The Seven Coins o Kineddart
by Patrick Hutchison
Genre: Horror/Supernatural
Swearwords: None.
Description: In mid-nineteenth century Aberdeenshire, a young girl goes into service in a big house and enters into a world of the past.
Swearwords: None.
Description: In mid-nineteenth century Aberdeenshire, a young girl goes into service in a big house and enters into a world of the past.
Jessie Stevens started service in the mansion of Kineddart. She was only fourteen at the time but it was much aboot the age maist lassies wint intae service in the mid-nineteenth century. Jessie was nae stranger tae work wi her being the eldest of a family of seven, fower brithers an twa sisters. She had fae an early age hid responsibilities way beyond her years. She felt mair than a little nervous, though, as she made her wye up the lang gravelled road that led tae the grand hoose of Kineddart. It didna look that grand tae Jessie, jist a big ugly building made of dark stone and even darker shadows caused by the reluctant daylight pushin its wye throwe the heavy cloods. She could see the glimmer of licht in some of the many windows. At least somebody wiz up and aboot. Her meagre belongings wrapped in an aal piece of hodden grey wiz aa she cairried but even little as there wiz seemed to weigh a ton as she trudged tae an uncertain fate. She made her way to the back of the hoose and knocked.
* * *
“Sit down, girl!” This was fae the grumpy looking cook. “What did you say your name was?”
“Jessie, Miss. Jessie Stevens.”
“Well you wait here, Jessie, and I'll go and fetch Mistress Gordon. She deals wi' all new servants!”
Wiping her hands on her apron, she left the kitchen. Jessie sat looking aroon the place she'd be working in for at least a year. She had never before seen such a huge range, the center wiz the lowin fire and looked as if ye'd need a barra tae fill it but it wiz the fire's surrounds that interested Jessie maist. There must have been a dizen smaa doors leading tae different ovens and hot boxes. Wait till she tellt her mither!
“Well!” The harsh voice dragged Jessie back fae her contemplation of the cooking range tae the here and now. The voice belanged tae the most severe looking person she'd ever set eyes upon. “Don't you stand when a superior walks into the room?”
Jessie stumbled tae her feet saying, “Sorry, Miss!”
The severe woman wiz obviously the Mrs Gordon the cook had gone to fetch. “A gweed start,” Jessie thought. And fin she looked at the tight cruel face with black fish een her spirits plummeted and she hid to fight the impulse to run awa hame.
“I'm not 'miss'. I'm to be addressed as Mistress Gordon at all times! Do you understand?”
Jessie nodded and said, “Aye mis– I mean Mistress Gordon!”
Mistress Gordon frowned and turned tae the cook faa wiz hovering nearby.
“Take her disgusting coat and put it where it can't contaminate the kitchen!”
Jessie's hackles rose at this. Maybe her coat wisna the height of fashion, nor wiz it in the best of condition but it was clean and nae severe black-eyed hag wiz gan tae say as much aboot her coat. She was on the point of retaliating but the cook, sensing Jessie's indignation, shook her heed ever so slightly and helped her aff with her coat. “I'll put it in the servant's cupboard for just now.”
Jessie wiz shown her duties. As a lowly “scullery maid” she'd tae start at five o'clock every morning and work through tae at least ten o'clock every night. She was allowed one half day aff each month and that was always to be a Sunday. Jessie didna worry ower muckle about the half day as she wiz only five miles fae hame and could easily mak it there and back in the time allowed and at the same time she could gie her mither her wages.
Mistress Gordon tellt her she would get one pound twa shillings per month, her keep, twa hoddengrey smocks and a pair of work boots. The best bit o aa though wiz her room, it was above the kitchen in a little tower and the room wiz half roon. She wid be like a lady wi a room of her very ain. Mistress Gordon then tellt her the rules o the hoose, far she could go and mair importantly for her, far she couldna go. Scullery maids were on nae account to gyang intae the hoose proper, aa her duties were in the kitchen and confines. And, if for any reason some of the upstairs household were to come intae the kitchen, then Jessie would turn to face the wall as a show of respect. Wi her heed buzzing she hoped she could remember aa the rules and fitnaes.
Later that day Mr Pirie, the soutar, came tae the hoose wi work boots for Jessie, they were affa posh looking and hid the saftest leather Jessie hid ever felt. He hid a few different pairs of varying sizes and measured Jessie's feet wi a ruler. “Size four,” he muttered and handed a pair ower for Jessie tae try on. He gave her a smaa heuk tae pull the laces tight. She struggled wi the heuk till Mr Pirie showed her how tae use it properly. She stood up and stamped her feet tae settle them intae the beets then walked up and doon. They were heaven compared with the worn work shoes that she wore. They were made wi coarse cheap leather, faras these boots were like those she saw ladies wear. Jessie smiled shyly and said to Mr Pirie, “They fit me like a glove.” He laughed and tellt her he wiz pleased they fitted well and wished her mony a gweed mile oot o' them. Mistress Gordon scowled at Jessie but spoke to Mr Pirie, “You'd better give her two pairs, and if you've any felt slippers two pairs of those too!” Jessie wiz teen aback by this and smiled at Mistress Gordon but aa she got was a withering scowl. The cook winked at her, though, and said, “Yer a lucky quinie!”
Mistress Gordon tellt Jessie tae follow her and teen her tae fit wiz called the “Servant's Common Room”. Fae a cupboard she teen a puckle bundles of clyse and tellt Jessie tae try them on. They were smocks o hoddengrey. She soon found twa that almost fitted but an hour o the needle and she'd hiv them perfect. She rolled them up aifter Mistress Gordon checked them and was tellt whar the sewing stuff wiz and that she wiz tae help herself tae fit she needed. “Sit over there by the window to get the best light!” At that Mistress Gordon left the room.
