The Royal Lacemaker

by Linda Finlay

  Once they were seated, Lily explained what they had to do. Then she went over to her own pillow and began work.

  ‘Oh, no.’ A plaintive wail broke into Lily’s thoughts. Looking up she saw the curly-haired girl shaking her head and madly reversing her bobbins. Poor thing, Lily thought. She’s clearly nervous. Her thoughts went back to the time she’d sat her own test. She knew just how stomach-wrenching it was. She looked around the table but the other ladies were working away quite happily.

  When their allotted time had passed, Lily stood up.

  ‘Right, ladies, if you will put your test samples on the table before you, I shall come round and inspect them.’

  ‘Oh, no, I need a few moments more,’ the girl pleaded.

  ‘No, I’m afraid you must put what you’ve done on the table now,’ Lily insisted, trying to ignore the look of desperation on her face. She circled the table, inspecting the work as she collected it up, her heart sinking when she saw the distorted mess the girl had made. Before she could say anything Mrs Bodney appeared in the doorway.

  ‘Report your results to me, please, Lily,’ she commanded.

  ‘Yes, Mrs Bodney. I’ll be as quick as I can,’ she said, turning back to the ladies, who by now were desperate to hear if they had passed.

  ‘Well, Lily, how have they fared?’ Mrs Bodney asked, as soon as she’d closed the door.

  ‘Two are fine, Mrs Bodney, but the rest …’ Lily shrugged, holding out the sprigs for the other woman to see, but her employer waved them away.

  ‘Dismiss those not up to standard, and tell the others to report here at first light tomorrow.’

  ‘But don’t you want to check—’

  ‘Lily, it is your job as overseer to inspect their work,’ her employer said, looking down at the papers on her desk. Then as Lily turned to go, she looked up again. ‘Don’t forget to go to the cordwainer when you’ve dismissed the ladies,’ she said, then looked down at her desk again before Lily could answer.

  As she entered the room, six pairs of eyes turned anxiously in her direction. Gently, she gave them the results, her heart sinking as the curly-haired woman burst into tears.

  ‘But I need the work. Please give me another chance. I was so nervous I got the bobbins mixed up …’

  Much as Lily sympathized, for she herself could have easily been in the same position, she knew she had to harden her heart or Mrs Bodney would take her to task.

  ‘I’m really sorry,’ she said, opening the door. She wished she could give the poor girl another trial, but time was of the essence and the lace for Queen Victoria’s dress had to be perfect. Mrs Bodney was relying on her and she couldn’t afford to let her down.

  After they’d gone, Lily sank on one of the chairs the women had vacated. She hated disappointing people. Her job as overseer definitely had its downside. Then remembering Mrs Bodney’s order to be sized for new boots, she jumped up and grabbed her shawl.

  Hurrying to the outskirts of the village, where Albert’s cottage was situated, she wondered just how much a new pair of boots was going to cost. Passing the cobbler’s, she was tempted to get him to repair her old pair instead, but realizing Mrs Bodney would be furious if she found out, Lily continued on her way.

  Albert’s door was open, and she could hear hammering coming from within. Smoothing down her skirt, she stepped inside. The room was gloomy after the bright sunshine, and the air heavy with the smell of leather and glue. Lasts of varying sizes were lined up along one wall and lying next to the workbench was the most exquisite pair of boots she had ever seen. They were in the latest fashion, decorated with dainty stitching in cherry red. She’d seen similar footwear on the ladies when she’d served at table at the manor, but never anything as fine as these.

  ‘Be liking a pair like those would ee, young lady?’ Spinning around, she saw the cordwainer staring at her with a gleam in his eyes.

  ‘Oh, wouldn’t I just,’ she burst out. ‘If I owned a pair like that, I’d think I’d died and gone to heaven.’ She gave a heartfelt sigh. ‘No, begging your pardon, Mr Albert, it’s a sturdy pair of hobnailed ones I’m in need of.’

  The old man looked at her feet with practised eyes, taking in the well-worn boots and their flapping sole.

  ‘Sit ee down and we’ll get ee sized. Ee’ll have to wait the best part of a month for them, mind, for I’ve never been so busy.’

