Writing for Fun
October 2015
The Hidden Garden - Bob Wendelkin
'I'm so sorry Lady Mary we have tried everything. Perhaps in the future Medical Science will have progressed we will just give you an injection and affect a cure but today we can only trust in God,' said Lady Mary's Consultant.
'Well, Doctor it comes to all of us in time. How long have I got?' asked Lady Mary.
'Do you want me to tell the truth?' asked the Doctor.
'Yes of course, no point in shilly shallying about this; do I have days, weeks or months or years?'
'To the best of my judgement I would think several months,' replied the Doctor.
'Well thank you for telling me, I don't have any time to lose. Please send your bill to my house in Yorkshire. I will go there, as I was very happy there,' said Lady Mary as she eased herself out of the chair.
The Doctor left his chair and went to the door.
'Goodbye Lady Mary, I'm sure that when the time comes you will not have any pain just a feeling of tiredness,' said the Doctor as he opened the door.
'Thank you and good day,' said Lady Mary as she left the room.
She made her way back into Harley Street where her chauffeur was waiting for her.
'Take me home I have a lot of planning to do,' Lady Mary said to her driver.
'Yes Maam,' was his reply.
As Lady Mary sat in the car she reflected on her time since she had left Yorkshire.
Life hadn't been too kind to Lady Mary. All her friend and relations had gradually gone. Two of those she loved the most her friends from childhood Colin and Dicken had been taken from her by the War. However, the parting of Colin had meant that Manor House had passed into her keeping.
Lady Mary had spent a good deal of her time in London but she never forgot those happy days she spent with her Cousin Colin and Dicken. Together they had discovered the entrance to the Hidden Garden with the help of a Robin. Up till then garden had been closed to the outside world by Colin's father after his mother had been killed in an accident.
After finding their way into the garden they had spent many happy hours, planting new flower beds and playing hide and seek. It was in this garden that Colin recovered his health and was able to run and jump like the others.
Like all things time passed and the friends grew up. Martha who was Dicken's sister had gradually progressed though the various levels of servant until she eventually became the Housekeeper and in charge of running the house.
Whenever possible Lady Mary would retreat from London and go to Yorkshire and her happy childhood home.
Martha had like the rest of them had had grown older and had retired to one of the Manor's houses.
Now Lady Mary would write to her to tell her that she intended to return to the North for a time. Even though there was a difference in their social stations in life they had put that aside and had become friends.
As they arrived at Lady Mary's London home she said to John her chauffeur that she had decided that she would be going to Yorkshire in a few days time. First she had to settle a number of financial matters the she would be free to go.
'John could you get the car serviced before we go as I don't want any mishaps on the way,' said Lady Mary.
'Of course Maam, but I only had the car serviced a few days ago, so it should be ready whenever you give the command,' was John's reply.
'I must go in now and have a rest as I feel quite tired,' continued Lady Mary.
A week later all her affairs had been settled and she was ready to go to the North. The car was packed and she had said her goodbyes to her London staff. She and John set off for the North.
After a few hours the car was pulling up the drive to the manor house. Mary had slept for a large part of the journey as these days she usually fell tired.
At the door of the house the staff had assembled to greet her. In the lead, although she was no longer part of the household stood her friend Martha.
Lady Mary went into the house with Martha and they made their way to her bedroom.
Lady Mary told Martha why she had come that she was unwell and that she had come to Yorkshire to regain her health.
When the weather was fine both her and Martha would walk round the grounds enjoying the sun and the gardens but they never went into their Hidden Garden. This garden had been sealed off again when Colin had died in the war. It was at this time that the Manor had passed from Colin into her hands.
As they walked around Mary could swear that she could hear children laughing and playing inside the walls of the garden. The summer days passed and finally Mary decided that she would go into the garden. Eventually the key was found and Martha pulled the ivy away from the covered door and surprisingly the lock turned easily when the key was put in, almost as if the garden was waiting for their return.
Inside the garden it looked wonderful there was a cultivated wildness about the flowers and trees.
Mary and Martha found a garden seat where both of them could sit and enjoy the view of the garden flowers and the bees flitting between the flowers on their search for nectar to make their honey. Even the Robin came to see them, cocking his head to one side they way that they do when searching for an answer. Mary thought that this Robin may be the great-great grandson of the Robin that had showed the way into the garden when they were children.
The sun had that gentle warmth of autumn that can happen in an enclosed English garden.
'Oh Martha I feel so tired, I think I could rest in this garden forever it means so much to me,' said Lady Mary as she took Martha's hand and closed her eyes and let the sun's warmth embrace her.
'That's right My Lady, rest yourself here,' replied Martha.
As they rested the sound of the children playing seem to draw closer to them. Martha thought she could actually see them. There was Master Colin and Martha's brother Dicken and a grown up Lady holding a bunch of roses, she reminded Martha of Colin's mother who had died in an accident this very garden.
The children and the lady fell silent and seemed to be just standing in front of them.
Martha felt the hand that was holding Lady Mary's suddenly tighten then relax. Martha looked at Lady Mary and saw that her face had relaxed into a lovely smile. In her hand she now held a White Rose, that seemed to appear from nowhere.
Martha was certain that she saw a figure arise from Lady Mary and drift towards the group in front of her. As she reached them she turned and smiled and mouthed a 'Thank You' then waved her farewell to Martha. She seemed to grow younger and younger until she was of the same age as Colin and Dicken. They all turned and ran into the garden and started to play as they had done when they were just children and had first gained their entrance into this Magical Hidden garden.