The Passions of Bronwyn (7 page)

Pratt looked up and told the Constable that Sir John Porchester had instructed him to steal the horse because Charles Brompton owed him a lot of money through gambling and he wanted some of it back now, he didn’t want to wait to maybe get some of it out of Mr Brompton’s Estate.  There would be a lot of creditors.  Nero was a Thoroughbred and was worth a lot of money. 

Constable Wilson took him up to the house to see Mrs Brompton, ‘she will have to decide what to do,’ he said.

When they got up to the house William took them into the hall and told them to wait there until he had spoken to Mr Carter.  He went up to Mr Carter’s room and told him what had been going on.  Mr Carter said he would have to speak to Mrs Brompton. 

‘Wait downstairs with them,’ he told him.  ‘I’ll be down in a moment.’ 

William went back downstairs and told the others they just had to wait.  A few minutes later Mr Carter came down and told them that Mrs Brompton would see them. 

‘You are to go too,’ he told William and Ned. 

They all went up to the drawing room where Mrs Brompton was waiting.  She asked a lot of questions and then said that Pratt could take Nero but Sir John Porchester had to agree to wipe out the rest of the debt in return.  The horse would not leave the stables until he had agreed.  Constable Wilson told her that this was agreeable to him but first he wanted to question Pratt about the murder of Mr Brompton to make sure he wasn’t involved. 

‘Murder,’ Pratt exclaimed, ‘I wasn’t involved in no murder, I just did what I was told and nicked the horse.’ 

‘Well, you won’t mind coming with me so that I can make my own mind up about that.’ 

He turned and nodded to Mrs Brompton, took hold of Pratt’s arm then left.  William and Ned went downstairs to the kitchen and told Wyn and Betty what had happened. 

‘What do you think?’ Wyn asked them, ‘do you think it was him that killed Mr Charles?’  ‘No,’ said Ned, ‘I think he was just after the horse.  I’d better get back to the stables and settle Nero, he’ll be very upset after all this.’

The next day Constable Wilson came into the kitchen and told them that he had let Pratt go because he didn’t think it was him that killed Mr Charles. 

‘It wasn’t him that had the camp site in the trees,’ he told them, ‘we never did find out who that was, they never came back.  We were there for a couple of days but nothing.  He says he was still in London when Mr Charles was killed, Sir John Porchester had a house party so all the staff were needed.’ 

‘Do you believe him?’ William asked. 

‘Yes, I think so,’ replied Constable Wilson. ‘I should be hearing back from Huddersfield soon about Frank Cooper’s family so we might have more clues to go on.’ 

CHAPTER EIGHT

A few days later Wyn was cleaning the bedrooms when she heard a scream come from the direction of the stables.  She ran downstairs and out of the front door, William was already outside. 

‘Did you hear that?’ Wyn asked him. 

‘Yes, where was it coming from?’ he asked. 

‘From the stables I think,’ replied Wyn. 

They ran towards the stables and got there in time to see Ned backing slowly away from the door.

‘What’s going on?’ asked William. 

Ned didn’t say anything, just pointed.  William turned and looked, ‘oh my god!’ he exclaimed.  Inside William saw Miss Catherine sitting on a bale of hay with the Frank Cooper lookalike standing behind her holding a knife to her throat.  They could hear him saying, ‘I can see what Frank saw in you, you feel and smell so good.’  He moved his free arm down her body and started stroking her breasts.  ‘Maybe I’ll have a taste of your body before I kill you.’  He suddenly saw William and Ned watching him. ‘Don’t come near or I’ll kill her,’ he told them. 

‘You aren’t Frank,’ said William, ‘I cut him down so who are you?’ 

‘He’s George Cooper, Frank’s identical twin brother,’ a voice behind him said. 

William turned round to find Constable Wilson standing behind him.  ‘We’ve just heard from the Constable in Huddersfield.  George here disappeared not long after Frank died.  He’s been camping out around here since then looking for an opportunity to get back at the Bromptons.’ 

‘Yeah,’ George cut in, ‘I was going to kill them all for what they did.’ 

