by Jonker, Joan
But nothing would move Milly. ‘If you don’t go, then I’m not going. I’ll stay with you.’
Bessie lifted her hands in defeat. ‘Okay, okay! I’ll go with yer and spend the night in the kitchen helping the servants. Are yer satisfied now?’
They were sitting in a taxi on Sunday when Evelyn said, ‘You look very smart, Bessie, I must say. Your hair looks very glamorous.’
‘And so it ruddy well should do!’ she said. ‘I’ve had dinky curlers in all night, and I haven’t slept a flaming wink. I don’t know, the things we women go through. If a burglar had broke into my house last night, he’d have taken one look at me and scarpered hell for leather down the ruddy street. The things we women have to put up with, it’s nothing but flaming torture.’
‘Well, I think you look lovely, Auntie Bessie. Nobody will look as nice as you.’
Bessie was feeling very nervous, and would much rather have been sitting in her little house, with a fire roaring up the chimney, than in a taxi on her way to a house as big as a castle. At least in her own place she could talk to the furniture without feeling embarrassed because it was used to her Liverpool accent. Another thing, this was the first time she’d been in a taxi in her whole life and she felt uncomfortable enough, so how was she going to feel in a house as big as a ruddy castle, with a maid and a housekeeper? She gave a sigh and promised herself she’d find a chair in a corner somewhere and sit out of sight for the night. Or else find the kitchen and give the cook a hand. That would be more up her street than sitting with a group of people who had more money than they knew what to do with.
‘It’s the next house, driver,’ Evelyn said, leaning forward to tap on the glass partition. ‘You can drive straight into the driveway.’
While she was paying the man, Bessie was taking stock of the house and gardens, and felt like either getting back in the taxi and asking the driver to take her home, or taking to her heels and running as fast as she could. This was no place for her, she should never have given in to Milly.
‘Come along,’ Evelyn said, taking Bessie’s elbow, ‘Maisie has the door open.’
Bessie took one look at the uniformed maid and her heart dropped even further as she asked herself what she was doing here. But when the maid smiled as she asked if she could take her coat, Bessie found she could smile back. And she was soon thinking to herself that she’d have a good look around the enormous hall so she could describe everything to Rita and Aggie. She had barely got as far as the winding staircase, with the gilt-framed pictures spaced at intervals on the wall, when by her side she heard a deep voice saying, ‘So, this is the Bessie I’ve heard so much about?’
After nearly jumping out of her skin with fright, she turned her head to see a man who appeared to be about the same age as herself. He was holding out his hand. ‘I’m Cyril Lister-Sinclair, Milly’s grandfather, and she’s told me so much about you, I feel I know you.’
Bessie looked at the outstretched hand, then at the smiling, kindly face, and her hand went to join his. ‘I’m pleased to meet yer, er, sir,’ she said, pumping his hand enthusiastically. ‘But Milly exaggerates something terrible, so don’t believe everything she tells yer.’
Cyril saw before him a woman who was small and thin, with a face as honest as the day is long and eyes full of humour. ‘Ah, yes, I can well imagine my granddaughter has a very vivid imagination, but I don’t believe she exaggerates her feelings for you. She tells me you are her bestest friend, and I find myself a little jealous of you. I’m hoping in the near future to become another of her bestest friends.’
Bessie looked around for Evelyn and Milly, but they had disappeared. She was alone in the hall with this man she found she was at ease with. ‘Oh, Milly is your friend already, she has told me so. You are very lucky, she’s a child anyone would be proud of. Clever, caring, loving and with a sense of humour. She’s also a very pretty girl, and I have to admit I love the bones of her.’
‘Here you are, old boy,’ a man’s voice boomed, ‘Evelyn said I would find you here.’
‘Ah, Philip, may I introduce you to Miss Bessie? She is a neighbour and friend of Evelyn and Milly’s.’ Cyril made the introductions, and Bessie weighed Philip up as they shook hands. ‘You are one of the reasons I came tonight, Mr Philip, ’cos I wanted to thank yer for being so kind. There are a lot of people in our street who would like to thank yer as well, so I’ll do it for them.’
Cyril frowned. ‘What is this about, Philip? I didn’t know you knew Miss Maudsley?
