‘I did, madam. She was nurse to the Blakely child.’
‘And your former employer died?’
‘Alas yes. I was with Mrs Ash a long time. I started as a second cook and stayed that way. I was happy there.’
‘I hope you’ll be happy with us.’
The household is rearranged and the staff sitting room given up so that all might have a room of their own. Maggie now sleeps in the high attic. She sulks but doesn’t lose by it Leah and Maud feeding sweeties to a spoilt child.
Wednesday started in dramatic fashion, seven am posts being hammered into the ground and workmen, telegraph engineers, swarming all over the land,.
‘You’ll be sharing a party-line with the Big House. Once linked, ma’m, I’ll knock and show you the ropes.’ Julia’s not keen on the telegraph posts but appreciates the telephone, though who she has to call is another thing.
Mid afternoon the seamstress arrived. Maud, Leah, and Dorothy, a girl from the village to help wait on tables, try on their uniforms. Black being too harsh for Maud’s sallow complexion Julia chose grey poplin dresses and white caps and aprons. Julia is to wear a similar dress but of silk and naturally no apron. Watching them parade suddenly the tea-shop is real. As yet no one dares ask what happens if it fails. If it does fail Julia has settled on a plan. The cottage will be put up for sale. She did ask Daniel if Callie was the secret would-be buyer. He seemed surprised that there was a would-be buyer.
‘It is a codicil to the original will.’
‘Saying what?’
‘It’s a bit of a mystery. Mr Simpkin showed me a copy the other day. ‘The right of first refusal will be granted to the rightful stranger,’ is what it says. The document is with Geddes the law firm in Kings Lynn.’
‘What does it mean?’
‘I have no idea. Apparently the situation is only germane if I wish to sell.’
‘I imagine Callie would offer a King’s Ransom for first refusal.’
‘Do you think that is the reasoning behind the codicil?’
‘I do. It’s clearly some kind of barrier.’
‘Would she return the cottage to the Estate?’
‘More likely raze it to the ground! It’s a forty year obsession, a lifetime. Such memories can’t be unburdened over night.’
‘Do you suppose Justine Newman guessed that might be the case?’
Daniel shrugged. ‘I don’t know what went on between those two but I’m willing to bet there was a lot more love at one time than ever there was hate.’
Callie must be going out for the evening. Her carriage pulled into the yard.
Julia went to meet her. ‘You look very elegant.’
‘I look what I am mutton dressed with diamonds.’
Julia gestured to the telegraph posts. ‘Is this you?’
‘No it is not. My son suggested I step into the twentieth century.’
‘And you’d rather not?’
‘Telephones have their uses but I don’t care for them. Ringing all hours you might as well pay a chap to bang a gong just as you’re dropping off to sleep.’ Callie walked through into the parlour. ‘You’re expecting visitors?’
‘I was.’
‘Anybody in particular?’
‘Evelyn Carrington.’
‘Oh you won’t see her today. She’ll be at the Crystal Palace Motor Show. Everybody’s there. It’s a whole week and first of its kind. My Crosby sitting out there with Dulce so patiently is very keen to go.’
‘And where are you off to looking so grand?’
‘I’m with friends at Holkham Hall.’
‘I hope you have fun.’
‘Unlikely.’ Callie gestured. ‘The tables look very inviting. I like the linen. I’m glad you’re not going for the bare table thing. That is for soda-fountains not elegant tea-shops. Are you expecting many on Saturday?’
Julia crossed her fingers. ‘I’m not expecting anything.’
‘I’m sure it will be wonderful. It’s a pity I shan’t be here to see it.’
‘Oh Callie!’
‘I’m sorry it’s one of those unfortunate clashes. I arranged to visit a friend in Berkshire and can’t break a promise. You’ll be fine. I’m sure the world and his wife will come, downright nosiness will fetch ‘em.’ Callie picked up a tea-cup. ‘This is rather lovely. Is it from the set your German doctor donated?’
‘It is. I thought to use it on Saturday.’
‘Beautiful! If it were mine I’m not sure I’d want strangers touching it.’
