Gentleman Jack (2019) s02e01 Episode Script
Faith Is All
1
Whoa!
- Shabby little Shibden.
- She's here.
- Is she here? - And my shabby little family.
You should marry - a man.
- Don't be absurd.
I thoroughly intend to live with someone I love.
Miss Walker.
I've heard so much about you.
It appears you have my niece quite under your spell, Miss Lister.
- What?! - You're playing with fire.
I can't do this any more.
It's wrong! - What is that? - I believe she can make a full recovery, given the right sort of help.
- What do you know about coal? - You've a lot of it.
She thinks you're stealing her coal.
I think he underestimated me, Mr.
Rawson, with me being the gentler sex.
Uncle Ben's here.
Is your father in? - He-he went to America.
- America? So you do want to come and live with me at Shibden? Yes, when Charles dies.
And what am I supposed to do? Just wait, yet again? I love you, Anne.
Might we not live together? Set up home together, as companions? It'd be like a marriage! Quite as good, or better.
Ah, there you are.
Good.
Ma'am.
Miss Lister's at the door.
Vulgar.
Miss Walker.
- Miss Lister.
What do you want? - How are you? I'm going over to York later today and I was wondering if there was anything you'd like me to take over.
- What I would like - A letter? A cake? A kind message? is to know exactly where my niece is and when she's coming back to Halifax.
- As I've explained - You have explained nothing.
As I have explained, on a number of occasions, Miss Walker is anxious to follow Dr.
Belcombe's advice to the letter.
And a temporary separation from her familiar surroundings and routine is considered a necessary part of her treatment.
She has been away more than a month.
None of us know where she is or anything.
These things take time.
And the delicate nature of her complaint requires discretion, that's all.
She's doing very well, and what she doesn't want, or need, is a constant flow of opinion that could undermine everything Dr.
Belcombe is doing for her, which is why, for the moment, it is right for the poor girl to remain quietly, and for some time, under his care.
You have cut her off from her family.
You've isolated her from everyone she knows.
Miss Walker is there entirely of her own volition.
I've merely assisted her in the pursuit of her own scheme.
- You - I have been kindness itself to your niece.
Do you understand that the merest hint of your disapproval for her chosen course of action could sabotage all of the good that's been done? One kind word, one cheerful sentiment, on the other hand, would lift her spirits no end.
Did you know, Miss Walker, that when Miss Walker was in Scotland, and this is something I found out myself only a few short weeks ago, that Captain Sutherland had £1,000 off her? Not content with trying to shackle her to his insipid cousin, he persuaded her to part with £1,000 of her own capital.
She wasn't there to see a doctor, as Captain Sutherland had promised.
She was there to be sadly used, which is why she is now determined to make a new will.
A new will? How? Well, Mr.
Priestley was her executor and now she's asked me to do it to which, of course, I've said yes.
She'd never be considered fit to make a new will, given her mental Dr.
Belcombe considers her quite competent enough in the matter.
Why is she discussing matters like that with you and not with members of her own family? She likes me.
I have one aim in this matter, Miss Walker, which is Two aims, both of which are transparent.
To serve a friend as well as I can, and to help her on the high road to good health and happiness.
You, madam, may find that by crossing swords with this family because it isn't just me, it's the Edwards, it's the Priestleys, it's the Rawsons you may yet find, madam, that you have bitten off more than you can chew.
How do, ma'am? Good morning.
Morning, ma'am.
Ah, the new water closets.
Excellent.
Argus.
- Morning.
- Morning, ma'am.
Morning.
Morning, ma'am.
There's a note for you from Mr.
Parker and another one from Mr.
Holt up at the pit.
Mm - Morning.
- Morning.
They're sick of all this banging.
- We're sick of all this banging! - I've just said that.
You'll thank me in the end, Father, when you have a fire that doesn't smoke the room out and your own water closet each.
- Who? - Yes.
- Is Washington here? - He's in your office.
And I need to talk to you about Cordingley.
And then I've got to go into Halifax.
Cordingley? I'll come with you, into Halifax, if you're quick.
I have to be in York this evening.
When are you going? - Eh - I have to nip up to the pit to see Holt.
I can meet you at the top of the Old Bank in, what, ten minutes.
Morning, Washington.
You'll like this.
- Staups is up for sale.
- Oh? The house, the outbuildings, the Stump Cross Inn and Spiggs colliery, and all on your doorstep.
Be daft to let someone else get it.
Who's dealing with it? - Carr.
- How much is he asking for it? 3,500.
- He'll get it.
- I'll speak to Mr.
Parker.
Oh, and I've got Mr.
Mitchell's evaluation of the Crow Nest estate that Miss Walker requested.
I can mail that to her in York, or No.
I'll take it.
Is that everything? Morning, Mr.
Mann.
- Is Holt here? - He's keeping warm in the office, ma'am.
And just to be clear, ma'am, I've been labouring under the impression that he were getting the drift dug for us separately.
What do you mean? He is.
I mean, we've only been employed to sink the shaft.
Never been any mention of a drift being dug.
We're at 30 yards now, and we've hit water twice.
And I had assumed he had it in hand, but apparently not.
You know he drinks, don't you? - Morning, Miss Lister.
- Mr.
Holt, Mr.
Mann's just telling me we haven't built a drift to take the water away.
No, ma'am, not yet, but we have it in hand.
We discussed this weeks ago.
It should've been started t'same time as t'pit was started.
When I told you this pit'd be delivering coal come July, ma'am, that was on the understanding that Mr.
Holt had the drift under way.
If you're wanting to control the water and use it against Mr.
Rawson, a proper organised plan under the ground is the only way you'll manage it.
How long will it take to dig this drift? Down under t'colliery, come out at th'existing pond That's 300 yards.
It's three months.
It was an oversight, ma'am.
All I can do is apologise.
I do remember the conversation, now it's been said.
I could dig that for you at, oh, four shillings a yard.
But there'll be a delay sinking this while we're doing it.
Can you provide a plan? The line of the tunnel, depth, quantity of stone we'll need to support it.
- Yeah.
- Ma'am.
Yeah.
I can do that for you.
I don't want to make any more enemies than I have to, not in this business, but I can't afford mistakes like this.
You know that getting control of the water and taking care of Rawson's trespass down there is just as important to me as getting any coal.
Sort yourself out.
So, Cordingley Keep up.
She says she's sick of the workmen trailing dust through the house.
Well, it won't be for ever.
She's worried you'll think standards are slipping and she's not on top of things.
"It was only supposed to be two weeks.
It's turned into two months".
Yes, well, good craftsmanship takes time.
And one job uncovers another.
And I can't have Miss Walker move in and regret it, because it's draughty and inconvenient.
And then the other thing she was seen, Cordingley, arm in arm with Thomas Beech.
Your groom Thomas Beech.
By whom? - Where? - Me! In the barn.
Arm in arm? Yes! As in ? - Show me.
- Like Like in a sort of romantic ? Yes! Like They didn't know I was there.
I'd been to speak to little Hannah Booth.
And they were just sitting there, talking, gazing at each other's lips like engaged lovers.
But he's getting married in a few weeks - that's why he's leaving us.
- I know.
- She's old enough to be his mother.
- I know! I'll speak to her.
Mr.
Washington thinks £3,500 would be a fair price.
You could put in an offer now, before it goes to auction.
And pay more for it? Mr.
Stocks might fancy it, for the same reason you do Staups abuts directly onto his land on the other side.
I do want it, but I won't pay over the odds for it.
Let's take the risk at auction.
It ties in with what I wanted to talk to you about.
Mrs.
Scatcherd has given notice to quit Northgate House at the end of August.
Her lease isn't up till next year.
Mm.
But I'm wondering if it mightn't be a blessing in disguise.
How? Well, you could sell it.
Sell Northgate House? It's not 17 years since Uncle Joseph died.
It's unthinkable.
Can I be frank? Your, er, borrowing has become, well excessive might be too strong a word.
And your new-found enthusiasm for borrowing is Well, risk-taking in business is often something to be admired, and we all know you've got the stomach for it.
But if you sold Northgate House, you could pay off your debts and have capital to play with.
Northgate's in the town.
It'd fetch 8,000 which would allow you to buy Staups really quite easily.
We all saw her staggering out.
When she was Eugenie, is my imperial packed? - I was just - Thomas, I want you to go down to the Old Cock and tell Mrs.
