Secrets in the Heather, page 1
Secrets in the Heather
by Gwen Kirkwood
Victoria Lachlan is orphaned at birth and raised by Jane McCrady whom she believes is her great-grandmother. When Jane dies Victoria is offered a home with the Pringles and a job in Darlonachie Castle kitchens. But times are changing both above and below stairs following the first world war. As Victoria grows into a beautiful young woman she has to face difficult choices and come to terms with a long buried secret from the past.
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
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty One
Chapter One
Thirteen-year-old Andrew Pringle found himself further up the glen than he had ever been on his own, but he was eager to catch a glimpse of the vixen and her cubs. He knew he ought to keep well away from the old quarry but he was sure he had heard a whimper from an animal in distress. His blue eyes scanned the scrub and rough grass which had grown up in crevices since the quarry was last worked a dozen years ago. The whimper came again. He thought it was below him and he stepped as near the edge as he dared. Loose stones and rocks immediately broke away, rolling and crashing over the jagged outcrops, some of them to land in the water which had gathered far below. Andrew shuddered, but the animal whimpered again. He had to investigate. He lay on his stomach and eased himself towards the edge of the quarry. He gasped when he realised he was on the edge of an overhang which could break away any minute. He moved back swiftly and as he did so the whimper of the animal became more distinct, more urgent. It doesn’t want me to leave, Andrew thought.
He walked further round the rim of the quarry until he judged the ground was firmer. Again he lay on his stomach and squirmed forward. Almost directly beneath him was a narrow ledge. A scrubby sapling seemed to have sprouted from the bare rock but it was enough to prevent the animal from falling to its death. It was not a fox. It was a collie dog. Andrew’s heart began to thump. His eyes searched the surrounding area. There was no path to the ledge, but there were several boulders interspersed with stunted bushes. He judged the ledge was not much more than twelve feet below him. He refused to let his mind dwell on the nothingness beyond.
Andrew was intelligent and he was not usually impulsive, but he knew the collie was pleading for help and his young heart couldn’t resist. He eased himself over the edge. Slowly, testing each rock, each bush, he made his way down. He breathed a huge sigh of relief when he reached the ledge. The collie looked up at him with melting brown eyes. He dare not rest his own weight against the sapling and the ledge was narrower than he had realised, petering out to no more than a ridge in the red sandstone face. Carefully he squatted down beside her. He spoke gently and patted the velvety head. She whined softly and tried to stretch, almost as though wanting to show him where it hurt. He felt her legs gently. There didn’t seem to be any broken bones but she had a nasty gash on one front leg and another on her flank. The blood had dried and the wounds looked stiff and sore. A silver disc told him her name was Nell.
‘How long have you been here, Nell? Without food or water …’ She pricked her ears at the sound of her name but she was obviously weak. The problem was how to get her back up. Could he even get out of the quarry himself?
Down at Darlonachie Castle, Polly Pringle paced the floor of Garden Cottage, trying to push away her anxiety.
‘George, are you sure you didn’t see Andrew after school? Did he say he would be late, Willie?’ she demanded for the umpteenth time.
‘No, Ma,’ the boys chorused wearily, then turned to grin at each other. There were eleven months between them and what one did the other did too. They were often in trouble, late for school, late home, boots not cleaned, trousers torn. It made a change for Andrew, their elder brother, to be earning their mother’s wrath for once. Secretly they were very proud of him. He was the brightest pupil in the school and he was kind and reliable. It never occurred to them that Andrew could be in serious trouble, even danger. ‘Here’s Father home,’ Willie called, ‘maybe Andrew’s been helping him at the gardens.’
‘Is it that time already?’ Polly ran outside to meet her husband but Joe had not seen their eldest son either. Polly was distraught. ‘George, Willie, keep an eye on wee Josh,’ she commanded sternly. ‘I’m going up to the Castle to see if Victoria is in the kitchens. She usually helps her granny after school. Andrew always sees the wee lassie home safely. Maybe she knows where he’s gone.’
‘Aw Ma, Victoria Lachlan’s not a wee lassie now. She’ll be ten in November.’
