Mary Nichols

by Society Bride Working Man

  Unlike many employers Lord Moorcroft provided wood for the navvies to make themselves homes and that was brought in the wagons along with all the other paraphernalia of railway building. His men did not need to live in holes in the ground. The huts were not large, but were divided into a living room and bedroom, where several bunk beds were erected so that bachelors could lodge and be looked after by the woman of one of them. Myles shared their meal and tumbled into a bunk bed and was asleep within seconds. But before that happened, he knew he would defy the Earl’s ban and seek Lucy out.

  Edward made no secret of what was to happen on Thursday; though the Earl might disapprove, he could not voice that to a guest and a guest, moreover, whom he hoped would marry his daughter. ‘The hill above the works makes a fine viewing platform,’ Edward said at dinner that evening. ‘Shall we all go and watch? I’ll have a little wager with anyone that he is done for by mid-day.’

  ‘I’ll take that.’ The Viscount laughed, having heard the tale of the barrel of ale. ‘A guinea says he will last until tea time.’

  The Earl did not want to appear a bad sportsman by refusing to take part. ‘It is all very well to dress as a working man and strut about the works, but that doesn’t mean he can work like a labourer,’ he said. ‘So my guinea says he won’t last beyond ten o’clock.’

  ‘Really, gentlemen,’ the Countess put in, ‘what a thing to gamble on. And I am sure I do not wish to witness a man labouring in such a vulgar fashion. If Lord Moorcroft has any affection for his son, he will forbid it.’

  Lucy listened to it all in horror. Myles was going to be made a spectacle, a figure of fun, and her heart ached for him. She wished she could warn him. Dare she do so? But he was a man and, she guessed, a stubborn one—he would not back out simply because she asked him to. Could he do it? Could he win his wager? If he did, how would Mr Gorridge react? A wager was a wager and he would have to pay up and smile while he did it, but Myles would have made an enemy.

  Party games and charades were arranged for the evening, but she could not concentrate and begged to be excused, saying she had a headache. Her mother looked sideways at her, but did not try to stop her leaving the room. Glad to escape, she went to her bedroom and flung herself on the bed. Sarah arrived soon afterwards with a tisane and stayed to help her into bed.

  She slept badly and woke early. Unable to stay in bed, she dressed in a warm wool gown, threw a shawl over her shoulders and went out. The dew was on the grass and moisture-laden cobwebs decorated the trees. The sun, still low in the sky, was a huge orange ball. She walked down the drive and on to the lane towards the village. A milkmaid was driving a herd of cows in to be milked. A ploughman was already at work on one of the fields. A cock crowed in the yard of the Home Farm and a dog barked somewhere behind one of the cottages. The landlord of the Plough was sweeping out his yard.

  She bade him good morning and passed on, aware that he was looking after her, no doubt wondering why she was out so early. She turned towards a cottage and knocked on the door. It was opened by an old lady whose lined face broke into a smile at the sight of her. ‘Lady Lucinda, you are up betimes.’

  ‘I was restless and remembered I should have visited you yesterday to see if you were better.’ Mrs Staines was grandmother to her maid, Sarah, and so crippled with rheumatism she could not leave her cottage. The last time Lucy had visited with her mother the old lady had been laid low with a hacking cough. They had brought her medicine and fruit and Lucy had promised to go to see her again soon.

  ‘Come on in and sit ye down,’ she said. ‘I didn’t expect you. I know you’ve got important visitors up at the big house. A young gentleman, so I am told.’ And her old eyes twinkled mischievously.

  Lucy entered the cottage which, though tiny and poorly furnished, was clean as a new pin. The Countess allowed Sarah to go home one day a week to clean and dust and do a little cooking for her. ‘Sarah told you.’

  ‘Yes. Was that why you were restless?’

  ‘Partly.’

  ‘Undecided, are you?’

  ‘It hasn’t come to that yet.’

