Eight
For the next few weeks Lisette’s pregnancy continued to go undetected. Madame Fabignon granted her a slight increase in her wages when her sales of shawls and capes continued to rise. Yet her savings were still piteously small and she found it hard to find further ways in which to economize.
She wished she did not have to leave the emporium soon, for she was enjoying the work, had a good friend in Claudine and liked most of the other employees with whom she came into contact. Since she never spent a sou without consideration she was grateful for the newspapers that Pierre passed on to her after he had studied the racing news. When she had glanced at the headlines she always turned to the ‘Situations Vacant’ page.
It was her intention to apply for the position of a housekeeper, having decided that if she made herself indispensable to her employer she might be able to stay on with her baby after the birth. In preparation she wrote some more references for herself as to her bookkeeping and other domestic capabilities, all of which she had been taught at school. She wrote these references on the same good writing paper that had done so well for her with Madame Fabignon and which she would have ready when needed.
When two seemingly suitable housekeeping posts were advertised she applied for both, one with a retired judge, who lived in a nearby town, and the other with the mistress of a château in the same area. She gave both prospective employers the date after which she would be available for interviews. Both her letters were answered, approving her application, although each warned that the situation might not still be vacant when she reapplied. It was what Lisette had expected, and even if these situations were lost to her, the response had shown her that she stood a good chance of getting the work she wanted.
Then, quite unexpectedly, everything went awry a month before the date that Lisette had decided should be the limit of her present employment. It was Madame Fabignon herself who inadvertently caused it. She had decided that since Lisette’s natural elegance could sell shawls so well, then how much more she could do for sales in parading the new gowns with the other mannequins in the dressmaking salon.
‘But I like selling shawls!’ Lisette protested.
‘Don’t be foolish,’ Madame Fabignon retorted. ‘Can’t you see that I’m promoting you to a higher position? There will also be commission on all that you sell.’
Knowing Madame Fabignon’s parsimonious ways Lisette did not expect the commission to amount to very much, but even a little more money would be a help to her before she left. She had not yet begun to make anything for her baby’s layette and as her pregnancy advanced she would soon need some new clothes when those she possessed no longer fitted her. So far the corset she wore had kept her secret very well.
‘Very well, madame,’ she said. ‘When should I start?’
‘Today. Celestine can be your replacement on the shawls and capes.’
Lisette went up the wide curving staircase to the salon, which was conducted like a haute couture salon in Paris. There a vendeuse, named Mademoiselle Boileau, sat at a Louis VI desk from which she would rise to greet the emporium’s richer customers who were able to afford the garments in her domain. She was writing at the desk, but looked up as Lisette approached.
‘You are the new mannequin?’ she stated sharply. ‘I was told to expect you. Go through that far door. One of the dressmakers will measure you.’
In the dressmakers’ room Lisette knew an anxious moment when a tape was whipped around her waist, the result checked, and then she was measured a second time.
The dressmaker frowned, looping the tape measure back over her neck. ‘You’ll have to lace yourself in a bit tighter, but otherwise you have a good figure, a straight back and a chic air about you. There’s a parade of gowns for a client later this afternoon, so I’ll get one of the other mannequins to show you how to walk and what to do.’
Lisette lasted only a week in the salon. During that time she received commission on three gowns and a coat, but the dressmaker had become increasingly suspicious about the new mannequin’s waistline and mentioned her concern to the vendeuse.
‘Thank you for bringing the matter to my attention,’ Mademoiselle Boileau replied, her gaze becoming fierce. ‘But not a word to anybody else.’
She chose her moment carefully, throwing open a door on Lisette when she was virtually naked while changing after the day’s work had ended. At the giveaway sight of her figure in loosened corset laces the vendeuse threw up her hands in outrage.
‘You sinful, deceitful creature! You’re with child! Finish dressing and then go at once to Madame Fabignon. I’m going downstairs this second to inform her that you are not fit to be with decent people in this salon!’
Lisette sighed as the woman left and continued dressing. Her chance of a good reference from Madame Fabignon was lost and it would have been very useful to have had it in hand.
When she faced Madame Fabignon in the office it was what she had expected. Instant dismissal for immorality as a single woman bearing a child. What was owed to her was thrown down on to the desk, some of the coins bouncing to the floor for her to gather up. To add to her humiliation Lisette was prevented from saying goodbye to anyone. Madame Fabignon marched her out of the office and through the emporium where all the sales assistants, even those serving customers at their counters, turned their heads to watch as the two of them went by. It was obvious to them all from Madame Fabignon’s furious expression that Lisette was in great trouble.
Only Claudine guessed the true reason, having known that it could only be a matter of time before her friend’s condition was discovered. Dismayed, she gave a sympathetic little wave of farewell, which was returned with a grateful smile from Lisette as she followed their employer through the double doors into the house of accommodation. There she was denounced to Mademoiselle Valverde.
‘This immoral creature is in the family way! Make sure she has her belongings packed and is off these premises within twenty minutes!’ Turning on her heel, Madame Fabignon stalked back into the emporium.
Mademoiselle Valverde glared at Lisette. ‘Get going!’ she snapped. ‘We don’t want your kind under this roof a moment longer than necessary!’