‘Possibly not but it was given for that purpose.’
‘So it was not so much a gift to you as for the business.’
‘It was meant as a gift but also for the tea-shop.’
‘I see! The Doctor is your business partner! That is some partner to have. I’m currently transferring my sickly heart to him. I heard from Dulce, who heard from one another, that he waits upon Her Majesty, who of course is very ill.’
‘I’m sure everyone is anxious.’
‘I doubt Bertie is. All these years and the throne in sight I imagine he’s champing at the bit.’ Callie picked up a cake stand. ‘This is exquisite. I have Meissen but nothing as good as this. Does his family know you have it?’
‘I believe Frau Adelmann knows.’
‘And she’s happy?’
‘I don’t know her feelings on the matter. They haven’t been relayed to me however I am to visit her next week. I’ll ask then.’
‘You go to see her in the sanatorium?’
Julia chose not to answer.
Callie wandered about the parlour and then pitched in again. ‘Daniel’s busy. A publisher has shown interest in his book and so he’s all the while scribbling.’
‘He’s writing a book?’
‘Yes some blurb about the painter Georges Seurat.’
‘I’m not familiar with his work.’
‘No one is. It won’t sell. Daniel’s another Johnny Sargent, forever backing lame horses. But you can’t tell him that, always right he’s so sure of his opinions. I have to tell you there is a pernickety side to my son that does not suit. Fastidious in dress and habits he expects everyone else to be the same.’
‘I hadn’t noticed that.’
‘I didn’t imagine you had. It’s a thing only a mother would see but it’s there and the older he gets the worse it gets. I say to you as I say to Dulce, keep your clay feet well inside your slippers. You don’t want Danny seeing them. By the way he’s another who’ll miss the opening. The news agency wants him.’
‘That is a shame.’
Callie swung the cake-stand back and forth. ‘Yes, isn’t it.’
Disappointed Julia looked away. Callie no more regretted Daniel’s absence than she did her own. Her lack of interest in the tea-shop is evident in the casual handling of priceless china. She doesn’t want the tea-shop to succeed. Why would she? She hates the cottage and all those that live there.
Julia took the cake-stand and set it down.
‘Why so jumpy?’ said Callie with a smile. ‘Did you think I’d drop it?’
‘Of course not! Why would you?’
Callie picked up her gloves. ‘Why indeed.’
Daniel called. ‘I’m sorry I shan’t be here Saturday. I wanted to but I’m called away. It’ll be okay,’ he said.
He was not at all sure it would be okay now that Callie had bailed out. She’d offered some excuse about visiting a friend. Daniel was livid. ‘What do you mean you can’t attend? You must go! You’re old Lansdowne a monitor of all that is in and out. You being there with Julianna will sanction the enterprise.’
Callie had procrastinated. Daniel has known his mother long enough to know her in a lie. ‘An don’t tell me you’re visiting a friend! It’s you harping on that old business and letting a good neighbour down.’
‘I don’t want to be there,’ was the best she’d come up with. ‘I don’t want to step inside the door never mind take tea. The only way I managed last time was out on the terrace. It makes me physically sick to be there.’
‘That’s the past! It’s nothing to do with now...at least I’m hoping it’s that and not you interfering with me and my wants, because if you are, if what you’re really doing is getting between me and Julianna, then we have a problem.’
‘It’s not about her!’ Callie had tossed her head. ‘I’ve nothing against the girl. I like her. She’s my kind of person, though as your mother I have to say you could do a lot better than a widow with dubious connections.’
‘Dubious connections?’
‘Lady Evelyn Carrington! What’s a parson’s daughter doing with such a person? I’ve been in the country less than a year and gossip about that woman is all I hear. And not only her, her brother, the Honourable Freddie, though from what I hear he’s anything but honourable! They’re saying downstairs he’s one of them strange boys who doesn’t know whether he’s a duck or a drake. I found him very odd. He was talking nonsense at the Art Festival about how he’s going to be Matthew’s Pappy. I wouldn’t let him near a child of mine.’
