The Swan Maid

by Dilly Court

  ‘I don’t consider anyone under twenty-three. If you want to be a nurse, you must train in a hospital here, at home. Now, allow me to go on my way.’

  ‘Is this person bothering you, Miss Nightingale?’ A uniformed porter hurried up to them, glaring at Lottie.

  ‘No, she was just making enquiries.’ Florence’s stern expression lightened into what was almost a smile. ‘What is your name, young lady?’

  ‘Charlotte Lane, ma’am.’

  ‘Good luck, Charlotte.’ Florence nodded to the porter and he held the door open for her.

  Lottie watched spellbound as the small figure climbed into a waiting carriage.

  ‘You was lucky,’ the porter said tersely. ‘She could have had you thrown out.’

  ‘Yes, but she turned me down. I just wanted to do something useful.’

  ‘Go home, miss. It’s getting late and a young person like yourself shouldn’t be roaming the streets unaccompanied.’

  Lottie was about to tell him she was quite capable of looking after herself, when she heard footsteps approaching. She turned to see Lieutenant Gillingham striding towards them.

  ‘It’s Lottie, isn’t it?’ He came to a halt beside her. ‘I thought I recognised you.’

  ‘Yes, sir.’ She bobbed a curtsey, out of habit rather than necessity. Even this far from the inn she had a sneaking feeling that Mrs Filby might be hiding around the next corner, watching her.

  ‘What are you doing here on your own?’

  The porter cleared his throat noisily. ‘I told her it was late for a young lady to be wandering the streets, sir.’

  ‘Yes, thank you. I know this lady and I’ll see her safely home.’

  The porter muttered something as he stalked off to deal with a drunk who was swearing and threatening to punch a young doctor.

  A sudden thought occurred to Lottie and she shivered. ‘It’s not Private Ellis, is it, sir? He hasn’t taken a turn for the worse?’

  Gillingham smiled and shook his head. ‘As far as I know, Ellis is already back on duty and doing well. I was visiting a patient: my old nanny, God bless her. She’s very frail, but determined to make a full recovery, and she’s the only family I have left now.’ He proffered his arm. ‘Anyway, you must allow me to escort you home.’

  ‘I can find my own way back to Gresham Street, thank you all the same,’ Lottie said with as much dignity as she could muster.

  ‘I dare say you could, but I am headed that way, and we could share a cab.’

  ‘You’re going to The Swan?’

  ‘My colonel’s lady is arriving on the mail coach from Bath, and I’ve been detailed to meet her, which is why I took the opportunity to visit the hospital. I’ve booked two rooms for us at The Swan and we will travel on to Chatham in the morning.’

  ‘Oh, well, in that case, thank you.’ Lottie had been prepared to walk, but it was a hot night and there was a sense of unrest in the humid, foul-smelling air. A ride home would be more than welcome.

  Gillingham ushered her outside onto the forecourt where a cab had just dropped off a fare. ‘The Swan with Two Necks, Gresham Street, cabby.’ He handed Lottie into the vehicle and climbed in after her. ‘Were you visiting someone in the hospital? It’s not the best place to be during a cholera epidemic.’

  ‘I wanted to speak to Miss Nightingale.’

  ‘By Jove, that’s a worthy ambition. Did you succeed?’

  ‘Yes, I spoke to her, although much good it did me.’

  He settled back against the leather squabs. ‘I don’t understand.’

  ‘I want to go to the Crimea. I wanted to join her team of nurses.’

  ‘Really?’ He eyed her speculatively. ‘Did looking after Private Ellis have anything to do with your decision?’

  ‘I suppose it did, in a way. I realised that I could do better than waiting hand and foot on travellers at the inn. I was born into an army family, and spent my first six years in India. Talking to Private Ellis brought it all back to me, and suddenly it seemed the most natural thing in the world to want to do something worthwhile. Does that sound silly?’

  ‘No. It sounds like a brave move. It’s a pity nothing came of it.’

  ‘Yes, but I’m not giving up yet.’

  They lapsed into silence as the cab tooled along the streets, which were much quieter now than they had been when Lottie set out that morning, and they arrived at the inn just as the mail coach from Bath was pulling into the stable yard.

  Filby stepped out of the shadows and caught Lottie by the arm. ‘What sort of time do you call this? You was supposed to be back by seven sharp.’

  ‘I must take the blame for Lottie’s late return, sir,’ Gillingham said firmly. ‘It was entirely my fault.’

