The Summer Maiden

by Dilly Court

  She was awakened by someone shaking her by the shoulder.

  ‘What time is it?’ Caroline opened her eyes and found Maria bending over her.

  ‘It’s nine o’clock, sleepyhead,’ she said cheerfully.

  Caroline sat up, groaning. ‘Oh Lord! I meant to get up early this morning.’

  ‘You must have been so tired. We thought it best to let you sleep, but I couldn’t wait any longer. I have a favour to ask.’ Maria thrust a cup of tea into Caroline’s hand. ‘This will help you to wake up.’

  Caroline took a sip. ‘What do you want, Maria? What’s so urgent that you’re waiting on me like this?’

  Maria perched on the edge of the bed. ‘Phineas told me at breakfast that Captain Barnaby’s ship is still in port, and I thought if we went down to the docks we might happen to see him.’

  ‘As a matter of fact I intended to visit the Captain’s House to see my brothers, so we could go together. Just give me time to get washed and dressed and we’ll be on our way.’

  ‘You must have breakfast first. Mrs Morecroft has been up since the crack of dawn, baking the most delicious bread, and there’s strawberry jam, too.’

  ‘We’ll see, but go away and leave me in peace, and I promise to be as quick as I can.’

  Caroline had the satisfaction of leaving Maria and Grace in the capable hands of Captain Barnaby. He had, almost as if he had been expecting a visit, been conveniently on deck when they walked past his ship, which had been moved from the dock at high tide and was now moored alongside the Colville wharf. He had invited Caroline to join them but she had declined, explaining that she was eager to see her brothers. Barnaby had promised to see Grace and Maria back to Princes Square, leaving Caroline with the rest of the morning free to do as she pleased.

  She hurried on to the Captain’s House, but when Sadie opened the door Caroline knew immediately that something was wrong.

  ‘It’s Jimmy,’ Sadie said tearfully. ‘He got measles, so the doctor says, and I knew it anyway. I recognised the symptoms because I had it when I was young, and you contracted the disease when you were fourteen.’

  ‘I must see him,’ Caroline said anxiously. ‘Where is Max?’

  ‘He’s at his lessons with Laurence. He’s had measles, in fact he caught it from you, but for some reason Jimmy didn’t get it until now.’

  ‘You look worn out.’ Caroline shed her shawl and took off her bonnet, hanging them on the row of hooks next to the boys’ overcoats and hats. ‘I’ll look in on Max first, and then I’ll go and sit with Jimmy for a while.’

  A faint smile lit Sadie’s red-rimmed eyes. ‘It’s good to see you. I’ll make a pot of tea and then you can tell me how you and Maria got on in Devonshire.’

  ‘I’ll tell you everything. You won’t believe half of it, Sadie.’

  ‘You saw Esther, didn’t you?’

  ‘Yes, I did and she’s on the mend, but I need to get her back to London as soon as possible.’

  ‘I sent for her yesterday. Jimmy has been calling for her and she should be with him, not hiding away in the country. Laurence went to the telegraph office for me and sent a message to Daumerle and she replied by return, promising to come straight away.’

  ‘Is he that poorly, Sadie?’

  ‘Who knows, my dear? You and Max got over it quite quickly, but Jimmy is more delicate. I blame myself for allowing him to associate with those ragamuffins who scavenge the foreshore. Dirty, rude boys who should be in school.’

  ‘He’ll recover, I know he will.’ Caroline headed for the stairs, her heart hammering against the whalebone of her stays. To lose her father and then her home had been bad enough, but if Jimmy was taken from them it would be too much to bear.

  She poked her head round the door of the schoolroom and Max leaped to his feet, knocking over his chair in his haste. He flung his arms around her and almost squeezed the breath from her lungs in a bear hug.

  ‘I’m so glad you’re back, Carrie. Have you seen Jimmy? He’s covered in a rash.’

  ‘No, I came to see you first.’ Caroline sent an apologetic smile in Laurence’s direction. ‘I thought you wouldn’t mind the interruption, but I had to see Max.’

  Laurence rose to greet her with a tired smile. ‘I’m glad you’re back. Sadie has been out of her mind with worry.’

  ‘Jimmy is a fighter,’ Caroline said with more conviction than she was feeling. ‘I’ll go and see him now.’ She turned to Max, giving him a hug. ‘Thank goodness you’ve already had measles.’

