by Dilly Court
Minutes later the door opened and a tall, dark-haired young woman entered the room. ‘You wanted to see me, Grandmama?’ Her voice was little more than a whisper.
‘What kept you, Maria? We’ve been waiting for a good five minutes.’
‘I’m sorry, Grandmama.’
‘Don’t hover, girl. You know how it annoys me.’
‘I’m sorry, Grandmama.’ Maria Colville slumped down on the nearest chair, head bent, staring down at her tightly folded hands.
‘Stop apologising, you know it irritates me.’ Mrs Colville threw her embroidery hoop at her granddaughter, narrowly missing her head as it floated harmlessly to the floor. ‘For goodness’ sake sit up straight, Maria. Don’t slouch.’
By this time Caroline was heartily sorry for Maria, and would have protested at the unfairness of this treatment, but she realised that anything she said might make matters worse, and she held her tongue.
‘Miss Manley has applied for the position I advertised in The Times, Maria. If I were to employ her she would be your constant companion, and chaperone. I would expect her to teach you a few social graces, of which you, alas, have none. You are twenty, and it’s high time you were married and off my hands.’ Mrs Colville turned her fierce gaze on Caroline. ‘As she is at present I can’t imagine any man taking her on, even with a sizeable dowry. Can you dance, Miss Manley?’
Caroline recoiled, the question taking her by surprise. ‘Yes, of course I can.’
‘Don’t take that attitude with me, miss. I asked a civil question and I only expect a yes or a no. Maria does not know her left foot from her right. She has no sense of rhythm and no idea of style. She has as much charm and elegance as that poker in the fireplace, and if I take you into my household I expect you to turn her in a beautiful swan. Are you familiar with the Danish fellow’s story about the ugly duckling?’
‘Yes, ma’am.’
‘Then that is what you must do. Maria is the ugly duckling and you are Mr Andersen, the storyteller. That is, if I decide to employ you.’
Caroline stifled the urge to tell Mrs Colville exactly what she thought of her, and she wished with all her heart that she could give the poor downtrodden granddaughter a comforting hug. Even though Maria’s dark head was bent and her thin shoulders hunched, Caroline could see tears glistening on her eyelashes. The thought of working for such a termagant as Mrs Colville, one of the architects of Jack Manning’s financial disaster, was against everything that Caroline stood for – but Maria was another matter. If ever anyone needed a champion it was the ungainly girl, who was sobbing quietly.
Later, walking homeward with her basket clutched in her hand, Caroline went over the interview in her mind. In the end, when Mrs Colville had seemed to tire of humiliating her own flesh and blood, she had mentioned an allowance, which was adequate, although not overgenerous. However, Caroline would be required to live in and everything, including her clothes, would be provided by her employer. These, Caroline assumed, would be plain and dowdy, causing her to merge with her background. Mrs Colville’s strategy to marry off an unwanted relative was blindingly obvious. She needed someone to bring the best out of her granddaughter, but that person must not take the attention away from Maria. Caroline was so deep in thought that she almost forgot why she had been sent out in the first place, but luckily she remembered in time and she explored the back streets until she came upon a butcher’s shop and a costermonger selling fruit and vegetables.
When she reached home she found Sadie in the kitchen.
‘You took your time,’ Sadie said, examining the contents of the wicker basket. ‘Not bad, but I hope you weren’t cheated. Street vendors are up to all sorts of tricks, like putting foreign coins in with the change and adding a farthing or two if they think they can get away with it.’
Caroline handed over what was left of the money that Sadie had given her. ‘I had to walk miles before I found a butcher’s shop, and then another where I might buy the rest of the things on your list.’
‘Well, you’re home now. The boys are having their first lesson with Laurence, so let’s hope he gets some replies to his advertisement soon. I’d go out to work myself, but there’s nothing much I can do. It might end up that I have to take in washing. At least there’s a decent copper in the outhouse.’
‘It won’t come to that. I think I have found myself a suitable position.’
‘What?’ Sadie dropped the basket on the table and sat down, staring at Caroline open-mouthed. ‘But what can you do? You’ve been brought up to be a young lady. What will Essie say?’
‘Mama won’t know, and anyway, it’s a perfectly respectable job with a wealthy family. I just need a character reference, and it’s mine.’
