War Comes Home to Winthrop Manor: An English Family Saga (Winthrop Manor Series Book 2) Read online

  War Comes Home to Winthrop Manor

  An English Family Saga

  Book Two: Winthrop Manor Series

  Mary Christian Payne

  Copyright © 2018 by Mary Christian Payne.

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in retrieval systems, or transmitted by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recorded or otherwise without written permission from the publisher.

  All characters in this book have no existence outside the imagination of the author and no relation whatsoever to anyone bearing the same name or names. They are not even distantly inspired by any individual known or unknown, living or dead to the author, and all incidents, other than actual World War Two references and following historical episodes are pure invention.

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  To Larry, for his creativity

  Contents

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Chapter Eighteen

  Chapter Nineteen

  About the Author

  Chapter One

  On a spectacular English day, with clouds drifting aimlessly through the sky and the wind a gentle breeze, Lady Josephine, wife of Viscount Winterdale, known as “Win” to friends and family, felt strangely anxious. She gazed out a mullioned window while standing in the immense, lavishly decorated drawing room in Win’s parental home, Winthrop Manor. Blue skies, daffodils, and a misty veil of newly formed leaves carried her back in time. Josephine cherished the memory of the endearing words Win had spoken before a never-to-be forgotten kiss on that other unforgettable spring day in 1914. They had pledged deep, everlasting love, and in spite of a wretched war, along with myriad other heartaches, their passion had endured. Was it possible that eleven years had passed so quickly?

  Mrs. Shellady, Winthrop Manor’s housekeeper, interrupted Josephine’s reverie as she bustled into the room. “Good afternoon, Lady Josephine. I’ve not seen you since early this morning. You look to be wool-gathering, milady.”

  “Oh, Mrs. Shellady, I’ve been thinking about a day so reminiscent of this one. It was nineteen fourteen, and Win had kissed me for the first time. It’s wonderful to have such cherished memories. I’d never even seen Winthrop Manor then, and now I’ve grown to love it so, not because of its splendour, though no one can deny its remarkable beauty, but because I so adore history, and Winthrop Manor has played such an important role throughout England’s past. I’m so glad Win and I made the decision to move back here after his return from the war.”

  “Yes, I am too,” answered Mrs. Shellady. “All of the staff feel the same way.”

  “Eventually, we would have had to return anyway,” Josephine continued, “given the rapid decline in the earl’s health.” Win’s father had grown frail and weak.

  “Yes, I know,” Mrs. Shellady replied. “I think, deep in my heart, I’ve always believed there would be a reconciliation between Win and his parents. They always adored him, and it was unthinkable that they would continue the ridiculous estrangement forever.”

  “Yes. I was convinced of that too,” Josephine replied. “You’re probably aware that the falling out between Win and his parents resulted from his marrying me.” She smiled. “I’m sure they were disappointed their son married a commoner. As horrible as it is to say, Oliver’s vicious kidnapping of our son did bring about the reconciliation.” Josephine laughed aloud. “Oliver, the quintessential example of an aristocrat.”

  “It is still nearly impossible to imagine, isn’t it?” Mrs. Shellady responded. “My goodness, milady. What if Oliver’s belief that our Win had been killed in the war had been true? It still sends shivers down my spine to think of his diabolical scheme. Your precious son would have been adopted by that couple in London, having no idea that the little one had been stolen from his own brother. Oliver would have gone on to become the next Earl of Winthrop when his father passed. It’s too wretched to even imagine. Of course, that could only have happened if Win hadn’t returned from the Great War. Thank the good Lord he did.”

  Josephine turned and walked to sit on the sofa in front of the massive fireplace. “I truly don’t think I could have survived such horror.” Tears welled in her eyes. “I don’t mean to sound hateful toward Win’s parents. Truly, I don’t. I’ve grown quite fond of them. Still, the entire alienation was so foolish.”

  “It all sorted itself out, milady.” The housekeeper patted Josephine on the shoulder. “I hope Oliver spends the rest of his life behind bars. I never want to lay my eyes upon him again.”

  “Nor do I,” echoed Josephine.

  It hadn’t taken long after Win’s return from fighting in France, and his resultant confinement in a German Offzierlager camp, for him to realise that his father’s health was rapidly-declining. Lord Winthrop was no longer capable of meeting the demands required of an earl. Thousands of acres of land, a prodigious amount of livestock, and an enormous manor had to be overseen. Even though Winthrop Manor had ample staff, it was abundantly clear that an extensive amount of supervision was required to keep the estate lucrative. Those duties had now fallen upon Win.

  Even four years after the war, many necessary tasks had been left unattended. The house was badly in need of a new roof. Due to its unusual serrated design, as well as its enormity, the cost would be astronomical. Both the exterior and interior needed painting–two other massive undertakings. At one time, such necessities weren’t looked upon as worrisome, but reduced financial circumstances had taken a toll on nearly all upper-class families following the war.