Jessie found fit she nott and in nae time she wiz busy shewin. She heard the door open but didna look up but waited for the “Well don't you stand when a superior enters the room!” But it wisna Mistress Gordon but the cook wi a plate of breid and cheese for her.
“Here, lassie, ye must be hungry, ye've been on the go for oors an' nae doot yer brain must be burnin wi' aa the rules an' sic like ye've been getting blethered at ye!”
Jessie smiled, “Aye ma heid is fairly stugglin' tae tak it aa in but I suppose I'll learn foo tae dee athing the richt wye eventually!”
The cook tellt her tae leave her shewin doon for eynoo and get some mait! Jessie thanked her for her kindness and soon cleared the plate. “Michty me, quine, but ye must've been stairved o' hunger!” said the cook fin Jessie returned the plate tae the kitchen. “Here ye'd better hae some mair!” And before she knew it her plate wiz filled again. “Wid ye like a bowl o' milk tae wash it doon?”
For the rest of that day Jessie helped the cook in the scullery deein general cleaning and help prepare the vegetables for that night's supper. The cook tellt her there was neen of the family in residence at the moment but Lord Braco wiz expected up at the weekend fae Edinburgh. She said it would give her time tae learn the wyes o the hoose afore ony big dinners or parties were given.
Her first job in the mornin wiz tae bring as mony bucketfaes o coal as the bink at the side o the fire could hud. The cook teen her doon tae the cellar tae show her far the coal wiz kept and by the gutterin glimmer o the lamp it wiz a gye dreich lookin place wi its coomed ceilins. It put Jessie in mind o the story o the catacombs ablow Rome far the Christians hid fae the Roman sojers. At least though she widna hae tae cairry each bucket fae up the lang windin steps for there wiz a thing the cook caad a “dumb waiter”, like a wee cupboard wi a door ont. It could hud sax buckets and eence fulled aa Jessie hid tae dee wiz ging back up tae the kitchen an pull on the rope till it came up. The cook said she'd need twa lifts o coal tae full the bink for that day’s use.
Jessie wiz neen worried aboot getting the coal, the only problem for her wiz the thocht o comin doon here in the early oors o the mornin. A gye eerie place it wiz wi wee steen arches gan awa doon intae the bowels o the place. Her faither hid tellt her it wiz eence a castle but hid been destroyed by the Bruce tae stop the Anglish fae usin it lang syne awa back in the days o yore. Jessie gid a bit shudder fin she thocht o aa the fowk that must've deet here.
Aifter a fine supper o tatties an neeps Jessie wiz teen up tae her room jist abeen the kitchen. The room wiz intae een o the towers an wiz approached fae the scullery by a windin stair. The room wisna big but it wiz fair neat and tidy wi a wee bun in bed at the squar side o the room bit on the curve o the tower there wiz the bonniest lead glazed windae she'd iver seen wi coloured glaiss jist like the kirk hid at Iden. The windae looked oot abeen the kitchen gairden an it wiz jist like the room neat an tidy wi twar three men workin awa diggin the grun. There wiz a kist at the side o the bed for her goods an chattles wi a wee table for tae hud a cannle jist aside it. Jessie wiz fair kinichted wi the room, this wid be the first time in aa her life that she hid a room o her ain. Wi fower brithers an twa sisters there could niver be muckle privacy an them aa bidin in a wee cottar hoose the wye they did. Her excitement wiz spiled by the hoosekeeper comin in an tellin here that she'd tae keep it spotless clean an warned her that she wid inspect it ivery day tae mak sure o that. Wi that she wint back doon the stairs leavin Jessie an the cook lookin at eenanither. The cook smiled an said, “ Dinna mind her ower muckle ma, quine, her bark's waar norr her bite!”
* * *
At five next mornin Jessie wint doon tae the kitchen an raiked up the coals an opened the flap in aneth the wye she'd been shown tae kittle up the smoored coals. Jessie wiz mair used tae her mither's fire wi its big iron grate that only nott a puckle peats tae get it lowin first thing in the mornin, wi this thing though ye'd tae gang throwe a puckle different motions tae get the same. But sayin that the coal wiz fairly the thing an in nae time the fire wiz lowin ready for her first job, getting the kettle on the swye for the tea eence the cook came in.
Wi lantern in haan she made her wye doon the dark dank stairs tae the cellar. She felt the hairs on the back o her neck prickle mair than eence on the wye. Yin o the arches hid a door on it an this wiz far the coal wiz stored. Hingin the lantern on the heuk for the job, she soon hid the first sax buckets fulled and intae the dumb waiter. As she made tae tak doon the lantern she thocht she saw a movement tae her richt, so she held up the lantern tae cast licht farer intae the cellar but she didna see onything an thocht it hid been a rat scurryin aboot. Onywye she held up the stairs tryin tae mak on that she wisna feart.
A few mintys later she wiz back fullin up the buckets again. This time fin she feenished there came a bigger noise like something faain, so grabbin the lantern she walked a step or twa towards the sound. She got a gye fear fin she thocht she saw the shape o a man jist ayont the flickerin licht. Jessie wasted nae mair time but got oot o there as fast as her feet wid cairry her. By the time the cook came in Jessie wiz in a gye state aboot fit hid happened. Jessie tellt her fit she’d seen or thocht she’d seen. The cook laughed and tellt her it hid jist been the flickerin o the lantern at the tail o her ee. Jessie wiz reassured at this but niver saw the scared look on the cook’s face as she turned awa.
