The Country Bride

by Dilly Court

  ‘I was wondering if your brother, Dr Marshall, might need a servant,’ Judy said hopefully. ‘He was always so nice to me whenever I saw him, and so was his wife.’

  ‘Minnie is the kindest person I know, and with boisterous five-year-old twins she might very well need help.’ Daisy frowned thoughtfully. ‘I tell you what, Judy. I’ll write a letter to my brother and sister-in-law, and even if they don’t need anyone, I’m sure they will help you find a suitable position. It’s not as if you are a stranger to London. You were born there, after all.’

  ‘And I lived there until I was nine,’ Judy added, smiling ruefully. ‘Although I wouldn’t want to go back to Green Dragon Yard.’

  ‘There’s no question of that. I have a much better idea. I’ll send a telegram to say that you’re coming, and I’ll write a note to Minnie, asking her to help you to find accommodation in London.’ Daisy rose from her seat and went over to the sideboard where she took pen and paper from one of the drawers. She sat back at the table and began to write, while Judy sipped her coffee, feeling more positive than she had done since Jack’s return home. She knew now what she must do, even though leaving Creek Manor and those she loved would break her heart.

  Sidney Square was close to the London Hospital and not far from Mrs Wood’s boarding house in Fieldgate Street. Daisy had told her amusing stories of the time she lodged there, although these were not uppermost in Judy’s mind as she stepped down from the hansom cab outside the Marshalls’ residence. She paid the cabby, picked up her carpet bag and crossed the pavement to knock on the door.

  It was opened by a young maidservant, who stared at her blankly.

  ‘Mrs Marshall is expecting me,’ Judy said firmly.

  The maid, who could not have been a day older than twelve, blinked, nodded and closed the door. Judy was left standing on the step, not knowing whether to knock again or to wait, but a couple of minutes later the door opened and Minnie Marshall greeted her with a smile.

  ‘Come in, Judy. I’m sorry about that, but you’ll have to forgive Sukey as she’s only been with us for a few days.’ Minnie stepped aside and ushered Judy into the narrow hallway. ‘Come into the parlour and Sukey will bring us some refreshments. That’s if she doesn’t trip over the mat and drop the tray as she did earlier this morning.’

  Judy placed her bag at the foot of the stairs, not knowing what else to do. The house was much smaller than she had imagined it to be, and she could hear children’s voice coming from a room upstairs, followed by the deeper tones of their nanny.

  ‘I hope I’m not inconveniencing you, Mrs Marshall,’ Judy said anxiously.

  ‘Not at all, my dear.’ Minnie opened a door to her right and led the way into a small, but well-proportioned living room, which was furnished for comfort rather than elegance. Minnie sat down in a chair by the empty hearth, motioning Judy to follow suit. ‘Daisy’s telegram said you would be arriving today, and that you needed help to find a suitable position in London.’

  Judy retrieved a wooden doll from the chair before taking a seat. She clutched it in her hands, holding on to it like a good luck charm. ‘I’m afraid it was very short notice, but I had to get away. It was a rather difficult situation. Mrs Walters has written you a note.’ Judy put the doll down and took the sealed letter from her reticule. She handed it to Minnie, who opened it and studied it intently.

  ‘I understand, Judy. I expect we’ve all experienced times like that at one point or another in our lives. Would this have anything to do with Jack’s return from university?’

  Judy stared at her open-mouthed. ‘How did you know that?’

  ‘I didn’t, but from the urgency of your departure I guessed it must be something of the sort, and it was always obvious that you two were close. Anyone could see that, even when you were just children.’

  ‘I suppose I should have stayed where I was, but I couldn’t make him understand my position.’

  Minnie smiled and nodded. ‘He’s a man, my dear. They believe what they want to believe, and I suppose Jack wants to keep his freedom, but he needs you to be there for him every step of the way.’

  ‘Yes, that’s about it, Mrs Marshall. I had to come away or who knows what might have happened? Jack is master of the house now, and I’m just a servant, or rather I was.’

  ‘And you didn’t tell him you were leaving?’

  ‘I couldn’t,’ Judy said simply. ‘He would have persuaded me to stay.’

  ‘Then I think you did the right thing, and I would mploy you if it were possible, but, as you can see, this is a very small house. We’ll be moving to a much larger residence in the near future, but that doesn’t help you now.’

