Uncle Hesley did not smile much, but his face took on an odd twist, which, Olivia had noticed, he seemed to reserve for Miss Trent. She thought it was more like a sneer than a smile.
‘The child needs a gown, a fancy affair for the festivities. Mrs Cookson will advise you.’
Olivia’s eyes widened. A proper grown-up gown. Like those she had seen in the journals. Uncle Hesley was going to let her join the party. Her first Christmas with the adults! Oh, she was impatient to know more and had to clench her fists to stop herself asking questions.
She felt Miss Trent’s hand take hers and glanced up into her face. Her eyes were bright and she was smiling at Uncle Hesley. Olivia could not remember seeing such pleasure in her face before.
‘Of course, sir,’ Miss Trent replied.
Chapter 9
For Olivia, the past six weeks had been a whirlwind of pleasure. A dressmaker had called at the house with journal illustrations, materials and ribbons for her to choose from. She was measured for her gown. And a corset! She could scarcely wait for Christmas to arrive. Miss Trent curled her hair and dressed it elegantly in coils around her head, determined she would be a perfect lady for Aunt Caroline’s visit. And now the day she had looked forward to so much had arrived.
Miss Trent straightened her blue silk skirts, twisted a curl over her ear, then opened the schoolroom door. Olivia was feeling very grown-up in her beautiful gown, but her stomach was filled with butterflies as she stepped out onto the landing - and jumped.
Then she collected herself. ‘You’re Jared, aren’t you?’
Miss Trent was watching from the doorway: Olivia’s half-cousin from the town had come to take her downstairs for Christmas dinner.
‘That’s right. And you are Olivia?’
Olivia nodded. ‘Do you like my gown?’ She twirled, lifting the full silken skirts and petticoats to show matching slippers. Underneath, she wore the new corset, which drew in her waistline and made her small breasts swell above the low neckline.
Jared tried not to show his reaction. He hadn’t seen her for years and was surprised by how much she had grown. He had thought she would look much the same as his sisters, but she was taller - and prettier. She was almost a young woman in that gown, with her fair hair done up in coils. She wore jewellery, too, at her throat and in her hair, and long lace gloves.
He had expected her to be shy as he knew they rarely had company and the poor child never went out anywhere. But she didn’t seem to be a ‘poor child’ any more. She was confident with her appearance. It must be the governess, who had already retreated into the schoolroom and closed the door. Olivia was his responsibility for the evening.
‘Last night Hesley said I looked charming. He’s my cousin.’
‘Second cousin,’ he explained. ‘His father and your mother were cousins.’
‘Are you my cousin, too?’ Olivia hoped he would sit next to her through Christmas dinner. She thought he was handsome, especially when he smiled. She so much looked forward to meeting her half-cousins that she had watched them arrive in Uncle Hesley’s carriage from the schoolroom window.They were beautifully dressed, neat and tidy, perhaps a little plain but undoubtedly elegant, and they behaved in a mannered, orderly way that was unusual at Hill Top House.
Jared had climbed out first to lower the step for his father, and the two gentlemen had helped their womenfolk down, then straightened their cloaks and bonnets for them before they came into the house. Olivia thought that was a nice thing to do. Both gentlemen wore trousers and long jackets instead of the breeches and stockings her grandfather preferred. His mother and sisters looked very nice too, in their fashionably full skirts that easily escaped the confinement of their cloaks.
‘A sort of half-cousin,’ he answered. ‘My mother is your great-aunt.’
Olivia decided to ask Miss Trent about that later. ‘How old are you?’ she said.
‘Seventeen.’
‘I’ll soon be fourteen,’ Olivia announced, feeling important.
He thought her birthday wasn’t until August but didn’t argue. ‘Come,’ he said, and offered her his arm.
She laid her hand on his and fell into step beside him. ‘Are you at the university?’ she asked.
‘I work at Kimber Deep.’
‘That’s a pit, isn’t it? Cousin Hesley went to the university, and so did his father. He’s dead now, though.’
‘He was killed when Hesley was a baby.’
‘He was thrown from his horse,’ Olivia replied confidently.
