An Orphan's Journey

by Rosie Goodwin

  The words had barely left her lips when Mrs Forbes entered the room and clapped her hands with delight when she caught sight of the tree.

  ‘That looks truly magnificent, I couldn’t have done a better job myself,’ she praised Pearl, who flushed with pleasure at the compliment. ‘But if you are both done, girls, I’m expecting Mrs Pettigrew-Simms at any moment. If the weather doesn’t prevent her getting here, that is,’ she added as she too looked towards the window.

  Both Pearl and Susan bobbed their knees and hastily left the room. Once out in the hallway, Susan went to prepare the afternoon tea trolley, while Pearl went up to tidy Mrs Forbes’s room. She avoided the kitchen as much as she could now, for Eliza and Freda were getting on no better, although in fairness Pearl had to admit that it was more down to Freda than her sister. Freda was constantly uttering sarcastic comments and trying to get Eliza into trouble, whereas Eliza was just very quiet. During the summer she had hoped that Eliza was coming out of herself again, but then that had ended in disaster, and she wasn’t sure if anything would ever bring a smile back to her sister’s face.

  She was beginning to wonder if she shouldn’t take her back to England when they were a little older. They were very fairly treated, admittedly, but they had certainly not found the wonderful new life the orphans had hoped for before they left. Pearl was also still very keen to try to track down Amy, which would be virtually impossible if they stayed here. But that, she decided, would be something to think of in a few years’ time. They were both saving every penny of their wages they could, but she knew that as well as paying for their passages home she would also need enough for them to live on when they arrived until they both found work, and that was still a long way away.

  As she crossed to straighten the heavy velvet drapes hanging at the window, she caught sight of Mrs Pettigrew-Simms’s fine carriage coming along the drive, so after hasti-ly straightening her skirt and patting her hair, she hurried downstairs to admit the visitor.

  ‘Thank you, my dear.’ Mrs Pettigrew-Simms handed her coat to Pearl as Mrs Forbes came out of the drawing room to greet her.

  ‘Oh, Eunice, I wasn’t at all sure you would be able to make it,’ Mrs Forbes said.

  ‘Well, I would have been earlier,’ Pearl heard the visitor say as she was led into the drawing room. ‘But The Mermaid has just docked and it’s chaos in the town. All the shopkeepers are there for the supplies they have ordered. It’s a good thing, of course, because at least we know they will all be well stocked for Christmas . . .’

  Pearl’s heart began to pound with excitement as the door closed on the two women. The Mermaid was here, which hopefully meant that Nick would be, too. He had told her that he would be staying at the Bear Hotel on the high street for the duration of his stay and she wondered when she would be able to get there. Perhaps she could manage it that evening, provided Mrs Forbes didn’t need her after she had helped her dress for dinner? With a happy smile, she lifted her skirts and hurried towards the kitchen to tell Eliza and Susan the good news.

  She found Susan and Will enjoying a cup of tea together at the table, and when she glanced towards Cook, the woman winked at her and grinned. The two of them seemed to be getting along very well lately and both Pearl and Cook were wondering if this might not be the start of something sweet. So, saving her news for later, Pearl slipped away.

  The day passed interminably slowly, but immediately after dinner Mrs Forbes pleaded a headache and declared she would have an early night, so after helping her to bed Pearl was finally free and she hurried off to her room to get changed.

  Eliza was still down in the kitchen tackling the towering pile of dinner pots, but tonight Pearl didn’t even think about helping her. She was too keen to see Nick. So after changing into her prettiest dress, she took the pins from her hair and brushed it until it shone, then donning her thick cloak and her boots, she rushed downstairs and was off down the drive like a hare.

  It was bitterly cold and the snow was still falling thick and fast, causing her to stumble. But worse than that, in no time at all the hem of her dress was sodden and snow had crept over the top of her boots, but she was so excited about seeing Nick again that she barely even noticed.

  At the end of the drive, she turned on to the lane that led into the town. She had gone no more than a few yards when a male figure loomed out of the snow ahead of her, causing her to gasp with fright. But then the figure spoke and her heart began to bang with joy so loudly that she feared he would hear it.

