Chapter Eight. A move at last and shifting furniture.
Ash was up early and when Nick came down to the cottage kitchen, a well-cooked breakfast awaited him. After washing the dishes Nick left a note for the Dunnings in case they returned, then Ash and he walked up to the manor.
They found Lady Celia sitting on the bottom of the main stairway writing out tickets.
“These are sticky, Joan and I are going to place them all on the
various rooms in the house. We have a list here and spare labels, so when the
furniture arrives you can check the room list and advise the men where to put
them.”
”Aunt, who will stick the labels on the furniture?” asked Nick.
“Why me of course, I’ll know where everything needs to go of course.”
”Excuse me Aunt Celia.”
“Yes Ash?”
“You aren’t quite fulsome at present, won’t you scare the people who bring it.”
“Of course not I don’t scare you do I Ash. Anyhow they’ll come in ones or twos so I won’t stick the labels on until they leave. The hall is plenty big enough to store any amount ”
“I want to buy two beds today and hope they will get delivered this afternoon could you show Ash the bedrooms allocated to us please Aunt.”
“You will have the second floor on the left wing. Horace, boys, Joan and I will have the right wing as we have always been there. The first floor we used to keep as reception rooms and an occasional ballroom is the large lounge, I suggest we keep it the same Nick.”
‘Fine Aunt Celia, we are expecting a fridge freezer to arrive and I’m not sure where Alice wants it put in the kitchen. Also Ash is to take the calls on the telephone so where is the best place for him to go?”
“With Horace of course Nick, and when the fridge arrives I will tell Ash in mind talk where to put it. Now you both better go and see Horace who’s studying his accountancy book avidly.”
Ash knocked on the study door and they both entered, a tasselled bookmark floated from the desktop onto a large book.
‘Right you two, Nick I propose you take out from the Malling account five hundred, for those who don’t want cheques. Ash, just pop along to the kitchen and fetch a chair for you to sit on. I have drawn up a list for you to fill in when people telephone. Come by me and have a look.” The top portion of HE appeared and Ash stood beside him.
“First at the time of ringing, their name, telephone number, the item in question, what money they want for it, Cash or Cheque, I suggest you abbreviate Cash is C and Cheque is Q, and any other details you are given. I will be here all the time so yell out if you need assistance.”
“Right Uncle Horace, do you have a spare biro?”
“Only a fountain pen old fruit.”
Nick passed over his own biro to Ash who scurried out to get the chair.
“He’ll be fine Nick my lad, now away you go.”
“Just one thing Uncle, alas inflation has increased substantially and a table costing twelve now a days will be ten times that.”
“For new maybe but this is our old stuff!”
“Yes even old prices have increased dramatically.”
“I suppose you are right so make it a thousand. And Nick something for the boys.”
“Like what?”
“Bike each, I expect young Jack Trent will be as eager as Ash to help move things about.”
“It’s Ash’s birthday next month, so that might do nicely.”
Ash came back carrying an old high chair.
‘Just the thing young Ash, now you can sit taller than me, here at the end where that dam telephone is and here’s a book for you to read that I have in my drawer.’ HE was fast disappearing, but the drawer squeaked opened and two large books floated down before the boy.
“Why Uncle Horace it’s the history of the Mallings!” exclaimed Ash leafing through the first book. Nick looked at them, well one of them and a moving bookmark, he smiled to himself and left.
The fridge freezer arrived in the morning and Lady Celia called Ash to co-ordinate the installation. She spoke to him in mind speak and the men set the appliance into its designated slot. Fortunately some power outlets had been set into the kitchen wall at Alice’s instruction, when the electricians had come. New power points were also due to be placed in the scullery. And replaced in HE’s study plus the various floors above.
After they had set and levelled the large fridge, one of the men spotted the old electric range.
“Must be fifty years old at least, wonder if your boss would be willing to sell it?”
“Why?” asked Ash?
“Our boss he has a collection and as sure as hell he don’t yet have one of these old ones, can I give him a ring if you are interested?”
‘Yes’. Said Celia.
“Yes” said Ash.
So the fridge man rang on his mobile and named the range its model number stamped in the cast iron edge.