  Despite the tears that sprang to his eyes, Max managed a grin. ‘I’d be the man of the house if we were still at home. Sir sent a telegram to Mama yesterday – did Sadie tell you?’

  ‘Yes, she did, and I’ll be as glad to see her as you will.’

  Max clung to her hand. ‘You won’t go away again, will you?’

  ‘No, I won’t, and that’s a promise.’ Caroline hurried from the room, controlling the urge to cry with difficulty. She did not want to break down in front of Max, who was obviously struggling to control his own emotions. They had all been under a considerable strain, and it was beginning to tell on everyone.

  She made her way upstairs to the room the boys shared. The curtains were drawn, but there was enough light to see the small shape tossing feverishly in the bed.

  ‘Jimmy,’ she whispered. ‘It’s me, Carrie. I’ve come home.’ She went to kneel at his bedside, taking hold of his hot little hand as it rested on the counterpane. She held it to her cheek and this time she could not prevent the tears from falling. He was mumbling incoherently and although his eyes were open, he did not seem to recognise her. She stood up and went to the washstand where a bowl of tepid water had been left, together with a face cloth. She returned to the bed and bathed his face and chest with the damp cloth, and it seemed to calm him, temporarily at least. His lips were dry and cracked and she reached for the cup of water on the side table and propped his head up so that he could take a sip or two. Having settled him down again there was little else she could do other than talk, hoping that he could hear her, even if he could not understand what she was saying.

  She lost track of time completely, but she could not bear to leave her younger brother to fight the illness on his own. She talked until her mouth was dry and her voice began to crack, watching and waiting for him to show some sign that he knew she was there, but the fever held him in its vicious grasp. Sadie brought her a cup of tea, which was more than welcome, and she offered to take a turn at Jimmy’s bedside, but Caroline would not be moved. She blamed herself in part for his illness, although there was nothing she could have done to prevent the contagion. Bowed down by feelings of guilt for leaving the boys in the care of others while she herself went careering off to Devonshire in an attempt to reunite Maria with her mother, Caroline knew that she would never forgive herself if Jimmy suffered any of the dire complications of the illness.

  She must have dropped off to sleep still holding her brother’s hand, but she could hear her mother’s voice and she felt Jimmy’s fingers twitch. Caroline opened her eyes with a start to find her mother leaning over the bed.

  ‘Mama.’ Caroline released Jimmy’s hand and rose stiffly from her seat. Her limbs were cramped and her head ached, but she could have cried with relief. ‘You’ve come home. I’m so glad.’

  Esther gave her a hug. ‘I came as soon as I could, Carrie. How is my poor baby?’

  ‘I’m sure he’ll be better when he realises that you’re here, Mama.’

  Esther sank down on the chair. ‘I’ll stay with him for a while. You look exhausted, my dear. Go downstairs and talk to Freddie. He insisted on accompanying me because he wanted to find Grace. I’ve had to listen to him going on about her ever since we boarded the train for London.’

  ‘Did Aunt Alice travel with you?’

  ‘She wanted to stay at Daumerle a while longer.’

  ‘I’m so glad you’ve come home, Mama. I have so much to tell you, but the most important thing is getting Jimm
y better, and having you here is the best medicine he could have.’

  Esther shook her head. ‘I hope so, but I shouldn’t have left the boys, or you, come to that. I ran away and I’ll never forgive myself for leaving you to deal with matters that were beyond your control. I realise that I was being selfish in my grief, thinking only of the pain I was suffering and ignoring the fact that you three were going through something similar.’ She turned her head, at a small sound from the bed. ‘Jimmy, can you hear me, sweetheart? It’s Mama.’

  ‘He seems calmer,’ Caroline whispered. ‘Keep talking to him. I’m sure he can hear you, even if he can’t tell you so.’

  ‘I think he squeezed my fingers.’ Esther looked up, her eyes magnified by unshed tears. ‘I’ll never leave my family again, never.’

  Caroline bent down to drop a kiss on her mother’s smooth forehead. ‘I love you, Mama,’ Caroline said softly. ‘I’ll be downstairs with Sadie if you need me.’

  Freddie was in the front parlour deep in conversation with Sadie when Caroline entered the room. He looked up, frowning.

  ‘Was it really necessary for you to leave the Abbey in such a hurry? I would have protected Grace from that villain who treated her so badly.’