‘Where is this job and what is it? Why didn’t you tell me you were going to do this?’
‘I didn’t tell you because I knew you’d try to stop me.’
‘I need to know exactly where you’re going and I want to know more about this family.’
‘You won’t like it, but it’s the Colvilles.’
‘What?’ Sadie’s voice rose to a screech and she clutched her hand to her bosom, breathing heavily. ‘You know they were partly responsible for the collapse of your father’s business. How could you be so insensitive? You’ll break your mother’s heart.’
‘I’ll be paid fifteen pounds a year.’
‘That seems a bit mean.’
‘I’ll get a uniform of sorts and all my meals. I’ll be off your hands, Sadie. It will give you and Laurence a chance to build up the school, and maybe then I can return.’
‘But the boys will miss you.’
‘And I’ll miss them, but I won’t be far away and I’ll get time off. We’re struggling, Sadie. Admit it.’
Sadie bowed her head. ‘We are, it’s true, but I keep hoping that George will bring his ship home safely with a profitable cargo. We don’t know anything to the contrary.’
‘When he returns I’ll be happy to quit. Anyway, I haven’t got the job yet. I need a reference so I’m going to visit Bearwood House.’
‘I thought they were all away.’
‘Yes, but they have headed writing paper. I know Aunt Alice would give me a glowing reference if I asked for one, so I’ll have no qualms about writing one for myself.’
‘That’s forgery, Carrie.’
‘Have you got any better ideas?’
Taking a cab to Piccadilly was sheer extravagance, but Caroline knew that Mrs Colville was not a patient woman, and any delay in obtaining a reference might jeopardise her chances of securing the position as Maria’s companion. There had been nothing more suitable in the advertisement column of The Times, and without qualifications of any kind it was always going to be difficult to find work.
Caroline alighted outside Bearwood House, paid the cabby, marched up to the front entrance with an outward show of confidence and rapped on the door. Of course the family were away from home, but when John, the head footman, reminded her of the fact she pretended that it had slipped her mind. She convinced him it was necessary for her to leave a note for Miss Cordelia. Perhaps it was her winning smile that won him over, but he accepted her explanation and showed her into the morning parlour.
Caroline glanced at the rosewood escritoire situated beneath the window.
‘I’ll need pen and paper, please, John. And would you ask the housekeeper to unlock the desk?’
He bowed and left the room, leaving Caroline to pace the floor. Her aunt’s formidable housekeeper had been with the family for as long as she could remember, and both she and Cordelia were slightly scared of the woman with her birdlike eyes and straight black eyebrows that gave her a permanent frown.
John returned minutes later carrying a bunch of keys. ‘Mrs Crowe begs your pardon, Miss Manning, but, at present, she is occupied elsewhere.’ He handed the keys to Caroline and she tried not to look too pleased.
‘Thank you, John. I’ll ring for you when I’m done.’
After trying
several of the smaller keys she eventually found the right one and sat down at the desk to dash off a quick note to Cordelia, explaining the situation as briefly as possible. Then, taking a sheet of headed paper and writing in her best copperplate, she gave herself a glowing reference. When it came to signing the document she hesitated, pen poised. Forgery was a serious crime, but she managed to convince herself that Aunt Alice would understand why she had to resort to such desperate measures, and she signed the reference with a flourish. She folded the two letters, placing them in envelope blanks, and used her aunt’s personal seal to make an imprint on the melted sealing wax. It was done: for good or ill, she now had a reference that would almost certainly convince Mrs Colville that she was the right person for the position. She stood up and reached for the bell pull.
With her reference clasped in her hand, Caroline waited in the entrance hall of Pier House while Gilroy scurried off to announce her arrival. It was cool indoors, especially when compared with the blistering heat of midday, which turned milk sour and made tempers flare. Caroline was hot and slightly dishevelled, and she wished that she had not hurried quite so much in her efforts to return to the house before the position was granted to someone else. Her fingers twitched nervously and she longed to undo the top buttons of her bodice to allow herself to breathe more freely, but she had a feeling that Mrs Colville’s eagle eyes would notice a stray hair, let alone a button undone for the sake of comfort. She looked up with a start at the sound of footsteps on the stairs.