Onywye as the weeks wint in Jessie wid gyan doon for the coal ilka mornin. She didna look aboot but jist concentrated on the coal. Ayee she felt though that she wiz being watched and wid feel the goose pimples rise at the back o her neck and airms. “It’s only the flicker o the lamp!” she’d reassure hersel but she still wint up the dank stairs as fast as she could.
The Laird, his wife and son were in residence but they didna hae ony big parties, jist a puckle freens noo an then for dinner. Mistress Gordon seemed tae hae thawed oot a bit and wid fyles come doon tae the kitchen for a cup o tae wi Jessie and the cook. Mistress Gordon tellt Jessie aboot Lord Braco being a lawyer doon in Edinburgh and that he wiz a right fine man and affa good tae his workers on the estate. His son wiz at university in Edinburgh learning tae be a lawyer like his father. Mistress Gordon said he wiz affa good lookin wi blond hair and blue een like his mither, Lady Braco, fa wiz a lot younger than the Laird. Jessie wiz spellbound at the stories Mistress Gordon tellt her. She kent athing aboot the history o the faimily, sojers, sailors, politicians and his ancestors hid focht in countless wars and even een o the Laird’s forefathers hid been a pirate on the seven seas.
Jessie hid settled in richt fine and got her half day aff tae wun hame ilka month as promised. She’d gie her mither aa her pey tae help wi the feedin o the younger bairns.
Jessie earned as much as her father in a month aa thanks tae the kindness o Laird Braco faa’s policy it wiz tae gie his workers a good wage. A rare sentiment at that time fae ony laird in the land.
One mornin early Jessie wint doon tae get the coal as usual but this time made the mistake o peyin heed tae the flickering shadas at the tail o her ee. She stoppit fullin the coal pails and looked doon intae the shadas and that’s fin she saw him standin there nae ten fit fae her. Jessie near screamed oot but it wiz the sadness on the laddie’s face that stoppit her. She held up the lantern tae get a better look at him. She could see he wiz nae muckle aaler than herself, maybe aichteen or twenty. Her heart beatin like a haimmer, she askit o him faa he wiz. As a reply he jist shook his heed, turned and walked awa intae the gloom. Jessie by this time wiz near on her knees wi the fear and got oot o there as fast as her feet could cairry her.
Fin the cook came in Jessie tellt her aboot the ghost she’d seen and refused point blank tae gang doon for the coal. Mistress Gordon wiz called and she’d little sympathy for Jessie and wid hae nithing tae dee wi the idea o ghosts. Jessie’s refusal got her intae an affa lot o trouble and Mistress Gordon docked her pey for as lang as she keepit up refusing tae gyang for the coal. The only sympathy Jessie got wiz fae the cook faa made a cup o tea and gave Jessie a hanky tae dry up her tears. The cook widna hae teen a king’s ransom tae gyang doon tae that place hersel but she didna tell that tae Jessie.
Een o the men came in fae the gairdens tae get the coal in the mornins but he niver saw onything strange. This wint on for mair than a fortnicht until eventually wi the cook’s insistence Jessie saw sense. And onywye she’d already lost a half month’s pey and if she didna gyang back doon she’d lose the ither half. At five the next mornin Jessie lichted the lantern wi a taper fae the fire an set fit tae the cellar. She wint doon the steps gye canny wi her knees near bucklin fae ablow her. Soon she’d the first sax buckets fulled. Nae lookin tae the left or right she made tae gyang up the stairs tae haul up the dumb waiter. That wiz fin she saw him standin atween her an the stair. Jessie backed awa an near fell in amongst the coal pile. There wisna ony place tae run apart fae deeper intae the dark recesses o the dank eerie cellar. She opened her mooth tae scream fin the laddie said in a soft voice, “Dinna scream, Jessie, I winna hurt ye!” That stopped her and she only gave a wee whimper instead. He stepped nearer her and she cooried doon wi her back tae the coal. He held up a hand tae show he meant nae hairm and wi the ither hand he gave her twa coins. “I’m sorry for you losing pay because I frightened you, so I hope this will make it up to you!” He then walked awa back intae the gloom and seemed tae vanish.
Jessie, a complete gibbering wreck by this time, scrambled up the stairs covered in coal dust and tears. Sic a how-d’ye-do set up this time. The cook wiz in an affa state at the condition o Jessie and tried athing tae calm her doon. Misstress Gordon came in and saw immediately that Jessie wiz in the complete hysterics, her reaction wiz swift and she gave Jessie a stinging slap in the face. That seemed tae calm her doon a wee bittie and atween saich and sighs she blurted oot fit hid happened doon in the cellar. The door opened and the Laird himsel came in wantin tae ken fit wiz gan on. Jessie repeated fit happened and showed the coins tae the Laird. He’d been sittin in front o Jessie, noo fin he saw the coins he stood up wi a gasp. He asked Jessie if she’d mind his taking the coins then walked oot and wint back intae the main hoose.
A few minutes later raised voices could be heard as if somebody wiz haein a row. A wee while aifter that yin o the hoose servants came in and asked if Mistress Gordon would be so kind as come upstairs to the library and to take the scullery maid with her. Dichtin Jessie’s tear stained een and sortin her hair, she then tellt Jessie tae run up tae her room and change intae a clean smock. Thus rigged and still sobbin, Mistress Gordon led Jessie intae the hoose proper. It wiz the first time Jessie hid seen intae the hoose and she wiz fair teen aback at the size o it an aa the fancy stuff hingin fae the waas. Paintings, sculptures, swords, spears and shields lined the waas. Suits o armour stood as if there wiz men still inside them ready tae chop ye wi their raised swords.
