by Dilly Court
‘All right,’ Annie said, heading for the stairs. ‘But sometimes I wish I’d never been promoted to parlour maid. It’s much easier working in the kitchen. You don’t have to remember so many things.’ She disappeared from view and the green baize door at the top of the stairs creaked as she opened it and it closed again with a soft thud.
Stella moved to the range and ladled soup into a bowl. She placed it on a tray with a plate of bread and butter. ‘Take this to Mrs Hawthorne’s room, please, Jane.’
‘Why is it always me what has to run errands? Why can’t Ida do it?’
‘Because I asked you first and I’m cook while Mrs Hawthorne is indisposed. If you’ve got a problem with taking orders from me you’d better go and see Mr Mason. I’m sure he’ll put you right.’
‘He’ll sack you on the spot,’ Ida shouted over the noise of the gushing tap.
Mumbling beneath her breath Jane picked up the tray and headed for the back stairs. Stella shook her head. For the first time in her life she was beginning to feel quite sorry for Mrs Hawthorne, who had the demanding job of satisfying the family above stairs and making sure that everything ran smoothly in the kitchen. She was about to clear the table when she heard the baize door open and the sound of heavy footsteps on the stairs.
Tommy Langhorne erupted into the kitchen holding out his arms and hallooing as if he were on the hunting field. ‘Stella, my darling, I’m so hungry I could eat you.’ He pulled up a chair and sat down at the table. ‘What’s for luncheon? No, don’t answer that. I’ll have a bit of everything, but not that beastly jelly I saw going into the dining room. I hate jelly and they serve it up regularly in Hall.’
Trying hard to keep a straight face, Stella shook her finger at him. ‘Now, Master Tommy, this is no way to behave. Of course I’ll serve you some luncheon, but you can’t eat in the kitchen.’
He stared at her with a look of genuine surprise. ‘Why ever not? They’ve finished their meal in the dining room and anyway, I’m not the most popular person in the house at this moment. I should think that Papa would be quite happy for me to eat in the stables rather than take my place at table.’
‘In that case Annie will bring your meal to the morning parlour.’ Stella lowered her voice so that Ida could not eavesdrop. ‘You mustn’t upset your mother, Tommy. You know she has a delicate constitution.’
‘Mama trades on her nerves so that nothing unpleasant disturbs her serene life, but I’m not like that, as you very well know.’
‘Yes, I do. And you should be ashamed of yourself for giving her cause to worry. Now please, go upstairs and behave like a young gentleman instead of a spoiled brat.’
He rose to his feet, his smile fading. ‘You can’t speak to me like that, Stella. Are you forgetting who I am?’
‘No, sir. But perhaps you are forgetting your place. It most certainly isn’t in the kitchen with us.’
His handsome features were marred by a scowl. ‘I could have you sacked for speaking to me in that tone, and by God I think I will. Why should I allow a skivvy to insult me in front of all and sundry? Consider yourself discharged, Stella Barry. You’ll leave here without a character. You can join your family in the gutter where they belong.’
Chapter Four
‘I CAN’T ALLOW you to speak to my son in such familiar terms, Stella.’ Lady Langhorne clasped her hands in an agitated manner. ‘I know that you and he were friendly as children and I turned a blind eye to it, knowing that you were a good and sensible girl, but things are different now.’
‘I am sorry, my lady.’ Stella bowed her head. ‘It won’t happen again.’
‘I’ve told Thomas that he is not, under any circumstances, to enter the servants’ quarters, and even if he should address you in passing I want you to remember your place.’
‘Yes, my lady.’
‘Don’t disappoint me, Stella. You are due for promotion to head cook when Mrs Hawthorne retires next year. You have a bright future ahead of you so don’t ruin your chances because of a childhood friendship. Do you understand what I’m saying?’
‘Yes, my lady.’
‘You may go.’
Stella bobbed a curtsey and hurried from the morning parlour only to bump into Tommy, who had been waiting outside the door. She attempted to sidestep him but he barred her way. ‘I’m sorry I got you into trouble,’ he said in a low voice. ‘I lost my temper, but I was cross and hungry. You know what I’m like when I haven’t eaten.’
She kept her eyes downcast. ‘Please let me pass, sir.’
