The Royal Lacemaker

by Linda Finlay

  ‘Yes, but I’ve got soup all down it and it’s dried in.’

  ‘Calm yerself, girl. Let’s take a gander at it.’ Lily watched as the other woman held it up to the light then whistled. ‘Someone’s been rubbing the nap the wrong way. Soup, you say? Goodness knows what was in it then, ’cos this looks like a grease stain to me. Still, it’s nothing a bit of wood ash won’t get out.’

  ‘Really?’ asked Lily, looking hopefully at the woman who’d become her friend over the past months. ‘But someone said it would require specialist treatment.’

  ‘No doubt they did, seeing as them newfangled chemicals cost a week’s wage. Want me to take this home and see to it?’ she asked, holding up the dress.

  ‘Oh, Mary, would you?’

  ‘Of course I will. It’ll take more than a bit of soup to beat me. I’ll bring it in to work tomorrow with me. Now I’d best get this lot home and fed,’ she said as her family swarmed around her, begging for their lunch. She looked at Lily closely. ‘You look peaky, love. Why don’t you come home and have a bite with us? Who knows, you might even be the lucky one who finds a bit of pig in the broth,’ she laughed.

  ‘Thanks, Mary, but I’m not really hungry.’

  ‘Broth not good enough now you’re eating fine food up at the manor, eh?’ she said, laughing again.

  ‘Of course it is. Anyway, I didn’t actually get anything to eat at the supper.’

  Curiosity flashed in the other woman’s eyes but Lily was still feeling raw about Rupert’s deception and didn’t wish to talk about it.

  Giving a big yawn, she said, ‘Sorry, Mary, it was a very late night so I think I’ll return to my room and have a lie-down once I’ve finished washing this muck off the rest of my clothes.’

  ‘That’s it, Lily, you get some rest whilst you can. Once you’ve got a family round you, you’ll find yourself lucky to have the time to draw breath, let alone sleep,’ Mary said cheerfully, heading down the lane with her brood following after her. Lily was reminded of the song her mother used to sing about an old woman who had so many children she didn’t know what to do.

  She sighed, for now it was she who didn’t know what to do. There was no way she could face Mr Mountsford again without telling him a few home truths, and if she did that Mrs Bodney would be sure to dismiss her.

  CHAPTER 34

  Before the first streaks of grey were lighting the eastern sky on Monday morning, Lily made her way to the workroom. As there was no sign of her employer, she busied herself setting out the materials ready for the day ahead. She couldn’t help worrying in case Mary hadn’t been able to get the stain out of Mrs Bodney’s dress. There was no way she could afford to replace such quality, even on the money she was getting as overseer. Fretting made her awkward and in her haste, she knocked over the tray of bobbins, sending them clattering across the floor.

  ‘If there’s one thing I cannot abide it’s noise, especially at this early hour, Lily Rose. It upsets my equilibrium for the day ahead.’

  ‘Sorry, Mrs Bodney,’ Lily replied, cursing her clumsiness.

  ‘I would like to see all the lace that’s been made for our Queen,’ Mrs Bodney requested, giving Lily a penetrating look. Carefully, she set the sprigs out along the long table, whereupon Mrs Bodney began counting and sorting them into various piles. Finally, she looked at Lily in surprise.

  ‘Well, there’s enough here for the flounce and all the various trimmings, and almost sufficient for the veil. The progress you’ve made on the Bertha collar is quite surprising,’ she pronounced.

  Lily smiled but her relief was short-lived for then her employer announced, ‘I shall now inspect the work for quality. However, there’s no need for you to watch, you can go back to your own work.’

  Relieved to have something to focus on, Lily picked up the bobbins, then sat at her pillow. Conscious of Mrs Bodney’s presence, she didn’t dare look up when the others filed into the room, although she could feel their curious stares, for their employer was seldom seen in the workroom these days. Finally, when Mrs Bodney had finished holding the lace sprigs up to the light she turned to Lily.

  ‘That’s a good standard of work. Before I go, did you have any luck with my dress?’

  As Lily hesitated, Mary quickly cut in, ‘Do you mean this one, Mrs Bodney?’ She held up the velveteen material. ‘I saw it on the table by the door when I came in and thought how beautiful it is.’

