‘Real friends don’t treat each other like you treat me,’ responded Erin, and mimicked Caroline: ‘“I’ll thank you to have a little more respect when speaking to your betters.”’
‘Erin, don’t be silly. You know I did not mean anything!’
‘Did ye not? Then why did ye say it? I’ll tell ye, because ye don’t look upon me as a friend, Caroline, someone who’s an equal! All ye see when ye look at me is a scullery maid who ye can boss about.’
‘Well, aren’t you?’ demanded Caroline haughtily. ‘Isn’t that what you are, a scullery maid?’
The pause which followed was pregnant with disgust which emanated solely from Erin. ‘I may only be a scullery maid but I do know well enough to have a bit of respect for people’s affections.’
‘Girls, girls!’ Louisa bustled into the schoolroom and took hold of each girl’s arm. ‘One can hear you at the other side of the house. Whatever your differences I am certain they do not need to be aired so vociferously.’
‘I’m sorry, Miss Elwood,’ said Erin softly. ‘I’m going back to the kitchen now. Thank ye for all the time ye’ve spent with me; a shame it’s been wasted.’
‘And why should it be wasted?’ asked Louisa.
‘Because I’m not coming to lessons any more,’ replied Erin, and made to leave.
Caroline bounced forward and grabbed Erin around the waist. ‘Erin, don’t be such a goose. You cannot possibly sacrifice your education just because of a silly little tiff.’
‘’Twas rather more than that, Miss Caroline.’
‘Will you please stop calling me Miss? Look, I apologise for what I said. It was very wrong of me – I’m such a pig.’
‘Caroline, your language,’ reprimanded Miss Elwood.
Caroline was not listening. ‘Please, Erin, forgive me. You know I’ll die if ever you desert me.’
Erin viewed her steadily but made no reply.
‘Please, Erin,’ begged the other. ‘If not for my sake then for your own. If you give up your lessons now I shall hold myself responsible.’
As well you might, thought Erin, then forced an unconvincing smile. ‘All right, I’ll be here this afternoon. Now I’ll have to go.’
Caroline had beamed at this apparent forgiveness and now asked, ‘Erin, before you leave would you please, please give Miss Elwood a sample of your musical talents. I’ve told her all about your harp and I’m certain she would be delighted to hear it.’
Erin gave way. ‘But only for a short while, mind,’ and went to fetch the harp.
‘What an exquisite piece of craftsmanship,’ Louisa exclaimed when Erin returned with the instrument. ‘My word, you must take very good care of this and keep it in a safe place.’ She wondered how the little maid had come to possess such a valuable article.
‘Oh, I do,’ confirmed Erin. ‘’Tis like a part o’ me. If I lost it, well, I dread to imagine what it would do to me.’ She began to play, leaving Caroline wishing rather wistfully that she were the recipient of Erin’s love and not the harp.
* * *
Helena’s temper over the previous night’s fruitless episode had still not waned. Of all the audacity, to accept her lavish hospitality and make it look as if they had accepted the bait and then have the gall to announce Charles’s intended engagement to someone else. All those weeks of preparation wasted. Now she would have to start looking all over again.
She rose from her chair, grasped the bellpull for Alice to clear away then, with the intention of going for a midmorning ride, she went upstairs to change.
As she passed the schoolroom, however, she heard sounds of girlish laughter, a sound so strange to this house as to warrant investigation. Behind the closed door Erin was playing while Caroline performed a clumsy dance in accompaniment, exemplifying the jig which Molly and Patrick had done at the party. When the door opened the three faces turned towards it guiltily.
‘So, this is what you teach my daughter, Miss Elwood!’ Helena scowled resentfully at the traces of happiness that were fast disappearing. ‘Foolish behaviour and lack of discipline.’ She marched into the room. ‘And what is that servant doing here?’
The governess’s smile dissolved. ‘Your husband gave his approval for Erin to take lessons with Caroline, Mrs Cummings. We thought that the companionship might be good for your daughter.’
‘I cannot imagine why you should hold that fraternisation with the servants might be good for her – quite the reverse I suspect.’
‘But I’ve always taken my meals with the servants until lately, Mama,’ offered Caroline. ‘We did not think you would mind.’
