by Dee Williams
‘Well you certainly seem to have grown,’ he said, looking her up and down when she opened the door for him.
She felt embarrassed, as she had recently developed breasts, and she was sure that was what he was looking at.
‘And as for your speech, you seem to have lost some of that dreadful twang.’
‘Thank you kindly,’ she said, taking his coat.
‘So the lessons are coming along well then?’
‘Yes thank you, sir.’
‘I’ll have to give you a test later. Now where’s that sister and mother of mine?’
‘They are in the drawing room.’
‘Thought they would have been at the door welcoming me.’
‘They wasn’t sure it was you. They’re expecting another visitor.’
‘Anyone I know?’
‘A Miss Robbins and her mother.’
‘Oh no.’
‘Don’t you like her?’
‘She’s quite nice, I suppose, but it’s not that.’ He laughed. ‘I think they’re trying to get me married off.’
Milly smiled. ‘I’m sure you would have something to say about that.’
‘Yes, I would. If and when I marry, it will be to the woman of my choice,’ he said over his shoulder as he disappeared into the drawing room.
As he closed the door, laughter and greetings erupted. Although Milly was cautious about Richard, he was obviously loved by his mother and sister, and it was nice to hear them all laughing together. She went up the stairs to put Richard’s coat and bag in his bedroom and thought about her own family, as she often did. They’d never laughed together like that.
Miss Robbins and her mother arrived half an hour later. Milly didn’t join them for tea when they had visitors. As she wheeled in the trolley, Richard was watching her and Miss Robbins was watching him. She was a very pretty young lady with dark hair and big blue eyes that followed his every move. Milly could see that she was really taken with him, and she smiled to herself as she left the room. Did she know what he thought of her?
‘That Miss Robbins is certainly a lovely young woman,’ she said to Betty when she got back into the kitchen.
‘Yes. I think the missus would like to see her and Richard married one day.’
‘But he’s what, only sixteen?’
‘The gentry like to make sure their lot marry into the right set. I can tell you, that would be some wedding’
‘Richard will have something to say about it.’
‘I’m sure he will.’
‘When does he finish school?’
‘Don’t rightly know. I think he’s going on to some university or something.’
‘Lucky him.’
‘You like your lessons, don’t you?’
Milly smiled and nodded. ‘There’s so much to learn. I shall always be grateful to Jane for finding me on that park bench.’
‘Not nearly as much as she is for finding you. I’ve never seen her look so happy. You’re like a real tonic for her.’
Later, when the bell went for Milly to return to the drawing room to take the tea things away, Miss Robbins and her mother were ready to leave.
‘Milly, could you bring the coats, please.’
Milly left the room and did as she was asked.
At the door, kisses were exchanged and Jane, who normally wheeled herself, said, ‘Milly, could you help me?’
Milly suppressed a smile as she pushed her friend back into the drawing room; she knew Jane wanted to talk to her.
Richard was standing looking out of the window. ‘So, Milly, what do you think of Catherine Robbins?’ he asked.
‘She is very pretty, and I loved those elegant clips she had in her hair.’
He laughed.
‘I wish you wouldn’t laugh at Milly,’ said Jane. ‘You’ll give her an inferiority complex.’
‘I don’t mean to be rude, but she’s always the very soul of discretion.’ He sat down. ‘Now tell me, do you know the meaning of those words?’
Milly looked at Richard unblinkingly. Although he could be very funny and laughed a lot, he could also be very hurtful. ‘Discretion means tact and inferiority complex means to make me feel small,’ she said, choosing her words carefully.
Jane clapped her hands. ‘Good for you.’
Richard jumped up and, to Milly’s surprise, kissed Milly’s cheek. ‘You certainly seem to have learned a lot in a very short while.’
‘Miss Dance is really amazed at how quick she is.’ Jane held out her hand for Milly. ‘You are the best thing that’s happened to me.’
Milly took Jane’s hand. ‘Would you like to go outside for a while?’