Mistress Gordon hid her severe face on as she knocked at the huge double doors and waited. Jessie kent she wiz gyan tae get the sack for aa the cairry on and she could feel the tears start again. The door wiz opened by a footman an Mistress Gordon ushered her in. It wiz a huge room wi the waas lined wi shelves o beuks. In the middle there wis a big table wi wee sloped stands wi opened books on them. A lamp burned abeen them. She’d niver seen a lamp like that afore, it hid fit looked like mirrors tae reflect the licht doon on the books. Jessie wiz tellt by Mistress Gordon tae go ower tae the table and that’s fin she saw the Laird pacing aboot beyond it at the fire. He looked affa troubled but fin he saw the state o Jessie he smiled and tellt her tae sit doon. Jessie started tae apologise for athing but he said nae tae worry aboot it and just sit down. Jessie did fit she was bid and sat doon on a high backed chair. Emotions were rinnin a riot in her mind and she felt her knees knockin wi fear. Seein how close she was tae panic, the Laird spoke softly telling her she wisna in ony trouble. His words put Jessie at her ease a wee bittie and she started tae relax.
“Now, Jessie, could you tell me the story again about what happened in the cellar?”
Jessie tried tae speak English like they were taught at school but keepit faain doon throwe it. The Laird said tae pit her at her ease, “In yer ain words, quine, niver mind the pan loaf cairry on!” This got a big smile fae Jessie as she visibly relaxed. So she tellt the Laird in her ain words exactly fit happened.
Aifter she finished Jessie could see the Laird wiz distracted and deep in thought. Commin tae a decision, he went tae a big cord aside the fire and pulled doon on it a couple o times. A fitman came in fae a wee side door and the Laird said something tae him. A fyle later he came back wi the Laird’s son. Jessie’s hert missed a beat fin she saw him. Mistress Gordon wiz richt enough, he wiz really handsome wi pure blond hair and sky blue een. He smiled shyly at Jessie as he sat doon. The Laird, wi a stern face on him, said tae his son, “Now, James, I want you to apologise to Jessie for scaring her down in the coal cellar!”
James frowned at this, sayin, “I told you earlier, father, it wasn’t me and anyhow I don’t have gold coins like those!” He pointed to the coins on the table.
Jessie interrupted much to the consternation o Mistress Gordon who gave a gasp and was aboot tae gie Jessie intae trouble for her lack o respect fin the Laird held up his hand tae her and said tae Jessie, “Carry on, Jessie, fit were ye gan tae say?”
Jessie cleared her throat and feelin the colour rise tae her cheeks she looked at the Laird’s son and said, “It wisna him, sir, that wiz doon in the cellar!” And pointing at the big paintin abeen the fireplace, she said, “That’s him there in the paintin!”
The painting wiz o a young laddie, maybe aboot twenty, standing aside a chair weerin aal fashioned clyse wi a cane in his hand. The Laird gave a groan and sat doon staring at the paintin as if he’d niver seen it afore. Jessie froze as she realised she’d done something affa wrang and fin she saw the laddie pour his father some brandy the bottom fell clean oot o her world.
Mistress Gordon wiz scowlin at Jessie wi barely controlled anger. The Laird saw this and tellt Mistress Gordon everything was fine and asked her to leave the room. As Mistress Gordon reluctantly left the room, Jessie fellt like rinnin ahin her. The Laird composing himsel stood up and went tae the safe built intae the waa and teen oot a wee box and took it tae the table. Turning tae Jessie, he asked her tae come ower. He opened the wee box and teen oot a smaa leather bag tied at the top. He untied it and couped it oot and seven gold coins jist the same as Jessie’s eens rolled across the table.
He tellt her that his uncle gave seven each tae him and his brither Hugh fifty years before. He’d been a pirate in his youth and had sailed the seven seas in search o Spanish treasure. The coins were doubloons and each yin wiz worth a King’s ransom as there wiz only fourteen o them iver minted. His uncle thocht as he’d nae faimily that he’d gie them tae his only nephews. The Laird said his brither Hugh wanted tae sail the seven seas jist like his uncle and wrote a letter saying as much tae his father. Hugh wiz niver heard fae again and that broke his mither’s heart. Hugh wiz the aaler o the two, so he should’ve been the Laird o Kineddart and nae him.
“And now this!” He handled the two coins fae Jessie deep in thought then looked up at Jessie. “Could you show me where you saw the apparition of my brother?”
She nodded and led him and his son doon tae the cellar. She showed them the arch he came oot o and left through. The Laird thanked her and said she was a very brave lassie.
Later the Laird and a few o the men fae the gairdens wint doon tae the cellar. They’d fancy lamps wi reflectors on them that the cook said burned a special ile fae sperm whales that burned wi a white licht instead o the yella peely-wally licht that they were used wi. The laird and his men were doon there maist o the day and Jessie’s job wiz tae tak tae and mait doon for them, so she saw the cellar lichted up as niver before. She didna ken fit they were lookin for but at aboot suppertime a shout set up and aboot an oor later the Laird, his son and aa the men came up fae the cellar covered in dust and cobwebs. The Laird hid in his hand a wee leather bag exactly the same as the yin up in the library. It wisna tied like his een and fin he couped it ontae the table only five coins fell oot instead o the seven that there should’ve been. He looked at Jessie and said, “We found this along with my brother’s remains. He must’ve been trying to sneak out without letting anyone know. There’s a small tunnel that leads out to the old bridge and must’ve been used in the days this building was a castle. Hugh had been killed when a part of it fell in!”
