by Linda Finlay
‘But—’
‘No buts. Get out this instant and you can tell your father I’ll be making other arrangements for my victuals in future.’ With that, she pushed the gaping Molly out onto the street, slamming the door behind her. The lace makers looked at each other in amazement.
‘Right, ladies, it’s nice to see you all here, but the show is over, so back to work,’ Mrs Bodney ordered. ‘Lily, I’d like a word, if you please.’
As the ladies bent their heads over their pillows, Lily swallowed hard and followed Mrs Bodney into the adjoining room.
‘Don’t look so worried, Lily. There will always be those who resent others getting on in life. You mustn’t ever let another person’s jealousy get to you.’
‘But I never did anything, you know, improper,’ she protested.
To her astonishment, Mrs Bodney burst out laughing.
‘Oh, Lily, I never for one moment thought you did. The secret of dealing with people like Molly is not to rise to their bait. Just smile sweetly, then, when they see their taunts are having no effect, they’ll back off. Do you understand?’
Lily nodded.
‘Good. Now, as you know, Anna has been waiting to see if anything can be done about her eyesight. Poor woman, it’s not good news, I’m afraid, and I can no longer employ her here. Oh, don’t worry,’ she said, as Lily gasped in dismay. ‘Someone I know requires domestic help, so she will still be earning a wage. We now need to think about how we can protect our lace makers’ eyesight in the future, Lily. I know it’s summer and we have the longer hours of daylight but we shall have to encourage employers, myself included, to let the ladies light candles earlier in the year.’
Lily gasped. ‘Really? That would be helpful and save many a headache too,’ she said, speaking from experience. ‘I’m pleased you have been able to find a position for Anna, but having her winding the thread onto the bobbins has made a huge difference to our daily output.’
‘Yes, and that is why I’ve engaged someone to take her place. When I left earlier, there was a girl waiting outside. Although she failed the test yesterday, she pleaded with me to find her work. I like a person who doesn’t give up easily, so I’ve engaged her to take over from Anna. Come in please, Emma,’ she called, and Lily looked up to see the curly-headed girl looking shyly at her.
‘Emma is prepared to work hard and do anything asked of her, so please take her through to the workroom and explain what her duties will be.’
By the time Lily had shown Emma what she was to do and then checked everyone’s work, it was well into the morning. Drained from her restless night and setting up the new workroom, she sank onto her chair. Being an overseer was certainly demanding, but she mustn’t grumble. The extra money she was earning would help swell her betrothal fund, she thought, before remembering the new boots. One step forward, three back, as her mother used to say when she was trying to eke out their meagre funds.
Picking up her bobbins, she resumed work on the sprig she’d started the previous day and before long the rhythm of her work restored her equilibrium. As often happened, she began daydreaming about the lace she would make for her own wedding dress and how long it would be before she and Tom were wed. Tom was right: they didn’t spend enough time together. Now she was living here, she would have more free time to see him and make plans for their future. As he was baiting up the pots as well as fishing, they’d be able to save more money to marry. Time was passing quickly and it was exciting to think that soon they could look for their own place. She couldn’t wait.
The lace makers worked through the long days of high summer, only too aware of the deadline looming. Mrs Bodney took to popping in for on the spot inspections but Lily’s exacting leadership meant their work was never found wanting. They adopted the mantra of tongues still, bobbins moving and Lily used the resulting quiet of the workroom to foster her happy daydreams.
‘Damn and blast.’
Rudely roused from her reverie, Lily was about to rebuke Cora for her bad language when she noticed the girl was distressed. Huge tears were rolling down her face and it was only Emma’s swift intervention with a scrap of material that saved them from landing on her lacework.
‘It’s ruined anyway,’ Cora wailed. ‘Oh, I hate it here,’ and with that she fled from the room, leaving the other lace makers speechless. Even when her friend Nell called after her, she didn’t stop.
‘All right, everyone, back to your work,’ Lily said, rushing to the door and peering out. But Cora had already disappeared. Puzzled at the girl’s unusual behaviour, she went over to Dora.
