The Lost And Found Girl (35 page)

There was little trade after Christmas and her employers took their ease. It was Daisy who had to watch the shop and sell the occasional pieces of salt beef or pickled tripe. They even invited her with them to his son’s farm where the new sheep would be raised. She took his six children for a walk while his wife’s housemaid stayed with their parents and grandparents in the warm farmhouse to serve them food and drink. They were all very merry when she returned, cold and frazzled from their children’s unruly antics, and she was sent to the kitchen to make their tea from the leftovers.

Daisy’s bad humour did not lift. She wouldn’t have a maid to look after her children when she was wed, she reflected irritably as she boiled up soup and sawed at bread. Then the children didn’t want the soup because they had eaten cake from the pantry while they waited for it. As a child, she would have been whipped for such a misdemeanour!

However, she was cheered when she woke to snowfall on the eve of New Year. Surely Mr Farrow would not take out his pony and trap in this weather? But Mr and Mrs Farrow had no wish to miss a celebration on the estate especially at the behest of its most important servant. They were honoured to be invited to the steward’s own home, and excited about seeing inside the square detached house set well apart from the stables and domestic buildings behind the Abbey. It had been built especially for him and his growing family in the villa style that was popular in the towns. So, Daisy piled up rugs and wrappings in the trap and Mr Farrow put a horse blanket on his pony. They travelled so slowly that Daisy’s feet were frozen solid by the time they arrived.

Mrs Farrow had lent her a woven woollen shawl with a paisley pattern and fringe. Daisy had seen them in the draper’s and they were very dear to buy. She liked it too. It was soft and very warm and the colouring suited her. When the maid took her cloak and bonnet she realised how nice it was to be waited on and smiled gratefully. As she straightened her gown she caught a glimpse of herself in a looking-glass. Mrs Farrow came up behind her and adjusted one of the combs holding up her thick light-brown hair. Daisy’s eyes glistened at her reflection and her skin glowed from the cold.

In spite of her misgivings about the evening’s proceedings, she felt confident as a – she hesitated and looked at her image again – as a woman. She had grown a little in height
over the recent months and had filled out significantly, no doubt due to regular meals of butcher’s meat.

Boyd was here tonight and he always lifted her spirits. He understood that she didn’t wish to marry someone chosen for her and that no one could make her. Dearest Boyd. How would she get by without him? He would be on her side she was sure. Mrs Farrow was still standing behind and she whispered in her ear, ‘You’ll do very nicely, my dear. Come along now.’

Boyd was the first person she noticed standing by the fireplace when she was shown into the Stanton’s downstairs drawing room, and a wide smile lit up her face. His response was a serious nod and a sip from the tiny glass he was holding. Daisy followed his lead and calmed her instinct to rush over and hug him. The room was spacious but filled with furniture and people and a good coal fire burned in the grate. Even so, the wintry air was chilly and Daisy welcomed the tot of spirit offered to warm her.

There were murmurings and moving around the room to allow Daisy and the Farrows to sit nearest the fire. When they were settled, Daisy was presented to Mr and Mrs Gardner and their son Joseph. This is him, she realised. This is who Mr Stanton has chosen for my husband. He was, she was forced to admit, very presentable, of a good height with regular features and neatly trimmed hair. He held himself upright and was politeness itself in his manners. He sat between his parents at one side of the fire and Daisy was between Mr Stanton and Boyd at the other.

‘Mr Gardner, as his name suggests, is responsible for his lordship’s walled garden. He has been a part of the estate since he was born. His father was a gardener here before him.’

Mr Gardner sat bolt upright proudly. His prim little wife smiled pleasantly at Daisy. ‘Boyd has told us how he has looked after you since you lost your parents and how well he is progressing at Redfern. You are indeed lucky to have such a clever brother. Mr Stanton assures us that all reports of you are positive. We wish for nothing less for our dear son.’

‘She’s been such a help since she’s been with us,’ Mrs Farrow replied. ‘I really don’t know how I shall manage without her.’

Mr Farrow continued quickly, ‘But of course we are pleased to let her go, especially to a respectable estate family.’

Boyd added, ‘Joseph has worked as an indoor servant at the Abbey since he was twelve, Daisy, and has risen to the position of footman.’