He looked at Jessie and smiled. “Thank you for solving a mystery that has lasted for fifty years! I can now put my brother to his rest in the family vault at Kineddart kirkyard.”
So saying. he picked the seven coins and put them in the wee leather bag. He handed them tae Jessie, saying, “I think my brother Hugh would want you to have those.”
* * *
“Sit down, girl!” This was fae the grumpy looking cook. “What did you say your name was?”
“Jessie, Miss. Jessie Stevens.”
“Well you wait here, Jessie, and I'll go and fetch Mistress Gordon. She deals wi' all new servants!”
Wiping her hands on her apron, she left the kitchen. Jessie sat looking aroon the place she'd be working in for at least a year. She had never before seen such a huge range, the center wiz the lowin fire and looked as if ye'd need a barra tae fill it but it wiz the fire's surrounds that interested Jessie maist. There must have been a dizen smaa doors leading tae different ovens and hot boxes. Wait till she tellt her mither!
“Well!” The harsh voice dragged Jessie back fae her contemplation of the cooking range tae the here and now. The voice belanged tae the most severe looking person she'd ever set eyes upon. “Don't you stand when a superior walks into the room?”
Jessie stumbled tae her feet saying, “Sorry, Miss!”
The severe woman wiz obviously the Mrs Gordon the cook had gone to fetch. “A gweed start,” Jessie thought. And fin she looked at the tight cruel face with black fish een her spirits plummeted and she hid to fight the impulse to run awa hame.
“I'm not 'miss'. I'm to be addressed as Mistress Gordon at all times! Do you understand?”
Jessie nodded and said, “Aye mis– I mean Mistress Gordon!”
Mistress Gordon frowned and turned tae the cook faa wiz hovering nearby.
“Take her disgusting coat and put it where it can't contaminate the kitchen!”
Jessie's hackles rose at this. Maybe her coat wisna the height of fashion, nor wiz it in the best of condition but it was clean and nae severe black-eyed hag wiz gan tae say as much aboot her coat. She was on the point of retaliating but the cook, sensing Jessie's indignation, shook her heed ever so slightly and helped her aff with her coat. “I'll put it in the servant's cupboard for just now.”
Jessie wiz shown her duties. As a lowly “scullery maid” she'd tae start at five o'clock every morning and work through tae at least ten o'clock every night. She was allowed one half day aff each month and that was always to be a Sunday. Jessie didna worry ower muckle about the half day as she wiz only five miles fae hame and could easily mak it there and back in the time allowed and at the same time she could gie her mither her wages.
Mistress Gordon tellt her she would get one pound twa shillings per month, her keep, twa hoddengrey smocks and a pair of work boots. The best bit o aa though wiz her room, it was above the kitchen in a little tower and the room wiz half roon. She wid be like a lady wi a room of her very ain. Mistress Gordon then tellt her the rules o the hoose, far she could go and mair importantly for her, far she couldna go. Scullery maids were on nae account to gyang intae the hoose proper, aa her duties were in the kitchen and confines. And, if for any reason some of the upstairs household were to come intae the kitchen, then Jessie would turn to face the wall as a show of respect. Wi her heed buzzing she hoped she could remember aa the rules and fitnaes.
Later that day Mr Pirie, the soutar, came tae the hoose wi work boots for Jessie, they were affa posh looking and hid the saftest leather Jessie hid ever felt. He hid a few different pairs of varying sizes and measured Jessie's feet wi a ruler. “Size four,” he muttered and handed a pair ower for Jessie tae try on. He gave her a smaa heuk tae pull the laces tight. She struggled wi the heuk till Mr Pirie showed her how tae use it properly. She stood up and stamped her feet tae settle them intae the beets then walked up and doon. They were heaven compared with the worn work shoes that she wore. They were made wi coarse cheap leather, faras these boots were like those she saw ladies wear. Jessie smiled shyly and said to Mr Pirie, “They fit me like a glove.” He laughed and tellt her he wiz pleased they fitted well and wished her mony a gweed mile oot o' them. Mistress Gordon scowled at Jessie but spoke to Mr Pirie, “You'd better give her two pairs, and if you've any felt slippers two pairs of those too!” Jessie wiz teen aback by this and smiled at Mistress Gordon but aa she got was a withering scowl. The cook winked at her, though, and said, “Yer a lucky quinie!”
Mistress Gordon tellt Jessie tae follow her and teen her tae fit wiz called the “Servant's Common Room”. Fae a cupboard she teen a puckle bundles of clyse and tellt Jessie tae try them on. They were smocks o hoddengrey. She soon found twa that almost fitted but an hour o the needle and she'd hiv them perfect. She rolled them up aifter Mistress Gordon checked them and was tellt whar the sewing stuff wiz and that she wiz tae help herself tae fit she needed. “Sit over there by the window to get the best light!” At that Mistress Gordon left the room.
Jessie found fit she nott and in nae time she wiz busy shewin. She heard the door open but didna look up but waited for the “Well don't you stand when a superior enters the room!” But it wisna Mistress Gordon but the cook wi a plate of breid and cheese for her.
“Here, lassie, ye must be hungry, ye've been on the go for oors an' nae doot yer brain must be burnin wi' aa the rules an' sic like ye've been getting blethered at ye!”
Jessie smiled, “Aye ma heid is fairly stugglin' tae tak it aa in but I suppose I'll learn foo tae dee athing the richt wye eventually!”