To Lisette’s annoyance the woman followed her upstairs and then stood with folded arms to watch her change out of her black shop attire into one of her own dresses. Without the whalebone corset, which she set aside, Lisette found that her dress was extremely tight and she had difficulty in fastening some buttons. A side glance in the cheval mirror showed her that now indeed she did look pregnant, but it was high time the baby gained room to grow.
Although throughout her packing Lisette kept a dignified silence, her cheeks flushed with anger as Mademoiselle Valverde took spiteful pleasure in checking everything she packed as if she were a possible thief as well as an unmarried mother-to-be. Then, taking up a valise in each hand, Lisette set off downstairs again. The thump of the woman’s footsteps followed her.
‘Never dare to come near this emporium again!’ Mademoiselle Valverde spat out as Lisette descended the outdoor steps into the street. The door was slammed after her.
Lisette did not linger, but took stock of her position as she walked away without a backward glance. It was a sunny, early September afternoon, the sky a clear blue, which in itself was an inducement to optimism and in any case she was not in the least despondent. The time had come to leave this town and start afresh. In her purse she had the two replies to her application for the position of housekeeper.
Now she would just turn up at these two addresses and hope for the best. If neither position was still available she could always look for some other domestic work in that area. She was not too proud to sweep and dust and scrub floors if it would ensure a roof over her head until she found something better suited to her abilities.
At the railway station she boarded a train where she sat down on one of the wooden seats. In the past she had only travelled in first class comfort, but those days had gone for the time
being. Being alone in the carriage, she opened her purse and took out the false wedding ring. When she had put it on she spread her fingers wide and regarded it without expression. Now to the world she was the wife of a seaman.
After replacing her glove she fingered the ring for a moment or two through the soft leather before sitting back and letting her thoughts drift. Not for the first time she remembered Monsieur Lumière’s advice to look on change as an adventure. It was strange how his wise words had stayed with her throughout the years.
As the train began to move her thoughts continued to wander in a curiously contented way. Eventually the time would come when her grandmother’s house in Lyon was legally hers. She would find it full of memories and what a pleasure it would be to see the Lumière family again! Then an unhappy thought struck her. But it could not be the same, for she would be a social outcast with an illegitimate baby. No respectable home would receive her. Neither should she expect it to be otherwise.
Her thoughts turned to Daniel. He had been immensely kind to her throughout the time she had been with him. It could be said he had been too kind in that eventually he had comforted her with such ardour that she carried a child within her who would always remind her of him.
Until now she had not thought much about the baby, except as a terrible complication to her life. She had had no privacy in which to start preparing a layette, except for a few small garments she had purchased one day in the market and hidden away in a drawer. Mademoiselle Valverde had given a contemptuous snort when she had glimpsed them being packed. For the first time she began to wonder with real interest whether she would give birth to a boy or a girl. Thinking back to that passionate interlude in which Daniel had brought her soaring to such ecstasy she could only think that most surely she would have a son from those handsome and powerful loins.
Unexpectedly she caught her breath at the memory. Although she was no longer alone in the carriage the man reading a newspaper in the corner seat had not noticed and neither had the woman opposite her, who was fussing with a fractious child.
Other passengers came and went at various halts throughout the journey. Then she was at her destination and alighted on to the platform. She had decided to go first to the old gentleman’s address since the other was out of town. A porter took her baggage and led her to a waiting horse-drawn omnibus where the conductor confirmed that it went past the head of the street that she wanted. She stepped aboard. It would soon be getting dusk and she hoped her destination was not far away, because if she failed to get the position it would mean starting to look for somewhere to stay.
After about ten minutes of the omnibus picking up and putting down passengers it came to a halt again. ‘That’s the street you asked for, mademoiselle,’ the conductor said, pointing the way.
Halfway down the avenue of some very fine houses she came to the address for which she had been searching. Large double gates opened to the driveway of a grand mansion where lamplight glowed from several windows. She supposed she should go to a servants’ entrance, but she could not carry her heavy valises any longer. Taking a deep breath on the steps of the marble portico she rang the doorbell.
A serious-looking manservant in his fifties opened the door, his greyish hair so slicked back with Macassar oil that it shone like a billiard ball. ‘Mademoiselle?’ he inquired politely.
‘I’m Madame Decourt,’ Lisette replied, ‘and I hope I’m the new housekeeper.’
His expression lifted and he snatched up the handles of her luggage to swing it indoors. ‘Thank God for that! Come in. I’m Gerard, valet to Judge Oinville and nurse when needs be.’
She entered and looked about her at the spacious hall with its black and while tiled floor and a great crystal chandelier suspended from the ceiling. ‘I’m not expected,’ she warned.
‘On the contrary,’ he replied, having closed the door after her. ‘You were supposed to be here three days ago, but never mind about that. You’re here now.’
Immediately Lisette realized with an acute sense of disappointment that another housekeeper had already been appointed. ‘Then there’s some mistake. You’re expecting someone else. I haven’t even been interviewed yet.’