  Beaming, Mrs Bodney took the dress from her and held it up to the light. Lily held her breath.

  ‘Well, Lily, it seems there’s little wrong with your laundering skills,’ she finally pronounced, looking surprised.

  As their employer swept out of the room, Lily shot Mary a grateful look.

  ‘Phew,’ Emma said, ‘we don’t often see her ladyship in here, do we?’

  ‘No we don’t, so I think we’d best look busy in case she pops in again,’ answered Mary, giving Lily a meaningful look.

  Nodding in agreement, Lily settled back to her pillow, determined to put all other thoughts to the back of her mind.

  As if they were aware of the undercurrents going on around them, the ladies worked diligently for the rest of the morning, so that when it was time for their nuncheon Lily looked up in surprise.

  ‘Are you coming outside, Lily?’ Mary asked, stopping by her chair.

  ‘No, I don’t think so. There’s still so much to do,’ she said.

  ‘Well, I think you should. You’re still looking right peaky. What’s up, our Lil? You can tell me.’

  ‘Oh, Mary, I’ve really made a mess of things.’ The other woman perched on the chair beside her, waiting for her to continue. ‘Not only did I get soup on Mrs Bodney’s gown, I ran away from the squire’s supper dance as well.’

  ‘Don’t see that’s anything to fret over. Besides, Mrs Bodney’s dress came up a dream.’

  ‘Mary, I can’t thank you enough for dealing with that. How much do I owe you?’

  ‘Love a duck, you don’t owe me nothing. Why, only last year that lovely mother of yours, God rest her soul, sent over a bottle of the violet syrup she’d made especially for my little one. Stopped her colic just like that, it did,’ she said, snapping her fingers. ‘The old man and me got the best night’s sleep we’d had in ages, so call it square, eh?’

  ‘You’re so kind, Mary,’ Lily said, ‘and after I made you fall, as well.’

  ‘Oh, get away with you. Now, why don’t you tell me what’s really grieving you?’ the older woman said, looking at her with knowing eyes.

  Unable to keep it to herself any longer, Lily told her about Mr Mountsford’s attentions, the boots with cherry stitching and the blue velvet slippers.

  ‘I would never have accepted them if I’d known he was betrothed to another,’ she finally declared.

  Mary sat silently looking at her for a long moment. ‘Look, Lily,’ she finally said. ‘It’s like I told you once before. Fine feathers don’t make a fine fellow.’

  ‘But Mrs Bodney told me it was a good way to better myself.’

  ‘Better yourself than what? And who’s to say she’s right?’ Mary asked.

  ‘What do you mean?’ Lily asked, puzzled.

  ‘You’re doing fine as you are. It’s what you feel here that matters,’ Mary declared, thumping her heart. ‘It’s what feels right, Lily, not what looks right. We don’t all have ideas above our station like Mrs Bodney, thanks heavens,’ she said, shaking her head. ‘That woman’s got more airs than the weather. Now you ring that bell for the end of break, or you really will have the dragon breathing down your neck.’

  ‘Indeed you will, Mary,’ Mrs Bodney said, appearing in the doorway and making them jump.

  Flushing, Lily snatched up the bell and rang it vigorously. The ladies filed back indoors, clearly curious as to why their boss was in the workroom for the second time that day. Mrs Bodney nodded to them.

  ‘Continue the good work, ladies,’ she instructed before turning to Lily and saying, ‘Lady Clinsden called by ear
lier. She was impressed by the way my dress had been restored and would like to know what you used.’

  Lily racked her brains. What was it Mary had said she was going to use? Luckily her friend had seen her predicament and was mouthing the answer behind Mrs Bodney’s back.

  ‘Wur dash,’ she stuttered, trying to read Mary’s lips.

  ‘Wurdash. Thank you, I’ll pass that on to her ladyship. I’m sure her maid will know where some can be purchased. Now, everyone, back to work and, Lily, I’ll see you in my parlour later.’ As she swept out of the room, Mary shook her head and laughed.

  ‘Oh my, that’s a good one. She might be a fine businesswoman but she’s clearly no housekeeper.’