Peacock I want the postboy and horses here no later than three o'clock.
Weren't you supposed to be helping your brother? - I was.
I - Rachel.
My aunt's ready for you to do her leg.
She's just gone upstairs.
Elizabeth You were seen, apparently, - arm in arm with Thomas Beech.
- Oh I don't want to know why.
It's just to say that a housekeeper seen arm in arm with a footman, a footman 20 years her junior, a footman who is leaving us in a few short weeks despite not having been with us for very long, is sadly infra dignitatem.
- And - W I don't want to hear any more about it.
Hmm? Yes, ma'am.
Sorry, ma'am.
Thank you, ma'am.
Oh, and a letter came, ma'am.
Miss Marian said to leave it on your desk.
She said she thought it was Mrs.
Lawton's handwriting.
Me, infra dignitatem? Dearest Freddy, my thoughts are perpetually full of you.
I love you dearly and fondly, and, despite all our ups and downs, my heart is not unfaithful, and still, as formerly and for ever, my joys by yours are known.
I hope Steph sends you good accounts of your little friend in York.
But the pleasures of memory still visit me and urge me to bid you take your time in this matter and not fetter yourself too soon or too tightly.
What you say on the subject of making things work with Miss Walker is, I doubt not, true as applied to you because you have energy of character to do with the mind what you will.
But, nevertheless, there is no reason why you, with others, should not profit from the maxim "look before you leap".
Er, yes? Miss Lister's here, ma'am.
How are you? Thank you, Lucy.
Would you like your dinners brought through now, ma'am? Are you hungry? Always.
Erm, yes.
Thank you, Lucy.
Mrs.
Bewley's put you in the apartment just next door to mine for the night.
- Mm.
- Mm.
Does my aunt know about what I did to myself in Scotland? No.
Of course not.
How could she? Just if Elizabeth had written and said anything.
I've never had that impression.
No, I don't think Elizabeth would.
Do you? Mrs.
Priestley saw it I didn't tell you.
In the carriage, on the way back from Scotland.
Was it spoken of? Yes, erm, I told her it wasn't what she thought, but I could see her thinking things.
And, of course, it was.
And people talk.
My family talks.
I've spent a good deal of time at Cliffe Hill and I never once got the idea your aunt knows a single thing about it.
It's just You know they'll use it against me, if they can.
They'll have to get past me first.
I don't deserve you.
Now, tell me how you've been getting on - with Steph.
- Mm.
Better and better.
He's encouraged me to take on an art master - Mr.
Brown.
We're doing perspective.
- Ah! Oh, and I wondered about getting a pony.
I haven't ridden in years, but Dr.
Belcombe thought it was an excellent idea.
Would there be room for me to keep one at Shibden? Of course.
Oh, and did you correct my letter? Ah, yes.
The French.
- Mm.
- Oh.
I've brought Galignani's Guide To Paris to look through.
Are we really going to go? Oh, yes.
And then, when we come back, you're going to move in with me at Shibden.
Oh, I've brought your estate accounts.
And I could go through them with you if you like.
The great desideratum in business I find is steadiness.
- Mm, is it, then? - Mm.
Constancy.
That, and having a firm grasp of the facts and figures.
The more you understand your estate and the accounts the more you'll get out of your land.
And, apart from anything else it's all so fascinating.
- Ah! Is it? - Mm.
Oh.
I've brought Mr.
Mitchell's evaluation of all your property see how it compares to Washington's.
And then you really ought to write to Elizabeth about the division of the estate.
And then we can both get on with altering our wills.
Whoa-oa! Whoa.
How would you feel about taking her back to Halifax for a few days? Before this trip to Paris? Can do.
Why? Well, put her family's mind at rest.
- The tribe.
- So they can see her.
See that she's responding to her treatment and that everything's above board.
Has something happened? A Mr.
Charles Priestley was here four days ago.
Sent by a Mr.
Edwards, of Pye Nest.
"No-one in the family knows where she is and she's left home without any of her servants".
I assured him that she was being very well looked after, that she was in discreet, impeccable lodgings, and that she sought my help entirely of her own volition.
- Well answered.
- I'm sure they think they're protecting her, but they're not they're infantilising her.
If they can see she made the choice to be here, and it's having a beneficial effect, they'll start to see that she can make choices.
I'll put it to her.
And I did wonder if it might be beneficial for her to have some society, here, in York.
Build up her confidence, her conversation.
Mrs.
Norcliffe's invited us to Langton, to dinner on Wednesday evening - and to stay the night.
I've said yes.
- Oh, perfect.
And I'm taking her to Rievaulx Abbey tomorrow so she can sketch, and then on to Langton.
Will Isabella be there? Oh! Good Lord, no! No, I wouldn't inflict Tib on her not yet.
I think we might have to work up to dear old Tib.
She's at Croft this month.
It's just Mrs.
Norcliffe, Major Norcliffe and Charlotte, I believe.
I've got to go I'm interviewing new grooms.
Name? Clayton.
James.
- Age? - Who wants to know? 24.
Married.
Six children, four living.
Church of England.
- Madam? - Apprentice to Mr.
Hepworth, of Hob House.
Served there four years.
Four very happy years.
Then I moved on to Beningbrough.
Oof! Nice girl.
Name? Matthew Avison.
What? - Name? - Samuel Fielding.
Age? 19! 25, ma'am.
I need someone who is polite, honest, sober, well conducted, trustworthy, active, obliging.
Someone who thoroughly understands his business as footman and will maintain a clean carriage, and will do housework whilst at Shibden.
Might I suggest a little more shading under the arches? Ah, no observe how it follows the curve.
Three very good kisses last night.
She said we had never done it so well before.
And however unreserved and however amoroso at night in bed nothing escapes her lips during the day.
In fact during the day, she is so modest, so very nicely particular so much so that I am really satisfied with her and hope that we shall get on well together.
Whoa! Whoa, whoa.
Whoa.
Norcliffe, get the dog out.
Oh, he's not doing anything, Ma.
Yes.
Ruff-ruff! Hands up! Fisher, get the dog out.
What will Miss Walker think? Miss Walker doesn't mind.
She likes Nero.
She's already had a whole in-depth conversation with him on the stairs about all manner of shiny things.
Oh, I often find I get on better with people's pets than I do with the people.
Well said, Miss Walker.
Well said.
Oh, I do hope you're hungry, Miss Walker.
Mrs.
Briscoe makes slightly more than is necessary when we have company.
She must've thought Tib was going to be here.
My big bigger sister eats like a herd of donkeys.
Miss Walker, have you met her? Oh, Isabella? No.
Oh, well, lucky you.
She's an ogre.
I love her dearly, but she owes a great friend of mine 16 guineas - Thank you.
- and won't pay him.
- Oh.
- Exactly.
Not on! Don't make a wager if you're not prepared to cough up.
- Eh, Mama? - I was talking to Miss Walker about your pony, Norcliffe.
You're looking to sell the grey.
She's looking to buy one.
Oh, Nero? Oh, no.
Too rough.
Only good for a servant.
I thought the dog was Nero.
Oh, they're all Nero easier to remember.
Perhaps we could take a squint at him, if you're looking to sell him.
Her.
Certainly.
First thing in the morning.
Spirited that's the only word for her.
Spirited and stubborn.
Two words.
And I'll let you have her for a song, if you do like her, Miss Walker, because, stubborn as she is, I am fond of her and I'd be only too happy to see her go to a kind home.
Do you not like her? I don't dislike her.
I don't know her.
She's been ill.
Because she's been ill, her self-confidence is depleted.
Is that why she's seeing Steph? Is she maddish? She's had things to deal with.
As we all do from time to time.
Sadness, loss She hasn't always had what it takes to cope with it very well.
And yes, it's left her empty, to the point where her family, her wider family, haven't always known what to do with her.
She isn't really your sort, is she? She loves me.
She's in love with me.
And I You're not in love with her.
It's not that I'm not We none of us feel the same way at 40 as we did at 14, hmm? Do we? I am fond of her.
Fond enough.
- Really? - Oh, I missed her when I was in Copenhagen.
I didn't expect to, but I thought I'd get over her soon enough, but I didn't.
There wasn't a day that passed when I didn't think of her.
The fairy visions of youth are gone.
Mariana saw to that.
But with her I can be happy at least.
And I'll make it work.
