by Linda Finlay
‘’Cors I do. Memory like an elephant, I ’as. Fair ’air and blue eyes ’e uses to charm the ladies,’ she replied. ‘Not me, though, ’cos I seed through ’im.’
‘That’s most helpful, Kitty,’ Sergeant Watts replied, opening his little black book again and jotting down the details. Kitty beamed. ‘Right, I’ll be off. Is this young lady to stay here at Red Cliffs?’
‘I is, ’cos I ’as to ’elp Master Higgins with someone, don’t I?’ she replied, staring at the master.
‘You do indeed, Kitty,’ he replied gravely.
‘So does that mean you aren’t pressing charges against Kitty?’ Sarah asked.
‘No, she has helped us with our enquiries and is free to go,’ the sergeant replied, getting to his feet and snatching up his helmet. ‘Hopefully, added to what we already know, this information will help to put the man at the top away for some time.’
‘Will he and the guv be punished?’ Kitty asked.
‘Well, we will have to see what the magistrate decides, but yes, I think I can safely say they will be punished.’
‘Good, well, give them both at least fifty real ’ard lashes each from me, ’cos they deserve it,’ she said with feeling.
Trying to hide his smile, the sergeant turned to the housekeeper. ‘Thank you for the tea, Mrs Daws. Good day to you, Miss Sullivan, Master Higgins.’
As the door closed behind him, Sarah turned to Kitty who was beaming like a beacon.
‘Well done. You have done your duty, and as the sergeant says, you are free to stay with us now.’
‘Yeah, but he ain’t much good as a copper, though, is he?’
‘Why do you say that?’ Harry asked.
‘Well, ’e never remembered I hadn’t told him my surname, did he?’ she hooted.
29
The next afternoon, it was with some trepidation that Sarah, armed with gingham and silks, made her way to the classroom. Hoping the schoolmistress would be amenable, she pushed open the door to find the girls sitting by themselves. A tiny fire was glowing in the grate but it wasn’t sufficient to take the chill off the room.
‘Where is Miss Green?’ she asked.
‘She hasn’t turned up,’ Edith called. Sarah just had time to register the girl was sitting alongside Kitty when there was a knock, and Master Higgins appeared in the doorway.
‘It would appear Miss Green has been unavoidably detained,’ he announced. ‘Still, that could be convenient for you, Sarah,’ he added, lowering his voice so the girls didn’t hear. ‘You can start them on their aprons and whatnot, and it will be a fait accompli by the time she deigns to turn up.’ He grinned conspiratorially, and Sarah felt her pulse quicken.
‘It will certainly make life easier,’ she agreed.
‘Well, I’d better get back to the workroom and see if I can salvage those boats for the Christmas Fayre,’ he chuckled. ‘Actually, it’s refreshing to have something creative to do rather than concentrating on the inspection. See you later,’ he said, giving her a salute.
‘Right, girls, as you’ve gathered, Miss Green has been detained, so let’s make a start.’
‘Hope it’s at Her Majesty’s pleasure,’ Edith chortled, only to be dug in the ribs by Kitty’s elbow.
‘Shall we move these tables together so we can spread out the gingham?’ Sarah suggested. At once, there was a lot of scraping and thumping as they were pushed together.
‘What are we making?’ Kitty asked.
‘Aprons to sell at the Christmas Fayre,’ Monday said proudly. ‘Miss said she was going to show us how it’s done.’
‘Yeah, ’cos we’re not just serving the freshiments this year,’ June piped up.
‘The word is refreshments, June, but well remembered,’ she added as the little girl’s face fell. ‘Although serving the refreshments will still be an important part of our role, if you remember, we are also going to make items to sell at the Fayre. Now, I want you to watch carefully as I place this pattern on the material.’
‘But it’s only a plain bit of paper, miss,’ Maggie pointed out.
‘Ah, but it’s cut out in the shape of the apron. This is so all the ones we make will be of uniform size. Now we pin this pattern to the gingham and cut carefully around it.’
‘Can we choose what colour material we use?’ Ellen asked.
‘You can indeed. Then the ladies can choose which colour apron they want to buy. Now please keep quiet for a few minutes and watch.’