  As peals of laughter rang around the room, Lily joined in, feeling she was one of them again. Settling down to her work, she thought about Mary’s earlier comments, and the image of a man with blond wavy hair and cheeky grin they’d conjured up. Her heart felt heavy. Tom obviously didn’t care much for her for he hadn’t been in touch for weeks now. In fact, nobody seemed to know of his whereabouts. Seemingly, he’d vanished into thin air.

  Before she knew it, the sun, which was setting noticeably earlier in the day lately, had disappeared, leaving them struggling to work in the shadow-filled room.

  ‘I can’t see a blooming thing,’ Nell exclaimed. ‘I’ve reworked this bit twice and it’s still not right. We need candles, Lily, or we’ll have to go home.’

  Privately she agreed, but the thought of her meeting with Mrs Bodney was already filling her with dread without having to ask for what she knew would be regarded as an extra expense, despite her employer’s pledge to look after their eyes. Still, it stood to reason the ladies couldn’t be expected to work if they couldn’t see.

  ‘I think we should call it a day, ladies. You may cover your work and leave.’ The early reprieve sent ripples of excitement round the room and there was a scraping of chairs as they shot to their feet, eager to be on their way.

  ‘Be sure to be back at first light, though,’ she called after them, but all she heard was their faint laughter as they made their way down the path. Peering around, she realized it was too dark to check the afternoon’s work. Knowing she had no excuse to dally, she smoothed down her dress and made her way to the parlour.

  ‘You’ve finished work earlier than usual. I suppose the ladies are asking for candles to work by now?’ Mrs Bodney said, looking up from the ledger she was working on. As always, her employer’s shrewdness took Lily by surprise.

  ‘Oh, don’t look like that, Lily. I’m not the ogre you all seem to think. I’d like to provide them but it’s a business I run here, and cost has to be balanced against profit. However, now it’s autumn, the hours of daylight are growing shorter and the work is on schedule so the ladies may continue to leave at this time. Of course, their wages will be adjusted accordingly, so see that they are informed.’

  Lily nodded, but her mind was busy working out by how much her own wages would be cut. Mrs Bodney’s voice cut through her reverie.

  ‘The reason Lady Clinsden called to see me earlier was because she was concerned about you. She hoped her revelation about Rupert hadn’t upset you too much.’

  ‘I’m grateful for her concern, but I won’t give up my principles for anyone. I’m sorry if I’ve let you down, though,’ she said. There was silence as her employer studied her for a long moment.

  ‘No, Lily, it is I who should apologize. I should have been aware you thought Rupert was offering something he wasn’t. Clearly you are not the sort of woman who is prepared to compromise her standards for the sake of a few luxuries and I admire you for that. I’m sure you will not be taken in again.’

  ‘No, I will not,’ Lily stated, with feeling.

  ‘Well, I must continue entering the details of materials used to date in the ledger, so I’ll bid you good evening.’

  Lily took some bread, cheese and an apple up to her room, where she ate by moonlight and, positioning her paper under the skylight, practised her letters.

  There was uproar in the workroom the next morning when Lily explained that working hours were being curtailed for the rest of the contract.

  ‘The stingy old bat could at least provide us with a few candles and we could all bring our flashes,’ Cora moaned. ‘It’s all right for her; she’s got pots of money.’

  ‘The stingy old bat could indeed provide you with a few candles and flashes as well,’ Mrs Bodney said, appearing in the doorway and making them jump. ‘However, if I did that, your work would be finished in less than a month. Do I take it you already have other employment lined up?’ she asked, staring at Cora, who at least had the grace to blush.

  Everyone knew demand for pillow lace was waning rapidly, and with machine-made lace proving more economical, work was going to be harder than ever to come by. After her conversation with Mrs Bodney the previous evening, Lily had tossed and turned most of the night wondering where she was going to go, and what she was going to do when the Queen’s lace was finished. Realizing Mrs Bodney was still speaking, she tried to concentrate.

  ‘And as for the rest of your statement, Cora, I have worked long and hard to get where I am today. You would do well to remember that if I hadn’t earned a good reputation I wouldn’t have secured this commission from the Queen, and you, young lady, wouldn’t have had employment these past few months.’ With that, she swept out of the room leaving a sombre little workforce behind her.

  As the hours crept slowly by, the mood in the workroom grew ever more sober. Each was lost in her own thoughts, knowing they all would soon be at the mercy of any job they might be lucky enough to come by. Lily was torn between wishing the long day over, and dreading finding out when she would have to leave. Never had she felt so alone. If only Tom was here to confide in, she thought.

