Without my brother, I was now at the mercy of my uncle who sat on the bulk of the Lister estate and incomes. Father had little left and didn’t seem to be of even the slightest ill heath, excepting his elbow injury from the American War, in which anyone would think he’d lost an arm. Luckily my uncle knew me well and how unlikely I was to marry. I would need my own income to survive in this world and I am grateful to this day that he knew it. He understood my desire for independence; he himself had never married and nor had my aunt, with whom he always lived at Shibden. Brother and sister together, as I had long hoped dear Sam and I would be in time. We’d have had a jolly time together at Shibden like our uncle and aunt.

After years of visiting, I finally moved into Shibden in my twenties to escape from my parents. Despite a generous allowance from my uncle, it was only when I was thirty-five years old that I finally gained my own income when my uncle passed. He had chosen to divide the estate and incomes between myself, my father and my aunt, which I understood, although couldn’t help begrudging. My aunt had never had much involvement in the estate, excepting the running of the Hall and its staff, and Father had so little interest in anything but reading the newspaper, they were both quite happy for me to take it all on myself, which was no easy task. While my uncles and father and their predecessors had never run up any debt, neither had they managed to profit. They were happy to live off the rents and so never had any involvement with the profitable wool trade or any new industry. In fact, they retreated from public life and revelled in the seclusion Shibden affords.

It was hard work and of course I met with objection each step of the way. Folks are reluctant to change, especially changes which cost, and they certainly didn’t want to deal with a woman. They are more used to me now and although I see only a third of the profits, I feel as though the estate is mine. I just wish I had more income to invest. My other uncle’s property, Northgate House, sits empty in town but has such potential. I see it becoming a first-rate hotel, possibly with a dance hall. One day I might get my hands on that too.