‘Why not? I love the warm sun.’
When they were in the garden, Jane said, ‘Don’t let Richard upset you. He can be very hurtful at times.’
‘Don’t forget, my father was hurtful with more than just words.’
‘I know.’
Milly had told Jane all about her family and how she would love to see her brothers again.
‘Perhaps you will one day,’ Jane had said.
‘Milly,’ said Richard when they were in the drawing room after they had returned from their walk. ‘I’m very sorry if I have offended you.’
‘That’s all right.’
Jane looked at them both and smiled.
‘Now you are so clever and almost part of the family, I will have to teach you to play cards,’ said Richard.
Milly knew that when the family were all together, they enjoyed their card games.
‘I wouldn’t if I was you,’ said Jane to her brother. ‘You know how quickly she can pick things up. She’ll have the shirt off your back before you go back to school.’
Richard laughed. ‘That’s something I will have to see.’
Milly stood and looked at him. She couldn’t believe that he thought of her as almost part of the family, and for the first time she saw him differently from the boy who always made fun of her. He was very handsome. When he laughed, his grey-blue eyes lit up, and he had a funny way of pushing his thick fair hair back from off his forehead. She stopped herself crossly. She was just a common cockney girl who he enjoyed laughing at. How could she even think of him like this?
When it was time for Richard to go back to school, he called Milly to his room. ‘I have a present for you.’
‘For me?’
‘Hold out your hand, and close your eyes.’
‘No.’
‘What?’
‘The last time I did that, you put a slimy frog in my hand.’
He laughed. ‘Yes, I remember, and you ran off screaming your head off and I got well and truly chastised by Mama and Jane and Betty. I did say I was sorry.’
‘Yes, you did.’
‘I can assure you this is not a frog. Now hold out your hand.’
Reluctantly Milly did as she was told, and he placed a small package in her hand.
‘Open it.’
Slowly she unwrapped the package. It was a hair clasp just like the one Miss Robbins had been wearing. She looked up at Richard, for he was head and shoulders taller than her. ‘Thank you. This is beautiful. But why?’
‘Well, you admired Miss Robbins’ clips, and I thought I’d better make it up with you. After all, you are so good for my sister, and despite the way I play about, I love Jane very much and like to see her happy. And I am very fond of you.’
Milly could feel herself blushing. ‘You didn’t have to do this.’
‘Yes I did. Now help me downstairs with my bags.’
She took the bag from off the bed and on a mad impulse went and kissed his cheek. ‘Sorry. I shouldn’t have done that.’
He smiled. ‘I don’t mind one bit.’
She felt such a fool. ‘Please. Don’t tell Jane or your mother.’
‘No. It will be our secret.’
As he climbed into the carriage, he turned and waved at her.
She felt her heart skip. This was silly. How could she be fond of someone lik
e Richard? The handsome man who would go a long way? She looked at the hair clasp in her hand and knew that she would treasure it for ever.
Chapter 9
IN NOVEMBER, WHEN it was Milly’s fifteenth birthday, everybody made such a fuss of her. Betty had made her a cake and Jane had bought her a tam-o’-shanter hat just like the one she’d been wearing when they first met. She knew that Milly had admired it since that day. Milly was overwhelmed by everybody’s kindness. Miss Dance gave her a book of poems, from Walton she had a scarf, and Mrs Green’s present was a rich ruby-coloured skirt. Milly stood with tears running down her cheeks as they sang ‘Happy Birthday’ to her.
‘I’ve never had birthday presents before, or a cake. You are all so kind.’
‘It’s no more than you deserve,’ said Mrs Green. ‘You have brought a lot of joy to my daughter and this household. ’
Jane was smiling fit to bust. ‘You wait till it’s my birthday.’
‘We’ve got Christmas before that,’ said Betty.
‘I know. I can’t wait. And Daddy will be home then. You’ll love him, Milly. He is so nice and kind.’
