The Affairs of Harriet Walters, Spinster

by Cathy Spencer

  A half hour later, the children were dismissed to the nursery, and Caroline and her mother worked on their needlepoint, the only sounds breaking the silence the ticking of the clock and a log settling on the hearth. Mr. Springer laid his head upon the back of his chair and slept, while Harriet struggled to stay awake herself. It was a great relief when the drawing room door sprang open and Grace ushered in Sinclair. Harriet’s brother-in-law strode right over to embrace her, pulling her out of her chair and off her feet.

  “Sister, it is good to see you again,” he said, examining her at arms’ length. “You look very well. You’ve changed your hair, and it is most becoming.”

  “Thank you, Sinclair. It’s wonderful to see you again, too.”

  He released her and turned to greet Aunt Edna. Taking her hand, he said “Happy Christmas, Aunt. Mother, Helen, and the children all send their love.”

  “Thank you," she said, maintaining her distance lest he had any notion of embracing her, too. "You do remember my daughter, Caroline, and her husband, Mr. Gerald Springer?” Sinclair bowed to his cousin and shook hands with her husband, who had been jolted awake by the gentleman’s energetic entrance. Sinclair went to stand with his back to the fire, rubbing his hands together.

  “It’s a chilly day. I would not be surprised to see snow by Christmas. Your fire is very welcoming, Aunt. So, Harriet, how have you been occupying yourself since last I saw you?”

  Dinner was produced early and consumed quickly, with Sinclair exclaiming over the savoury ham and delicious apple and hazelnut torte until a smile was coaxed from Aunt Edna. When the meal was over, Caroline excused herself and her husband to say goodnight to their children. That was the last time Harriet saw them on this visit, owing to her early departure the next morning with Sinclair.

  When they arrived at Sinclair’s house in the late afternoon, the gentleman preceded Harriet into the sitting room, announcing, “Here she is, Mother, safe and sound.” Mrs. Walters sprang from her chair and fairly flew into Harriet’s arms.

  “Harriet, how was your journey? You did not catch a chill, I hope? I have missed you so much, my dear. Come and sit beside me.”

  The children raced to cling to their father’s trousers and to Harriet’s skirts, practically toppling Harriet over before she could sit down. Helen said, “Now children, do not cling to your Aunt so,” from her chair, but Sinclair scooped up the small offenders and, seating himself in a large armchair, plopped them onto his lap.

  Harriet kissed her sister before joining her mother on the sofa and clasping her hand. “Mother, you look well. You are rosier and a little plumper since last I saw you. Before I forget, Aunt Edna and Mrs. Evans both send their regards.”

  “Mabel Evans. Yes, I remember her from my youth. She and Edna were always together when they were girls. I’m glad that they have found each other again.”

  “Mrs. Evans has become a dear friend to me, too, as have some of the elderly ladies from the parish I’ve been visiting weekly. One lady is a particular dear – Mrs. Higgins. I’ve written to you about the two parties I attended at her home.”

  “Yes, I was astonished to hear that you were making parish visits, Harriet. You were never comfortable doing so at home."

  “I have new duties to perform in Rexton.”

  “You see, Mother,” Helen said, “I told you that you did not have to worry about Harriet. It sounds as if she has been both busy and useful these past few months.”

  “And what has been occupying you since my last visit, Helen?” Harriet asked.

  Sinclair cut in before his wife could reply. “The usual things. The baby had croup, Helen’s dog wandered off and produced another litter of pups, Nanny left and had to be replaced . . . .”

  “Yes, it has been very eventful here,” Mrs. Walters said.

  “Mother is teaching the twins to play the pianoforte. No doubt we will have a concert before you leave,” Sinclair said.

  “I look forward to hearing the girls play,” Harriet replied.

  Helen said, “I could not have taught them. You were always more musical than I, Harriet. I never had the time to practice.”

  “Never mind, Helen, you were good at so many other things that musical ability was never missed.”

  “That’s true,” her sister replied.