“He’ll give you a hundred for it”
‘We will need another range Ash to replace this one.'
“We would need another range do you mind if I ring my brother Nick?” Ash picked up the telephone and rang the number Nick had given him. He thought it might be the bank but Nick answered straight away.
“Its Ash Nick, the men with the fridge want to buy the old range, Aunt says yes but we need a new replacement.”
The fridge man was speaking on his mobile again.
“Look can I speak to your brother young fellow?” He took the phone from Ash.
“My boss collects old electrical appliances he’s offering hundred and fifty off a new range.”
“How much is a good quality electric range sufficient to handle the requirements of this house?” Nick asked.
“You’d need a double range top and double oven.” He hesitated, “ the boss says eight fifty and he’ll throw in a new washing machine and discount by the hundred and fifty.”
“That’s fine with me, can we have it delivered by lunchtime, I’ve electricians coming in the afternoon and they could fit it. I will go and pay your boss if you give me his address.”
The fridge man's boss agreed to deliver them himself after Nick had paid, and then await Nick’s electrician to un-install the old one. Meanwhile his men could return to load up the new range and washing machine and they would all return after lunch. Every thing was agreed so Ash showed the men out. Ash returned to the study where HE was taking a call and the pen poised over the paper. Ash picked the phone gently out of the air and listened said quietly.
“I’m so sorry my old uncle is somewhat deaf and I’ve only just come in, could you repeat what you said to him.” Ash looked down at the paper and checked what HE had written.
“Well it’s exactly what uncle wrote down but he left the price you want out, what was it you wanted?”
‘He’s a downright thief, Ash I know the family, it’s not an important chair it was my old one in my bedroom with wings on it, they were getting worn.’
“Five thousand! Mr. Trenchard, Oh I’m sorry Lord Trenchard”
‘Been made a Lord now, in my day they were just Squire Trenchard and well known for skulduggery. Tell him fifty or seventy five absolute limit. Better still Ash tell him Sir Horace was intending to send it to the parish hostel!”
“I’m so sorry we could only pay seventy five for it as Sir Horace in his will had left it for the parish hostel, so its not something the family would be keen to buy back, however the offer is there if.” The phone was slammed down at the other end.
‘That family has not changed one iota, mark my words young Ash. I must say for a twelve year old you handled that well.’
“Coming up to thirteen Uncle Horace.” A brief laugh came from over the accounting book. Ash looked down at the list they had collected between themselves, there were already eight entries and all for delivery tomorrow.
Jack came around after midday, and not finding Nick or Ash stood in hall.
“Anyone at home” Jack shouted.
‘Your young friend is here in the hall Ash, you look after the men and machinery and I’ll take care of the telephone.’
“Right Uncle, that’s eleven so far and only this morning.” Ash rushed out to meet Jack.
The bell from portico doorbell rang, a long booming chime.
“Erie isn’t it Ash, the bell I mean, echoing throughout the hall like that.”
“I expect it’s loud as Dunning needs to hear it in the kitchen.” Ash replied as he swung open the door. Two men with a bed and mattress stood outside.
“This Malling Manor mate, you the page?”
“Certainly not, what have you got there please.” Ash replied a bit miffed.
“Two single beds, mattresses, pillows and linen, blankets in the name of Mallet. That you?”
“Yes could you bring them in and perhaps bring them up to the room if that’s all right?”
‘Its on the second floor left wing, I’ve tagged the room names Ash.’
“Thank you Aunt.”
“Pardon?” said the man with the bed.
“Sorry just talking to myself, please come in.” Ash turned and called Jack, “I think the electricians are coming can you ask them to take the old range out please Jack.”
He then indicated to the bed men to follow him up the stairs.
“Big place for two young lads to own.” Said one of the men as they hauled up the first bed up the stairway.
“Belongs to my Uncle and Aunt.” Ash directed to the second floor and along the corridor to the room labelled Ash and continued on to the end where ‘Nick’ was displayed. He opened the door and found Nick's room was large and airy and had two windows, a large one to the front of the house and a smaller on the side overlooking the Dunnings cottage in the distance, then the river, and further on the road bridge.
