Mrs Boots

by Deborah Carr

  ‘Florence, Amy,’ Lily said, beaming from ear to ear. ‘Mum, these are the kind ladies who I work with. Florence, who arranged for me to have my job at W. H. Rowe.’ Florence put her hand out to shake Lily’s mother’s. ‘And her sister Amy.’ Amy did the same as Florence. ‘They’ve both been very kind to me.’

  ‘You’ve been very hard-working,’ Florence said, smiling first at Mrs Buttons, who, she noticed gazed at Lily with pride, and then at Lily. ‘I don’t know what we would have done without your assistance at the shop these past few weeks.’

  ‘Yes,’ Amy agreed. ‘You’ve picked everything up very quickly, Lily. Father was saying so only this morning.’

  Mrs Buttons placed a hand on Lily’s left arm. ‘She’s a good girl, is my Lily. She’s been a Godsend to this family, always looking after us and goin’ without to make sure her brothers and sisters are cared for.’

  ‘She bought these new clothes for us,’ a little boy of about four announced.

  ‘And we’ve got dinner,’ a little girl not much older than him said.

  ‘That’s enough, you two,’ Lily said, her face reddening.

  ‘You do all look very well,’ Florence said. ‘It’s good to see you at chapel today. Have you been here before?’

  ‘No,’ Mrs Buttons murmured. ‘Lily mentioned that your family come ’ere and we thought, as it’s Christmas, we should be here to offer our thanks.’

  ‘Mum,’ Lily whispered. ‘Please.’

  Her mother raised her chin and Florence could see that she was determined to have her say. ‘We’re very grateful about how you’ve helped our Lily. It’s made all the difference to us this winter.’ She seemed at a loss for words for a moment. Florence opened her mouth to say something to fill the silence, when Lily’s mother added, ‘It’s good to see my girl being treated so well. So, thank you.’

  Florence didn’t know what to say. She felt certain that the satisfaction she felt having helped Lily far outweighed the difference the job had made to Lily’s family, but didn’t want to demean Mrs Button’s kind words by trying to explain her thoughts.

  ‘Thank you,’ she said simply. ‘We’ve been very happy to have Lily working at our shop.’

  ‘Yes,’ Amy said, ‘and it’s very pleasant to meet Lily’s family today and on such a perfect occasion.’

  Florence noticed their father waving at them discreetly. ‘We’re going to have to go now, I’m afraid. It was lovely to see you all here today though.’ She could not help wondering where Mr Buttons was and presumed he must still be away.

  ‘Miss Rowe, one moment please,’ Lily said. ‘I have a small gift for you, to thank you for everything you’ve done for me.’

  Florence couldn’t speak. She watched in silence as Lily took a small bag from her middle sister’s hand that she hadn’t noticed before. ‘This is for you. It’s just something small, but when I saw it in the Central Market the other day, I knew I should buy it for you. I hope you like it.’

  Florence’s throat constricted with unshed tears. She opened the small cotton bag that Lily had handed to her and took out a woven silk picture bookmark. She held it up and gazed at it, taking in the greens of the holly and red of the berries on the beautiful fabric that said, Christmas wishes to a friend.

  ‘It is beautiful,’ Florence said, her voice cracking with emotion. ‘So thoughtful and such a perfect gift.’

  ‘You like it?’ Lily asked.

  ‘I do, very much indeed. Thank you, Lily. Truly, this is a perfect gift.’

  ‘I’m afraid there was only one in the shop,’ Lily said quietly to Amy.

  ‘That is perfectly fine. I know my sister is very touched by your thoughtfulness, Lily,’ Florence reassured her. ‘Now, we really must go and take our place inside or we’ll miss the start of the sermon. Merry Christmas, Mrs Buttons, Lily, Buttons family.’

  ‘Yes,’ Florence said, shaking herself out of her stupor. ‘Thank you again, Lily. Nice to meet you, Mrs Buttons. I hope you all have a wonderful remainder of your day.’

  After speaking with their own friends, all of them dressed in their best clothes for the occasion, they made their way up the wide stone stairs and in through one of the two huge doorways to the chapel inside.