  ‘If you say so, sir.’ Filby cringed visibly. He waited until Gillingham had walked off to greet the colonel’s wife. ‘No good will come of you mixing with the military, you stupid girl. Soldiers and sailors are all the same when it comes to women. D’you get my meaning, you stupid little bitch?’

  She wrenched free from his tight grasp. ‘It’s not like that. I met the lieutenant by pure chance.’

  Filby caught her a stinging blow on the side of her face. ‘Don’t cheek me, miss.’

  ‘I say, was that really necessary?’ A silvery voice rang out across the stable yard as a young, fashionably dressed woman descended from the mail coach.

  ‘I’d leave it be, my lady,’ Gillingham said in a low voice.

  ‘No, Farrell, I won’t.’ She moved across the yard with the grace of a ballerina. ‘You, fellow with the leather apron.’ She addressed Filby, who stared at her, apparently dumbstruck by her beauty. ‘What do you mean by slapping the poor girl’s face? What could she have done to deserve such harsh treatment?’

  ‘Who are you, ma’am?’ Filby stuttered, puffing out his cheeks.

  ‘I am Lady Aurelia Dashwood, sir. And who may you be?’

  Gillingham moved swiftly to her side. ‘This is Filby, my lady. He is the landlord.’

  ‘Landlord or no, what right have you to strike this young woman?’ Aurelia demanded angrily.

  ‘She is a maidservant, employed by me, my lady.’ Filby dropped his voice to a mere whisper. ‘Begging your pardon, ma’am.’

  Lottie had an almost irresistible desire to giggle at the sight of Filby grovelling before the elegant lady. ‘I’ll get on with my work then, shall I, guv?’

  ‘Yes,’ Filby said with a vague wave of his hand, ‘and don’t let it happen again.’

  Aurelia laid a gloved hand on Lottie’s shoulder. ‘What is your name?’

  ‘Lottie, my lady.’

  ‘Well, Lottie, my maid was taken ill at the start of the journey from Bath and I had to send her home. I need someone to help me with my toilette.’ She turned to Filby with a smile that would have melted the hardest heart. ‘I take it you have no objections, landlord?’

  ‘No, my lady.’ Filby bowed from the waist. ‘Of course not. If there is anything you need, you have only to ask.’

  Gillingham glanced at the luggage that was piling up on the cobblestones. ‘Is this all yours, my lady?’

  ‘Of course it is, Farrell. Have you ever known me to travel light?’ Aurelia laughed and tossed her head. The feathers in her dashing straw bonnet waved and danced, and her golden ringlets bobbed with each movement of her head.

  Lottie could only stare at her, entranced. She had never seen anyone as lovely or as lively and spirited as the colonel’s wife. ‘I’ll see that the lady’s baggage is taken to her bedchamber,’ she volunteered. ‘Which room is hers, guv?’

  ‘Why, you silly girl, the best in the house, of course.’ Filby seemed to recover from his daze and he strode into the middle of the yard. ‘Jem, where are you, boy? Take the lady’s luggage to room ten.’ He bowed to Aurelia, keeping his head bent low as if addressing royalty. ‘Lottie will show you to your room, my lady. If there is anything we can do for you, please don’t hesitate to ask.’

  Lottie eyed him with distaste
. If the silly man bowed any lower he would be in danger of falling flat on his face. She picked up a couple of bandboxes, leaving Jem to bring the heavy items. ‘If you would come this way, my lady …’

  ‘I’ll see you at supper, Farrell.’ Aurelia patted him on the cheek as she walked past. ‘I’m extremely hungry, so I hope there is something tasty on the bill of fare.’

  Gillingham clicked his heels together, staring straight ahead. ‘Wouldn’t you rather dine in the privacy of your room, my lady?’ He lowered his voice. ‘The clientele here might not be to your liking.’

  ‘Nonsense, Farrell. I’m sure I’ll find it most entertaining.’ Aurelia moved on, pausing to give Jem the benefit of her sparkling smile. ‘What is your name?’

  He straightened up, shifting from one foot to the other. ‘Jem, my lady.’

  ‘Well, thank you for your services, Jem.’