‘Forget Freddie Carrington! He was crazy before he was born. They have a lot of society friends. Frances likes them. They dine at the Castle. And John Sargent won’t have a word said against them.’
‘Frances Warwick is dominated by Daisy. She calls the shots in that relationship. As for John he’s an artist and closes his eyes to lots of peculiar goings on. It’s not just the Carringtons. It’s Stefan Adelman. What’s going on with him and Julianna?’
‘I don’t know that anything is going on. As far as I can tell Stefan Adelmann is a decent fellow with a difficult domestic situation. Julianna is no more responsible for the madness in Freddie’s head than the suffering in another.’
‘I don’t want you to suffer.’
‘I will if you interfere. You know how I feel. I’ve made no secret of it. I’m relying on you to support me through this not undermine.’
‘It’s this house. I thought I could make it better but I can’t.’
They wrangled most of the day. Now he’s here where his mother was and there’s doubt in Julianna’s eyes where doubt didn’t use to be.
‘Don’t worry about Saturday, Julianna,’ he said. ‘People will step up to the plate, you see.’
‘I hope they do. Thank you for organising a telephone. ’
‘I was glad to do it. If you have trouble late at night with prowlers a telephone is essential. Oh hello, young fellow!’
As though aware of his mother’s unease Matty appeared. He stood a while and then ran away. Daniel grimaced. ‘I guess he’s still unhappy with me. Pity, I had hoped we could be friends.’
‘I’m sorry,’ said Julia. ‘I’ll have a word with him later.’
‘Don’t! He can’t help the way he feels and pressure will only make it worse. Let him get used to the idea of me being around. Better yet..,’ Daniel took her hand pressed it to his lips. ‘You get used the idea.’
The cabbie was whipping up the horse when the boy raced out the house, the dog with him, and panting held out the toy soldier that a while ago was tossed in the river. ‘Is this for me?’
Matty nodded.
‘Thank you,’ Daniel placed it on the seat beside him. ‘I’ll take him with me to South Africa and next time I’m here he can tell you of our travels.’
Matty smiled.
Julia was woken in the night by Kaiser barking. Pulling on her robe she ran downstairs. Maud and Leah stood on the landing their hair in curling rags.
‘Don’t come down, Maud! Stay with Matty. I’ll check the doors.’
‘Do you think you should, madam?’
‘I’m alright. I have Kaiser.’ Julia took the lamp and went to the window. The mist was so thick she couldn’t see beyond it. Mist dampening sound she opened the door and stood listening. A door creaked and Kaiser raced away.
Lamp held high Julia ran along the terrace. ‘Go away, whoever you are!’ she shouted. ‘I’ll call the constable!’There was a scrambling noise and then silence and Kaiser leaning against her knee hackles stiff but no longer snarling.
Next morning Joe Carmody went for the constable. ‘The constable nodded. ‘Yours is not the first house to be bothered. Lower Bakers had a similar thing. It’s the telephone installation, thieves after the cable.’
‘You think it opportunists and not a personal thing?’
‘Why would it be personal, ma’m?’
‘Someone has been here before at night, panes of glass broken in the greenhouse and the back door was tried.’
‘No I reckon this is about opportunity. Folks move, things are up and down, and layabouts come sniffing. Did you find any damage?’
‘Not that I could tell. It was dark. I wasn’t going to press too closely.’
‘Quite right too. When in doubt lock the door. ‘The constable put away his note-book. ‘I’ve had a look round and you seem secure enough. What d’you store out there in those sheds?’
‘Only wash tubs and coal and wood.’
‘Well then you’re probably safe. It’s a rare burglar that steals coal, though the price of things nowadays you never know.’ The constable nodded. ‘I’ll be on my way, ma’m. Perhaps Mr Carmody would see me out.’
‘Well?’ Joe saw him to the edge of the yard. ‘Did you see it?’
‘I saw fag ends stubbed out on the floor if that’s what you mean.’
‘There ain’t just fag ends there’s a cigar butt. Now what’s a cigar butt doing there? Is there more than one bloke hangin’ about?’
