by Joan Jonker
‘I’ve had an idea, Mr Higgins, which might interest you. Why don’t you come with Kitty on Monday morning? We have a very large garden, and there are no smoking chimneys for miles. You could get as much fresh air as you wanted, and I’m sure Agnes would be delighted to keep you supplied with food and drink. Does the idea appeal to you?’
Kitty clapped her hands. ‘Oh, that would be bleedin’ marvellous! It would do you so much good, Alf, ’cos yer seldom go over the door. And yer’d have Pete, the gardener to talk to – I bet yer’d enjoy that.’
‘I’d like it very much, Mr Dennison, thank you.’
‘Good! Now that’s settled I’ll leave you in peace. Make the most of your few days of freedom, Kitty, and I hope to see you looking better on Monday. And you are not to worry about a thing – I forbid it.’
Alf got to his feet. ‘Thank you for looking after my wife today, I appreciate it very much.’
‘It was nothing less than she deserves.’ Robert could see a group of children around his car and thought a hasty retreat was in order. He had no objection to them looking, they were only kids after all, and a car down their street would be a rarity. But the last time he had felt benevolent towards a group of boys, it ended up with one of them snapping his windscreen wiper. ‘Don’t bother coming to the door, Kitty, I’ll see myself out.’ He donned his hard bowler hat and smiled at the couple who were now holding hands. ‘Until Monday, then.’
Chapter Five
Robert was thoughtful as he parked his car in the garage. He didn’t relish telling his wife she would be without a cleaner until Monday, and he expected sharp words would be exchanged. But he didn’t regret his actions and would do the same thing again if the occasion ever arose. On the drive home, he’d been picturing the size of his house and the work involved for one little woman to do. There were ten large rooms and the wide staircase was almost the size of two of the rooms. Plus there was his study, the bathrooms and cloakrooms. Far too much for one person, and his own common sense should have told him this. What was needed was a junior maid to help Kitty with the work and he’d like one in place before Monday.
Agnes was washing the dinner dishes when he entered the kitchen, and as she dried her hands her eyes were anxious. ‘How was she, Mr Robert? I’ve been on pins, waiting for yer.’
‘I’ve told her to stay off until Monday, and get plenty of rest. I’m picking her up, but if I don’t think she’s well enough, she must stay off longer.’
Agnes dropped her eyes. There’d be skin and hair flying when Miss Edwina heard; she’d already been in the kitchen ranting and raving. She blamed the housekeeper for not sending the cleaner home instead of crying to Mr Robert and getting him involved. ‘Your wife won’t be happy about that. Who’s going to do the cleaning until Monday? I’ll help as much as I can, but I can’t do Kitty’s job as well as me own.’ In her mind she was thinking it could easily be done if everyone pulled their weight. But there was fat chance of that. They were too bleeding lazy to lift a cup. ‘Anyway, as long as Kitty’s all right, that’s all I’m worried about. I’ll take the rest as it comes and to hell with everyone. Of course it goes without saying that the last remark doesn’t include you, Mr Robert.’
‘I’ve decided to take on a junior maid to help with the cleaning. I was going to say a scullery maid, but she’d have to be a maid of all work. I’m feeling rather tired now, it seems to have been such a long day, but I’ll put my mind to it tomorrow and set the wheels in motion.’
‘I’ve heard of a fourteen-year-old girl who’s looking to go into service, Mr Robert, but I don’t know if she’d suit.’
‘D’you know the girl personally?’
Agnes shook her head. ‘Never set eyes on her, wouldn’t know her from Adam. But yer know I’m friendly with next-door’s housekeeper, Tilly, don’t yer? Well, it’s her sister’s girl and she was telling me about her the other day. I didn’t ask no questions ’cos I wasn’t really interested, but I can slip next door and find out, if yer like. It can’t do no harm to ask a few questions, and at least we’d know what sort of a family she’s from.’
‘I would like you to do that, Agnes, and if she’s suitable it would speed things along.’
‘I’ll serve yer dinner first, yer must be starving. You go and get yerself changed and I’ll bring it through to the study in, say, fifteen minutes?’
‘I’m not getting changed tonight, it’s hardly worth it. So I’ll just swill my hands and face, which should take five minutes.’
