Sprig of Thyme

by Jenna Dawlish

  “We had just started Homer at school.”

  Adella looked over at Mary. She was far too young to be reading the classics. Besides, Adella had barely read them herself.

  “We could try something not so advanced for Mary. She is a lot younger than you remember.”

  “Boring. I don't see why I should have to put with this.” And with that, he stood up, and with one sweep of his hand, sent all the books on the table flying across the room.

  This wasn't the only time Harry misbehaved. Each day, he became more and more difficult, until a few days later, Adella couldn't take any more disruption, she decided to speak to his mother and father about the issue. She was nervous of the reaction she would get, although Mr and Mrs Waters were pleasant people, she had limited contact with them. They clearly loved their children, but still, this was the first time she had gone to them with a problem, and she did wonder if they would just tell her to get on with it. That was her worst fear. Her second was that they would think she couldn't do her job.

  She sought out Mr and Mrs Waters and found them in the drawing room. They were sat next to each other on a sofa drinking tea, enjoying a quiet morning.

  “I am sorry to disturb you both,” Adella said, spacing her words carefully, “but I would like to speak to you about a matter that concerns Mary and Harry.”

  “Come in, Miss Maxwell. Do sit down. What is the problem?” Mr Waters asked, indicating the chair opposite.

  Adella perched on the edge of the seat, her hands clasped tightly together and explained the problem. They both listened intently and with serious expressions.

  “Can you not manage somehow?” Mrs Waters asked after Adella finished speaking, “There must be something you can do to occupy his time?”

  Adella shook her head, “I have done everything I can think of, but Harry has been used to fast paced intensive teaching and I simply am not trained for that level of tutorship. Even if I were, I believe Mary's education would suffer, and she is my primary charge.”

  Mr Waters stood up and paced around a little, his wife watched as he thought over Adella's words.

  “What do you propose we do?” he asked, “Send him back to school? He is not well enough yet.”

  “I do not think you should send him back either. He still has many months until his recovery is complete. You are right, he is not strong enough for school at the moment.” She paused, knowing that she already had the answer for them. All she must do was persuade them. She took a deep breath, “You could hire a tutor until he returns to school. That way, he will not be too behind in his work when he goes back.”

  “Yes!” Mrs Waters sat up straight, “Oh Mr Waters, that is an excellent idea. We can keep Harry here, and he can continue to learn. Why did I not think of it!”

  Mr Waters stopped pacing, “I am not against the idea, although, do you think it will be possible to hire a tutor for a few months?”

  “I am not sure, but I would have thought there would be a gentleman who would be able to take the work knowing it was a few months. Perhaps someone who is looking for their first position and needs a reference.”

  Mr Waters started pacing again, weighing up the idea. Then he stopped and said, “Very well, I will start proceedings to hire a tutor immediately. Thank you for your concern Miss Maxwell. In the meantime, I will try and give Harry some school work so that you and Mary are not interrupted so much.”

  Adella let out a deep sigh after she left the room and ran up the stairs to see Mary. Everything was going to be alright.

  Mr Waters was true to his word and tutored Harry a little each morning, and gave him enough home work for him to have more than enough to do each day. He wanted to please his father more than anything, so he was a complying student.

  She heard nothing of the quest to hire the tutor until three weeks later. Mr Waters came into the schoolroom after Mary was in bed and said, “I thought you should know that tomorrow Harry's new tutor arrives. Would you mind showing him the ropes, so to speak?”

  “Of course. I would be glad. What time he is to arrive?”

  “He should be here by late afternoon.”

  She nodded, glad that finally she would be able to concentrate solely on Mary once more. A tutor would be able to control Harry completely.

  The next day, she tidied the school room after tea. Mary was outside in the gardens playing with Harry and her dog after finishing her lessons. Mr Waters walked in.

  “Miss Maxwell, this is Mr Joseph West. Harry's new tutor,” he stood aside.

  Mr West came forward, somewhat tentatively. Adella saw his nervous smile and stepped forward with a smile and offered her hand.

  “Mr West. I am very pleased to meet you. Please call me Adella -oh Mr Waters, you do not mind such informality?”

  “Not at all, you know we are very relaxed here are we not?”

  Mr West's eyebrows raised in surprise, but then softened.

  She took the opportunity to look at him properly. He was a tall man, dark raven hair, clear blue eyes, a handsome face. Not the sort of man you would expect to be a tutor really. His clothes were old, but smart. Adella noticed an air about him; it was awkwardness as well as confidence. A bizarre mixture. How could someone be both at once?

  “I shall leave you in Adella's capable hands. She will tell you everything you need to know and show you around the house and so on.”

  Mr West's awkwardness remained when Mr Waters left the room, he stood looking as though he didn't know what to do with himself.

  He looked at Adella and she smiled back at him again. There was silence for a few moments as they both allowed themselves to become accustomed to each other. Adella couldn't take the awkwardness any more and began tidying the room again, “I expect you are hungry?”

  “Yes,” he said, still looking at her.

  “I will get cook to send some food up. While we wait for it I will tell you everything you need to know.”