Well I'd let the thing amalgamate gradually, if I were you.
Hmm.
We've been amalgamating for the last 18 months.
Does Tib know? Does Mariana know? Mariana knows about her.
She doesn't know about this.
Ah.
How's it going? Well, we've had to pull both seats forward so we can get the cistern and forcing pumps in behind.
Still, it's gonna be grand when we're done.
It's very clever, the way that the water replenishes itself and you just flush everything away.
It's One day, every household will have one.
Not in my lifetime, though.
I still have to shit in the woods.
Here You you know at our lass's wedding? Aye.
Right, you know Ben Sowden, Sam's brother that turned up? Not really.
Well, anyway, the thing is Mary told me that he'd written to them to say that he'd seen Sam.
Where? Well, this is the thing at the wedding, Ben told me he can't write and that he hadn't seen Sam.
So, er, why would Mary say that he had? Do you know that they had him in t'pigpen? Who did? Who had who in t'pigpen? Before he disappeared.
Dick.
Come here, love.
Tell Mr.
Washington about that fight you had - over at Sowden's place.
- With Sam? He were drunk.
This lad were black and blue.
He hit Mary, so we all piled in and tied him to a chair - and put him in with t'pigs.
- Why? Cos he was behaving like a pig and he was frightening everybody.
- Nasty bastard.
- And then what? Nothing.
Well, did y'see him again? No.
- Good morning.
- Morning, ma'am.
- Morning, ma'am.
- Oh, Joseph.
I've had a note from Miss Lister in York.
She wants you to get on the high flyer tomorrow and meet her at the Black Swan, in York, - at three o'clock.
- Me? Oh, and not to go in livery, just something ordinary.
Keep busy, keep occupied and keep cheerful.
Think of nothing but the agreeable and write to me in French.
- Carriage is loaded, ma'am.
- And then Oh, chin up.
And then you're going to write to your sister and ask for a formal division of the estate.
- Yes? - Mm.
And how about Crow Nest? Have you given any more thought to letting it out to a tenant? I know.
It's It's a decision.
It's where you grew up.
But you'll have a new home soon, and Crow Nest will always be there.
It makes no sense having it stand empty when you could have an income from it.
I just I'm not sure that it's the right time to - To? - To Argh, to do it! Or to let it.
Or to write to Elizabeth.
Without a division of the estate, you can't alter your will.
And I can only change mine when you change yours.
There needs to be a formal division so that everything can be split thoughtfully, fairly promptly so that we can both make this final commitment to one another.
I just I worry it might not be the right time to brave people's opinions, with my aunt being so difficult.
Our intentions need to be made clear to all concerned.
A proper respect for public opinion is due from all, but we, first and foremost, must respect ourselves, and each other, and what we want.
I just I think, if I write to Elizabeth, I I just don't believe a single line escapes Captain Sutherland's scrutiny.
And she's the one who'll suffer if there's any unpleasantness, so I ju I can't.
I won't be rushed, about anything.
It's the same equivocations backwards and forwards.
If only she had the courage to bind herself so that I could have confidence in her.
Does this seem as if she really thought us united in heart and purse? Ah! Joseph.
Excellent.
Well done.
This is Nero.
I want you to ride him her back to Shibden.
- What? - You can ride? Not recently.
- What's the matter? - I don't know the way.
Of course you do.
You've just come that way.
- Use your initiative.
- I've never been beyond Halifax except once, I went to Huddersfield.
And now you're in York.
The world just gets bigger.
So, stay on this road.
Follow the Leeds mails and stages.
It'll take you out of York via Dringhouses and Tadcaster.
Then, in Leeds, ask for the Halifax road.
And, if in doubt, ask someone else.
Up you get.
I don't think this is a good idea.
- My sister gave you a few shillings? Good.
- Yeah.
Well, take your time.
And if necessary, stay at the Old White Horse at Boar Lane in Leeds.
But I want you back at Shibden by nine o'clock in the morning.
- Is that clear? - Why can't Thomas do it? He knows more about roads and travel - Are you being impertinent? - No, ma'am.
- How old are you? - 19.
19! Fit as a flea and bright as a button.
Nothing is beyond you.
On you go! Yes.
Do you think Miss Walker will suit me better, as a companion, than Mrs.
Lawton? I like Miss Walker, so does Father.
He says there isn't anyone he'd like better moving in with us.
Really? Mm.
Do you not like Mrs.
Lawton? Well, she's just upset you a lot over the years, hasn't she? One way and another.
Then always worming her way back in again.
There you go.
- How long have you had that cough? - Oh.
Apparently, Miss Catherine Waterhouse - is in the early stages of consumption.
- I heard.
Come here.
Say "aah".
Aaah You'll live.
Oh.
Well, it'll be a trial run for all of us if she's coming to stay before you go to Paris.
She's still blowing hot and cold.
Why? Oh, the tribe.
Not about visiting.
Not about moving in, even.
It's more about her making a more permanent commitment.
She's reluctant to let Crow Nest out, which I can understand it's where she grew up.
But, good heavens, it can't just stand empty like a mausoleum.
And then there's Then there's the other thing.
We intend to change our wills.
Leave each other a life interest in our estates.
Shibden? Yes.
And Crow Nest? She's agreed to that? Once Crow Nest is divided into two, between her and Elizabeth, and it can all be itemised in black and white, yes.
She's just avoiding writing to her sister to get the thing started.
Well, that's a development.
We shall never have children and so we need to protect one another.
It will be as good as a marriage.
If I die first, Shibden will still go to the Swansea Listers, eventually.
It's just I'd rather leave it in the more immediate aftermath of my death, if and when when that happens, to someone I've had some sort of a life with.
I've I've been wearing it for weeks.
She gave it to me at Easter, and I gave her an onyx.
I want you to be pleased for me.
But you're saying it could still all go off? No.
I can't think that.
I must keep my nerve and have faith in her.
She does seem fragile.
Oh, I don't know.
I think, deep down, she's really really quite wilful.
She'll stay at Shibden? Why? Doctor's orders.
She'll visit you all, of course.
Oh, lucky us.
And then what? Back to York? And how long for? Doctor's orders to stay at Shibden? Doctor's orders not to be at Crow Nest all on her own.
Ah, well, those are two different things.
Well, yes.
And she could stay here.
- And what after that? - Here? You perfectly astonish me, Miss Walker.
Stay here? Miss Walker asked you if she could stay here.
- When? When? - Two years ago.
Before my return from Hastings.
After her brother died.
She told me all about it.
You declined.
You told her, "Young and old don't suit".
She was cut to the quick and when she was at such a low ebb, too.
I'm afraid she wouldn't dream of coming here not after that.
And what after that? How long will she remain with Dr.
Belcombe? She'll have to return home to Crow Nest at some point.
He thinks that's a bad idea all alone, with such sad memories.
Which is why I've asked her to come and live with me at Shibden.
But Surely, would it not be better to ask one of the Misses Atkinsons to move in with her at Crow Nest, if the anxiety is about her being so much on her own? Miss Walker does everything she can for the Atkinsons.
The last thing she needs is them moving in with her.
No, this is the scheme that's most likely to answer.
I'm sure she'll discuss it with you all when she's here.
She has nothing to hide.
Quite the opposite.
Did you know, Miss Walker, that, when Miss Walker was in Scotland, Mr.
Ainsworth visited her? Mm.
You see, I always liked him.
I got your note.
Um Yes.
Please sit.
So, George Naylor has offered you £8,000 for Northgate.
But he's stipulated that that would have to include - the sheep croft.
Right.
- No.
And then Isaac Green.
Do you know him? He's also offering 8,000 just for the house, doesn't want the sheep croft.
But he is asking to pay £1,000 now - and the rest over - No.
- the next four years - No.
at 4% No.
Right.
So, we'll continue with the plan to put the place up for auction.
With a reserve price of 9,500, including the sheep croft.
Right And the auction for Staups is Monday week - at the White Lion.
- I mean to have it, whether Northgate sells or not.
My dear Anne, please forgive me for not attempting this in French, but I am eager to catch the post bag.
I enclose a bottle of blackberry syrup for Marian in the hope that it will relieve her bothersome cough, and Mrs.
Bewley begs her respects and sends a bunch of asparagus to your aunt, which will do her good.
Sweet creature.
I count the moments to your return.
