by Carol Rivers
‘Did the Queen pass by here too?’ Ettie asked an elderly lady who sat next to them, feeding the pigeons.
‘I waited here to see her,’ replied the woman. ‘She was beautiful. I saw her close-up as the carriage slowed.’
‘You were very lucky.’
‘Indeed I was, love. Six miles of the city’s streets she travelled. But it upset me when I heard the news she couldn’t get out of the coach at the Cathedral.’
‘Why not?’ asked Mary.
‘Like me she’s got arthritis. Couldn’t get up those big steps. They say she shaded herself with a parasol and didn’t move an inch as the Archbishop said his prayers.’
‘She’s very brave,’ remarked Ettie.
‘Brave ain’t the word, ducks. A saint, I’d say.’
With this they departed, Jim leading them on again, through the city and back past Buckingham Palace for one last look.
Chapter 64
The royal guards were dressed in their uniforms of tall furry hats and red coats and stood to attention outside the gates. The public pressed their noses against the railings hoping to catch sight of their Queen.
But it was in Hyde Park that the real party was just beginning; water was being dispersed liberally to overheated revellers. Picnics were set out in the shade. Children played on the green grass, delighting in their day of freedom and the prospect of the late night to come.
‘Let’s go over there,’ said Jim, shouldering his way through the crowds. He found a leafy tree to sit under and Ettie watched Mary cuddle up to her beau.
Around them were a mass of smiling faces; some people sang, some danced and others were content to sit on the benches and watch the world go by. Couples strolled hand in hand, oblivious of their surroundings. Intent on each other, like Jim and Mary, they whispered words of endearment.
Ettie remembered how much she had once loved someone, too. And still did. Michael was never far from her mind and she thought of him now. It was over a year since she had last seen him in Silver Street. And even then, he hadn’t noticed her.
She heard a sudden movement and looked around to see Jim take Mary’s hand and draw her close. Ettie stood up.
‘I’m going for a short walk. I won’t be long,’ she assured them, discreetly leaving the sweethearts alone together.
She was happy for Mary. Jim seemed to be a sensible and loyal young man. He had won Mary over in the end. His love had changed her life and to a degree, her character.
Ettie walked through the park, her thoughts preoccupied. Everywhere she looked, Londoners enjoyed the sunshine. If only the world could always be in love there would be no wars or unhappiness!
Her life at Chancery House had become her world. Had she not been purchased by Mrs Powell, she might still be a workhouse flusher. The memory made her shudder.
Her thoughts returned to happier times; of Soho and the salon. She could see in her mind’s eye, the salon’s gaslight glow spreading an enchanted light over the shelves of tobaccos. She could smell their aromas as if they were all around her now. She could see Rose looking down at her, with her confident expression. Rose Benjamin, a woman she had admired and in whose footsteps she had tried to follow. Then the most bitter-sweet memory of all; her friend and employer Lucas with his twinkling blue eyes and passionate nature and Clara’s fine features, her pale hair a halo around her face. Ettie had grown to love them both and to love the baby she had imagined she would rock in her arms.
Surely, they could not be gone?
‘Watch out!’ a man yelled and Ettie stopped abruptly. Her feet were only a few inches away from the spinning wheels of a passing carriage. Her heart jumped into her throat. She stood, trembling and shaken. She had been so deep in thought, that she hadn’t seen the oncoming vehicle.
‘Th … thank you,’ she stammered to the concerned man.
‘Don’t thank me,’ he replied. ‘If it wasn’t for that driver pulling sharp on his reins, you’d be celebrating in hospital tonight.’
Ettie felt both foolish and fortunate to have avoided such a calamity. The man walked off and Ettie cast her eyes towards the departing carriage. Was there still time to express her thanks to the driver? Seated on the high seat of the open carriage where two young women reclined in the back, he was hatless and broad-shouldered.
Ettie recognized Michael immediately although she could not quite believe her eyes. She raised her hand and called out his name. But the noise around them swallowed her cry and he continued to drive in the opposite direction.