Catherine Brompton was in tears by now, ‘I loved Frank,’ she sobbed.

‘Maybe you did,’ George replied, ‘but you didn’t stop him being sacked and sent away did you?’ 

‘I wasn’t here, I was sent to a school abroad straight away,’ she cried, ‘I didn’t know what had happened to him.’ 

George started edging her out of the door.  ‘Stay back,’ he warned them, ‘don’t try anything, she’ll die if you do.’

He pushed Catherine out of the door and backed her away from the stables. 

‘Don’t follow us’ he warned. 

Wyn had been out of sight the whole time this had been going on but had heard everything.  As George was backing Catherine out of the door she ducked out of sight behind the stables.  She watched as George pushed Catherine across the field. Wyn ran alongside them on the other side of the hedge that ran along the edge of the field, she could see that Catherine was crying and trying to talk to George.  Wyn followed them until they entered a small shed on the far edge of the estate, she watched them go in then ran back to the house.  She ran up to William, Ned and Betty breathing heavily.  Once she caught her breath she told him where they were. 

‘Constable Wilson has gone back to the station to get more men,’ William told her.  ‘We’ll have to go and get him ourselves.’

The light was beginning to fail by the time they made their way towards the shed that Wyn had seen them enter.  When they got there they could see a faint light shining in the window.  They crept over and looked through.  George was sitting on a bed with Catherine.  He had his arm around her.  They couldn’t hear what he was saying but they could see him stroking her face gently with his fingers.  Catherine put her hand around his head and brought his face down to hers.  She kissed him long and hard. 

‘Oh no!’ exclaimed Wyn, ‘she’s pretending he’s Frank.’

George was caressing her breasts and running his hands all over her body.  Catherine pulled the pins out of her hair and ran her hands threw it seductively.  She undid her dress and George helped her take it off until she was just dressed in her under clothes.  George quickly took his clothes off and Catherine lay down on the floor waiting for him.  He started kissing her all over and they saw her body arch in pleasure.  George suddenly ripped her underwear off, lay on top of her and thrust his hard member into her.

‘Come on, now’s our chance,’ said William, ‘let’s get Catherine away from him.’ 

They pushed the door open and rushed in.  William pulled George up off of Catherine and Ned hit him hard.  He went down and Ned hit him again just to make sure then tied him up with the rope William had found in the shed. 

Catherine was crying and screaming, ‘leave Frank alone, I love him.’ 

‘It’s not Frank,’ Wyn told her. 

‘It really isn’t,’ added Betty, ‘we saw his dead body.  We know it’s not him.’

Catherine just broke down completely and Wyn and Betty had to support her all the way back to the house where Mrs Danvers took her off them and led her upstairs to her bedroom.  William and Ned put George into a wagon and took him into the village to find Constable Wilson. 

‘How did you get him?’ he asked. 

‘It was Wyn who found him,’ William told him.  ‘She followed them and then came and got us.’ 

‘What will happen to him now?’ asked Ned. 

‘He’ll go to prison for a very long time,’ replied the Constable.  ‘There’s no doubt it was him who killed Charles Brompton.’ 

The next day Mrs Danvers came down to the kitchen and told them that Mrs Brompton  had decided that she’d had enough of the bad luck they’d had since they’d been at the country house and she had to see the family solicitor to sort things out, so they were all going back to London.  Wyn and Betty were to start packing up the kitchen and William and Ned were to pack up the rest of the house. 

‘What’s going to happen to Ned?’ Betty later asked Mrs Davis, ‘there aren’t any horses in London.’ 

‘It looks like Mrs Brompton needs him for something else because he’s coming with us,’ Mrs Davis replied.  Betty was relieved that she wouldn’t have to say goodbye to Ned as she was getting very fond of him. 

‘Think of all the places I can take him in London,’ she remarked to Wyn, ‘he’s never been there.  We could all go out together it will be fun.’

The next few days were hectic with everything having to be packed up. 

‘It doesn’t look like we are ever coming back,’ commented Betty. 