  A combination of the cost of war, death duties, disabling taxes, and a downturn in farm rentals had brought an end to a life of refined beauty and feudal rights, as well as duties and privileges previously enjoyed by Britain’s landed gentry. British Prime Minister David Lloyd-George’s government was struggling to cope with the cost of paying for the unrestrained expenses of war, while also meeting demands of the returning heroes for homes and jobs. The Earl of Winthrop, as a member of the House of Lords, was searching for ways to contend with the nation’s woes, as well as his own.

  “I hate to sound anxious and worried on such a splendid day, Mrs. Shellady, but I can’t help but be concerned about our monetary situation,” Josephine said. “Many of the Great Houses are being forced to open their doors to the public for a fee. That seems such an awful thing to do.”

  “Oh, milady! Is the situation that bad at Winthrop Manor?” Mrs. Shellady asked. It was a rather personal conversation to have with a housekeeper, yet Josephine was very close with her. From the beginning of their relationship, when Josephine and Win moved back to the manor, she and Mrs. Shellady had become more like two dear friends than employer and employee. There were facts, of course, that would never be
shared with a member of the staff. Josephine, however, was only too aware of them, and they weighed heavily upon her. A long chat with Win was necessary.

  Just as she contemplated the topics they needed to discuss, Win entered the room. “So here you are, my beautiful wife,” he murmured as he bent and kissed the back of her swan-like neck.

  Mrs. Shellady greeted him before quietly exiting the drawing room.

  Josephine still sat on the sofa. “Win, I’m worried,” she said. “We need to have a serious chat.”

  “What about, my pet?”

  “Have you looked at the account books lately?”

  “Oh, indeed I have, Josephine. They’re a dismal sight. Our property tax took more than a quarter of the estate’s income from rents in this year, as compared to only four percent in nineteen-nineteen. As a whole, the burden of taxation on Winthrop Manor, including land tax rates and income tax, rose from nine to thirty percent of our income. I’m not sure we won’t have to sell off some of the land,” he continued. “Neither my father nor I have ever allowed such ghastly thoughts to enter our minds. The entire family, as well as our long-time retainers who’ve worked at Winthrop Manor since before I was born, will all have to pull together to maintain this large, stately home. The numbers of our male staff are severely diminished, due to so many having lost their lives in the war. There’s also been a downturn in the number of those willing to serve in great houses like Winthrop Manor as their families have for hundreds of years. The war has forced so many women out of domestic service and into factories or offices. I’ve mentioned this dilemma to Radcliffe. He concurs.” Radcliffe was the long-time butler at Winthrop Manor, who was always included in any discussion regarding matters, both large and small, which could affect employees. “He strongly feels we’re going to have to raise wages for all of our employees or lose them to more lucrative careers,” Win said.

  “Well, darling, then that’s what we’ll do,” Josephine answered, in a rather cheerful voice. Win had been educated at Eton and Oxford, and was a highly intelligent man. Nevertheless, Josephine understood his inability to fathom that his world was rapidly changing and would undoubtedly continue to do so. She knew his concerns could be easily done away with if she revealed facts Win should have known long before.

  Win continued speaking, trying to explain the conundrum facing them. Her cheerful response seemed to concern him.

  “Josephine, I don’t believe you fully grasp the situation. In the past, the servants in great houses like ours were people whose family tradition was to work here. When someone left, the cook recommended her niece or younger sister. However, that no longer happens. So, there's a crisis in terms of the labour required to continue our lifestyle."

  “Win, are you telling me that you believe our magnificent home is facing the threat of being sold or perhaps opened to the public for a fee? Are you certain you’ve gone over the figures carefully and there’s absolutely no doubt about what will have to be done?”

  “I’m going to sit down with financial advisers to sort out exactly what the situation is and what must be done. I’ve never excelled in fiscal matters or business enterprise. You know that. Sometimes I feel quite useless,” he replied.

  “Win, that’s foolish. Neither one of us has ever been faced with concerns of a financial nature.” Josephine was uncertain about what to say next. “Your favorite pastime is riding Black Orchid and attending equestrian races. Mine is tending roses. Neither qualifies us as experts in finance.” She smiled, stood, and walked back to the window. He joined her there, where once again she gazed at the marvellous spring day. Sighing in frustration, she turned and embraced him. It was obvious that the only solution was for her to reveal facts she’d kept hidden from him.

  She wasn’t fearful of revealing the truth to her husband. Win was the kindest, most understanding man she’d ever known. She had no reason to worry that he might become angry or view the fact that she’d not shared vitally important information as dishonest. The truth was that Josephine harboured feelings of guilt, because she’d never mentioned the significant inheritance she’d received when her parents perished aboard the Titanic. She’d never shared this information with Win primarily because her Uncle Roderick, who had been her and Andrew’s guardian, had advised her to save her money for a rainy day. It was abundantly clear that the rainy day had arrived.