Maria Colville came to a sudden halt. ‘Oh, you came back, Miss Manley. I didn’t think you would.’
‘Why was that, Miss Colville?’
Colour flooded Maria’s pale cheeks. ‘My grandmother can be intimidating.’
‘I’m made of sterner stuff than to be scared of an old lady,’ Caroline said firmly. ‘You should stand up to her.’
Maria’s blue eyes widened in horror. ‘I couldn’t do that. You don’t understand.’
‘Possibly not, but I’m willing to listen.’
Gilroy reappeared before Maria had a chance to respond. ‘Mrs Colville will see you now.’ She bobbed a curtsey and scuttled off in the direction of the drawing room.
‘Good luck,’ Maria whispered. ‘I hope you get the job, Miss Manley.’
Caroline answered her with a smile and hurried off after Gilroy, who seemed to do everything at a run.
As she entered the drawing room her eyes had to adjust to the dim light as the curtains had been partially closed, adding to the general greyness. Sunlight fought its way through the gaps, collapsing in narrow stripes on the floor as if giving up the struggle to survive. Caroline had much the same feeling as she stood in front of Mrs Colville while she scanned the reference. After what seemed like an interminable wait, Mrs Colville looked up and nodded.
‘Satisfactory.’
‘Does that mean I have the job?’
‘I’m considering you seriously, but there will be other applicants. You may go. Leave your address with Gilroy and I’ll let you know within the next few days.’
Disappointed but still hopeful, Caroline left the room and almost bumped into Maria, who was hovering outside.
‘Well?’ she whispered. ‘When do you start?’
‘I have to wait in case there are others more suitable for the position.’
Maria’s lips trembled and her eyes filled with tears. ‘I was afraid of that. I don’t want a middle-aged widow bossing me about, or an ageing spinster who’s forgotten what it’s like to be young.’ Her voice rose an octave and she clamped her hand over her mouth. ‘I’m sorry. It’s not your problem, Miss Manley.’
‘I would love to help you, but it’s up to your grandmother. She wanted me to leave my address with your maid, so that I can be contacted should she decide to employ me.’
‘I don’t trust Gilroy. She sneaks to Grandmama behind my back. I know she does because I get punished for the slightest thing.’
‘Punished?’ Caroline stared at her in astonishment. ‘But you’re a grown woman, Maria Colville, not a child.’
‘You don’t understand,’ Maria said in a low voice. ‘I’ve brought disgrace on the family and Grandmama cannot forgive me.’ She took a deep breath, holding up her hand as Caroline was about to speak. ‘I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said that, but if you give me your address I’ll make sure that Grandmama has it to hand.’ She turned with a start at the sound of someone hammering on the front door. ‘That might be Phin. He’s the only one who can stand up to our grandmother.’ She raced across the marble-tiled floor to wrench the door open, leaving Gilroy coming to a halt, open-mouthed.
The tall well-dressed man who marched into the house looked startlingly familiar. He took off his top hat and handed it to Gilroy together with his gloves and cane.
‘Phin, I need your help.’ Maria grabbed him by the hand. ‘Please speak to Grandmama. Tell her that Miss Manley is the best person for the job.’
‘What is the matter, Maria? Why the panic?’
Caroline did not recognise the tall stranger by his looks, although he was undoubtedly handsome in a cold classical way, with fair hair waved back from a high forehead, straight features and a firm chin, but his voice was unforgettable. He was the man who had intervened when the mudlarks were attacking her brothers on the foreshore.
‘Miss Manley has answered Grandmama’s advertisement in the newspaper, Phin. She’s supplied a good reference but Grandmama is waiting to see if anyone else applies for the position.’
Caroline stood very still, saying nothing and hoping he would not remember her, but he was staring at her with a puzzled frown.
‘That seems eminently sensible to me,’ he said slowly. ‘Do I know you, Miss Manley?’
Caroline shook her head. ‘No, sir.’
His slate-grey eyes rested on her for an uncomfortable heartbeat and then he turned away. ‘I don’t know why you’re making a fuss, Maria. Allow Grandmama to do her best for you.’
‘Oh, please, do something. I really like Miss Manley, and I don’t want just anybody watching over me all the time.’
‘Do you really think that Grandmama would take any notice of what I said, Maria?’