  ‘I was just hoping you might know of someone who would employ me. I can cook and Mrs Ralston has taught me household management. I’m honest and hard working.’

  ‘I know all that, Judy. Mrs Tattersall was always singing your praises when we visited the manor house.’ Minnie jumped to her feet at the sound of crockery rattling together in the hallway. She wrenched the door open in time to rescue the tea tray as Sukey tripped over her feet and stumbled. ‘Thank you, Sukey. That will be all for now.’

  Sukey gazed up at her with red-rimmed eyes. ‘You won’t tell Cook, will you, miss?’

  ‘It’s “madam” or “Mrs Marshall”, Sukey. I won’t say a word.’

  ‘Ta, ever so, miss. I mean, madam.’ Sukey scuttled off towards the back stairs and Minnie closed the door before placing the tray on a table in the window. ‘If only you’d arrived two weeks ago I could have taken you on with pleasure, but I haven’t the heart to send young Sukey back to the orphanage.’

  ‘No, of course not,’ Judy said earnestly. ‘I wouldn’t want that either.’

  Minnie poured the tea and handed a cup to Judy. ‘Would you like a slice of cake?’

  ‘Thank you, Mrs Marshall.’

  ‘What will you do now? I’m afraid I don’t know of anyone looking for servants at the present.’

  ‘Daisy – I mean, Mrs Walters – gave me the address of the boarding house where you both lived when you were younger. I thought I might try there.’

  ‘Did she also tell you that Mrs Wood is a tyrant and that her daughter, Gladys, is a spiteful cat? Although I believe she is married now and lives above the saddler’s shop in Whitechapel, which oddly enough was where my husband and Daisy grew up. Gladys married the man who took over from Mr Marshall senior.’

  ‘Would that be Jonah Sawkins?’ Judy accepted a large slice of chocolate cake, and bit into it hungrily.

  ‘Yes. How did you know that?’

  ‘Daisy used to tell us stories about her time in London when Molly and I were much younger.’

  ‘Well, yes. Jonah was always hanging around Daisy, no matter how many times she snubbed him. Our friend Ivy, who later married Clem Guppy, went out with Jonah until she realised what sort of man he was, but Gladys didn’t seem to see his faults. They say that love is blind.’ Minnie helped herself to cake and returned to her seat. ‘On a more practical level, Judy, have you got enough money to support yourself until you find a suitable position?’

  Judy nodded, chewed and swallowed, licking the delicious crumbs from her lips. ‘Yes, I have. Mrs Tattersall was very generous. She gave me enough money to pay rent for a week or two, if I choose somewhere cheap. I think she was glad to see the back of me.’

  ‘I’m sure that’s not true, but I expect she was concerned. She might have been afraid that Jack would take after Jay, who, like his namesake, flew away, or should I say he sailed away to the Antipodes? Anyway, I’m sure that Jack isn’t like his brother in that respect.’

  ‘No, he isn’t,’ Judy said firmly. ‘Jack is an excellent person and I …’ she hesitated, ‘I am truly fond of him, but he needs to marry a well-bred lady with a sizeable dowry.’

  ‘I don’t think those are your words, Judy. It sounds more like Mary Tattersall speaking.’ Minnie leaned forward, lowering her voice. ‘Let me tell you that what Jack wants, and what his
mother wants for him are almost certainly two different things. Do you understand me?’

  Judy’s throat ached with unshed tears. Minnie’s kindness was disarming, and she obviously understood. It was a relief, and yet it made the pain in Judy’s heart even more acute. She inclined her head. ‘Yes, ma’am.’

  Minnie leaned over to pat Judy’s hand. ‘I’ll come with you to Fieldgate Street and introduce you to Mrs Wood as a prospective tenant. I wouldn’t want you to work for her, but if you stay there it’s reasonably cheap and quite central, and you can look for a position elsewhere. What do you say?’

  ‘Thank you. I’d be very grateful.’

  Minnie pulled a face. ‘I can’t say that she runs the best lodging house in the East End, but at least it’s clean and respectable. You’ll be safe there.’

  ‘Thank you, Mrs Marshall.’ Judy tried to smile, but she felt as though she was about to jump off the top of a cliff into the swirling sea of the unknown. London seemed so much bigger, noisier and dirtier than she remembered, and Little Creek was a haven of peace and tranquillity in comparison. Her first instinct was to rush back to the station and catch the next train home, but she knew that she must be strong and face whatever the city had in store for her.