  ‘My advice is to be sure, my lady, be very, very sure.’ She spoke with emphasis while searching Lucy’s face and then went on. ‘What do you think of them there navvies what are buildin’ the railway over yon hill? I never thought to see the day his lordship would allow it.’

  ‘They are ordinary working men, Mrs Staines, and will soon be gone. And the railway will benefit everyone.’

  ‘The women in the village are frightened to death and the men are up in arms.’

  ‘Who told you this?’

  ‘Joshua. He said there was a meeting last night and they were going to do something about it.’ Joshua was her grandson and Sarah’s brother. He lived with his wife in a tied cottage on Glebe Farm.

  ‘What are the women frightened of?’

  ‘Of having their fences and winders broke and being set upon by a drunken rabble, of having the livestock and their food stolen and their children carried off.’

  ‘I do not think you need worry, Mrs Staines. My father has forbidden them to come into the village.’

  She laughed. ‘Do you think that will stop them? Two of ’em were in the Plough last night and drunk as lords. Sorry, my lady, shouldn’t have said that. But they made a great racket with their singing, and this morning two of Mrs Green’s chickens are missing.’

  She thought that her father ought to know that his ban had been disobeyed, but that would get Myles into trouble and she did not want that. Disputes between her father and the man she loved must be avoided. ‘What are the villagers going to do?’

  ‘They are getting everyone together, from hereabouts and other places along where the line is going, and they are going to march to the works to let them know we ain’t puttin’ up with their lawless ways in Luffenham and, if they come into the village again, they can expect to be met with trouble. And they want the two who stole the chickens.’

  ‘They mustn’t do that, Mrs Staines. It will inflame tempers and blood will be spilled. And it will anger my father.’

  ‘I told Josh that, but he would not listen. He says someone has to stand up to them. He’s a hothead, always has been. I’m afeared for him.’

  ‘When is this going to happen?’

  ‘This morning when they get everyone together.’

  Lucy sprang to her feet. ‘I must be going, Mrs Staines. Things to do.’ She almost ran from the cottage and sprinted back to the Hall, but, instead of going indoors, went to the stables and had Midge saddled. She did not even stop to change into her habit. As soon as the saddle was on the mare she was up and riding away, leaving the stable boy scratching his head and wondering if he ought to report her strange behaviour.

  Poor Midge was winded by the time she arrived at the navvy camp. Lucy flung herself off her and stood looking about for the tall figure of Myles, ignoring the stares of the men already working. One of them threw down his shovel and walked over to her. ‘You ain’t no business here, miss.’

  ‘I need to speak to Mr Moorcroft urgently. Is he here?’

  ‘I’ll fetch him.’

  He disappeared into one of the huts and a moment later Myles ducked his head under the lintel and emerged in shirtsleeves, which served to confirm that he lived among the men. He strode over to her. ‘Lucy, what has happened?’

  She hardly registered his use of her name, but would not have minded if she had. He had been Myles in her mind for a long time now. ‘Nothing yet, but the villagers are up in arms about two of your men going into the village and getting drunk last night. They are coming here.’

  ‘They’ll get bloody noses if they do.’ The man who spoke was a small, wiry fellow wearing a very battered top hat and a red-and-white spotted neckerchief. He turned to the men nearest him. ‘What say you, mates?’

  They murmured agreement and some were already shouldering their shovels to meet the threat.

  ‘No,’ Myles said. ‘I’ll deal with it. I want no co
nflict. I gave my word none of you would cause trouble. If any have, they can collect the pay owing to them and be off.’

  ‘We won’t strike the first blow, but if the village men come looking for trouble, they’ll get it. We’ve a right to defend ourselves.’

  ‘But they are no match for you,’ Lucy said. ‘They’re farmhands, most of them, and many have had little enough work this past year.’

  ‘They should have thought of that.’

  ‘If any man leaves the works in the next two hours, he needn’t bother coming back,’ Myles told them. ‘And he’ll forfeit the wages he’s earned.’ To Lucy he said, ‘Wait here while I saddle Trojan.’