‘Do you know what’s up with your sister?’ Lily asked.
Two green eyes stared up at her and the girl shrugged. ‘She never talks to me,’ she muttered.
‘Oh?’ Lily said, surprise showing on her face.
‘We don’t even like each other. Closest we ever got was our names. Mother was having a right laugh, I reckon. ’Spect Cora’s got man trouble. That’s usually it with her,’ the girl added, then looked down at her pillow. Seeing the matter was closed as far as Dora was concerned, Lily went over to look at Cora’s lace.
It was in such a mess that she could have cried herself. It would take an age to undo and then rework the threads. For two bobbins she’d cast the wretched sprig aside and start on a new one but, of course, that wasn’t an option because all the thread had to be accounted for.
Breaking Mrs Bodney’s golden rule, she didn’t stop for her noon break but set about putting Cora’s work to rights. She hoped the girl would return once she’d calmed down. Although they’d got off to a bad start, once Cora had accepted that Lily was overseer, she’d proven to be a good worker.
However, the afternoon wore on and Cora didn’t reappear, leaving Lily no option but to carry on and finish the sprig. If Cora didn’t turn up on the morrow, she’d have to let Emma work the lace, and employ another girl to replenish the bobbins and keep the workroom tidy. It would mean watching Emma closely, but working to time was critical if all the lace were to be ready for sewing up by November.
Although they had benefited from the summer hours of daylight, they were past the longest day, and the shadows were lengthening earlier in the evening. Before Lily realized it, Mary and the others were covering their work. Despite there being so many more lace makers together now, they’d been working so quietly she’d forgotten they were there. Smiling her thanks as they filed out of the room, she returned to her own pillow. She’d never make up the time lost, but at least she could finish the piece she’d been working on.
It was twilight by the time she’d caught up sufficiently to stop working. Letting herself out into evening air, she lifted her skirts and hurried towards the harbour, hoping Tom would be waiting, as he was each evening that the tide allowed. But he wasn’t there. Apart from the boats drawn up on the beach, the bay was unusually deserted. Dejected, she trudged wearily back up the hill, pulling her shawl tighter around her against the stiffening breeze. Then as she passed the grocer’s store, a voice called through the open door.
‘Let you down, has he?’ Molly jeered.
Remembering Mrs Bodney’s advice of a few days ago, Lily ignored her and carried on walking.
‘Happen Tom got tired of playing second fiddle to yon fancy man. Got himself another girl, maybe,’ Molly’s cackle taunted. But Lily remained silent and the other woman slunk back indoors.
It wasn’t like Tom not to turn up, Lily thought, making her way back to Picky Pike’s. What if he had found someone else? The idea made her stomach churn and she vowed she’d make more time for him in future.
Having had her supper, she felt too restless to sleep, so she went through to the workroom and settled herself at her pillow. Although it was almost dark, she knew the pattern by heart and thought she’d use the time to catch up with her own lace. For once, though, her work failed to soothe her. As her movements increased so did her fretting. Where could Tom be? Was he with some other girl? Or had Molly been getting her own bac
k for the other day? He’d never failed her before. Why, he’d always been as reliable as the tide. So where was he then?
‘Lily, what are you doing in here at this time of night?’ Startled out of her thoughts, she looked up to find Mrs Bodney standing in the doorway.
‘I was just inspecting the work, Mrs Bodney.’
‘Hmm,’ said the other woman, frowning at Lily’s pillow. ‘I may be a taskmistress but I’m no slave driver, Lily. Cora may have jumped ship but that doesn’t mean you have to do her work as well as your own.’
She stared at Mrs Bodney in surprise. Surely, the woman was a witch.
‘No, I’m not a mystic, Lily, if that’s what you’re thinking. I may have been living in London but I was born and raised here in Bransbeer and know only too well how juicy gossip spreads faster than lightning. Come through to my parlour, time is marching on and we need to discuss how much lace still needs to be made,’ she ordered, before disappearing in a flurry of skirts.
Lily quickly put down her bobbins. Getting up, she stretched her body to ease the tiredness from her back.
