“Very well.” she said.
Jennifer turned to Jacob. “Thank you very much, sir, for your help and reference in seeking work. Good day to you.”
Jennifer wanted to throw her arms around him and hug him, kiss him, but something told her that her new employer would not look kindly upon that.
Jacob gave her a brief bow. “Good luck to you, miss.” Then he turned and walked away.
“Come now, not a time to lose,” Mrs. Hawkins said in a curt manner. Jennifer quickly followed her.
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One Year Later
“Do not pack your dresses as such in that trunk. They would be very wrinkled when we arrive,” Mrs. Hawkins pulled her dresses from the trunk and repacked it. It seemed Jennifer could never do right by this employer, even after a year’s time, but she was glad for the employment.
“You are right. I was not thinking.”
“Well, you need you to focus, Sarah. I cannot do everything for you all the time. The good Lord has summoned my husband Michael to build a house of God in this village that has no proper church yet. We must answer the Lord's call and you have to help me arrange all of this for travel,” Mrs. Hawkins said.
“Yes, I will remember, and you are blessed,” Jennifer knew this was a God fearing home and she would oblige.
“You should be a wife at your age. When we return I shall introduce you to a good Christian man. His name is Neil Sanders. He is in want of a wife and is a very good man with a trade in supplying stores with general merchandise. He attends church every Sunday and is quiet and fair. You will see.”
Jennifer’s eyes grew wide with anxiety. When she agreed to employment she did not think she had agreed to an arranged marriage set by Mrs. Hawkins. But how bad could it be? She did think of marrying, and since Jacob was never to give up the bandit life, perhaps it would not be so bad to settle with a man.
“Now finish here and do not forget dinner tonight,” Mrs. Hawkins said.
“Yes, right, dinner,” Jennifer said.
She finished packing, according to Mrs. Hawkins's instructions, and then sat at her bedroom window overlooking the street below. There were carriages in the streets and everyone was hustling to dinner. She could see finely dressed people heading to establishments or neighbours. It was a nice village.
“Goodbye.” She closed the window as the smell of horse manure drafted through the air.
Then Jennifer began to get ready for dinner. She pulled her red hair into a freshly pinned bun on top of her head. She secured a white flower on one side. Then she pulled on the gray dress with the substantial amount of buttons down the front. She laced her boots over her stockings. Then looked at her reflection in the mirror. “There, you look nice and respectable,” She said, looking at her short five foot frame. Her green eyes bringing out the colour of her red hair and pale complexion. Dressed like this, she noticed just how much she had turned into a woman. She liked it.
Ring. Ring. The front door bell was pulled. “Who could that be? Are we to have company for dinner?” She sighed.
“At least you will be on a train for the first time tomorrow and that is worth sitting through any company dinner.” She motivated herself in the mirror and went downstairs to the parlour.
“Well, there she is. Miss Christian, how are you this fine evening?” Michael Hawkins said.
“Good evening, Mr. Hawkins.”
“Allow me to introduce you to my good friend, Mr. Neil Sanders.”
“Mr. Sanders, it is good to meet you.” Jennifer was shocked. She had not expected to meet this man tonight! What was Mrs. Hawkins up to?
“And it is a pleasure to meet you Miss Christian. Mrs. Hawkins has told me good things of you. I hope you do not mind me joining your last meal before you are off.”
“Not at all,” Jennifer smiled. Then she moved to sit next to Mrs. Hawkins on the bench. Mrs. Hawkins gave her a polite smile as though smugly happy with this exchange.
“So, I hear you are in charge of some new shipping schemes?” Michael said to Neil. She was glad for the distraction. The two men talked amongst themselves as Mrs. Hawkins and Jennifer drank tea.
Neil was tall and very distinguished. His blonde hair was slicked back on his head in the proper style of the day. His grey vest underneath his black dinner jacket was adorned with a pocket watch chain; a silver one. He must be plenty admired within his circle, but she found him to be boring. He was nothing compared to the man that Jacob was.