Robert heard his wife’s voice as he passed the drawing room, and although he couldn’t hear the words, her tone implied she wasn’t in the best of tempers. As he took the stairs two at a time, he visualised her face. There would be no smile, there seldom was, her eyes would be blazing and her nostrils flared. And if Victoria was in the room with her, she would be agreeing with every word her mother said. He’d have to keep a close eye on Kitty when she came back, because both mother and daughter could be very spiteful.
Tilly Woods’ eyes widened when she opened the back door. ‘Yer haven’t been given another night off, have yer, yer jammy bugger?’
Agnes grinned as she pulled out a chair from the table that was identical to the one she had in the kitchen next door. ‘No, this is strictly business.’
‘I was going to say I’ll have to take a leaf out of your book and throw a tantrum with the Mistress, see if she’s as obliging as yours.’ Tilly sat down opposite and folded her arms. She was in her early forties, the same age as Agnes, and she had a pleasantly plump figure topped by a face that was rarely without a smile. ‘Strictly business, eh? Does that mean yer’ve come to cadge the recipe off me for me mouth-watering pastry?’
‘Sod off, Tilly Woods, my pastry knocks yours into a cocked hat any day.’
‘Yer crusty pastry might, but my flaky pastry beats yours by a mile.’
‘We’ll call a truce shall we, and agree that we both make bloody good pastry? And I wouldn’t say no to a piece of apple pie to eat with the cup of tea I know ye’re just dying to make me.’
‘Ye’re not backwards in coming forward, are yer? Cheeky mare, yer face would get yer the ruddy parish!’
‘I don’t want the parish, Tilly, I’m not greedy. I’ll settle for a nice slice of apple pie.’
‘No can do, sweetheart, ’cos the family had rhubarb pie tonight. And everyone commented on how delicious it was.’
‘Well, I think it was most inconsiderate of them, ’cos I don’t like rhubarb. They’re like my lot next door, only ever think about themselves and to hell with what I want. Still, I suppose I could force meself to eat a piece seeing as it’s all yer’ve got.’
Tilly was at the sink filling the kettle when she asked over her shoulder, ‘What is the business yer were talking about? Or was it only an excuse to scrounge a piece of me pie what yer know is better than anything you can make?’
‘No, I came to ask about that niece of yours. Yer know, the one you said was looking for a job in service. Well, Mr Robert is looking for a junior maid and when I mentioned what you’d told me, he asked me to make some enquiries. It wouldn’t be live-in, though, so it might not be what she’s looking for.’
Tilly raised the gas under the kettle and returned to her seat. ‘She doesn’t particularly want to live-in, it’s just that there’s no jobs around for her to pick and choose from. There’s an awful lot of people out of work, yer know, Aggie, and her mother could do with her bringing a few bob in each week. She’s got three other children to clothe and feed, and her husband only brings home buttons. He works at the docks and some weeks he only gets taken on for two or three days. They’re having a struggle and she needs Jessie working.’
‘Is that the girl’s name, Jessie?’
‘Well, Jessica really. And she’s a little love. Very pretty, pleasant, well-mannered and thoroughly nice. I’d be made-up if Mr Robert would give her a chance, and me sister, Edna, would be over the moon.’
‘Tilly, don’t clock me one for ask
ing yer these questions, but I need to know all about the girl before I ask Mr Robert to see her. Yer said she was fourteen, is that right?’ Agnes was sitting with her hands in her lap and her fingers crossed for luck. She waited for her friend’s nod, then asked, ‘Is she willing to work hard and take orders?’
‘I don’t see much of them, ’cos as yer know I only get the one day off. But I know she looks after the three children when our Edna goes out to do a few cleaning jobs, and she does the housework, washing and ironing. I’d say she wasn’t frightened of hard work, but then she’s never worked in a house the size of next door, nor encountered anyone like Mrs Dennison.’
‘I’d show her the ropes, sunshine, and I’d keep her away from Miss Edwina as much as I could until she was used to us and the house.’ Agnes was beginning to get her hopes up. ‘If she’s willing to work, and she’s pleasant, I think it’s worth a try, don’t you?’
