The Little Angel

by Rosie Goodwin

  ‘I apologise for that. I think Miss Fox must be in a bad mood this evening,’ Kitty said as Richard chivalrously helped her into his motor car. This was her first proper date with a gentleman – or with anyone, if it came to that – and Kitty suddenly felt shy.

  Richard came around to the driver’s side and hopped in beside her, before taking her hand and kissing it.

  ‘Your Miss Fox need not worry. I shall take the greatest care of you,’ he told her, and Kitty’s young heart began to race again as he started the car and drove them towards the West End. Kitty was so excited that she paid no attention to where they were going and she kept peeping at him from the corner of her eye.

  ‘I know of a very good restaurant in Dean Street in Soho. It’s called The French House and the food is quite superb – unless there is somewhere else you would prefer to go, that is?’

  ‘Oh no, that sounds lovely,’ she said shyly, and they were soon negotiating the narrow streets of Soho, quite close to the Palm Beach Club.

  ‘You look quite delightful this evening,’ Richard whispered as he took her arm possessively and led her up a flight of stairs to the restaurant. ‘Every man we meet will be green with envy when they see you on my arm, and every woman will be jealous of your beauty.’

  Kitty felt as if she was floating on a cloud as she tripped along at the side of him. They were shown to a table set in a small alcove and from the waiter’s greeting it was clear that Richard was a well-known client there. The table was laid with a crisp white cloth and gleaming silver cutlery; crystal glasses winked in the candlelight.

  Richard ordered for both of them with Kitty’s consent but truthfully afterwards she couldn’t even recall what they had eaten, she was far too busy basking in the admiring glances she was receiving from Richard and the other diners.

  When the meal was over he led her back to the car and told her regretfully, ‘There is nothing more I would like than to take you dancing now, but I don’t want to upset your aunt and deliver you home at an ungodly hour. Perhaps next time?’

  Kitty doubted whether Ruby would even be in when they got back and she would have loved the night to continue. Even so, she did not wish to appear forward so she remained silent as he drove her home through the busy night-time streets of London. Once they were parked outside Brunswick Villa he slid his arm along the back of her seat and took her hand, making little shocks of pleasure ripple all the way up her arm.

  ‘I’ve really enjoyed this evening. Perhaps we should do it again soon? And I’d like you to come to the studio to have some more photographs taken too, if you could spare the time, darling Kitty. There would be no charge, of course.’

  Richard leaned over then and brushed her lips with his, and Kitty was disappointed when he moved away. He had awakened sensations in her that she had never known before – but he was walking around to her side of the car now, and once he had helped her out he escorted her to the front door, saying, ‘I shall be in touch again very soon. Goodnight.’

  ‘Goodnight.’ Her voice came out as a squeak and she stood there as if she was glued to the ground, watching until his car turned the corner and disappeared from sight.

  Her happy mood vanished instantly when the door was flung open by a stony-faced Miss Fox, who caught her by the arm and almost hauled her over the doorstep.

  ‘Ah, so you’re back then. I couldn’t rest until I knew you were in safe.’ The woman looked rather comical. She was covered from head to foot in a long nightgown covered by a thick robe, and her grey hair was twisted into a plait that hung across her shoulder like a snake.

  ‘I’m not all that late,’ Kitty protested. Surely if anyone should be checking her time in, it should be her mother – who was no doubt still out and about with Mr Smethwick somewhere – and not her mother’s maid?

  ‘It’s late enough for an innocent young lady like you.’ Miss Fox’s disapproval was etched across her face. ‘London is no place to be out and about at this time of night.’

  ‘But I wasn’t on my own,’ Kitty pointed out.

  ‘Precisely. Anyway, I suggest you get yourself off to bed now. I asked Mabel to wait up for you, to help you undress.’

  Kitty obediently headed for the stairs after wishing Miss Fox goodnight. She couldn’t see what all the fuss and palaver was about, but she didn’t want the wonderful evening to end with a row, so she took herself off without another word. She’d be having plenty of words with her mother in the morning though, she decided.

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Miss Fox seemed to have mellowed the following morning and over breakfast she asked, ‘So what time is this friend of yours coming for her interview?’