“Fabulous.” He said.
“Where to with the bed mate.”
“Over by the back wall please, close to the window. Can you bring up the other bed and put it alongside please, I’ll help with the other stuff.” They followed Ash back along the empty corridor and down the two flights of stairs to fetch the other bed and bedding from the van. Ash helped them up with the bedding. A buzz entered his head.
‘Come down to the study and I will give you a tip for the men.’
“Right Uncle.”
“Not you’re uncle mate, but sign here for the items please.”
Ash signed as A. Mallet. As they returned down to the hall Ash asked them to wait and went into the study where HE handed him an old shilling.
“Uncle the moneys been changed now and a tip needs to be a bit higher.”
‘Pop down to the kitchen and in a little flowered pot in the scullery Dunning keeps change for such things.’
Ash dashed out and down to the kitchen found the pot and took out a decent tip for the men. He raced back to them and handed it over. Then showing them out spotted the appliance truck coming down the drive. Dashing back into the kitchen he alerted the electrician and Jack that the new range was coming.
“Over the next few days Jack, its going to be pretty busy here, can you come and help if its possible.”
“Course Ash and I’m sure Dad will come and help, the Forestry told him it would be his last day today.”
“Oh great, everything seems to be falling into place, and its bath night tonight!” Ash dashed back to the main door to welcome in the appliance people.
Nick arrived soon after, having dropped two large parcels strapped to his roof rack at Tom Trent’s barn with a quick note attached. As he came through the front door Ash was there to greet him.
“Nick have you noticed that the main door is in fact a double door and by unlocking these central bolts here top and bottom both doors open much wider.”
“That’s great because we need them now as there’s another lorry coming down the drive. Do you have your list with you it could be one of your telephone callers?”
Ash ran into the study and collected the top page as HE was using the clipboard for another entry.
“Yes a Mr and Mrs Durstan, from Pool Dorset, a large mahogany table and five leaves, five thousand due this afternoon. And its a Q, a cheque.”
‘That’s fine Nick I’ll help Ash you pop into the kitchen and check on all the installations.’
“Aunt you can’t just wave that pen around in mid air, you’ll frighten the visitors!”
Lady Celia burst into a very solid being.
“I’ve been practising very hard, now off you go and leave Ash with me, you’ll find Jack in the kitchen so please send him out to give us a hand, according to the list we have five deliveries.”
“Oh Aunt there are fourteen chairs to come with the table.”
“There was originally sixteen, I wonder where the other two might be? Right off you go.”
The lorry stopped and backed up to the lower step. Lady Celia went outside to meet the Durstan’s.
“Morning Mam, Durstan from Dorset, we were expected this afternoon with a table and chairs. Might you be the Lady of the house?”
“I am indeed Lady Malling and you are both most welcome, my sturdy lads here will help you unload, and here is Trent coming round the drive, lets get them unloaded.”
The rear roller door was raised and with much huffing, lifting and pushing a large six-legged table was man handled up the steps. Lady Celia and Mrs Durstan staying well back as it was slid sideways on sacking the boys had found. Nick came back to see what all the noise was about. They all lifted the table right way up.
“Its to go up the first floor dining room cum ballroom my lads.” Lady Celia fondly swept her hand over the polished surface. “You’ve looked after this well Mrs Durstan, it was my great aunts favourite table, such dining parties held on it.”
“Aunt it’s a bit heavy to get up those stairs, they might be wide enough but the bend on the landing might be difficult.”
“Pop underneath Nick, and tell me what you both see at the top of the leg joints, they might unscrew.”
“I understand we asked for five thousand for the chairs and table my lady.”
“Indeed Mrs Durstan, that’s what my husband has agreed, by the way how did you acquire my family’s table?”
“I am the granddaughter of the Rector here and I believe he acquired it for the Rectory in the village.”
“Acquired?”
“Well I think he purloined it my lady.”
“Well we have agreed on a price and it’s so nice to see it back, thank you. Well Nick what do see?”
“Thumbscrews “ Said Nick.
“Well done, so turn the table back on its side on these sacks and perhaps unscrew the legs. Nick you will need to arrange for a cheque for our visitors.”