‘You did not think I would mind?’ repeated Helena. ‘Really, Caroline, after our conversation of the other evening I had thought you would have been conversant with my wishes. I do mind! I mind very much that no one saw fit to consult me in this matter. I am sure that Miss Elwood was quite aware that I would never give my permission for this child to intrude upon your education and lower your standards, that is why she did not ask.’
‘That is unfair,’ cried Louisa. ‘Erin is a most intelligent girl. Do you suppose that I would have allowed Caroline’s education to suffer?’
Helena stared back at the governess. ‘Whatever I suppose is of little consequence now, Miss Elwood, as Caroline will no longer be requiring your services, poor as they are. Feeney, go to the kitchen where you belong.’
As Erin tried to duck past her Helena caught her arm and twisted it viciously. ‘If ever I should find you in here again you will pay dearly – and kindly dispose of that.’ She indicated the harp. ‘Or I shall dispose of it for you.’ She thrust the child from the room.
‘Mrs Cummings, what did you mean about Caroline?’ enquired Louisa.
Helena turned back to the governess. ‘I mean that Caroline will be going to an establishment for young ladies quite soon, and apparently not before time.’
‘No, I don’t want to go!’ Caroline was filled with panic at the thought of leaving her friend. She had been cooped up for so long in this house that to be pushed into the outside world held nothing but terror.
‘Do not want? Of course you will go,’ replied Helena flatly. ‘It is plain to see that you are not going to learn the refinements of a lady under Miss Elwood’s tutorage.’ She took a step towards her daughter and stroked her cheek, though there was no affection in the gesture. ‘Caroline, my dear, I know that the thought of leaving your parents must be quite heartrending for you, but it will not be for long. Why, in a few years you will be ready for marriage…’
‘I won’t, I won’t!’ Caroline was horrified. ‘I do not want to marry. I refuse to leave and go to a horrid school, I am perfectly happy with Miss Elwood. Mama, do not make me.’
‘Stop that at once!’ commanded Helena. ‘You will do as you are told. What I have suggested is for your own good. As for you,’ she addressed Louisa, ‘your services will be dispensed with as from today. From the display I have just witnessed you are setting a bad example to my daughter.’
‘But you cannot do that!’ objected Louisa.
‘I beg your pardon?’ replied the other stiffly. ‘Pray tell me why not?’
‘I shall appeal to Mr Cummings!’
A curt laugh. ‘Miss Elwood, if you imagine that a plain little creature like yourself could possibly appeal to my husband then you are certainly with insufficient wits to be teaching my daughter.’ She consulted the fob watch that was pinned to her dress. ‘You have precisely thirty minutes to pack and get out of my house.’
Chapter Fifty-two
The episode of his subjugation had been almost forgotten, by all but Sonny. Brother Simon Peter could hardly believe that this was the same boy, had it not been for the ginger thatch that bespoke his identity. No longer did Sonny answer back, except with a polite reply, much to the disgust and disappointment of his peers. The lessons progressed with few interruptions, apart from the occasional beating of an unlucky child.
Although the master had emerged as victor in their pri
vate battle, he was, nevertheless, annoyed that there was no other worthy adversary to tangle with. Several times he had tried to bait Feeney, but since that day the boy had simply hung his head, refusing to be drawn.
Sonny felt the master’s expressionless eyes upon him, but kept his own glued to the book in his hands. He guessed that the others had dubbed him a coward, but did not care; they were no better than he. He had been the first one to stand up to Codgob and now, because he had defended his brother in the only possible way, they despised him.
When school finished Sonny and his brother made their way home, ignoring the elbows that dug into their ribs as they passed into the corridor and out into the yard. Someone pushed Sonny hard in the back, almost lifting him off his feet, but when he turned in defiance the perpetrator had merged into the crowd; though they called him Cowardy Custard behind his back, none of them had the courage to face him fairly. Even the older boys were rightly cautious of baiting young Feeney.
Shoulders hunched and hands in pockets, the brothers veered out of the schoolyard.
‘Have ye still got them hens’ heads, Son?’ asked Dickie, in an attempt at peace-making. Sonny had refused to talk to him for a long time after the incident of the cross-country run.