‘Ettie!’ a voice said and she turned. ‘Who were you calling?’ Mary enquired as she stood hand in hand with Jim.
‘Oh!’ Ettie faltered, ‘just someone I thought I knew.’
‘Well, we’ve something important to tell you.’ Mary blushed as she looked up at Jim.
Ettie tried to compose herself. Had she really seen Michael or was it a figment of her imagination? Had he only been a few feet away?
‘You tell her, Jim,’ Mary said breathlessly.
‘Well …’ said Jim hesitantly, ‘it’s like this …’
‘Oh, for goodness sake,’ Mary burst out, ‘I might as well say it meself. Ettie, we’re going to elope!’
‘Elope?’ Ettie repeated. ‘What do you mean?’
‘We’re running away to get married,’ Mary confirmed.
’But your jobs,’ Ettie blurted. ‘You can’t leave them.’
‘Rubbish,’ Mary replied. ‘I’ve had enough of the toffs. And so would you if you’d been slaving away for ‘em for nigh on six years.’
‘But Lady Marsden took you off the streets, Mary.’
‘I didn’t ask her to, did I?’ Mary snapped.
‘Why don’t you ask permission to get married to Jim?’
‘They’d never allow it,’ Mary insisted. ‘They’d stop us somehow.’
Jim put his arm around Mary’s shoulders. ‘Ettie, you’ve got to understand the way it works. Lady Marsden only took Mary in as a charitable cause. To impress her friends and the society she moves in. But you’ve seen the way these people live. They all show off to each other and don’t give a monkey’s uncle for us lowers.’
‘But where will you go?’ Ettie tried to reason. ‘You both have a good home at Chancery House.’
‘In reality I’m just a groom and they come ten to a penny,’ said Jim sourly. ‘Mary will never be more than a downstairs lackey. So we’ve decided to marry in Scotland.’
‘Scotland! But that’s so far away,’ Ettie gasped.
‘Far enough away to start a new life.’
‘It’s what I want Ettie,’ Mary said softly. ‘And what this little ‘un wants, too.’ Blushing, she placed her hands on her belly.
‘Mary, you’re not …’
‘I am – and proud to be,’ her friend boasted. ‘I love Jim and he loves me. And we’ve made something of our very own.’
Ettie knew by the resolute looks on their faces she could do nothing to stop them. But what could the future hold without money or connections and a little one on the way?
‘Are you sure?’
Jim drew Mary close. ‘I’ve saved a little. Enough to get us to Gretna Green where they will marry us, no questions asked. I’ve heard tell they need men on the fishing fleet. That’s a life I wouldn’t mind. And, we’d have plenty of fish for supper.’ He gave a chuckle. ‘Life can’t be any worse for us there than it is here. And it might be a good deal better.’
‘I’ll pray for you and the baby,’ Ettie said, close to tears herself. ‘I know how much you love each other and I wish you luck.’
‘I’m sorry again for being such a cow,’ Mary said softly.
‘When are you leaving?’ Ettie managed to ask.
‘We’re leaving London by coach in an hour,’ replied Jim. ‘The stable lad will drive you home.’
‘Jim left a letter for Mr Gane,’ Mary confirmed. ‘Not that I would have bothered. I say good riddance to bloody Mrs Powell forever! But Jim felt it was the decent thing to do.�
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‘There’s bound to be a bit of a ruckus,’ Jim warned. ‘If we’ve dared to leave our jobs, they’ll be worried the others might, too.’
‘Please keep what we’ve told you a secret,’ Mary made Ettie promise. ‘I can’t write so I won’t be able to send you a letter. Mrs Powell would only open it anyway. But somehow I’ll get a message to you when we’re settled.’
After a final, tearful embrace, Ettie stood amidst the celebrating crowds, watching the couple make their way to the Marble Arch exit. Would she ever see or hear from them again? Somehow, she didn’t think so.
It was a lonely walk back to London Bridge for Ettie, despite the excitement that was consuming the city. Today might well be the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee but for Ettie it would always be the day in history that would remind her of her two dear friends, Mary and Jim. Emboldened by love, they were determined to seek a better life for themselves and their child.