He got along well with Mrs. Hawkins's husband Michael well enough, because they were the same age exactly. Michael looked like a duplicate of him as far as older gentleman went.
Jennifer’s employer Mrs. Hawkins sat in a pale green dinner dress. She lifted her tea to her mouth with her pinky pointed outward. Then she said quietly, “Stop staring at them, it is not polite.”
She had noticed Jennifer was sizing up Neil. She sighed and quickly looked away, and drank her tea until dinner was served. This woman is not Mrs. Hawkins. She is the strict mother I never had.
“I cannot believe this is the last meal that sI will have with you fine folks,” Neil said as they entered the dining room. The small candelabra on the table was polished brass with white candles. They did not have any extravagance in this house except for this, as these were simple people, and Jennifer liked it that way.
“I cannot believe it, either. Though I am very grateful for the opportunity to build the Knowl Hill Church in Knowl Hill. The Lord has called upon me to help provide these people with a place to gather in worship,” Michael said as they sat down at the table and began on the first course of hot chowder soup.
“Yes, it is a fine task that you have been appointed to. Where do they worship now in Knowl Hill?” Neil asked.
“We have been told they gather in a tent just outside the village town,” Michael said.
“That is unusual,” Neil said.
“I think it is refreshing. Being able to stand outside during service with the beauty of nature and fresh air is different than the stifling crowded church.” Jennifer said.
Everyone looked at her as though she had just said the most shocking thing. Mrs. Hawkins especially gave her a mean look. She did not think she had said anything that warranted such a reaction. She quietly put her spoon in her soup and continued to eat, quietly.
“The wild and fancy dreams of a young lady,” Neil laughed to Mrs. Hawkins and her husband. They politely laughed a little. She did not like that he was putting off her notions as a wild fancy. She was entitled to thoughts and observations, wasn't she?
At the end of dinner Neil politely pulled Jennifer aside in the parlor where they sat around the fire for after-dinner tea.
“Miss Christian, Sarah... I will miss your beautiful smile and your bold thoughts. Please keep me in your mind. Until you return and perhaps we can become friends,” he said.
“Mr. Sanders... I, um...” Jennifer became very uncomfortable with this bold gesture.
“Well, we must be getting some rest. We wake up early in order to get our trunks to the train station and be off,” Michael said.
“Yes, I was just telling my new acquintance goodbye. Thank you for having me for dinner, and the best to your journeys and the fine Knowl Hill church,” Neil said, shaking hands with Michael and Mrs. Hawkins.
Then he was off. She felt guilty that she was relieved that he was gone. It was not very Christian like of her, but she could not stop her heart from feeling these things, and the feelings she had were for Jacob.
She rushed into bed in order to get some good sleep. She did not want to miss anything when they were finally on the train. She was excited to look out the window and see the wide open spaces that the English countryside had to offer her eyes. After being in London so long, it was all that she wanted to see.
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The next morning she wolfed down her breakfast of bacon and biscuits with hot black tea.
&nbs
p; “Slow down Jennifer. It will all come up once the train starts moving if you are not careful,” Mrs. Hawkins said.
“The carriage is pulling up in 20 minutes. I am going to get the trunks organized by the front door,” Michael said as he entered the room, picked up a biscuit, and walked out of the breakfast room.
“Thank you darling, we will be right there,” Mrs. Hawkins replied. “Now go wash up, Sarah. We will be leaving very soon.”
She clamored out of her chair and went to her room. She poured water into her wash basin and washed her hands and face. Once again she looked out the window to get her last views of the morning. It was bustling and loud as usual, but it was a bittersweet view. In truth, she was saying her goodbyes to Jacob who was nearby in the fishing shack.
She buttoned up her coat and stood in front of the mirror to tie her bonnet. Both of them were a dark brown and matched her brown riding dress.
“English countryside, here I come,” She smiled and dashed out the door.