‘My mother wanted to take care of baby Hesley, but his grandfather wouldn’t let her.’
From his tone, Olivia thought Jared did not like his uncle Hesley and retaliated, ‘Well, why should she?’
‘Because she’s a woman. It’s what women do. Besides, Uncle Hesley was getting old even then. He was two-and-forty when Hesley’s father died. Mother told me she wanted to look after you, too, but Uncle Hesley would have none of it. Her mother had only been a shopkeeper’s wife, you see. Not good enough for you,’ he finished.
His resentment was not lost on Olivia but she asked, because she wanted to know, ‘What kind of shop?’
‘Groceries and provisions.’
‘Oh.’ Unimpressed, she went on, ‘Couldn’t Hesley’s own mother look after him?’
Jared shook his head.‘Aunt Sukie? She was always ill, I think. I don’t know what happened to her and no one speaks of her. I think she might have gone away somewhere. She was religious, my grandmother said.’
‘Do you think she went to a convent?’
‘She might have. They look after ill people. I expect she died.’
They reached the stairs and Olivia gripped his hand as she negotiated the steps in her full skirts and slippery silk slippers. He put his other hand on hers and smiled reassuringly, which she appreciated. The wide wooden staircase turned a corner halfway down and they paused.The hallway appeared to be full of people milling about outside the dining room.
‘What is the fuss about?’ whispered Olivia.
Jared surveyed the scene and saw his mother’s frown as she took her half-brother’s arm.‘Mother disapproves of Juliana going in to dinner with Cousin Hesley.’
‘Why?’
‘He has a bad reputation and she doesn’t like him.’
Neither did Olivia, but she did not say so. Miss Trent had instructed her not to be rude about Cousin Hesley or his grandfather. This was Olivia’s chance to show how accomplished she was in company, how grown-up she had become. She inhaled and stretched upwards, lengthening her neck and straightening her back to show off her height.
She saw that Jared’s attention was distracted by her movements. Her new corset emphasised the small swell of her breasts.
Miss Trent had told her that she should not be ashamed of them, especially when they grew bigger. Like Miss Trent’s, Olivia supposed. Miss Trent had proper breasts. Plump round ones that were soft and squashy under her nightgown.
They went down the last flight of stairs carefully and followed the party into the dining room. It was Olivia’s first formal dinner with guests and Mrs Cookson had put out silver, glass and a set of decorated Swinton porcelain she had never seen before.There were eight places, spaced around the oblong table. Uncle Hesley sat at one end with his half-sister on his right and Olivia on his left. Uncle Benjamin was at the other end with his daughters at either side of him. Jared and Cousin Hesley occupied the seats between the ladies, Jared beside Olivia with Josephina on his left, and Hesley between his aunt Caroline and Juliana.
Olivia smiled at Jared’s sisters.They were younger than Jared but older than she was. They wore pretty dresses, but not as pretty as hers. Not silk, she was sure. Olivia wondered if they were poor, but she guessed not. Their father was an ironmaster and they were dressed very smartly, if not richly.
Mrs Cookson came in with the dinner and watched her new servant girls like a hawk as they helped her serve at table in their coarse brown work-gowns and clean calico
pinafores. Olivia noticed that they didn’t spill anything and wondered if they would stay after Christmas. It was nice having other people to talk to sometimes, even if they were servants. She thought briefly that she would have liked Miss Trent to be with her in the dining room.
Aunt Caroline was speaking: ‘It’s no kind of life for her, out here on the moor, Hesley. If Olivia were with me in town, she would have my daughters for company. They go for lessons with a tutor in the church vestry, and we have a pianoforte at home. You do not have one here, do you?’
‘She does not need your tutor. She has her own governess here, and has done for this past half-year,’ Uncle Hesley replied, as he carved the stuffed goose and roast ham in front of him.
‘So you say. You might have consulted me, Hesley.’
‘Why? Do you think I do not know what constitutes a good governess? Benjamin, please pour more wine.’
Aunt Caroline turned to her. ‘Olivia, how do you like your governess?’
Olivia looked at her great-uncle, who said, ‘You may answer your aunt.’