To her surprise, the room fell silent as a dozen pairs of eyes followed her every move. By the time she’d cut out twelve apron-shaped pieces, the girls were ecstatic.
‘Coo, they look like aprons already, miss,’ Edith claimed in surprise.
Encouraged by the girls’ enthusiasm, Sarah let them choose one piece each and was just passing around matching silks when the door opened.
‘What is the meaning of this? And who said you could move my benches around?’ Miss Green snapped, her beady eyes taking in the scene before her.
‘Good afternoon, Miss Green,’ Sarah replied sweetly. ‘In your absence, I have shown the girls how to pin a pattern and then cut out the aprons ready to sew them up for the Christmas Fayre.’
There was a heavy silence as the woman put her hands on her hips and glared around the room. ‘That was not what I had intended them doing this afternoon, Miss Sullivan. Believe you me, they will make a pig’s ear of that material.’
‘We’s not making piggies’ ears, miss, we’s making aprons,’ Maisie announced, puffing out her little chest proudly.
‘As I am here now, Miss Sullivan, you may leave me to conduct my intended lesson,’ the schoolmistress ordered.
Sarah glanced at the clock on the wall and shook her head. ‘There is only fifteen minutes remaining so that’s really not enough time to start something new. It will be advantageous to finish what we are doing anyway,’ she replied. ‘Obviously you are welcome to sit and watch,’ she added as the woman bristled.
‘I shall inspect every single stitch, Miss Sullivan. As you may be aware, my sewing is second to none.’
‘Yes, you did say, Miss Green,’ Sarah responded. ‘Right, girls, you have done extremely well so far. Unfortunately, we don’t have much time left, so if you’d like to gather around, I will show you a basic hem stitch.’
‘Hem stitch,’ the mistress screeched. ‘They can’t do that.’
‘If you’ll permit me to demonstrate, Miss Green, they will then see how it is done.’
‘No, I simply cannot allow you to come into my classroom and interfere with my lessons,’ Miss Green replied, placing emphasis on the word my.
Aware the girls were watching, Sarah bit down a retort and forced her voice to remain civil. ‘I believe it is you who are interrupting my lesson, Miss Green. Right, everyone, you will notice how, having chosen green gingham, I have threaded a needle with matching silk.’ As she held the needle up for the pupils to see, the schoolmistress gave a smirk.
‘You may think you’re smart, Miss Sullivan, but I won’t be requiring this position for much longer and neither will you,’ she announced, flouncing out of the room and slamming the door behind her.
‘Oh dear, I fink you’ve upset her,’ Kitty observed. ‘She’s a nasty bit of work, ain’t she?’
Although Sarah agreed, she shot the girl a stern look.
‘What did she mean about you not needing this position for much longer, miss?’ Edith asked, her brows furrowing in consternation.
‘Don’t take any notice, Edith. She was just upset to find me teaching her lesson. Now, shall we carry on?’ she asked, then proceeded to show them how to hem.
Even though Sarah enjoyed the lesson, by the time she dismissed them at the end of the afternoon, her head was pounding. She’d done the very thing Harry had warned her about and fallen out with Miss Green again. Although she imagined the woman’s threat had been an idle one, there had been something akin to triumph lighting her eyes that worried her. Perhaps she’d better mention
it to Harry.
She made her way around to the kitchen, but could see no sign of him. Oh well, plenty of time to admit her failing after supper, she mused. She hoped he wouldn’t be cross, for she really looked forward to the short time they spent catching up on things when the day was done. He certainly wasn’t the hard-nosed master she’d first thought him. In fact, as far as the pupils were concerned, he had a sensitive side that quite surprised her.
‘Ah, Miss Sullivan,’ Mrs Daws greeted her. ‘Everything all right?’ she asked as Sarah went over to the range and held up her cold hands.
‘It’s absolutely perishing in that schoolroom. The fire in the grate was so minimal it hardly took the chill off the fireguard, let alone the room.’
‘I did tell you November was a trying time. Still, come the middle of next month we’ll have a coal delivery and Pip will be able to make more of a decent blaze.’
‘I’m surprised the children don’t freeze,’ she muttered.
‘Most of them are used to far worse conditions,’ Mrs Daws chided.