  Lottie watched in awe as Lady Aurelia charmed the guard and the coachman who had brought her this far. It seemed she had a smile and a kind word for everyone; Lottie was impressed, and close to falling under her ladyship’s spell. She led the way to number ten, which was the biggest and the best room they had to offer. Even so, as she opened the door and ushered Aurelia inside, Lottie had the feeling that the room, although reasonably clean and comfortable, was not what such a grand lady might expect. An apology tingled on the tip of her tongue as she lit the lamps, but Aurelia uttered a cry of delight.

  ‘A four-poster bed, how delightful, and such a pretty coverlet.’ She untied her bonnet and laid it on a chair, while she unbuttoned her silk mantle. ‘Charming, utterly charming.’

  ‘I’m afraid it’s not what you’re used to, my lady.’

  Aurelia’s violet-blue eyes danced with amusement. ‘You obviously have no idea what sort of life a soldier’s wife leads. I’ve slept in bivouacs in the most frightful conditions of rain, ice and snow, or blistering heat, not to mention vermin and wildlife of all sorts. There was even a bear who visited camp in Canada. So you see, Lottie, this is luxury indeed, but only for one night as we travel on tomorrow.’ She breathed a sigh of relief as she laid her jacket on the chair. ‘It’s very hot. I think we might have a storm tonight.’

  ‘It would clear the air.’ Lottie moved to open the door and Jem struggled in, laden with cases, a valise and two carpetbags, which he set down on the floor. ‘There’s still a small trunk, my lady. Shall I bring that too?’

  Aurelia cast an eye over the luggage. ‘It would be better stored somewhere until the morning, if you would be so kind, Jem?’

  His cheeks flushed bright red and he grinned sheepishly. ‘Of course, my lady. It’s no trouble at all.’

  ‘Wait a moment, please.’ Aurelia opened her reticule and took out a coin, which she pressed into his hand. ‘Thank you, Jem. That will be all for now.’

  He backed out of the room, still grinning.

  ‘What a charming young man.’ Aurelia cast a curious glance at Lottie. ‘And good-looking too – is he your sweetheart?’

  ‘Certainly not.’ Lottie had not meant to speak so sharply. ‘I’m sorry, my lady, but Jem is more like a brother to me. You might say we grew up together.’

  ‘Really? How interesting. You must have been very young when you began working here.’

  ‘I was twelve, my lady.’

  ‘And this is what you wanted to do, is it?’

  ‘I didn’t have any choice in the matter.’

  ‘I suppose not. One is inclined to forget how hard life is for most people.’ Aurelia sighed, shaking her head. ‘I don’t think I’ll change for dinner, but I would like to wash the dust of the road off before I go down to dine.’ She slanted a curious look in Lottie’s direction. ‘Can you dress hair, Lottie?’

  ‘I’ve practised on May and Ruth; they’re the other chambermaids. We do it for each other if and when we get a free moment, which isn’t often. It’s always busy here.’

  ‘We’ll see how good you are then, but I’d like some hot water first.’

  ‘Of course, my lady.’ Lottie bobbed a curtsey. ‘I’ll fetch it right away.’

  In the kitchen Lottie found Mrs Filby and Jezebel talking in loud whispers while Ruth rushed round taking food to the dining room. Mrs Filby turned on Lottie with a low growl. ‘I blame you for this.’

  ‘What have I done now?’ Lottie looked from one to the other in astonishment. It was not uncommon to get the blame for anything that went wrong, but she had been out all day.

  ‘I let you take a day off and you breeze in late on the arm of that lieutenant who brought the injured soldier to the inn,’ Mrs Filby said angrily. ‘I don’t know what went on between you two, but it must have been something that pleased him or you wouldn’t have been singled out by the lady. You’re forgetting your place, Lottie Lane. You are a skivvy, little more than a slavey, so you can forget the airs and graces.’

  ‘But that’s not how it was,’ Lottie protested. ‘I bumped into the lieutenant by chance.’

  ‘So you say.’ Mrs Filby thrust a serving dish into Lottie’s hands. ‘Take this to the dining room and give Ruth a hand. We’re full tonight and rushed off our feet.’

  ‘Yes, rushed off our feet,’ Jezebel repeated, scowling. ‘You can carve the ham when you’ve finished in the dining room, Lottie. I’ve only got one pair of hands.’

  ‘I have to take some hot water to her ladyship. She’s getting ready to come down to dine, and she wants me to do her hair.’

  ‘You’re going to do her hair?’ Mrs Filby and Jezebel exchanged wry glances. ‘I’d like to see that, but she’ll have to wait. Do as I tell you first, and see to the stuck-up bitch when you’ve finished in the dining room.’