  ‘At three o’ clock, after I’ve had my rehearsal with the band at the Gaiety Theatre.’ She and the musicians had been working hard under the keen eye of their conductor, Boris. Kitty loved the band, and they loved her.

  ‘Well, I just hope she’s punctual and a respectable young lady. We don’t want some flibbertigibbet leading you astray.’

  ‘Maggie is very respectable,’ Kitty replied. ‘In fact, she had a very strict upbringing indeed.’

  ‘Hmm, that’s all right then – though I like to form my own opinions. I shall be sitting with your mother when she arrives.’

  Kitty’s heart sank. Miss Fox was so protective of her that she feared she might not give Maggie a fair chance, but the matter was out of her hands now and she would just have to wait and see how it went.

  As soon as breakfast was over she escaped to the garden to find Arthur. He was pruning the rose bushes and gave her a dazzling smile.

  ‘Mornin’, Miss Kitty. An’ what a grand mornin’ it is, eh?’

  ‘It is indeed, Arthur.’ She returned his smile. ‘And how is Maggie today? Is she all ready for her interview?’

  ‘She is, although I reckon me mum will fair miss her if she gets the post. She’s been a good help with the little ’uns and not a spot of bother. She’s using the rest of the money you gave her to get an omnibus here so she don’t get lost.’

  Kitty nodded her approval as Arthur cut a beautiful red and gold wallflower and shyly handed it to her.

  ‘Why, thank you. It’s lovely.’ Kitty sniffed the wonderful rich scent, then with a last smile she turned and hastened back to the house leaving Arthur to stare dreamily after her.

  The rest of the morning was spent preparing for the show, and Kitty had no appetite at lunchtime. Just before three o’clock she positioned herself in the hallway and promptly on time there came a knock at the door.

  ‘I’ll get it,’ Kitty told Mabel and hurried to answer it to find Maggie standing on the doorstep looking very nervous indeed. She had clearly made a great effort to tidy herself up as best she could. No mean feat at Mrs Partridge’s, Kitty imagined. She had sponged the worst of the stains from her dress and pressed it with Mrs Partridge’s flat-iron, and her face and hands were clean and her hair was neat and tidy. More than that she had been unable to do, seeing as she had fled from her home with nothing.

  ‘You look very nice,’ Kitty told her, hoping to build her confidence a little. ‘They’re all ready to see you, so come along and I’ll take you in to them.’ Then in a whisper, ‘Don’t look so worried. Just be yourself and everything will be fine.’

  Maggie nodded and straightened her back as Kitty led her into the drawing room.

  Ruby was reclining on the chaise longue as usual with the box of chocolates Hector had given her on a small table at the side of her, and Miss Fox had her nose buried in the newspaper. She liked to keep up with world events and read The Times from cover to cover every day. However, when Kitty and Maggie entered she folded it and laid it aside.

  ‘Ah, Kitty, darling, here you are.’ Ruby beamed. ‘And this must be Maggie.’

  Maggie gravely inclined her head. ‘How do you do.’

  Ruby frowned for an instant. The girl wasn’t at all what she had expected. In fact, she was rather plain and solidly built. Kitty looked positively fragile bes
ide her.

  ‘Come and sit down, dear,’ she invited and Maggie perched nervously on the edge of the seat Ruby pointed to and folded her hands primly in her lap.

  ‘So, I believe you have never had any experience of being a lady’s maid before?’

  ‘No, ma’am. But I learn very quickly,’ Maggie answered.

  Ruby then went on to tell her of some of the things that being a lady’s maid entailed and was gratified to see that Maggie was listening closely. Perhaps her being a rather dull girl wouldn’t be such a bad thing, after all? At least Kitty would shine beside her.

  Kitty stood back and said nothing, grateful to see that Miss Fox did the same, and eventually Ruby reached over and rang the bell. When Mabel appeared she ordered a tray of tea and cake for all of them and then when the maid had gone again she asked Maggie, ‘So do you think the role would suit you? As I explained, it would involve a number of very late nights when Kitty has a performance.’