Remembering Kitty and Luke, Sarah felt contrite. ‘How is Luke today?’ she asked.
‘Thriving on that potion Dr Hawkins mixed for him. He’ll be up tomorrow, creating havoc, you mark my words,’ the woman chuckled. ‘Mind you, we’ve virtually got a full house now.’
‘Which means more work for you, Mrs Daws. You must tell me what I can do to assist.’
‘You already do a lot, Miss Sullivan. But if you wouldn’t mind cutting the bread while I mash these hard-boiled eggs, that would be a help.’ The two women worked side by side in easy silence for a few moments before Mrs Daws spoke again. ‘I went into town this morning and everyone seemed to be talking about the inspection.’
‘Really?’ Sarah asked, looking up from the loaf. ‘Why would anyone be interested in that?’
‘Well, there’s those kind-hearted folk who hope the school passes and stays open. Then there’s those toffee-nosed ones round here who are determined to see it close.’
‘Surely they must see Red Cliffs gives these children a chance in life,’ Sarah said.
‘There’s some only interested in having things their own way,’ Mrs Daws snorted. Remembering Miss Green’s outburst, Sarah nodded and was about to mention it, but the housekeeper was continuing her story. ‘I bumped into the vicar on my way back and he said he’s never seen the Misses, as he calls them, so animated. Apparently they explained the idea they’d come up with about forming a sewing bee to make uniforms for the children.’ The housekeeper raised her brows.
‘Their idea, eh?’ Sarah smiled, thinking Mrs Knight’s plan had worked.
‘Honestly, they’ll take credit for anything, those women. Anyway, the vicar said he was pleased because if they were busy with this sewing bee, then he might get a bit of peace.’ Mrs Daws chuckled.
‘Well, as long as the children receive their new clothes, I suppose it doesn’t matter if people think it was their idea,’ Sarah replied, not wishing to give Mrs Knight’s ploy away. ‘Talking of sewing, I’ve just taken the girls through the rudiments of cutting out an apron and basic hemming stitch.’
‘Ah,’ the woman said, knowingly. ‘I thought I saw Miss Green stalking off down the driveway. Her nose were that high up in the air, I’m surprised she didn’t bump into something. She wouldn’t have liked her lesson being taken over, and that’s a fact.’
‘She didn’t …’ Sarah began but her explanation was cut short as Pip came into the room, his limp more pronounced with the cold weather.
‘Mrs Daws, the coalman’s outside. He says he has a delivery for the school. Shall I let him in?’
‘But it’s only November,’ the housekeeper frowned.
‘It’s all right, Mrs Daws,’ Harry said, coming into the room. ‘I received a communication from our benefactor earlier. Apparently, our supply of coal has been ordered early this year, so let’s not look the gift horse in the mouth, as they say.’
‘Don’t know about a gift horse, but the coalman’s got his carthorse waiting,’ Pip grinned.
‘Then let him in and make sure you count the sacks as he empties them, young Pip,’ the housekeeper ordered.
‘And, as from tomorrow, you can make the fires up to their winter strength,’ Harry said. Pip waved in acknowledgement then disappeared back outside.
‘Well, that’s a turn-up. In all the years I’ve worked here, I’ve never known our coal delivery to arrive before December. It means we can light the fires upstairs too,’ Mrs Daws grinned. ‘I don’t know what we’ve done to deserve this, but I for one won’t complain.’
‘And we can work on the Christmas Fayre projects in the evenings now. Talking of which, how did the sewing lesson go?’ Harry asked. ‘I saw Miss Green striding off down the path as though the very devil was after her.’
Sarah sighed and put down the bread knife. ‘She took exception to the fact that I taught a lesson she hadn’t scheduled. As she only turned up fifteen minutes before the end of the afternoon, what were the girls meant to do, sit twiddling their thumbs?’
Harry frowned. ‘Well, for your own benefit, make sure you record exactly what happened, noting down the timings, et cetera. Mr Green’s daughter or no, a schoolmistress cannot get away with things like that. It’s unfortunate with the inspection coming up, but there we are,’ he shrugged.
‘I shall also record her refusal to obey my orders. Those aprons could have been further advanced by now. There’s just one thing, though. She insisted she wouldn’t be requiring the position here for much longer and that I wouldn’t either,’ Sarah admitted. ‘I trust she doesn’t know something we don’t.’
