by Joan Jonker
Mother and daughter faced each other. They were so alike in looks, with permanently haughty expressions and eyes that never smiled. Victoria had youth on her side and would be considered, at first glance, to be a really good-looking girl. But it would be safe to say that in years to come, she would end up not only resembling her mother in looks, but would also have her cold and humourless nature. ‘Then for heaven’s sake, let’s say we’re sorry and get it over with.’
‘I’ll ring for Agnes and have her come here, because Nigel and Abigail may still be in the kitchen. But before I do, I have to stress that this apology has to look and sound as though we mean it. There’s a lot at stake, Victoria, so we can’t afford to lose. Your dinner party would have to be cancelled for a start, and that is only a minor consideration. What your father has in store for us, if we fail, is far worse.’ Edwina touched her daughter’s arm. ‘For both our sakes, I ask that if we have to beg, then so be it.’
‘Oh dear.’ Victoria’s hand fluttered. ‘Charles is coming tomorrow afternoon and I’m practically certain it’s to tell me his parents will be coming to the dinner. However will I face him if I have to cancel?’
‘If we play our cards right, it shouldn’t be necessary.’ Edwina walked over to the bell rope and tugged. ‘Don’t forget we should both appear suitably contrite.’
Agnes was having a cup of coffee with Nigel and Abbie when the bell rang. ‘It’s the dining room, I’d better go and see what they want.’
‘Stay where you are, Agnes,’ Nigel said. ‘I’ll go.’
The housekeeper put her cup down. She felt more like flying than facing those two women again, but she wasn’t about to get the two children mixed up in any unpleasantness. They’d find out soon enough what was going on, but not tonight. ‘No, I’d better go. Perhaps Mr Robert has decided to have his coffee in there.’
Agnes stopped outside the dining-room door and took a deep breath. She knew Mr Robert wouldn’t be in there, just as she knew she was going to get an apology that would mean as little to her as it did to the two women who would give it. They thought they could treat her like dirt one minute, say they were sorry the next, then expect things to go back to normal. Until the next time they felt like throwing their weight around. Well, it wouldn’t work this time, she’d had a bellyful of them. But she was still employed here until Saturday, and she would carry out her duties until she walked out of the front door with all her belongings in a case and canvas bag.
‘Sit down, Agnes,’ Edwina said, waving her hand to a chair. ‘Victoria and I would like to have a word with you.’
The housekeeper put her hands on the carved back of the chair and said, ‘I’d rather stand, Miss Edwina.’
This put Edwina at a disadvantage, having to look up to the housekeeper, but she was in no position to argue. ‘Victoria and I want to apologise, most sincerely, for our rude behaviour earlier. We were in the wrong, and we are very sorry. Am I correct in saying this, Victoria?’
‘Oh, absolutely, Mother! I feel quite awful about it, and I do beg you to accept our most heartfelt apologies and forget about the whole miserable incident. And, of course, we have no intention of letting you leave, Agnes, we value you too much.’
The two women waited for Agnes to speak, and when she didn’t, they both looked flustered and ill-at-ease. Seconds ticked away, and still there was silence. In the end, Edwina was forced into saying, ‘Will you kindly accept our apologies, Agnes, please?’
‘I’m sorry, but my mind is made up and I’m not about to change it. I’m sick to death of complaints from the pair of yer and I’m not taking any more. If it was an isolated incident, I might accept that yer were sorry. But it wasn’t a one-off, and I don’t think ye’re a bit sorry. I’ve put up with yer shenanigans because of Mr Robert and the two children, but I’ve had it up to here.’ Agnes put her hand flat on the top of her head. ‘I don’t have to put up with the likes of you, and I won’t be sorry when I never have to set eyes on yer again. When Saturday comes, yer won’t see me heels for the dust.’ With that, she swung around and left the room.
‘Well, what impudence!’ Victoria felt completely vindicated by the housekeeper’s reaction. ‘I’m sure if Father had witnessed that, he would realise it is not us who are in the wrong. We must tell him immediately.’
‘Don’t expect any sympathy from that quarter, because you won’t get any,’ Edwina warned. ‘The situation for us is quite serious and I really don’t know how we can rectify it if Agnes won’t co-operate. There is little we can do.’
