Mrs Boots

by Deborah Carr

  Had Florence imagined it, or did he just give her the faintest hint of a smile?

  She glanced at her mother, happy with most of her brood sitting around the table eating their sumptuous meal, and couldn’t help picturing her own home next year with her sitting at one end of a shiny mahogany table eyes locked with Jesse’s sitting opposite her. And she could invite her parents to stay with them, she decided.

  Her mother could have a break from cooking Christmas lunch and have it cooked for her. Florence wasn’t sure if her mother would appreciate the thought or resent it. After all she had been cooking this meal for her family for over two decades now. Now wasn’t the time to suggest it, but Florence thought that it was something for her to mull over closer to the time. Their mother finally finished eating her pudding and the three sisters cleared away the plates, washing them up while their parents and Francis moved into the living room and settled down ready for the present opening to begin.

  That night as Florence lay in bed, she thought over the day’s events. All in all, she considered it to have been a successful one, with the only awkward moment being when Adelaide had questioned their mother about Jesse’s age and her unwillingness for their father to agree to them being married straight away.

  She closed her eyes, trying to picture how her life would be one year from now. She didn’t really mind how it was, as long as she was spending it with Jesse.

  Chapter 27

  16–20 Goose Gate

  Nottingham

  3 January 1886

  Miss Florence Rowe

  27 Queen Street

  St Helier

  Jersey

  Dearest Florence,

  Happy New Year to you and your family.

  I hadn’t received three of your letters and then they were delivered on the same day. I believe it was an issue with one of the postmen, but I’m not certain what happened exactly. I was glad to hear that you had a joyful Christmas. Mine was pleasant enough, and Jane and I spent much of Christmas Day discussing you and how much I’m looking forward to bringing you home to Nottingham and introducing you to everyone here.

  Jane is impatiently awaiting your arrival and is certain that you will settle in well in Nottingham and feel at home in no time. I sincerely hope that she’s right. Nottingham is wonderful, to me, but I worry that you will miss your pretty island and all that you know there, the charming lanes with their French names and the delicious milk and potatoes that I became so fond of during my visits. I will do my level best to see that you want for nothing when you are finally living here, but still I can’t help worrying.

  I was relieved to read that your father is pleased with Lily Buttons and how she’s getting on at the shop. It must have been a surprise to see her and meet her family at chapel on Christmas Day, too. I know how much you fret about the poor girl. It really is too cruel to see how difficult some people’s lives are. You are such a compassionate woman, Florence. You think of others continually, but rather than just think of them, you do something about helping make their lives a little easier and it only serves to make me love you more.

  It has started snowing again here and I have two meetings that I need to attend after breakfast today. I hope the snow ceases soon and that it doesn’t cause issues with travelling.

  I have just noticed the time and must sign off if I want this letter to catch today’s post before I leave.

  My dear, I think of you always and trust you to take the very best care of the person I love most in the world.

  As always, your,

  Jesse

  It was cold and the pavements icy in Jersey, too, and Florence wrapped up well to go out to take leftover mince pies, nuts and fruit to Adelaide and Francis. The pair of them had been suffering from colds since Boxing Day and their mother had wanted to help them in some small way. Nervous that she had to go out in such dire weather, and risk the chance of slipping and hurting herself, Florence had offered to go instead.

  She pinned her hat to her hair and wrapped the thick scarf and gloves her mother had made her for Christmas, grateful to have them as soon as she stepped out of the door.

  That morning even their kitchen windows had ice on the insides, and, being someone who favoured the spring and autumn season, Florence was already tired of the cold and damp.

  ‘Be careful out there,’ her father said as she left. ‘Try not to be too long; Lily Buttons starts today at eight this morning.’

  ‘Yes, Father,’ she said, raising the scarf slightly at the back of her neck to keep it as covered as possible. ‘I’m just dropping this basket of food to Adelaide. Mother was going to go, but it’s terribly slippery out there and I didn’t think she should go.’