  Minnie rose to her feet. ‘I’ll go and fetch my bonnet and shawl and we’ll set off.’

  The maid who let them into the house ushered them into Mrs Wood’s parlour.

  ‘Thank you, Aggie,’ Minnie said, smiling.

  The maid bobbed a curtsey and backed out of the room. Judy eyed Mrs Wood warily – her first impressions were not favourable. Years of bullying servants and lodgers alike had left a network of lines on Mrs Wood’s face. Twin furrows between her brows gave her a permanent frown and her mouth was dragged down at the corners, stamping an expression of disapproval on her face, which lingered even as she attempted to smile.

  ‘Mrs Marshall, how nice to see you again.’

  ‘And you, Mrs Wood. You’re looking well.’

  ‘I might look good, my dear, but my rheumatics play me up something awful, particularly in winter. A life of hard work and service to others has told on my poor aching body.’

  Judy shot a sideways glance at Minnie, who remained outwardly calm and smiling.

  ‘Your lodging house has always been deemed one of the best, Mrs Wood,’ Minnie said with a persuasive smile. ‘And for that reason I’ve brought my friend Miss Begg to see you. She’s in need of accommodation while she looks for work.’

  Mrs Wood looked Judy up and down with a critical eye. ‘And what line of work is that, may I ask?’

  ‘I’m trained in all household matters,’ Judy said with a determined lift of her chin. ‘I was assistant housekeeper in my last position.’

  ‘So you’re looking for a job in service?’

  Judy nodded. ‘Yes, ma’am.’

  ‘Might I ask why you left your previous employer?’ Mrs Wood’s eyes narrowed and her lips tightened. ‘I have to ask these questions, you must understand. I can’t afford to take in tenants who have left under a cloud, if you get my meaning.’

  ‘I can vouch for Miss Begg,’ Minnie said firmly. ‘I’ve known her since she was a child, and she is above reproach.’

  ‘It so happens that I have a small attic room vacant at the moment, but I want a week’s rent in advance.’

  ‘I’ll take it.’ Judy opened her reticule and took out her purse. ‘I’d like to move in right away.’

  ‘Like that, is it?’ Mrs Wood held out her hand. ‘Two and tuppence, but if you want meals it’s ninepence a day.’

  Judy counted out two shillings and two pennies and laid them in Mrs Wood’s palm. ‘I’m not sure about meals, ma’am.’

  Minnie laid her hand on Judy’s arm. ‘You must dine with us tonight, dear. I want to catch up on all the news from home.’ She turned to Mrs Wood. ‘I seem to remember that we used to have a choice of dining in or out, depending upon the demands of the workplace.’

  ‘Of course.’ Mrs Wood rang the bell on her desk. ‘Aggie will show you to your room. Now, if you’ll excuse me, Mrs Marshall, I have work to do.’

  Minnie was about to answer when Aggie burst into the parlour so precipitously that it seemed to Judy that the maidservant must have been listening at the keyhole.

  ‘Show Miss Begg to the gable-end room, Aggie.’

  ‘Yes’m.’ Aggie held the door open for Minnie and Judy, closing it after them. ‘Follow me, if you please.’

  Minnie came to a halt at the foot of the stairs. ‘I’ll wait here, Judy. I know what the rooms are like, and I don’t suppose they’ve changed much since I was last here.’

  Judy followed the maid up three flights of stairs, which grew steeper and narrower as they reached the top floor. A narrow landing led between the attic rooms, one of which Aggie pointed out as being where she slept, and the furthest and biggest was Cook’s domain. Two of the smaller rooms were filled with discarded or broken furniture and items that might be of use if kept for long enough. The third was quite literally under the eaves, with a small dormer window throwing light on the bare floorboards, and a narrow iron bedstead set against one wall. There was a deal chest of drawers, a wooden chair and a washstand, complete with a jug and basin, both of which were slightly chipped. A candle stub in a chamber candlestick and a box of matches must have been left by the previous occupant, and the lingering smell of body odour remained like a ghost of the same person. As the jug was empty and the basin covered in a thin layer of dust, Judy supposed that the last woman to rent the room had not bothered to trail down to the kitchen to fetch water for washing. She could tell from Aggie’s tight-lipped expression that she was not prepared to wait on the lodgers.