‘There is one thing we can do,’ Victoria said, a cunning look in her eyes and a supercilious curl to her upper lip. ‘We have an ace card in our hand and I propose we use it forthwith.’
Edwina leaned forward. ‘If you have something in mind, out with it quickly, for we are running out of time. What is the ace card you speak of?’
‘Abigail. She and Agnes dote on each other, and if she knew what was in the offing, it would break her heart. She would, without doubt, go running to the kitchen crying her eyes out and begging Agnes not to leave. Abigail is the one person who could bring about a change of heart, and in so doing, would solve our problems.’
‘Would all this happen quickly enough, though? Your father gave us five minutes and we have long gone past that time.’
‘Then I suggest we move with haste. Abigail should be in her room by now, I will have words with her. They won’t be the truth, of course, but by the time she is told what really happened, her tears will have done the trick. And you can have a word with Father, telling him how we grovelled, and that Agnes is considering her position. He is not stupid, he won’t believe you, but it will buy us some time.’
This didn’t appeal to Edwina. ‘I would prefer to be the one to speak to Abigail, if you don’t mind. As you well know, your father and I haven’t been on the best of terms for many years.’
Victoria nodded, well aware of the situation between her parents. She fully agreed with, and supported her mother, finding the very thought of sexual intimacy distasteful. She was prepared to put up with Charles’s roving hands, and would even allow him further liberties if it led to him proposing, but once they were married it would be a different proposition. He could seek his carnal pleasures elsewhere. ‘All right, Mother, you talk to Abigail. But don’t forget she’s our last hope, so it’s important you choose your words with care. It’s also important that she believes you. I’ll deal with Father.’
Chapter Sixteen
Robert looked up from his desk when Victoria entered the study. She hadn’t knocked and he opened his mouth to say it was polite to knock before bursting into a room, but he left the words unspoken. It would have been a waste of time, anyway, because his eldest daughter thought it was her right to do as she pleased. ‘What can I do for you?’
‘I came to tell you that Mother and I have apologised to Agnes and she is going to reconsider. I have no doubt that she will change her mind about leaving.’
Robert knew this wasn’t true as he had made several journeys to the kitchen to make sure the housekeeper wasn’t upset. So he knew exactly what had been said. However, he wanted to see what lengths his wife and daughter would go to, to dig themselves out of the hole they were in. ‘Right, now you have told me, would you leave me to get on with what I was doing? Please close the door after you.’
Victoria was clenching her fists so tight her long painted nails were digging into the palms of her hands. He was dismissing her as though she was a child, and the urge to punch his face was strong. But she had the presence of mind to stay calm and walked out of the study, closing the door quietly behind her. He hadn’t even asked her what had been said – nothing! It was as if he wasn’t interested. She stood at the bottom of the stairs, looking up, and wondered whether to join her mother in Abigail’s room. But even though she was consumed with curiosity, she told herself it would be better if they didn’t appear too eager. So she made her way to the dining room to await her mother.
Edwina was taken by surprise to find Nigel sitting on the side of Abigail’s bed, deep in conversation with his sister. This wasn’t what she was expecting at all, and for a brief second she thought of making an excuse and leaving. But she couldn’t afford to put it off until tomorrow, there was no time to spare. So, with her arms hanging stiffly by her sides, she walked across to the thick padded stool in front of the dressing table, and sat down. ‘I have some news which, I’m sorry to say, will upset you. It has certainly upset Victoria and myself – we are absolutely devastated.’
Nigel leaned forward and rested his elbows on his knees. ‘What is it, Mother?’
‘I’m afraid Agnes has given in her notice. She’s leaving on Saturday.’
A cry came from Abbie. ‘Oh, no, she can’t do that!’ The tears were quick in coming. ‘She can’t leave us, I won’t let her. I love her!’
‘I know you do, and I have tried to talk her around, but she won’t take any notice.’ Edwina was delighted to see Abbie’s reaction. The tears were just what was needed. ‘She won’t listen to me or Victoria, but she may listen to you.’