  ‘Right, of course. Well done.’

  She heard him mumble something to himself that sounded remarkably like wishing her mother could wait until the end of the working day to be delivering food to her sister, but set off. Adelaide didn’t live far away and Florence wanted to be back at the shop to welcome Lily. Lily tried to give off an air of someone confident and capable, but it didn’t work nearly as well as she probably hoped.

  Her foot skidded on some ice as she rushed around the corner and for a split second she expected to fall, relieved when someone grabbed hold of her and helped ensure she didn’t completely lose her footing.

  She smoothed down her coat and went to thank the person, only to see it was the postman she had told off several weeks before when he had been rude to Lily.

  ‘Thank you,’ she said, clearing her throat. ‘I’m relieved you were here and have such quick reactions.’

  ‘It was my pleasure, Miss Rowe.’ Realising what he had said, the man’s face reddened. ‘That is to say …’

  She couldn’t bear to witness the poor man stumbling around his words. ‘Please, it’s no matter, but I am grateful. Thank you.’ She indicated her basket of goodies, surprised to note that none of them had spilled out. ‘I must be getting on my way, so that I can be back in the shop before opening time.’

  ‘Of course. Bye, Miss Rowe.’

  ‘Goodbye.’

  She would have to take more care, she decided, as she walked slowly. She wouldn’t be any use to her father if she did fall and break an ankle or a wrist, and, although she would be leaving his employment later in the summer he needed her at the shop working, at least until Lily had been trained up to take her place.

  She was shivering by the time she reached Adelaide’s cottage. She knocked twice. The sound of her sister coughing inside worried her. She was glad she’d come after all.

  The door opened and Adelaide’s husband welcomed her inside.

  ‘Quick, come in before you let in all the cold,’ Francis said, sniffing. ‘It’s perishing out there and I wish I didn’t have to go out to work.’

  ‘But you do,’ Adelaide teased, coming to join them from the scullery. The inglenook fireplace held a small stove on which their maid Abigail was stirring a pot of food.

  ‘Would you like to join us for a bowl of porridge?’ she asked, noticing for the first time that Florence was carrying a basket.

  ‘No, thank you,’ Florence said. ‘I’ve only popped by to deliver these. Mother thought you might want them.’

  She handed the basket to Abigail, who placed it cheerfully on the worn kitchen table. ‘What have we here?’ she said happily, stopping to pull a handkerchief from her sleeve and blowing her nose several times.

  ‘Should you not be in bed?’ Florence asked, frowning.

  ‘No, I’ve been in bed for the past few days and I’m feeling much better now. Anyway, I have chores to do.’

  Knowing that her sister, like their mother, was not one to be persuaded to do something she didn’t want to do, Florence didn’t argue.

  Adelaide took out the first packet and unfolding the top peaked inside. ‘Nuts, thank you.’

  ‘There’s some fruit and half a dozen mince pies that Mother cooked yesterday. We won’t eat it all and she felt sure that you would enjoy the rest.
There are a a few other bits in there too.’

  ‘We’ll enjoy all of this,’ Adelaide said, wiping her nose again.

  ‘I’d better get back. There’s someone new starting work at the shop this morning and I want to be there to greet her.’

  ‘Please thank Mother for us?’ Adelaide said. ‘And thanks to you, too. It was kind of you to come out on such a bitter day.’

  ‘I wanted to see if you were any better than the last time I saw you,’ Florence said, relieved to see that she was.

  ‘Yes, thanks,’ Francis said, taking one of the nuts from the packet and reaching for a metal nutcracker Florence recognised as being an old one of her mother’s.

  ‘I was surprised to hear Father extolling Lily Buttons’ virtues and how well she’s doing in the shop,’ Adelaide whispered. ‘I’m pleased that she works so hard and is proving your suggestion that she work there right.’