‘I’d recommend her, Aggie, and I wouldn’t do that unless I had faith in her. And yer can tell Mr Robert she’s as honest as the day’s long, and trustworthy.’
‘How soon could you get in touch with her to arrange an interview? We could do with someone right away ’cos Kitty’s gone off sick for a few days. The girl wouldn’t be thrown in the deep end, I’d be there to help her.’
Tilly looked at the clock and saw it was ten past eight. ‘Nip next door and have a word with Mr Robert. If he’s interested, I’d go tonight. They live in the Dingle and I could get a tram right to the end of their street.’
Agnes pushed her chair back. ‘Right, I’ll get cracking before the grass grows under me feet. I’ll be back as soon as I can, and I’ll come on the tram with yer.’ She got to the door then turned, a mischievous grin on her face. ‘Yer can wrap that piece of rhubarb pie up for me, I’ll have it for me supper.’
‘It sounds promising, Agnes.’ Robert swivelled his chair from side to side as he tapped his fingers on the top of his desk. ‘It’s an advantage to have someone who’s recommended.’
‘Highly recommended, Mr Robert. If Tilly says she’s a good girl, then yer can take that as gospel. I’ve been friends with Tilly Woods for nigh on ten years, and I’d stake me life on her.’
‘And you’re prepared to go with her to see this girl and make arrangements for her to call here as soon as possible for an interview?’
‘Yeah. If we’re lucky with trams we could be there and back in just over an hour.’ Agnes had something on her mind and it was her firm belief that instead of bottling things up, you should get it off your chest. ‘Mr Robert, would you interview her? I know I shouldn’t say it, but Miss Edwina can be a bit off-putting. The girl is only fourteen and this will be her first job. I’d hate her to be frightened off and I think it would be better all round if you were to see her.’
‘I intend to, Agnes, so have no fear.’ He grinned. ‘I’ll treat her with kid gloves.’
‘If she can come tomorrow, what time should I say?’
‘Shall we say ten o’clock, when breakfast is over? I don’t have anything important on tomorrow so I’m all right for time. And if the interview goes well, as I’m sure it will, would you ask if she’d be prepared to start right away?’
‘I’ll have an idea when I see the girl, Mr Robert, and if I feel she’s right for the job and would fit in, I’ll suggest she comes ready to start, just in case. And I’ll have to dash off now, before it gets too late. I’ll let yer know how we get on when I get back. Will yer still be in here?’
‘Yes, I’ll do some work on the books to pass the time. But before you go, Agnes, what sort of wages would a girl her age be expecting?’
‘Fourteen and untrained, I’d say she’d start on three bob a week in a factory.’
‘In case her parents ask, shall we say four shillings a week? With a sixpence rise when she’s experienced in the job.’
‘It’s going to be bleedin’ midnight before we get out, Mr Robert, if yer keep on talking,’ Agnes huffed as she bustled to the door. Then, remembering something, she turned with a huge grin on her face. ‘My old ma used to say the only ones on the street at that time of night are cats and loose women.’ She closed the door with Robert’s laughter ringing in her ears.
It was a quarter to ten when the housekeeper knocked on the study door again. She was thanking the Lord above that she hadn’t bumped into any of the family. Miss Edwina would lay a duck egg if she knew what was going on behind her back. Mind you, it served her right. If she didn’t look as though there was a bad smell under her nose when she was talking to you, and was more pleasant and friendly, then it would be easy to be friendly back. So if she wasn’t liked, she only had herself to blame.
Robert opened the study door. ‘Come in, Agnes, my dear. Have you been associating with the cats or the loose women?’
Safe now, knowing that Miss Edwina never came to the study, Agnes could feel herself relaxing. ‘Oh, yer can laugh, Mr Robert, but me and Tilly are not past it, yer know! In fact, we were accosted by two fellers so yer can put that in yer pipe and smoke it. They were a bit of all right, too. The only thing was, they expected us to pay them instead of the other way round.’
‘You and Tilly are two very attractive women, Agnes, and it wouldn’t surprise me in the least if you were approached by two men. What does surprise me is that you haven’t been snapped up long ago. You’d have made good wives and mothers.’