‘I have never met the dear lady until this minute, Cyril, but I know a lot about her. And when the chance comes, I would like to have a private conversation with her.’
‘This is all very mysterious,’ Cyril said. ‘Would I be allowed to sit in on this conversation? I am now very intrigued.’
The sound of childish laughter had three pairs of eyes turning towards the sound. They saw Milly pulling on her grandmother’s arm, her face creased in laughter. ‘Come on, Grandma, here she is. This is my Auntie Bessie.’
Cyril couldn’t believe his eyes. His wife looked twenty years younger as she laughed while being pulled towards the group. ‘Auntie Bessie, this is my grandma and I’ve told her all about you.’
Without a word being exchanged, Cyril and Philip stepped back. Both men were interested in how this meeting would go, for it could affect their own lives. Matilda was smiling when she stopped in front of Bessie. ‘My granddaughter has never stopped talking about you. You have certainly made an impression on her.’
Milly dropped her grandmother’s hand and reached for Bessie’s. ‘She’s my bestest friend in the whole world, Grandma, and I do love her.’ She gazed up at Bessie, her green eyes shining. ‘Aren’t you my bestest friend, Auntie Bessie, and don’t you love the bones of me?’
There was no need to say it, for it was plain to those watching that Bessie adored the girl, but she confirmed it by saying, ‘Yes, sweetheart, ye’re me bestest mate, and I love the bones of yer.’
‘I was telling Milly how much I liked her dress, it is so pretty,’ Matilda said. ‘And she tells me you made it for her. Is this true?’
Bessie didn’t know how to address these people, so decided to use no names. ‘Yes, that is my job, I’m a seamstress by trade.’
‘That is wonderful! Did you hear that, Cyril, Bessie is a seamstress. I have said for years we should employ a seamstress, it would be so useful.’
‘I’m sure Bessie is already gainfully employed, my dear.’ But while he was speaking an idea was forming in Cyril’s head. Part of the idea had been there since he’d first known of Milly’s love for this woman, and now his wife had given him a way of taking it further. ‘Don’t you think you should go back to the drawing room, my dear, and take Milly with you? Evelyn and our guests will think it rude of us to both to disappear. Philip and I will be with you shortly, but we both wish to have a word with Bessie.’
‘My husband is right, I should get back to our guests.’ Matilda was not usually a demonstrative person but, wonder of wonders, she put her hand on Bessie’s arm and squeezed it. ‘We will talk later. My granddaughter said we should be friends, and I would like that very much.’
Milly escaped from her grandmother’s hand and put her arms around Bessie’s waist. ‘Aren’t you glad you came now, Auntie Bessie? I told you they would love you.’
Bessie smiled and stroked her hair. ‘Yes, I’m glad I came, sweetheart, but you run along with your grandma now, and I’ll see you soon.’
‘Can I have a kiss first, please, ’cos you haven’t given me one today. And then I’ll be a good girl and go with Grandma.’ When Bessie bent down to kiss her, the girl’s arms went around her neck, and those watching could hear her say, ‘I do love you, Auntie Bessie.’
Bessie smiled. ‘I know yer do, ’cos yer told the shovel, and the shovel told me.’
Milly put her hands on her hips and feigned indignation. ‘I’m going to tell that shovel off when I see it, it had no right to tell tales.’<
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Bessie pushed her towards Matilda, who was watching with great interest. ‘You go with yer grandma now, I’ll see yer in a bit.’
Cyril turned to Philip. ‘I wish to talk to Bessie. Would you like to join us, or would you prefer to join our guests?’
‘I’ll tag along with you, if you have no objection?’ Philip winked at Bessie. ‘I can’t leave you and Bessie alone in the study, what would people think!’
The two men took an arm each, and led her in the direction of Cyril’s study. When they reached the door, she burst out laughing. ‘Two male escorts no less. Wait until I tell me mates, they won’t believe me. I know what one of them will say. “Oh, aye, two bleeding coppers taking yer in for being drunk.”’
Both men roared with laughter. And although they couldn’t read each other’s mind, they were both thinking it wasn’t hard to like this little lady. ‘Oh, are you known for getting drunk and being escorted by policemen to the nearest police station?’ Philip asked.