‘I want us to be friends again. I’m going to die of boredom stuck here in the wilds of Essex for the rest of the term.’
Stella shook her head. ‘I have work to do, sir.’
He placed his finger beneath her chin and forced her head up so that their eyes met. ‘I am truly sorry. Meet me in the folly by the lake as we used to do when we were children. I need someone my own age to talk to. Please, Stella, don’t desert me now when I need you most.’
She twisted free from him and was about to answer when Lady Langhorne’s aggrieved tones broke the momentary silence. ‘Tommy, is that you? I hope you’re not keeping Stella from her duties.’
He gripped Stella’s hand. ‘I need you to be my friend again. You must meet me in the folly so that we can talk.’ He released her and opened the door. ‘Sorry, Mama. I was just apologising to Stella for my behaviour. It was very wrong of me.’ He went into the room and closed the door behind him.
The wild March wind was playing with the squally shower that had started to fall from a leaden sky just as Stella left the house and was about to make her way across the soggy lawn. She wrapped her shawl around her head and broke into a run, heading in the direction of the ornamental lake. She could only hope that the gardeners were sheltering in the potting sheds or the greenhouses situated at the rear of the house and no one would spot her. She knew she was taking a chance but she needed to talk some sense into Tommy, which was impossible to accomplish in whispered conversations indoors. As she drew nearer she could see him pacing up and down inside the folly, which was designed like a Roman temple. In the summer Lady Langhorne liked to entertain guests to afternoon tea within its elegant walls, but she rarely ventured into the grounds in bad weather. They should be safe from prying eyes.
Tommy’s expression was not welcoming. ‘I’ve been waiting for ages.’
‘I couldn’t get away any sooner.’ Stella shook off her damp shawl, holding her side as she struggled to catch her breath. ‘Why did you want to see me, Tommy? You know that your mother has made me promise not to have anything to do with you.’
‘You’re my only friend in this godforsaken place. I don’t want to lose you.’
‘You were going to have me sacked.’
‘I didn’t mean it. You know what a devil of a temper I have when roused.’
‘I do, and I’ve always told you that it would get you into trouble one day.’
He slipped his arms around her waist, looking into her eyes with a persuasive smile. ‘But you love me, don’t you? You always have.’
She could smell brandy on his breath and she realised that he’d been drinking heavily. She shook her head. ‘I like you, Tommy. That’s all it ever was.’
‘No. Don’t say that. You have a special place in your heart for me, don’t you?’
‘Yes, of course, but . . .’
He drew her closer. ‘You could be my girl, Stella. No one need ever know. My room is at the back of the house. You could come to me at night when everyone else is asleep.’
She tried to push him away but his grip tightened. ‘Stop it, Tommy. Don’t do this.’
‘You want me to, I know you do. You’re a beautiful woman now, and you know it. Your dark eyes would drive a lesser man to distraction.’ He tried to kiss her and she turned her head away, making a frantic effort to free herself, but he dragged her to her knees. ‘Love me, Stella. Love me.’ He forced her backwards onto the floor, pinning her down with the weight of h
is body. His eyes were glazed with desire and as she opened her mouth to scream he silenced her cries with a savage kiss. His teeth grazed her lips and his tongue almost choked her. She struggled but this only seemed to excite him more and he traced the line of her neck with his finger, sliding his hand down to wrench the buttons off her blouse and expose her bare flesh. ‘You want me. You know you do. I’ve seen it in your eyes, you little wanton.’
‘Please let me go, Tommy,’ she gasped. ‘This is me, Stella. I’m your friend. Don’t do this to me.’
‘Get off her.’ Jacob’s angry voice penetrated Stella’s dazed brain and suddenly she was free. She scrambled to her feet in time to see Jacob and Tommy locked in an unequal struggle. Jacob was short and stocky but he was used to manual labour and he had the advantage over Tommy, who had never been the athletic type. A swift upper cut sent him sprawling onto the tiled floor and Jacob stood over him, rubbing his bruised knuckles with a triumphant smile on his craggy features.
‘What have you done?’ Stella whispered, crossing her arms over her exposed breasts. ‘You might have killed him.’