  Lily groaned. ‘A month? But Mrs Bodney said my new boots were to be ready in three days.’

  ‘Ah, she would,’ Albert muttered. ‘Well, likes I says, my order book’s full to overflowing. Seems like I’ve no sooner finished making folk their fancy footwear for one ball up at the manor, than they’re back again ordering new for the next.’ He threw up his hands, grinning. Lily’s stomach lurched at the mention of the manor; then she realized the money she now earned meant she’d never have to serve at the squire’s table again.

  ‘Course, I shouldn’t moan ’cos it means more business, but the missus mithers on about the time I spend in me workshop,’ he continued, holding out his hands for Lily’s boots. Moments later the vagrant nail was back in place, he then added a couple more to secure an offcut of leather over the hole in the sole. Quickly applying black sealing wax to the scuffed toes, he then handed them back. ‘There now, these should last ee till ee new ones are ready.’

  Lily was amazed at the transformation, but before she could answer, he’d turned back to his bench and was busy hammering again.

  She’d just arrived back outside the agent’s when someone tapped her on the shoulder.

  ‘Tom, you made me jump,’ she said, spinning round. ‘What are you doing here?’

  ‘I was going to ask the same of you, Lily. I thought you’d be making up the time you missed earlier when you went out riding in that fancy coach.’

  ‘I’ve just been to the cordwainer’s,’ Lily said, her heart sinking when she saw him frown.

  ‘And why would someone like you be seeing a cordwainer and not the cobbler? Your fancy merchant’s not treating you to a pair of new boots, is he?’ he asked, his eyes narrowing.

  ‘Of course not,’ she gasped. ‘And Mr Mountsford is not my fancy merchant, Tom, so I’ll thank you to watch your tongue.’

  ‘Oh, aren’t we hoity-toity now we’ve been riding out in a fancy carriage?’

  As he stood there looking indignant, the fight went out of her. She’d had enough of being at loggerheads with him.

  ‘Look, Tom, it’s like I said earlier. Mr Mountsford offered me a trip in his carriage so that I could collect my things from the barn. I’m sorry, it all happened so quickly, I completely forgot you’d made arrangements with the carter.’

  He shrugged.

  ‘Not only are we working at the agent’s premises, I’ve got a room in the attic,’ she said.

  Immediately his mood brightened. ‘A room here at Picky Pike’s? Well, that is good news. So when do I get to see it?’ he asked, grinning mischievously.

  ‘Even if I wanted to, I couldn’t possibly allow you up to my room, Tom. Mrs Bodney would die of shock.’

  ‘I doubt it. From what I heard, she has a fellow on the go herself.’

  ‘Tom, that’s a terrible thing to say.’ Then Lily remembered Mrs Bodney had told her she had an admirer. She wondered if she should mention it, but before she could say anything, he continued.

  ‘Sorry, it’s just that I hardly see you, and have been going spare as a sprat having to make do with these chance meetings,’ he said, moving closer so that she got a waft of fish. She couldn’t help comparing it to Rupert Mountsford’s tangy aroma of lemon cologne.

  Shocked by her disloyal thoughts and reminding herself Mrs Bodney would probably be waiting for her, she said, ‘I must go in, Tom. All the ladies will be working together from tomorrow and I’ve so much to get ready before then.’

  ‘It’ll make life easier for you if they’re all in one place. Well, I’d better go and check the pots. Now the weather’s calmed I’m hoping there’ll be lots o
f lovely lobsters and crabs waiting to greet me,’ he said, making clawlike motions with his fingers and thumbs as he reached out and pretended to remove her cap.

  ‘Tom, someone might see,’ she rebuked, tapping his hands away.

  ‘Well, I guess now you’re living here in the village, we’ll be able to spend more time together. What say we take a walk along the beach later then?’

  Her heart flipped but then she remembered that she’d spent the best part of the morning away from her work.

  ‘Sorry, Tom, but like you said, I must make up for the time I was in Coombe. I’ll meet you by your boat after I finish work tomorrow,’ she promised. Then with a cheery wave, she hurried inside the agent’s house.

  Tilda came out to greet her. She was carrying a plate of bread and cheese.