  ‘Oh, I wouldn’t mind that at all,’ Maggie assured her. ‘And I think the role of lady’s maid to Kitty would suit me very well.’

  ‘In that case why don’t we give it a trial? Shall we say for one month?’

  ‘I’d be very grateful of that,’ Maggie said fervently and Ruby nodded before going on to tell her what time off she could expect and what wages she would earn.

  ‘So when would you like to start then?’ Ruby asked finally as Mabel struggled in with their afternoon tea on a huge tray.

  ‘Today?’

  Ruby looked a little surprised but nodded. ‘Very well. I think Miss Fox here already has a room in mind for you up in the servants’ quarters, don’t you, Foxy dear?’

  The woman watched as the maid handed Maggie a cup of tea. She noted the way the girl held it and sipped at it, and saw at a glance that she had remarkably good manners. That was something at least.

  ‘I do,’ she agreed. ‘So if you’d like to go and fetch your things I’m sure the housekeeper can have it ready for you in no time.’

  ‘I err … don’t have anything to fetch,’ Maggie admitted, lowering her eyes and Kitty saw Ruby and Miss Fox exchange a glance. But neither enquired further. Both knew that life could throw up some surprises.

  ‘I see. Then we must get you kitted out with some suitable clothes immediately. You could perhaps take her shopping for them, Kitty?’ Usually Ruby loved shopping but not for the sort of clothes that Maggie would need.

  The girl nodded eagerly, delighted with the outcome of the interview. ‘I certainly can, and meantime Maggie can come up to my room while the housekeeper gets her room ready.’

  And so it was decided. Maggie thanked Ruby profusely, feeling very relieved to think that she wouldn’t have to spend any more nights in shop doorways. She wondered what might have happened to her if she hadn’t had the good luck to run into Kitty as she had.

  ‘Let’s go and tell Arthur the good news. He’ll be in the garden and can let his mother know that you won’t need to stay at their place any more,’ Kitty said, and taking Maggie’s hand she tugged her through the house.

  Arthur was genuinely pleased when he heard the good news.

  ‘Please do thank your mother for me,’ Maggie told him. ‘Clemency has been so kind to me.’ The Partridge family had very little in the way of material things, Maggie thought, but they all seemed content and happy, whereas she herself had never known a happy moment since the day she had left Treetops as a child. Oh, she was aware that to the outside world she must have appeared privileged, but no one knew what went on behind closed doors and she hoped that she would never have to set eyes on her adoptive parents again for as long as she lived. The girl still had no idea that her chief tormentor, Victor Dawes, was now lying in St Peter’s churchyard, in Witherley, no longer able to make her life a misery.

  ‘Let’s go and see how the housekeeper is getting on with your room now,’ Kitty suggested and Maggie shook off her gloomy thoughts and after a final weak smile at Arthur, followed her friend inside.

  The room, she discovered, was very basic but clean and comfortable and Maggie was happy enough with it. After pointing out where the servants’ bathroom was situated, the housekeeper took her leave. A large sash-cord window overlooked the surrounding streets, and Kitty couldn’t help but think what a long way down it was to the ground below when she peeped through it.

  ‘I shall let you have some of my toilette things and a nightgown until we can go shopping.’ Kitty turned her attention back to Maggie and again the girl was grateful, although she looked as if she might burst into tears at any second. ‘Come on, let’s go down to my room and collect a few things now, although I don’t think my day clothes will fit you.’ Kitty eyed her doubtfully up and down. Maggie was considerably taller than her. Very tall for a woman, in fact, and she was also a much bigger build. ‘But never mind, we’ll set off and go shopping for whatever you need first thing in the morning.’ She was trying desperately hard to cheer Maggie up but the girl stood rigidly and was very pale.

  Without thinking, Kitty held her hand out to her and asked, ‘Are you missing your family?’

  A quick shake of Maggie’s head was her answer as she ignored Kitty’s outstretched hand and again Kitty wished that the girl would confide in her. She was sure that Maggie would feel so much better if she did, but she didn’t want to try and force her.

