The Passions of Bronwyn by Martina Martyn Read Free Book Online Page A

Catherine will have to come out?  There will be such a scandal.’
    The next day there was a lot of activity around the stables with the Constable and two of his men looking around trying to find out exactly where Frank had been sleeping and if he had left any clue as to why he had hung himself.  Suddenly one of the men came running out with a piece of paper in his hands.  ‘I found this,’ he said.  He handed it over to the Constable. 
    ‘It’s a note from Frank Cooper,’ he told Mr Charles.  ‘It says he couldn’t stay with his brother and he had no-where else to go, so he came back here but then he d ecided it was too hard to live anymore so he hung himself.  His mind must have been very disturbed,’ concluded the Constable.
    Thank God they all thought, he didn’t say anything about Miss Catherine.  Mr Charles just gave a huge sigh and said, ‘it’s such a shame, he was a good groom.  I’ll make sure he has a decent funeral.’ 
    ‘If he was such a good groom why did you let him go?’ asked the Constable.
    ‘It was a difference of opinion that’s all,’ Mr Charles replied, ‘there was no need for him to do this.  I would have given him a decent reference.  He would have been able to get another position quite easily.’
    Come along,’ Mrs Davis said to Wyn and Betty, ‘we still have a house full of guests to cater for. 
    ‘They don’t have to know what has happened here,’ said Mr Charles.  ‘They have had a good day.  Let’s keep it that way.  Mr Carter, the Butler, is looking after them at the moment, giving them plenty to drink, so they will be quite happy.’ He turned to William, ‘shut the stable door until Frank has been removed.  ‘Ned is looking after the horses in the paddock.  We’ll wait until everyone has left before we sort this mess out,’ he told him.
    Once all the guests had left the, undertakers came and took Frank away.  The funeral took place a few days later.  Mr Charles had persuaded the vicar to bury Frank in the grave yard even though he had committed the sin of taking his own life.  A small buffet was arranged for the rest of the staff in the staff dining room.  Mr & Mrs Brompton both made a brief appearance and said a few words to them.  Then it was over.  It was never to be spoken of again although Wyn and Betty wondered if they had told Miss Catherine.  We’ll never know Wyn thought.  It is all so sad.
     

CHAPTER FIVE
     
    At last they all had the same day off so Wyn, Betty, William and Ned decided to go into the village together as they had been told that once every summer a German band passed through the village and they would be playing outside the inn.  The band was composed of a father and his six sons, the eldest of which played the cornet, the youngest beat the drum.  They sat in a circle in green uniforms and played the kind of music none of them had ever heard before although it is was quite entertaining. 
    ‘Well, that was different,’ remarked William when they had finished.  There was also a man with a dancing bear.  It danced with a long pole balanced across its front paws and then did exercises at the command of the man. 
    ‘Poor thing,’ said Wyn, ‘look at the state of him.’ 
    His fur was mangy and the smell of him turned their stomachs. 
    ‘He’s obviously very old,’ said Betty.  ‘You should be ashamed,’ she said to the man. 
    He just gave her an evil look and turned away.
    ‘Let’s see what the inn has to offer,’ suggested William.  They all turned and went inside.  The landlord brought them mugs of frothing beer.  Wyn and Betty took very small sips of the beer as neither of them had ever tasted it before and they both pulled a face. 
    ‘Yuk,’ said Betty as she tried taking another sip.  ‘I suppose I’ll get used to it.’ 
    They sat quietly for a minute drinking until they heard shouting coming from outside.  They were curious so went outside to have a look and saw a wagon full