‘We aren’t,’ replied Mrs Davis, ‘Mr Carter says this house is going to be sold to pay off Mr Charles’s debts.’ 

‘That’s a shame,’ said Wyn, ‘I’ve enjoyed it here.’

‘Me too,’ replied Betty, ‘this was my first time in the country and I really liked it but it’ll be nice to get back to smoky, noisy old London.’ 

On the last night Wyn, Betty, William and Ned walked down to the village inn for the last time.  They had a few glasses of ale and then walked slowly back to the house. 

‘I’m going to miss this,’ William remarked. 

‘Me too,’ replied Wyn, ‘even though some awful things have happened.’ 

When they got back to the house, Ned took Betty off one way and William took hold of Wyn’s hand and pulled her towards one of the outbuildings near the house. 

‘It’s too dark,’ exclaimed Wyn. 

‘Just wait here,’ William told her.  He disappeared inside and Wynn saw a faint light appear.  ‘Come in,’ William said.  Wyn walked through the door to find a bed of hay with a blanket laid over it and a lit oil lantern hanging from a hook. 

‘Oh my,’ she exclaimed, ‘you’ve been busy.’ 

William came over to her and put his arm around her.  

‘I just wanted our last night here to be special,’ he told her. 

He pulled her closer to him and kissed her gently on the mouth. 

‘It’s lovely,’ Wyn told him as she kissed him back.  The kiss between them grew more passionate and she could feel the hardness of him against her. They sank down on to the hay bed he had made. She pushed herself against him and he moaned.  She let her hand wander down his body until she could feel his erect member.  She took hold of him through his clothes and started moving her hand up and down.  He was kissing her harder, pushing his tongue in her mouth, it was making her feel very excited.  He started undoing her blouse which made her pause and push him away.

‘No,’ she said, ‘we can’t, I don’t want a baby.’ 

‘It’s alright,’ William replied, ‘there are other things we can do.’

His hand skimmed over her erect nipples and she moaned.  She opened his trousers and pulled his erect manhood out.  She started moving her hand up and down along the length of him.  He was really moaning by now.  ‘Oh don’t stop,’ he said.  While she carried on moving her hand, she guided his hand further down her body until he reached the heart of her sex.  Holding on to his finger she showed him how she liked to be touched.  He started rubbing in her special place and she arched her back in pleasure.  He was breathing heavier now, ‘faster,’ he said, ‘do it faster.  Ooh that’s it don’t stop, yes that’s it,’ he was saying while he was moving his finger round and round her intimate place.  She could feel such a strong wave of pleasure building in her body, she didn’t think she could stand it.  William was writhing in pleasure now, ‘oh that feels wonderful,’ he was saying, ‘don’t stop, oh that’s it,’ and she felt him shudder as his seed spilled out over her hand.  At that moment Wyn felt her body tense then her body seemed to explode in pleasure.  She had never felt like this, not when she touched herself or when Betty touched her.  This was something special.  

When Wyn and Betty were in bed that night they talked about their experiences. 

‘I really love William,’ Wyn told Betty. 

‘You didn’t let him did you?’ asked Betty. 

‘No,’ Wyn told her, ‘we just kissed and touched each other.  It was the best feeling I’ve ever had.  I want him so much.’ 

‘I know, we’re the same.  I nearly gave in but I’m just too scared about what could happen.’ said Betty. 

Wyn sighed and said, ‘it’s getting so hard to stop, I just want more of him.  I want to feel his hardness inside me.’

‘I know, but stay strong, you never know, you might get married,’ Betty told  her. 

‘Oh that would be good,’ replied Wyn.  ‘Imagine being married to William.  Sleeping with him every night with his hard body next to me in bed.’  She shivered with pleasure. 

Betty laughed, ‘go to sleep,’ she told Wyn, ‘we have a long journey tomorrow.’

CHAPTER NINE

The next day was freezing cold with a thick layer of snow on the ground. 

‘Oh my,’ exclaimed Wyn, ‘this is going to be a long and cold journey back to London.’ 