  ‘You’ve met him, Freddie. Quick is a brute and he’s vicious.’

  ‘I’m still in my prime, I’ll have you know, and I could knock the wretched fellow’s block off, if I so wished.’

  ‘At least Grace is safe from him in London.’

  ‘But I haven’t finished the portrait,’ Freddie grumbled. ‘She must come back to Starcross Abbey.’

  ‘I’ve more important things to worry about than a painting.’ Caroline was in no mood to talk about portraits and she spoke more sharply than she had intended. ‘Perhaps you could make some sketches of Grace while you’re here,’ she added hastily. ‘I know she won’t want to return to Devonshire, at least not for a long time.’

  ‘I suppose you’re right.’ Freddie cleared his throat noisily. ‘Er – how is the boy? I should have asked that the moment you came into the room. I’m sorry, Carrie. I’m a selfish man and always was.’

  ‘Jimmy is very unwell, Uncle. But I’m sure he’ll rally when he realises that Mama is here.’

  ‘Of course he will – I’ve no doubt about that.’ Freddie put his head on one side, giving her a searching look. ‘Out with it, Carrie. I’ve known you since you were a small child. There’s something else bothering you, so what is it?’

  Sadie rose from the window seat. ‘I have bread to bake, so I’d best get on. I’ll be in the kitchen if you need me.’ She whisked out of the room, closing the door behind her.

  ‘Phineas Colville has been very helpful,’ Caroline said carefully. ‘Surprisingly so, considering the rivalry between our two companies, although I still hold him partly responsible for Papa’s death.’

  ‘Come now, my dear. Your father died from an illness that had nothing to do with his financial troubles. Colville cannot be held responsible.’

  ‘You’re probably right,’ Caroline conceded reluctantly. ‘Anyway, he’s offered to go into business with us by taking a half-share in the company, which would allow us to continue trading when the Esther Manning finally reaches port.’

  ‘That sounds like a good proposition, and one not to be missed.’

  ‘I’m not in a position to accept or refuse it, Uncle. The business belongs to Mama and Uncle George, and I don’t know if either of them would relish working with a Colville.’

  ‘I’m not well versed in the world of commerce, Carrie. But as I see it, they would be fools to turn him down. You must discuss it with Esther.’

  ‘I know, but with poor Jimmy so ill I don’t like to bother her.’

  Freddie reached out to grasp Caroline’s hand. ‘I’ve seen your mother go through hardships that would have broken a lesser woman. I think a challenge such as this is just what she needs to help her recover from the bitterest of all blows. Tell her everything, that’s my advice.’ He squeezed her fingers. ‘And now I think it’s time for me to go to my club. I’ll only be in the way if I remain here, but I’ll be staying for a night or two at Bearwood House so you can contact me there. I’ve already told Esther of my plans.’ He picked up his top hat and cane just as Max burst into the room. ‘Ah, my boy. You can assist me by going out and hailing a cab. There’s a silver sixpence in it for you.’

  Max nodded. ‘Yes, sir, I will, but I came to tell Carrie that Mama wants her to bring something for Jimmy to eat. She said the fever has broken and he’s hungry.’

  Caroline jumped up from her chair and threw her arms around her brother’s neck. ‘I knew it. The moment he realised that Mama was there was better than all the medicine in the world.’ She rushed out of the room, forgetting everything other than the urgent need to speed Jimmy’s recovery.

  Sadie was standing at the range and she looked up from the pan she was stirring. ‘What is it? Is he worse?’

  ‘No, far from it. Jimmy’s hungry.’

  ‘Thank God.’ Sadie closed her eyes, taking a deep breath. ‘I love that boy as if he were my own.’ She unhooked a ladle from the beam above the range and filled a bowl. ‘This broth is just the thing. Tell your mother to come down and have something to eat as soon as she’s ready, or she’ll be the next one laid up in bed. I know Esther and I’ll wager she hasn’t eaten a bite since she heard that her son was ill.’

  ‘I’ll send her down,’ Caroline said firmly. ‘And then I need to have a long talk with my mother.’

  Jimmy was over the worst. The doctor came next day and pronounced that his patient was out of danger, and there was no congestion of the lungs or any other complication that might have occurred. Caroline and her mother took it in turns to sit with Jimmy, and he became crotchety and demanding, which Esther said was a sure sign that he was getting better. Max was less than sympathetic, although Caroline was not fooled by his casual attitude – she had seen the panic in his eyes when he had told her of his brother’s illness, and she knew that the boys loved each other, despite their tendency to fight and argue over the silliest things.

