Breakfast at Midnight

by Fiona MacFarlane

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

  An Unexpected Proposition

  Frances, however, was to pay a price for her actions on the tennis court. For the next few days Louisa treated her with cold civility, and Agnes, who was still sporting an unsightly looking bruise on her face, ignored her completely. It was a lonely time for Frances, and in between avoiding Agnes, contemplating how to reply to her mother’s letter, and scanning the local papers for a new situation, she was forced to endure Louisa’s incessant chatter about the Christmas and Boxing Day arrangements, the New Year’s Ball at Wintersleigh and Agnes’s overseas sojourn. Frances was seldom included in such conversations, and while her deliberate exclusion from the Wentworth family’s affairs embittered her, she was secretly convinced that she wouldn’t be at Wintersleigh for much longer. With that in mind, she resolved to ignore her relatives’ rudeness.

  But it was the Brearly brothers’ prolonged absence that concerned Frances the most. Since the Rosewood tennis match they had not visited Wintersleigh. Not even George Brearly, with his initial devotion to Frances, had come to see her. Frances knew that Agnes had been invited to Rosewood almost every day since her arrival in Hobart, and while Frances knew she had no right to expect such invitations herself, she nonetheless wanted to be included.

  It was a sultry Friday afternoon, four days before Christmas, and Frances was sitting beside her aunt on the ferry, Silver Crown, en route to a garden party in New Town. The event had been organised by Mrs Edwina Ballard, one of Louisa’s oldest acquaintances. Agnes, originally had been invited to accompany her mother to the party, but having been forewarned about it, and anticipating soul destroying boredom, she had prudently made arrangements to spend the afternoon with her friends at the Cascade Gardens in South Hobart. Frances was therefore asked to fill her cousin’s place, and not knowing quite what to expect from the party, she cautiously accepted her aunt’s invitation. Some of her uncertainty though, dissolved during the short journey across the river, and by the time she and her aunt arrived at ‘Riverview,’ Edwina Ballard’s house, Frances was in good spirits and genuinely eager to enjoy herself.

  The garden party at Riverview was an assembly attended by some of the richest and most successful people in the town. It was therefore an exciting affair, and the Ballards had spared no expense to make the occasion delightful in every way. When Louisa Wentworth and her niece finally arrived at Riverview, the house was awash with flowers, servants, jollity and conversation. In every room there was a flutter of activity, and a profusion of fashionably dressed women, resplendent in their smiles, voluminous gowns and colourful hats festooned with flowers, plumes and ribbons. Frances and Louisa’s entrance seemed to cause no visible attention or disturbance to the other guests, despite the fact that Louisa was the only guest attired completely in funereal black. Even her diminutive bonnet, which was decorated with coils of chenille, was entirely black. As inconspicuously as they could, the two women retired to an empty corner of the room.

  By this stage, Louisa was in a better frame of mind, and for the first time since Frances’s escapade and the tennis match incident, she treated her niece kindly, something that had not escaped Frances’s attention. Frances was pleased to note that they had talked non-stop during the ferry trip, and by the time they arrived at Riverview, Louisa was affectionately clutching onto one of Frances’s arms.

  A servant soon spotted the empty-handed women and offered them some chilled lemonade in a heavy crystal glass. Frances was thirsty and was just about to help herself to this appetising refreshment, when Louisa declined the maid’s offer and rudely dismissed her. Frances spoke as soon as the indignant servant had withdrawn.

  ‘But what about the lemonade, Aunt Wentworth?’ she whispered in annoyance. ‘I very much wanted some.’

  ‘Edwina’s lemonade is renowned for its acidity,’ Louisa stated, without making any effort to lower her voice. ‘I don’t know what her servants do to it, but it certainly does not taste as good as the lemonade at Wintersleigh.’ Frances smiled in silence. ‘And furthermore, my dear,’ Louisa said, fixing her gaze to the grandfather clock across the room, ‘we have not got time for drinks.’

  Frances looked inquiringly at her aunt. ‘But if we’re staying…’

  ‘Staying?’ Louisa echoed. ‘Oh heaven’s no. I have no intention of doing that.’

  ‘But I don’t understand. Why have we come all this way then?

  ‘Civility, my dear. Keeping up appearances. Edwina was kind enough to extend us this invitation, and it would be most unseemly not to attend. So, here we are. We shall mingle for a while, get our faces seen, and then leave. I want to get home before afternoon tea.’

  Frances was confused. ‘That seems rather an odd thing to do. Leave just after we have arrived. Very impolitic.’

  ‘No, Frances. Not impolitic. A necessity. I am afraid I cannot abide Edwina’s company. She drives me to distraction with her chatter.’

  ‘Am I given to understand that she’s talkative?’

  ‘Well not in the sense that she is garrulous, but it is what she talks of. She always seems to go on about her children and her grandchildren,’ said Louisa with a sniff of disdain. ‘It does vex me so, particularly when she constantly reminds everyone of how talented they all are.’

  Frances was mystified. ‘But I thought you were friends with Mrs Ballard. I thought you had known each other for years.’

  ‘I have known her for years, but it doesn’t necessarily follow that we are friends.’

  Frances looked blank for her aunt’s words puzzled her deeply. She remained silent, with her eyes resting curiously on her aunt’s face. She was soon roused from her musing by the stately rustle of a gown in front of her. Following her aunt’s glance she noticed that a tall and impressive looking middle-aged woman, dressed in rich folds of lustrous blue satin, was standing before them. It was none other than the mistress of the house, and as Louisa made all the necessary introductions, Frances continued to observe and admire her new acquaintance.

  ‘Miss Norwood,’ Edwina Ballard began kindly. ‘At last we meet. I have heard so much about you. I understand that you have only been in Hobart for a short time.’

