The Companion of Lady Holmeshire (22 page)

“
Where is the message, then?” she huffed. A young man shoved a glass of champagne into her hand, and she feigned indignation, evil never having passed her lips, but being the center of attention and celebration, she was forced to drink it down. He then handed her the paper. She looked at it, and an even greater look of disbelief came over her face. “I am to make two hundred woolen cloaks for The Lord Holmeshire and have them all done by October?” she cried in disbelief. “I would have to hire help to do that!” She gave the machine a dirty look, as it had concocted this message quite obviously under the influence of the Devil himself, who was out to ruin her. Then the machine started its clacking noise and another message came to be. Mr. Wells rushed over and picked it up.

“
It is for Joseph Darby at the Woolhouse! He is to send fabric to Mrs. Amberton and put it to His Lordship’s account.” Everyone looked around in awe of the messages, excepting Mrs. Amberton. She clapped her empty glass down on the tabletop, threw down her message and went out the door, thoroughly annoyed at the gullibility of the young and worried for their souls.

It was not until Darby arrived at her crowded little house, with four large crates of fabric, that it began to occur to her that perhaps this affair was something she should take into consideration. Could it be true, or had he also been fooled by the possessed machine? Then along came Samuel Silverton with a good quantity of thread and a story that he had delivered materials elsewhere for two hundred men’s and boy’s warm winter hats in varying sizes! The six year old came from the candle shop with some candles, and she began to, if not believe, at least earnestly wish to.

“
Beeswax!” she shouted to her startled children, “Perhaps this is from His Lordship, as I’ve never had a beeswax candle in my life!” The bees near Holmeshire were to be employed, too, it seemed. Although the Amberton family’s small, thatched cottage was now quite crowded, she pushed the necessities of life against the cracked plaster wall to make room for her abundance of new materials. Unquestionably, all these things had fallen from heaven! She affirmed that some way or another, with the help of her younger daughters and some friends, she was going to make those cloaks.

The next day, any shred of doubt was finally dismissed when a horseman appeared at her door with a small bag of coins. It was payment in advance, he said, for a month’s work. All this good news was too much to bear, and Mrs. Amberton ran out to buy a bottle of champagne at the back door of the pub. The Chenbury charity fund was going to benefit the struggling economy of little Holmeshire quite nicely!

***

Back in London, Anne, Mrs. Amberton’s second daughter, had been blissfully happy. One day, however, when she was about to exit the house and meet her escort for their daily rain-or-shine walk, she found that her shawl, which had been hanging on a hook near the servant’s door, had been cut into strips with a scissor. Anne burst into tears upon finding it so, feeling threatened and despised.

Simon came inside, puzzled at her not appearing outside the door, and found her weakened and collapsed in a chair. She had not wanted him to see her in this state, but felt great relief at his immediate knightly reaction against the unknown villain, as he took the matter directly to the housekeeper. She, wanting to retain her position, called everyone in and lined them up for severe interrogation. Nobody claimed to know who had done it, though a few had faces that they seemed to hide facts behind. The housekeeper was, however, satisfied with her accomplishment.

With that handled unsuccessfully, Simon returned to the damsel in distress and ascertained that she could not be looked upon with a reddened nose. His promise to look at only the scenery for a full ten minutes convinced her to rise to her feet again for a walk outside. At Simon’s request, a kitchen maid loaned her an adequate shawl for their stroll.

Anne’s recent happiness was gravely dampened by the occurrence, and she became afraid, though of whom she did not know. Simon saw her fear and began to realize the great responsibility that he must take on, should he become lord of his own house and the protector and provider of a wife and children. Would it ever be possible?

The couple stopped walking, ten minutes having slipped away, under a budding willow. Their boot tips nearly met on an unusual brick walk that rounded up on one side into a half wall, covered with vines and backed by bushes that were attempting to put forth white flowers. All of that beauty, the songs of a skylark and the buzzing of a number of hopeful bees went unnoticed.

Simon’s poverty disturbed his mind, indeed, his very life, in his view. “Tomorrow, Miss Amberton, we shall buy you a new shawl, but I must apologize; this will mean that I can purchase none of the confections that we have been enjoying so much, nor a cup of tea out for a week or two afterward. I would like to become your provider, your protector, your dearest loved one forever, yet I fear that I could not succeed. The only benefit I could offer you, should we marry, is my deepest love and companionship on my Sundays off. I could not often see you. I could provide you with only the smallest home here, and with little to furnish it, you see, as did my uncle for my poor aunt. Should we have children, I fear that you and they would suffer hunger and want! I work very long hours, and my work is here in London. Your parents and all of your family are in the north, you know, and I fear that you could not be without them. In a few weeks, you will be taken back to Holmeshire, and I will be left here alone. As an aspiring gentleman, I cannot ask you to stay and give up your secure position, and I am sure that I could not find sufficient work in your little village with this depressed state of the economy.”

Was this to be known forever as the worst day of Anne’s life? “And yet,” he continued, “I am completely given over to you, and I cannot face a life without you without doing my best to change my situation. If you please, I propose that you give me a bit more of your sweet time. For who knows if, in the next months or year, with effort, my circumstances might change and I could offer you a more satisfactory home? I have taken great pains to educate myself and I am capable of a highly responsible position. I have been searching for one as I go about the Duke’s business in Town. One cannot apply for a position, however, when dressed as the Duke’s representative, and there is never the opportunity for it on Sundays, especially as I intend to spend every minute of them with you. With you as my undeserved and perfect reward, I am very much inspired to find a way. However, should I find no solution, no satisfactory position within a year’s time, I will free you to consider another husband with a better income and good circumstances, should you wish to leave service and marry. I would find my joy in giving you over to a better life.”