‘It certainly is,’ agreed Mrs Davis, ‘you’ll have to put all your warmest clothes on.  Come on now, get moving, we have a lot of work to do before we leave even though most of the house has already been emptied.  Run upstairs and help Miss Catherine and Mrs Brompton with their belongings.’ 

Wyn went along to Miss Catherine’s room to find her just sitting despondently on her packing chest.   ‘Is this all your things?’ Wyn asked her.  Catherine nodded.  ‘Come along then,’ Wyn said, ‘we have to get this chest downstairs.’ 

Catherine looked up at her, ‘I don’t want to go back to London, I don’t want to be anywhere where Mother is.  She has ruined my life,’ she said. 

‘You can’t stay here,’ Wyn told her, ‘the house is going to be sold.  Come on. I’ll help you get the chest down the stairs.’  Wyn took her arm and led her down to where Mrs Brompton was waiting for them. 

‘Come on,’ Catherine she said, ‘we need to leave for the village, we have to say goodbye to some people.’ 

‘No,’ replied Catherine, ‘I’m not going, I don’t want to be with you.’ 

‘You will do what I tell you,’ Mrs Brompton replied angrily, ‘you have caused enough trouble for this family already.  It’s because of you I’ve lost my husband and now have to sell this house, so stop being troublesome and do as you are told.  When we get to London you’re not staying there, you will be going to live with your Aunt Constance in Surrey.’ 

Catherine didn’t respond, she just sighed, gave her mother a frosty look and walked out of the door.  Mrs Brompton followed her then turned and told Wyn  that they would be gone for a couple of  hours and that they would be leaving for the station at midday so they all had to be ready to leave. Wyn went down to the kitchen and told Mrs Davis what Mrs Brompton had said. 

‘That only gives us a couple of hours,’ Mrs Davis said, ‘you two girls run up to your room, bring down your boxes then go and find William and Ned.  Tell them to search the house and the stables to make sure there is nothing left behind.  Then they can go and tell the carriage drivers what time to be here.’ 

Mr Carter had organised local men to drive the carriages to take everyone to the station before he and Mrs Danvers had left for London to get the London house organised for the family’s return.

Just before midday Mrs Brompton and Catherine came back from the village, the carriages had already arrived and were being loaded with all the chests.  Wyn and Betty were already sitting in the second carriage ready to leave.  William helped Mrs Brompton and Catherine up into the first carriage then jumped in with them.  Mrs Davis and Ned climbed into the carriage with Wyn and Betty.  They all looked at the house for the last time as the carriages started moving.  Wyn sighed and commented, ‘I’m going to miss it here.’ 

‘Me too,’ replied Betty.  They looked at the passing scenery.  ‘Doesn’t it look different in the snow,’ remarked Betty as they passed the village they had spent some fun times in. 

‘Yes,’ Wyn agreed.  ‘You can hardly recognise it.  How strange it looks with no-one around.’

When they finally reached the station they felt a bit battered and bruised after being thrown about for what seemed like hours.  ‘Oh my,’ exclaimed Betty, ‘that hurt in all the wrong places.’ 

‘I know what you mean,’ replied Wyn, ‘I’m sure I’ve got a bruised bottom.’ 

They got all the chests off the carriages and then walked into the station.  They sat down on the cold benches to wait for the train to arrive. 

‘It’s late,’ Mrs Brompton complained.  She and Catherine went into the waiting room which had better and more comfortable seating.  They had only been waiting for about ten minutes when the train arrived.  ‘Thank God for that,’ muttered Betty, ‘I’m freezing.’ All the chests were put into the baggage carriage and everyone clambered into first class.  Mrs Brompton had told them that they would all be travelling first class in case she needed them for anything during the journey. A corridor ran all along one side of the train so moving from carriage to carriage was easy.  It was strange for her to be travelling alone and she wanted to make sure she had help if she needed it.  Wyn climbed in and looked around the carriage.  ‘This is very grand,’ she remarked. 

‘Yes,’ agreed Betty, ‘I could get used to this.’ 