Sonny felt in his pocket and pulled out the hens’ heads. ‘Aye.’ He smelt them. ‘Phew, they’re a bit ripe though.’ He thrust them under his brother’s nose.
‘Ye’d best sling ’em.’ Dickie knocked his brother’s hand away. ‘’Tis a wonder me mam hasn’t played war about t’smell. Here, ye can have one o’ these instead.’ He handed a yellowed claw to Sonny, feeling that he had to make amends for his brother’s unpopularity at school.
Sonny brightened, and pulled the tendons in the foot, setting the claws grasping at air. ‘Eh, isn’t that our Erin down there?’ He pointed with the claw to a figure farther down the street. ‘Look at her, all dressed up like a dog’s knob. C’mon, let’s have her on.’
They started to run until they came within five yards of their sister, then crept up stealthily behind her. Erin felt something touch her cheek and absently put up a hand to brush it away. Her fingers felt something sharp and horny, making her scream and spin round.
‘Ye little devil!’ she cried, slapping wildly at Sonny who danced around her with a terrible grimace on his face and the hen’s claw stuck up his jacket cuff like a hand.
‘Argh, I’m a monster what’s gonna eat this grand lady,’ he yelled, stabbing at her smart clothes.
‘Wait till me dad finds out, he’ll tan your arse for being so cheeky!’ Erin stormed off.
‘It can’t be a lady, Son,’ shouted Dickie, pursuing his sister. ‘That’s not how ladies talk. I’m thinking it must be our Erin dressed up in ladies’ clothes. Let’s see.’
Before Erin could stop him he had reached up and snatched the flowered bonnet from her head.
‘Bloody hell!’ Both boys stopped dancing round her to stare at the untidy, cropped hair.
‘Give me that here!’ Angrily she snatched the bonnet from Dickie and, ramming it on her head, proceeded towards home, her skirts boiling round her calves and tears of frustration in her eyes.
Shaking off their surprise the boys chased and overtook her, barging into the house shouting, ‘Look what’s happened to our Erin!’
‘Less noise,’ ordered their father, then, ‘Hello, me darlin’, come in, come in!’ He kissed his daughter and held her by the shoulders to examine her. ‘Why, I do believe ’tis another new bonnet you’re wearing.’
Erin mumbled that, no, it was just on loan.
‘Yer look lovely,’ said Thomasin, and offered to take Erin’s bonnet and shawl.
The girl refused hastily. ‘I’ll not stop long, I have to go to Mass before it gets dark.’
The two boys giggled and rolled about like young puppies.
‘What’s up with you two eejits?’ demanded Patrick.
‘She daren’t take her hat off,’ chortled Sonny behind a grubby hand. ‘She’s frightened you’ll see her hair.’
‘Ye mean not see her hair, don’t ye?’ joked his brother, and the pair fell about laughing again.
‘Don’t take any notice,’ said Erin nervously. ‘They’re just being daft.’
Patrick stared from his chuckling sons to his apprehensive daughter. Then, ignoring Erin’s please, he carefully untied the bonnet and lifted it from her shorn head.
Thomasin let out a gasp of horror. ‘Godfrey Norris, what the hell’s ’appened to your ’air?’
Erin raised swimming eyes from the carpet to steal a blurred glance at her father, who was too shocked to speak for the moment.
‘I wasn’t going to tell ye,’ she sobbed. ‘I knew ye’d be angry. After me dad left the other night I got a right roastin’, an’ the mistress said I had to have me hair cut ’cause it was too long, an’ Alice cut it but it weren’t short enough, so the mistress took the scissors to it an’ she… she cut it all off!’ Once she had released the scrambled sentence she broke down.
‘I’ll kill her,’ swore Patrick softly. Then louder: ‘I’ll bloody kill her!’
Pushing Erin aside he marched to the cocoa tin and emptied its contents into his pocket. Then without a word to anybody, he flew from the house, not stopping to slam the door.
‘Pat! Patrick, don’t!’ yelled Thomasin after him, but her shout went unheeded. He was already on his way.
She turned to her sons who had stopped laughing, alarmed by the suddenness of their father’s anger. ‘You two, up to bed, now.’
‘But, Mam! We haven’t had our tea.’
