Miss Millie's Groom

by Catherine E Chapman

  Randolph was aghast. It was a while before he could form a response to what he heard. But when he did, it was very far from what Millie was hoping for.

  “But my dear, you have no skills in administrative matters. You would most certainly be a hindrance in any office rather than a help. And it is nothing short of outrageous that you propose to earn a living by the same means as any common girl could, when you have been brought up with such advantages and expectations.”

  Millie interrupted him, pointing out that she was willing to work on a voluntary basis and use her allowance to fund herself. But Randolph merely laughed at the idea, declaring it preposterous. At this Millie became angry – she had never thought her father’s attitude to her could be so patronising and she knew very well that she was capable of being useful.

  “This isn’t really something that I’m asking your permission for, Daddy,” Millie said forthrightly. “It’s something I’m going to do.”

  “Well you shall find it a very difficult undertaking when I withdraw your allowance, Millicent,” was Randolph’s imperious retort.

  Millie fled from his room, stifling her tears. She ran directly out to the stables and to Kerry’s stall. Daniel had just finished removing the horse’s riding tack.

  “I’m going to ride her again, Danny,” Millie said hurriedly.

  “But Miss, she’s just cooling down,” the boy replied, and, as soon as he said it, Millie knew he was right.

  Relenting, Millie agreed with Daniel and told him to get on with his other duties. When the boy had gone, Millie put a halter on the horse and led her back out into the yard.

  They walked all the way back to the viewpoint, the unseasonably spring-like breeze blowing into them as they scaled the hill. It was comforting to Millie to have Kerry close by and it was the most pleasant of late winter mornings. But, for all the beauty that surrounded her, Millie now felt imprisoned on the estate. She had to get away from Glassnest, whether or not the move met with her father’s approval.

  * * *

  For several days a silence descended between Randolph and his daughter. Apart from time spent with Kerry, Millie began to think she would go mad if she wasn’t able to escape Glassnest.

  Then over breakfast one morning, Millie received a letter. She knew immediately that it wasn’t from Ryan as the envelope bore a Kent postmark. Millie realised it was reckless to open the letter in her father’s presence but the temptation was too great to resist. Trying to restrain herself from actually tearing the envelope open, she put down the letter on the white tablecloth, finished her scrambled egg, set down her cutlery on her plate and moved it to one side and then took up the letter and slowly opened it.

  It was, as she had anticipated, a reply from Richard Sutton. It began with pleasantries but, to Millie’s delight, moved swiftly on to the point: there was a job for her at the hospital. And that wasn’t the best of it. ‘It is very charitable of you to offer to work for free, Miss Awbridge,’ he wrote, ‘but this would be highly irregular. The post comes with accommodation in the hospital grounds and a small salary. Should you wish to accept it, please confirm at your earliest convenience.’

  Millie smiled down upon his words.

  “Who has written to you?” Randolph asked warily.

  “Oh, just a girl I met when I was staying with Aunt Rose – a society girl.”

  “Well, her news seems to have cheered you immensely, Millicent,” Randolph observed with uncustomary warmth, given their recent conflict.

  “It’s just nonsense,” Millie said, “just society nonsense.”

  “That’s what I like to hear,” Randolph replied. “You’re young, Millicent. Your life should be carefree. You must get this do-gooding notion out of your head.”

  “Yes,” Millie answered distractedly. “Can I be excused now please, Daddy?”

  “Of course my dear,” Randolph said, pleased to feel he was getting somewhere with her. “What do you have planned for this morning?”

  “Oh, I dare say I’ll ride later on but, for now, I’ll reply to my letter.”

  “Very good,” Randolph concluded approvingly.

  Millie left the dining room and rushed upstairs. She would reply to Richard, accepting the position at the hospital, immediately. The inevitable scene with her father could wait.

  * * *

  Millie told Richard that she wanted to start work at the hospital as soon as possible. But, after she’d written the letter, she realised she had no suitable clothes to wear in the role of a secretary – most of her formal garments were way too frivolous for the world of work. So she began to concoct a plan to make a brief visit to London en route to Kent and to acquire a couple of outfits whilst she was there.

  But she didn’t want to stay with Rose. Her aunt’s disapproval was the last thing she needed to hear when the prospect of a launch into the real world was already daunting her.

  To Millie’s delight, Richard was quick to reply to her letter, proposing that, since she was so eager to undertake her new role, he should meet up with her at his uncle’s residence when he had a weekend’s leave due in a couple of weeks’ time. He would then escort Millie to the hospital, which was in the grounds of an estate, set deep in the heart of the countryside.

  Buoyed up by Richard’s assertiveness, Millie was so bold as to reply to his letter, requesting if she might stay a night at his uncle’s house, in advance of their departure. She knew he would be in agreement to the plan. She made sure to mention her desire to see that Effie was well, knowing that Mrs Sutton would then be only too glad to allow her to stay with the family.

  Richard’s reply was prompt and in the affirmative; his aunt would be delighted if Millie could stay two nights! Everything was set for the following weekend. Richard’s aunt and uncle were expecting her on Friday. Millie smiled gleefully to see her plans fall, so easily, into place. The smile only subsided upon her reflection that she had still to tell Randolph that she was leaving.

