An Orphan's Journey

by Rosie Goodwin

  ‘You always start at the outside with the cutlery and work in.’ The cook demonstrated, but Pearl was still unsure. ‘But now that’s enough of standing about, run a duster round this room while I go and start preparing the meal. You’ll find all the cleaning things you’ll need in the cupboard in the kitchen I showed you. And don’t skimp on the polish either. The mistress likes to be able to see her face in the furniture, so be sure to use a little elbow grease.’

  Pearl nodded and followed her back to the kitchen before returning to the dining room, armed with everything she would need. Now that she was alone, she had a little more time to look about and as her eyes settled on a portrait in a gilt frame that took pride of place in the centre of the wall next to the table, her breath caught in her throat.

  It was of a young girl and she looked so remarkably like Eliza that Pearl was stunned. She had the same green eyes and blonde curly hair, although hers was somewhat longer than Eliza’s, but most striking of all was that they had the same perfectly oval face. In many ways, Pearl looked a little like the girl as well, but as her face was heart-shaped, the similarity wasn’t as glaring. She stood for a full minute admiring it, but then started guiltily and crossing to the sideboard she began to polish it as if her life depended on it. I’ll ask Cook who the girl in the portrait is when I go back to the kitchen, she promised herself, as she got on with her chores.

  By the time she had worked her way around the room, carefully moving all the ornaments and trinkets before polishing, the place smelled of beeswax and lavender and she straightened and looked around with satisfaction at what she considered a job well done. When she was quite happy that she hadn’t missed anything, she made her way back to the kitchen, just as the door leading out to the stables slammed open on its hinges and a youth with a sour expression on his face appeared. He had obviously been riding if the whip in his hand and the jodhpurs he was wearing were anything to go by.

  ‘Send some tea through to the day room immediately,’ he told Cook shortly, and she scowled at him as she looked down at the mud his boots were trailing across her clean kitchen floor.

  ‘How many times have I to ask you not to come in this way, lad?’ she scolded.

  ‘And how many times do I have to remind you that this is my parents’ house and I can go wherever I like in it! And may I also remind you that it’s Master Monty to you!’ he shot back disrespectfully. He noticed Eliza and Pearl then, and peered at them in turn.

  So this is Monty, the young master of the house, Pearl thought. He was tall and slim and Pearl guessed probably a couple of years older than herself. His hair was dark and straight and his eyes were a toffee colour, but there was no warmth in them and she took an instant dislike to him.

  At that moment Mrs Veasey appeared and she too frowned as she looked at the state of the floor. ‘I suggest you take your boots off before you go into the hall, sir,’ Mrs Veasey told him. ‘I’m sure your mother would be none too pleased should you ruin any of her lovely rugs.’

  He narrowed his eyes for a moment but then dropped on to the nearest chair, yanked his boots off, threw them across the room and stormed out into the hallway.

  The cook shook her head and tutted in disgust. ‘It’s about time someone taught that young man some manners,’ she muttered, as Pearl hurried past her to put the polish and the dusters away. ‘Pearl, would you take those boots outside to the pump and wash the worst of the mud off them? I just hope the poor horse is all right. He’s a cruel young devil is Master Monty! Will said Spirit was all of a lather when he took him back to the stables yesterday.’

  Pearl did as she was asked, suddenly wondering if she and Eliza had ended up in such a good place after all. The young master had stared at them both as if they were dirt beneath his feet, but then she was used to being looked down on. She remembered the looks she would get from people when her mother had sent her out begging on the streets, and the way the staff at the workhouse had treated her, and she supposed so long as the mistress was kind to them she could put up with her son.

  The rest of the afternoon was spent doing any jobs that the cook asked her to and eventually she told her, ‘You’d best nip up to your room and change into your best uniform now, Pearl. You’ll wear that for waiting on table or answering the door to visitors.’

  Pearl was only too happy to do as she was told. The uniform was a pale dove-grey dress with a tiny white lace collar over which she was to wear a frilled broderie anglaise pinafore and a matching mop cap. Once she had put it on, she stared at her reflection in the tiny cracked mirror over the washstand and smiled. It was the prettiest outfit she had ever owned, although the dress was a fraction big and slightly too long. Even so, there was a broad smile on her face when she went back downstairs.