  Uncle Roderick trusted Win implicitly, and his intention had never been to construct a barrier between Josephine and her husband by advising her not to reveal her true financial situation. Roderick had simply held firm to the belief that a woman should have her own private cache of money in case an emergency presented itself. Josephine could clearly see that an emergency was facing them now.

  “Win, I need to explain a matter of financial importance to us. I should have done so long ago, but Uncle Roderick felt it wiser for me to keep this information to myself. I do hope you aren’t angry when I tell you now.”

  “Josephine, if Roderick gave advice on this matter, and you followed it, I cannot imagine being upset. You’re well aware that I think the world of him. He looked after you and Andrew with great care, and I’m sure he always made wise decisions.”

  “Yes. I feel that way too,” she answered. “Come Win, let’s sit down where we’ll be comfortable. Shall I ask Radcliffe to bring us tea?”

  “I think I’d rather wait until I hear what you have to tell me. I may want something stronger,” Win answered with a hint of amusement.

  “I’ve never spoken to you about my inheritance. When Andrew and I lost our parents, we received a rather vast sum of money.”

  “What do you consider a vast sum?” For all he knew, the amount might be rather paltry. He had no idea whether she comprehended what constituted an inheritance of prodigious proportions.

  “The executor of the estate was my father’s business adviser and also a banker. He invested the money very conservatively at my father’s request. Over the years, it has grown considerably. The last time we spoke, he informed me that the entire portfolio is worth over eight hundred thousand pounds. When Andrew died in the war, his portion became mine as well.”

  “My God, Josephine. That’s a bloody fortune!” he exclaimed.

  “Win, please don’t curse. You know I don’t like it,” she said softly.

  “I’m sorry, darling. I was momentarily shocked. Where is the money now? Is it invested in your name?”

  “Yes. So, you see, we really are quite wealthy. Of course, this doesn’t mean we can go on a wild spending spree. I tend to be rather cautious about finances, as you know. My father worked long and hard to leave such a fortune. With proper management, Winthrop Manor should be safe for Andy to take the reins someday and hopefully for his children down through the generations. I do hope you aren’t distressed that I’ve waited until now to share this news with you, Win.”

  “No, Josephine, not at all. Roderick was sensible with his advice. I do feel that the acquisition should be managed carefully. Father has an excellent financial adviser in London. We should make an appointment to see him.”

  “Oh, Win, I would rather not do that,” Josephine stated quite firmly. “Uncle Roderick has done a superb job of watching over my inheritance, and if I were to move it to another firm now, I’m afraid it would hurt him terribly. Also, while I don’t like to think about it, my uncle isn’t a young man any longer. He has also amassed a considerable fortune. He owns thousands of acres of land in and around Winthrop-on-Hart. Since he and Aunt Thelma were never fortunate enough to have children., he’s made it quite clear to me that I’m the sole beneficiary of his estate. If we were to ask another professional to oversee my inheritance, Uncle just might decide we’ve inherited quite enough already. He could very easily change his mind and leave his estate to charity. I think it would be much wiser to leave things as they are.”

  “Yes, yes, of course you’re correct,” Win responded. “I’ve never expected any inheritance from Roderick. He’s always lived so modestly.�
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  “Yes, he has never been a money-motivated individual. He told me long ago that he wanted to be certain of security in his old age, and after that, his primary concern was that Andrew and I were never in want. Of course, that was before we lost Andrew. If he and Elisabeth had borne a child, I imagine Roderick would have set aside a significant portion of his estate for the baby, but that was never to be.

  “At any rate, Tom is quite able to provide for her, as well as any child they may have in the future. I should also add that Uncle Roderick has left half of his estate to Andy. He and your father have had many long conversations, and apparently your father is most concerned that Andy need never worry about obtaining a fine education nor have any doubt that Winthrop Manor will continue to be one of England’s most impressive great houses.”

  Win sat back and breathed a sigh of relief. He had been concerned. He’d concealed important financial matters from Josephine too, but with the news of her windfall, everything would now be on guaranteed footing. He would be able to tell her everything. They could begin again.

  “I’m happiest about this because it means Andy will have the future we’ve both always wanted for him. I presume eventually we’ll add to our family, and this incredible windfall will mean we can do so without concern about the costs associated with schooling, nannies, travel abroad, and the like. I do feel there’s no need to share this news with my family, unless you disagree,” he added.

  “I’ll follow your wishes regarding that,” Josephine answered.

  “If Elisabeth asks how I’m able to afford the necessary repairs here at the Manor, which is unlikely, I may be forced to mention that your father left a generous legacy. If that does happen, I have no intention of going into all of the details, nor the amount.”

  “Yes. I’m in agreement with you. I certainly do not want Oliver to ever know anything about our financial affairs.”