  ‘Yes, that is correct, Mrs Ballard.’

  ‘And how do you like it here, Miss Norwood? Does it not seem rather dull compared with Melbourne?’

  Frances smiled engagingly. ‘No. Not at all.’

  ‘Oh,’ said Edwina, returning her smile, ‘I thought that the young people of today preferred lives of constant entertainment and frivolity.’

  ‘Not for me, I’m afraid. I can say without hesitation that I prefer a quiet life.’

  ‘Do you indeed?’ Edwina asked, evidently intrigued. ‘Well I must say that you have chosen a perfect location for a quiet life. You can’t get much quieter than Hobart. Except Launceston, perhaps.’ She sighed and glanced vacantly out the window. ‘Still, you are in good company,’ she resumed. ‘My husband Wilfred is exactly the same. He has a great aversion to social gatherings. That is why he is not here today, I grant you. He told me he had business to attend to in New Norfolk, but I am not fooled for a moment.’ She exchanged a friendly look with Frances. ‘Now, Miss Norwood, bearing in mind your aversion to social parties, I hope you do not feel inclined to leave this party early?’

  Louisa observed Frances’s questioning glance and was compelled to make an immediate answer. ‘I am afraid that Frances and I cannot stay for very long, which seems a pity, considering all the effort you have gone to. The house looks quite splendid. But really, with all your other friends around you, I am sure that you will not miss us.’

  Edwina was not pleased. ‘Oh, you have other plans then?’

  ‘Frances and I have our Christmas shopping to do in town this afternoon. Having my niece and daughters arrive at Wintersleigh unexpectedly, I am sad to say that Christmas has been the last thing on my mind. I have bought no presents, or decorations. I feel exceedingly ashamed of myself.’

  Edwina examined Louisa critically. ‘Oh,’
she murmured. ‘Quite.’

  ‘And we have an engagement later this afternoon,’ Frances lied. ‘My aunt and I are visiting a friend on the way home.’

  Edwina was quickly mollified. ‘Oh, well why didn’t you say so before? There are not too many people in Hobart who prefer Christmas shopping to one of my garden parties.’ Having said this, she gave Louisa a disparaging look. ‘So, when will you be leaving, Louisa? It is just that I need a word in private with Miss Norwood here.’

  ‘Oh?’ Louisa queried. ‘Well, in that case I suppose I can spare Frances for a few minutes.’

  ‘Excellent!’ Edwina replied, and without saying another word, she led the bemused Frances away through the throngs of women in the drawing room, down the hallway and into a smaller, book-lined room near the central staircase. Once the door was closed behind them and both women were seated, Edwina resumed speaking.

  ‘Now I won’t keep you detained for very long, Miss Norwood,’ she began, ‘because I know you want to leave shortly, but I just wanted to ask you a few questions pertaining to your work experience. I understand that you have been working recently.’

  ‘Yes, Mrs Ballard, that’s correct. I was a governess in Melbourne.’

  ‘Excellent! Very interesting indeed.’ Her friendly blue eyes twinkled. ‘You must like children a great deal then.’

  ‘Children?’ Frances echoed. ‘I, I…’

  ‘It is quite all right, Miss Norwood,’ Edwina assured, leaning closer to Frances, ‘I can see that I am alarming you. Please do not be concerned.’ Her smile grew increasingly intimate, and after a brief pause, she sat back in her chair. ‘The truth is, my thirteen year-old grandson, Crispin, needs someone to help him with his studies. I wanted to know whether you would be interested in the position.’

  Frances was confounded. ‘Me?’ she cried impulsively.

  ‘Yes, why not? You are more than qualified for the position.’

  ‘Well, yes I am qualified, Mrs Ballard, but, but how did you know I was looking for a situation? I feel sure my aunt wouldn’t have mentioned it to you. She doesn’t believe in women working.’

  ‘Yes, I know what Louisa thinks about the New Woman. Incidentally, I do not share her old-fashioned views. No, a friend informed me of your situation. This friend also told me about your previous pupil. I understand the poor girl died before you arrived?’

  ‘Yes, that’s correct.’

  ‘Most unfortunate,’ Edwina remarked, folding her gloved hands onto the delicate folds of her gown. ‘I imagine it has put you in a difficult position. Still, I am offering you the employment you seek. All I can do is give you the details, and let you make up your mind.’

  Edwina Ballard then proceeded to describe her grandson in detail, adding in a confiding tone that Crispin was a refractory child at times, and that he needed the occasional firm hand, and someone to instil a sense of discipline in him. She then casually discussed the conditions of employment, one of them being that the governess would be expected to live at Riverview. When everything had been said, she looked at Frances expectantly.

  ‘I know my offer has been rather sudden, but I wanted to arrange something as soon as possible. Well, Miss Norwood? What do you say? Will you at least consider it?’

  Frances wavered. She was tempted to tell Edwina that she disliked children, particularly ‘difficult’ ones, but her desire to work at that moment over-rode any temptation to make that confession. ‘Yes I’ll consider it,’ she said. ‘It’s a most generous offer. I don’t know how to thank you.’

  Edwina rose hastily from her chair. ‘Please do not mention it.’ She consulted her watch. ‘Oh my! It is getting late. My guests will wonder where I have disappeared to.’ She moved towards the door, with Frances close behind her, but just inside the doorway Edwina faltered. ‘You know, when I was your age, I wanted to earn my own living and be financially independent. Unfortunately, my father was opposed to such plans. He thought it inappropriate for a young woman to be working. I had very few opportunities. But you, Miss Norwood, you have an opportunity before you. Whether you decide to take it or not, is another matter.’