  For the next half an hour, Cook and Mrs Veasey taught her how she was to serve the meal.

  ‘You just carry the dishes in and place them carefully in the middle of the table,’ Mrs Veasey instructed. ‘The mistress will serve them and you never speak unless you are spoken to and only then to answer. Oh, and don’t forget to bob your knee when you leave the room after asking if there is anything else they require. Do you understand?’

  ‘I think so.’ Pearl’s head was spinning. There was so much to take in but she hoped she’d soon get the hang of it.

  Once the family were seated in the dining room a little bell – one of many that hung in the kitchen in a row on a brass pole – tinkled, indicating that the family were ready for the meal to be served.

  ‘I shall serve the first course tonight. It’s soup,’ Mrs Veasey told her as she lifted a steaming tureen. Pearl’s eyes widened; she wasn’t sure she’d be able to lift that tureen alone and with her limp she might splosh the soup everywhere – she just had to hope they didn’t eat soup too often. ‘Then you can help me serve the main meal. But I shall only help you for this evening to make sure that you’ve remembered everything I have told you, so just watch me and pay attention.’

  She disappeared and returned soon after. They waited then until the bell tinkled again to tell them that the first course was finished and Mrs Veasey took a large wooden tray and hurried off to collect the dirty soup dishes, which she passed to Eliza to wash.

  ‘Now, Pearl, we are ready for the main.’

  ‘Yes, missus.’ Both she and the housekeeper each took a large dish of steaming vegetables and set off down the hallway. When they entered the dining room, they found Mr and Mrs Forbes and their son already seated, and with a polite nod Mrs Veasey approached the table and laid her dish down. Pearl quickly did the same, trying to keep her eyes away from the portrait of the golden-haired child, before they hurried back to the kitchen. It took four journeys to fetch all the food in. As well as the vegetables, there were dishes of roast and mashed potatoes and a large leg of pork covered in crispy crackling that made Pearl’s mouth water. Finally, Mrs Veasey carried in two different bottles of wine while Pearl followed with a large gravy boat. Mrs Veasey looked at Pearl expectantly. Suddenly remembering what she was to do, Pearl blurted, ‘D’you want anythin’ else, missus?’

  Mr Forbes glanced up with a look of surprise on his face as Mrs Forbes tried not to smile.

  ‘No thank you, Pearl,’ she said with an amused twinkle in her eye. ‘When we are ready for the second course we shall ring.’

  Pearl awkwardly bobbed her knee and almost fell over in the process as Mrs Veasey hurriedly shooed her out of the room closing the door gently behind them.

  ‘Goodness me. Whoever was that?’ Mr Forbes enquired as he started to carve the meat.

  His wife grinned. ‘That was Pearl, our new maid. She came here with the latest batch of children from the orphanages and workhouses in London. She’s a bit of a rough diamond admittedly but I’m sure she’ll do well with a bit of coaching.’

  Her husband shook his head. ‘Let’s hope you’re right, my dear. I dread to think what your guests will think of her accent.’

  ‘She has a younger sister too, who will be
helping Cook in the kitchen,’ his wife informed him. ‘She’s such a sweet little thing, I’m sure you’ll like her.’

  ‘I doubt I’ll even get to see her,’ he answered as he placed a slice of the succulent pork on each of their plates, and she supposed he was right. He was always so busy working, which was why he was so happy to leave the running of the house to her.

  Monty, meanwhile, looked on with a sulky scowl on his face and wolfed down his meal.

  ‘That Mr Monty is a sour-faced devil, ain’t he?’ Pearl said to Mrs Veasey as they made their way back to the kitchen.

  The woman sighed. Pearl seemed to be a good little worker, she had to admit, but there was a lot of work to do with her before she was ready to admit visitors, and it was a shame about her limp.

  ‘You really shouldn’t pass such comments about members of the family, Pearl,’ she scolded. ‘And certainly, never outside of these four walls. A good maid should always be loyal to her employees.’

  Pearl apologised, even though as far as she was concerned, she’d only said the truth, but she didn’t want to get into bother on her first day so she said nothing more. But he is a sour-faced devil an’ I don’t like him one bit! she said to herself, as she helped Eliza dry the dishes.