  Finally, the afternoon dragged to a close and it was with relief that the ladies tidied away their things. The huge pile of finished sprigs on the large dresser stood as testament to their hard work, yet served also to highlight the fact that the commission was almost fulfilled.

  A knock on the door jolted Lily from her musing.

  ‘Mrs Bodney is waiting to see you,’ the maid announced.

  ‘Thank you, Tilda,’ she said, automatically smoothing down her dress before hurrying through to the parlour.

  ‘I trust all went well today and the ladies have agreed to their new conditions?’

  ‘Yes, although they are concerned as to their future.’

  Mrs Bodney nodded, then handed her a letter.

  ‘This was delivered earlier. Well, go on, open it,’ she urged, as Lily stood gazing down at it.

  ‘Will you read it for me, please, Mrs Bodney?’

  Her employer nodded, holding out her hand for the letter. Then, just as she had done before, she cleared her throat and read,

  Dearest Lily,

  I was so pleased to hear from you and to know that you do not bear me any ill will.

  Of course you may continue to call me Aunt Elizabeth and I trust that when next we meet we shall have the discussion I’d hoped to have with you before our untimely departure. Thank you for letting me know Beth is faring well.

  Rob sends his affection, as do I,

  Your loving Aunt Elizabeth

  PS. I have also received a very interesting communication from Lady Clinsden and will keep you informed should her exciting proposal develop.

  ‘There now, doesn’t that put your mind at rest?’ her employer asked.

  ‘Yes, thank you, Mrs Bodney. But what does she mean about a proposal from Lady Clinsden?’

  ‘Lily, despite what you might think, I am not clairvoyant, so we will have to wait and see. Now, off you go and get your beauty sleep,’ her employer said, handing her back the letter. ‘I’ll bid you good night.’

  Taking a picnic supper up with her, Lily escaped to her room, then lay in bed mulling over the communication from her aunt and the events of the day. Realizing Mrs Bodney still hadn’t said when her w
ork here would be at an end, she vowed to ask her first thing in the morning. She needed to make plans for the future, not least to find somewhere to live. Should she return to Coombe, she wondered.

  Finally she fell into a troubled sleep, dreaming a dream she was to have for many nights. She was back in Coombe, a fair-haired man with a cheeky grin beside her. He was vowing eternal love and placing a ruby ring on her finger.

  CHAPTER 35

  Lily woke with a start, then lay there feeling restless. Some elusive thought was niggling at the back of her mind. But no matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t put her finger on what it was. Jumping out of bed, she tugged on her clothes, ran her fingers through her hair and let herself out into the grey of the early morning. The autumnal air was decidedly chilly and, pulling her shawl tighter round her, she decided to delay her morning wash at the pump until the sun had come up. Hurrying down Sea Hill, her heart leaped when she saw the red sails of Tom’s lugger. Then she remembered the boat was no longer his. Where are you, Tom? Tears pricked the back of her eyes, but she blinked hard, refusing to give in to self-pity.

  Thrusting her hands into the pockets of her apron, she tramped along the shoreline, spray stinging her cheeks, pebbles crunching beneath her boots. Before long, the keen air had worked its magic and her thinking was as clear as the water. She thought back to her strange dream, and was just on the verge of remembering what it was that had been bothering her, when she heard a shout.

  ‘Ouch.’

  She spun round but couldn’t see anyone.

  ‘Oh, blow it, blow it.’ This time the cry repeated, as it bounced off the cliffs and echoed around the bay.

  She stood still, then caught a glimpse of movement by the netting hut. Hurrying towards it, she saw Joe the Quarry perched on a rock wringing his hands.

  ‘Joe, whatever’s the matter?’ she asked.

  ‘I’m a useless old fool, that’s what,’ the old man muttered, turning his rheumy eyes towards her before glaring down at the pebbles. Following his gaze, she saw the discarded turnip lying where he’d thrown it. ‘Can’t even make a lantern for me grandson now with these useless mitts,’ he spat, holding up his hands, which were squashed almost flat, their misshapen fingers sticking out at awkward angles. She also saw the right one had a gouge where the thumb had been.