The carriage had very comfortable upholstered seats but was very cold although Mrs Brompton had purchased foot warmers for everyone which helped them keep a bit warmer. The train started moving with a jolt that knocked Betty off her feet.  She landed on the seat in a heap with her skirt up around her waist.  The others in the carriage burst out laughing as she sat up red faced and straightened her skirt.  ‘Shut up you lot,’ she exclaimed.  ‘It’s not funny.’  ‘It is where we’re sitting,’ laughed Wyn. 

They settled down and watched the passing scenery with interest.  The train went through several tunnels which made Betty give a small scream as it took her by surprise when the carriage suddenly went dark.  Wyn jumped when she felt a hand touch her breast until she realised that it was William making good use of the darkness of the tunnel.  After they had been travelling for about two hours, Mrs Brompton looked in through the door and told them to go to the restaurant car to get some lunch.  ‘I don’t want to sit in there by myself,’ she told them.  ‘Catherine refuses to come with me so I would be very happy if you all would join me.’  They all stood up and followed her willingly along the corridor until they entered the restaurant car.  It had plush purple upholstered seats and there were vases of flowers on each table.  When Mrs Brompton had been seated at one of the tables she asked Mrs Davis to sit with her as she didn’t want to dine alone.  Wyn, Betty, William and Ned were then shown to another table.  There was no choice of food but none of them cared what they ate, it was something they had never had the opportunity of doing before and they were determined to make the most of it.  After they had all eaten they went happily back to their carriage.  William and Ned then promptly fell asleep.  Wyn looked over at them.  ‘Typical,’ she said to Betty.    They were travelling through sparsely populated countryside with few stations.  They entered a very long tunnel and Wyn felt William sit down next to her.  He turned her face towards him and gave her a long lingering kiss.  ‘Oh Wyn,’ he whispered, ‘I do want to be with you.’  They suddenly came out of the tunnel and Wyn wasn’t surprised to see Betty and Ned kissing passionately on the other seat.  Wyn cleared her throat very loudly and Betty and Ned jumped apart. Betty’s face went very red and she looked embarrassed.  Wyn and William just grinned at each other and looked innocent.  When they next looked out of the window they were going past a very large factory.  ‘What do you suppose they make in there?’ asked Betty. 

‘I can see a sign on the side that says Huntley and Palmers Biscuit Factory.  Looks like a grim place to work,’ William said, ‘I’m glad I don’t work somewhere like that, it’s alright working for Mrs Brompton.’  

‘I wouldn’t like to work in a place like that neither,’ agreed Wyn, ‘I’m quite happy where I am.’ 

They were entering a more densely populated area so they knew they would soon be arriving at Waterloo Station.  They were covered in a light film of soot by the time the train stopped and it gave them all a laugh. They found carriages waiting for them and were happy once they and all the baggage were on them.

When they finally arrived at the house they were all exhausted. 

‘What a journey,’ remarked Wyn. 

‘Oh I don’t know, it had it’s interesting bits,’ William replied with a smile.

Mr Carter and Mrs Danvers were there to greet them.  As William started taking Catherine and Mrs Brompton’s chests up to their rooms, Mr Carter stopped him. 

‘Leave Miss Catherine’s chest down here, her aunt will be here in the morning to take her to Surrey.  She has to make do with any clothes left behind in her room.’ 

He turned to all of them, ‘I know you are all very tired, but you’re to take your things to your rooms and get changed into your uniforms.  When you have done that you are all to gather in the drawing room as Mrs Brompton wants to talk to you.’

Wyn and Betty slowly walked upstairs to their room.  When they opened the door it felt cold and smelt a bit musty.  ‘Urgh,’ uttered Betty, ‘we’ll have to sort this room out.  Come on quick put your things away and get changed, let’s get out of here.  Leave the door open when we leave, it might help get rid of the smell.’ 

They quickly got changed and made their way back down to the drawing room.  Mrs Brompton was already there waiting for them.  When everyone had gathered Mrs Brompton stood up to speak to them.  She looked exhausted and had black smudges under her eyes. 