  ‘Pearl . . . is that you?’ a voice asked hesitantly.

  She giggled like a child. ‘Yes . . . yes, Nick, it’s me.’

  Suddenly, they were face to face and beaming at each other. ‘I guessed word would have reached you that we’d docked. News usually travels like wildfire in this place so I was hoping that you’d come to see me when you could get away and I thought I’d come and walk into town with you,’ he told her.

  Suddenly feeling shy as she remembered the feel of his soft lips on hers, she could only nod as warm colour seeped into her cheeks.

  They stood there for a moment, just staring at each other, until Nick suddenly reached out and took her cold hands in his. ‘I . . . I’ve missed you,’ he muttered. ‘In fact, I’ve thought about you every single day since we set sail.’

  ‘I’ve missed you too,’ she admitted, and suddenly she was in his arms and he was kissing her again and she had the strangest feeling that she had come home. This was where she wanted to be and belonged and she knew in that moment that Nick was the man she wanted to spend the rest of her life with.

  When they finally broke apart, Nick grinned happily. ‘Phew! I was worried that you’d forget about me while I was gone.’

  She shook her head, still holding tight to his hand. ‘I could never forget about you, Nick,’ she admitted. ‘And I’ve thought about you every day, too.’

  It was far too cold to stand still for long so, huddled together, they began to walk.

  ‘I’ll take you into the little parlour at the back of the hotel,’ he told her. ‘Mrs Baggett who owns the place doesn’t mind her guests using it for visitors and she’ll probably make us a pot of tea to warm us up an’ all if I use me charm on her. I certainly can’t take you into the bar. Mrs Forbes would go mad if she were to find out.’

  Pearl smiled at the thought, but then they fell silent as they battled on through the thick-falling snow. It was no easy task to stay upright on the lane and they slipped and slithered their way into town. By the time the high street came into view they were breathless, but Nick squeezed her hand encouragingly. ‘Not far now and we can get warm by a nice big log fire.’

  Minutes later he led her down an alley to the back of the hotel and into a small parlour with comfy leather wing chairs dotted about and a roaring fire in the grate. Almost instantly their outer clothes began to steam in the heat, and he laughed as he helped her off with her cloak.

  ‘Come on, come and get warm,’ he encouraged.

  Only too glad to do as she was told, Pearl crossed to the fire and held her hands out to it. The snow in her boots was melting rapidly so she took those off too and laid them on the hearth to dry out while Nick pottered away to request a warm drink for them.

  By the time he returned, she was sitting by the fire with a dreamy expression on her face as she stared into the flames and imagined the little house they would buy one day. She would have a fire just like this one burning every night for him to come home to, and she could imagine them cuddled close together in one of the chairs after dinner as the snow fell outside.

  ‘A penny for your thoughts?’

  She started and flushed an even deeper shade of red. What would he think of her if she were to tell him about her imaginings when he hadn’t even officially asked if she would be his girl yet?

  ‘Oh, I, er . . .’ Thankfully she was saved from having to say any more when the door opened and a young maid entered bearing a tray.

  ‘Tea for two,’ she said brig
htly and Pearl recognised her as one of the girls who had travelled on the orphan ship with her. ‘Would you like me to pour it for you?’ the girl asked politely as she set the cups and saucers out.

  Pearl shook her head. ‘Thank you, but no, I can do it.’

  When the girl bustled away, Pearl lifted the strainer and began to pour the tea into the two cups. ‘Sugar? One lump or two?’ She smiled as it dawned on her that she was already planning their future when she didn’t even know how he liked his tea.

  ‘Two please.’

  They drank the tea quickly, and then he pulled her from her chair and down on to his lap.

  ‘So tell me what’s been going on while I’ve been away,’ he said and Pearl quickly obliged.