  It was an uplifting sermon. Florence enjoyed singing along to the hymns and, as she scanned the high ceiling, she couldn’t help wondering what the chapel Jesse attended would be like. She couldn’t imagine she would find it as magnificent as this place.

  Afterwards the congregation filed outside, chatting and exchanging good wishes. She supposed that most of them would go on their way to family lunches later. She was glad that Jesse had planned to spend the day with his sister and a few friends and hoped he had a pleasant time.

  They strolled home, she and Amy following her parents along the pavement.

  Florence opened the black painted front door and walked into the tiled hallway, smiling to herself. She had made a difference, not only to Lily’s life, but also to her family’s. Seeing them at chapel today, dressed in better clothes and genuinely happy, with Lily looking so proud, made Florence want to help more girls like Lily. There were so many girls in her predicament, young women who simply needed a helping hand. A hand up, not a handout, as Jesse had said to her in one of his letters.

  She loved feeling like she was achieving something in her life and these women were the same. The only difference between them, Florence mused, was that she had been lucky enough to be born into a family where she was given the means to earn a living.

  She had so much to look forward to next year. Being married to someone as kind as Jesse and with the means behind him meant that they could help many girls like Lily. It really did feel like Christmas could begin in earnest now.

  Chapter 26

  The delicious smell of cooking filled the hallway as Florence closed the door behind her. She unwrapped her scarf and thought of Jesse as she strode up the stairs to the flat. ‘Happy Christmas, my love,’ she whispered, before opening the door and stepping inside to join her family.

  ‘You will be joining us after all, then,’ her mother said, giving her a sideways glance.

  Florence could see that breaking ranks from the family to go and speak to Lily that morning was not the best way to be in her mother’s good books. She wanted the day to go well, so forced a smile and apologised.

  ‘I’m sorry, Mother,’ she said. ‘I hope you didn’t mind me going to speak to the Buttons family earlier outside the chapel?’

  ‘No, of course not. She’s a hard-working girl and your father is very happy with the way she’s fitting in with you and Amy in the shop.’

  ‘The food smells delicious. I’ve been looking forward to spending the rest of the day with my family.’

  This had the desired effect, she noted, as her mother’s face lit up. ‘Good. It will be an enjoyable day. I will have all my children around me at one time or another, and your father is ready to carve the goose his cousin gave to us especially for today.’

  ‘It smells heavenly,’ Florence said, taking a deep breath. She could almost taste the delicious meat and realised for the first time how hungry she was. ‘I’ll take off my coat and hat and come back to help you.’

  ‘There’s no need,’ her mother said, softening slightly. ‘You go and read for a while; I’m quite content to carry on here. All the hard work has been done and I’ll only need a little help to serve it when Adelaide and Francis have arrived.’

  Happy for some time alone before the family meal got underway, Florence went to her room. She unpinned her hat, bending to check her hair in the mirror. The prospect of the tasty meal ahead of her made her stomach rumble and her thoughts drifted to Lily. She gave thanks that she had been able to speak to Lily and give her just a little something to make her family’s Christmas slightly better. Florence couldn’t help wondering what the Buttons family would be eating this lunchtime.

  She took off her coat and hung it up in her wardrobe. Then she gazed at the brooch Jesse had
had made especially for her, and her heart seemed to expand. She lifted the bottom of it and gazed lovingly at it, awed by having been given something so beautiful. She loved the gift and knew that, each time she wore the exquisite gold love knot, it would serve as a visual reminder of his adoration that would help keep her going during their separation.

  She sat down to write to him and tell him all about her chat with Lily. She pictured Jesse sitting in his favourite armchair that she presumed he must have, while he opened her present to him. She hoped he liked it. She knew that the heavy leather photo album had reached him safely because he had written her a note to let her know, curious as to what her gift could possibly be.

  She heard Amy welcoming Adelaide

  She went out of her room to join her them. ‘Adelaide, Francis,’ she said beaming at them. ‘Merry Christmas to you both.’

  ‘Thank you,’ Adelaide said, giving her a brief hug. ‘We’ve been looking forward to this today and by the smell of Mother’s cooking, we’re in for a treat.’

