself-a breath of fresh air-bringing new life to old ideas. Me-noting her cool reaction to some of his less commercial concerns-Id have said more like a breath of CO2! But Toms enthusiasm is the kind that sees direct opposition as oblique encouragement!
Mary is much clearer-sighted. Over the washing up I asked about Clara-had she always lived with her aunt?
— oh no-said Mary-only for the last six months or so-
Didnt take much to get the whole story. Bit like a 19th century novel-in fact the whole place has that feel-slow paced amp; leisurely on the surface but all kinds of interesting plot stuff swirling around underneath!
Daphne Brereton-Lady D-wealthy by birth- amp; wealthier by her first marriage-is naturally the object of much interest-living- amp; even more-dead! The Great Philosophical Question occupying Sandytonians isnt the meaning of life-or even-can England ever win the World Cup again? — any world cup! — but-wholl inherit Lady Ds lolly?!
Mary has a nice narrative style-little overt malice-but she purses her lips when certain subjects come up- amp; you get the message as well as the facts!
Not much chance of the money going to charity-it seems. Lady D feels the poor of the world probably deserve it-except for poor old horses-whose reward for having their spines bent by big bums like hers during their prime should be an old age of comfort amp; freedom! Used to be a very keen hunter herself-kept half a dozen top class horses-her one extravagance-Mary says. Gave them up after Sir Harrys accident-only keeping one old boy-Ginger-for looking down at the peasants from as she hacks around the countryside!
So-OXFAM-eat your heart out! Daphs stated belief is-money should stay in the family-but which family? — is the question.
Hot favorites for a long time were the Denhams-specifically a nephew who inherited the title amp; Denham Park when Lady Ds husband-Sir Harry-died. Nothing else-because there wasnt anything else- amp; even the house was a poisoned chalice-entailed so he couldnt sell it- amp; it would cost a fortune to get it back to what it once was.
Love apart-Sir Harrys plan had been to repair the family mansion- amp; his own fortunes-by a “good” marriage-told you it was like a 19th century novel! — but hed popped his clogs before any of his brides fortune could find its way into the Denham account.
According to Mary-Lady D had been heard to say-in confidential mood-that though shed got nothing but her title from the Denham marriage-on the other hand shed given nothing for it! Some dame-eh? Perhaps it was her sense of having lost nothing-plus of course it must give her a nice power charge-that made her play along when the new baronet-Sir Edward- amp; his sister-Esther-started cozying up to her. Lady D loves having them dance attendance-drops them little titbits from time to time to keep them interested-took them on a skiing holiday last Christmas for instance. That made them think they were at the top of the inheritance list-so they must have got a nasty shock when shortly after they came back Lady D brought cousin Clara to live at the hall! To compensate-maybe-she gave Sir Ed some kind of job in the Hollis pig empire-not his kind of thing at all-Mary implied-but hed had to take it-or risk losing his cozying-up access!
Seems first hubby-Hog Hollis-was built in the same mold-expecting relatives to put up with his bossy ways- amp; be grateful for whatever crumbs he dropped their way. Closest-in blood at least-was his half-brother-Harold-known as Hen-Hollis. Seems the pair never got on- amp; when they inherited Millstone-the family farm-rather than work together-Hog went with the pigs- amp; Hen with the poultry-hence their names-gerrit?!
Neck amp; neck at first-till Hen got hit hard by the salmonella scare way back. Needed cash badly-turned to Hog who was doing well-Hog offered a loan-but being echt Yorkshire-demanded Hens share of Millstone-as security. When-despite the loan-the chicken business finally went bust-Hog gave Hen a job-in charge of quality control-in his pig business. But it was still family loyalty-Yorkshire style! Part of Hens salary came in the form of letting him continue to live at Millstone Farm-all of which now belonged to Hog!