  ‘It’s still like living in a war zone with Freda and Eliza constantly at each other’s throats,’ she told him regretfully. ‘Although in fairness it’s usually Freda who starts the trouble. She’s so jealous and spiteful to Eliza. And the master and mistress have had a few rows lately too, usually about Monty.’ She shook her head. ‘You can’t help but hear them when they get going. Monty doesn’t like working, you see, and he’s been running up gambling debts. His father refused to pay any more off for him a few weeks ago but I suspect he’s going to his mother for money now.’ She shuddered as she thought of him. He still tried to waylay her at every opportunity, and she’d taken to glancing over her shoulder frequently to make sure he wasn’t behind her. She had come to detest him but had to be polite because he was her employer’s son.

  ‘I don’t trust him around Eliza either,’ she confided worriedly. ‘She couldn’t stand him at one time but now she seems to have developed a crush on him. The trouble is, Freda is sweet on him too, and the two of them ended up fighting over him. I’m glad in a way because since then, as far as I know, he’s given them both a wide berth. I dare say he doesn’t want to do anything else to upset his parents.’ She could have added that Monty’s attentions were all now firmly fixed on herself, but she didn’t know how Nick might react to that so she kept it to herself.

  Nick went on to tell her of all the places he had been, including his visit to London, where sadly he’d not found out anything about Amy, but he promised he would try again when he was next there.

  The time seemed to pass in the blink of an eye, until eventually Pearl’s eyes lit on the clock on the mantelpiece and she jumped off his lap.

  ‘Crikey, it’s almost ten o’clock. I don’t think Mrs Forbes would be any too happy if she knew I was out so late. I ought to be going.’

  ‘I’ll walk you back,’ Nick offered, hurrying to fetch her cloak, and soon after they again stepped out into the freezing snow. The wind had risen alarmingly and Pearl had to cling on to his arm as they battled through the town with their heads bent. The journey took twice as long as it should have done because of the blizzard-like conditions, but at last they reached the end of the drive and he pulled her close to his chest again.

  ‘Can I see you again tomorrow night?’ he asked hopefully, but she had no time to answer because as she raised her face to look up at him he kissed her again, and just for a short while there was no one else in the world but the two of them.

  ‘I-I should go in now,’ she whispered when they finally drew apart. ‘And yes, if I can get away, I’ll see you tomorrow.’

  And then she turned and wobbled down the drive, her lips still tingling from his kisses and a wide smile on her face.

  She was laying the table for dinner in the dining room the following day when a voice behind her made her jump.

  ‘Enjoy your little rendezvous with your sailor boy last night, did you?’ a voice said sarcastically

  Pearl dropped the knife and fork she was holding on to the table with a clatter, before whirling about to find Monty standing very close behind her. Flustered, her hand rose to her throat as he sneered. ‘I was in the bar of the hotel when I saw you go by with him. I wonder what my mother would think if she knew you were the sort of girl to go off meeting men of an evening?’

  ‘I-I wasn’t meeting men!’ Pearl spluttered indignantly. ‘It was Nick . . . my friend . . . we came here together on the ship.’

  ‘Hm, I bet you did!’ He narrowed his eyes as he leaned in closer. ‘Well, if you can be so nice to him perhaps it’s time you started being a little nicer to me!’

  Pearl shuddered, but somehow managed to stare calmly back at him. ‘We did nothing untoward,’ she said in an icy voice. ‘We merely sat in the parlour and chatted.’

  Thankfully the door opened and Susan appeared to tell her, ‘Pearl, the mistress is ready for you to help her get dressed for dinner now. I’ll finish this.’

  With a silent sigh of relief, Pearl nodded at Susan and, ignoring Monty, turned and swept from the room.

  However, once in the hallway, her courage dissolved and she began to shake. Would Monty really go ahead with his threat and tell his mother that she had gone to meet Nick? And if he did, would Mrs Forbes believe her if she told her that they had done nothing wrong? She could only wait and see. But one thing was for sure. Nothing would keep her away from Nick now, even if it cost her her job.

  Chapter Thirty

  I

  t was much later that evening before Pearl was able to get away, and once again she found Nick standing in the lane, stamping his feet and blowing on to his hands to try and keep warm.

  ‘You shouldn’t have waited,’ she scolded him gently. ‘You’ll catch your death of cold out here!’