‘Miss Trent has taught me to read and write and do my numbers. She knows so much about everything, and in the afternoons we go for nature walks in the fields and on the moor.’
‘And do you behave well for Miss Trent?’
Again, Olivia looked at her uncle.
‘Of course she does!’ Uncle Hesley exclaimed. ‘Look at her! Is she not a young lady now, rather than the wild child of before? Her manners are polished and she reads her Bible every Sunday.’
Olivia stared at her plate.
‘I should like to meet Miss Trent,’ Aunt Caroline said.
‘It is sufficient for you to see that she has done an excellent job with the child.’
‘Of course, Hesley. But Olivia has no one of her own age here. Now she is so - so well grown, a year or two with us would—’
‘Sister,’ Uncle Hesley interrupted, ‘I know what is best for Olivia. Shall we talk of other things? Benjamin, will you and Jared come to hunt hare with me one day? They have bred well this year and we are overrun.’
After pudding, which was spiced fruit soaked in brandy and set alight at the table, Aunt Caroline nodded to her daughters and they stood up to leave the gentlemen to their port and cigars.
Uncle Hesley clicked his fingers at Mrs Cookson, hovering in the shadows, and said, ‘Fetch Miss Trent to take Olivia to the schoolroom.’
‘But, Hesley,’ Aunt Caroline protested, ‘may she not join us in the drawing room?’
‘And have her mind filled with ideas about going to live in town?’
‘She needs company of her own age. My daughters have been practising carols to sing.’
Uncle Hesley ignored his half-sister and addressed Olivia: ‘You will wait by the door for Miss Trent.’
The other ladies filed out of the dining room while Olivia obeyed her uncle. As she waited, she heard Uncle Benjamin say, ‘Hesley, you cannot keep the child wrapped up here for ever. She is fast becoming a young woman.’
But Uncle Hesley ignored him.
Jared remained standing when the others sat down. ‘Father, may I have leave to take a lantern and look at Uncle Hesley’s carriage?’
‘Hesley?’ Benjamin raised his eyebrows.
The older man picked up the bottle with his right hand. ‘If you must. Do you wish to go with him, Hesley?’
Cousin Hesley shook his head and moved up the table to be next to his grandfather. Benjamin did the same and they helped themselves to port and cigars.
Jared left the room quickly. As he walked past, Olivia said loudly, ‘Here is Miss Trent. Goodnight, Uncle Hesley,’ dropped a curtsy, and followed him into the hall.
Jared looked about. ‘Where is she?’ he asked.
‘In the kitchen, I expect. Can I come with you to the stables?’
‘What for?’
‘You can show me the carriage.’
‘You’re to go to the schoolroom with your governess.’
‘Please. I’ve never been in a carriage.’
‘But it’s yours! It belonged to your mother and father. Don’t you use it when you have to go into town?’
‘I’ve never been into town.’
Jared was surprised, but only said, ‘You’d better ask your governess.’
In the kitchen the servants were sitting at the big table, finishing off the fruit pudding and drinking tankards of ale. There were seven of them, including Matt and two of his farmhands, now with reddened faces and glassy eyes.
Miss Trent rose to her feet as soon as she saw Olivia with Jared. ‘You should be in the drawing room with your aunt,’ she said, ‘certainly not here in your new silk.’
‘Oh!’ Mrs Cookson exclaimed. ‘The master sent for you to take her upstairs.’
‘Really? On Christmas Day?’
‘Please, Miss Trent, can I go and look at the carriage with Jared? Please?’
‘I don’t see why not, if Jared does not mind.’
Jared was busying himself lighting a lantern to take across the yard. ‘Of course I don’t,’ he said, ‘but you’ll need a cloak over that gown.’
‘Take mine. It’s on the hook,’ Miss Trent suggested. Olivia guessed that she felt sorry for her, not being allowed to join her other cousins for the evening. Perhaps they would talk together over breakfast. ‘Don’t be long,’ Miss Trent called, as they went out to the yard together.