  * * *

  “Be sure to take good care of her, Danny,” Millie said to the stable lad, patting Kerry’s side as they stood in the stall with the horse.

  She had told the boy she was going. Whether he would pass on the information to John and the other staff, she didn’t know; she just knew that telling someone at Glassnest seemed to be the only way to make it real and to spur her on to speak with her father; and the boy had been the easiest person to tell.

  Of course, he didn’t quiz her about it – that was probably why she’d chosen him out of all the servants. He just nodded and said, “Yes, Miss Millie.”

  “And make sure to ride her,” Millie added. “John told me that you’re learning to ride and you’ll find her the steadiest horse, Danny. Believe me.”

  “Yes, Miss. Thank you, Miss,” he said.

  Millie kissed the mare once more, uncertain whether she would get another opportunity to say goodbye, once the chaos was let loose.

  Later that same morning, Millie stood before Randolph in his study, her eyes downcast as they had been when she’d revealed her intentions to him. After the passing of a moment, his response came and it was just as Millie had anticipated.

  “I absolutely forbid it, Millicent. No daughter of mine shall work for a living.”

  Millie detected that Randolph trembled as he spoke. There was one final measure to which she now knew she had to resort, though she’d been resisting it for so long. “Mummy would have let me go,” she said simply.

  Randolph didn’t reply.

  “She always said there was nothing so awful as an idle life,” Millie went on.

  “Your mother didn’t work a single day – she barely set foot outside this house once she was married!” Randolph retorted.

  “Not paid work, no,” Millie, agreed, “but she saw her work as being here: supporting the school in the village and helping the Reverend with his good works in the parish. She had her purpose,” Millie insisted, concluding, “She would have understood that I want to do something useful now
.”

  Millie waited silently for her father’s reaction.

  He sighed. “You know, your mother always said you were an Awbridge through and through. She said she couldn’t see a look of herself or any of her family in you. And she wasn’t wrong, Millie – you look just like my mother.”

  Millie raised her eyes to her father, wondering where his thoughts were now tending.

  “But in temperament, you’re Amelia all over.”

  Millie couldn’t help but smile at her father’s comment and to see his countenance soften with the remembrance of her mother.

  “You’re every bit as stubborn as she ever was,” he continued before falling silent again.

  “Is that a yes, Daddy?” Millie asked tentatively.

  He let out a deep sigh and then said, “I suppose it is, Millicent.”

  At that, she crossed the study floor and threw her arms about her father’s shoulders, saying, “Thank you, Daddy! Thank you!”

  Randolph was overwhelmed and almost cried at the relief he felt now the conflict between them was finally resolved.

  “And it’s not so very far, you know. You’ll still get to see me. Richard Sutton visits his uncle when he has leave and we could do the same. We can meet at Aunt Rose’s.”

  “Yes my dear,” Randolph agreed, clinging to the girl, secure in the knowledge that, despite her words, this was the moment when he was having to let her go.

  Chapter 14

  Millie stood on the steps of the Suttons’ elegant London town house. Mrs Sutton had been eager to send her man to fetch Millie from the station but Millie had insisted on hiring a cab upon arrival – she was determined to begin to live like a normal person.

  The cab driver had set Millie down outside the Sutton residence and carried her luggage from his carriage and up the several steps to the imposing front door of the house. Millie now stood waiting, having rung the bell.

  In a moment the door opened and Millie was both delighted and surprised to see Effie, not wearing her customary housemaid’s garb but dressed in a rather good suit, designed to flatter her in her state of maternity. The girl smiled warmly to behold Millie, saying, “Come in Miss. Mrs Sutton is expecting you.”

  Millie had no sooner crossed the threshold of the house than she took Effie in her arms. “You look well,” she said.

  “I am well, thank you, Miss Millicent,” Effie replied, rather taken aback to be greeted so enthusiastically. “Will you come into the lounge? Mrs Sutton has ordered tea. One of the men will bring in your cases.”

  Millie was pleased to find that, when she went into the bright, airy room with Mrs Sutton, they were soon joined by Effie, Mrs Sutton having invited her to sit with them to take tea and cake.

  “Did Effie tell you she runs our household now, Millicent?” Mrs Sutton began once Effie was in their midst.

  “I can’t really do domestic chores any more,” Effie explained modestly.

  “But we’ve discovered she has the most wonderful head for figures. I don’t think the house has ever run so smoothly as it does now that Effie is in charge of placing orders.”

  Millie saw Effie blush to receive her employer’s praise.

  “Don’t do yourself down, Euphemia,” Mrs Sutton insisted. “You’re capable of much more than a mere maid.

  “I understand you wish to shop for outfits while you’re here, Millicent,” Mrs Sutton continued, changing tack, to Effie’s relief. “I was thinking that you girls might like to go into town this afternoon, while the weather is good.”

  “Yes,” said Millie, “so long as Effie is sure she’s up to it.”

  “I’ll be fine, Miss,” Effie insisted.