  Both girls were tired and Pearl’s hip was aching when they were allowed to retire to their beds that evening, but all in all Pearl felt that their first day in their new job had gone quite well, even though being on her feet so much had started Eliza coughing again.

  ‘It’s nice to think we’ll get to have every Sunday afternoon off, ain’t it?’ she said to her sister as they snuggled down into their beds. ‘Wi’ a bit o’ luck we’ll be able to meet up wi’ Susan an’ Nick. I wonder how they’re gettin’ on in their new jobs? An’ the missus an’ cook seem all right an’ all. An’ Mrs Veasey, if it comes to that.’

  But the only answer was the sound of Eliza gently snoring, so after snuffing the candle out, Pearl snuggled down under the blankets and within seconds was fast asleep.

  Chapter Fourteen

  O

  n their first Sunday afternoon in their new home, after helping Eliza to wash and dry the dinner pots, Pearl set off to explore. Eliza had said that she wanted to stay and rest, and although Pearl would have preferred to have her sister with her, she headed for the town, hoping for a glimpse of Susan or Nick.

  It was a warm day and Pearl enjoyed being out in the fresh air. As she moved along, she admired the miles of woodland that climbed up the hill on the other side of the river. Having lived in the slums of London, she had never seen so many trees in her life, but better still were the clusters of bright-yellow anemones – known as windflowers and archangels – that grew beneath them. Soon the town came into view; it was very different to the first time she had seen it as it was very quiet and all the shops were shut. There was a saloon bar open though, and as she passed it, the sound of music and laughter drifted out to her.

  Pearl concentrated on looking for the bakery where she believed Susan had gone to work. She’d given Susan’s description to Will and he had said he’d seen her briefly the day before when he went into town and she had asked him to let Pearl know where she was. Luckily, just as Pearl spotted the place, Susan emerged from an alley that ran down the side of it.

  ‘Pearl!’ Her face broke into a wide grin at the sight of her friend and she flew towards her, her pleasure at seeing her plain to see.

  ‘So ’ow ’ave yer been in yer first week?’ the girl enquired as they fell into step and continued on towards the docks.

  ‘Not bad. I gets to wear a really nice uniform when I’m servin’ at table but the one I wear fer lightin’ the fires an’ cleanin’ ain’t so posh. But what about you? How have you got on?’

  Just for a second Susan’s smile slipped, but then she said cheerily, ‘Oh, not so bad really. I mean it’s bloody ’ard work! I ’as to be up at five of a mornin’ to light the ovens an’ then I barely stop all day. Even after all the customers are gone I ain’t finished ’cause I ’ave to clean the place ready fer the next day. Still, I gets plenty to eat so that’s sommat, ain’t it?’

  Pearl turned her head to look at her more closely and after a moment she asked soberly, ‘An’ how did yer get that bruise on yer cheek? It’s a beauty an’ I’m surprised yer don’t have a black eye with it an’ all.’

  Susan’s hand rose self-consciously to stroke her swollen cheek as she shrugged. ‘Aw, I just whacked it on the oven door but it’s fine. It’ll be gone in a few days. But tell me about the Forbes family. I’ve ’eard tell they’re ever so posh an’ ever so rich. Are they kind to yer?’

  ‘Well, Mrs Forbes is kind,’ Pearl told her as they arrived at the docks where an enormous ship was being unloaded. ‘I ain’t really seen much of the master, but Monty, the son, ain’t so nice. In fact, he’s horrid! He nearly pushed me over in the yard yesterday as I were gettin’ the washin’ in. He treats all the servants like dirt ’cept fer Mrs Veasey the housekeeper ’cause she soon puts him in his place if he so much as sets a foot wrong.’ As they perched their backsides on some barrels by the quay, Pearl went on, ‘I’ve got an idea Master Monty is about to be sent away to finish his schoolin’ in England. I over’eard Mrs Veasey an’ the cook talkin’ about it while I were makin’ the fire up yesterday. It seems he’s upset his dad in some way but I don’t know what he’s done. To be honest, I’ll be pleased if he does go; I can’t stand him. But what about Nick? Have yer heard how he’s goin’ on? Or Freda at the butcher’s?’