In the dining room, old Hesley leaned back in his chair and unbuttoned his waistcoat. He had been drinking steadily through the meal and it showed in his florid features and clumsy movements. ‘He doesn’t have much to say for himself,’ he said, when Jared had gone. ‘What’s wrong with him?’
‘Growing pains,’ Benjamin replied. He brushed a few crumbs from his best black jacket.
He frowned as young Hesley followed his grandfather’s example, and muttered, ‘Boy needs a woman, don’t y’know?’
Benjamin ignored him. He didn’t expect any better from either of them. Both Mextons wore fine gentlemen’s clothes, well cut in good cloth, but they had spilled port on their breeches and dragged the cuffs of their cutaway coats through smears of Stilton cheese. They didn’t wear powdered wigs any more, thank goodness, although, looking at the state of old Hesley’s straggling grey hair, it would have been an improvement.
‘I promised him a horse for his birthday,’ he continued, ‘but with this bank failure I can’t afford it. He had to leave school as well. Sir William has employed him at Kimber Deep. He lives with his engine supervisor at the pit so Caroline doesn’t see as much of him as she’d like.’
‘A gentleman’s pursuits, that’s what he needs,’ old Hesley responded. ‘Can’t you hire a horse for him from Sir William? He’d ride over to see you in no time.’
‘There’s an idea. It would cheer him up, too.’
‘I’ll be seeing Sir William at the railway-company meeting next week so I could put in a word.’
‘No need. Jared’s his own man now.’ Benjamin spoke lightly but his comment was loaded and not missed by either of the Mextons.
Young Hesley looked sullen, knowing the barb was aimed at him, while his grandfather retaliated, ‘Take care he does not turn into a loose cannon, brother-in-law.’
Benjamin acknowledged this with a tilt of his head. He was already aware that his influence on Jared was diminishing. The lad was strong-minded and of an independent nature. Like me, he thought. He would have to learn future lessons the hard way, as he had. But Jared was right-thinking and moral, as his mother was, and at least he listened to his father’s counsel even if he didn’t always act on it. Benjamin was proud of his son and did not feel the need to defend him to Hesley Mexton. ‘Do you think the railways will take over from the canals for transporting coal and iron?’ he asked.
‘Yes, I do. It’ll take time, though. Landowners in this part of the Riding are not happy about the lines running through their farms and scaring the deer and sheep. That’s what they say. But too many of them hav
e stock in the canal companies to let in the railways. It’ll be a while before they get to the Mexton side of town.’
‘Have you survived the bank collapse?’
Hesley’s mouth turned down.‘Can’t say,’ he answered shortly.
‘Well, it’ll be a couple of years before my forge is back on its feet. Your pit troubles seem to have subsided, though. Can you keep the mine open?’
‘Not without more capital. We’ve hit a rock face. I know there’s more good coal on the other side of it but I’d have to sink another shaft.’
‘What about blasting through the rock?’
‘Too risky, I’m told, and costly. It’s cheaper to reach it in another way. Won’t you change your mind about coming in with me?’
‘I haven’t the capital now.’
‘Damn it, I must get money from somewhere or the pit will close down for good.’
‘I hadn’t known things were so bad.’ Benjamin had seen the figures for the new mine shaft and winding engine and knew there was no more collateral from the pit.‘You’ve got this house and the farmland. Can’t you borrow against them?’
‘I already have and it’s gone.’
Gone where? he wondered. But Benjamin Tyler did not need an answer to that question. Strong drink, the horses, card tables and, God forgive him, women. The whole town knew he had kept a mistress in a house on the road out to Grassebrough. His grandson was just as bad, notorious in the taverns and inns. He said, ‘Well, it’ll take a few years for the mine to get back into profit, even with a new shaft.’
‘I’ll be bankrupt!’
‘Calm yourself, man. I’ll ask about, but borrowing rates have soared. The only money to be had is too dear for your mine project.You cannot sell the coal for more than the forges will pay, and we cannot ask more of the railway companies for our castings.’
Hesley took the port from his silent grandson and refilled his glass. ‘I’ll have to find it somewhere or I’ll be selling up, mine and all.’
‘I didn’t know you were so close to disaster. But you have income from Olivia’s trust, do you not?’
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