  There was little that Lottie could do other than to obey her mistress, and then she had to appease Jezebel by carving the ham, which she did to the best of her ability. It was almost an hour later by the time she was free to take the hot water to Lady Aurelia. She opened the door with an apology on her lips, but was met with a sunny smile as Aurelia sat up and swung her legs over the side of the bed.

  ‘Ah, there you are, Lottie. I seized the opportunity for a quick nap, which is a trick I learned during my husband’s last campaign. I find I can cope with staying up all night as long as I have plenty of naps in the day. You should try it sometime.’ She moved to the washstand. ‘I’ve been looking forward to this. There’s nothing as comforting as dousing one’s hands and face in clean, warm water, unless it’s a long and luxurious bath.’

  Lottie filled the washbowl with the rapidly cooling water. ‘I’m sorry I took so long, my lady, but they are short-handed in the kitchen.’

  Aurelia splashed her face with water and reached for the towel. ‘How thoughtless of me. I shouldn’t have commandeered your services, but I’m very glad I did. You seem to me to be an extraordinary young woman. Do you ever think about leaving this place and making a life for yourself in the outside world?’

  ‘Sometimes I do, my lady.’

  Aurelia moved to the dressing table and sat down, handing a silver-backed brush to Lottie. ‘Let’s see what you can do with my hair.’ She met Lottie’s curious gaze in the fly-spotted mirror. ‘Tell me how you know Farrell. Did you have an assignation with him?’

  Lottie smothered a sigh. Why did everyone jump to the wrong conclusion? ‘No, my lady. It wasn’t like that.’

  ‘Go on. I’ve known Farrell for at least five years, and I’m very fond of him. Moreover, I trust his judgement: if he thinks you are worth his attention, then I must take note. Tell me how you came to meet him.’

  Lottie launched into an explanation as to how she had come to know Lieutenant Gillingham, and how they had met again at the Middlesex Hospital. Aurelia was a good listener and she seemed genuinely interested.

  ‘I’ve finished, my lady,’ Lottie said, fastening the last curl with a hairpin. ‘Is it satisfactory?’

  Aurelia turned her head from side to side, examining her reflection from as many angles as possible. ‘More than satisfactory, Lottie.
You have a natural gift for dressing hair. My maid could not have done better.’

  ‘I’m so glad you’re happy with it, my lady.’

  Aurelia twisted round on the stool. ‘You know you’re wasted in a place like this. I’m not certain about nursing as a career, but I would gladly take you on as lady’s maid. You’re quick and intelligent and you’d pick it up easily.’

  ‘I hadn’t even considered that prospect, my lady, but I would like to do something for the brave men who risk their lives to keep us all safe.’

  ‘I applaud your sentiments, but you’ll forgive me if I don’t share your romantic notions of war and the battlefield. It’s a beastly business, Lottie.’

  ‘But you married a soldier, my lady.’

  ‘My family, the de Morgans, have a long military history. My father, being the second son, naturally went into the army, but when his elder brother succumbed to typhus, Papa inherited the earldom. I knew what I was letting myself in for when I married Dashwood, but it’s not the life for everyone.’ She rose from the stool. ‘I like you, Lottie, and I am in dire need of a maidservant. Unfortunately, Merriweather, who has been with me since I was a child, is not in the best of health and I think her days of following the drum are coming to an end. Would you be interested in taking her place?’

  ‘Taking her place, my lady?’ Lottie stared at her in disbelief. ‘Are you offering me the position?’

  Aurelia gave her a long look. ‘Yes, I am. But you needn’t give me an answer at this very moment. Think about it tonight, and if you decide to throw your lot in with me, be ready first thing in the morning.’

  ‘Thank you, my lady.’ Dazed and taken by surprise, Lottie could hardly believe her ears, but Aurelia had picked up her fan and was heading for the door.

  ‘I’ll need you to show me to the dining room, Lottie. I’m hungry and I intend to eat my fill, as I always do before we embark on a campaign.’

  Lottie rushed to open the door for her. ‘Are you planning to accompany your husband, my lady?’

  ‘It goes without saying. I believe an army wife should support her husband, no matter what. We’ll be leaving for the Crimea as soon as the order is given.’ She stepped outside, pausing for a moment to glance over the balustrade. ‘You would travel with me, of course.’