  Harriet’s week-long visit flew by. The day after her arrival was Christmas Eve, and the children were wilder than usual in anticipation of Father Christmas’s arrival. When it was time for them to go to bed, all four adults trouped upstairs to say ‘goodnight’ with severe admonitions that the children must go to sleep or Father Christmas would not come. Kisses were exchanged and a song or two were sung before the adults could escape downstairs. Back in the sitting room, Harriet, Mrs. Walters, Helen and Sinclair lit the Yule log, drank from the wassail bowl, and were very merry before winding their way upstairs to bed.

  The children rose early on Christmas morning, and had claimed their portions of sweetmeats, oranges, and toys before the sun appeared on the horizon. Harriet distributed Aunt Edna’s sweets and presents to the children, and was amused to discover that her aunt had gifted Helen, Sinclair, and her mother with religious tracts recommended by Reverend Simons. The family walked to church together, and when the children were finally shepherded into their pew, Harriet was glad to sit on the end in relative peace where she could enjoy the service and sing the good old yuletide hymns. Back at home, the family kept busy with games, carol-singing, and a large goose dinner followed by a blazing plum pudding. A few close neighbours stopped by in the evening to wish the family “Happy Christmas,” and it was late before the family finally went to bed. The rest of the week was occupied with skating parties, card parties, impromptu dances, and a general over-indulgence in food and drink.

  Harriet took the opportunity of talking privately with her mother, and was relieved to find that her spirits had improved; Mrs. Walters derived comfort from Helen and her family. Sinclair was more solicitous of Mrs. Walters’ needs, it was true, but Helen was an affectionate daughter who included her mother in all of her plans. The children also loved their grandmother, and the time and attention lavished on music lessons for the twins not only benefitted the girls, but helped Mrs. Walters to feel useful. By the time that Harriet said farewell at the end of the holidays, she was satisfied that her mother was placed as happily as possible, given her financial circumstances.

  Harriet was quite ready to return to the peace and quiet of her aunt’s home by the end of her visit, however. The Springer family had already left Rexton by her return, so Harriet and her aunt were able to recuperate from their exertions over the holidays. They were not entirely idle, however; they welcomed in the New Year with a dinner party at Mrs. Evans’ house, where Harriet was finally coaxed into playing and singing as part of the evening’s entertainment. Her performance was enthusiastically applauded, and so she was able to face the possibility of future performances with some composure.

  Life resumed its familiar pattern during the winter months. Harriet continued with her charitable visits, attended Sunday service, socialized with Mrs. Evans, and tried to satisfy her aunt’s whims. She occasionally encountered Mr. Ash at the lending library or on an outing with his pupils, and was able to snatch a little conversation with him after church on Sundays. Infrequent contact was not conducive to improving their acquaintance, but the possibility that she might turn a corner and suddenly find the schoolmaster standing before her gave Harriet’s forays into the village an added spice.

  Aunt Edna and Harriet had lived together for several months by then, and Harriet had blossomed with added responsibility. She had grown up in her sister’s shadow, and her pursuits and influence at Willoway had been limited by her own feelings of inadequacy. In Rexton, however, Harriet was regarded as her aunt’s ambassador, and as a stalwart member of the Woman’s Institute. As her social circle expanded in the village, Harriet became aware of the high opinion in which she was held. In turn, she developed a higher regard for h
erself, and her increasing confidence was reinforced by improvements to her appearance. Harriet was initially troubled by her aunt’s extravagance in purchasing her new clothes, but the young woman’s quiet satisfaction in her own reflection soon overcame the pricking of her conscience. Mrs. Evan’s daughter observed the improvement immediately upon her arrival for the promised April visit.

  “Why, Harriet,” she exclaimed, “you look quite handsome in that gown. It’s new, isn’t it? I quite approve. You look fashionable enough even for London society.”

  “Thank you, Diane,” Harriet said as Aunt Edna raised an eyebrow and Mrs. Evans beamed.

  “I was thinking the same thing, Diane,” Mrs. Evans said. “My, you’ve just put an idea into my head. Harriet once told me how much she would like a visit to London. Well, why not take her there this spring? Diane, you wouldn’t mind cutting short your visit here, would you? What would you say to entertaining Harriet and me in London?”