When Milly had asked Jane where her father was, she had told her that he was an ambassador who worked in Germany and only came home at Christmas. She said that he was someone very important.
A few weeks later the preparations for Christmas began in earnest.
‘When Richard gets home he will decorate the drawing and dining rooms with holly and ivy. You must help him, Milly. It will be good fun.’
Milly was also beginning to get excited. She had never known an atmosphere like this, and couldn’t wait for Mr Green and Richard to arrive.
All week Mrs Green kept popping into the kitchen asking if everything was under control. Betty seemed to be shouting at all the tradesmen, telling them that all the meat had better be perfect, as well as the dairy products and the vegetables.
For days everybody was in a fluster. Richard was the first to arrive, and Milly gave him a big smile.
‘Everything all right then, Milly?’ he asked when she opened the door to him.
‘Yes thank you.’
‘Good. We’ll talk later.’
Milly’s heart gave a little flutter.
Mr Green was due to arrive at the weekend. Milly was very nervous about meeting him for the first time, but Jane and Betty tried to reassure her that he was very nice. At the back of her mind was the thought of her own father, but nobody could be like him, not here.
Milly went into the drawing room to stoke up the fire. ‘What time is your father arriving?’ she asked Jane, who was sitting in front of the window watching and waiting.
‘He should be here soon. I am so excited. I wish he came home more often, though he always brings me lots of exciting presents. I know that you will love him almost as much as I do when you see him.’
This was such a happy household. Even Richard was being nice to her, and Milly had told Jane about the hair slide he’d given her.
‘Well he has been pretty horrible to you.’
Milly didn’t have an answer.
‘You must wear it at Christmas.’
‘I think I will.’
Later that afternoon, a scream from the drawing room sent Milly and Betty to see what was the matter.
‘He’s here!’ shouted Jane. ‘Daddy’s here.’
Milly felt almost as excited as Jane, who was trying to turn her chair around but in her hurry kept bumping into the furniture.
‘Here, let me,’ said Milly, who was now good at controlling the chair.
Milly pushed her into the hall just as Mrs Green opened the front door.
‘I heard Jane tell everyone you were here.’
Mr Green held his wife tight and then bent down and hugged Jane. ‘How are you, my little lamb?’
Milly wanted to cry. She had never seen such love and happiness.
Richard, who was standing by the front door, closed it behind his father and held out his hand. ‘Welcome home, Father.’
Mr Green clasped his son’s hand with both of his own. ‘And how are you, my boy? Still working hard?’
‘Yes, sir.’
‘Good. That’s what I like to hear.’ Mr Green was a tall, well-set man with thick greying hair and a moustache; he had a slightly tanned face. Taking the handles of the wheelchair he effortlessly pushed it into the drawing room as Milly hurried along to the kitchen.
As soon as the excitement died down, Betty was going to give Milly the sign and she was to help with the afternoon tea.
‘What a welcome,’ said Milly.
‘It’s always like that when he comes home. He’s such a nice man and will talk to us later. Now just lay up the trolley, and don’t let your finger dip in the sponge.’
Milly laughed. ‘As if I would! Besides, you always save a bit for us.’
Betty laughed too. ‘Go on with you. You’re getting to be a right cheeky little madam.’
Milly suddenly looked serious. ‘I’m sorry, Betty. As my mum would say, you mustn’t get too big for your boots.’ She thought about her own family and knew they had nothing at Christmas.
Betty noted her distress. ‘Come on, love. I was only having a laugh. D’you know, it’s a right tonic having you around.’
Milly’s sad face lit with a smile. ‘Thank you.’
‘Right, you can come with me and hand out the plates and cake.’
‘Thank you.’ She went and hugged Betty.
‘What was that for?’
‘Just that I’m so lucky and I can’t believe this is happening to me.’
Betty looked fondly at Milly for a moment. ‘Come on, push that trolley. It’s a good thing the everyday rooms in this house are downstairs.’