I am still in a mine about Crow Nest and still have anxieties about writing to my sister just now, but have faith.
I will not disappoint you.
You know there's no-one in the world I would rather be guided by than you.
Come back quickly, for I get dull without you, and I want you in a thousand ways.
Yours entirely, Ann Walker.
Dear sir, I would like to order from you a silver wax seal, which I will pick up from you when I am next in York, on the 20th.
I would like an ornamental banner design for the seal itself and the motto should read "foi est tout".
Faith is all.
Happy birthday.
Oh! You're so thoughtful.
You're so clever.
You're so kind.
It's so you.
It's so me.
I had an idea about Crow Nest.
It's just a suggestion, an interim measure.
What if, when you move into Shibden, Mr.
Washington and his family move into Crow Nest, into the servants' quarters, as sort of housekeepers? Just to keep the place aired, lived in.
That way, it just nudges things in the right direction for us for us both without causing too much of a stir.
Can I think about it? Yes, of course.
Ah The public mind has been much excited during the present week by the confidently asserted rumours of a coming change in, if not of, the Cabinet.
It is certain that a great difference exists among the ministers on certain leading subjects, but the Irish Church question is the most prominent one that Carriage has been spotted, ma'am.
Ooh.
Come on.
- Oh, what? - They're here.
- Ah.
Here we are.
- How was your journey? Oh, delightful.
Bit of a delay in Leeds, but - Thank you for inviting me.
- You're very welcome.
- Captain Lister, how are you? - Not so bad.
- Much the same.
- How are you? Oh, I'm well.
I'm very well, thank you.
Where's Aunt? She's upstairs.
She'll be on her way down.
Oh, and thank you for the syrup.
Oh, did you get rid of your cough? I think so.
They always linger longer than you'd like, don't they? - Dr.
Belcombe has encouraged - Oh, Joe, love.
the importance of a good diet.
- Healthy body, healthy mind.
- Hear, hear.
What else have you been doing in York? Reading, lots of fresh air, keeping busy Everything Anne's always talked about, really.
Physical activity, mental activity You do look very well.
You must pop over and see your aunt.
I know she's been anxious about you.
I intend to.
I will, first thing.
Who was telling me? Who was it called in, Jeremy? It was either Mr.
Sunderland or Mr.
Musgrave, or Dr.
Day.
It wouldn't be Dr.
Kenny.
We don't see Dr.
Kenny any more, not since Copenhagen.
Telling you what? About Miss Walker, about being anxious about Miss Walker.
I don't think they knew where you were.
I mean, they knew you were in York, but beyond that I got Staups! The bidding ended just over half an hour ago down at the White Lion.
Mr.
Stocks dropped out when it got too hot for him.
I got it! I'm afraid the highest bid for Northgate fell rather short of your reserve price just over £3,000 less, in fact, at 6,350.
So, unless you want to let it go at that price - No.
- No.
So, what'll you do? Look for a new tenant? Or I might turn it into a hotel.
Sorry? With the town expanding the way it is, surely the demand for such things will only become greater.
Well, yes, but surely that would involve some significant outlay and more borrowing.
Did you know that every minute of every hour of every day, around the clock, whilst we've been talking just now, Christopher Rawson is still still stealing my coal? Well, all right, but what's that got to do ? If he sees me spending money, he's hopefully, sooner or later, going to think a lot harder about mocking me like this without facing any consequences.
I'm glad it didn't sell.
It would've looked weak.
The ingratitude! That is what's so staggering.
I promised your father, on his deathbed, that I would look after you and do what I could for you, and, my goodness me, it hasn't been easy.
People can cease to care about people if people can't behave in a manner that's appropriate.
And there comes a point, there comes a time, when people have to say enough is enough! The hours I have spent worrying about you.
And now this?! I have had that whatever she is woman in here, in my house, in this room, telling me what's what.
And what you can't see, or won't see, is what a laughing stock you make of yourself by having anything to do with her, by even being seen with her! We are respectable, landed ladies.
Do you think anyone who knows the first thing about Anne Lister believes that? How was she? Don't you ever tell my aunt anything about me ever again! Please don't speak to me like that in front of a servant ever again.
I'm sorry.
You're the last person in the world I want to take things out on.
I wanted to keep her well informed.
I shan't be accused of doing anything by stealth.
When we're here, together, properly, I don't want anyone to be able to say that we weren't transparent about it right from the beginning.
I've decided.
You're right.
I think it's a good idea about asking Washington and his family to house-sit at Crow Nest.
Really? Mm.
And can we fix a date? To go to Paris? Just to just to get on with it, just to be there? We can be off in days, you just have to say the word.
And when we're back, I'll write to Elizabeth about dividing the estate properly.
Will you? I'll order us a set of rooms at Meurice's it's by far the best.
What about your apartment? In Rue Saint-Victor? We can't stay there.
It's tiny.
I'll take you to see it.
It's ridiculous.
I'm very fond of it, but Oh, we'll be comfortable at Meurice's.
I love you.
Mrs.
Priestley said that, when you were in Fortrose.
Mr.
Ainsworth turned up.
Oh.
I refused to see him.
And then Captain Sutherland got rid of him, which, I realised afterwards, he only did because he wanted me to marry Alexander.
Why didn't you tell me? I thought it would make you angry even angrier than it made me, and it breaks my heart when you're angry, so I didn't.
Oh, you are pretty.
In a certain light? In a certain light.
My dear Mary, since the past cannot be recalled, let us both make the best of the future.
My days of solitude are drawing to a close.
My father and aunt and sister are well satisfied by my choice, and all Shibden disagreeables are smoothed away.
I doubt I will see you this summer.
I am taking my "little friend" to Paris.
When we return, she will move into Shibden with me.
Miss Lister will say exactly the same as me, I'm certain.
- What's the matter? - James arrived, just after Thomas left.
He says he isn't accustomed to wearing second-hand livery.
I am not wearing cast-offs.
Mr.
Lowe will be here to measure you and adjust everything later this afternoon.
Good God, man, it's clean.
It's perfectly customary, even in the finest houses.
Cheapskate.
You'd better gather your belongings.
I'll pay you for the one day you haven't worked for me and then you can make your own way back to York.
I knew I'd made a bad decision.
If you're still on the premises in 20 minutes, I shall shoot you for trespassing.
Joseph.
What do you know these days about carriages? Well, I picked up a bit, ma'am, from Thomas.
- He was always showing me.
- Excellent! You're coming to Paris with me and Miss Walker.
Carry on.
Anne? Anne Anne? Anne.
Anne.
If you and Miss Walker take Joseph to Paris, who will act as valet to Father? I can't help dress him I might see something I don't want to see.
There was this boy I saw in York.
Knew nothing about carriages, mumbled, but otherwise presentable and honest.
Matthew Avison.
I'll write to Mrs.
Williamson, get her to send him over.
You can put him on trial for a few weeks, hmm? You're not really going to shoot him, are you? Only if I have to.
Erm Yes.
Cordingley.
- Mm? - Just to say, I think I might've got the wrong end of the stick about her and Thomas.
His mother died when you were in Copenhagen and he didn't know about it until you got back.
And, when I saw them, he'd just been telling Mrs.
Cordingley how heart-broken he was that she'd never get to see him be married.
And, well, she was just comforting him.
Hello.
Ah.
Why didn't he tell me? About his mother? They're all a bit scared of you, aren't they? Why? I-I don't know.
- Excuse me.
- Mm.
- Elizabeth.
- Yes, ma'am? Just that was a very good plum pudding we had at dinner the other night.
Thank you, ma'am.
Mm.
Dearest Fred, I earnestly pray for your happiness.
If I have in any way interfered with it, I have no less trampled on my own, for I have never loved any but you.
Your image alone awakens feelings for which I otherwise have no use, for there is a string within me that has never vibrated to any other touch but yours.
And at this moment, I feel as little caring for the future of the world as if 24 hours would close my existence.
The more, my dear Mary, I reflect upon the past, the more I am appalled at the inconsistency of your conduct that you should grieve so deeply now is a heavy misfortune to us both.
Whatever you may have gone through, I cannot easily believe it exceeds the misery, the ruthless desolation, that fell upon myself.
To me, it was more sudden than the lightning's glare.
In pity and in common justice, Mary, remember this.
Dearest Fred, the die is cast and Mary must abide by the throw.
You at least will be happy and this will teach her to be so who has nothing to hope for herself.