‘I didn’t want to be snapped up, Mr Robert. When my Ben got killed in the war, I didn’t look at anyone else. I loved him, yer see, he was the only one for me. And Tilly was the same, she lost her boyfriend in the war. We’re good mates, and we often sit and talk about the boys we loved and lost. We don’t get miserable, we just like talking about them.’
‘Sit yourself down, my dear, and tell me how you got on.’
‘Oh, yer should see her, Mr Robert, she’s a little beauty. Her name’s Jessie, and she’s polite, well-mannered, and everything yer could wish for. She was so excited about coming for an interview for a job, she said she won’t sleep tonight. Her parents were over the moon, too! But I couldn’t tell them about the hours she’ll be working if yer do take her on, ’cos yer hadn’t told me.’
‘If I take her on, Agnes? Will I have a choice? I’ve got a feeling I’d be a very unpopular man if Jessie wasn’t a member of our staff tomorrow morning.’
‘Nah, yer wouldn’t be unpopular, Mr Robert. It’s your house and your money, I’ve got no say in the matter. Though I might think, privately like, that yer were tuppence short of a shilling, and I might call yer for everything under me breath. But none of those things are going to happen ’cos when yer set eyes on her, yer’ll want to adopt her, never mind setting her on as a scullery maid.’
‘My goodness, you must have been very impressed, Agnes.’
‘I was very impressed, and still am. I’m also ruddy tired, and me feet are talking to me. So I’m going to see if there’s any dishes want washing, then I’m off to me bed. And I’ll bet I’m asleep before me flaming head hits the pillow.’
‘Goodnight, Agnes, and thank you. I’ll see you in the morning.’
‘Goodnight and God bless, Mr Robert, sweet dreams.’
There’s little chance of that, Robert thought as the door closed on the housekeeper. I’ve got a feeling that as soon as I set foot in the bedroom the fireworks will start. He didn’t mind a discussion, even if it got a bit heated, but the trouble was, his wife wouldn’t let up. She would harp and harp, until he sometimes felt like taking her by the shoulders and giving her a good shaking. Perhaps that’s what she needed to shake her out of the life of fantasy she’d created for herself, and back to reality. She lived in a dream world which at times frightened him, but while he’d been sorely tempted at times, he knew he would never lay a finger on her.
Edwina didn’t even wait until the bedroom door was closed before venting her anger. ‘Am I not allowed to know what’s going on in my own house? First, against my wishes, you take it upon yourself to run the cleaner home
because she’s not feeling well. Then you shut yourself in the study without informing me of the situation regarding the length of time she could be away from work, and who is to do the cleaning in the meantime. Then, without a by-your-leave, Agnes mysteriously disappears and we are left to see to our own supper. I will not tolerate such behaviour and demand an explanation.’
‘I do not intend to raise my voice, Edwina, so listen carefully as I answer each one of your complaints. Firstly, you ask if you are not allowed to know what’s going on in your own house. Surely you should have said “our” house, as it is also the home of the children and myself. Then you rant on about my running Kitty home against your wishes. Against your wishes, Edwina? Pretty soon you’ll be expecting me to ask permission to light up a cigar! And if I have to weigh your wishes against helping a sick woman, you will lose every time. I have given Kitty leave to stay off until Monday. I will be calling for her, and if I think she’s not fit for work she’ll have her paid leave extended further.’ Robert kept his voice even, determined he wasn’t going to demean himself by shouting. ‘Agnes didn’t mysteriously disappear, she had gone on an errand for me. You see, I have decided to take on a young girl as a maid of all work, to help Kitty or Agnes where necessary. I should have seen the need for this a long time ago, but unfortunately it took the present situation to shake me into action. Anyway, a young fourteen year old is coming tomorrow to be interviewed for the post. She comes highly recommended, is from a good family, and I am hopeful she will be suitable.’
There was open dislike in his wife’s eyes. ‘You did all this without consulting me? How dare you!’
‘And who, exactly, do you think you are, Edwina?’
‘I am the mistress of this house.’ The words were spat out. ‘When I interview this girl tomorrow, if I find her common, uncouth or ill-mannered, she’ll be sent packing. I’ll have no one who doesn’t know their place, or appreciates how lucky they would be to work here.’