Chapel Acre

By Emma Carney

Chapel Acre is an old English village that dates back beyond the 15th century. Chapel Estate is the home of Lord and Lady Hume who have a daughter, Grace, and a son, Frank. The matriarch of the family, the Dowager Lady Maude Hume, is ninety eight and lives in a Care Home. Billy, a local resident, works as a stable boy on the Estate having returned to the village after several years away. Grace has no time for him at first but when she learns about his life away from the village, she changes her feelings towards him, but those feelings are not reciprocated willingly by him. He plans to leave the village, but an unexpected and almost tragic event has consequences which change the lives of Grace and Billy for ever.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Michael Parker
• Release date: Jun 16, 2023
• ISBN: 9798223016045

Book preview

Chapter 1

Chapel Acre: Summer 1942

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She was sixteen and in love. She believed that. Her paramour was Scott, an American serviceman. He told her he was a couple of years older than her. Not that Maude was bothered about that; she loved him and that was all that mattered. Maude lived in Chapel Manor, the ancestral home of the Hume family, with her mother and father. Her father was a member of Churchill’s War Cabinet, so she only saw him on rare occasions. Her mother spent much of her time volunteering for the war effort or drinking herself to sleep every night. The only other people in the house were two members of staff who slept in the servant’s quarters at the rear of the house. This meant that Maude could come and go as she pleased, particularly at night when she would slip out of the house and hurry to meet Scott in the ruins of the old chapel from where the Estate and village took its name.

A large part of the Hume estate had been requisitioned by the War Office, which meant a lot of servicemen were drafted in. This included a detachment of Americans. Although fraternisation between the servicemen and the villagers was discouraged, it was inevitable that some attachments were formed, particularly during the monthly dances at the village hall. And this is how Maude met Scott.

For Maude, it was love at first sight, and although this attracted severe glances from some of the women in the village, the other philosophical view was taken that because there was a war on there were other things to worry about than a love affair between two ‘silly’ youngsters.

It was about ten o’clock in the evening when Maude hurried away from the Manor and through the copse of trees that kept her out of sight. Scott had his own way of avoiding late night restrictions at his barracks and would arrive at the Chapel within minutes of Maude. The moonlight helped them pick their way in the darkness where everywhere was intensely black because of the blackout.

Maude ducked low to climb through an opening in the wall of the chapel and clambered over the rough floor to a corner. She was carrying a blanket which she unfolded and placed in the ground. Then she sat down and waited. It was at moments like these where she felt an excitement she had never experienced before meeting Scott. The fact that it was secret assignation made it all so much more enjoyable.

Scott whistled softly as he ducked through the hole in the wall. Maude whistled back and with seconds they were embracing like lovers who had been separated by the war. They never said much to each other in the first few minutes; content to just enjoy the sensuous moments, to kiss, touch flesh and murmur witlessly to each other.

They uncoupled after gorging themselves on each other until they were sitting side by side, bodies touching and holding hands.

How are you, my love? Scott asked as he always did.

She bumped him with her hip and giggled. Why do you always say that?

He turned his face towards her. Because I truly want to know.

Well, apart from being so happy to be here with you, I do want to know if we can make this work.

He nodded. There are a lot of obstacles in the way, but they are not insurmountable provided the important people can be made to understand what we mean to each other.

Maude hugged her knees and rocked gently back and forth. You mean because you’re an American?

Something like that. Plus the fact that our homes are separated by three thousand miles. Oh, and us Yanks are only over here for what we can get. He reached over and kissed  her quickly on the cheek. You know I’m only after you for one thing.

She bumped him again. You’ve already had that, she said.

Scott thought back to that moment where he thought he’d gone to heaven as Maude yielded to him willingly. He’d never known such bliss, such magic and such a powerful emotion when he exploded into her and experienced something that no words could describe. They had clung to each other until their passion subsided gently and he rolled away. Maude never moved. Well, not for quite a while. Scott thought he had damaged her in some way until she looked over at him and asked him to do it again.

From that moment, that was the reason they risked everything to meet in the chapel and make love, which led them to ask each other where they would go from here and how.

Do you think the distance is the biggest obstacle? Maude asked him.

He shook his head. At the moment, the war is the biggest obstacle. I could get drafted somewhere else. Maybe to the front line, wherever that is. He turned and studied her face, lit by the moonlight coming through the roofless chapel. If I survive this war, Maude, I promise you that I will come back for you.