‘Oh, yes, every Saturday night without fail. I have me usual six bottles of milk stout, then the landlord throws me out for being drunk, and I sit in the gutter singing me head off until the local bobbies take me to sleep it off in a cell in the police station.’
Cyril looked at Philip and opened the study door. ‘We’ve got quite a character here, my boy, I think we will have to go easy on the brandy and port. There are no gutters around here, and the nearest police station is a mile away.’
Philip winked. ‘I will take responsibility, old boy, I’ll keep my eye on her all night.’
‘Which eye will that be, sir, so I can dodge it?’ Bessie was beginning to enjoy herself. Okay, so they were rolling in money while she was as poor as a church mouse, but that didn’t make them any different. And these two seemed happy enough, they were laughing their heads off.
Cyril pointed to a comfortable leather chair. ‘Make yourself at home, my dear. What I have to say is very important to me, my wife and Milly.’
Philip stood up. ‘Would you prefer I joined the other guests then, Cyril? I don’t want to intrude.’
‘No, you stay, dear boy. This matter concerns Evelyn, and as her husband to be, it also concerns you. I will try to make it as brief as possible, or if we’re not back with our guests when the bell goes for dinner, my dear wife will not be too happy.’ He waited until Philip had seated himself, then looked across the desk at Bessie. ‘I believe Evelyn has told you most of the story, up to last week when she and Milly came back into our lives, so I won’t go over that ground again. What I have to say concerns you, and my granddaughter. While Milly appears pleased to have us in her life, to be part of a family, and seems fond of my wife and myself, it is you she loves. She talks of you constantly, you are her bestest friend and she loves you. Of course I would like her to love my wife and me too, but I am not stupid enough to think love is something immediate, that you can take for granted. You have to work at love, to earn it.’
‘Oh, Milly will come to love you in time,’ Bessie said. ‘She is a lovable child, with a heart full of love to give. It just takes time, Mr … er … Mr Cyril.’ Bessie shook her head. ‘I’m sorry, I’m at a loss as to what to call yer. But don’t worry about Milly, she’ll come to love yer, I know she will.’
Cyril lifted a pencil from a stand on his desk and started to scribble on a large blotting pad. ‘I’ve asked Milly to come and live with Matilda and me while Evelyn and Philip begin married life together. We want her so much, for after all, she is the daughter of our beloved son. But Milly was quite definite that it was you she wanted to live with, and I would never force her against her will. I want her to love me, not hate me. So I wondered if you would consider the post of nanny to her?’
‘But I have a job, and me own little house. And me two best mates are my neighbours, I couldn’t leave all that to be a nanny. I don’t know the first thing about being one, I’m not qualified.’
It was Philip who said, ‘I don’t want to interfere, but I think love is the best quality anyone can have. And you only have to listen to Milly, and Evelyn, to know love is something you have in abundance. I think it is a marvellous idea. I’m sure you want to be with Milly as much as she wants to be with you. If you were suddenly to be taken out of her life, she would fret dreadfully and be very miserable.’
‘And I’d be broken-hearted,’ Bessie said with feeling. ‘I knew it would happen one day, it had to, for she wasn’t mine to love and to hold. But I haven’t the faintest idea what a nanny does! I’m not well educated or clever, so I wouldn’t be up to the job!’
‘Let me explain what it would entail, Bessie,’ Cyril said, ‘then you can take the idea home with you and give it some thought. All you would be required to do is be a companion to Milly. Accompany her to school and back, help with her clothes, take her for walks to the shops or to the park, do the things you already do together now. This is a huge house, far too big for Matilda and myself, but we will never leave it because our son was born here and it holds memories of him. There are many rooms which are not used, so you would have your own separate accommodation. Your own entrance, sitting room, bedroom and bathroom. And my wife and I would appreciate it if you had your meals with us, as a family. You would have days off, and could have your friends visit you whenever you wished.’ Cyril smiled. ‘One who would be very welcome is a young boy named Jack. Next to you, he is Amelia’s bestest friend, even though he does try and cheat at cards.’