On Christmas night as Milly lay in her bed, she reflected on the past two days. Tears ran down her face. Never in her life had she experienced anything like it. But what about her own family? Did her mother wonder where she had gone? Was she well? It was then that she was filled with guilt. She knew that Christmas Day at home would have been just like any other. No presents for the children or lovely food. If only she dared try to get in touch with Dan and Billy, but that would surely put an end to her wonderful life. She knew she was being selfish, and that upset her.
Her joy had started on Christmas Eve when she and Betty went with the family to Midnight Mass. Milly had never been in such a lovely church. The family sat in the front and Milly and Betty sat at the back. She was staring at everything that was happening all around her. The sermon and the carols thrilled her; everything about her was so new, and it was such a beautiful sound when the choir’s voices rose all around her that she wanted to cry. She was bubbling with joy when she got back and the family invited them into the drawing room for a drink. Milly was given ginger beer, but to drink out of crystal glasses was in itself such a privilege. When she went to bed that night she was full of apprehension and excitement and knew it would be hard to sleep, but it seemed that all too soon Elsie was standing over her.
‘Come on, love, merry Christmas, it’s time to rise and shine.’
Last night the family had wished her a merry Christmas; nobody had ever said that to her before.
The two of them had got on quickly and quietly with their chores, then gone into the kitchen for breakfast.
‘Merry Christmas,’ said Betty when they entered the warm, cosy kitchen. ‘Sit yourselves down and I’ll dish up. Then Milly, get yourself cleaned up and take the breakfast things in to the dining room. I daresay Miss Jane will be ringing for some help before long.’
‘Mrs Green always sees to her when Walton is away,’ said Milly, buttering her toast.
‘I know that, but then she’ll be wanting her breakfast and to see what presents she’s got. That will give the missus time to get herself ready for church.’
Milly was always amazed at how lovely and regal Mrs Green looked, even in the mornings. ‘I’d love to go to church again.’
‘Wouldn’t we all. Now get a
move on. We’ve got a lot to do this morning,’ said Betty, bustling round the table. ‘Elsie can’t stop as she’s got to get home to her family, but Annie that’s been helping out with the washing and ironing is coming in to give us a hand.’
Betty brought out of the larder the huge Christmas pudding she had made weeks ago. Milly had been fascinated and had helped in stirring it. Betty had told her to stir one way three times then plop the spoon in the middle and make a wish. Milly didn’t have anything to wish for for herself, as her life was complete, so she wished for her mum to keep well. Betty wrapped the pudding in a cloth and set it to simmer gently in a large pot that hung over the fire. Also in the larder was a beautiful cake that she had made. She was such a good cook.
The milkman was banging on the back door. ‘Merry Christmas, Missus.’
Milly took the jug of milk.
‘Here’s the cream you ordered.’
‘Merry Christmas,’ said Betty, handing the milkman an envelope.
He touched his hat. ‘Thanks,’ he said, and walked away whistling.
Milly thought of the creamery near her home. She’d hated that area; it was under the railway arches and was always dark and gloomy even on a bright day. When the trains rattled overhead the noise was frightening, and the smoke from them filled the air. She began to think of home. She would love to see her brothers again, her mother too, if only she could arrange to meet them, but she knew that would never be.
‘Come on, young lady, stop daydreaing,’ said Betty, bringing her back. ‘Go and take your overall off and put your clean frock on and start taking the breakfast things in.’
Milly felt so happy as she pushed the laden trolley into the dining room. For the past few days she had been helping Richard to collect holly and ivy from the garden to decorate this room and the hall. There had been much laughter as Richard teased her and chased her with the prickly holly leaves. She was beside herself with joy as they hung the garlands from the ornate mantelpiece; even the majestic grandfather clock that stood in the corner of the drawing room as well as vases and heavy picture frames were draped.
Jane was getting so excited as she pushed her chair round the room giving them their orders. She followed them into the hall and watched as they decorated that as well.