Two hours later, she found herself exactly in the moment she had dreamed about since she heard the news that she would accompany Mrs. Hawkins and Michael to the west. She was sitting in train booth against the window, staring out as the train departed the station. She had never seen the inside of the train before, only the outside when in London. It was delightful. Polished mahogany decorated the inside and it moved with such speed. Jennifer was amazed by it.
“What do you think the weather will be like? What kind of food do they have? Do you think the Inn that we are staying at will be comfortable?” She rambled on with questions.
“Jennifer, calm yourself. It is going to be a very long trip on the train,” Mrs. Hawkins said.
“Oh, it's all right. She is just excited and spirited. Nothing wrong with that,” Michael came to her defence. Mrs. Hawkins was just about to reply when they were interrupted.
“Michael Hawkins, is it?” A gentleman came up to our booth.
“Why, yes it is. You are William Banks, I remember,” Michael stood up and shook the man's hand.
“Yes, we met at the engineering convention just last month in London. How are you, sir?” William said.
“I am fine. Good of you to remember me. We are just on our way to a next engineering project, a church in Knowl Hill.”
“That is fantastic news. I would love to hear all about it. I was just on my way to the bar car for some coffee. Would you care to join me, sir?”
“Absolutely, Mr. Banks. I would love to get your input on the church designs. Please allow me to introduce you to my wife, Mrs. Holly Hawkins, and her ladies maid and companion, Sarah Christian.”
“Pleased to meet you both” William said with a bow.
“I won't be long, darling. Please order some tea service for you and Sarah,” Michael said as he and William walked to the next train car.
Mrs. Hawkins moved from the seat and took the seat across, where Michael sat. She was always very well reserved with her emotions.
“Sir, may we have tea service for two at our table?” she told the train attendant.
“Right away, ma'am.”
“Ten minutes later, there was a three tiered tray with small cucumber and cheese sandwiches on the first tray. On the second tray was fine cookies and chocolate. On the third tray were small spoons, spreaders, sugar, cream, and all the trimmings for tea. The porcelain teapot, teacups, and saucers sat next to the tray. Mrs. Hawkins began to pour the tea. Jennifer was amazed by the bounty. She had never seen such a fine thing. The Hawkins were very well off indeed.
“I am glad that Michael is attending to business because I would like to speak with you in private,” she said. It was never a good thing Mrs. Hawkins began a conversation like this. It meant Jennifer was about to get a lecture.
She sighed. “Yes?” She drank a sip of the strong black tea.
“I know this trip is exciting for you, but I do not want you getting carried away with it. You must keep to your work responsibilities. Though we are staying at the Inn where there are servants you will still have your duties to me. Is that understood?”
“I understand, Mrs. Hawkins.”
“Good, that makes me less nervous about this entire thing. I do not like change. I do not like being pulled away from our home to experience this west. But it is my responsibility as a wife and I shall endure it. It gives me comfort to know that you will be responsible and obey.”
“Yes, I understand.” Jennifer quietly said as she ate. She saw a side of her she had never seen before. No wonder she was so conservative and angry all the time. It was because she was unhappy in her marriage. Would Jennifer eventually turn into her if she married the likes of Neil Sanders? Is that what a loveless marriage did to a woman?
She looked out the window with less enthusiasm. It made her sad to know that Mrs. Hawkins was so unhappy. She hoped this trip would bring her some new experiences that would make her enjoy her life more. She needed to be fulfilled and maybe helping to set up a new church would at least give her that.
They had reached their stop but four hours later. Now they would have to change from the train to a carriage that would take them the rest of the fifty miles to the village, and it would take the entire day.
Jennifer got off the train and stood on the platform. A warm wind with small traces of dust hit her face. She closed her eyes and let the sun hit her. It was glorious. Far stretches of green pastures stretched out all around. She could see all the way to the horizon, where the sky met the earth. She could not believe how beautiful and vast it was.
