by Dee Williams
‘I love Christmas. What about you, Milly?’
‘Christmas didn’t mean a lot in our house.’
‘What a shame. Does this room look like the pictures in the book I showed you?’ she asked. Milly and Jane had pored over a picture book last week admiring all the ways to decorate a room.
‘Yes, it does.’
‘Good morning, Milly,’ said Mr Green as she pushed open the dining-room door. He was sitting at the head of the table.
‘Good morning, sir.’ After placing the heavy silver dishes and the tea things on the sideboard, Milly poured him out a cup of tea.
‘Looking forward to today?’ he asked.
‘Yes, sir.’
‘Is Elsie still around?’
‘I think so.’
‘Could you go and ask her to come in here?’
‘Yes, sir.’ Milly did a little bob and scurried from the room.
‘Mr Green wants to see you in the dining room,’ she said as she burst into the kitchen.
Elsie took off her hat and left the room.
‘What’s she done?’ a very worried Milly asked Betty.
‘Nothing. I expect he just wants to wish her a merry Christmas.’
‘Oh, that’s all right then.’
When Elsie returned, she was beaming. ‘Guess what? He gave me half a crown. A whole half a crown. I haven’t ever had that much before. He’s such a nice man.’
‘Yes he is,’ said Betty. ‘Now you take yourself off home and give those kids and that husband of yours a good Christmas.’
‘I will. And thank you, Betty, for the cake and all the bits fer our dinner.’ Elsie went and kissed Betty’s cheek.
Milly swallowed hard. She had never heard Elsie say so many words all at once before.
After the Greens had finished their breakfast and before they went to church, Jane came into the kitchen. She looked lovely; she was wearing a white frock Milly hadn’t seen before and a huge white bow on the top of her ringlets. The ribbons of her bows always matched her frocks.
‘Do you like it?’ she asked, straightening her dress over her knees.
‘It’s lovely,’ said Milly.
‘Daddy brought it home with him. He’s so clever at knowing my size. This is for you, Betty.’ She handed Betty a small parcel. ‘And this is for you, Milly.’
‘Thank you. Yours is still up in my room,’ said Milly.
‘Good, that means I can have it later. I love Christmas. Go on, open it. I want to see if you like it.’
‘I know I will,’ said Milly, trying hard not to tear the pretty paper too much. She wanted to keep it for ever. ‘Oh. This is lovely.’ She held up a pinafore. It was white with frilly sleeves. On impulse she went and kissed Jane’s cheek. ‘Thank you. Thank you.’
‘You can wear it tonight.’
‘I will.’ Milly’s eyes were shining.
‘And what about your present, Betty?’
‘It’s lovely, Miss Jane.’ Betty quickly leafed through the cookbook and placed it on the table.
Mrs Green came into the kitchen. ‘Come on, Jane, everybody is waiting.’ She smiled at Milly and Betty. ‘I will talk to you both when we get back.’
‘Yes, Mrs Green,’ they said together.
Milly started to do the washing-up. ‘Did you like your present?’
Betty smiled. ‘Jane knows I like a good cookbook. I’m always looking for something to surprise ’em with.’
‘Is it always like this at Christmas?’ Milly asked.
‘What d’you mean?’
‘Well, all this food.’
‘Yes. The master likes his food and makes sure everybody enjoys themselves. I daresay we shall be invited in to tea this afternoon. Then tonight a few of their friends will come in. You’ll answer the door and take their coats and I’ll help you hand out the bits I’ve cooked for tonight.’
‘Where do I put the coats?’
‘You can put them in Miss Jane’s room. And Milly . . . ’
‘Yes, Betty.’ Milly was worried. What was Betty going to say?
‘Why don’t you wear that pretty pinny?’
Milly face burst into smiles. ‘I’m always worried when you say my name like that; I’m frightened that I’ve done something wrong.’
Betty laughed. ‘Milly, you are a godsend and no mistake. Miss Jane finding you was the best thing that happened to this house.’
Milly had wanted to cry with joy. She had never known people could be as nice as this.
That afternoon when they went into tea with the family, Milly and Betty were given small tie pouches by Mr Green.
It wasn’t till they got back into the kitchen that Milly saw that her pouch contained a shilling, and Betty had been given five shillings.
‘What you going to do with that?’ asked Betty.
‘Don’t know.’ Milly wanted to say she would like to give it to her brothers, but she didn’t know when or even if she would ever see them again. ‘What are you going to do with yours?’ she asked Betty.
Betty grinned. ‘I’m going to buy meself a hat that I’ve had me eye on for while.’
‘When did you see that?’
‘Back in the summer.’
‘They might have sold it by now.’
‘Then I’ll just have to get a different one.’
‘When will you wear it?’
‘You never know. I do go to church sometimes, even if it is only once a year, and that’s always an excuse to dress up.’
Milly smiled. ‘You looked really nice last night.’
‘Thank you.’
Now Milly turned over and looked up at the stars twinkling in the black sky. She glanced at the lovely pinny that hung over her chair, and thought about the shilling that Mr Green had given her for her Christmas box. If only she could see her brothers to give it to them, but she knew that wasn’t to be.