‘Well she’s always adored Andrew and he’s taken care of her since the day she started school. They’re always chatting. If anyone knows it’ll be Victoria. It’ll be dark soon …’
‘Not for another couple of hours yet, lass,’ Joe comforted but Polly could see the anxiety in his eyes, and the frown lines on his brow. He was worried too.
‘Your meal’s on the table, Joe. Eat it up. You must be tired,’ Polly said softly. ‘I’ll not be long.’ She reached up and touched his cheek. Joe and her four boys were Polly’s whole world. It was true she had craved a wee girl when Josh was born so much later than the other three, but they were all healthy and strong and she was thankful for that.
Jane McCrady had been the cook at Darlonachie Castle for as long as Polly could remember. She had just finished serving dinner to Sir William Crainby and his son Luke when Polly entered the kitchens. Victoria was standing on a stool scouring the copper pans in the big sink. They looked at Polly in surprise.
‘What’s wrong, Polly? Sit ye down here and get your breath back,’ Jane McCrady said with such motherly warmth that Polly wanted to cry. Victoria got down from her stool and came to stand close beside her, brown eyes wide, sensing the older woman was in trouble. She loved Mrs Pringle and her husband, Joe. Jane McCrady, her great-grandmother, was the only living relative she had, but the Pringles had always welcomed her into their home. She didn’t like to see Andrew’s mama so pale and upset.
‘It’s Andrew,’ Polly whispered. ‘He’s never been home. Did he walk home frae the school with ye, Victoria? Did he say where he was going? That he would be late? Can …’
‘Calm down, Polly. I’ll make you a cup o’ tea,’ Jane McCrady interrupted. ‘Now lassie, did you come home from school with Andrew as usual? Tell Polly if he said anything while I make some tea.’
‘We always walk home together,’ Victoria said, ‘but this afternoon Andrew said he was going somewhere. He said it was a secret.’ She pouted and Jane McCrady knew she had not been pleased with Andrew. ‘He always takes me with him when he’s looking for birds’ nests, or for fish in the burn, but he said I was too little to go this afternoon. He said it was a long way and it might be rough. He wouldn’t tell me where, not even when I said please. Six times. He shook his head and he left me when we got to the wood.’
‘Which direction did he take?’ Jane McCrady asked.
‘Through the wood, but I don’t know after that. But when we were eating our pieces at midday I heard Angus Bell whispering about some fox cubs he’d seen.’
‘Foxes! Oh Jane,’ Polly put both hands over her face. ‘D’ye think he’s got caught in a trap in the wood?’ She stood up. ‘I must go and tell Joe. We must search before it gets dark.’
‘Drink your tea first,’ Jane McCrady urged, but Polly was already at the door.
Too late, Andrew realised he should have gone for help before trying to rescue the collie on his own, but he was here now, stuck on the ledge. It was too late to be afraid. There was nothing but fields on either side of the quarry. No one would hear even if he shouted. He assessed his position. Further to his left was a slightly bigger protrusion of rock than the way he had come down, but it was further away. He needed to be able to reach high enough to lift the collie onto it and then follow himself. He had to try. He bent and talked softly. Her brown eyes were trusting, reminding him of Victoria’s. As he slid his arms under her he prayed she would not struggle or they would both end their days in the bottom of the quarry.
Andrew was tall for his age, but not quite tall enough. He was desperately afraid he would overbalance and fall from the ledge with Nell in his arms, but she lay still as a statue. He strained up towards the ledge, on his toes now, pressing into the rock face. He had almost given up hope of reaching it when the collie seemed to understand what he needed. She eased herself from his outstretched arms on to the ledge. She was safe, but it had cost her. He could hear her panting and the soft moan of pain. He scrambled on to the rock he had used to descend, but he needed to reach the one where Nell lay so still and so near the edge. There was nowhere to put his feet. He reached out one gangly young limb. Again Nell seemed to know instinctively. She eased herself backwards until he could stand beside her. Four more times they repeated this manoeuvre but a jagged rock carved into his leg and for a moment Andrew felt sick and dizzy with the severe pain. But with one last effort he lifted Nell onto the soft grass at the edge of the quarry and scrambled af
ter her. He lay face down, trembling with relief, knowing his knees were shaking too much to bear his weight until he recovered. Thank goodness he hadn’t brought Victoria. He had been sorely tempted to relent when she pleaded so eloquently.