Thomasin’s hand groped for the big wooden spoon. ‘Bed! Yer’ve had yer little laugh at our Erin’s expense, now see how yer like my little joke.’
Without daring to argue they scampered up the stairs, falling over each other in their rush to escape the dreaded spoon, and flung themselves onto the bed, bewildered and rather afraid.
* * *
Helena reclined in the armchair and closed her eyes, recapping the events of the last few days. Roland had been very displeased over the dismissal of the governess. Well let him – see if she cared. Suddenly she was almost thrown from her chair with the impact of Patrick’s violent entry.
‘You bitch!’ He marched up to stand directly in front of her, his hands clenching and unclenching at his sides, his face suffused with anger.
‘I’m sorry I couldn’t stop him, ma’am,’ bleated Alice, hopping about in the doorway holding a freshly-laundered pile of linen.
Helena, though frightened by the raging Irishman who towered over her, felt a surge of excitement. ‘It does not matter, Benson,’ she said, fighting to keep her voice level. ‘I have a few words which I would like to say to our visitor.’
Alice closed the door, then bent immediately to the keyhole.
‘Now, to what do I owe the honour, Feeney?’ said Helena, urging her breath not to come so rapidly. She began to rise.
‘Sit down!’ Patrick gave her a rough shove and she made an ungainly return to her chair.
‘Well, really!’ she gasped, then cringed as he placed his arm on either side of the chair and leaned towards her.
‘Before ye have your few words with me, Mrs Cummings,’ his voice was less harsh, but no less threatening, ‘I have a few words of me own. I’d like to know why ye deemed it necessary to cut my daughter’s hair?’
‘Now, look here!’ Helena was becoming more and more nervous. ‘I do not have to answer to you for my actions.’
‘Yes, ye do,’ he said gravely. ‘And your answer had best be convincing.’
‘Very well,’ she snapped. ‘Not that it is any of your concern. I expect my servants to be clean and tidy. I will not have them dropping long hairs into my food.’
‘Clean an’ tidy, is it?’ snarled Patrick. ‘What would you know about clean, woman? You’re filth. Like a turd in the gutter. Don’t think I don’t realise why you’ve done this to her. ’Twas to get back at me, wasn’t it?’ He pushed his menacing face c
loser to hers.
‘Don’t touch me!’ Helena cowered in the chair, really afraid now.
‘Touch ye? Hah! I wouldn’t touch ye with a ten foot pole.’
‘You are insulting. Get out! Get out!’
‘Don’t worry. Now that I’ve told ye what I think of someone who treats a child in that manner I’m going.’
Much to her relief he straightened. Then her fear returned as he delved into his pockets.
‘What are you doing?’ she almost screamed.
‘Don’t fret,’ he sneered, ‘tis not a knife.’ He flung the sovereigns which he had taken from the cocoa tin at her and she shrieked.
‘I do not understand!’ She stared at the gold coins which spangled her gown.
‘D’ye not recall my daughter received her wages in advance?’ asked Patrick. ‘Well, as she’s not worked the full year ye can have the balance, for I want nothing from you. Ye’ll find six pounds there.’
‘Six pounds?’ roared Helena, forgetting her fear. ‘But she would only receive five pounds for the whole year.’ She paused as she saw the flicker of doubt in Patrick’s eyes; used it to her advantage. ‘You say she was paid in advance?’
‘I did. Have ye so much money that ye could forget about fourteen pounds?’
‘Why, there has certainly been some skulduggery here,’ spat Helena. ‘What of the wage she receives every month?’
‘You’re talking nonsense,’ said Patrick. ‘She’s received no wages.’
‘I have personally delivered that chit’s wage into her hand. Do you propose further slander?’ Her face altered then. ‘May I presume it was my husband who gave you the child’s earnings in advance?’
‘He paid them to my wife actually,’ replied Patrick with a growing unease. Erin had definitely brought no money home.
‘Ah yes, your wife.’ Helena had by now lost all sign of nervousness and actually smiled. ‘That would account for it. My husband can be over-indulgent with his favours at times.’
‘An’ why would a rich man like your husband possibly want to favour my wife?’ he asked brashly… and then his eyes fell on the portrait.
A Long Way from Heaven Page 54