The cook tellt her tae leave her shewin doon for eynoo and get some mait! Jessie thanked her for her kindness and soon cleared the plate. “Michty me, quine, but ye must've been stairved o' hunger!” said the cook fin Jessie returned the plate tae the kitchen. “Here ye'd better hae some mair!” And before she knew it her plate wiz filled again. “Wid ye like a bowl o' milk tae wash it doon?”
For the rest of that day Jessie helped the cook in the scullery deein general cleaning and help prepare the vegetables for that night's supper. The cook tellt her there was neen of the family in residence at the moment but Lord Braco wiz expected up at the weekend fae Edinburgh. She said it would give her time tae learn the wyes o the hoose afore ony big dinners or parties were given.
Her first job in the mornin wiz tae bring as mony bucketfaes o coal as the bink at the side o the fire could hud. The cook teen her doon tae the cellar tae show her far the coal wiz kept and by the gutterin glimmer o the lamp it wiz a gye dreich lookin place wi its coomed ceilins. It put Jessie in mind o the story o the catacombs ablow Rome far the Christians hid fae the Roman sojers. At least though she widna hae tae cairry each bucket fae up the lang windin steps for there wiz a thing the cook caad a “dumb waiter”, like a wee cupboard wi a door ont. It could hud sax buckets and eence fulled aa Jessie hid tae dee wiz ging back up tae the kitchen an pull on the rope till it came up. The cook said she'd need twa lifts o coal tae full the bink for that day’s use.
Jessie wiz neen worried aboot getting the coal, the only problem for her wiz the thocht o comin doon here in the early oors o the mornin. A gye eerie place it wiz wi wee steen arches gan awa doon intae the bowels o the place. Her faither hid tellt her it wiz eence a castle but hid been destroyed by the Bruce tae stop the Anglish fae usin it lang syne awa back in the days o yore. Jessie gid a bit shudder fin she thocht o aa the fowk that must've deet here.
Aifter a fine supper o tatties an neeps Jessie wiz teen up tae her room jist abeen the kitchen. The room wiz intae een o the towers an wiz approached fae the scullery by a windin stair. The room wisna big but it wiz fair neat and tidy wi a wee bun in bed at the squar side o the room bit on the curve o the tower there wiz the bonniest lead glazed windae she'd iver seen wi coloured glaiss jist like the kirk hid at Iden. The windae looked oot abeen the kitchen gairden an it wiz jist like the room neat an tidy wi twar three men workin awa diggin the grun. There wiz a kist at the side o the bed for her goods an chattles wi a wee table for tae hud a cannle jist aside it. Jessie wiz fair kinichted wi the room, this wid be the first time in aa her life that she hid a room o her ain. Wi fower brithers an twa sisters there could niver be muckle privacy an them aa bidin in a wee cottar hoose the wye they did. Her excitement wiz spiled by the hoosekeeper comin in an tellin here that she'd tae keep it spotless clean an warned her that she wid inspect it ivery day tae mak sure o that. Wi that she wint back doon the stairs leavin Jessie an the cook lookin at eenanither. The cook smiled an said, “ Dinna mind her ower muckle ma, quine, her bark's waar norr her bite!”
* * *
At five next mornin Jessie wint doon tae the kitchen an raiked up the coals an opened the flap in aneth the wye she'd been shown tae kittle up the smoored coals. Jessie wiz mair used tae her mither's fire wi its big iron grate that only nott a puckle peats tae get it lowin first thing in the mornin, wi this thing though ye'd tae gang throwe a puckle different motions tae get the same. But sayin that the coal wiz fairly the thing an in nae time the fire wiz lowin ready for her first job, getting the kettle on the swye for the tea eence the cook came in.
Wi lantern in haan she made her wye doon the dark dank stairs tae the cellar. She felt the hairs on the back o her neck prickle mair than eence on the wye. Yin o the arches hid a door on it an this wiz far the coal wiz stored. Hingin the lantern on the heuk for the job, she soon hid the first sax buckets fulled and intae the dumb waiter. As she made tae tak doon the lantern she thocht she saw a movement tae her richt, so she held up the lantern tae cast licht farer intae the cellar but she didna see onything an thocht it hid been a rat scurryin aboot. Onywye she held up the stairs tryin tae mak on that she wisna feart.
A few mintys later she wiz back fullin up the buckets again. This time fin she feenished there came a bigger noise like something faain, so grabbin the lantern she walked a step or twa towards the sound. She got a gye fear fin she thocht she saw the shape o a man jist ayont the flickerin licht. Jessie wasted nae mair time but got oot o there as fast as her feet wid cairry her. By the time the cook came in Jessie wiz in a gye state aboot fit hid happened. Jessie tellt her fit she’d seen or thocht she’d seen. The cook laughed and tellt her it hid jist been the flickerin o the lantern at the tail o her ee. Jessie wiz reassured at this but niver saw the scared look on the cook’s face as she turned awa.
Onywye as the weeks wint in Jessie wid gyan doon for the coal ilka mornin. She didna look aboot but jist concentrated on the coal. Ayee she felt though that she wiz being watched and wid feel the goose pimples rise at the back o her neck and airms. “It’s only the flicker o the lamp!” she’d reassure hersel but she still wint up the dank stairs as fast as she could.