He sighed in exasperation and snapped questions at her as he ticked them off on his fingers. ‘Are you honest? Have you good references? Do you cook? Can you supervise? Is your bookkeeping accurate? Would you have plenty of patience with a cantankerous old man?’ Then after Lisette had answered all his questions in the affirmative, he gave a nod. ‘As far as I’m concerned you’re the new housekeeper even if you are in the family way. What’s your name?’
She told him, but continued to protest. ‘You have no authority to appoint me. I must see the lady of the house!’
‘There isn’t one, except Judge Oinville’s bitch of a daughter-in-law, who comes in once or twice a week to find fault and fling her orders about. The judge can’t abide her, because he knows she wants him gone in order to get hold of his money and this house and all its contents. I pity her husband, because he must have a hell of a life. Now I’ll present you to the judge.’
He turned on his heel to lead the way, but Lisette caught at his sleeve. ‘You really must understand that if another housekeeper is expected I can’t possibly take over!’
‘Don’t worry about it. It’s highly unlikely she’ll show up now. The departing housekeeper had recommended her, but perhaps also told her enough about your new employer to make her think twice about coming here and she has decided to stay away for ever. You probably won’t stay either, but at least give it a try.’
With trepidation Lisette followed him along a corridor and through a finely furnished salon where open glass doors led into a garden room. There she paused for Gerard to announce her.
‘Permit me to present the new housekeeper, monseigneur. Madame Lisette Decourt.’
Gerard stood aside for her to enter and then left. The garden room was large, but the warmth of the day had been captured and held. Oil lamps on elegant stands had been lit among the potted palms against the fading glow of the setting sun, which cast sparkles into a decanter and glasses on a silver tray placed on a side table. She had been expecting to see an ancient invalid from Gerard’s mention of being both valet and nurse, but a distinguished looking, white-bearded old gentleman, his hand resting on a gold-topped cane, sat comfortably in a cushioned wicker chair, a very lively look about him. He beckoned her nearer and regarded her keenly with steel-grey eyes. Then he grunted with satisfaction.
‘You are most welcome, Madame Decourt. Thank God you’re pretty! In fact, you’re quite a beauty. I can’t abide ugly women and they usually smell.’ He looked her up and down. ‘If my eyes don’t deceive me, you’re with child. Am I right?’
‘Yes, monseigneur,’ she answered firmly. ‘Does that make any difference?’
‘We’ll discuss that in a minute. So you’re here to take charge. Sit down opposite me.’ He continued to talk as she seated herself. ‘I warn you there won’t be much to eat until you get someone in the kitchen who knows how to cook. Gerard has been doing his best, but kitchen work is beneath his dignity. My daughter-in-law could have sent her fancy chef to prepare a meal or two for me, but she does not have a generous nature.’
‘I don’t understand,’ Lisette said. ‘Are there no servants other than Gerard in the house?’
‘They all walked out three days ago. A clean sweep to my mind! No servant ever stays long anyway, so it’s of no consequence. The menservants steal my cigars and gulp down my best wines and the silly women cry when I shout at them.’
Lisette caught her breath at his bluntness. ‘You’ll not shout at me, monseigneur!’ There was such a resounding threat in her voice that the old man’s bushy white brows shot up. ‘Neither would I allow pilfering all the time I’m in charge here! Is that understood?’
‘I can see you’re a woman to rule the roost,’ he taunted in reply, enjoying himself. ‘Your husband must have a lot to put up with. Has he deserted y
ou? Is that why you’re here?’
‘No. He’s at sea.’
‘At sea, is he?’ The old man’s quizzical smile puzzled her. ‘When do you expect him home on shore leave?’
‘Not for a long time. He has only just sailed.’
‘And when is your baby due?’
‘Next April.’
‘Then he’s unlikely to be back when you give birth. Tell me, does he even exist?’
Lisette turned ashen, all her pretence falling away, and she sat back in her chair, gripping the arms. ‘How did you know?’ she asked in total dismay.
‘I didn’t, but during my years in court I have had many a female in the dock, accused of some petty crime, who has made the well-worn pretence of being the wife or widow of a seaman to retain some shred of respectability.’
Lisette sprang her feet. ‘I’ll leave at once,’ she said shakily. ‘I apologize for trying to deceive you.’
‘Wait!’ the judge shouted, for she was already on her way. ‘Have I said I wanted you to go? I’m a judge of the law, not of morals, and there’s always two sides to everything. I’ve never believed that the woman should always be subject to censure and the man escape scot-free.’ Impatiently he thumped his stick. ‘For God’s sake, come back and sit down again, young woman!’
Slowly she resumed her seat, uncertain what was to come. ‘Am I to stay then?’
‘Why not? You haven’t come to scrub floors or carry heavy loads that might harm your condition. You’re here to give orders and manage my house efficiently. If you fail in that task I’ll tell you to go, but otherwise you’ll stay and be well paid for it. Then when the baby comes – providing you keep its bawling out of my hearing – you shall remain as my housekeeper for as long as it suits us both.’
She felt overwhelmed by his magnanimity and wanted to be completely honest with him. ‘There’s something else I have to tell you. Although I applied for this housekeeper’s position I’m not the one who was expected three days ago.’
Brilliance Page 10