Chattering Place

'It's simple...you know where. I know how.' Ben was enjoying a steak, chewing the leathery meat heavily and taking a swig of wine.

The restaurant had slowly emptied, only a handful now lingered inside out of the cold.

'I don't know. It's Mr and Mrs Hanover...I...I can't,' Hannah said.

Ben swallowed, dabbed at his lips with a napkin and sat back.

'A temporary lapse, I'm sure.' His dark eyes watched her closely, searching. She felt the deliberateness of his gaze and looked away. 'Let's not get carried away. We get the job done. We move on. Simple. Clean.' He reached out and took her hand in his. 'We won't have to do this for much longer. I promise.’

The roads between London and Chattering were old and in some places nothing more than jutting rock and weeds. Hannah was exhausted and was relieved when they finally pulled up outside the inn.

Ben had a quick word with the coachman and rode off without a word, and Hannah was left to make arrangements for the night.

The proprietress of the Chattering Inn was a kind, no-nonsense businesswoman and readily made two rooms available at her request and dispatched a willowy-looking maid to settle her in. Under her curious gaze, Hannah made a show of inspecting the rooms and then parted the curtains to watch the winding road that disappeared behind the wooded expanse of Chattering Forest. In the darkness, she could only make out the glint of lamplight reflected on the grey stone.

When Hannah went down to breakfast the next day, she found Ben seated in a well-lit corner by the fire. He was still wearing the faded grey coat from the day before but seemed refreshed and restless.

‘The Jubilee is tomorrow night. That’s our chance,’ he said.

‘But John is still in Walburton,’ Hannah said. ‘It would take him a week, at least, to wrap up his business there and…’

‘John is already here.’

Hannah stared at him uncomprehendingly.

‘I wrote to him two weeks ago.’

Her brother had aged in their short time apart and was agitated. He hadn’t had a chance to unpack and bags lay half-open on the floor as if someone had riffled through them in a hurry. He paced for a few minutes and then stopped abruptly to face her. ‘I found a place in Walburton. It’s furnished. It’s a good neighbourhood. Probably with families who could use a governess. If you want it.’ Hannah shook her head and watched her brother hang his head in despair.

He sighed and sat beside her on the bed.

‘How was London?’

‘Different.’

‘Look…,’ he began.

Hannah interrupted him with a quick gesture of her hand.

‘Mum and Dad are gone John. Our home is gone. And the Hanovers…’

John looked alarmed.

Hannah pushed on: ‘The thing is, I actually like them. I like the kids. I like the work. They trust me. I think we can take this opportunity. Really start over.’ She stood up, instructed John not to move. Back in her room she extracted a gilded silver box from her overnight case. She carried it protectively in both hands and presented it to John. He took it from her cautiously.

‘Open it,’ she said.

John did as he was told and frowned.

‘We can both go to Walburton,’ Hannah explained.

John sighed and snapped the lid shut.

‘It’s not how it works, Hannah. You know that. Even if I pay him back. This doesn’t end until I get those diamonds.’

The manor with its sixteenth century façade and its well-tended grounds stood majestic in the moonlight. The Grand Jubilee attracted a great crowd to Chattering. As they passed through the gates, Hannah could see the empty carriages make their way back along the winding drive. Golden light spilled over from the windows, and the waiting carriages, the figures in ballgowns, the pear trees, were all caught in the glow. The coachman guided the carriage to a stop and a footman held the door open for them. Ben smiled. He offered her his arm and together they joined the party waiting on the polished stone steps.