Yours entirely and forever Mariana.
- She's here.
- Is she here? - And my shabby little family.
You should marry - a man.
- Don't be absurd.
I thoroughly intend to live with someone I love.
Miss Walker.
I've heard so much about you.
It appears you have my niece quite under your spell, Miss Lister.
- What?! - You're playing with fire.
I can't do this any more.
It's wrong! - What is that? - I believe she can make a full recovery, given the right sort of help.
- What do you know about coal? - You've a lot of it.
She thinks you're stealing her coal.
I think he underestimated me, Mr.
Rawson, with me being the gentler sex.
Uncle Ben's here.
Is your father in? - He-he went to America.
- America? So you do want to come and live with me at Shibden? Yes, when Charles dies.
And what am I supposed to do? Just wait, yet again? I love you, Anne.
Might we not live together? Set up home together, as companions? It'd be like a marriage! Quite as good, or better.
Ah, there you are.
Good.
Ma'am.
Miss Lister's at the door.
Vulgar.
Miss Walker.
- Miss Lister.
What do you want? - How are you? I'm going over to York later today and I was wondering if there was anything you'd like me to take over.
- What I would like - A letter? A cake? A kind message? is to know exactly where my niece is and when she's coming back to Halifax.
- As I've explained - You have explained nothing.
As I have explained, on a number of occasions, Miss Walker is anxious to follow Dr.
Belcombe's advice to the letter.
And a temporary separation from her familiar surroundings and routine is considered a necessary part of her treatment.
She has been away more than a month.
None of us know where she is or anything.
These things take time.
And the delicate nature of her complaint requires discretion, that's all.
She's doing very well, and what she doesn't want, or need, is a constant flow of opinion that could undermine everything Dr.
Belcombe is doing for her, which is why, for the moment, it is right for the poor girl to remain quietly, and for some time, under his care.
You have cut her off from her family.
You've isolated her from everyone she knows.
Miss Walker is there entirely of her own volition.
I've merely assisted her in the pursuit of her own scheme.
- You - I have been kindness itself to your niece.
Do you understand that the merest hint of your disapproval for her chosen course of action could sabotage all of the good that's been done? One kind word, one cheerful sentiment, on the other hand, would lift her spirits no end.
Did you know, Miss Walker, that when Miss Walker was in Scotland, and this is something I found out myself only a few short weeks ago, that Captain Sutherland had £1,000 off her? Not content with trying to shackle her to his insipid cousin, he persuaded her to part with £1,000 of her own capital.
She wasn't there to see a doctor, as Captain Sutherland had promised.
She was there to be sadly used, which is why she is now determined to make a new will.
A new will? How? Well, Mr.
Priestley was her executor and now she's asked me to do it to which, of course, I've said yes.
She'd never be considered fit to make a new will, given her mental Dr.
Belcombe considers her quite competent enough in the matter.
Why is she discussing matters like that with you and not with members of her own family? She likes me.
I have one aim in this matter, Miss Walker, which is Two aims, both of which are transparent.
To serve a friend as well as I can, and to help her on the high road to good health and happiness.
You, madam, may find that by crossing swords with this family because it isn't just me, it's the Edwards, it's the Priestleys, it's the Rawsons you may yet find, madam, that you have bitten off more than you can chew.
How do, ma'am? Good morning.
Morning, ma'am.
Ah, the new water closets.
Excellent.
Argus.
- Morning.
- Morning, ma'am.
Morning.
Morning, ma'am.
There's a note for you from Mr.
Parker and another one from Mr.
Holt up at the pit.
Mm - Morning.
- Morning.
They're sick of all this banging.
- We're sick of all this banging! - I've just said that.
You'll thank me in the end, Father, when you have a fire that doesn't smoke the room out and your own water closet each.
- Who? - Yes.
- Is Washington here? - He's in your office.
And I need to talk to you about Cordingley.
And then I've got to go into Halifax.
Cordingley? I'll come with you, into Halifax, if you're quick.
I have to be in York this evening.
When are you going? - Eh - I have to nip up to the pit to see Holt.
I can meet you at the top of the Old Bank in, what, ten minutes.
Morning, Washington.
You'll like this.
- Staups is up for sale.
- Oh? The house, the outbuildings, the Stump Cross Inn and Spiggs colliery, and all on your doorstep.
Be daft to let someone else get it.
Who's dealing with it? - Carr.
- How much is he asking for it? 3,500.
- He'll get it.
- I'll speak to Mr.
Parker.
Oh, and I've got Mr.
Mitchell's evaluation of the Crow Nest estate that Miss Walker requested.
I can mail that to her in York, or No.
I'll take it.
Is that everything? Morning, Mr.
Mann.
- Is Holt here? - He's keeping warm in the office, ma'am.
And just to be clear, ma'am, I've been labouring under the impression that he were getting the drift dug for us separately.
What do you mean? He is.
I mean, we've only been employed to sink the shaft.
Never been any mention of a drift being dug.
We're at 30 yards now, and we've hit water twice.
And I had assumed he had it in hand, but apparently not.
You know he drinks, don't you? - Morning, Miss Lister.
- Mr.
Holt, Mr.
Mann's just telling me we haven't built a drift to take the water away.
No, ma'am, not yet, but we have it in hand.
We discussed this weeks ago.
It should've been started t'same time as t'pit was started.
When I told you this pit'd be delivering coal come July, ma'am, that was on the understanding that Mr.
Holt had the drift under way.
If you're wanting to control the water and use it against Mr.
Rawson, a proper organised plan under the ground is the only way you'll manage it.
How long will it take to dig this drift? Down under t'colliery, come out at th'existing pond That's 300 yards.
It's three months.
It was an oversight, ma'am.
All I can do is apologise.
I do remember the conversation, now it's been said.
I could dig that for you at, oh, four shillings a yard.
But there'll be a delay sinking this while we're doing it.
Can you provide a plan? The line of the tunnel, depth, quantity of stone we'll need to support it.
- Yeah.
- Ma'am.
Yeah.
I can do that for you.
I don't want to make any more enemies than I have to, not in this business, but I can't afford mistakes like this.
You know that getting control of the water and taking care of Rawson's trespass down there is just as important to me as getting any coal.
Sort yourself out.
So, Cordingley Keep up.
She says she's sick of the workmen trailing dust through the house.
Well, it won't be for ever.
She's worried you'll think standards are slipping and she's not on top of things.
"It was only supposed to be two weeks.
It's turned into two months".
Yes, well, good craftsmanship takes time.
And one job uncovers another.
And I can't have Miss Walker move in and regret it, because it's draughty and inconvenient.
And then the other thing she was seen, Cordingley, arm in arm with Thomas Beech.
Your groom Thomas Beech.
By whom? - Where? - Me! In the barn.
Arm in arm? Yes! As in ? - Show me.
- Like Like in a sort of romantic ? Yes! Like They didn't know I was there.
I'd been to speak to little Hannah Booth.
And they were just sitting there, talking, gazing at each other's lips like engaged lovers.
But he's getting married in a few weeks - that's why he's leaving us.
- I know.
- She's old enough to be his mother.
- I know! I'll speak to her.
Mr.
Washington thinks £3,500 would be a fair price.
You could put in an offer now, before it goes to auction.
And pay more for it? Mr.
Stocks might fancy it, for the same reason you do Staups abuts directly onto his land on the other side.
I do want it, but I won't pay over the odds for it.
Let's take the risk at auction.
It ties in with what I wanted to talk to you about.
Mrs.
Scatcherd has given notice to quit Northgate House at the end of August.
Her lease isn't up till next year.
Mm.
But I'm wondering if it mightn't be a blessing in disguise.
How? Well, you could sell it.
Sell Northgate House? It's not 17 years since Uncle Joseph died.
It's unthinkable.
Can I be frank? Your, er, borrowing has become, well excessive might be too strong a word.
And your new-found enthusiasm for borrowing is Well, risk-taking in business is often something to be admired, and we all know you've got the stomach for it.
But if you sold Northgate House, you could pay off your debts and have capital to play with.
Northgate's in the town.
It'd fetch 8,000 which would allow you to buy Staups really quite easily.
We all saw her staggering out.
When she was Eugenie, is my imperial packed? - I was just - Thomas, I want you to go down to the Old Cock and tell Mrs.
Peacock I want the postboy and horses here no later than three o'clock.