‘Yes, I do. Please, Phin. I’ll never ask you for anything again if you just go into the drawing room and put in a good word for Miss Manley.’
He shot a sideways glance at Caroline, hesitated and then nodded. ‘All right. I can see that I won’t get any peace until you get your own way.’ He patted Maria on the shoulder and strolled off in the direction of the drawing room.
‘You may go, Gilroy,’ Maria said, turning to the maid, who had been standing to attention, staring into space, but obviously taking in every word that had been said. ‘Miss Manley isn’t leaving just yet.’
Gilroy curtseyed briefly and hurried off.
‘This will be all round the servants’ quarters the moment she reaches the kitchen,’ Maria said, sighing. ‘They spy on me constantly, Miss Manley. Everything I do is reported to Grandmama in detail. Sometimes I feel like a prisoner in my own home.’
‘That’s very sad,’ Caroline said sympathetically. ‘Are you sure they aren’t simply taking care of you?’
‘Does your idea of taking care of someone include beatings, being locked in your room and fed on bread and water for days?’
Horrified, Caroline shook her head. ‘Certainly not.’
‘Then let’s hope that Phineas can persuade Grandmama to take you on.’
‘At least you have a caring brother,’ Caroline said, grasping at anything that might bring a smile to Maria’s sad face.
‘Phin? He’s not my brother, he’s my cousin.’
‘Oh, I see.’
‘No, I don’t think you do, Miss Manley. It’s not as simple as that.’
‘I don’t understand.’
‘My birth caused a scandal that has never been forgotten. My mother did something for which I have to atone, even if it takes the rest of my life.’
‘G
ood heavens!’ Caroline gazed at her, wondering what Maria’s mother might have done that would lead to such a dire statement. ‘Surely not.’
Maria opened her mouth to answer but was prevented from speaking by the sound of footsteps. Caroline turned her head to see Phineas Colville advancing on them, and she experienced a sudden and violent feeling of dislike. The man was arrogant and authoritarian. Surely he could see how his young cousin was suffering, and yet he did nothing to help her. The Colville family had a lot to answer for, and whatever the outcome of her interview she could not and would not leave Maria to endure such treatment.
‘Rest easy, Maria,’ Phineas said calmly. ‘I’ve convinced Grandmama that it would be sensible to give Miss Manley a month’s trial, starting tomorrow.’ He headed for the graceful curving staircase, taking two steps at a time with the ease of an athlete.
‘Thank you, Phin.’ Maria clapped her hands, her eyes shining with delight. ‘I couldn’t be more pleased.’
‘I’d better go home and pack my things,’ Caroline said dazedly. She had not expected that Phineas would put in a good word for her, but then he had no idea of her true identity. She wondered if he would have acted so generously had he known that she was Jack Manning’s daughter.
‘I can’t wait for you to move in.’ Maria followed Caroline to the door. ‘You can’t imagine what this means to me. I’ve never had a close friend and I truly hope we will get on well together.’
Caroline turned to her with a wry smile. ‘I’m being paid to look after your best interests, Maria, but I would do so anyway,’ she added hastily, noting the sudden downturn of Maria’s mouth and the look of hurt in her eyes. ‘We will be like sisters, I promise you.’
‘Oh, I do hope so.’ Maria opened the front door. ‘You will come early, won’t you? Maybe we could go for a little walk. I’m not allowed out alone and I have to wait for Grandmama to take me in the barouche.’
‘I’m sure that could be arranged.’ Acting on impulse, Caroline leaned over to brush Maria’s thin cheek with a kiss. ‘We’ll do well together, Maria. I’ll see you in the morning.’
Caroline walked away, but when she glanced over her shoulder she could see Maria standing in the doorway, waving a hanky like a child saying goodbye to a loved one. She raised her hand in acknowledgement and hurried on. It was a relief to know she had employment, but as she walked back to the Captain’s House Caroline wondered if she had done the right thing in accepting the first situation that had come along. Throwing her lot in with the family whose business practices had all but bankrupted the Mannings might not be such a good idea after all. But Maria’s plight had touched her heart and she simply could not walk away and leave her in that beautiful but cold and austere setting. It seemed cruel and unjust to blame Maria for whatever it was that her mother had done to upset her family. Maria Colville was in desperate need of a champion, and now she had one.