  She stood by Midge’s head and looked about her. The men were looking belligerent, but she was determined not to show fear. Myles would look after her if any of them took a step towards her. But none did. She smiled. ‘I am amazed at how much you have done since you arrived,’ she said, in friendly fashion. ‘It must be very hard work.’

  ‘Oh, it is that and it don’t ’elp to be accused of makin’ trouble.’

  ‘No, I can see that.’

  A group of barefoot children surrounded her and one reached out and touched her skirt, fingering the material. She squatted down to be on their level. ‘Hallo,’ she said, smiling at them. They were very dirty and ill clad, but none looked hungry. In that respect they were better off than the village children, many of whom relied on hand-outs from Luffenham Hall. ‘What are your names?’

  They giggled and continued to stare at her, but one boy, braver than the rest, answered her. ‘I’m Adam O’Malley, miss. And this is me sister, Matty.’

  ‘What are you going to do with yourselves today?’

  ‘Fetch water for Ma. From the river.’

  ‘Then we are goin’ to school,’ added Matty, touching the back of Lucy’s hand and stroking it. Lucy was overcome with tenderness towards them. She took the little one’s hand in hers. ‘School. Where do you go for that?’

  ‘There!’ She pointed at one of the huts. ‘I’m learnin’ me letters.’

  Myles returned, leading his big horse, and Lucy straightened up and said goodbye to the children.

  ‘Off with you,’ he said to the children, and to the men, ‘Get on with your work. I’ll be back and then I shall want to know who it was went into Luffenham last night.’ He bent to lift Lucy into her saddle, jumped on his own mount and led the way across the bridge and up the opposite hill.

  ‘They have a school on the site,’ she said when they were able to ride side by side.

  He smiled. ‘One of the women has a smattering of education and the company pays her to teach the children. It keeps them out of mischief. They are not welcome in the village schools.’

  She did not answer because she could see a crowd of men, some villagers, some she had never seen before, coming up the rise towards them. They were lead by Joshua Staines. Myles reined in and they stopped to face him. Joshua was looking mulish and he glared at Lucy. ‘Tell me your grievance,’ Myles began reasonably.

  They all started shouting together and he held up his hand. ‘Speak one at a time or I cannot answer you. Who is your spokesman?’

  Someone prodded Joshua in the back and he was forced to take a step forward. ‘We don’t want the navvies in Luffenham,’ he said. ‘They frighten the women and children.’

  ‘Why?’

  ‘They are a godless rabble and would as soon rape a woman as look at her. Two of them came into the village last night and got drunk in the Plough and then ran up and down the street shouting. My missus was mortal afraid. They stole a couple of chickens, too.’

  It was not unheard of for the navvies to be blamed for any wrongdoing anywhere near a works whether they were guilty or not. Myles decided not to argue the point. ‘What is your name?’

  ‘My name don’ matter.’

  ‘It’s Joshua Staines,’ Lucy said.

  ‘An’ you’ve no business siding with ’em, my lady. What would his lordship say?’

  ‘He would say I did right,’ she said, not really believing it. ‘I am only concerned with keeping the peace and seeing justice is done.’

  ‘An’ what about ’im?’ The young man nodded at Myles.

  ‘I, too, wish for peace,’ he said. ‘My men are not heathens, nor a rabble. They do not rape women or abduct children. The two you spoke of will be paid off. They are only two among three hundred—the other two hundred and ninety-eight have obeyed my instructions not to enter the village. It goes hard on them. After a day’s work, they like to sit and enjoy a beer and a chat, just as you do, but in order to keep the peace they obey. Go back home, let them get on with their work. The owner of the chickens will be compensated.’

  Joshua looked at Lucy. ‘Is he telling the truth?’

  ‘Yes, I am sure of it.’