“I cannot wait to get to the Inn and get into a warm bath,” Mrs. Hawkins said. “It will be a dusty ride.”
“It is beautiful here!” Michael said.
“Yes, well we can see plenty of it from the carriage. Let’s get loaded up and get on the way before the carriage leaves without us,” Mrs. Hawkins said.
Michael began giving orders to the train platform attendants about their trunks while Mrs. Hawkins and Jennifer waited. She watched the hustle and bustle of new families arriving and loading up on the carriage train to began their new lives in the west. She was feeling jealous. She was only a visitor, while these families would be finding a nice plot of land and building on it. Maybe they would grow their own food in a garden. She longed to do just that.
“We’re ready, dear,” Michael shouted at them from near the carriages.
They climbed onto one and the journey began. Jennifer’s stomach was so anxious with the prospect of this new adventure and the chance to start fresh. She would no longer have to think about the events of London.
Jennifer was able to look out at the vast untouched country. It was so beautiful she was moved by it. But she had another feeling as well. She felt like she was home in Cottered. It was a very strange feeling; the English countryside felt like home to her.
Michael announced, “There she is. That’s the village of Knowl Hill.”
“That is lovely,” Jennifer said.
They entered the village and she looked at the first few buildings. There was a shoemaker, a tailor, a general shop, and a bank along the way. There was a long wide pavement made of elevated wooden boards, along the businesses all the way down to the end of the village. It was so different than the cobblestone streets of London.
There were many villagers bustling about, but it was very sparse compared to London. There was so much room and it was not crowded at all. It was glorious.
“Whoa!” the driver of the carriage shouted to the horse. Suddenly, all the carriages came to a stop.
“Knowl Hill Inn,” the driver shouted as the carriage pulled up in front of the Know Hill Inn.
The Inn was a two-story brick building. It was lively inside with people. She could hear the music of a piano playing. Attendants came out to them and helped them with the trunks.
“This is wonderful,” She told Mrs. Hawkins.
“Yes, I only hope the food is wonderful, as well as the rooms in this place.”
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“Shall we?” Michael put his arm out for Mrs. Hawkins to grab. They entered the Inn and Jennifer followed behind. She looked around the first room. There were about six tables with ladies and gentlemen having tea or drinks. Down the hall she could see a more formal dining room that was being prepared for dinner service. There was a very long winding staircase that went up to an upstairs galley. That would be where the rooms were.
“Michael Hawkins. We have two rooms reserved. We would also like to attend dinner service in an hour after we have had time to freshen up. “
“And a bath, immediately,” Mrs. Hawkins added in.
“Of course Mr. and Mrs. Hawkins. We will take care of all of this. My attendant will bring your trunks to your room. Let me grab your keys,” The man behind the desk said.
“I would also like a message sent to Pastor Patrick Bryce as soon as possible inviting him to join for dinner in an hour's time.”
“Yes, of course, right away.” The man behind the desk grabbed a piece of parchment. He quickly wrote down the message. “Larry!” the man shouted toward the door.
The door swung open and a rugged looking man walked in. He was in a bit dirty with a dusty hat, and muddy boots.
“Larry, will you please take this message to the Pastor's house immediately?”
“Yes sir, right away,” the man said as he grabbed the note and left.
“Right this way to your rooms. Follow me,” The Innkeeper said.
They followed him up the stairs and along the galley that overlooked the lobby room. Then there was a turn to the left and a long hallway. He opened a large wooden door to the left. “This is the larger room you requested.”
“Excellent, excellent,” Michael entered.
“Oh, and my bath please, sir. As soon as you are able,” Mrs. Hawkins said to him.
“Yes ma’am, right away. The hot water will be brought up in a few minutes. We already had the buckets of water warming over the fire. It is a standard request when guests arrive from the carriage and train. We already know what to expect,” he said.
Passage of a Desolate Woman (#2, the Winds of Misery Victorian Romance) (A Family Saga Novel) Page 16