  ‘I comes up here once a month to change the bedding,’ Aggie said as if reading Judy’s mind. ‘And I don’t drag up here with jugs of water, nor do I empty the chamber pot. You have to bring that downstairs yourself. You have to keep the room clean, unless you’re willing to pay extra, in which case you deal with me direct. D’you understand?’

  ‘Perfectly.’ Judy made for the door. ‘I’ve seen enough, thank you.’ She turned to Aggie as she was about to leave the room. ‘There’s no key.’

  ‘We don’t lock doors in this establishment. Mrs Wood is the only one who has a key, but take a tip from me and don’t leave anything valuable lying around. Things have a habit of disappearing.’ Aggie brushed past her and headed for the stairs. ‘You’ll soon learn,’ she added darkly.

  Judy followed her downstairs. It was impossible not to feel downhearted and depressed by her new surroundings, but at least she had a roof over her head for the foreseeable future, and it was up to her to make the best of things. She was, after all, a born Londoner, and she would have to call upon the lessons she had learned when very young to cope with life in the metropolis. Even so, Judy had a sudden longing for the sweet scent of fresh air, and the tang of the saltwater from the marshes, untainted by city smells. Even in Sidney Square, with the neat garden at its heart, she had missed the sound of birdsong. The pigeons cooed and the sparrows hopped around chirruping incessantly, but there were no song thrushes or skylarks to fill the sooty air with their musical warbling.

  ‘Don’t tell me.’ Minnie looked up as Judy descended the last flight of stairs. ‘I’ve only been up there once, but I doubt if it’s changed.’

  ‘It will be fine,’ Judy said bravely. ‘I’ve seen worse, and it’s temporary. I’m sure I’ll find something soon.’

  ‘I do hope so, for your sake. Come with me now and Toby will see you back here after dinner tonight. By the way,’ Minnie added when they stepped outside onto the pavement, ‘if you want your bedding changed or if you need clean towels, you’ll get what you need much faster if you tip Aggie. It’s always been that way, I’m afraid.’

  ‘What happens if I do it myself? I’m used to managing the linen cupboard as well as making beds.’

  ‘I wouldn’t advise it, my dear. Servants can make your life a misery if they choose to
do so, and you won’t get any support from Mrs Wood. She doesn’t care what goes on as long as she gets her money each week. Anyway, don’t dwell on that. I’m sure you’ll find a suitable position soon. Maybe my husband knows of someone looking for a trustworthy servant.’ Minnie linked arms with Judy as they set off in the direction of Sidney Square. ‘Might you even consider returning to Creek Manor, Judy? Perhaps your absence will shake Jack out of his complacent attitude.’

  ‘If he really cared he would have followed me,’ Judy said sadly. ‘He thinks I’ll weaken and go home, but that’s not going to happen. I am stronger than he imagines and I won’t give up so easily.’

  That night in her chilly attic room, Judy tossed and turned on the lumpy mattress. It was obvious that Aggie had not changed the bedding, as the last occupant’s odour was imprinted on the cotton sheets and pillowcases. The rustlings beneath the eaves might have been nesting sparrows, but more likely they were rats and mice, and Cook’s snoring echoed down the narrowing landing. The sounds from the street filtered up to the top of the house. The rumble of wooden wheels on cobblestones, the clip-clop of horses’ hoofs, and the loud voices of drunks weaving their way back to their homes seemed to go on for hours. Judy longed for the comfort of her bed in the cottage, and the silence of the country, interrupted only by a distant bark of a dog fox or the hoot of a barn owl. Her pillow was wet with tears as she drifted off to sleep eventually, worn out by the events of the day and crippling homesickness.

  She awakened next morning wondering why her whole body was aching, and for a moment she could not think where she was. Then the reality of her situation hit her with the force of a physical blow. But giving way to despair was not in her nature, and she was even more determined to prove that she could make a life for herself away from home. She dressed quickly and made her way downstairs, carrying the chamber pot very carefully, with the ewer tucked under one arm. The pump and the privy were situated in the back yard, and as it was still early Judy had the facilities to herself. She used the privy and washed in ice-cold water, sticking her head under the pump to rinse the dust and soot from her hair, wringing out her long locks and tying them back with a ribbon.