  “Just don’t let her carry anything, Millicent,” Mrs Sutton cautioned, adding, “She’s a devil for carrying things that are far too heavy for her in her condition.”

  Effie smiled at her mistress and Millie was pleased to hear Mrs Sutton’s almost maternal tone towards the girl.

  “And do look out for anything small for the baby, Euphemia. I shall give you some money just in case. Only small things, mind. Leave the acquisition of anything heavy to me.”

  “Yes Ma’am, thank you Ma’am,” Effie replied, glancing at Millie and rolling her eyes on account of the older lady’s fussing but pleased, Millie could tell, to be indulged by her.

  To Millie’s delight transport for the afternoon’s excursion took the form of the tram. Again, this was contrary to Mrs Sutton’s desire but Effie insisted that public transport was altogether easier than the Suttons’ carriage for getting into the heart of the city.

  Millie observed that Effie seemed to have adapted quickly to her new urban surroundings and marvelled at the way the quite heavily pregnant girl strode ahead through the bustling streets, bound for Mrs Sutton’s recommended dressmaker.

  Millie was measured up and ordered two outfits, both long heavy skirts and formal close-fitting jackets.

  “You shall look very well in those, very efficient, Miss,” Effie observed as they chose the styles of Millie’s suits by looking at the mannequins in the shop window.

  “But I need something to take with me too, Effie – and some blouses,” Millie said. “I literally have nothing I can wear to work in and it will be a week or so before the tailored suits arrive.”

  So Effie took Millie to a department store, where Millie selected four blouses and a cheapish ready-made suit. Effie waited for her while she tried on the new outfit and, when Millie appeared from the changing cubicle, Effie remarked how grown-up her former mistress looked.

  Millie blushed at the comment. The clothes did make her feel different – she felt like an adult.

  The items approved, Millie suggested she buy a present for the baby and favoured a beautiful white robe, in cotton with embroidered trims. Effie said it was too elaborate but Millie insisted upon the choice, saying it was a present from her and her father and that her father would only approve of a grand garment for a gift.

  Effie accepted the present, which Millie could tell she really adored, and the girls set off for home, Millie laden down with bags – she flatly refused to let Effie carry any of them.

  Nearing home on the tram, Millie took the opportunity to ask Effie how she was really feeling about the prospect of motherhood. She suspected that the chance to speak frankly with her might not arise again.

  “Everybody’s been very nice,” Effie began. “Mrs Sutton is wonderful, of course.”

  “And you wear the ring,” Millie observed, glancing down at Effie’s hand.

  “Yes,” said Effie.

  “And does that prevent any – speculation?” Millie asked delicately, struggling to find the best words to convey her meaning.

  “For the most part,” Effie said, “but the Suttons’ housekeeper keeps asking, if my husband’s at war, why does he never write to me.”

  “What do you say?” Millie asked.

  “That he’s not the best at writing,” Effie said, the expression on her face conveying that this response didn’t entirely satisfy the housekeeper. “I think perhaps she’s jealous of me now that Mrs Sutton has got me doing so many of the things that she used to do,” Effie explained.

  Millie smiled, knowing that she had the means to rectify the problem. When they got home, she told Effie, she would give her the address of Ryan’s unit. “He’ll be so happy to hear from you, Effie,” Millie assured the girl. “And you might send him some treats from the Suttons’ larder – you remember how he likes chocolate?”

  The maid brightened with the memory of Ryan. Millie was glad to think that he would soon be receiving comforting words from Effie as well as from her.

  Chapter 15

  On Sunday morning Richard Sutton arrived at his uncle’s residence bright and early, and it was not long before he and Millie set off on their journey for the country.

  They travelled out of London by train and, after a change, and upon arrival at a rural station, were met by a porter from the hospital.

  Millie’s int
roduction to the hospital was brief that evening. By the time they got back to the hospital grounds, night had fallen and many of the patients were sleeping. Almost as soon as Richard entered the building, he was called upon to attend to a soldier so Millie was shown to her room by a nurse and then taken to the refectory, to eat supper before retiring for the night.

  The next day she became acquainted with the office in which she was to work and managed to begin to gain her bearings around the sprawling house. The work didn’t seem so complicated and Millie felt certain that, given time, she would become very proficient in her role. But something else about that first day disturbed her.

  At teatime, Millie was roused from her paperwork by a knock at the door of her office. Upon her call to enter, Millie beheld a very elegant, tall, blonde young woman in a senior nurse’s uniform. The woman smiled angelically as she looked down at Millie seated at her desk. Extending her hand she said, “Hello Millie. I’m Margaret.”

  Millie took the offered hand and rose from her seat.

  “I wondered if you’d like to come to the refectory for tea,” Margaret continued, adding, “Richard seemed to think you’ve spent most of the day cooped up in here.”

  Millie gladly accepted the kind offer but was careful, as they walked the long corridors of the house, to avert her eyes from much that she saw about her.

  “How are you finding things?” Margaret asked knowingly.

  “Oh fine,” Millie replied. “Everything in the office is so orderly. I don’t think it will be very hard to pick things up.”