  “Thank you.”

  She rang the bell and the children's maid, arrived a short time later promising food and drink as soon as Cook could get it ready.

  “I believe you are to have the room next to Harry. Has anyone shown you where that is?” Adella asked.

  “No.”

  “Well, I will get Harry to show you.”

  He smiled. At last he smiled. She vowed she would get more of those out of him yet.

  Before either of them could say anything else, Mary and Harry burst through the door in a flurry of noise and excitement. When they saw Mr West they stood frozen looking up to him with their wide eyes.

  Adella walked over to them, “Mr West, this is Harry Waters, your charge.” Harry stuck his hand out, and Mr West shook it, a serious expression on his face.

  “Pleased to meet you sir,” Harry said.

  “And I am very pleased to meet you too.”

  “And this is Mary my charge.” Adella said. Mr West turned to her and Mary gave the most perfect curtsey Adella had ever seen,. She held her hand out to him as though she were Queen Victoria herself.

  “How do you do?” She said. Adella's lips twitched into a smile. Her charge was doing her proud.

  Once the introductions were over, Adella sent the children outside, despite their protestations. She told Mr West about the children's current daily routine, what Mr Waters had been teaching Harry and anything else he needed to know until his food arrived. Then she left him in peace. She took the children for a walk, and when they returned an hour later, he was gone from the school room and was nowhere to be seen.

  “Do you think we will see him again today?” Harry asked.

  “Probably not. He is most likely unpacking,” Adella said.

  “You said I was to show him where his room is, he might be lost!”

  “I am sure one of the servants has shown him,” she replied.

  ***

  “Do you like Mr West?” Mary asked Adella after she had finished reading her a story and was tucking her into bed.

  �
��Yes. He seems pleasant.”

  “He didn't say much and didn't smile either,” she said in a sad tone.

  “No, but you must remember that he needs time to adjust to being here. It must be very daunting. We all know each other and he doesn't know us at all. We must make friends with him and then I am sure he will smile more.”

  “Shall we start tomorrow?”

  “Yes, first thing at breakfast. I'll tell you what, the first one of us to make him smile tomorrow wins a bag of sweets.”

  “I hope I win,” Mary said turning over.

  Adella went into the school room. She sat and read by the fire, as was her custom in the evening. She sometimes went to the kitchens and spent the evening with the cook, and a few of the other servants, but that night for an unknown reason she wished to be on her own. She thought over how to bring Mr West out of himself for the primary reason that she wanted to win the bag of sweets.

  “I will soon rid him of his withdrawn ways,” she said to herself.

  She sat reading a book, and sipping her tea until she heard a noise behind her. Someone had come in. She looked around, “Mary, are you awake? Did you have a nightmare?”

  She stood up.

  “Oh, I'm sorry Mr West. I thought you were Mary,” she said.

  “I am sorry to interrupt your solitude. I – er, wanted to see the school books to see whether I needed to purchase any.” There was a distinct uneasiness in his voice.

  “They are on the shelf over there.”

  “Thank you,” he said walking over and inspecting them.

  Adella opened her mouth to speak to him, but then decided it was not the best idea to disturb him from his task, so she sat back down and opened her book. It soon became evident that she could not concentrate on reading with him in the room. He made no sound to disturb her, but she felt his presence keenly. She turned the page and still did not know what the words said. She heard him walk a few steps towards the door and looked up, “Did you find everything you needed?”

  “Yes thank you, I mean, no. I shall have to order a few books after all.”

  “Would you like some tea? The pot is still warm.”

  He hesitated, but Adella smiled at him and he gave a small incline of his head, “Thank you, I would like that.”

  “There is always plenty of tea at Brayfern,” she said pouring him a cup. “Mrs Waters is the local tea merchants' best customer. I think the grocer in Sidmouth makes all their annual profit from her. She prefers tea from China, but I prefer Indian.”

  She handed him the cup, he was still stood near the door, candle in his hand.

  “Will you not come and sit down? Unless you are tired. I do not mean to trespass on your time. Perhaps you would rather be alone and take your tea back to your room?”

  He shifted about a little, unsure what to do, “Thank you, I will sit with you for a short while,” and he seated himself in the chair opposite.

  He said nothing. Offered no conversation. They both sat watching the small fire burn, until she asked, “Is your room comfortable?”

  “Yes.”

  Adella was bursting with questions to ask him about himself, but thought it imprudent to ask soon in their acquaintance.

  After a minute or so, he asked, “How long have you worked here as Governess?”

  “Nearly five months.”

  “Do you like it here?”

  “Yes, very much. I am extremely lucky to have such an excellent appointment. I know of several women who have to put up with a great deal from the family who employ them. Not so here.”

  The corner of his mouth curled into a smile and for the first time Adella believed that given time he would come out of himself. She liked him, despite his reserve. She knew they would be friends. She was determined they would be friends. There was something about his face that was handsome, yet it was indefinable.