‘Probably just an idle threat because she’d had her nose put out. I wouldn’t worry about it. Do you want me to sound the gong, Mrs Daws?’ he asked, seeing the woman carrying plates through to the dining room.
‘Yes, please, Master Higgins. I don’t think I can face Maisie’s vigorous bashing today.’
After supper, while the children cleared away and carried out their duties around the house, Sarah and Harry sat together over a second cup of tea. As the gas globes hissed and popped, casting a cosy glow around the room, Sarah found herself relaxing at last.
‘I saw Dr Hawkins earlier,’ Harry said, giving Sarah his lazy smile. ‘The boy will be well enough to join the others tomorrow morning.’
‘That is good news,’ Sarah replied. ‘How is Kitty settling in? I don’t know what you said to her yesterday, but she’s following Edith around like a mother hen.’ She flapped her arms and Harry laughed.
‘She told me she wasn’t a charity case so I pointed out that the ethos here is to help everyone, then gave her Edith as a project. Hopefully, they will support each other,’ Harry explained. ‘Dr Hawkins also said he will give each child a thorough check-up and update their school records before the inspection.’
‘I didn’t know they had school records,’ Sarah said, giving him a searching look. ‘Where are they kept?’
‘They are locked safely away in a cupboard in the schoolroom. A note is made about each child when they first arrive here. Name, where they’ve come from, age if we know it, health issues, et cetera. The local authority makes a thorough inspection of each one when they visit so it’s vital they’re kept up to date.’
‘There’s so much I still don’t know,’ Sarah sighed.
‘Running this place is quite a complex business, but look on the bright side, you know a lot more than you did when you arrived,’ Harry smiled. ‘Have you heard anything more from Fothergill?’
‘No, why should I have?’ she asked, looking at him sharply.
‘With Mr Lawrence contesting the will and calling for an inspection, I would imagine Fothergill is following proceedings carefully.’
‘He did say he thought my godfather had tied everything up securely as far as Red Cliffs is concerned, but I guess …’
‘We can’t count our chickens, and it’s no use conjecturing on things that may not transpire. But w
e could make something interesting happen this Saturday evening,’ he suggested, gazing at her intently.
‘And pray what might that be, Master Higgins?’ she teased.
‘That date with a fish supper, perhaps.’ He grinned in a way that made funny tingles run up and down her spine. ‘I take it you are free?’
‘On Saturday evening, you mean?’ she asked.
‘Actually, I meant free per se. I wouldn’t be treading on anyone’s toes?’ he asked, looking so serious Sarah hurried to reassure him.
‘Goodness me, no,’ she replied.
‘Well, if you don’t mind being seen walking out with a humble schoolmaster, we’ll leave these scallywags to the mercies of Mrs Laver and Mrs Daws for bath night and head into town.’
‘I’ll look forward to it,’ she replied, smiling up at him. He leaned closer, and for a moment, Sarah thought he was going to kiss her. Her heartbeat quickened, but then April came bounding into the room, and the intimate moment was broken.
‘Ooh, hope I’m not interrupting anything, Miss Sullivan, Master Higgins,’ she giggled.
30
When Sarah stole downstairs the next morning, she was surprised to find Monday sitting on the chair beside the lit range with the ginger cat on her lap.
‘Goodness me, someone’s up early,’ Sarah said, smiling at the little girl.
‘I has to come and see me Ginger early ’cos once the others get up he runs away. Mrs Daws let me give him his breakfast,’ she announced proudly.
‘That cat’s got a soft spot for you, Monday, and no mistake,’ the housekeeper replied, looking up and smiling at the little girl before continuing her kneading. Just then, the kettle gave the homely whistle that Sarah loved. Lifting it off the hob, the housekeeper poured boiling water over the used leaves that were awaiting reuse in the big brown pot. ‘Might be a weak brew,’ Mrs Daws commented. ‘Still, it’ll be wet and hot so we should be grateful for small mercies, eh?’
‘Mother used to say that,’ Monday said softly. Sarah and Mrs Daws exchanged a look of surprise, for this was the first time the girl had spoken about her mother.