The Laird, his wife and son were in residence but they didna hae ony big parties, jist a puckle freens noo an then for dinner. Mistress Gordon seemed tae hae thawed oot a bit and wid fyles come doon tae the kitchen for a cup o tae wi Jessie and the cook. Mistress Gordon tellt Jessie aboot Lord Braco being a lawyer doon in Edinburgh and that he wiz a right fine man and affa good tae his workers on the estate. His son wiz at university in Edinburgh learning tae be a lawyer like his father. Mistress Gordon said he wiz affa good lookin wi blond hair and blue een like his mither, Lady Braco, fa wiz a lot younger than the Laird. Jessie wiz spellbound at the stories Mistress Gordon tellt her. She kent athing aboot the history o the faimily, sojers, sailors, politicians and his ancestors hid focht in countless wars and even een o the Laird’s forefathers hid been a pirate on the seven seas.
Jessie hid settled in richt fine and got her half day aff tae wun hame ilka month as promised. She’d gie her mither aa her pey tae help wi the feedin o the younger bairns.
Jessie earned as much as her father in a month aa thanks tae the kindness o Laird Braco faa’s policy it wiz tae gie his workers a good wage. A rare sentiment at that time fae ony laird in the land.
One mornin early Jessie wint doon tae get the coal as usual but this time made the mistake o peyin heed tae the flickering shadas at the tail o her ee. She stoppit fullin the coal pails and looked doon intae the shadas and that’s fin she saw him standin there nae ten fit fae her. Jessie near screamed oot but it wiz the sadness on the laddie’s face that stoppit her. She held up the lantern tae get a better look at him. She could see he wiz nae muckle aaler than herself, maybe aichteen or twenty. Her heart beatin like a haimmer, she askit o him faa he wiz. As a reply he jist shook his heed, turned and walked awa intae the gloom. Jessie by this time wiz near on her knees wi the fear and got oot o there as fast as her feet could cairry her.
Fin the cook came in Jessie tellt her aboot the ghost she’d seen and refused point blank tae gang doon for the coal. Mistress Gordon wiz called and she’d little sympathy for Jessie and wid hae nithing tae dee wi the idea o ghosts. Jessie’s refusal got her intae an affa lot o trouble and Mistress Gordon docked her pey for as lang as she keepit up refusing tae gyang for the coal. The only sympathy Jessie got wiz fae the cook faa made a cup o tea and gave Jessie a hanky tae dry up her tears. The cook widna hae teen a king’s ransom tae gyang doon tae that place hersel but she didna tell that tae Jessie.
Een o the men came in fae the gairdens tae get the coal in the mornins but he niver saw onything strange. This wint on for mair than a fortnicht until eventually wi the cook’s insistence Jessie saw sense. And onywye she’d already lost a half month’s pey and if she didna gyang back doon she’d lose the ither half. At five the next mornin Jessie lichted the lantern wi a taper fae the fire an set fit tae the cellar. She wint doon the steps gye canny wi her knees near bucklin fae ablow her. Soon she’d the first sax buckets fulled. Nae lookin tae the left or right she made tae gyang up the stairs tae haul up the dumb waiter. That wiz fin she saw him standin atween her an the stair. Jessie backed awa an near fell in amongst the coal pile. There wisna ony place tae run apart fae deeper intae the dark recesses o the dank eerie cellar. She opened her mooth tae scream fin the laddie said in a soft voice, “Dinna scream, Jessie, I winna hurt ye!” That stopped her and she only gave a wee whimper instead. He stepped nearer her and she cooried doon wi her back tae the coal. He held up a hand tae show he meant nae hairm and wi the ither hand he gave her twa coins. “I’m sorry for you losing pay because I frightened you, so I hope this will make it up to you!” He then walked awa back intae the gloom and seemed tae vanish.
Jessie, a complete gibbering wreck by this time, scrambled up the stairs covered in coal dust and tears. Sic a how-d’ye-do set up this time. The cook wiz in an affa state at the condition o Jessie and tried athing tae calm her doon. Misstress Gordon came in and saw immediately that Jessie wiz in the complete hysterics, her reaction wiz swift and she gave Jessie a stinging slap in the face. That seemed tae calm her doon a wee bittie and atween saich and sighs she blurted oot fit hid happened doon in the cellar. The door opened and the Laird himsel came in wantin tae ken fit wiz gan on. Jessie repeated fit happened and showed the coins tae the Laird. He’d been sittin in front o Jessie, noo fin he saw the coins he stood up wi a gasp. He asked Jessie if she’d mind his taking the coins then walked oot and wint back intae the main hoose.
A few minutes later raised voices could be heard as if somebody wiz haein a row. A wee while aifter that yin o the hoose servants came in and asked if Mistress Gordon would be so kind as come upstairs to the library and to take the scullery maid with her. Dichtin Jessie’s tear stained een and sortin her hair, she then tellt Jessie tae run up tae her room and change intae a clean smock. Thus rigged and still sobbin, Mistress Gordon led Jessie intae the hoose proper. It wiz the first time Jessie hid seen intae the hoose and she wiz fair teen aback at the size o it an aa the fancy stuff hingin fae the waas. Paintings, sculptures, swords, spears and shields lined the waas. Suits o armour stood as if there wiz men still inside them ready tae chop ye wi their raised swords.