  Their mother blushed and waved the compliment away. ‘It’s nothing more than you would expect,’ she said as their father linked arms with her.

  ‘We’re all very lucky to have such a talented cook treating us to our food,’ her father said, kissing their mother quickly on her pink cheek. ‘Come, let’s go into the living room. I have the fire going and it’s much warmer in there.’

  Florence and Amy exchanged glances. They knew their father was right, the small living room was much warmer than the hallway, but they both also knew that he was looking forward to showing off the tree that he had helped decorate.

  The living room and dining room were usually kept separate to keep the heat in the one where they sat, but today, as with all extra-special days, the connecting doors had been folded back and the splendour of their Christmas table – with its creamy white candles circled at the bottom with holly their father had bought from the market the day before, and the crystal jug, given to them by a grateful client – was on display.

  ‘It’s splendid,’ Francis said, looking, Florence decided, suitably impressed.

  Their parents beamed. ‘It was a joint effort between Margaret, Amy and Florence,’ he said proudly. ‘You girls have done an excellent job here. I know we’re all going to have a perfect day.’

  ‘Willie is here now.’ Their mother’s face lit up as announced her son’s arrival.

  Florence saw her father visibly relax. Her mother would be happy now that she had the entire brood around her.

  ‘Margaret, I know that one day you will have grandchildren to join us for Christmas meals, but we still have to wait a while yet, it seems.’ He turned to the rest of them. They knew he was teasing but was also trying to reassure their mother. ‘Now, I suggest we all take our places at the table. There’s fresh orange juice and a jug of lemonade for us all. Girls,’ he said, addressing Amy and Florence, ‘please help your mother in the kitchen with the final preparations for our lunch.’

  Lunch, as expected, was delicious. After Grace was led by their father, he carved the goose and everyone was served. Francis kept them amused with memories and anecdotes of when he was an apprentice shipwright. Florence had thought the work sounded hard and difficult for a boy. Adelaide then shared stories about her teaching. Some Florence had heard before, several times, but were still amusing in the way that Adelaide portrayed them.

  There was a lull in the conversation and her mother seemed to notice Florence’s brooch for the first time.

  ‘Is that from Mr Boot?’ she asked, her lips pursed as she waited for Florence to answer.

  The relaxed atmosphere shifted slightly, and Florence had to concentrate on keeping her voice light as she answered. ‘Yes, isn’t it beautiful?’

  Adelaide leant forward to inspect it. ‘It’s delightful.’

  ‘He’s quite a romantic on the quiet, I think,’ Amy whispered, but not quietly enough for her mother to miss.

  ‘That’s enough of that language,’ their mother snapped, placing her fork onto her plate. ‘How dare you refer to such things at the dinner table?’

  Everyone kept silent, not wishing to be the next person to receive their mother’s wrath. Eventually their father said, ‘Dearest, I don’t think Amy intended to upset you. If you think about it, the gift is very much a gesture of romance. And should we be surprised? Truly?’

  Florence watched her mother pick up her fork, chewing slowly as she considered her husband’s questions. No one moved. Everyone waited for her to speak.

  Florence noticed Adelaide glance at her husband and fidget slightly in her chair. She could tell her sister was trying to hold back from speaking. Florence knew she couldn’t do it for long and, to avoid the day deteriorating into an argumentative disaster, she willed her mother to hurry up and speak.

  Adelaide got there first. ‘I sense you have an issue with Florence being married to Mr Boot,’ she said, fully aware that was the case as Amy had confided in Florence that she had spoken to their older sister about it some weeks before.

  When their mother didn’t answer, Adelaide took her husband’s hand in her own and said, ‘If it is because of Mr Boot being what, fifteen years older than Florence …’

  ‘It’s twelve,’ Florence heard herself saying.

  ‘Twelve then. If it is because of that, then surely knowing that Francis and I have been happily married these past five years, should put your mind at ease. Don’t you think, Mother?’

  Florence tensed. She knew her sister had her best interests at heart, but was also aware that their mother was not one to change her mind once it had been made up. Their mother’s gaze moved slowly from her plate to Frances and then finally rested on Adelaide.

