The Royal Lacemaker

by Linda Finlay

  CHAPTER 43

  Slipping out of the kitchen, Lily hurried through to the sewing room where she found Sally, on her knees, mopping up the brown liquid that was spreading quickly over the flags. When she saw Lily, she jumped in alarm, banging her head on the table above.

  ‘I didn’t mean to, miss. Mrs Staple will kill me,’ the scullery maid sobbed, tears streaming down her cheeks.

  ‘Now then, calm yourself and tell me what’s happened,’ Lily said, but looking up at the ledge with the toppled mug and dregs of tea still spilling onto the design paper, it was evident what the problem was. She snatched up the drawing, but could see it was beyond saving.

  ‘I’m sorry, miss. Mrs Staple sent me in to lay the fire whilst yous was at supper, and me elbow knocked the mug as I was lifting the bucket of ashes. The tea spilled onto the table. I’ve wiped it up as best as I can, but the picture’s all smudged. Is it important?’ she squeaked.

  Yes, Lily wanted to scream, it’s the design we’ve been working to. But, as the girl stood trembling before her, she didn’t have the heart to tell her off.

  Thinking quickly, she said, ‘Look, Sally, you get that fire going and I’ll clear this up before anyone sees it.’ The young girl stared hopefully up at her. ‘Go on, quickly now,’ she urged, frantically mopping up the rest of the mess. By the time everywhere was clean again, Sally had the fire burning brightly.

  ‘Lily, where are you?’ Mrs Bodney’s imperious voice called, making them both jump. Lily looked at the ruined drawing, quickly screwed it up and tossed it into the flames.

  ‘I’m in the workroom, Mrs Bodney,’ she answered. Turning to Sally, she put her finger to her lips. ‘Go back to the kitchen and don’t say a word about this to anyone, understand?’ she whispered. The little maid nodded and quickly gathered up her cloth. ‘With any luck, we’ll get away with it,’ Lily added.

  As Sally scuttled out through the side door, Mrs Bodney swept in the front, her beady eyes as usual missing nothing.

  ‘What’s making that fire burn so brightly?’ she asked, moving closer to the grate and peering into it. ‘Goodness, isn’t that the design sheet?’

  ‘Yes, Mrs Bodney. As we’ve finished with it, I thought it wise to destroy it.’ Her employer turned and stared at her for a long moment. Endeavouring to keep her composure, Lily smiled back. ‘That was the correct thing to do, wasn’t it?’ she asked. ‘I remembered that when we’d finished with the patterns in Bransbeer, you cut them up so that no one could copy them.’

  ‘Well, I must say I’m surprised you didn’t check with me first, but if you’re sure it’s really finished with,’ Mrs Bodney said doubtfully. ‘Still, you should know, you are the overseer, after all. And it must mean that you are making even better progress than I thought, so I’ll leave you to it. Good night, Lily,’ she said, giving her another penetrating stare, before bustling out of the room.

  ‘Good night, Mrs Bodney,’ she replied weakly.

  As soon as the door had closed behind her employer, she collapsed into the nearest chair. That really was too close for comfort, she thought. Then she had a terrible thought. Supposing the ladies needed to refer to the design and she couldn’t remember it? What if they couldn’t finish the commission? Whatever would happen then? Would she be hanged, drawn and quartered? Shivering, she leaned closer to the fire, holding out her hands to warm them. As she sat there, pondering her fate, the others reappeared re-energized after their supper.

  ‘We wondered where you’d gone, Lily. Mrs Staple said we should have a bit of a break whilst the fire in here was drawing,’ Rosie said, feeling she should explain their prolonged absence.

  ‘Quite right too,’ Lily hastily agreed. ‘But now we really need to get some more work done before bedtime. As you can see, the fire and candles are burning well, so it’s bright and cosy in here.’ They took their seats and began to sew, but it wasn’t long before Caroline noticed the design sheet was missing.

  ‘Where’s the drawing?’ she asked, and everyone peered around.

  ‘It’s not here,’ Christina said. ‘That must be why Mrs Bodney came rushing in here as soon as she arrived back. Funny, though, I didn’t notice it in her hand when she came through to the kitchen.’

  ‘I expect she wanted to make sure nobody else saw it,’ Lily said carefully. ‘Still, we all know what we are doing now, don’t we?’ she asked, crossing her fingers behind her back.