Weren't you supposed to be helping your brother? - I was.
I - Rachel.
My aunt's ready for you to do her leg.
She's just gone upstairs.
Elizabeth You were seen, apparently, - arm in arm with Thomas Beech.
- Oh I don't want to know why.
It's just to say that a housekeeper seen arm in arm with a footman, a footman 20 years her junior, a footman who is leaving us in a few short weeks despite not having been with us for very long, is sadly infra dignitatem.
- And - W I don't want to hear any more about it.
Hmm? Yes, ma'am.
Sorry, ma'am.
Thank you, ma'am.
Oh, and a letter came, ma'am.
Miss Marian said to leave it on your desk.
She said she thought it was Mrs.
Lawton's handwriting.
Me, infra dignitatem? Dearest Freddy, my thoughts are perpetually full of you.
I love you dearly and fondly, and, despite all our ups and downs, my heart is not unfaithful, and still, as formerly and for ever, my joys by yours are known.
I hope Steph sends you good accounts of your little friend in York.
But the pleasures of memory still visit me and urge me to bid you take your time in this matter and not fetter yourself too soon or too tightly.
What you say on the subject of making things work with Miss Walker is, I doubt not, true as applied to you because you have energy of character to do with the mind what you will.
But, nevertheless, there is no reason why you, with others, should not profit from the maxim "look before you leap".
Er, yes? Miss Lister's here, ma'am.
How are you? Thank you, Lucy.
Would you like your dinners brought through now, ma'am? Are you hungry? Always.
Erm, yes.
Thank you, Lucy.
Mrs.
Bewley's put you in the apartment just next door to mine for the night.
- Mm.
- Mm.
Does my aunt know about what I did to myself in Scotland? No.
Of course not.
How could she? Just if Elizabeth had written and said anything.
I've never had that impression.
No, I don't think Elizabeth would.
Do you? Mrs.
Priestley saw it I didn't tell you.
In the carriage, on the way back from Scotland.
Was it spoken of? Yes, erm, I told her it wasn't what she thought, but I could see her thinking things.
And, of course, it was.
And people talk.
My family talks.
I've spent a good deal of time at Cliffe Hill and I never once got the idea your aunt knows a single thing about it.
It's just You know they'll use it against me, if they can.
They'll have to get past me first.
I don't deserve you.
Now, tell me how you've been getting on - with Steph.
- Mm.
Better and better.
He's encouraged me to take on an art master - Mr.
Brown.
We're doing perspective.
- Ah! Oh, and I wondered about getting a pony.
I haven't ridden in years, but Dr.
Belcombe thought it was an excellent idea.
Would there be room for me to keep one at Shibden? Of course.
Oh, and did you correct my letter? Ah, yes.
The French.
- Mm.
- Oh.
I've brought Galignani's Guide To Paris to look through.
Are we really going to go? Oh, yes.
And then, when we come back, you're going to move in with me at Shibden.
Oh, I've brought your estate accounts.
And I could go through them with you if you like.
The great desideratum in business I find is steadiness.
- Mm, is it, then? - Mm.
Constancy.
That, and having a firm grasp of the facts and figures.
The more you understand your estate and the accounts the more you'll get out of your land.
And, apart from anything else it's all so fascinating.
- Ah! Is it? - Mm.
Oh.
I've brought Mr.
Mitchell's evaluation of all your property see how it compares to Washington's.
And then you really ought to write to Elizabeth about the division of the estate.
And then we can both get on with altering our wills.
Whoa-oa! Whoa.
How would you feel about taking her back to Halifax for a few days? Before this trip to Paris? Can do.
Why? Well, put her family's mind at rest.
- The tribe.
- So they can see her.
See that she's responding to her treatment and that everything's above board.
Has something happened? A Mr.
Charles Priestley was here four days ago.
Sent by a Mr.
Edwards, of Pye Nest.
"No-one in the family knows where she is and she's left home without any of her servants".
I assured him that she was being very well looked after, that she was in discreet, impeccable lodgings, and that she sought my help entirely of her own volition.
- Well answered.
- I'm sure they think they're protecting her, but they're not they're infantilising her.
If they can see she made the choice to be here, and it's having a beneficial effect, they'll start to see that she can make choices.
I'll put it to her.
And I did wonder if it might be beneficial for her to have some society, here, in York.
Build up her confidence, her conversation.
Mrs.
Norcliffe's invited us to Langton, to dinner on Wednesday evening - and to stay the night.
I've said yes.
- Oh, perfect.
And I'm taking her to Rievaulx Abbey tomorrow so she can sketch, and then on to Langton.
Will Isabella be there? Oh! Good Lord, no! No, I wouldn't inflict Tib on her not yet.
I think we might have to work up to dear old Tib.
She's at Croft this month.
It's just Mrs.
Norcliffe, Major Norcliffe and Charlotte, I believe.
I've got to go I'm interviewing new grooms.
Name? Clayton.
James.
- Age? - Who wants to know? 24.
Married.
Six children, four living.
Church of England.
- Madam? - Apprentice to Mr.
Hepworth, of Hob House.
Served there four years.
Four very happy years.
Then I moved on to Beningbrough.
Oof! Nice girl.
Name? Matthew Avison.
What? - Name? - Samuel Fielding.
Age? 19! 25, ma'am.
I need someone who is polite, honest, sober, well conducted, trustworthy, active, obliging.
Someone who thoroughly understands his business as footman and will maintain a clean carriage, and will do housework whilst at Shibden.
Might I suggest a little more shading under the arches? Ah, no observe how it follows the curve.
Three very good kisses last night.
She said we had never done it so well before.
And however unreserved and however amoroso at night in bed nothing escapes her lips during the day.
In fact during the day, she is so modest, so very nicely particular so much so that I am really satisfied with her and hope that we shall get on well together.
Whoa! Whoa, whoa.
Whoa.
Norcliffe, get the dog out.
Oh, he's not doing anything, Ma.
Yes.
Ruff-ruff! Hands up! Fisher, get the dog out.
What will Miss Walker think? Miss Walker doesn't mind.
She likes Nero.
She's already had a whole in-depth conversation with him on the stairs about all manner of shiny things.
Oh, I often find I get on better with people's pets than I do with the people.
Well said, Miss Walker.
Well said.
Oh, I do hope you're hungry, Miss Walker.
Mrs.
Briscoe makes slightly more than is necessary when we have company.
She must've thought Tib was going to be here.
My big bigger sister eats like a herd of donkeys.
Miss Walker, have you met her? Oh, Isabella? No.
Oh, well, lucky you.
She's an ogre.
I love her dearly, but she owes a great friend of mine 16 guineas - Thank you.
- and won't pay him.
- Oh.
- Exactly.
Not on! Don't make a wager if you're not prepared to cough up.
- Eh, Mama? - I was talking to Miss Walker about your pony, Norcliffe.
You're looking to sell the grey.
She's looking to buy one.
Oh, Nero? Oh, no.
Too rough.
Only good for a servant.
I thought the dog was Nero.
Oh, they're all Nero easier to remember.
Perhaps we could take a squint at him, if you're looking to sell him.
Her.
Certainly.
First thing in the morning.
Spirited that's the only word for her.
Spirited and stubborn.
Two words.
And I'll let you have her for a song, if you do like her, Miss Walker, because, stubborn as she is, I am fond of her and I'd be only too happy to see her go to a kind home.
Do you not like her? I don't dislike her.
I don't know her.
She's been ill.
Because she's been ill, her self-confidence is depleted.
Is that why she's seeing Steph? Is she maddish? She's had things to deal with.
As we all do from time to time.
Sadness, loss She hasn't always had what it takes to cope with it very well.
And yes, it's left her empty, to the point where her family, her wider family, haven't always known what to do with her.
She isn't really your sort, is she? She loves me.
She's in love with me.
And I You're not in love with her.
It's not that I'm not We none of us feel the same way at 40 as we did at 14, hmm? Do we? I am fond of her.
Fond enough.
- Really? - Oh, I missed her when I was in Copenhagen.
I didn't expect to, but I thought I'd get over her soon enough, but I didn't.
There wasn't a day that passed when I didn't think of her.
The fairy visions of youth are gone.
Mariana saw to that.
But with her I can be happy at least.
And I'll make it work.
Well I'd let the thing amalgamate gradually, if I were you.
