Free The Forgotten Family by Beryl Matthews

seem to get interested in anything at the moment. Father had explained that until the funeral was over it would be hard, but after that they would be able to start living again. It wasn’t going to be easy without her mother though, and things would never be the same. There would be a large empty hole in their lives. It hurt so much to know they would never see her again. Her father was under great strain. He seemed to have aged ten years over the last few days. She was trying hard to be brave and not add to his burden.
    The words on the page in front of her were just a blur and she gave up trying to read them. Mr Rogers was being very kind and understanding.
    ‘Ellie.’ Philip was also subdued. ‘It’s luncheon time.’
    ‘Oh, is it?’ She looked up at the tutor. ‘I’m sorry, Mr Rogers, I have not been very attentive.’
    ‘It’s a difficult time for you, but you have tried, and I do not ask for more than that at the moment,’ he said. ‘We shall get back to some hard work once the mourning period is over. I suggest that you forget about studies for the next three days. The weather is dry and you might like to go for a ride. But make sure you eat first.’
    ‘Thank you, sir.’
     
    The day of the funeral was overcast. Ellie, dressed all in black, gazed out of the window at the garden. ‘I wish the sun would shine.’
    Her father joined her, also dressed in deep mourning. ‘We must go, Eleanor.’
    Slipping her hand through his arm they walked together through the hall to the front door. Waiting for them was a carriage with a team of four matching black horses, with black plumes dancing in the slight breeze. It was a magnificent sight, but Ellie couldn’t appreciate it, and was relieved to see the wreaths of bright flowers covering the coffin.
    Her mother had always loved nice colours. Her father led her to another carriage and they climbed in. Uncle Henry and Philip were already inside, waiting for them.
    No one spoke on the ride to the church, each one coping with the grief in their own way. The procession caused a lot of interest, with men doffing their hats in respect as they passed. There were a great many people attending the funeral, and Ellie knew that her emotions would have to be controlled. Her mother would have expected them to act with dignity, and she was determined not to let her down. She trembled. It was going to be an ordeal though.
    The church was full to overflowing when they arrived. Ellie stayed close to her father’s side, praying for some of his strength to see her through this. Uncle Henry was struggling to remain composed, for he had loved his sister dearly, and Philip kept his head bent, not looking at anyone. Nanny was pale and strained, but the glint in her eyes said that she was determined to say a proper goodbye to her mistress. Ellie admired her for her courage, for she was quite frail.
    The service was a blur to Ellie, though the music and singing by the choir was uplifting. Her father had chosenthe music well, keeping away from anything sounding too dreary.
    After the service they made their way to the graveside, and seeing the hole in the ground was nearly Ellie’s undoing. But just before the coffin was lowered, the sun burst through the clouds, making her feel as if her mother was smiling down at them. It brought a measure of comfort.
    They had no time for themselves for the rest of the day as they received family and friends wanting to offer their condolences. Ellie had never seen a lot of them before, and couldn’t help wondering where they had all come from. The funeral had been at eleven o’clock, and it was five o’clock before the last of the mourners had left.
    Then it was the reading of the will, and Ellie was amazed to find that her mother had left the huge sum of five thousand pounds in trust for her until she was twenty-one. Also, her jewellery was to come to her. There were bequests for all the servants, and the rest of the considerable fortune had been