  ‘Mrs Bodney says you can eat in the workroom, as you’re by yourself, but you’re to be sure to wash your hands before doing your work afterwards.’

  ‘Thank you, Tilda. I hadn’t realized I was hungry until now.’

  Whilst she ate, she looked around her new surroundings, noticing the big windows, which would afford them good light in which to work, the wide wooden floorboards and the rest of the ladderbacked chairs set out along the walls. It was a large room and would be perfect for them all, she thought, getting up and rearranging the chairs ready for the following morning. Then, heeding Mrs Bodney’s orders, she went outside and washed her hands at the pump. Staring around, she was pleased to see the enclosed yard was bigger than the one at Mrs Bodney’s cottage. No doubt, her employer would expect all the ladies to partake of their nuncheon here and they would need the extra space.

  She was just making her way back to the workroom when Mrs Bodney came through to the hallway.

  ‘Did you see Albert and get sized for new boots?’ she asked, putting on her gloves.

  ‘Yes, but he said I might have to wait a month for them.’

  ‘We’ll see about that,’ said Mrs Bodney, frowning.

  ‘You should have seen these boots he’s made,’ Lily burst out. ‘They’re beautiful with fine stitching the colour of cherries. I’d do anything to have a pair like that.’ Her employer looked at her for a long moment and then cleared her throat.

  ‘You are now mixing with a different class of man, some of whom like to treat a lady to little luxuries in return for the delight of their company.’

  ‘Really?’ Lily asked, looking perplexed for a moment. ‘Oh, you mean like Mr Mountsford brings you packets sometimes?’ she asked.

  Immediately her employer’s demeanour changed.

  ‘I’m sure you are anxious to get back to your work, Lily,’ she said brusquely, before opening the front door and disappearing into the street.

  Doing as she’d been bid, Lily settled down to work. Her mind was spinning as she thought how much had happened over the past few days. It had been sad saying goodbye to the family home, the only one she’d known, and she hoped Aunt Elizabeth and Rob had arrived safely in Ilminster. She thought of Beth and the lovely time they’d had on the beach. Tom was going to make a really good father when they had their own children, and she couldn’t help grinning at the thought. It had been kind of him to arrange with the carter to collect her things too. She hoped he hadn’t been too offended that she’d accepted Mr Mountsford’s offer. After all, it was her employer who’d arranged it.

  Dusk descended into darkness, casting eerie fingers of shadow around the room and Lily covered her work. Making her way up the steep stairs to the attic, she stood in the doorway looking around the large, airy room. She couldn’t believe she had all this space to herself. There was a decent sized bed covered with a pretty yellow coverlet and a little table and chair set beside it. She noticed her things had been placed neatly beside a tin chest set under the eaves. Then she spotted the skylight and went over to push it open. Standing on tiptoe, she found herself staring over the thatched roofs, with plumes of smoke rising from the chimneys into the air, and could just glimpse the silver of the bay beyond.

  Quickly she stowed her things in the chest, then, eyelids drooping with tiredness, she kicked off her boots and slipped out of her dress. Sinking thankfully under the coverlet, she thought she’d fall asleep straightaway, but the creaking of the house was unfamiliar and she could hear the waves pounding the beach and the shooshing sound as the water was sucked back out again. As she lay in the darkness her thoughts drifted back over the past hours: the ride in Rupert’s carriage, visiting her home for the last time, collecting her things, those beautiful boots and the curious thing Mrs Bodney had said.

  Finally, she drifted off to sleep and dreamed that she was dressed in a fine gown and wearing dainty boots with stitching the colour of red cherries.

  CHAPTER 23

  Lily woke with a start, her heart racing as fast as a galloping stallion. Snatches of her dream were playing in her head. She’d been in an elegant drawing room festooned with chandeliers. There’d been soft music playing, arms holding her gently as she’d danced. She shivered, remembering how she’d looked up into her partner’s face only to find it had no features, no expression. It had been as blank as a ghoul’s mask at Samhain. Shaking her head, she tried to dispel the disturbing image. There was no time to dwell on its meaning, for already the soft grey of morning was filtering through the skylight. Dressing quickly, she let herself out into the freshness of the morning and, after drawing water from the pump, quickly rinsed her face and hands.