Hmm.
We've been amalgamating for the last 18 months.
Does Tib know? Does Mariana know? Mariana knows about her.
She doesn't know about this.
Ah.
How's it going? Well, we've had to pull both seats forward so we can get the cistern and forcing pumps in behind.
Still, it's gonna be grand when we're done.
It's very clever, the way that the water replenishes itself and you just flush everything away.
It's One day, every household will have one.
Not in my lifetime, though.
I still have to shit in the woods.
Here You you know at our lass's wedding? Aye.
Right, you know Ben Sowden, Sam's brother that turned up? Not really.
Well, anyway, the thing is Mary told me that he'd written to them to say that he'd seen Sam.
Where? Well, this is the thing at the wedding, Ben told me he can't write and that he hadn't seen Sam.
So, er, why would Mary say that he had? Do you know that they had him in t'pigpen? Who did? Who had who in t'pigpen? Before he disappeared.
Dick.
Come here, love.
Tell Mr.
Washington about that fight you had - over at Sowden's place.
- With Sam? He were drunk.
This lad were black and blue.
He hit Mary, so we all piled in and tied him to a chair - and put him in with t'pigs.
- Why? Cos he was behaving like a pig and he was frightening everybody.
- Nasty bastard.
- And then what? Nothing.
Well, did y'see him again? No.
- Good morning.
- Morning, ma'am.
- Morning, ma'am.
- Oh, Joseph.
I've had a note from Miss Lister in York.
She wants you to get on the high flyer tomorrow and meet her at the Black Swan, in York, - at three o'clock.
- Me? Oh, and not to go in livery, just something ordinary.
Keep busy, keep occupied and keep cheerful.
Think of nothing but the agreeable and write to me in French.
- Carriage is loaded, ma'am.
- And then Oh, chin up.
And then you're going to write to your sister and ask for a formal division of the estate.
- Yes? - Mm.
And how about Crow Nest? Have you given any more thought to letting it out to a tenant? I know.
It's It's a decision.
It's where you grew up.
But you'll have a new home soon, and Crow Nest will always be there.
It makes no sense having it stand empty when you could have an income from it.
I just I'm not sure that it's the right time to - To? - To Argh, to do it! Or to let it.
Or to write to Elizabeth.
Without a division of the estate, you can't alter your will.
And I can only change mine when you change yours.
There needs to be a formal division so that everything can be split thoughtfully, fairly promptly so that we can both make this final commitment to one another.
I just I worry it might not be the right time to brave people's opinions, with my aunt being so difficult.
Our intentions need to be made clear to all concerned.
A proper respect for public opinion is due from all, but we, first and foremost, must respect ourselves, and each other, and what we want.
I just I think, if I write to Elizabeth, I I just don't believe a single line escapes Captain Sutherland's scrutiny.
And she's the one who'll suffer if there's any unpleasantness, so I ju I can't.
I won't be rushed, about anything.
It's the same equivocations backwards and forwards.
If only she had the courage to bind herself so that I could have confidence in her.
Does this seem as if she really thought us united in heart and purse? Ah! Joseph.
Excellent.
Well done.
This is Nero.
I want you to ride him her back to Shibden.
- What? - You can ride? Not recently.
- What's the matter? - I don't know the way.
Of course you do.
You've just come that way.
- Use your initiative.
- I've never been beyond Halifax except once, I went to Huddersfield.
And now you're in York.
The world just gets bigger.
So, stay on this road.
Follow the Leeds mails and stages.
It'll take you out of York via Dringhouses and Tadcaster.
Then, in Leeds, ask for the Halifax road.
And, if in doubt, ask someone else.
Up you get.
I don't think this is a good idea.
- My sister gave you a few shillings? Good.
- Yeah.
Well, take your time.
And if necessary, stay at the Old White Horse at Boar Lane in Leeds.
But I want you back at Shibden by nine o'clock in the morning.
- Is that clear? - Why can't Thomas do it? He knows more about roads and travel - Are you being impertinent? - No, ma'am.
- How old are you? - 19.
19! Fit as a flea and bright as a button.
Nothing is beyond you.
On you go! Yes.
Do you think Miss Walker will suit me better, as a companion, than Mrs.
Lawton? I like Miss Walker, so does Father.
He says there isn't anyone he'd like better moving in with us.
Really? Mm.
Do you not like Mrs.
Lawton? Well, she's just upset you a lot over the years, hasn't she? One way and another.
Then always worming her way back in again.
There you go.
- How long have you had that cough? - Oh.
Apparently, Miss Catherine Waterhouse - is in the early stages of consumption.
- I heard.
Come here.
Say "aah".
Aaah You'll live.
Oh.
Well, it'll be a trial run for all of us if she's coming to stay before you go to Paris.
She's still blowing hot and cold.
Why? Oh, the tribe.
Not about visiting.
Not about moving in, even.
It's more about her making a more permanent commitment.
She's reluctant to let Crow Nest out, which I can understand it's where she grew up.
But, good heavens, it can't just stand empty like a mausoleum.
And then there's Then there's the other thing.
We intend to change our wills.
Leave each other a life interest in our estates.
Shibden? Yes.
And Crow Nest? She's agreed to that? Once Crow Nest is divided into two, between her and Elizabeth, and it can all be itemised in black and white, yes.
She's just avoiding writing to her sister to get the thing started.
Well, that's a development.
We shall never have children and so we need to protect one another.
It will be as good as a marriage.
If I die first, Shibden will still go to the Swansea Listers, eventually.
It's just I'd rather leave it in the more immediate aftermath of my death, if and when when that happens, to someone I've had some sort of a life with.
I've I've been wearing it for weeks.
She gave it to me at Easter, and I gave her an onyx.
I want you to be pleased for me.
But you're saying it could still all go off? No.
I can't think that.
I must keep my nerve and have faith in her.
She does seem fragile.
Oh, I don't know.
I think, deep down, she's really really quite wilful.
She'll stay at Shibden? Why? Doctor's orders.
She'll visit you all, of course.
Oh, lucky us.
And then what? Back to York? And how long for? Doctor's orders to stay at Shibden? Doctor's orders not to be at Crow Nest all on her own.
Ah, well, those are two different things.
Well, yes.
And she could stay here.
- And what after that? - Here? You perfectly astonish me, Miss Walker.
Stay here? Miss Walker asked you if she could stay here.
- When? When? - Two years ago.
Before my return from Hastings.
After her brother died.
She told me all about it.
You declined.
You told her, "Young and old don't suit".
She was cut to the quick and when she was at such a low ebb, too.
I'm afraid she wouldn't dream of coming here not after that.
And what after that? How long will she remain with Dr.
Belcombe? She'll have to return home to Crow Nest at some point.
He thinks that's a bad idea all alone, with such sad memories.
Which is why I've asked her to come and live with me at Shibden.
But Surely, would it not be better to ask one of the Misses Atkinsons to move in with her at Crow Nest, if the anxiety is about her being so much on her own? Miss Walker does everything she can for the Atkinsons.
The last thing she needs is them moving in with her.
No, this is the scheme that's most likely to answer.
I'm sure she'll discuss it with you all when she's here.
She has nothing to hide.
Quite the opposite.
Did you know, Miss Walker, that, when Miss Walker was in Scotland, Mr.
Ainsworth visited her? Mm.
You see, I always liked him.
I got your note.
Um Yes.
Please sit.
So, George Naylor has offered you £8,000 for Northgate.
But he's stipulated that that would have to include - the sheep croft.
Right.
- No.
And then Isaac Green.
Do you know him? He's also offering 8,000 just for the house, doesn't want the sheep croft.
But he is asking to pay £1,000 now - and the rest over - No.
- the next four years - No.
at 4% No.
Right.
So, we'll continue with the plan to put the place up for auction.
With a reserve price of 9,500, including the sheep croft.
Right And the auction for Staups is Monday week - at the White Lion.
- I mean to have it, whether Northgate sells or not.
My dear Anne, please forgive me for not attempting this in French, but I am eager to catch the post bag.
I enclose a bottle of blackberry syrup for Marian in the hope that it will relieve her bothersome cough, and Mrs.
Bewley begs her respects and sends a bunch of asparagus to your aunt, which will do her good.
Sweet creature.
I count the moments to your return.
I am still in a mine about Crow Nest and still have anxieties about writing to my sister just now, but have faith.
