Yorkshire Lady

Yorkshire Lady part 2

Part 2

7 years later The Lawtons became the new owners of Sparthwaite Manor. It was perfect, close enough to Halifax to be able to visit family and fiends there yet with enough distance to not have mothers constantly on the doorstep. Moving in was left as were all things domestic to Caroline who arrived along with her 2 little sons miniatures of their father, Freddy who would be 5 in October when he would have started school and 2 ½ year old Charley due to start at a local Playgroup in September. They were moving now to give the boys the 6 weeks of Summer holidays to get used to their new home.

Standing at the door was an attractive motherly woman in her fifties . 'Mrs Lawton ?' She enquired politely. 'I'm your housekeeper. Phyllis Medlock. There's also Rick Sowerby the gardener and if you don't mind he'd like a word with you. I'll make you and your little ones a drink if you like'.

They went into a kitchen already set up and very business like. Phyllis made a pot of tea calling out to Rick to come inside and she poured out milk for the boys to go with a plate of home-made biscuits.

Phyllis noticed that her employer ( not the person she had been expecting by a long way) seemed rather ill at ease. ' I'm sorry', said Caroline but I just can't get used to having servants. I'd feel happier if I was working too. The help would be much appreciated.'

Rick Sowerby came in. He was a good looking man in his forties with the most good natured way about him. Caroline despite her difficulty with new people felt almost immediately at ease.

Rick accepted a cup of tea with a smile at Phyllis. 'Thanks love.' Then turned to Caroline.

'Mrs Lawton, I assume your husband doesn't know much about gardens'. Caroline smiled.

'My husband knows ' Sweet Fanny Adams' about gardens. Why do you ask?'

Rick took her to see the gardens. They were in a serious mess. Caroline saw the problem.

Ah, yes. Too much for one man'. Rick nodded. .Got it in one. I need someone else as well. If Mr. L. is prepared to pay'.

The ' Masters at Arms' were currently on a world tour started a month ago so Andy would not be around for a while. Caroline felt suddenly bold. 'Mr Lawton isn't here to make decisions, so he'll have to 'like it or lump it' when I make them. Do you have anyone in mind, or do we need to advertise?'

Rick did have someone in mind as a matter of fact. A young man he'd worked with when the lad had been learning his trade and who he thought most highly of. 'His name's John Standring. I'll give him a ring and see if he's available.'

He went outside and came back a few minutes later smiling. ' John's not long since finished a temporary position, not uncommon in our business, so he'll come round tomorrow and you can see what you think.

Rick finished his tea and began to get acquainted with Caroline's boys. 'I've got nephews and nieces in droves' he explained but marriage and my own kids just never seemed to happen'.

Caroline felt very happy all of a sudden. The house was glorious. Her boys loved it especially the gardens, which were more akin to a small park than the tiny handkerchief that Caroline had grown up with and she liked Rick Sowerby and Phyllis Medlock very much. She thought Rick would make a lovely husband and father and hoped he would get the chance one day.

She had been ashamed at how much she'd looked forward to Andy being away and out of mind. This marriage had been rougher than she'd envisaged and she had never been enthralled about it.

Andy was as inattentive to her now as he had been at school, she suspected he was wary of admitting to having such a nondescript, unglamorous wife and he was keen to point out at every opportunity that as far he was concerned he'd done Caroline a favour by marrying her,

'Cos, let's be honest no one else would'.

She had felt more lonely here in a world she didn't belong in than she had ever done before. The beautiful glamorous people in it regarded her almost like a zoo exhibit an treated her like a servant when one of the Lawton homes was flooded with friends and hangers on.

Caroline knew that with a home on this scale she could expect a great deal more of the same.

As she and Rick sorted the house out together, Caroline realised that she was actually making friends. He and Phyllis had taken a genuine liking to this unlikely Rock Star Wife, who didn't fit any of their preconceptions and was the better for it.

Neither of them could imagine how this marriage had firstly come about and secondly lasted for 7 years although having had children might have made Caroline stop for longer than she should have.

Caroline told them about the business marriage deal and her reason for accepting which all seemed rather silly now. She admitted that a gilded cage like hers was also rather hard to contemplate leaving and looking round it was easy to see why.

Andy was having a pool house with an oval swimming pool built which was a replica of the house's existing conservatory. Caroline Freddy and Charlie all loved swimming and were looking forward to being able to try it out.

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The following morning a Volvo drew up in the drive and Rick met it bringing it's occupant to meet Caroline.

'Caroline, this is John Standring. John lad this is Mrs. Caroline Lawton'.

TBC