  “Mother, what a marvellous idea! I would be thrilled to have you and Harriet stay with me. What about you, Mrs. Slater? There’s room enough for you, too.”

  Mrs. Evans turned to her friend. “What an idea, Edna! It’s been ages since you had your London season. Why not come? It would do us old matrons a world of good to have adventures in London.”

  “But our own homes are more comfortable.”

  “Oh pooh. Don’t act so old, Edna.”

  “But I am old, and so are you, Mabel. Far be it from me to tell you otherwise, if you want to have adventures at your age. You always were more unsettled than I, gadding about the continent and all.”

  “But Edna, think how much you would enjoy a few months’ change. And our expenses in London will be quite insignificant since we’ll be lodging with Diane.”

  “That’s very true, Mrs. Slater. There will be practically no expense at all, and you can spend the money you save on little fripperies for yourself,” Diane said.

  “Don’t be impertinent, girl. I’m not interested in fripperies.”

  Harriet had been overjoyed at the prospect of a trip to London, but doubt began to flicker across her face. “If Aunt Edna does not wish to go, I don’t think that I should leave her alone. And who would visit my parish widows? Perhaps we should forget the whole scheme.”

  Aunt Edna shrugged, and Mrs. Evans glared at her. “Now wait, Harriet, there must be someone else who can temporarily assume your responsibilities. Don’t give up on London so easily.”

  “Well, there is mother,” Harriet said uncertainly.

  Mrs. Evans’s face brightened. “What a brilliant idea! After all, Edwina grew up here, so Rexton is like a second home to her. I’m sure that she would enjoy a quiet visit with Edna after living with Helen’s large family these past eight months. It would be grand for you to see your sister again after – what – four years, Edna?”

  “It has been five years.”

  “Five years! Incredible. It’s high time that you had a nice long visit with your sister, and you will not have to leave your own home to do it.”

  “Mother is accustomed to making parish calls,” Harriet chimed in.

  Aunt Edna looked from Diane and Mabel’s excited faces to Harriet’s hopeful one. “I imagine a visit with Edwina would not be unpleasant. I suppose that I could write to her by the afternoon post.”

  “Certainly you can,” Mrs. Evans said. “That is generous of you, Edna. I’m sure that Edwina will accept, so we will make plans to depart as soon as we hear back from her.”

  “What? Do you mean to leave before she arrives?” Aunt Edna demanded.

  “I would not mind spending a day or two with Mother before we leave, if it doesn’t interfere with your plans, Mrs. Evans,” Harriet said.

  “Of course, my dear. I’ve not set eyes on Edwina for several years myself. Diane, why not write home of our intentions while Edna writes to Edwina, and we shall lose no time at all. Oh Harriet, I’m quite thrilled for you. Your first trip to London!” Mrs. Evans could see Harriet’s eagerness in her shining eyes. “Come, Diane, let’s go home. I’ve got so many plans to make.” The two ladies promptly left with promises to see Harriet the next day. Harriet threw herself onto the sofa and embraced her aunt.

  “Oh, I’m so happy! Thank you, thank you for agreeing to let me go to London.”

  Aunt Edna patted Harriet’s back before detaching herself from her niece’s arms. She shook her head at Harriet’s beaming face. “Imagine being so excited at visiting an over-crowded, dirty old city like London. I hope that it doesn’t disappoint you, Niece.”

  “How could it? There will be so much to see and do. Do you know that I have never been anywhere larger than a town before?”

  Aunt Edna studied her for a moment. “Well, you’re a level-headed girl, and I’m sure that you won’t do anything too foolish with Mabel there. I suppose that you’re entitled to one great adventure before you settle down.”

  “What about you, Aunt? Have you had any great adventures?”

  “Adventures? What would I be doing with adventures?” Aunt Edna sputtered. But after a moment, she winked at Harriet. Harriet laughed, kissed her aunt’s hand, and sprang up from the sofa.