Daisy gave her brother a questioning look. Why was he singing Joseph’s praises? And why couldn’t Joseph tell her himself? However, she had expected a farm labourer rather than a footman and realised why he held himself well. All footmen had to look like sentries when they were standing to attention in their livery. I bet he looks very handsome in it too, Daisy thought, for he had the height to carry it off. She was annoyed with herself for being impressed by Mr Stanton’s choice of a footman for her. Either the steward thought very highly of Boyd, or he was more anxious to keep her away from Master James than she realised.

There was an awkward silence. Boyd was staring at Daisy and was moving his head slightly and nudging her. He seemed to be urging her to speak. Why didn’t Joseph say something? Perhaps he didn’t want to marry her any more than she wanted him. But when she took a closer look at his even features she detected a widening of his eyes and a
relaxing of his lips. He liked what he saw! He approved of her! She’d rather he didn’t but now was not the time to put him off her. There would be time enough for that in the future. Boyd would be furious with her if she embarrassed him tonight. Anyway, Boyd was on her side so, confident that he would argue later on her behalf, she heaved a sigh and smiled.

‘Do you enjoy being a footman, Joseph?’ she asked.

‘I have a good position,’ he said.

That isn’t what I asked you, she thought and hoped he would ask her something next. He didn’t so she said, ‘You must look very handsome in your livery.’

This was obviously the right thing to say to Joseph because his smiled widened. He looked very satisfied with himself as he replied, ‘Indeed I do, miss. Did you not notice me when you worked at the Abbey?’

‘I can’t honestly say that I did, sir.’ Dear heaven, his expression told her that she had slighted him and she added hastily, ‘Mrs Brown trained me not to stare when inside the Abbey.’

‘What about when I partnered you at the barn dance?’

She kept her features still. She couldn’t remember him but responded for appearances’ sake, ‘Oh, yes, sir. It was fun, wasn’t it?’

Now he was even more self-satisfied. They lapsed into silence again until Mrs Farrow ventured, ‘Would you like to come to tea with us after the New Year hunt, Joseph?’

‘Thank you, Mrs Farrow,’ he said immediately.

They all heard the clock over the stables striking and Mr Stanton rose to his feet. ‘Is that the midnight hour?’ But it wasn’t. It was only the third quarter. ‘Let me charge your glasses,’ he added and poured out more tots of brandy. His parlour maid brought in cheese straws that were warm
from the bake oven. Mrs Stanton, a serene, rather regal woman, offered them round and the atmosphere in the room relaxed.

Daisy backed Boyd into a corner and whispered, ‘What’s going on?’

‘He’s respectable and a good match for you, Daisy. You like him, don’t you?’

‘No.’

‘You have implied that you do.’

‘Well, I don’t. I was being polite. How can I like him when I don’t even know him?’

‘That’s why he has formally asked to court you.’

‘He has?’

‘What do you think tonight is about, Daisy?’

‘But you said I didn’t have to marry if I didn’t want to!’

‘Don’t be awkward about this.’

‘You said you were on my side, that I didn’t have to do anything I didn’t want to. Well, I don’t want to marry him.’

‘You don’t know him yet,’ he flung back at her.

‘Boyd!’

They were interrupted by Mrs Stanton. ‘What are you two huddled together for? Come over to the window. It’s snowing again and it will be midnight soon.’

‘We’d best be on our way as soon as the clock has chimed,’ Mr Farrow warned. ‘It wouldn’t do to get stuck on Redfern Hill.’

Mrs Stanton protested, ‘Oh, not until someone has let in the New Year proper. Joseph has arranged for one of his lordship’s black-a-moors to bring us good luck.’

Her husband added, ‘There’ll be plenty of strong lads out and about the estate and village tonight, Mr Farrow. They’ll see you home safely.’

‘Do stay a while, dearest,’ Mrs Farrow urged, nudging her husband’s elbow.

‘I’ll go with you, sir,’ Boyd volunteered, ‘just to be sure.’

The chimes began again, four quarters and then a stroke for each hour. They counted them out loud until twelve when Mr Stanton raised his glass and cried, ‘Happy New Year, one and all!’ They all stood to raise their glasses in a toast.

Across the small group Daisy noticed Joseph watching her intently. He was looking at her furtively, up and down, taking in her gown and shawl, her features and hair. The pleased expression on his face turned to smugness and, as she met his eyes she was shocked to see him give her a distinct wink, a self-satisfied and suggestive wink that Daisy found – found – dear heaven, she was offended by his forwardness and looked away immediately.