  ‘She is a fast learner,’ Florence said, certain she could confide in her sister and that Adelaide would never mention anything about it to Lily should she ever bump into her at the shop. She explained about Lily’s circumstances and that she was trying to help her in some small way.

  ‘I think that’s very generous of you, Florence.’ Adelaide smiled at her. ‘I’m not surprised though. You’ve always felt the need to help the underdog. You’ve always been extremely thoughtful and kind. Well done. I hope this girl is worthy of your trust and good nature.’

  Florence didn’t like to think of Lily being described as an underdog. She was a dear girl who could make something of herself if only she was given the chance to do so.

  ‘Thank you,’ she said simply. ‘Now, I really must get back.’

  ‘Please tell Mother I’ll return her basket later today, or maybe tomorrow morning.’

  ‘Yes, all right,’ Florence said, aware that the time was passing, and she needed to get going. ‘She said not to rush it back to her if the weather doesn’t improve.’

  She kissed her sister on her upturned cheek and braced herself for the cold as she stepped outside. Her sister shouted a goodbye and quickly closed the front door. Florence didn’t blame her; it was freezing.

  She made her way carefully, watching every step. Several minutes later she arrived back at the shop. She stamped her feet outside the door to remove any ice, and stepped inside.

  ‘It’s freezing out there,’ she said, unwinding the long scarf from around her neck and pulling off her gloves, pushing them into her coat pocket. ‘I almost fell just past that corner,’ she said, unbuttoning her coat and hanging it, along with her scarf, onto the wooden coat stand to the left of the entrance. Unpinning her hat, she did the same.

  ‘Did you fall?’ Amy asked, looking concerned.

  ‘No, thankfully. That postman that I had a go at about Lily not so long ago saved me.’ She rubbed her hands together, hoping the friction would warm them and went to stand behind the counter.

  ‘He did?’

  ‘Yes. One minute I was slipping and the next he had grabbed hold of me and placed me firmly on my feet again. I don’t mind telling you I was very relieved he was there.’

  Amy gave her a knowing look. ‘I presume you were hurrying, as usual.’

  ‘I have to admit I was. It’s so cold out there, I wanted to get back here.’ She rubbed her hands together to warm them up. ‘Adelaide was asking about Lily. She told me Father has been saying how happy he is with Lily’s work and how she’s fitting in at the shop. It was good to hear.’

  ‘I can imagine,’ Amy said, smiling. ‘I’m pleased her working here is going well.’

  Florence spent the next few days in anxious anticipation. News had broken of the collapse of the Jersey Banking Company where many of hers and her father’s friends banked.

  ‘What is to become of their businesses,’ her father said mid-morning when he returned from meeting an acquaintance in the next-door tea shop.

  ‘Is W. H. Rowe safe, Father?’ Florence asked nervously.

  ‘Yes, thankfully,’ he said, wringing his hands. ‘I did bank there for many years but moved my money only last year. I keep imagining what would happen to us if I hadn’t done so.’

  She didn’t like to think of the consequences and that night wrote to Jesse about the situation.

  27 Queen Street

  St Helier

  Jersey

  12 January 1886

  Mr J Boot

  16–20 Goose Gate

  Nottingham

  Dearest Jesse,

  The most dreadful thing has happened on our island. The Jersey Banking Company, where so many people we know have kept their savings, has collapsed. There is talk of a court case and many rumours are circulating, but all I can think of are the people who’ve worked hard and saved hard and who have now lost everything. It’s all too distressing.

  Thankfully, Father’s money is safe, for now. I, too, have savings but they are in a different bank, and for that I’m grateful. To think of the families who have now lost everything is heartbreaking. It only goes to show that you cannot be too careful about the wealth that you do have.

  I’m sorry to write with such sad news, but I needed to share my thoughts with someone and didn’t like to speak of it with Father, because any mention sends his mood into a downward spiral. How our lives can change in a moment; the thought terrifies me, but I know that I must push all negative thoughts aside, and instead find a way to help these people when they need our help most.