  “I’m going to go review my wardrobe and decide what to pack,” she said before running from the room.

  Aunt Edna wrote to her sister that very morning, urging her to come for a visit and to waste no time in making the journey. Mrs. Walters promptly responded that she would arrive in three days’ time, and enclosed a note for Mrs. Evans, thanking her for so generously including Harriet in her plans. Mrs. Walters was to arrive on Friday, and Harriet, Diane, and Mrs. Evans were to leave for London on the following Monday.

  Harriet spent a harried two days preparing for the journey, as well as helping Aunt Edna to prepare a room for her sister, and saying goodbye to her friends. She worried about communicating her plans to Mr. Ash; it would be unthinkable to leave without seeing him first, but how could she arrange a meeting? She did not wish to be so forward as to send him a note.

  “No doubt I will see him after service on Sunday,” she thought. “I will find a few minutes alone with him then. It will have to do.”

  Harriet visited with Mrs. Evans and Diane on Thursday, and they were full of instructions and advice. “Don’t worry about packing too much, Harriet,” Mrs. Evans said. “We can purchase anything you need in London. Diane’s chariot cannot handle too much luggage with the three of us riding in it, and she brought so much with her to start with. What a good time we shall all have. I’m looking forward to seeing some dear old friends again, particularly Colonel York. I’ve been worried about him since his wife passed away. They used to play whist with us quite regularly while Mr. Evans was still alive. The colonel’s wife was an extraordinary woman, and he seemed lost after she was gone. How is he, Diane?”

  “He’s tolerable, Mother. His life revolves around his club and his horses. His valet does take very good care of him, although I suspect that many of London’s spinsters and widows have amorous aspirations for him. He is not interested, however – his loss is still too great – but I agree with you, he seems a touch sad. Edward has a brandy with him at the club some evenings.”

  “Poor man. Well, I will look him up on our arrival, and have him take us to dinner and maybe to the opera. He used to find that entertaining.”

  “Will your son be home from school when we get there, Diane? I am so looking forward to meeting both him and your husband,” Harriet said.

  “You’ll certainly see Edward on the evenings when he is not required at the House, but Steven will not be home from university yet. Trinity term is not finished until June. But you will certainly see him then.”

  “Oh, not until then – I did not realize.”

  Mrs. Evans said, “I will enjoy seeing my grandson again. I think it was a year ago Christmas when last I saw him, Diane.”

  “That was his first year at university when he was so excited to tell us about his teachers and friends. Of course, Steven i
s a little more blasé this year.”

  “No doubt. He would not want his friends to think him too eager or unworldly.”

  Diane laughed. “Heavens, no, that would not do.”

  Harriet glanced at the clock on the side table and rose from her chair. “Is that the time? I must be going. There is so much yet to be done with Mother arriving tomorrow. I promised Aunt that I would check her room after Grace finished preparing it today. Aunt Edna does not let on how eager she is to see Mother again, but I know that she is.” Harriet bustled out of the room and down the hallway with Mrs. Evans following after her.

  “Now, don’t worry about a thing, Harriet. Diane has made all of our travel arrangements and, knowing Edna, I am sure that your household is flawless. Your mother and Edna always got along well. Edna bossed your mother, and Edwina was so accommodating.”Harriet laughed as she reached the front door, and turned to face Mrs. Evans. Her friend said, “We’re going to have such a good time together in London, my dear. I can hardly wait to show you the city and to introduce you to some of my friends. I love Rexton, but the old city holds a special place in my heart, too.”

  “I’m more grateful to you than I can say, Mrs. Evans, for arranging the trip and for smoothing the way with Aunt Edna. I’m so thrilled about seeing London that I lie awake at night, staring at the ceiling. I can hardly believe my good fortune.”

  Mrs. Evans kissed her cheek. “God bless you, Miss Walters. You deserve some fun in your life. Now, off you go and try to get some sleep. I will see you at church on Sunday. Give my love to your mother tomorrow.”

  “I will. Goodbye,” Harriet called, stepping out the front door and into the waiting carriage.