She frowned. I think my father would be my biggest obstacle. My mother says he has an aristocratic stubbornness he has inherited from his Scottish ancestors. I don’t think he would like the idea of me marrying a Yank. She bumped him again. Even if it’s you. Suddenly she jumped up. I’ve got to pee.

He watched as she scrambled away to a small space out of sight: a space that may have been a room centuries ago, and now provided a convenient space in which to relieve oneself.

While Maude was out of sight, Scott gave some thought to their future. He knew it would be difficult, but he wanted nothing more than to take Maude home with him after the war and make her his wife.

Maude’s thoughts as she stood with her legs apart sprinkling on the ground were similar, but not so much about going to America and getting married; her mind was on Scott and just being together. When she’d finished, she was about to pull up her knickers when she saw a shape in the opposite corner to where she was standing. For a brief moment it startled her, thinking it was an animal or worse, a body. But whatever it was, she knew it hadn’t been there when she was last there. As her eyes focused she could see that it looked like a sack. She finished tidying herself up and was about to go over to it when she heard Scott.

Maude! It’s getting late. I have to go.

She could hear him coming, so she went out to him.

He scooped her up in his arms and kissed her. I’ll see you in a couple of days. I’m on duty for the next two nights, so I’ll be up here at the usual time after that.

Maude reached up and kissed him. I love you. Don’t let the patrols catch you, she said, and watched him hurry away in the darkness. Then she turned round and went back into the chapel, her curiosity getting the better of her.

She had to know what was in that sack.

Two hours later, Maude was lying awake in the darkness. She kept thinking about that sack, what she’d seen and what she’d done. It was crazy, but she knew she had to go back. She slipped out of bed and hurried out of the house and into the cover of the trees, stopping occasionally and listening for the military police who patrolled the requisitioned area after dark. The copse of trees and the chapel were just a few yards from the official line, so she had to be careful.

She reached the chapel safely, ducked through the hole in the wall and across to the space she’d used as a toilet. She had a torch with her. She put her hand over the glass and switched the torch on. But what she saw made her gasp out loud.

The sack was gone.

Chapter 2

80 years later

Grace felt the car shudder as it hit the pothole and started to veer across the road. She pulled the steering wheel over and stamped on the brake as the front tyre deflated. The car stopped at the side of the road. For a moment, Grace was in shock; startled by the immediate and unexpected change to her heart rate. She could feel it pulsing beneath her rib cage and took a few deep breaths to calm herself down. After a while she knocked the car out of gear and pulled the handbrake on. She got out of the car  to see what damage there was and saw the flat tyre. She swore and got back into the car. Then she took her phone from her handbag which was on the seat beside her and hit the speed dial for her father. It rang for a while before he picked up.

Hallo, Daddy, it’s Grace. I’m afraid I’ve got a flat tyre. Could you ask someone to change it for me please?

Where are you?

I’m at the top of the hill. I can see the house from here, so I think I’ll walk down through the meadow. I don’t really want to be sat here for ages waiting for someone to change the wheel.

I’ll get Frank to come up.

Thank you, Daddy. The spare key is on the key hook in the kitchen.

Yes, Grace. Take it easy coming down the hill, won’t you?

She said she would and hung up. Then she put the phone back in her handbag.

At that moment someone tapped on the window. It startled her and made her jump. And it irritated her. It was a young man on a bike. She put the window down.

Yes?

Are you alright? He looked concerned.

She nodded. Yes. Why shouldn’t I be? she asked pointedly.

Oh, well, it’s just that I saw what happened. He looked down at the front tyre. You had a blowout.

She arched her eyebrows. Yes, obviously.

He studied her briefly, not sure. Do you want me to help you change the wheel?

Good heavens, no, she replied. I’ve called my father. He’s sending someone up from the house.

Once again her clipped responses surprised him. He wondered if she was unsettled by the fact that she’d been lucky; it could have been a lot worse.

Are you sure?

Yes, of course I’m sure, she snapped.

Would you like me to wait with you until someone comes?

Thank you, no. Grace did not want to be left alone with a strange man. She had no idea who he was and she had no intention of finding out.

She picked up her handbag from the passenger seat, then turned and gave him a glaring look as she put her hand on the door handle to open the door. The young man could see the conversation was over as far as she was concerned.

I’ll be on my way then, he said, and cycled off.

Grace watched him go. She could feel the steady beat of her heart reminding her that everyone acted differently to circumstances, whether deliberately or not. Her reaction to the stranger was churlish and unforgiveable, and she knew she could come to regret it, but it was done and there was nothing she could do about it.