Abbie immediately ran for the door, but Nigel was off the bed like a shot and stopped her in her tracks. ‘I’ll come down with you, Abbie, but I want to ask Mother a few questions first. Come and sit next to me.’
As she watched her son lead his sister back to sit on the bed, his arm around her shoulders, Edwina cursed him to all eternity. If he hadn’t been here, Abigail would have rushed downstairs, tears flowing, without asking a single question.
‘What brought this about, Mother?’ Nigel asked quietly, his eyes unwavering. ‘Leaving certainly wasn’t on Agnes’s mind an hour ago, so something drastic must have happened since. Have you had a row with her?’
‘It wasn’t a row, and I think she’s making a mountain out of a molehill. I merely said I didn’t think the kitchen was the place for singing and dancing.’
Nigel squeezed his sister’s shoulder for comfort, before asking, ‘Where is the place for singing and dancing, Mother? I can’t think of anywhere in this house where you would allow it. If a person laughs, it brings a scowl to your face, never mind singing. But to tell Agnes off for something that Abbie and I were responsible for, is wicked.’
‘I did not tell her off!’ Edwina didn’t like having the tables turned on her and she could feel her temper beginning to surface. ‘I have told you what happened and that’s all there is to it.’
‘You don’t have to open your mouth to make your displeasure known, it’s written all over your face. I should know, I’ve been a victim of it often enough. Many is the time you’ve made me cringe, Mother, but not any more. Nothing you say will have any effect on me in future; you no longer have the power to hurt or humiliate me. And I don’t blame Agnes for wanting to leave – I wouldn’t want to work for you either.’
‘Don’t say that, Nigel,’ Abbie wailed. ‘I’ll be so unhappy if she leaves because I do love her. She’s been like a mother to me.’
He stood up and held out his hand. ‘Come on, let’s go down and see her. Would you like to come with us, Mother, so we can hear both sides of the story?’
‘How dare you suggest I might be lying.’ Facing the housekeeper, or her husband, was something Edwina couldn’t cope with right now. She deeply regretted what she’d said to Agnes, and wished she could take the words back. Not because she felt she was in the wrong, or was sorry for what she’d said, but because it had all back-fired on her. And the consequences didn’t bear thinking about. ‘I never thought the day would come when a child of mine preferred to believe the words of a servant, rather than their own mother.’
‘Come along, Abbie, let’s go.’ Hand in hand, brother and sister walked down the stairs, followed by their mother. When they reached the bottom they turned to the left, towards the kitchen, while Edwina made for the dining room.
Agnes was sitting at the table peeling potatoes ready for the next day, when she heard the door open. Then Abbie was running towards her, her cries loud, and the housekeeper threw the knife down and jumped to her feet. ‘There, there now.’ Her motherly arms holding the girl close to her bosom, she rocked slowly. ‘Come on now, sunshine, don’t cry. Tears will spoil that pretty face of yours.’
Nigel looked on, feeling helpless. He didn’t blame Agnes for leaving, no one with any pride would put up with his mother’s insults for ever. But he didn’t want her to leave; the house wouldn’t be the same without her. Besides, it was all so unfair!
‘Come on now, sunshine.’ Agnes held the girl away from her and gazed into the deep brown eyes, now blurred with tears. ‘Blow yer nose, like a good girl, while I clear the table and we can sit and have a talk.’
‘Just tell me you’re not leaving, Agnes, please?’
‘Look, ye’re giving yerself the hiccups.’ Agnes cupped the tearstained face between her hands. ‘Now stop crying and sit down. Mr Nigel has kindly cleared the table for me, so all I have to do is bring the kettle to the boil and we’ll have a cuppa in no time.’
‘I’ll see to the tea, you sit down,’ Nigel said, turning up the gas under the large, iron kettle. ‘You’ve done enough running around after this family for one day, and precious little thanks you’ve got for it.’
‘I’m the housekeeper here until Saturday, Mr Nigel, and I’ll not let me standards slip before then. But because yer twisted me arm, I’ll let yer make the tea.’
Abbie pulled her chair as close as she could. ‘You’re not really leaving, are you? You’ve just had a falling out with Mother, that’s all, isn’t it?’