  ‘Hope so, or we’ll be in a right old pickle,’ Caroline said.

  However, the evening passed without anyone needing to refer to the design, and Lily breathed a sigh of relief.

  The next few days passed in a whirl, as they worked diligently from the break of dawn until bedtime, and though they were weary, their spirits remained high. The thought of finishing their job early and still getting paid until the end of the month spurred them on. Mrs Staple ensured they were amply fed, maintaining that they needed extra nourishment to replace the energy they were expending.

  Then, late on Saturday afternoon, the final sprig was stitched into place. Giving a rousing cheer, the sewers held hands and danced around the table in delight.

  Their employer came rushing in to see what all the noise was about and Lily smiled widely.

  ‘That’s it, Mrs Bodney, the sewing up of the Queen’s lace is complete,’ she proudly announced.

  ‘Well done, ladies,’ Mrs Bodney said, clapping her hands in delight. ‘Go and wait in the kitchen whilst I inspect your work. Tell Mrs Staple she may serve tea and a slice of cake each.’

  ‘Cake, how wonderful,’ cried Rosie.

  ‘You, young lady, would do well to forgo some of these sweet treats. No man wants a barrel for a wife, you know,’ Mrs Bodney said, shaking her finger.

  ‘No, Mrs Bodney,’ Rosie answered, looking down at the ground. Then, the other woman’s features softened.

  ‘Well, as you’ve worked so hard, you can start on the morrow,’ she relented, and Rosie rushed through to the kitchen before she could change her mind.

  When they were sitting at the table enjoying their refreshment, Caroline turned to Lily and asked, ‘Can we go home now we’ve finished?’

  ‘More to the point, can we have our money now we’ve finished?’ Christina butted in.

  ‘I guess it depends on whether our work passes Her Majesty’s eagle eyes,’ Rosie said, helping herself to another piece of seed cake.

  ‘I’m afraid I can’t speak for Her Majesty, Rosie,’ Mrs Bodney said, making them jump as she appeared in the doorway. ‘For myself, however, I would like to say you have all done a splendid job. Yes, Caroline, you may go home this afternoon and yes, Christina, you can have your money now. As for you, Rosie, please remember what I said about men not wishing to marry little barrels.’ They all laughed as Rosie looked longingly at the cake in her hand, then reluctantly put it back on her plate.

  ‘Right, ladies, please listen,’ continued Mrs Bodney. ‘Lily, as overseer, you will remain until the lace has been suitably parcelled and collected. The rest of you may go and pack your things. And, I have no doubt you will wish to come and see me before you leave,’ she added, her eyes twinkling with amusement.

  Lily watched as they rushed from the room, chattering like excited magpies, and sighed. What was she going to do once her job here was finished?

  When the door had shut behind them, Mrs Bodney turned to her saying, ‘I have something to ask you, Lily.’

  ‘Oh?’ she asked, her hopes rising.

  ‘When I return to Bransbeer, I intend promoting Mary to housekeeper. She lives close enough to return home each evening. However, I will need a live-in maid to assist her.’

  Lily’s heart sank. So that was to be her fate. Well, it was better than being out of work and she did need somewhere to live …

  ‘Lily Rose, are you listening? I asked you what you thought of my idea,’ Mrs Bodney said, looking at her expectantly.

  ‘I suppose I don’t really have any choice. I mean, it’s very kind of you but I hadn’t re
ally thought of working as a maid—’

  She was interrupted by a peal of laughter.

  ‘Not you, you chump. You’re capable of much better things. No, I was thinking of that young scullery maid,’ she said, getting up from the table. ‘Sally, a word, please,’ she called, and the little girl came scuttling in, her lip trembling as if she was expecting a dressing-down. ‘How long have you been working in that scullery, girl?’

  ‘Since the summer hiring, ma’am,’ she said, bobbing a curtsy and earning a grunt of approval from the older woman.

  ‘Well, I’m in need of a housemaid, so what do you think? Would you like to work for me in Bransbeer?’

  The little girl’s eyes widened in surprise and she nodded vigorously.

  ‘What do you think, Lily? Would Sally be up to the job?’

  The girl stared at Lily in mute appeal and she smiled, giving her a surreptitious wink behind the other woman’s back.