‘What a delectable vision to greet a humble merchant.’ She froze, as Rupert Mountsford dipped his head and stepped into the room.
‘Oh, I …’
‘I’m sorry if I took you by surprise. Seeing you execute such an elegant movement fair made my heart beat faster. Please forgive my intrusion.’ His voice sounded sincere, but the gleam in his eyes confirmed he was anything but sorry.
‘Why, Mr Mountsford, er, Rupert, I fear you jest,’ she answered, smoothing down her dress and trying to recover her composure. But he continued standing there, staring at her so intently, her heart skipped a beat. She really couldn’t understand why his presence should affect her so but she wouldn’t be human if she didn’t find his obvious admiration gratifying. Remembering her employer’s words, she smiled up at him. His look of surprise turned to one of pleasure.
‘Well, well, young Lily, it seems you are blossoming before my very eyes,’ he said, grinning delightedly.
CHAPTER 24
‘How much longer do you intend to keep me waiting, Lily?’ Mrs Bodney snapped, bustling back into the room. Then she saw Rupert standing there and her demeanour changed in an instant. ‘Oh, I do beg your pardon, I had no idea you were here, Rupert. I hope Lily has been attending adequately to your requirements?’
He turned to Lily, beaming.
‘Indeed she has; more than adequately, in fact. Forgive my intrusion at this late hour, Mrs Bodney, but I find I have to return to London tonight and was hoping we could discuss business before I leave.’
‘Yes, of course. Please come through to the parlour. Lily, ask Tilda to bring us some refreshment, then I suggest you retire for the night. I’ll see you in my parlour at first light for we have much to go through before the ladies arrive tomorrow.’
‘Yes, Mrs Bodney,’ she answered. Then with a quick nod in Rupert’s direction, she turned to leave.
‘I’ll bid you good evening then, Lily,’ Rupert murmured. She could feel him staring at her, and felt compelled to return his look.
‘Good evening, Rupert. I trust you have a good journey.’
‘And I trust you will not forget this humble merchant in his absence,’ he replied, bowing slightly.
‘Well, Lily, I have good news,’ Mrs Bodney said as they sat in the parlour breaking their fast the next morning. ‘Rupert Mountsford has increased his business with me. Personally, I think it’s so that he has more of an excuse to return to Bransbeer, but who am I to complain?’ She took a sip from her cup and then smiled. ‘In fact, he has a surprise for you, which I’m sure you will find most acceptable.’
‘Oh, and what might that be, Mrs Bodney?’
‘I really cannot say, for if I tell you it won’t be a surprise, will it? Suffice to say you can prepare to be impressed by his generosity. Now, if you’ve finished your meal, let’s get down to business. You can confirm the work is on schedule?’
‘Yes, I counted the sprigs last evening to make sure.’
‘Good, that means the ladies can now move on to making the tulips. The pattern maker delivered these this morning,’ she said, handing Lily the new patterns. ‘Make sure they master it quickly, Lily,’ she instructed.
Lily hurried through to the workroom where, instead of being at their pillows, the ladies were huddled together in a corner of the room. They were chatting so earnestly, she had to clap her hands in order to get their attention.
‘Ladies, please, we have a new pattern to learn,’ she said briskly, only to be met with their surprised stares.
‘Have you not heard the news?’ Emma asked.
‘What news?’
‘There’s been a wrecking,’ Mary said. ‘Those evil men, they shone their lights along the cliffs until the vessel foundered on the rocks. At least eight dead, so I was told. Poor souls; may they rest in peace,’ she stuttered to a halt, shaking her head and crossing herself.
Remembering Tom’s words about sowing and reaping crops, Lily felt her heart sink to her boots and she hoped he and his lugger were safe.
‘Brought their spoils in at Seaton Hole, they did. Plundered all manner of brandy, silks and gold, even some jewels, so I heard. By the time the Preventatives got wind, there was only bodies and wreckage left floating on the tide,’ added Emma, eager to impart what she’d heard.