Tommy groaned but his eyes remained closed and he made no attempt to rise.
‘He’s not dead, although he deserves to be.’ Jacob prodded Tommy’s inert body with the toe of his boot. ‘He’d have taken you like a wild beast if I hadn’t been on hand.’ His expression softened as he gave Stella a concerned look. ‘Are you all right? Did he hurt you?’
She shook her head. ‘Not really. I can’t believe he behaved in such a way.’
‘I saw you racing towards the folly. I knew something was up so I followed you and lucky I did.’
‘Were you spying on me, Jacob?’
‘I was bringing Sir Percy’s horse back from the farrier when I spotted you. I seen him too, so I knew he was up to no good.’
She shivered convulsively as the chill seeped into her bones. ‘I thought he wanted to talk as we did when we were children. We were good friends in those days.’
‘That was a long time ago. You should have known better.’ Jacob backed away as Tommy made an attempt to rise. ‘Touch her again, cully, and I’ll knock your block off.’
Tommy staggered to his feet, holding his hand to his bruised chin. ‘You’ll both pay for this.’ He stumbled out of the folly and they watched him weave his way across the lawn like a drunken man.
‘I’ll be sacked for sure,’ Jacob said, picking up his cap and ramming it onto his head. ‘I’ve left the horses to find their own way to the stables so I’d best go and make sure they’re all right before I pack me bags. You’ll be out on your pretty little ear too, no doubt.’
‘I couldn’t stay after that anyway.’ Stella reached for her shawl. ‘I’ve already been in trouble thanks to Master Tommy. But I still can’t believe the way he behaved.’
‘It’s the drink that makes men behave like animals. My old man used to spend his wages on tiddley and come home roaring drunk to beat up me mother and any of us that got in his way. When sober he was a decent chap, but drunk he was a brute. I can see Master Tommy going the same way. You’ll be better off away from here.’ He linked her hand through his arm. ‘I’ll see you safe to the kitchen and then I’ll take care of the horses, although they know their way home without me.’
She allowed him to lead her out of the folly and across the lawn towards the servants’ entrance at the side of the house. ‘Thank you, Jacob. I hate to think what would have happened if you hadn’t come to my rescue.’
‘I’ve always had a soft spot for you, Stella. I could take care of you, if you’d let me.’
‘I don’t deserve such kindness. I’ve never been particularly nice to you.’
‘When did that ever put a man off when he fancies a pretty woman?’
‘I don’t know. In fact I don’t know anything about men in general, other than the fact that I should avoid them from now on.’
‘We ain’t all like Master Tommy. I would be good to you, Stella. I mean it.’
‘I know you do, but I’ll have to leave Portgone Place and find my own way in the world. I always intended to go in search of my family but somehow the time never seemed to be right. Now I have no choice.’
‘Well, good luck, Stella. And if you change your mind you’ll find me at the village forge. The farrier happens to be my uncle, and as luck would have it he offered to take me on and train me in his trade this very day. I said I’d think about it, but now my mind has been made up for me.’ He patted her hand as it lay on his arm. ‘Come, we might as well walk together. We’ve nothing more to lose.’
He left her at the scullery door and she went inside, covering her torn blouse with her damp shawl in case anyone was about. All was quiet, but as she entered the kitchen she came face to face with a furious Annie. Her face was ashen and her eyes blazed with anger. ‘I saw you,’ she said, pointing a shaking finger at Stella. ‘I was clearing the dining room when I looked out of the window and saw you racing across the lawn to the folly. You went to meet him, didn’t you?’
‘It wasn’t my idea, Annie. You must believe that.’ Stella held up her hands in a gesture of submission but the movement caused her shawl to slip, revealing her dishevelled state.
Annie’s eyes widened in horror. ‘You’ve been whoring with him, haven’t you? Just look at the state you’re in.’
‘No, really, it wasn’t like that. He attacked me, Annie.’
‘You’re a liar. Jacob isn’t like that.’ Annie took a step towards her, eyes narrowed. ‘I saw Jacob follow you but you must have led him on. Jacob wouldn’t behave like that.’
A bubble of hysterical laughter threatened to overcome her, but Stella managed to keep a grip on reality. ‘Annie, it wasn’t Jacob who attacked me. He saved me.’