‘I know it has been a hard time for all of you over the last few weeks and I thank you for all the help you have given me.  Things now have to change in my life so I just wanted you to know what is going to happen.  The house in the country is going to be sold.  I understand from the Estate Manager that there is someone already interested.  There will only be a small staff kept on here.  This will consist of Mrs Davis, William, Betty and Wyn.  You will have no specific tasks but I hope the house will still run smoothly with just you four.  I have brought Ned with us as I will no longer need a groom but, before we left for the country, Mr Brompton had bought a new motorcar and I would like Ned to learn how to drive it so he can become the new chauffeur.’  She turned to Ned and asked, ‘is that alright with you Ned?’  ‘Yes Mrs Brompton,’ he replied, ‘I’ll be very happy to do that.’ 

Mrs Brompton smiled and said, ‘on a lighter note, I have to tell you that Mr Carter and Mrs Danvers are getting married and will be leaving to go and work in a hotel in Kensington.’ 

‘Oh how wonderful,’ Mrs Davis exclaimed.  ‘Congratulations to both of you.’ 

‘The wedding will be held here,’ continued Mrs Brompton, ‘and will be happening next week.  Will you be able to arrange a wedding breakfast by then?’ she asked Mrs Davis. 

Mrs Davis looked at Betty and Wyn and both of them nodded. She then turned back to Mrs Brompton and said, ‘yes, we’ll get it done.’ 

‘Good,’ replied Mrs Brompton, ‘I’ll leave it in your hands.  Mrs Danvers will tell you exactly when and what kind of things she wants.’ 

She looked at Ned and told him that the car was in the newly built garage at the back of the house. ‘There is a room above the garage for you to sleep in and another for your ablutions. After you have had something to eat, go down there and get some sleep, you can have a look at the car in the morning and see if you can figure out how to drive it.  There is extra land next to the garage, so just have a go there.’

She turned back to the rest of them, ‘as we knew you all would be exhausted after travelling, Mrs Danvers has done a small buffet for you in the kitchen.  I would like a tray of food to be brought up to mine and Catherine’s rooms.  Catherine will be leaving in the morning to stay with her aunt in Surrey.’  She gave them all a tired smile and left the room.

They slowly walked down to the kitchen where the table was covered in food.  ‘Oh my,’ exclaimed Mrs Davis, ‘this looks wonderful,’ she turned and smiled at Mrs Danvers.  ‘On behalf of all of us, thank you,’ she said. 

Wyn’s mouth was watering and she was suddenly starving. 

‘Well don’t just look at it,’ Mrs Danvers told them, ‘go ahead and eat.’

They all sat down at the table and filled their plates.  Mrs Danvers filled plates for Mrs Brompton and Catherine then took them upstairs to their rooms.  It was very quiet as they were all trying to take in the information they had been given.  Wyn turned to Betty and asked her what she thought.  ‘Do you think we can keep this house going with just us’. 

‘I don’t know,’ replied Betty, ‘we’ll just have to be really organised.  I suppose it will help that it is just Mrs Brompton here.  She is not untidy like Catherine.  I think we’ll have to write down what to do in which room every day.’ 

‘Be quiet and eat,’ Mrs Davis told them, ‘you’ll have time to talk about everything tomorrow.’ 

After they had finished eating, Wyn and Betty cleared the table and washed up. 

‘Take a warming pan up to your room and go to bed now,’ said Mrs Davis.  ‘Don’t worry about being down here early in the morning.  Have a bit of a rest.  I think there is going to be special tasks for you to do.’  When they got to their room it smelt less musty now but was still freezing cold. 

‘Quick, put the pan in the bed so it can warm it up a bit before we get in,’ instructed Betty.  They stripped their uniforms off and got into bed. 

‘Ooh it’s so cold,’ shivered Wyn. 

‘Come and snuggle up against me,’ said Betty.  Wyn snuggled up against Betty’s back and could feel the warmth starting to spread up her body. 

‘Oh that’s better,’ she said.  Suddenly Betty jumped, ‘get your cold feet off me,’ 

‘Sorry,’ mumbled Wyn who was already half asleep.  Betty smiled in affection and closed her own eyes.