Eventually he got to his feet and stood looking around him, wondering which way to go and where Nell lived. As though in answer she struggled to her feet and moved slowly in the direction she wanted to go, before she collapsed onto the grass. Andrew lifted her in his arms and set off up the slight incline. Once across the field he could see the peaks of roofs in the field below. He rested a while, feeling the ache in his muscles and the pain in his leg. It was bleeding quite fast but his mother always said bleeding would clean the wound. He pulled up his stockings. He would be fourteen in July and he would wear breeches then and go to work, like his father, or at least he hoped he would. There were thousands of men who couldn’t get work and last year hundreds of people had marched from Tyneside all the way to London to protest.
He was very tired by the time he reached the farm. He realised at once this was High Bowie and the tenant was a Mr Rennie. He was barely known in the village and rumour had it that he was a short-tempered miserable sort. Andrew chewed his lip anxiously as he made his way through the yard. A man came out of the dairy. He stared at Andrew. He set down his empty pails and, as far as he was able, he hurried towards them. Andrew set down his burden with relief. As he straightened he met the man’s eyes, saw the incredulity and relief there. He also heard the rasping breath.
‘Nell …’ he breathed hoarsely. ‘You found her.’ He bent and patted the dog’s head. She had pricked her ears at the sound of his voice, now she tried to wag her tail. ‘A-ah, laddie. How can I thank you? Where did you find her?’
‘In the quarry, sir. Maybe she was chasing off the foxes. She was trapped on a ledge. She’s hurt, but I don’t know where.’
‘Aye,’ the man crouched beside his beloved bitch. He ran his hand gently over her belly. ‘She’s having pups. The fall will have brought them early …’ He looked from Andrew’s legs up to his face. ‘She’s not the only one who is hurt either. That’s a nasty gash you’ve got. It’s bleeding fast. We must bathe it and bandage your leg. Can you manage to carry Nell just a bit further? To the house.’ He held his chest and gave a rueful smile. ‘Asthma,’ he wheezed. ‘I’m not as fit as I used to be.’ Andrew looked at the grey eyes, and the man’s pale smooth skin. This must be Mr Rennie then, but he didn’t seem like a crabbit old man. Andrew lifted Nell in his arms for the last time and carried her into the house, setting her down, as Mr Rennie instructed, in front of the fire but not too close.
An elderly woman came bustling from the pantry. She stared from one to the other, then down at Nell.
‘You’ve found her? She’s alive? Thanks be to God.’
‘The laddie found her. Rescued her too I’m thinking, judging by his wounds.’
‘Aye, that leg’s bleeding fast. I’ll attend to it. What’s your name, laddie?’
‘Andrew Pringle, from Darlonachie Castle. My father is head gardener there.’
‘Bring me the iodine, please, and some water and bandages, Miss Traill. I’ll attend to Andrew and you will you make some warm milk for Nell. It’s been three days now. She’s bound to be weak and she’s going to have her pups early I reckon. I expect this laddie could do with some food too, once I’ve dealt with his wounds. All your knuckles are bleeding, I see.’
‘They’ll be all right,’ Andrew brushed his wounds aside. ‘It’s just my leg.’
‘Yes. I’m sorry, but this is going to sting. It’s very deep. You need stitches. If I bind it up to stop the bleeding will you promise me you’ll go straight to Doctor Grantly and let him deal with it? I’ll write a letter telling him to send the bill to me, but tell him I need a reply.’ He gave a whimsical smile and looked Andrew in the eye. ‘You promise to see him as soon as you get back?’
‘Is it really bad enough to need the doctor, sir?’
‘Yes, it is. You’re a brave laddie and we don’t want anything to go wrong. It’s a nasty cut. I’ll attend to Nell’s wounds when she’s drunk some milk.’