A look of disbelief crossed Annie’s pallid features. ‘Why should I believe you? I know he’s sweet on you. If it weren’t for you he’d see that I’m the girl for him.’
‘And you are. I’m not interested in Jacob.’
‘So who was this mysterious man you went to meet?’
‘I might as well tell you, because it will be common gossip before nightfall. If you must know I was foolish enough to agree to meet Master Tommy. I thought I could sort things out between us, but I was wrong. He’d been drinking and he tried to rape me. He would have succeeded if Jacob hadn’t seen me going to the folly and followed me there.’
‘Oh, Lord, what a tangle.’
‘If you want to see Jacob again you’d best run to the stables. He’s packing his bags as we speak. He’s leaving because he knows he’ll be sacked for punching Master Tommy on the jaw.’
Annie’s eyes widened even further. ‘He never did.’
‘He knocked him senseless and he’ll get the blame for it, which is very unfair. I’ll be in trouble too and I’m not waiting around to suffer the humiliation of being sacked.’
‘Where will you go?’
‘I don’t know yet, but I’ll think of something.’ Stella threw her arms around Annie and gave her a hug. ‘Go quickly and see if you can catch Jacob before he sets off for the village. He’s been offered a job with the farrier so he won’t be far away.’
Annie’s grey eyes filled with tears. ‘I’ll miss you, Stella. Send word to me when you’ve found a new position.’
‘I will. Don’t worry about me. I’ll be all right,’ Stella said with more conviction than she was feeling. She gave Annie a last hug. ‘Go quickly or you’ll miss him.’
The reality of her situation only became apparent to Stella as she walked through the gates of Portgone Place for what she thought would be the last time. She paused, glancing over her shoulder at the house which had been her home since she was eleven, and now she was going out into a hostile world with little more than a change of clothes and the small amount of money she had managed to save. The worst of it was that she had no one to turn to and nowhere to go. Perhaps she should have gone to Lady Langhorne and told her the truth of what had happened, but Tommy would deny
everything and of course she would believe her son over the word of a mere servant.
She started walking and when she came to a crossroads she hesitated, gazing at the signpost. The wooden fingers pointed in four directions and she must choose which road to take. The rain had ceased but a chill wind whipped her hair from beneath her bonnet and tugged at her damp skirts. Her boots leaked and she was conscious of a blister forming on one of her heels. She read the signpost again and the word Navestock seemed to leap out at her. She closed her eyes and she could hear Mr Hendy’s voice. ‘Chalkhill Farm, Navestock. Ask anyone and they’ll give you directions.’ He had invited her to visit them and she was desperate. Perhaps he would allow her to stay for the night, even if she had to sleep in a barn, and she could start out again tomorrow. She braced her shoulders and set off on the road for Navestock.
The sun had fought its way between billowing rain clouds, parting them briefly before they closed together like the curtains in a theatre, plunging the countryside into a sullen gloom with spatters of rain spiking the wind. It was late afternoon by the time Stella reached her destination and she could see the lights from the farmhouse windows from the lane. Her boots were thick with mud, as was the hem of her dress, and the damp patch was gradually working its way up towards her knees. Her fingers were numbed with cold as she fumbled with the metal latch on the gate. She opened it and was about to step into the yard when two dogs appeared as if from nowhere, barking and baring their teeth.
‘Down, boys.’ The order came from Robert, who emerged from an outbuilding and strode towards her, clicking his fingers at the dogs. They obeyed the command and came to heel. ‘Miss Barry. It is you, isn’t it?’ Robert stared at her in astonishment. ‘Come into the house. You look perished.’
Her teeth were chattering so loudly that she was virtually incapable of speech, but she mumbled her thanks and followed him across the muddy yard to the back door of the half-timbered farmhouse. He ushered her into the chaos of a scullery with a stone sink filled with dirty dishes. The floor was strewn with muddy boots, which looked as though they had been kicked off and left where they had fallen. Waxed coats hung from pegs on the wall and she almost tripped over one of the dogs as it lapped water from a pudding basin. ‘It’s a bit of a mess,’ Robert said apologetically. He opened the kitchen door. ‘Father, we have a visitor.’