  ‘I’m sure Sally will be more than capable, Mrs Bodney.’

  ‘Right then, that’s settled, I take it you can speak, child?’ she asked as an afterthought.

  ‘Yes, ma’am.’ It came out as a whisper but Mrs Bodney, seeming satisfied, waved her away with the promise of arranging things with Mrs Staple.

  The room had only just gone quiet again when the sewers reappeared, swarming excitedly around Mrs Bodney like wasps at a picnic.

  ‘Right, ladies, quiet please,’ she said, going over to her reticule and drawing out her purse. ‘Hold out your hands,’ she ordered before carefully counting a generous number of coins into each palm. ‘You have all done very well. When people remark on the fine workmanship of our dear Queen’s wedding dress, you can be proud to know you had a hand in making it. Now I’ll bid you goodbye and good luck, ladies,’ she said, sweeping out of the room.

  Looking down at the shiny coins in their hands, the women’s eyes widened in surprise. Despite being the finest sewers and finishers in the county, they’d never earned this much before. Suddenly, eager to be on their way, they turned to Lily.

  ‘Goodbye, Lily. Hope we’ll see you again one day,’ they chorused. Then gathering up their bags they headed for the door, leaving her alone in the deepening shadows.

  So that was it then. Everyone had somewhere to go, apart from her. Alone as usual, Lily Rose, so you might as well get used to it, she thought.

  Peasants don’t pity themselves, Lily. They prepare for the next thing life has in store.

  ‘That’s all very well, Father, but I don’t know what that is.’

  You must have faith, Lily.

  CHAPTER 44

  As she pondered her father’s words, Lily hardly registered the knock on the front door, or Mrs Staple muttering under her breath about unexpected callers as she hurried to answer it. However, it was Mrs Bodney who appeared in the doorway.

  ‘Lily, please go through to the front room. Your presence is required immediately.’

  What now? she thought, getting wearily to her feet.

  ‘Yes, Mrs Bodney,’ she answered dutifully.

  ‘And for heaven’s sake pinch some colour into your cheeks. You look as white as the chalk cliffs back home.’ Not having the strength to argue, she nodded, thinking the other woman did take worrying about appearances to extremes. Making her way along the hallway, she was about to enter the room when she stopped in the doorway, her eyes widening in surprise.

  The figure warming his hands in front of the fire turned to greet her, but she’d have known those broad shoulders anywhere.

  ‘Hello, Lily,’ he said, grinning.

  ‘Tom! What are you doing here?’ she gasped, her heart thumping wildly.

  ‘Just thought I’d drop in,’ he quipped, his eyes sparkling with mischief.

  ‘But how did you know where I was?’

  ‘I didn’t for ages,’ he said. ‘When I got back from Coombe and found you’d left Picky Pike’s, I was that sore. Thought you’d done a runner on me. Just when I thought we was getting on well again. I asked around, but no one knew where you’d gone. I was out of me mind.’

  ‘But, Tom, I didn’t know we were coming here until the last minute. I—’

  ‘Well really, Lily, that’s no way to treat a guest. Where are your manners?’ her employer asked, bustling in. Lily’s eyes widened in amazement, for Mrs Bodney herself was carrying a tray of refreshment. ‘Tom, it’s good to see you again. Please take a seat and make yourself comfortable.’ If he was surprised at the change in Lily’s employer’s manner towards him, he chose to ignore it.

  ‘Thank you, Mrs Bodney,’ he answered politely. ‘It’s nice to see you too.’

  Smiling graciously, she set down the tray. ‘I’m afraid you’ll have to excuse me, Tom, but I’m frightfully busy preparing for a wedding,’ she announced regally, before bustling out.

  ‘But I thought your job here was finished now?’ he said, turning to Lily and frowning.

  ‘It is, Tom, but Mrs Bodney’s received an invitation to attend the royal wedding and she’s in a right state deciding what she’s to wear.’

  ‘You women and weddings,’ he said, grinning. Then, realizing what he’d said, he sat there looking uncomfortable.

  ‘Tea?’ Lily asked in the heavy silence that filled the room. Tom nodded. Relieved to have something to do, she busied herself with the tray. Then, as she passed him one of the fine bone-china cups, he burst out laughing.