  ‘Not a word.’ Susan sighed. ‘The farm ’e’s workin’ on is about two miles out of town from what Mrs Belling, me boss, says. She’s all right as it ’appens but I ain’t so keen on ’im.’

  ‘Why is that?’

  Susan wiped her nose on the sleeve of her faded dress and shrugged. ‘Oh ’e’s, er . . . yer know? A bit touchy-feely, like. But don’t worry I can ’andle ’is sort, an’ it’s only when ’is missus ain’t about. The dirty old bleeder.’

  Pearl looked so dismayed at this information that Susan couldn’t help but grin. ‘I told yer, don’t worry. I’ll give ’im a good kick in ’is old man if ’e comes it too thick. An’ as fer yer other question, far as I know Freda’s none too pleased about workin’ at the butcher’s ’cause she told me she always fancied working in a baker’s. Now I’ve met the gaffer I almost wish she’d got my job instead!’

  Pearl couldn’t help but chuckle. Susan was a law unto herself, despite the fact that she was only a scrap of a girl. They went on to talk of other things until the light began to slowly fade and Pearl said, ‘I reckon I’d best be gettin’ back to check on Eliza. What are you goin’ to do wi’ the rest o’ your day off?’

  ‘Eat an’ sleep,’ Susan said decisively, as they strolled back in the direction of the baker’s shop.

  Once there they gave each other a hug, and then with promises that she would be back the same time the following Sunday, Pearl set off back to the Forbeses’ grand home.

  There was a carriage at the bottom of the steps outside the front door when she arrived but thinking nothing of it, she set off around the side of the house for the servants’ entrance. As she entered the kitchen, Cook, who was sitting at the side of the fire with her feet on a stool and a glass of ale in her hand, told her, ‘The mistress has called the doctor in to have a look at Eliza. She’s worried about her cough. He’s with her now, I reckon, if you want to go up and check.’

  Pearl was off up the stairs like a shot from a gun and was just in time to find the doctor speaking to Mrs Forbes on the landing. They both glanced up as they heard her and Mrs Forbes smiled.

  ‘Ah, Pearl, here you are. The doctor has just examined Eliza, I was a bit worried about that cough of hers, but thankfully he says it’s nothing to worry about. She has a weak chest and just needs rest and this tonic he’s prescribed.’

  ‘Thanks, missus,’ Pearl mumbled as relief flooded through her. She wasn’t sure what she would do were anything to happen to her little sis
ter, they had always been so close.

  The doctor bid them good day then as Mrs Forbes said, ‘Going on what he said, I’ve decided I’m going to move Lizzie into the main house until she’s completely recovered.’

  It took Pearl a moment to realise that Mrs Forbes was talking about Eliza. She found it strange to hear Eliza addressed as Lizzie. She had never had her name shortened to that before. She was a bit saddened at the thought of them being separated, but knew it was for the best.

  ‘I shall also tell Cook that she won’t be helping in the kitchen for the foreseeable future,’ Mrs Forbes continued. ‘I also thought . . . well, this is just a thought, but my husband has decided that our son should finish his education in England so he will be leaving for London next month. As we booked the tutor he has here for the next two years, I’ve decided that he may as well teach you and Lizzie for a couple of hours each day. How does that sound to you? And you can join Monty for some lessons starting tomorrow.’

  Pearl’s face lit up as she nodded with her eyes shining. ‘I’d love that, missus! I can already write me own name.’

  ‘In that case, I shall go and have a room prepared for Lizzie immediately.’ She swept along the landing in a rustle of silk skirts, then suddenly paused and turned back to say, ‘Oh, and once Monty has left, I shall be giving you both elocution lessons. I’ll discuss with Mrs Veasey what time is best. I really can’t have you addressing my visitors speaking as you do.’

  Pearl awkwardly bobbed her knee; she could never quite seem to get the hang of it. ‘Thanks, missus.’

  ‘Thank you, Mrs Forbes,’ the woman corrected her. ‘We may as well start as we mean to go on.’

  And then she was gone, leaving Pearl to wonder how she and Eliza had got so lucky with their employment. But then I’ve never worked in a posh house before, she thought. Per’aps all posh folk treat their staff this way?

  She went into the bedroom to find Eliza sitting in bed, propped up with pillows, looking considerably brighter than she had for some long time.