‘Will she have her pups soon?’ Andrew asked. Mr Rennie hesitated. She would have them very soon, he thought, and they’d probably be dead. He didn’t want the boy to witness that.
‘I expect she’ll have them in a day or two.’
‘Can I come and see them?’ Andrew asked eagerly. ‘I always wanted a dog but Ma says she has enough to feed with me and my three brothers.’
‘I expect she has at that,’ Mr Rennie nodded. ‘I doubt if Nell’s pups will survive this time after all she’s been through, but if any of them do, you can choose the name. And come up to see Nell whenever you like. Can you read?’
‘Of course I can read.’ Andrew stared at Mr Rennie indignantly. ‘Mr Nelson, the schoolmaster, says I’m one of his best readers, but I enjoy it.’
‘Very well. I’ll write a note and send it down with one of my men. Will you be at church on Sunday?’
‘We usually go.’
‘I’ll tell you how Nell is getting on then. But remember, I don’t expect any of them to survive from this litter.’
‘Thank you, Mr Rennie.’ Andrew’s blue eyes glowed. ‘I’d love to come to Langmune again.’ Miss Traill smiled at his eager face as she brought him a plateful of freshly baked soda scones and cheese as well as pancakes spread with her home-made raspberry jam. It was only then he realised how hungry he was, and how late it was getting.
‘Are you going to be a gardener like your father?’ she asked.
‘I don’t think so. I like helping him and growing things but there’s only two apprentices at the castle now. There used to be six when Father was young. Anyway I’d rather work with animals if I can get work. I shall be fourteen in July.’
‘And you’re leaving school then?’ Mr Rennie asked.
‘I must. I have three younger brothers. It’s time I earned my keep.’
‘I see.’ Mr Rennie eyed him shrewdly.
‘Thank you very much, Miss Traill. I was hungry. Now I must get home or Ma will wonder where I am.’
‘Don’t forget to see Doctor Grantly,’ Mr Rennie insisted. ‘And, Andrew, there’s plenty of jobs about a farm for a laddie who is keen to work. You can come here any Saturday you like. If you like the work, and if you’re any good, I’ll find you a job in July.’ Andrew stared at Mr Rennie, his mouth slightly open with surprise.
‘You really mean that, sir?’ he breathed incredulously.
‘I never say anything I don’t mean, laddie. You’ll find that out if you come to work for me at Langmune. You’d need to board at home though. It’s too much work for Miss Traill having young men in the bothy, but you could save up for a bicycle.’
‘I could, yes I could if I have a job and earn some money.’ If Andrew’s leg had not been so sore he would have skipped out of the door and all the way home. He couldn’t wait to tell Victoria he had rescued a collie dog and then been offered a job.
When he reached the corner of the wood Andrew knew he ought to get home but he had promised Mr Rennie he would see Doctor Grantly and home was nearly two miles in the other direction, besides the blood had seeped through the pad and dressing. So on he trudged. Mrs Grantly opened the door and showed him into the surgery but Doctor Grantly soon appeared and Andrew was thankful to lay back on the leather couch while the doctor took off the bandages. He felt dreadfully weary.
‘It’s very deep and it will need stitches but I’ll be as gentle as I can.’ Andrew’s face was white by the time the stitches were finished and there was a sheen of perspiration on his brow and upper lip. Doctor Grantly washed his hands and opened the envelope. He smiled.
‘Mr Rennie doesn’t really need an answer, Andrew. He is worried about you and he was making sure you came to me. Anna …’ he called for his wife. ‘Would you ask Bennet to yoke the pony and trap please? I will take Andrew home now.’
‘Oh no! Please. I can walk. Ma would be furious.’
‘She will certainly be worried. It’s getting late. Anyway I would like to see her. Don’t worry; it will not cost your parents anything. Mr Rennie tells me you’re a hero. He thinks the world of his collie dog and he’s grateful to you. It was rather a stupid thing to do, Andrew, to go into the quarry on your own,’ Doctor Grantly added gravely. ‘If you had fallen in no one would have known where you were.’