Mistress Gordon hid her severe face on as she knocked at the huge double doors and waited. Jessie kent she wiz gyan tae get the sack for aa the cairry on and she could feel the tears start again. The door wiz opened by a footman an Mistress Gordon ushered her in. It wiz a huge room wi the waas lined wi shelves o beuks. In the middle there wis a big table wi wee sloped stands wi opened books on them. A lamp burned abeen them. She’d niver seen a lamp like that afore, it hid fit looked like mirrors tae reflect the licht doon on the books. Jessie wiz tellt by Mistress Gordon tae go ower tae the table and that’s fin she saw the Laird pacing aboot beyond it at the fire. He looked affa troubled but fin he saw the state o Jessie he smiled and tellt her tae sit doon. Jessie started tae apologise for athing but he said nae tae worry aboot it and just sit down. Jessie did fit she was bid and sat doon on a high backed chair. Emotions were rinnin a riot in her mind and she felt her knees knockin wi fear. Seein how close she was tae panic, the Laird spoke softly telling her she wisna in ony trouble. His words put Jessie at her ease a wee bittie and she started tae relax.
“Now, Jessie, could you tell me the story again about what happened in the cellar?”
Jessie tried tae speak English like they were taught at school but keepit faain doon throwe it. The Laird said tae pit her at her ease, “In yer ain words, quine, niver mind the pan loaf cairry on!” This got a big smile fae Jessie as she visibly relaxed. So she tellt the Laird in her ain words exactly fit happened.
Aifter she finished Jessie could see the Laird wiz distracted and deep in thought. Commin tae a decision, he went tae a big cord aside the fire and pulled doon on it a couple o times. A fitman came in fae a wee side door and the Laird said something tae him. A fyle later he came back wi the Laird’s son. Jessie’s hert missed a beat fin she saw him. Mistress Gordon wiz richt enough, he wiz really handsome wi pure blond hair and sky blue een. He smiled shyly at Jessie as he sat doon. The Laird, wi a stern face on him, said tae his son, “Now, James, I want you to apologise to Jessie for scaring her down in the coal cellar!”
James frowned at this, sayin, “I told you earlier, father, it wasn’t me and anyhow I don’t have gold coins like those!” He pointed to the coins on the table.
Jessie interrupted much to the consternation o Mistress Gordon who gave a gasp and was aboot tae gie Jessie intae trouble for her lack o respect fin the Laird held up his hand tae her and said tae Jessie, “Carry on, Jessie, fit were ye gan tae say?”
Jessie cleared her throat and feelin the colour rise tae her cheeks she looked at the Laird’s son and said, “It wisna him, sir, that wiz doon in the cellar!” And pointing at the big paintin abeen the fireplace, she said, “That’s him there in the paintin!”
The painting wiz o a young laddie, maybe aboot twenty, standing aside a chair weerin aal fashioned clyse wi a cane in his hand. The Laird gave a groan and sat doon staring at the paintin as if he’d niver seen it afore. Jessie froze as she realised she’d done something affa wrang and fin she saw the laddie pour his father some brandy the bottom fell clean oot o her world.
Mistress Gordon wiz scowlin at Jessie wi barely controlled anger. The Laird saw this and tellt Mistress Gordon everything was fine and asked her to leave the room. As Mistress Gordon reluctantly left the room, Jessie fellt like rinnin ahin her. The Laird composing himsel stood up and went tae the safe built intae the waa and teen oot a wee box and took it tae the table. Turning tae Jessie, he asked her tae come ower. He opened the wee box and teen oot a smaa leather bag tied at the top. He untied it and couped it oot and seven gold coins jist the same as Jessie’s eens rolled across the table.
He tellt her that his uncle gave seven each tae him and his brither Hugh fifty years before. He’d been a pirate in his youth and had sailed the seven seas in search o Spanish treasure. The coins were doubloons and each yin wiz worth a King’s ransom as there wiz only fourteen o them iver minted. His uncle thocht as he’d nae faimily that he’d gie them tae his only nephews. The Laird said his brither Hugh wanted tae sail the seven seas jist like his uncle and wrote a letter saying as much tae his father. Hugh wiz niver heard fae again and that broke his mither’s heart. Hugh wiz the aaler o the two, so he should’ve been the Laird o Kineddart and nae him.
“And now this!” He handled the two coins fae Jessie deep in thought then looked up at Jessie. “Could you show me where you saw the apparition of my brother?”
She nodded and led him and his son doon tae the cellar. She showed them the arch he came oot o and left through. The Laird thanked her and said she was a very brave lassie.
Later the Laird and a few o the men fae the gairdens wint doon tae the cellar. They’d fancy lamps wi reflectors on them that the cook said burned a special ile fae sperm whales that burned wi a white licht instead o the yella peely-wally licht that they were used wi. The laird and his men were doon there maist o the day and Jessie’s job wiz tae tak tae and mait doon for them, so she saw the cellar lichted up as niver before. She didna ken fit they were lookin for but at aboot suppertime a shout set up and aboot an oor later the Laird, his son and aa the men came up fae the cellar covered in dust and cobwebs. The Laird hid in his hand a wee leather bag exactly the same as the yin up in the library. It wisna tied like his een and fin he couped it ontae the table only five coins fell oot instead o the seven that there should’ve been. He looked at Jessie and said, “We found this along with my brother’s remains. He must’ve been trying to sneak out without letting anyone know. There’s a small tunnel that leads out to the old bridge and must’ve been used in the days this building was a castle. Hugh had been killed when a part of it fell in!”
He looked at Jessie and smiled. “Thank you for solving a mystery that has lasted for fifty years! I can now put my brother to his rest in the family vault at Kineddart kirkyard.”
So saying. he picked the seven coins and put them in the wee leather bag. He handed them tae Jessie, saying, “I think my brother Hugh would want you to have those.”
About the Author
Patrick Hutchison was born in New Deer, Aberdeenshire, in the mid-Fifties and has lived all his life in the North-East of Scotland. Now retired, he loves the stories and folklore of the area and writes all his own stories in the Banffshire Doric.