  '”f you do not mind me saying, you look very tired,” she said, then realised that she probably should not have said such a thing, he must think her very blunt. She searched his face for a flicker of annoyance, but there was none. He must have taken it well however, and said,

  “I am not surprised I look tired. I have not slept much for several days.”

  “I hope you sleep well tonight then.”

  “Thank you. I am sure I shall.”

  “I found the sea air helped me sleep well for many days when I first arrived. I am sure you will be the same unless of course, you have already been living near the coast.”

  Adella hoped her sly enquiry might be answered.

  “No, I have not,” he replied and looked down, unwilling to divulge any further information.

  He sipped his tea, and left to retire for the evening about half an hour from the moment he first sat down. Adella watched as he left the room, her eyes never leaving him until he was out of sight. She couldn't help from wondering what secrets Joseph West was keeping about his past.

  Chapter 3

  1840 - Bath

  Adella looked over at her brother who, although listening intently, was looking fatigued. She had noticed his eye lids droop several times in the last fifteen minutes.

  “I think I should continue with my story tomorrow night. There is still so much to tell you.”

  Leonard yawned, “Very well. I am sure it will keep. I have an early morning appointment, so I think it best.”

  “Yes, it will. It has kept this long.”

  It took Adella many hours to fall asleep. Her heart was in turmoil. The darkness of the room was oppressive, she knew candlelight would prove to be no respite. She was re-living her time at Brayfern, and wished her memory did not serve her so well. Even through the darkness, her mind could not put aside that man's face. It burned her vision, even with her eyes shut.

  Now that she started to speak of that time, she knew that she would have to continue her story until its end. She was terrified by the possible repercussions of this. What if, after knowing the full truth, her brother refused to be the Polwarth's physician any longer? In the circles in which rich people as them moved, such a decision could have irreparable consequences for Leonard’s livelihood and her own. She must persuade him no matter what, that he must not allow his personal feelings get in the way. Despite the fact that the very thought of that man turned her heart to stone. It went against everything she was, every single inclination, but she had to think of the long term effects on Leonard's reputation. He had come so far already, she could not allow his career to be ruined. Not now.

  ***

  The following morning, Leonard only had two appointments and for a Tuesday it was quiet. Maybe Mrs Alther would have the pleasure of his company for tea after all. He would rather she would forget, but he knew that was unlikely. It was not that he disliked her, far from it, but it was so difficult to get away. One cup of tea would invariably turn into three or four and before he knew it, half the day gone. He was not entirely sure he liked her fascination with diseases. She always loved to talk about them and their cures, and often asked his opinion on the use of herbs and drugs. Whatever happened, he decided he had to try and steer the conversation to other matters when he made his visit.

  But he supposed, at least if she spoke of diseases there were no awkward silences, no lapses in conversation. Not that he didn't mind silence, but at the Alther's house, it seemed a little out of place. Leonard was more than happy to sit quietly with Adella, or one of his friends but Mr and Mrs Alther were different. He supposed it was because they met with so many people in their shop all day, speaking to people was the most natural thing. Doctors, like him, needed to be quiet and thoughtful.

  He made his way to Mr Harris, who was suffering with severe gout, and pondered over the first instalment of Adella's story from the night before.

  If he was more inquisitive by nature, he would have made her tell everything last night. But by inclination he was not a gossip. Well, perhaps he was a little like that with his own family. But as a doctor he was privy to much sensitive informati
on and he was careful not to pass anything on to the point where he was sometimes secretive.

  He would know everything in the fullness of time. But he was a little concerned for Adella. She was quiet at breakfast, not her usual self. She silently cooked Kedgeree, and served it with equal reservation. He had become so used to her steadiness and at times he knew he took her for granted. The presence of Mr Polwarth in Bath deeply unsettled her and he had never seen her like this. She was faithful, the one constant thing in his life. She never complained and he did not know what he would do without her should she ever decide to marry. He must remember to thank her more and let her know how much he appreciated her. But that would have to wait until later today. He had business to attend to.

  The one thing that worried him more than anything was that Mr Polwarth used a false name. It was most abnormal and he wondered what a gentleman like him was hiding. Had Adella had a lucky escape? Who knows what evils she could have been drawn into under that man's influence?

  And all this happened when he was in his final year at medical school, he knew nothing of it. She had gone out to work to help the family, when really it should have been his job to do it. True, they had different fathers, but although he was never very close to his step-father, he admired and respected him.

  He was not due to visit Mrs Polwarth until Thursday, by which time he would know all the details. But no, it was important to remain professionally detached. Was not the Hippocratic Oath written for such moments as these? He had sworn to live by it, and he would follow it to the letter. He would not allow his personal prejudices to affect his work. He would act the professional to the last, but that did not mean he would betray his sister. There was no choice. Adella won every time.

  ***

  Breakfast at South Parade was most often taken before ten o'clock, but it was eleven before Mr and Mrs Polwarth were seated to eat. Cynthia had waited for an hour in the elegantly furnished dining room. Breakfast was laid out on a table to the side of the room, and she looked longingly at it. She dressed for breakfast, something that she only did occasionally now. But being in Bath, she liked to try and make the effort.