Sorry, said Charlie. Im sure shes really nice.
She sees the family business as like any other, just filling a gap in the market and making money. Shes recently set up her own mail-order company and its starting to take off.
Selling what? he asked. Tell me its not the same line as her parents!
Not far off, I admitted reluctantly. Instant Orgy. Its party supplies, basically for adult parties.
Right Charlie said slowly, though a glint of devilment appeared in his dark eyes. Thats going to go down a storm with your aunt Mercy, isnt it?
Its not going to be easy, I agreed, because my elderly aunt by marriage, Mercy Marwood, came from a long line of Quakers, as had my late uncle. My mother had married out and lapsed, but I was aware enough of the Quaker outlook to know that Mercy might take a dim view of my fiancées business interests. Im hoping she gets to know Lacey first, before she finds out.
How is Mercy? Charlie asked. Wed often spent part of our school holidays at Mote Farm and he was fond of her. And I was, too, even though by rights the family estate should have come directly to me after my uncle died, rather than have been left to my aunt to pass on. Is she still out in Malawi, teaching needlework and stuff?
She was, but shell be flying back soon and says this time its for good, though shell still be sourcing and sending out sewing machines. Ill have to visit her after my next trip.
I took a swig of my beer. I had some plans drawn up to redevelop the factory complex at Godsend and sent them out to her a while back, so I think well have a lot to discuss.
What, the old Friendship Mill site?
Thats it: Mote Farm will be mine one day, after all, and Aunt Mercys always encouraged me to see it as my home, so she should be happy Im taking an interest and want to settle down there when Im married.
But your uncle left everything to her, didnt he? He told her that he wanted you to inherit after shed gone, but it wasnt in writing.
He did, but he trusted her to do what he wanted and she will, I said confidently. Shes got money of her own, after all, though now shes guardian to the daughter of an old Malawian friend, I expect shell want to provide for her from that. I dont think youve met Liz yet, have you? Shes a nice girl Mercy sent her to that Quaker boarding school near Pontefract, but shes often at the farm in the holidays.
No, but its typical of Mercy to take in waifs and strays. Look at all those so-called employees she has living in the cottages!
True, and theyre all well past retirement age. The cracker factory in Friendship Mill should have closed long ago, because its losing money hand over fist and at this rate theres going to be nothing left by the time I inherit.
So, what were the plans?
I propose to immediately retire the workforce, close the cracker factory down and then redevelop the mill complex as a tourist venue, with a café, craft workshops and a farm shop, that kind of thing. Id invest some of the money I inherited from my parents into it and manage the place, so Id expect to be a shareholder and director.
Charlie whistled. How did that go down with Mercy?
I think it was a bit of a shock, really. She emailed saying shed looked at my interesting proposals, but since she hadnt realised things werent doing well at the cracker factory shed consider what I had to say more fully when she was home and had had chance to look into everything. And thats where it stands at the moment.
Maybe your plans were the tipping point that made her come home for good, then? Charlie suggested.
Perhaps. I think she put too much trust in her brother to keep any eye on things while she was away, because apart from paying out the wages, Uncle Silas barely goes down there. I know hes got health problems, but hes hardly a total invalid.
Silas is a funny old codger, practically a recluse, Charlie said. But Mercy seems fond of him.
Mercys fond of everyone, I said, which was only a slight exaggeration. Im sure shell see sense about the mill, when shes had time to think about it. After all, Im not proposing we throw the workforce out of the cottages after theyre retired, or anything like that though as soon as the cottages do become free, they could be renovated and let as holiday rentals.
I see youve given it a lot of thought.
I had a lot of time to think in Mexico, before I was fit to fly home, I said ruefully.
Are you going to tell her about Lacey when you go up there after your next assignment, or take her with you?
Ill tell Mercy Ive got engaged, but take Lacey to meet the family later, after Ive talked her round about the mill, I said confidently.
And when I did take Lacey there, Id have to try to persuade her to keep quiet on the subject of what she and her parents sold for a living, until Mercy had grown to know and love her, which I was sure she soon would. And anyway, once Lacey had visited the place, I might even be able to persuade her to give up her own business entirely and help me instead
Charlie popped another can and raised it in salute: Heres to success in all you do! he said, twinkling. But I feel you might be in for a rocky ride!