  Sending you my love,

  As always, your dearest,

  Florence

  Florence felt much better having shared her thoughts with Jesse. Her family were lucky not to have been immediately affected by the economic tragedy and for that she was grateful. Now, though, she needed to listen out for any families who were in dire straits and to find ways to help them, with food parcels, or anything else she might be able to offer.

  Two days later she received Jesse’s reply.

  16–20 Goose Gate

  Nottingham

  16 January 1886

  Miss Florence Rowe

  27 Queen Street

  St Helier

  Jersey

  Dearest love,

  I am dreadfully sorry to hear of the shocking situation on your island and if there is anything you feel I can do to assist you in helping your friends, please do let me know.

  You are right in saying that life is precarious and that is why I am grateful every day for all that I have. It is also why I cannot wait to be able to begin our life together and make the most of whatever time we are blessed enough to enjoy.

  You are good and kind, and I know you will help your friends now that they need you the most. Please do take care and look after yourself. You are, to me, the most precious jewel and I need to know that you are above all other things, safe and well.

  My love to you,

  As always,

  Jesse

  Chapter 28

  Florence was busy serving a customer, so didn’t take any notice when the postman delivered the mail that morning. She was glad it was Friday and looked forward to seeing Lily the following day to discover how her week had been. It would be her sixth week working for Rowe’s, and even Florence’s father had to admit that she was a hard-working and conscientious employee. It was a relief to Florence, and no doubt to Lily too, to see how happy he had been with her work.

  She took the money from the gentleman and wrapped the leather-bound notebook he had just purchased, handing it to him and bidding him a good day. As soon as the front door closed behind him, Amy came up to her and handed her an envelope with Jesse’s writing on it.

  ‘It feels like a card,’ Amy teased. ‘Are you going to open it now, or wait until Sunday?’

  ‘Sunday?’

  ‘Valentine’s Day. It’s in two days. Did you not think to send him one?’

  ‘No,’ she admitted. She had considered doing so, of course, but wasn’t entirely sure that Jesse would go with that sort of thing. He was more rom
antic than she had ever initially expected he would be but she wasn’t certain if Valentine cards might be just that bit too frivolous for him. She studied the envelope in her hand, turning it over and then back again.

  ‘Why not?’ Amy said, pursing her lips and teasing her.

  She didn’t like to admit her true reasons, feeling like it might make her seem as if she didn’t know Jesse as well as she hoped others would think. ‘I meant to, but have been so tied up with the shop and training Lily that it must have slipped my mind.’

  Florence knew that her sister wouldn’t believe that for a moment. She rarely forgot things, especially not something as important as a token of love for Jesse. However, Amy said nothing.

  ‘Watch the shop for a moment, will you?’ she asked, hurrying to the back of the shop and into the storeroom.

  Once alone, she carefully opened the envelope and withdrew the dainty, lace-patterned card with two love birds each with one side of a heart in their beaks. The cover simply read, To my Valentine. Florence opened the card to see, To Florence, my perfect Valentine, my love. J

  She pushed the card back into the envelope and into her pocket and went back to speak to Amy, grateful that their father was out meeting a friend.

  ‘Do you think if I post one now that it will reach Jesse in time?’

  ‘You can but try. Look, we have some over there.’

  Florence had seen the ones they had in stock. Some were very pretty, but it had felt odd sending one from Rowe’s, especially if her father had known that she had done so. However, he was out and had no way of knowing that she had been the one to purchase a particular card, not if she did it right now, before his return.

  ‘I won’t be long,’ she said, going over to the display of cards and working through the ones she liked best until she fell upon one that she thought most suited Jesse. It was a puppy holding a heart in his mouth saying the words, Valentine Greeting. She opened it and fetching her fountain pen from behind the counter, quickly wrote inside, Jesse, my one and only Valentine. Sending my love to you, F