Might her own life have been very different, Ettie wondered, if she had gone with Michael that day in Victoria Park?
Chapter 65
It was growing dark as the stable lad drove the cart packed with exhausted but jubilant lowers back to Poplar.
‘Where’s Mary and Jim?’ everyone wanted to know.
Ettie said nothing and tried not to look guilty. She was relieved when it was suggested that no doubt they were still celebrating, both a bit worse for wear.
‘They’ll get a pasting,’ a footman suggested, ‘if they don’t show up bright and early tomorrow.’
‘Doubt they’re bothered,’ decided a chambermaid. ‘All over each other they were.’
Ettie pretended to doze, as the cart rocked along. But interest was soon lost in Jim and Mary as the glow of the bonfires on the hill south of the river took everyone’s attention. Ettie’s thoughts, however, were no longer on the celebrations that would continue deep into the night. All she could think of was Michael, sitting up high on the open carriage seat with his two young passengers in the rear. Neither of them, it appeared, had noticed the clumsy pedestrian with whom they had nearly collided. Yet the man who had called out to warn her had said it was because of the driver’s quick action that disaster was averted. Perhaps Michael had recognized her and chosen to ignore her?
Ettie went over that moment many times in her mind. She heard the animated voices around her and the cries of astonishment as fireworks soared high into the night sky. She thought about Jim and Mary and wondered where they were and if they would reach Scotland.
The stable lad drove the cart into the lane behind Chancery House and the voices quietened as the lowers prepared to resume their duties. Ettie joined the hungry queue into the boot room, but she avoided the kitchen where Cook had left a cold buffet for the staff. The thought of eating held no appeal as she climbed the back stairs to the attic.
Tonight she would sleep alone. She couldn’t quite believe that Mary had gone. Or that she would not lay awake listening to Mary’s snores. Or that, in the morning, she would not watch Mary dress hurriedly in order to meet her sweetheart. For all Mary’s black moods, she had become a good friend.
To Ettie’s surprise, there was a light under the door of their room. Perhaps it was the reflection of fireworks and bonfires through the window? But as she opened the door, a long shadow fell over Ettie.
Head’s face was grim in the light of the candle she held. Ettie guessed immediately that Mr Gane had found Jim’s letter.
Chapter 66
‘So, you’ve returned at last,’ Head accused. ‘You were told to be back by seven o’clock. It’s now nearly eight.’
‘I’m sorry, Head.’
Ettie knew better than to offer excuses as Head swept past her. ‘My room in five minutes,’ she barked.
The door closed with a loud thud. Ettie pressed down her blouse and skirt with trembling hands. Had Mr Gane discovered Jim’s letter?
When Ettie opened the door to the nursery, she found it deserted. Most of the nursery staff had accompanied the family to the city. An eerie silence filled the air as Ettie stood outside Head’s door. What was she to say to the questioning? As much as she considered the problem, Ettie knew she could not disclose Jim and Mary’s whereabouts.
‘Enter,’ summoned the voice after Ettie knocked.
She had only visited Head’s room once before, a space no larger than a broom cupboard. She stood stiffly before the small desk where Head was seated. Her thin face and arched eyebrows were drawn into a grim expression.
‘Do you recognize these?’ The unexpected question came as a bolt from the blue. Head lowered her eyes to the table. On its surface lay Mary’s hand mirror and tortoiseshell slide. ‘I found them in your room on the washstand,’ Head continued. ‘Make a full and honest confession and you may not be prosecuted.’
Ettie’s stomach dropped. Prosecuted? For what reason? The slide and mirror belonged to Mary. ’I don’t understand, Head,’ she said bewildered.
‘You know very well that these two items belong to the laundry maid. She reported them missing from her cupboard over a week ago. You visit the slops room each morning and have access to the cupboards.’
Ettie swallowed, her throat suddenly thick with bile. It was not her, but Mary who visited the slops room in order to meet Jim. And Mary who had told her the mirror was a gift from Jim.