The housekeeper, whose own eyes were red-rimmed with crying, shook her head. ‘Not this time, Miss Abbie, I’m afraid. They can’t treat people like dirt and expect yer to forget all about it. I don’t want to leave, believe me, but there comes a time when a person says enough is enough, and that time has come for me.’
Nigel set a teapot and three cups down on the table. ‘We’ll manage without a saucer, it’ll save washing up.’ Then he sat facing the women. ‘We’ve heard Mother’s version of what happened, now we’d like to hear yours, Agnes. That’s if it’s not too painful.’
‘I’ve shed me tears, Mr Nigel, a bucketful of them. Likely as not there’ll be many more when the time comes to walk out of the door, but right now I’m in control. I don’t want you falling out with your mother, though, not through me. So believe what she tells yer, sunshine, it’ll make life a lot easier for yer.’
Nigel knew the housekeeper wouldn’t say anything that would set them against their mother, so a direct question wasn’t going to get an answer – unless it was asked in a roundabout way. ‘I can’t understand why this row was so different from the others you’ve had. And heaven knows you’ve had plenty to put up with, Agnes, we all know that. As usual you were getting blamed for something that wasn’t your fault, and you have every right to be angry. But you know what a dreadful snob Mother is, and you usually take what she says with a pinch of salt. What is so different this time?’
‘It wasn’t what Miss Edwina said, though it was uncalled-for and she had a bleedin’ cheek. I’d have got over that all right – water off a duck’s back. It was what Miss Victoria said that I couldn’t take.’ Agnes’s voice cracked a little.
‘Surely you wouldn’t let Victoria upset you, Agnes – you know she’s an even bigger snob than Mother, and she’s just not worth it. What on earth did she say that made you give in your notice? After all, your leaving affects me and Abbie, and we don’t want you to leave. To us, you are one of the family.’
‘To you, perhaps, Mr Nigel, but not to Miss Victoria. Her words will be imprinted on my mind forever. “When will you get it into your head that you are a servant here, not a member of the family”. That’s what she said, and it hurt. Yer see, I know I’m not one of the family, really, but ye’re the only family I’ve got. Mr Robert, and you two, I couldn’t love yer more if I was one of yer.’ Agnes thought there were no more tears left, but she could feel a lump in her throat and
took a mouthful of tea to try and move it. She could see tears rolling unchecked down Abbie’s face and that brought more pain. ‘Wouldn’t yer think that after ten years, some sort of bond would have been formed between Miss Edwina, Victoria and meself? Not love, but respect, understanding and friendship? I don’t think that would be asking too much, but apparently I’m wrong.’
‘But we love you, Agnes,’ Abbie sobbed. ‘Doesn’t that count for anything? Won’t you stay on for us, please?’
The housekeeper reached for her hand and held it tight. ‘I won’t be going out of yer life, sunshine, I’ll come and see yer on me days off. I’ll always keep in touch, see how ye’re getting on, and any boys yer start going out with will have to meet with my approval.’
‘I can’t believe this is happening,’ Nigel said. He was deeply upset. ‘It’s like a nightmare. Has Dad been along to see you?’
‘He’s been in and out like a Jack-in-the-box to make sure I’m all right. He’s hurt, upset and very angry. I’m heartily sorry for him, but if I gave in now, the same thing will happen in a week or two and we’d be going through this all over again.’
‘But where will you go?’ Abbie asked. ‘You can’t just walk out with nowhere to go.’
‘That’s the least of me worries, Miss Abbie. I can find a job tomorrow, no problem. My main worry is leaving you two and Mr Robert. No matter where I go to work, it’s not going to be the same as here. This is where my heart is. And another worry I’ve got is, what will happen to Kitty? She won’t last five minutes with me not here. There are two people in this house who treat her like scum, and without me to protect her, they’ll have her out in two shakes of a lamb’s tail. And without this job, her and her husband will starve. She’s a cracking little worker, and one of me best mates. No matter how down in the dumps I’ve been, Kitty can always bring a smile to me face. A little ray of sunshine, that’s what she is. What’s going to happen to her now?’