  ‘If you believe that I am insulting your marriage to your husband by way of my refusal to allow Florence to marry Mr Boot, then you are mistaken. I am perfectly aware that your marriage has been a success as far as the pair of you are concerned.’

  ‘Then I don’t understand what reasons you could have against Florence being married to a man a few years older than her?’

  ‘Neither do I,’ Willie said. ‘I didn’t get to meet him, but he sounds very pleasant.’

  ‘It is not something I wish to discuss. Florence is aware of my concerns and I believe that is all that matters.’ She looked at Francis, who had pulled his hand from Adelaide’s and was reaching for his glass of lemonade. ‘I do not mean to cause offence to you, Francis.’

  ‘None taken.’

  ‘Now,’ she said, picking up her cutlery once again, ‘I think we should continue with our meal.’

  ‘Yes,’ their father said, before anyone else had a second to react. ‘It is Christmas Day and we should be grateful for this feast in front of us. Very grateful indeed.’

  Florence waited for the conversation to begin again, this time with Amy sharing anecdotes about some of their snobbier customers, like Mrs Wolstenholm. ‘She must be a tyrant to work for,’ she giggled. ‘I noticed she was accompanied by yet another maid last week. You would think she’d realise that if she was only a little nicer to her servants that maybe they wouldn’t keep leaving her.’

  ‘Maybe she’s firing them,’ their father suggested. ‘Had you thought of that?’

  Amy paused. ‘No, it hadn’t occurred to me.’

  Florence took the opportunity of her parent’s attention being kept by Amy’s stories to give Adelaide a grateful smile. She knew her sister was frustrated by their parents’ resistance to her being with Jesse, and, even though her attempt to change her mother’s mind hadn’t been remotely successful, it was comforting to know that both her sisters were on her side over this matter.

  She decided that when she next wrote to Jesse she would leave this conversation out of her description of their day’s celebrations. It would only concern him and that was the last thing she wanted to do.

  She struggled to remain cheerful and not drift off into a daydream where she and Jesse were sitting, hand in hand in front of a roaring
fire. What was he doing right now? she wondered as Amy chatted to their mother about the deliciousness of the goose.

  She pictured his handsome face as he smiled at her. Was he thinking about her now, too?

  ‘Florence.’ Her father’s voice snapped her out of her reverie.

  ‘She’s away with the fairies,’ her mother teased. ‘Florence, dear. Do try to eat something. I’ve spent hours preparing this meal and I’d rather you ate it while it was hot.’

  ‘Sorry, Mother,’ she replied, embarrassed to have been caught daydreaming about Jesse. She took a mouthful of the crispy roast potatoes her mother always insisted tasted best cooked in the goose fat that had drained from the bird she was cooking. ‘It really is delicious,’ she said honestly. ‘Even more so this year than usual.’

  Her mother beamed at her. ‘I’m glad you think so.’

  ‘She’s right, Margaret. Don’t you think so girls?’ he asked, addressing Adelaide and Amy.

  They both nodded enthusiastically. ‘Heavenly,’ Adelaide said. She ate a mouthful of food and then turned her attention to Florence and Amy. ‘That young girl I saw you speaking to earlier at chapel. She’s the one who’s been working at the shop with you for the past few weeks, isn’t she?’

  ‘Yes,’ Amy agreed. ‘She’s very good, too.’

  ‘I’m sure she is.’ Adelaide grinned at their father. ‘I can’t imagine Father employing someone who wasn’t. Do you intend keeping her on after Christmas?’

  ‘Yes, why?’ Their father frowned. Florence knew he hated having his authority questioned. She also knew that they hadn’t discussed how long Lily was to work for at Rowe’s. Did her father realise that she was hoping for Lily to be there long enough to take over from her when she left to marry Jesse?

  For the first time it dawned on her that he had probably seen through her plan all along. Florence’s eyes locked with her father’s and without him saying anything, she realised that he hadn’t been fooled for a moment.

  ‘She is a very good worker and I will employ her at Rowe’s for as long as I choose,’ he said simply. ‘How long that will be, I haven’t as yet decided.’