‘Seizing your opportunity, you helped yourself,’ accused Head.
‘No! No … I …’ Ettie stopped, realizing that if she denied the accusation, she must also implicate Mary.
‘Yes, O’Reilly? You were about to say?’ Head steepled her long, bony fingers.
Ettie looked down at the hand mirror. Its pretty tulip engraving caught the light of the gas lamp. What could have possessed Mary to steal these things? Mary may have told small lies and exaggerated the truth, but she was no thief. Ettie couldn’t believe she was. And yet here was proof to the contrary.
‘Have you nothing to say for yourself?’ Head demanded.
Ettie could only shake her head as she tried to think of an answer. But whatever she said in her defence, must also shift the blame to Mary.
‘The theft and admission of it, will be reported to Mrs Powell and the authorities in the morning. Have your bags packed and the attic tidied.’
Ettie felt her blood run cold as she waited, hoping this was a terrible mistake. But Head’s accusing black eyes left no room for doubt.
The blame for the stolen articles was now placed squarely on Ettie’s shoulders.
Early the next morning, she stood before Mrs Powell, Mr Gane and Head, in the butler’s pantry. Mr Gane had informed her that a serious infringement of her duties was the reason she had been summoned there to face judgement. Suspected of being a thief, punishable by immediate dismissal, Mrs Powell had also voiced the threat of prosecution.
Ettie had never before seen inside this cavernous room with its long, spotlessly scrubbed dining table and many chairs tucked under its length. Surrounded by cabinets full of the best china, silver and brass, Ettie felt as though she was in a courtroom and three stern judges were assessing her.
In reply to their repeated questioning, she had been unable to give answers. Had she done so, any one of them may have incriminated Mary. Not one question though, had been put to her about their disappearance. It was as if she no longer counted as part and parcel of the lowers. Instead, she had been found guilty and was to be exorcised from their midst.
The early morning light shone bleakly down on the cold stone flags at her feet. Her workshop clogs reminded her of the day she had arrived here. Now she stood once again in the clothes she had worn then; a workhouse shift, her moth-eaten shawl and an expression of hopelessness on her face.
‘You have offered no reason or apology for your actions,’ Mr Gane decided at last. His chin was raised over his stiff collar and his back ramrod-straight under his black jacket. ‘We must assume it was greed and greed only that led you to committing the crime. You have betrayed our trust, O’Reilly, and that of
the entire household.’
Ettie felt her head drop with shame. Even though she was innocent, she felt Mary’s guilt. To steal from another was also a sin; not hers in this instance, but nevertheless, the butler’s words pierced her heart. Tears splintered on her lashes as her world fell around her.
Mrs Powell stepped forward, her hands clenched in front of her.
‘You are fortunate. The maid from whom you stole has not initiated proceedings. Therefore, this embarrassment will not go before the police. Nor will your disgrace be revealed to Lord and Lady Marsden.’
Ettie raised her eyes, too full of unshed tears to see clearly the three faces in front of her. But the words Mrs Powell had spoken only deepened the wound in her heart.
‘You will leave Chancery House immediately.’
Ettie gasped a breath. Her body trembled under this final blow. She could not even beg for another chance; there was no hope her plea would be heard. For in their eyes and in the whole household’s, she was now confirmed a thief.
Silence descended and Ettie realized there was no more to be said. She turned, her shoulders drooping in mortification. Somehow, she walked from the room, clutching her cloth bag.
Her steps were slow and halting as she passed the kitchen passage. At the end of it, stood Cook, dabbing her eyes with the corner of her apron.
Ettie raised her hand hopefully. Cook, whom she considered to be her friend. Cook, who surely would not believe she was guilty?
But Cook turned away, rejecting her gesture, leaving the passage empty. No other member of staff appeared. Ettie knew the whole household had been given orders to ignore her.
With the unbearable weight of this unfair disgrace, Ettie left Chancery House. Her head hung as she stumbled through the boot room; the tradesmen’s entrance from which only yesterday afternoon, she had departed in high spirits with Jim and Mary to celebrate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.
Chapter 67