When he paused to consider his next words, he caught Philip’s eye and was rewarded with a slight nod and a smile of encouragement. ‘Of course you would receive a salary, to be mutually agreed, and would be treated by the staff as a member of the family. But what is most important, you wouldn’t be parted from Milly, and she would have her bestest friend here all the time.’
For a few seconds Bessie bowed her head in thought. Then asked, ‘But what if I give me house up, pack my job in, and then find the arrangement you talk of isn’t suitable? I’d have lost everything, and at my age I can’t afford to take a chance. Apart from me two mates in the street, I don’t have a soul in the world to turn to.’ Her voice thick with emotion, she went on, ‘I love the bones of Milly, but what would happen to me if I didn’t get on with yer wife and the atmosphere wasn’t a happy one?’
Philip left his chair to sit on the top of the desk, where he could look her in the face. ‘I hope Cyril will forgive me for butting in, but I have an idea which may put all your fears to rest, my dear. You see, your future is of great interest to me also, for Evelyn admires you very much and has told me she will never forget how you helped her and will always remain friends with you. So listen to my idea and tell me what you think.’ He gave her a smile of encouragement. ‘Why not take a week off work, move in here and take on the role of nanny, as Cyril sees it? We all know you get on like a house on fire with Milly, but you are worried you may not fit in with Matilda and the staff. A week of living with the family would help you make a decision on whether you feel you would fit in. How does that appeal to you?’
‘Take a week off work? I’ve never taken time off in all the twenty-odd years I’ve worked there. What would I tell the boss?’
Cyril felt like slapping Philip on the back for coming up with such a good idea. ‘You would not have to worry about that, my dear. I will ring your employer if you would give me the name of the firm. I think we should have a trial run, as Philip suggests. If you turn it down out of hand, you may come to regret it. Please give it a try.’
All that was going through Bessie’s mind was the thought of never seeing Milly again. And that didn’t bear thinking about. And it wasn’t as though she would be going to people who would look down on her, for she had been treated with great respect and friendliness by everyone she’d met. And like Cyril said, if she turned the offer down she may live to regret it. She nodded her head. ‘I’ll give it a week’s trial, as yer said. And I want to thank yer both for the nice welcome yer gave me, and being so kind.’
Cyril was beside himself with happiness. ‘You will not regret it, Bessie, I promise you that. And Milly won’t be the only one to be delighted when she’s told, I believe you will be a valuable addition to this household. Now, if you will write the name of your employer down, Bessie, and your full name and address, we can join our other guests. There are only two you haven’t met already, that is Oscar and Gwen, but they know all about you.’
As Bessie wrote out her full name and address, and that of her employer, they heard her muttering through the side of her mouth, ‘You two would charm the birds off a ruddy tree. I’m going to have to keep a close watch on yer.’
Rita showed her surprise when she opened the door the next morning and saw Bessie standing on her front step. ‘My God, Bessie, the streets are not aired off yet! Why are yer up and about so early, and where’s Milly?’
Bessie grinned. ‘And a Happy New Year to you as well, Rita Wells. That’s a marvellous greeting, I must say.’
‘Well, I didn’t expect yer so early, sunshine, I thought yer’d be having a lie in after being out late last night.’
‘I’ve got something important to tell you and Aggie, and as Milly is still fast asleep, and me fire’s lit and the kettle on, I wondered if yer were both decent enough to come across for half an hour?’
‘I’m dressed, as yer can see, but I don’t know about Aggie, I haven’t heard her this morning, she might still be in bed.’
The next door opened and Aggie’s head appeared, her hair tousled and a smudge of soot on her face. ‘Yer might not have heard me, queen, but I heard you raking the ashes out.’ She eyed Bessie. ‘Did I hear yer say yer had something to tell us, queen? I’ll just slip me coat on and come across, seeing as yer’ve got the kettle on for a cuppa.’ Her head popped out a bit further so she could see Rita. ‘Get yer coat on, queen, and let’s hear what she’s got to tell us about how the other half live. I hope yer haven’t gone all stuck-up on us, Bessie, and expect us to wipe our feet?’
Bessie started to cross the street. ‘The tea will be on the table in five minutes, and don’t make a sound. What I’ve got to tell yer is not for Milly’s ears.’