  Jimmy was definitely on the mend and Caroline’s relief was such that she could think of nothing else, but the time passed quickly and she had not been able to find a moment for a private conversation with her mother. It was early evening when Esther announced that since Jimmy was so much improved she intended to spend the night at Bearwood House.

  ‘But you need to stay here,’ Sadie said, frowning. ‘I assumed you would want to be close to Jimmy, at least until he’s up and about again.’

  ‘And so I do, but I can’t impose on you and they’re expecting me. Carrie will look after Jimmy tonight.’

  ‘I thought she would be returning to Princes Square,’ Sadie said impatiently. ‘You can’t abandon the child again so soon, Essie.’

  ‘I’m not abandoning Jimmy.’ Esther turned to Caroline, eyebrows raised. ‘I must have missed something. What’s been going on in my absence, Carrie?’

  Caroline and Sadie exchanged worried glances and Laurence rose hastily from the table. ‘I have to set the school work for the morning, if you’ll excuse me, ladies.’ He tapped Max on the shoulder. ‘I believe I set you some studying for this evening, or would you rather go upstairs and sit with your brother?’

  Max leaped to his feet. ‘I’ll keep Jimmy company, sir.’ He rushed out of the room, followed more slowly by Laurence.

  ‘Is there something I should know?’ Esther demanded, frowning.

  ‘I’ll leave you two to have a talk.’ Sadie hurried from the room, leaving the door to swing shut in her haste.

  ‘Now I know there’s a conspiracy of some kind.’ Esther sat back in her chair, fixing Caroline with a hard stare. ‘Come along, Carrie. Out with it.’

  There had been no time to talk about anything with Jimmy so poorly, but now there was nothing for it, but to tell her mother everything.

  ‘It is just business, Mama.’ Caroline came to a sudden halt, gazing an
xiously at her mother, who had remained rigid and silent, listening intently. ‘When the Esther Manning returns we will have one ship, but we haven’t the money to pay for a fresh cargo, and we don’t know how the voyage went, or what Uncle George has brought back, if anything.’

  ‘But to give the Colvilles a half-share in the company is ridiculous,’ Esther said slowly. ‘Your poor papa would be spinning like a top in his grave.’

  ‘Papa isn’t here to say yes or no, Mama. Everything is up to us now, and Uncle George, of course, although …’ Caroline could not bring herself to tell her mother that Phineas had said George was a poor businessman.

  Esther remained calm, her cheeks pale, but there was a militant spark in her hazel eyes. ‘You don’t have to dissemble, Carrie. I love my brother, but I know very well that he has no head for business. He’s a good shipmaster, but that is all.’

  Her words echoed those of Phineas, and Caroline breathed a sigh of relief. ‘So I believe, Mama.’

  ‘I dare say you heard that from Phineas Colville as well, but don’t take everything he says as gospel truth.’

  ‘I don’t,’ Caroline said hastily. ‘But you worked alongside Papa and you helped to build the business. I think if anyone can turn things around it’s you.’

  ‘I had your father to back me up in those days. Now I’m on my own.’

  Caroline reached across the table to grasp her mother’s hand. ‘No, Mama. You are not on your own – you have me. I believe I could learn from you, and I have a fair idea of how the company should be run. If you’ll just give me a chance to prove myself, I’m sure that we could work together. What do you say?’

  Chapter Fifteen

  The meeting between Esther Manning and Phineas Colville took place in the boardroom of the Colville Shipping office, as arranged by Caroline. The atmosphere was formal, if not frigid, but Esther had her emotions under control and Caroline saw a different side to her mother. The woman, dressed entirely in black, who talked on a business level equal to that of any man, laid down the conditions she expected from the proposed merger, and Phineas was coolly professional in his responses. Caroline sat quietly, listening and occasionally putting in a point, but her respect for her mother was growing with every passing minute. As a child she had seen little of either parent as they were both deeply involved in running the company, and now she could see why her father had relied so much on her mother for sound common sense and a pragmatic approach to any problems that might have arisen. The reasons for their finances falling into such a parlous state were not mentioned, but Caroline had a feeling that her mother was keeping something back. Phineas did not press the point and she was grateful to him for that small mercy.