She looked out of the window at the meadow leading down towards the village. She knew she could walk there across the field, or she could stay on the road and get to the village that way. There was never much traffic on the road. Nothing had passed her while she’d been talking to the stranger.

Grace closed the window, picked up her bag, stepped out of the car, locked it and climbed over the fence. Then she started walking down through the meadow to Chapel Manor, the country home where she lived with her brother, Frank, and their parents, Lord and Lady Hume.

***

The old bookshop in the village had been in Myriam Fairbrother’s family for about one hundred and fifty years. Myriam had taken over running the bookshop from her father, Michael, who liked to spend much of his leisure time immersed in his own world of books. From time to time he would help Myriam in the shop, but as they were never that busy, he often had a reason to disappear up into the loft beneath the thatched roof where he could spend time cataloguing the dusty tomes that were his other world.

Myriam was taking advantage of the lack of customers by reading her current Eva Glynn novel when she heard the back door open. She slipped an envelope into the book and closed it as her son, Billy, came through from the kitchen.

Hello, love. How did it go?

He came over and kissed his mother on the cheek. Not bad. Managed to get a couple of weeks working on the barn. Sykes reckons that should be enough time to repair the roof.

Want a cup of tea?

I’ll do it, he said, and went back into the kitchen. Ten minutes later he brought two cups through and put one beside Myriam’s elbow.

She looked up from her book. Oh, thanks love.

Billy leaned up against the counter, his mug in his hand. You know, some people can be really strange. I bumped into that girl from the Manor this morning. Grace?

Yes, Grace, she answered, closing her book.

He told her what had happened. She was so bloody rude; I couldn’t believe it. All I did was offer her some help.

Myriam smiled ruefully. I think she tends to be off handed with people who are... She stopped and lifted her head a little, looking thoughtful before answering. 

But she didn’t get the chance. Billy answered for her. Beneath her station?

Myriam laughed softly. You could say that. She does live a rather different life to the likes of you and me, Billy. Well, most of the villagers seemingly.

I’ll bear that in mind. You wouldn’t think we knew each other as kids. It’s the first time I’ve spoken to her since I’ve been back and it will probably be the last.

He was about to turn away when Myriam looked at him, her eyes softening and put her hand on his shoulders.

Try not to let what happened to you put you off young women, Billy. I do understand how difficult it must be for you, but it was a long time ago. They say time heals.

He took hold of her wrist and gently lifted her hand from his shoulder. I’m trying, Ma. I promise. He let go of her. I’m going to finish my tea out in the yard; I have things to do. I’ll see you later.

She watched him go, her mind reliving the nightmare, wondering if that’s what he did every waking moment after losing his lovely wife to cancer.

***

Lord Hume couldn’t believe it when he saw his daughter coming through the picket gate at the bottom of the meadow. He thought she would have walked along the road after leaving her car, but he knew his daughter was never one to abide by the rules unless she wanted to. She disappeared from view as she walked round to the front of the Manor House. Lord Hume was in his study where he did most of his bookkeeping and general paperwork. He was sitting behind his desk looking out of the window, which was why he saw Grace. He swivelled in the chair and closed the accounts book that he’d been using to update the files in his computer. He knew it would only be a few minutes before his daughter came into his study to pour out her often imagined troubles to him.

He could hear the murmur of voices as his wife, Elizabeth, greeted their daughter. He decided to  stop work  for the rest of the day. He glanced quickly over his desk and went through to the kitchen where he knew he would find the two women.

Grace was saying something to her mother when she saw him walk in. She came straight over to him.

Oh, daddy, what a dreadful day. She kissed him on the cheek. I lost my job and nearly wrecked the car.

He smiled as she released him from the embrace. But you’re safe, my darling; that’s all that matters. He could never find himself cross with Grace. Whatever reason or excuse she came up with for her so called ‘dreadful day’, he would accept it and sympathise with her.

I’ll make tea, Elizabeth said. Then we can hear all about it and see what can be done.

I sent your brother to fetch your car. Did you do any damage?

She shook her head. No, Daddy. I hit a pot hole. The tyre punctured but I managed to keep the car on the road.

Lucky you, Grace.

She gave a half smile. Lucky be buggered; it was my driving skill that saved me and the car.

What about the job, Grace? her mother called out from where she was making the tea. What happened?

Grace affected a petulant shrug of her shoulders. I just couldn’t get on with that woman, she said, looking