The constable shrugged. ‘I don’t know.’
‘Did you say anythin’ to the missis?’
‘I couldn’t see the point. It would only frighten her and we don’t know how long the fag ends have been here. They might’ve been there years.’
‘No they ain’t!’ Joe protested. ‘Why would I be tellin’ you if it was old stuff? I cleared up the last lot. This is some bloke, or blokes, spyin’ on my lady.’
The constable shrugged. ‘You may be right but there’s nowt I can do. Keep an eye on things, Joe. Give me the nod if you’re unhappy.’
Joe stomped back to the greenhouse. ‘I’ll keep my eye on things alreet but I’ll never be happy,’ he muttered. ‘Not while that bloody wall is standin’.’
Late Friday evening Julia went though the box. Forty years Owen Passmore walked the earth. He left little of personal value his son being his greatest contribution. Matty earlier climbed on her knee. She didn’t scold. That he knew he’d been naughty was enough. ‘I want my own Papa,’ he sobbed. ‘Please, Mumma, give him back to me. I want him continuing with us and not with angels in heaven.’
‘Continuing? What do you mean, darling?’
He didn’t know what he meant. The dog, dear creature, mourned with them, head on her knee. Matty cried himself to sleep. Julia stayed awhile but then knowing tomorrow busy came to the box. Why keep it? There were good boots but the wrong size for Ben. There’s a corduroy jacket with patched elbows and heavy raincoat that might do. Beyond that, his wedding ring buried with him, it was oddments, books and a pair of gold cufflinks.
The cufflinks belonged to Uncle William, the Flower-Finder. Coincidental that Julia should live in a house once occupied by flower-gatherers. With Uncle William it was a hobby. A diary found here in the attic speaks more of a crusade. Julia had thought it Justine’s but the initials HLL prove it to belong to Henry Lambeth Lansdowne, a personal log of his travels abroad and the plants he collected. Julia would have given it to Callie but for the inscription on the fly-leaf, ‘my beautiful Irish Rose’
Owen kept a diary. It was among items returned from Cairo, the diary, Foreign Office papers, and a lock of Matty’s hair
. Last night Julia dreamed she saw Owen. He sat in a chair under the shadow of the Sphinx teaching as he taught when alive, responding in the dream to a question on how the Sphinx’s nose was broken, how soldiers in Napoleon’s army used it for target practice.
Julia stood waiting til the class was finished. Then Owen turned. ‘What is it, my love?’ he said. ‘Do you have a question for me?’ With that she had woken and thought on Matty’s word continuing. Now looking at the diary, the neatly penned entries, dates and times of sun-sets and new moons and the rising and falling of stars, she wished Owen was continuing here so that instead of reading about him she might learn from his lips what kind of man he was and why she misses him so.
Fifteen
The Kiss
When the clock struck twelve Julia didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. There was that so horribly melodramatic about it all. True it is midday rather than midnight even so with the last chime of the clock and not a single customer these three hours surely her dress should be in tatters and Maud, Dorothy and Leah standing motionless by the window should be mice.
What a pity! The N and N looks so inviting, a table in the window laid for high tea, silver glittering and napkins flared. Delicious cakes, chocolate bon-bon and fresh strawberries, jewel red and succulent, against white meringue glace, millefeuille choux buns oozing cream, and sparkling sugared ice marshmallow.
Every hour passed the table display is changed for fresh. Soon all will go to waste but not because of a lack of interest. Scores of would-be patrons pass up and down the street. A Grand Parade of people in their Sunday best jostle for room outside the double bay windows fluttering as the Union-Jack bunting flutters. All would sample the wares but are stopped by an invisible barrier.
A moment ago, eyes round and mouths watering, a couple with a perambulator paused at the window. The baby leant toward the glass as did the husband but afraid of crossing boundaries the young wife turned away.
Maud sighed. ‘Oh madam!’
‘I know.’
‘What shall we do?’
‘We must do what we would do if the place were busy. It’s all we can do. We shall continue to be alert and bright but if by three no one has come through the door I shall turn the sign to closed.’
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