  ‘I’m so happy we bumped into each other, we’re going to have so much fun together. I feel as if you’ve brought a little bit of home with you,’ Kitty said brightly, dropping her hand and turning towards the door. ‘Come on, let’s go and fetch the things you’re going to need and get you settled in, then I’ll introduce you to the cook and the rest of the staff. You’ll soon get to know them all if you’re eating with them in the kitchen.’ She would have preferred for Maggie to dine with her mother and herself in the dining room as Miss Fox did, but hadn’t liked to suggest it just yet. But she would when the time was right.

  Maggie quietly followed her down to the next landing where Kitty’s room was situated and Kitty began to toss things she thought her friend might need onto the bed.

  First was a very pretty linen nightgown trimmed with lace that Maggie was reluctant to accept.

  ‘Ruby bought me three so I won’t miss it,’ Kitty assured her as she saw Maggie’s puzzled expression.

  ‘If she is your mother, why do you always address her as Ruby or Aunt?’ Maggie dared to ask. It had been puzzling her.

  Kitty shrugged. ‘Because that’s what she wishes me to call her,’ she said. ‘To be honest, I think she is rather vain. Perhaps she just doesn’t want people to know that she has a daughter my age?’

  ‘How very odd.’ Maggie perched on the end of the bed as Kitty added underwear, and soap, eau de cologne and rose-scented creams to the nightdress.

  ‘Oh, and you’ll need a hairbrush,’ Kitty said. ‘Luckily I have two, so one can be for you.’

  That final kindness was Maggie’s undoing and suddenly tears began to course down her cheeks.

  ‘Ah, you poor thing!’ Kitty was beside her in a second and put her arm about her. ‘Do you want to talk about whatever is troubling you?’

  She felt Maggie stiffen; she clearly wasn’t used to being shown affection and for a moment Kitty thought that she wasn’t going to answer her, but then she choked out, ‘I don’t think I can talk about it. It’s too horrible and if you knew what had happened, you might not want to know me.’

  Kitty said gently, ‘I think I might already know. Sunday worried about you dreadfully when you left us, and I believe she always regretted letting you go. Mrs Dawes was very strict with you, wasn’t she? You never seemed to be happy whenever we bumped into you. Sunday and Tom always felt that she was keeping you away from us deliberately. It was almost as if she didn’t want you to have any friends. But whatever has happened, I would never turn my back on you.’

  Maggie blinked through her tears. ‘You wouldn’t?’

  ‘Never!’ Kitty said vehemently, and felt
the girl relax slightly.

  Maggie was battling with her conscience but the secret she had been forced to keep was eating away at her and she longed to speak to someone about it. Until now there had been no one she could trust. Would Kitty be different?

  For some moments, she sat lost in thought before stammering, ‘It – it wasn’t actually Mother that was the problem. It was Father.’ She gulped, then said in a tiny voice: ‘You see, he took my virginity.’

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  Kitty was so shocked and horrified that she was rendered temporarily speechless as she tried to digest what Maggie had just confided to her.

  ‘You see?’ Maggie sobbed even harder. ‘I told you it was horrible and that you wouldn’t want to know me. I’m dirty – soiled – nobody will ever want me now!’

  ‘No, no, you’re not!’ Kitty told her hotly. ‘It’s not you that’s dirty, it’s him. I can hardly believe it. He always seemed to be such a nice man. But when did this happen? Is this why you ran away?’

  Maggie nodded. Strangely, now that she had confided in someone, she felt as if a great weight had been lifted from her shoulders.

  ‘It began when I was just a little girl,’ she said tremulously. ‘Father started to come to my room to read me a story on my nanny’s day off. Then after a while he started to … to … touch me.’ Colour flamed into her cheeks but she forced herself to go on. ‘He said that all daddies did that to their little girls, but that I mustn’t tell Mother or Nanny. After a time, I told him I didn’t like it and he got angry. He said that if I didn’t do as he said, the devil would come out of the mirror and get me in the night, and that it must always be our little secret. I believed him, and after that I used to hide under the covers when he left the room until it got light. Then when I was about ten years old he made me touch him …’ She shuddered at the memory.

  ‘But didn’t Mrs Dawes realise that something was going on?’ Kitty asked, appalled.