  Aware the ladies would shortly be arriving for their first day’s work on these premises, she hurried to their new workroom. She hoped they’d all get on together and there would be no problems. All these thoughts vanished, when she saw Mrs Bodney was already waiting for her. Remembering their last meeting, she looked anxiously at her employer.

  ‘Ah, Lily, I trust you slept well?’ her employer asked.

  Relieved that the woman seemed in a good mood this morning, she nodded.

  ‘I see you have already prepared for the ladies’ arrival, so take yourself through to the next room, which I have turned into my parlour. Tilda will bring you in some refreshment to break your fast. I have urgent business to attend to but will be back later to see how you are all getting on.’

  ‘Yes, Mrs Bodney,’ Lily replied, her spirits lifting at the thought of being amongst friendly faces again. She must remember to ask Mary if she would read her the letter from Aunt Elizabeth.

  ‘I hope you’ve thought about what I said, Lily,’ said Mrs Bodney, pausing in the doorway. ‘Mr Mountsford will be visiting again shortly so remember to be good company for my best merchant,’ she said, winking as she hurried out of the door.

  Before Lily could reply, her employer disappeared from the room, leaving her more confused than ever.

  As she entered the parlour, Tilda appeared with her food and Mrs Bodney’s comment went from her mind. She was just devouring the last crumb of toast when she heard the clatter and chatter of the ladies making their way into the building and hurried back to the workroom.

  ‘Morning, Lily. I see we’re going up in the world,’ Mary puffed as she offloaded her pillow onto the table with a thud and peered around the room.

  ‘I bet Picky Pike was none too pleased to lose his domain,’ giggled Cora, making Lily smile.

  ‘I heard the Revenue’s after him and he’s got to lie low,’ Nell whispered.

  ‘I understand he has business to attend to further down the country,’ Lily said hastily, not wishing to encourage gossip. Hearing more hustle and bustle in the doorway, she looked up and saw the ladies from High House crowding into the room with their pillows and bundles.

  ‘Find yourselves places around the tables, ladies, and unpack your work,’ said Lily with a welcome smile. When they had settled themselves, she introduced everyone. Then she noticed the two lace makers she’d recruited the previous day were hovering nervously in the doorway.

  ‘Come in and take a seat,’ she encouraged. ‘It’s lovely to see you again and, of course, you will all
have time to get to know each other better at nuncheon. Meanwhile, I’m sure we will enjoy the benefit of working together. Before we begin, there are a couple of things I need to tell you. Those of you who have been working with me have been making sprays of flowers, whilst those who have been with Mrs Bodney at High House have been working on leaf patterns.’ She paused, as a ripple of surprise ran around the room. ‘This was to ensure the design was kept a secret, but Mrs Bodney now feels it would be more convenient to have you all working under one roof. As we are working to a strict timetable, for speed and efficiency you will continue with the designs you have been making until sufficient have been made.’

  ‘Thank heavens,’ Mary said. ‘Me poor brain couldn’t take the pressure of learning any more patterns.’ There was a burst of laughter and Lily smiled.

  ‘Mrs Bodney is really pleased with the progress you have made so far. Remember, though, we are already approaching the third month of this commission so please work diligently whilst maintaining your highest standards. Weave happy thoughts through your work, ladies,’ she said encouragingly, and then made her way over to the two new recruits. ‘Now these are the patterns I want you to prick out,’ she said.

  ‘Getting hoity-toity now and speaking like Mrs Bodney, are we?’

  Glancing up in surprise, she saw Molly standing in the doorway, a large bag of groceries in her hand. ‘Guess you’ll be thinking you’re above us now, riding out with that toff in his fancy carriage.’

  ‘It wasn’t like that,’ Lily protested, feeling the heat creeping up her cheeks.

  ‘Well, you must have let him have something. A gentleman like that wouldn’t give the likes of you a second look else.’

  ‘Really, Molly, that’s downright nasty. It’s a good job Mrs Bodney isn’t here …’ Mary’s voice tailed off.

  ‘Ah, but Mrs Bodney is here.’

  Molly spun round, her jaw dropping as she saw the woman standing in the doorway. ‘And a dog knows its own tricks. Kindly remove yourself from my premises.’