Anne took his arm to walk farther along the bricks, and she expressed her concerns. “Although we have had the favor of the Master, and he has offered us the freedom to marry, it seems that it, in truth, does not work nicely for servants. A servant’s income is meant for someone who lives in the Master’s house! Could we not search for another way? Surely there is a suitable position somewhere for you. I am willing to wait far more than a year, should it mean that we can be together thereafter. I would never consider another husband as long as you are alive. As for leaving you behind in London in a short time, I do not know how I could do that! It would be like leaving life itself behind! I will seek to stay in service here, perhaps for the Duke, and will see you as best I can.”

***

Helena, Winnie and Emma were sitting together, each with a lap desk, writing a letter to a friend when the butler brought up two messages on a silver tray. Helena picked up an exquisite envelope that was stamped with the Queen’s Seal.

“
Oh my,” Helena exclaimed, “I have a message from Her Majesty!” She opened it and read silently with a puzzled expression developing. She looked up and thought for a second, and then a look of understanding began to cross her face.

“
Oh, yes! Winifred! The Queen has received a letter, she says, and has had a request that she does not understand. She spoke to her ladies about it, and one of the ladies suggested that we be called to the Palace. She has asked for you and me and His Grace to visit this Friday. Would you be able to accept?” She gave Winnie a look and nod that meant, “You do wish to be there.”

Winnie nodded in agreement, “Oh yes, I would very much like to go! I will cancel any other engagement.”

“
I’m afraid that this is one visit on which we will not be able to insist that we bring you, Emma. How I wish we could!”

“
I understand perfectly, Your Grace, for there are only so many toes upon which I can step.”

***

Abby was tearfully happy and fully enjoyed the early days with her son. Her new little home was so very pleasant! The most modern steam-power printed wallpapers had won the house hunters over, and someone had skillfully chosen a plum divan and golden beige chairs to match. Abby dreamed of the day she could buy a pretty vase to hold some flowers and linens for the little round tea table. Winnie had assured her that, should she choose to stay there, the cost would be within her means on the salary she would receive from Chenbury.

Her son would be able to make enough, too, so that they could all eat and dress, and he would be able to save some for the future. And would he like to improve his education, making him more valuable to his employer? There were tutors living on the very street! Having observed him at his efforts and deeming him worthy, Wills would pay to have him trained in the ways of business.

***

Thursday had, at last, arrived, the day that the entire charity team was to meet together. Though Abby was to stay home to care for and cuddle her little one, Henry was ready to go out the door well ahead of time. He was able, he told her, to run and bring in some muffins from a bakery down the street, and would she like fresh milk to drink? He pulled a footstool near her rocking chair, so that she would not strain herself, and went in search of milk. Could life be any better, she wondered? Only if big Henry could be with them to live it.

At the appointed time, Genevieve, Wills, Winnie, Helena, Emma and Henry met in the front drive of the magnificent, if smaller than Handerton, house. Little Nicholas was allowed to run in circles around a splendorous labradorite fountain. The gardeners had kept the greenery in perfect condition, and the indoor staff, though reduced with no one in residence, had kept the house clean.

Today Chenbury was awakened and was opening its arms to the project at hand. At the stroke of 10, the chosen hour, the butler opened the wood-framed, beveled glass doors, and the small band entered the entry hall, rounded by faux walls. Champagne was opened and enjoyed by all but the excited little Nicholas, who had a pretty etched goblet of apple cider.

Genevieve took them on a tour of the grand house and pointed out her thoughts for some of the rooms; all were to be adapted for executive and fundraising purposes, except for a suite on the second floor that would, should it become necessary, become her home, and the downstairs servants’ realm. Maintenance for the rest of the building would be in the hands of the charity, which would provide work for the poor. She then turned the chairmanship over to His Lordship.

“
If you please, then,” he began, pointing to a room off the entry, “I choose this room for my office to oversee the charity as a whole. I expect that much of the year it will be occupied by a responsible assistant, with my being a gentleman far off in a country house. So, Genevieve, please choose your office, where you will organize the Shakespearean plays. Each of the rest of you shall have an office; please search one out. That includes you, Mr. Smith. I will choose one for your Mama, down the hall and out of the way, where her child can attend her. And the ladies should consider whom they might wish to have as an assistant to run their branch; someone, perhaps, from the middle class, and educated, who would responsibly carry on their work while you are away from Town. Please choose carefully so that we will have great success!”

Henry was shocked! “My Lord, I shall have an office?”

“
I have seen your reading, your writing and your determination,” replied Wills. “You will be given intensive training to oversee shelter homes; will you work hard at it? If you continue with your responsible manner, you shall have a position for the rest of your life. We must obtain a top hat for you, as you will come to be a middle class gentleman and you must look the part!” Henry smiled broadly for the rest of the day.

“
I wanna hava office!” Nicholas chirped.

“
You will have a position right here,” Wills replied, and put the young one on his shoulders.

The women were told of their positions in the charity and left to stake their claims. They began uncovering furnishings and excitedly called out to each other. Wills received permission and followed Genevieve to her office.

“
This house is elegant!” he remarked as they walked.

“
It is, a bit, for charity administration,” she agreed, “but I do not wish to spend money changing rugs, wallpapers and such. I prefer that our money go for the intended purpose.”

Wills agreed, and they entered her chosen office. She excused herself to look over the beautifully carved white borders along the pale blue ceiling of the room. He gazed for a moment, with much deepened respect, at the proficient young woman. As she looked through a bookcase and tried out pulling open the drapes, he paced about with his eyes to the ground, pulling his top hat around in circles in his hands in front of him.