I will not disappoint you.
You know there's no-one in the world I would rather be guided by than you.
Come back quickly, for I get dull without you, and I want you in a thousand ways.
Yours entirely, Ann Walker.
Dear sir, I would like to order from you a silver wax seal, which I will pick up from you when I am next in York, on the 20th.
I would like an ornamental banner design for the seal itself and the motto should read "foi est tout".
Faith is all.
Happy birthday.
Oh! You're so thoughtful.
You're so clever.
You're so kind.
It's so you.
It's so me.
I had an idea about Crow Nest.
It's just a suggestion, an interim measure.
What if, when you move into Shibden, Mr.
Washington and his family move into Crow Nest, into the servants' quarters, as sort of housekeepers? Just to keep the place aired, lived in.
That way, it just nudges things in the right direction for us for us both without causing too much of a stir.
Can I think about it? Yes, of course.
Ah The public mind has been much excited during the present week by the confidently asserted rumours of a coming change in, if not of, the Cabinet.
It is certain that a great difference exists among the ministers on certain leading subjects, but the Irish Church question is the most prominent one that Carriage has been spotted, ma'am.
Ooh.
Come on.
- Oh, what? - They're here.
- Ah.
Here we are.
- How was your journey? Oh, delightful.
Bit of a delay in Leeds, but - Thank you for inviting me.
- You're very welcome.
- Captain Lister, how are you? - Not so bad.
- Much the same.
- How are you? Oh, I'm well.
I'm very well, thank you.
Where's Aunt? She's upstairs.
She'll be on her way down.
Oh, and thank you for the syrup.
Oh, did you get rid of your cough? I think so.
They always linger longer than you'd like, don't they? - Dr.
Belcombe has encouraged - Oh, Joe, love.
the importance of a good diet.
- Healthy body, healthy mind.
- Hear, hear.
What else have you been doing in York? Reading, lots of fresh air, keeping busy Everything Anne's always talked about, really.
Physical activity, mental activity You do look very well.
You must pop over and see your aunt.
I know she's been anxious about you.
I intend to.
I will, first thing.
Who was telling me? Who was it called in, Jeremy? It was either Mr.
Sunderland or Mr.
Musgrave, or Dr.
Day.
It wouldn't be Dr.
Kenny.
We don't see Dr.
Kenny any more, not since Copenhagen.
Telling you what? About Miss Walker, about being anxious about Miss Walker.
I don't think they knew where you were.
I mean, they knew you were in York, but beyond that I got Staups! The bidding ended just over half an hour ago down at the White Lion.
Mr.
Stocks dropped out when it got too hot for him.
I got it! I'm afraid the highest bid for Northgate fell rather short of your reserve price just over £3,000 less, in fact, at 6,350.
So, unless you want to let it go at that price - No.
- No.
So, what'll you do? Look for a new tenant? Or I might turn it into a hotel.
Sorry? With the town expanding the way it is, surely the demand for such things will only become greater.
Well, yes, but surely that would involve some significant outlay and more borrowing.
Did you know that every minute of every hour of every day, around the clock, whilst we've been talking just now, Christopher Rawson is still still stealing my coal? Well, all right, but what's that got to do ? If he sees me spending money, he's hopefully, sooner or later, going to think a lot harder about mocking me like this without facing any consequences.
I'm glad it didn't sell.
It would've looked weak.
The ingratitude! That is what's so staggering.
I promised your father, on his deathbed, that I would look after you and do what I could for you, and, my goodness me, it hasn't been easy.
People can cease to care about people if people can't behave in a manner that's appropriate.
And there comes a point, there comes a time, when people have to say enough is enough! The hours I have spent worrying about you.
And now this?! I have had that whatever she is woman in here, in my house, in this room, telling me what's what.
And what you can't see, or won't see, is what a laughing stock you make of yourself by having anything to do with her, by even being seen with her! We are respectable, landed ladies.
Do you think anyone who knows the first thing about Anne Lister believes that? How was she? Don't you ever tell my aunt anything about me ever again! Please don't speak to me like that in front of a servant ever again.
I'm sorry.
You're the last person in the world I want to take things out on.
I wanted to keep her well informed.
I shan't be accused of doing anything by stealth.
When we're here, together, properly, I don't want anyone to be able to say that we weren't transparent about it right from the beginning.
I've decided.
You're right.
I think it's a good idea about asking Washington and his family to house-sit at Crow Nest.
Really? Mm.
And can we fix a date? To go to Paris? Just to just to get on with it, just to be there? We can be off in days, you just have to say the word.
And when we're back, I'll write to Elizabeth about dividing the estate properly.
Will you? I'll order us a set of rooms at Meurice's it's by far the best.
What about your apartment? In Rue Saint-Victor? We can't stay there.
It's tiny.
I'll take you to see it.
It's ridiculous.
I'm very fond of it, but Oh, we'll be comfortable at Meurice's.
I love you.
Mrs.
Priestley said that, when you were in Fortrose.
Mr.
Ainsworth turned up.
Oh.
I refused to see him.
And then Captain Sutherland got rid of him, which, I realised afterwards, he only did because he wanted me to marry Alexander.
Why didn't you tell me? I thought it would make you angry even angrier than it made me, and it breaks my heart when you're angry, so I didn't.
Oh, you are pretty.
In a certain light? In a certain light.
My dear Mary, since the past cannot be recalled, let us both make the best of the future.
My days of solitude are drawing to a close.
My father and aunt and sister are well satisfied by my choice, and all Shibden disagreeables are smoothed away.
I doubt I will see you this summer.
I am taking my "little friend" to Paris.
When we return, she will move into Shibden with me.
Miss Lister will say exactly the same as me, I'm certain.
- What's the matter? - James arrived, just after Thomas left.
He says he isn't accustomed to wearing second-hand livery.
I am not wearing cast-offs.
Mr.
Lowe will be here to measure you and adjust everything later this afternoon.
Good God, man, it's clean.
It's perfectly customary, even in the finest houses.
Cheapskate.
You'd better gather your belongings.
I'll pay you for the one day you haven't worked for me and then you can make your own way back to York.
I knew I'd made a bad decision.
If you're still on the premises in 20 minutes, I shall shoot you for trespassing.
Joseph.
What do you know these days about carriages? Well, I picked up a bit, ma'am, from Thomas.
- He was always showing me.
- Excellent! You're coming to Paris with me and Miss Walker.
Carry on.
Anne? Anne Anne? Anne.
Anne.
If you and Miss Walker take Joseph to Paris, who will act as valet to Father? I can't help dress him I might see something I don't want to see.
There was this boy I saw in York.
Knew nothing about carriages, mumbled, but otherwise presentable and honest.
Matthew Avison.
I'll write to Mrs.
Williamson, get her to send him over.
You can put him on trial for a few weeks, hmm? You're not really going to shoot him, are you? Only if I have to.
Erm Yes.
Cordingley.
- Mm? - Just to say, I think I might've got the wrong end of the stick about her and Thomas.
His mother died when you were in Copenhagen and he didn't know about it until you got back.
And, when I saw them, he'd just been telling Mrs.
Cordingley how heart-broken he was that she'd never get to see him be married.
And, well, she was just comforting him.
Hello.
Ah.
Why didn't he tell me? About his mother? They're all a bit scared of you, aren't they? Why? I-I don't know.
- Excuse me.
- Mm.
- Elizabeth.
- Yes, ma'am? Just that was a very good plum pudding we had at dinner the other night.
Thank you, ma'am.
Mm.
Dearest Fred, I earnestly pray for your happiness.
If I have in any way interfered with it, I have no less trampled on my own, for I have never loved any but you.
Your image alone awakens feelings for which I otherwise have no use, for there is a string within me that has never vibrated to any other touch but yours.
And at this moment, I feel as little caring for the future of the world as if 24 hours would close my existence.
The more, my dear Mary, I reflect upon the past, the more I am appalled at the inconsistency of your conduct that you should grieve so deeply now is a heavy misfortune to us both.
Whatever you may have gone through, I cannot easily believe it exceeds the misery, the ruthless desolation, that fell upon myself.
To me, it was more sudden than the lightning's glare.
In pity and in common justice, Mary, remember this.
Dearest Fred, the die is cast and Mary must abide by the throw.
You at least will be happy and this will teach her to be so who has nothing to hope for herself.
Yours entirely and forever Mariana.