‘It’s a terrible thing, wrecking. Smuggling I can understand, what with the taxes being so high, but wrecking is a different barrel of fish. Tricking innocent men onto dangerous rocks then leaving them to perish is an unforgivable sin in my book,’ exclaimed Mary, almost beside herself.
‘Yes, that is terrible,’ Lily agreed. ‘I suggest we say a prayer for those poor lost men and their families and then we must begin the day’s work before we get any further behind.’
Obediently, the ladies bent their heads and the room fell silent. To think such barbaric things still went on in this day and age, thought Lily. Quietly, she prayed for the souls of the dead to be safely delivered to heaven. Then, after a respectable silence, she brought the ladies back to the present by asking if anyone had seen Cora. They looked at each other then shook their heads. Lily looked at Dora.
‘We ain’t seen anything of her. Father’s hopping like a frog,’ she muttered.
‘She hasn’t been to see me even though she said I was her best friend,’ Nell said sadly.
It seemed Lily had no choice but to set Emma to work at the absent girl’s pillow. Lily fought down a groan, knowing she’d have to keep a careful watch over her work.
‘Gather round while I show you the pattern to be pricked out,’ Lily said.
‘I’ll be right pleased when we can go back to doing our own ones, I can tell you,’ Mary groaned, shaking her head. ‘I’m too old for all this new learning.’ The others nodded in agreement.
‘Come on, ladies, this is for our Queen’s wedding,’ Lily said, smiling her encouragement.
‘Bet the old pattern maker’s been in a right old how’s yer father. You knows how pernickety she is about her creations,’ Mary said, shaking her head. ‘By the way, Lily, I saw your Tom this morning.’ Her heart skipped a beat. If Mary had seen him this morning, then he was safe. ‘He said to tell you he waited till the clouds covered the moon, and he’s mighty mad you didn’t show.’ She looked at Mary in surprise.
‘But I did. It was Tom who wasn’t there,’ she protested, her cheeks burning as she remembered Molly’s caustic remarks.
‘Well, he says he’ll be waiting outside for you when you finish work. He has a surprise for you so I’d spruce yourself up, girl. It sounds like you’re in for a treat,’ Mary said, winking at her. It seemed it was to be a day for surprises, she thought, going over to check how Emma was doing.
To her delight, Emma had taken to the new pattern immediately, and Lily was gratified to see her working steadily. Perhaps she really had been suffering from nerves after all. However, some of the others were struggling with the chan
ge, and she was kept busy all day rectifying their mistakes. By the time everyone was confidently working the tulips, the day was drawing to a close.
As they covered their work, the mood in the room miraculously lifted. Tomorrow was the long-awaited Sabbath when they could forget their lace making and spend time with their families.
Determined not to keep Tom waiting, Lily tidied herself up as best she could. Staring down at her sober dress, she frowned. How she longed for her period of mourning to be over so she could wear bright colours when she went out.
Tom was perched on the wall outside and he gave her a wry grin when she appeared.
‘Thought I’d make sure you weren’t going to keep me hanging around again,’ he said, jumping down.
‘But I waited for you on the beach as we’d arranged.’
‘The beach? But I asked Molly to tell you there’d been a change of plan and I’d meet you up by the top field instead. Didn’t she speak to you?’
‘Oh, yes, she spoke all right, but she didn’t give me your message.’
He stood there scratching his head and looking perplexed.
‘Never mind, Tom, let’s not waste our precious time arguing. Mary says you have a surprise for me,’ she said, smiling up at him. Immediately he brightened.
‘I want this to be a special night for you, Lily, and first of all, I’m going to treat you to that supper I promised you.’
‘Goody, I’m so hungry I could eat a sheep,’ she said, laughing and feeling carefree for the first time in ages.
‘Well, you might have to make do with mutton pie,’ he answered.
‘Delicious! You said first, so what are we doing after that?’
‘You just wait and see my girl,’ he said, tapping the side of his nose and then laughing at her indignant look. ‘Tonight, Lily Rose, you are going to eat your fill and then, if you are very good, well, we’ll have to see, won’t we?’
Seeing the barely suppressed excitement in his eyes, she smiled up at him, happy to go along with his game.