“Mam I listened to what my wife had said, I wonder if we could ask for five hundred in cash and reduce the amount we receive to a total of three thousand.”
“That’s most generous of you both but I think the way your wife has looked after the patina of the table and the chairs the boys have just bought up I would suggest a total of four. By the by there used to be sixteen chairs and I wondered where the other two might be?”
“Begging your pardon Mam, but we moved to a small flat from our large house and had to put the table and chairs into storage last year. But we kept two chairs for our own use as a souvenir of a lovely piece.” Mr Durstan blushed in embarrassment.
“Then the price is agreed and you may keep those two chairs as a memory of Mallings, so Nick cash and a three thousand cheque if you please.” Lady Celia watched intently as the legs were unscrewed and the boys and Trent carried them up the stairs to the right wing. Nick fetched the cash and signed the cheque and ushered the Durstan’s down the steps.
“Lovely lady your Aunt, I expect she’s met the Queen?”
“I expect she has met many of them.” Nick said with a smile. “Could you leave the gates open please and thank you very much for coming.” He waved them off up the drive. He then went to his own car and collected a small black case and some boxes.
“Something for the accountant, come on Ash lets give Uncle Horace a surprise. Ash have you ever worked a computer?”
“Only at school, we have a computer lab and lessons, mainly use it for the Internet, searching history and stuff.”
“Great, you are the ideal person I’m looking for, I wouldn’t know how to use the blasted thing, no need when you are working underground.”
They knocked, and then went into the study. A page in the book on the desk stood stock-still.
“Well you two what have you got there?” HE’s head and shoulders gradually appeared.
“Uncle we would like to present you with a laptop computer and a simple accounting software pack to install.”
“That’s most kind of you Nick and what part does young Ash have to play in this comedy?”
“He’s going to teach you.”
“What is it, some sort of slide rule?”
“No, it’s a piece of very useful equipment, every family should have one, especially those who are into accounting. I’ll leave Ash with you as we are still expecting more furniture this afternoon and I’ll help Aunt Celia and Jack. By the way did you set a maximum hourly time for receipt of the furniture?”
“Indeed we did Nick, Uncle and I set between ten in the morning and eight at night in case people had to come far. No deliveries on Sunday.” Ash checked the clipboard as he climbed into the high chair beside HE.
“Now Uncle, this is the carrying bag for the computer which is called a laptop. Its powered by either electricity or a battery, we need to plug it into a socket and switch on.” Ash picked up one of the software packs. “Accountancy for shops, small business and farms.”
“Ideal” said HE, and Nick closed the door behind him and went to aid Lady Celia who was dealing with a man who had bought in a bureau, a small one.
“Alas my man this is not one of ours, cannot allow you anything for it.”
“But Mam the gentleman on the phone gave me an approximate price of two hundred, and said to bring it in, I don’t want to take it back again.”
‘Well Nick looks like Horace has given his word.’
“Well I suppose we could put it up in one of the box rooms for the time being.” Said Nick.
“Well we will accept on that condition, but it is not ours, let me inspect it carefully I don’t want rubbish in the house.” Lady Celia gave the man a distinctly hard look. “And if your friends have the same idea of dumping their non saleable brown furniture on the Mallings let them beware. I believe you to be a dealer, am I right?”
“Yes Mam, I thought it a good opportunity to be rid of it from the shop, houses these days can’t fit stuff like this, but it is in good nick.”
“Very well, Nick give the man two hundred as long as he helps take up the to the attic.” Lady Celia then went to the door as another delivery arrived.
And so it went on right up to the late afternoon until Ash said all deliveries for the day were in. The Dunnings arrived back bringing with them their son Jason who was to recuperate at the cottage. After settling Jason in the spare room, Alice went about making sandwiches for them all, at least for those who had a body. She took a plate into Ash who was deep in discussion with HE. Eventually Joan and Peter came down to say all the furniture received had been properly placed and Joan had dusted and polished them.
Nick went outside to enjoy the last evening light and Ash soon joined him, Jack and Tom Trent came out and Nick had a quite word with Tom about the packages he had left in