She really did not want this self-important footman to court her and she must make Boyd understand. She must talk to Boyd, and became anxious to leave the small gathering as soon as she could. She heard the fall of the heavy wrought-iron door knocker on the front door. Thank goodness, the black-a-moor had arrived to let in the New Year. Daisy hadn’t seen either of his lordship’s two black-a-moors close to. They were big muscular footmen with black skins and very dark eyes. If she were honest, they frightened her. But not when Boyd was with her.

Mr Stanton excused himself to open the front door and Daisy, along with the others present, heard the greeting and then the low voices of a hurried conversation. There was a pause before the drawing-room door opened.

‘A healthy and prosperous New Year to all!’

It was not one of his lordship’s black-a-moors. It was
– Daisy frowned. He appeared from his livery to be one of the footmen. He had dark hair and had blackened his face in keeping with the tradition. To ensure good luck, the first person in the New Year to cross the threshold had to be a dark man. He carried a large piece of shiny black coal and strode over to the fire to place it on the flames. The small gathering clapped as the cold wet fuel hissed in the heat. Daisy recognised him straightaway but it was not until he turned round that Mrs Stanton cried, ‘Master James!’

Master James grinned broadly showing a good set of teeth in his black face. ‘I am discovered,’ he laughed.

Daisy wanted to laugh with him, but dared not. He swept his dark eyes over the small gathering, lingering with surprise on her. He really had not expected to see her here. But his eyes were teasing, bringing hers alive too. She had to press her lips together firmly to prevent them breaking into a grin. She was tempted to wink at him as Joseph had at her. Master James would have thought it forward and suggestive of her, as she did of Joseph, yet he would have winked back, she was sure.
And she would not have been offended.

Better not, she decided. But at that moment she resolved to reject Joseph’s courtship. She would make it quite plain to him that she – she what? That she loved another. As her eyes twinkled in the lamplight, Daisy basked in the warm feeling this gave her and could not prevent a smile as it spread to all her features.

Mr Stanton had followed Master James into the room. He was agitated and said, ‘My wife was not expecting you, sir.’

Master James bowed to the lady of the house. ‘Please accept my humblest apologies, madam. I had not the slightest notion that you had company, otherwise I should not have persuaded Granger to change places with me.’

‘Nonsense, sir,’ Mrs Stanton replied. ‘We are honoured and delighted to welcome you. His lordship is quite well this night?’

‘There is no change in him, ma’am. He has not left his bed this day, but his physician tells me he is comfortable.’

‘Oh.’ An uneasy silence settled on the group until James added brightly, ‘He insists that Redfern carries on as normal and my good wishes tonight are his, too.’

This cheered everyone except Mr Stanton and Boyd who seemed determined to be cross with him. When Daisy glanced at Mr and Mrs Gardner she understood where Joseph got his smug expression from. She guessed that none of the other estate gardeners would have had Master James to bring in their New Year, even if it wasn’t exactly at their own more humble cottage.

‘Daisy, it is time to leave,’ Boyd whispered in her ear.

‘Not yet,’ she responded.

‘Mr Farrow is worried about his pony on the ice.’

‘Very well.’ She saw her employer talking to Mr Stanton.

‘And who will bring in your New Year, Miss Daisy?’ It was Master James who made this enquiry and the buzz of conversation quietened.

‘Mr Farrow will, sir.’

‘But he is grey-haired!’

‘He used to be as dark as you, sir,’ Mrs Farrow protested.

‘I shall go with them,’ Boyd added.

‘You are as fair as your sister, Higgins,’ the young master argued. ‘Besides, you live here in the stable block and the Abbey is much nearer to the village. Will you allow me to let in your New Year, Mr Farrow?’

‘Oh, Mr Farrow,’ his wife breathed with a glance at the Gardners. ‘Do say yes.’

‘My trap is very small, my dear,’ her husband cautioned.

‘I was not thinking of riding in it in this icy weather,’ James responded. ‘The snow is not deep. I shall lead your pony most carefully and make sure you reach home safely.’

‘I must protest, sir,’ Mr Stanton said. ‘It is too dangerous. You will be walking back to the Abbey alone.’