  ‘You’ll be expecting me to sip daintily and hold up me pinkie next,’ he quipped, demonstrating with his little finger. He looked so funny, she burst out laughing and the awkwardness passed. ‘Oh, Lily, I’ve really missed you,’ he declared, setting down his cup so suddenly it clattered in the saucer. ‘I done a lot of thinking on that walk to Coombe, and realized you and me had a good thing going before—’

  ‘I know, Tom, and I’m sorry I didn’t believe you about the ring,’ she said.

  ‘Yes, I thought about that too. I guess it must have seemed strange, me going on about not having enough money for one and then giving you that ruby. It’s a beauty, even if I do say so meself. I’d been nagging Nana for ages to let me have it for you. Luckily, being her blue-eyed grandson, I finally managed to talk her round,’ he said, a twinkle in his eye.

  ‘So I understand,’ she said, recalling Mrs Westlake’s words.

  ‘I had the devil’s own job persuading her to let me have it the second time, though, and Mother didn’t help, of course.’ Bemused, Lily stared at him. The second time? But, as if he’d said too much, he abruptly changed the subject.

  ‘The trouble I had finding you,’ he told her, shaking his head. ‘I looked everywhere I could think of and asked everyone I saw, but it was like you’d vanished into thin air.’

  Her heart did a double flip. So he did still care for her. And he’d tried to find out where she’d gone.

  ‘So, how did you discover I was here, in Honiton?’ she asked.

  ‘Your Aunt Elizabeth told my mother that she had something important to tell me and that she’d be at Mrs Goode’s if I wanted to find out what it was.’

  ‘Aunt Elizabeth! Of course she had an appointment with Lady Clinsden. I wonder how she got on.’

  ‘Well, gal, you can ask her yourself later, ’cos we travelled here together.’

  ‘Aunt Elizabeth is here as well?’ Lily asked, shaking her head in surprise.

  ‘Yes, she’s taking tea with Mrs Bodney. They are being discreet,’ he said, moving towards her.

  She moved to meet him and as his arms closed around her she knew without a shadow of doubt that this was where she belonged. Then, as his lips came down on hers, setting her pulses racing, she could think no more.

  ‘I stand by what I said about the ruby matching that fiery spirit of yours,’ he gasped, when they finally pulled away from each other. Then, to her astonishment, he dropped to one knee, holding out the betrothal ring before her.

  ‘Lily Rose, will you please put me out of my misery and say you’ll marry me?’

 
‘Oh, yes, Tom,’ she whispered, her heart singing like a thousand choirs. Grinning, he got to his feet and gently placed the ruby ring back on her finger, where it belonged. Then, he let out a whoop of delight, lifted her off the floor and swung her round and round until she was helpless with laughter. Suddenly her cap went flying across the room. Tom set her back on her feet and stood there staring at her. Her hand flew to her shorn locks and, for a long moment, the only sound in the room was the crackling of the logs on the fire.

  ‘I’m sorry Tom, I was in a temper and chopped off my hair, but it will grow back eventually. Then we can be wed, can’t we?’ she asked, her words coming out in a tumble.

  He looked at her aghast. ‘Oh, no, Lily,’ he said, shaking his head.

  Her heart flopped. So Mrs Bodney had been right about appearances all along …

  ‘Don’t worry, Tom. I understand you won’t want to marry me now,’ she mumbled, biting her tongue to hold back the tears.

  ‘But that’s just it, Lily. I do want to marry you now. Well, as soon as it can be arranged. I’m certainly not waiting until your hair grows back. Besides,’ he said, his lips curling into a smile, ‘I rather like your new hairdo. It makes you look sort of impish. Come here, you dollop. Hair or no, you’ll always look good to me,’ he declared, kissing her cheek. Then he bent and retrieved her cap. ‘Here, best put this back on before the old dragon reappears,’ and he placed it gently back on her head.

  ‘You’re sure you don’t mind?’ Lily asked.

  ‘I don’t, but you’d best not let my mother see you looking like that,’ he said, wagging his finger at her. ‘She’s been on at me to get a decent haircut for years.’ He grimaced, tugging at the fair hair curling around the nape of his neck. ‘Now me wife’s going to have shorter hair than me,’ he exclaimed, looking so indignant that Lily burst out laughing. Then Tom joined in and the room rang with the sound of their merriment.