  One or two mumbled dissent, but when Myles dug in his pocket and found a couple of sovereigns that he handed to Josh for the chickens, which was several times their value, they turned and went back the way they had come. Lucy heaved a huge sigh of relief. Myles looked at her and saw for the first time that she looked drained. ‘My poor darling,’ he said, dismounting and holding out his arms to her. She slid from the saddle and into them. After a poor night’s sleep and all the excitement she was exhausted. She wanted only to be held in the warmth of his arms and made no effort to break away. ‘Thanks to you, no harm’s been done. But you are shaking. Surely you were not frightened?’

  She heard his gentle endearment and looked up into his face. His expression was one of deep concern. ‘Not when you had the situation under control. You have a way with people, don’t you?’

  ‘I try.’

  ‘Will you really turn off those two men?’

  ‘I have no choice. I warned them what would happen if they went against me and I keep my word. The last thing I want is the wrath of your father on my head.’

  She smiled. ‘If he could see us now, I do not think there is any doubt of it. I dread to think what he would do.’ Mentioning her father reminded her how long she had been absent. She pulled away from him. ‘I must go home. I shall be missed.’

  ‘What will you tell them?’

  ‘I do not know. I went to visit Mrs Staines. She is Joshua’s grandmother and it was she who told me what the men planned to do.’

  He smiled. ‘Visiting on horseback dressed like that? Do you think he will believe you?’

  ‘Oh, dear. I shall have to sneak Midge back in her stall and swear the stable boy to secrecy.’

  He reached for her hand. ‘Lucy, I must know. Have you accepted Edward Gorridge?’

  ‘He hasn’t asked me yet.’

  ‘But you expect him to?’

  ‘I think so. His parents and mine both wish it.’

  ‘But do you wish it?’

  ‘I don’t know. It is a big step to take and for everyone’s sake I must consider it seriously….’

  He took her shoulders in his hands and shook her gently. ‘Lucy, while it is true that marriage is a big step, it is not for everyone’s sake you should consider it, but for your own. It is your future, your happiness. Do not let yourself be persuaded against your will.’

  ‘It is all very well for you to say that. You are a man and may do as you please.’

  ‘Do you love him?’

  ‘I do not think so, but perhaps I might learn to love him.’ She was only repeating the arguments her mother had used, not because she believed them, but because she did not know how to answer him. It was a fruitless conversation; she and Myles could have no future and she was afraid to let him think they might.

  ‘You don’t believe that, do you?’ In his anxiety he gripped her more tightly than he intended.

  ‘You are hurting me.’

  He let his hands fall. ‘I am sorry, my lady. I did not mean to. Saving you from hurt is my sole mission. Please forgive me.’

  ‘I do. But I really must go.’ She turned back to Midge and put her foot into the stirrup. He took her other
foot and lifted her easily into the saddle. ‘Take care,’ he said, as she hitched up her skirt a little, revealing trim ankles and a pair of ordinary shoes.

  ‘You take care. You know Mr Gorridge is laying bets on how long you will last on Thursday. He is making a joke about it. I wish you did not have to do it.’

  ‘You have no need to worry. I would not have accepted his wager if I did not think I could do it.’

  ‘He will be angry if he loses.’

  He laughed. ‘Oh, he will lose, have no fear, and I hope not only the wager.’

  Midge was restive, anxious to be away again. Lucy settled her before speaking again. ‘What do you mean?’

  ‘I will tell you another time. We have to talk, but not now. I do not want you to be in trouble for coming here. Later I will find you. But, Lucy, my love, do not accept Gorridge until we have spoken together.’

  ‘Goodbye,’ she said, digging her heel into the mare’s side and galloping away so that he would not see her tears. It was all so hopeless.

  Chapter Seven

  Somehow Lucy got through the rest of the day. It was made easier for her because the men had gone shooting game and she did not have to make conversation with Edward. The ladies strolled about the grounds and gossiped until it was time for afternoon tea. It was when they dispersed to rest before dressing for dinner that the Countess came to her room.

  ‘Lucy, where did you go this morning? You were absent at breakfast and when I sent up to ask after you, I was told you had risen early and gone out. I know you have been used to coming and going as you please, but with those navvies in the area it is not wise.’