  He grinned. ‘This is nothing compared to being out at sea in this weather,’ he informed her. He tucked her arm into his and they began to walk towards the town, lifting their feet high through the snow.

  Pearl’s face was glowing by the time they reached the cosy parlour at the back of the hotel, and she was pleased to see that they had it to themselves again.

  ‘Is everything all right? You seem a bit quiet tonight,’ Nick commented as he helped her off with her snow-caked cloak.

  Pearl forced a smile. She didn’t dare tell him of Monty’s threat for fear of what he might do. ‘Everything is fine,’ she answered, crossing her fingers, and he went away to order them some hot cocoa. Once again, they chatted non-stop and the time passed quickly, until suddenly he became solemn, and taking her hand he said quietly, ‘There’s something I want to ask you, Pearl.’

  ‘Then ask away, I won’t bite,’ she laughed, although her heart was pounding.

  Nick looked vaguely uncomfortable as he stroked the palm of her hand, before muttering, ‘Well . . . the thing is, I know we’re still young and all that but . . . but I was wondering if you’d be my girl . . . official, like.’

  When she gazed back at him, he rushed on nervously, ‘Of course I know it’ll be years before we can save enough to get married but all the same, I’d like to know when I’m away that you’ll wait for me because I . . . I love you, Pearl. So, will you? . . . Be my girl, I mean!’

  ‘Of course I will,’ she laughed, as happy tears sparkled in her eyes. ‘Because I love you, too, Nick, so very much.’

  And then there was nothing more to be said. They kissed and she felt like the luckiest girl in the world.

  All too soon it was time for him to walk her back to the house, and she felt as if she was floating along because Nick loved her.

  ‘I’ll see you tomorrow,’ he whispered when they reached the end of the drive.

  She nodded, and stood and watched him until the thickly falling snow swallowed him up. She was almost halfway down the drive when Monty suddenly stepped from the bare trees to stand in front of her, and she almost jumped out of her skin.

  ‘I thought I’d catch you if I waited long enough,’ he growled. ‘Been out with your fancy man again, have you?’

  ‘Nick is not my fancy man, as you so crudely put it!’ Pearl ground out, as her eyes flashed fire. ‘We’re stepping out together, if you must know, and I’m proud of the fact!’

  Monty glowered at her. ‘Stepping out! Huh!’ He leaned menacingly tow
ards her. ‘Since when do girls like you court? Everyone knows that all the girls who are shipped here come from the gutter. Keeping him happy, are you? Because if that’s the case, you can keep me happy, too.’

  He lunged towards her, but luckily Pearl stepped aside so quickly that he lost his footing when he made a grab for her and went sprawling full length in the snow.

  ‘You little bitch!’ he growled as he tried to rise. But Pearl didn’t wait to hear what else he had to say – she just lifted her skirts and ran like the devil himself was after her, not stopping for breath until she reached the safety of the house.

  That night, she tossed and turned as she thought of the position she was in. She had avoided Monty as much as possible in the months before, but now she had an idea that his unwanted attentions would be even more unbearable. And the worst of it was she could do nothing about it, because even if she went to her mistress and asked for her protection, she was bound to take her son’s side. She might even say that Pearl had led him on and then she could well find both herself and Eliza out of a job. And so she decided all that she could do was avoid Monty as much as possible and hope that soon he would transfer his attentions to some other girl. It wasn’t a very satisfactory solution, but it was all she could come up with for now.

  The mistress was entertaining guests the next night so Pearl was unable to get away to meet Nick. Frequently throughout the evening Pearl glanced worriedly towards the window and wondered if she would be able to see him again before he sailed, for the snow was so deep now she knew that soon they may well be snowed in.

  ‘Whatever’s the matter with you, lass?’ Cook asked, as Pearl stalked up and down the kitchen. ‘You’re like a cat on hot bricks an’ you’re making me dizzy with all this pacing!’

  ‘Ah, she’s in love!’ Freda said sarcastically and Pearl glowered at her. Monty had ignored both Freda and Eliza for weeks but the girl was aware that he was still being attentive to Pearl and it had made her hate her all the more.