Chapter 10
IT WAS JANUARY 1910, and everybody was looking forward to a new year. Jane was very excited about her forthcoming birthday.
‘I’ve told Mama that I only want a small party, like you had,’ she said to Milly. ‘I’m not going to have any of Mama’s friends; they are such bores and always go on about the parties and balls they’ve been to, and the ball gowns they wore, knowing that I can’t go anywhere. They make me very angry.’
Milly felt very sorry for Jane, who could have almost anything that money could buy, except to do things like other people. ‘I’m sure we’ll enjoy ourselves,’ she said, hoping to ease the situation.
‘I wish Daddy and Richard could be here; that would be the best present ever.’
‘I’m sure they’ve left something very nice for you.’
A smile lifted Jane’s pretty face. ‘I expect they have.’
Milly had used her shilling Christmas box to buy Jane some delicate lace hankies with the letter J embroidered in the corner. They were laid out in a pretty box that had a scene of a thatched cottage on it. When the big day finally arrived in February and the household were having the birthday tea, she gave Jane her present.
Jane was thrilled. ‘I’ve never had my own hankies,’ she said excitedly. ‘Look, Betty. Isn’t Milly such a thoughtful, clever girl?’
Betty nodded. Jane didn’t know that Milly had been racking her brain for weeks to think of something Jane hadn’t got, and it was between them that she had come up with this idea.
At the end of the day Mrs Green came into the kitchen and thanked Betty and Milly, telling them that today had been a great success.
Milly couldn’t believe that she had been living here for a year. She was discussing it with Betty.
‘You were such a poor shy little thing when you first arrived,’ said Betty. ‘And so skinny.’
‘I know. And d’you know what thrilled me the most when I first got here—after all the lovely food you gave me, of course? It was the bath indoors.’
Betty laughed. ‘And I remember you didn’t even know how to clean it properly,’ she said.
‘But you soon taught me. Who would have thought that a year on I’d still be here?’
‘I’ve always wanted to ask. Did Auntie Doris ever exist?’
‘As far as I was concerned she did.’
‘Funny your mum never told you anything about her.’
‘I think there must have been some sort of trouble between them, but I don’t suppose I shall ever find out if there was.’
‘Sometimes it’s best to let sleeping dogs lie.’
The next highlight on the Greens’ calendar was Richard coming home at Easter.
‘I wish he didn’t have to go away to school,’ said Jane.
Milly was thinking the same thing. She was really looking forward to him being here.
All over the holiday there were days out, and on fine days they had picnics in the local park. There was always plenty of laughter, and it seemed to Milly that Richard was near her at every opportunity.
‘D’you know,’ said Jane one day when they were alone, ‘I think our Richard is rather taken with you.’
Milly laughed. ‘Don’t be silly. He’s just being polite and making up for all the times he was horrid to me.’
‘Yes, he was horrid. But now . . . ’
‘Jane, don’t let your mother hear you talk like this. Remember she has ideas about him marrying Catherine.’
‘I know. But does he want to marry her?’
Milly just shrugged and walked away. Although she thought the world of Jane, she didn’t want to reveal the true feelings she had for her brother.
In May the nation was in mourning. The King had died. Although Jane was sad about it, she was very excited that her father was coming home for the funeral.
‘Your father will only be here for a few days,’ her mother told her. ‘He has to represent his department.’
‘Will you be going to the funeral with him, Mama?’
‘Yes. But first I have to go into town to get myself a black outfit.’
Milly was in the kitchen discussing the situation with Betty.
‘Always knew he had a high-up job,’ said Betty. ‘But to be invited to the King’s funeral, well.’
‘How long will Mr Green be here for?’
‘Just a day or two, so the missus said.’
‘That’s a shame. Jane would like him to stay longer.’
The day after the funeral they all pored over the newspapers, hoping to see Mr and Mrs Green among the mourners.
‘I think the new King and Queen Mary are very regal,’ said Jane.
‘She’s always so very upright,’ said Betty.
Milly laughed. ‘Perhaps you have to be like that to keep the crown on.’
‘Milly, I love your sense of humour,’ said Jane.
Much to Jane’s disappointment, Mr Green did indeed stay only two days, and she was very upset when he left.
Milly had remarked to Betty on how elegant Mrs Green looked in black.
‘Let’s hope it’s years before she has to wear it again.’
It wasn’t long before the summer was on them once again and Richard was coming home.
Elsie and Milly were busy getting his room ready; he was due home today for the long summer holiday. Milly was very excited at the thought of seeing him again. As she pulled on the clean sheets, the thought of him lying in this bed gave her feelings she had never had before.
How could she even think of him that way? she asked herself severely. After all, she was no more than a servant in this household, even if she was Jane’s best friend; just a cockney girl from Rotherhithe.
When she opened the door to him she wanted to hold him and kiss him, but she knew that could never be.
‘It’s lovely to see you again, Richard,’ she said coyly.
‘And it’s lovely to see you, Milly. I see you’re wearing your hair clip.’
She smiled as she touched the clip. She knew it looked good in her dark hair, but she didn’t want him to know that this was the prettiest thing she had ever had and that every night she looked at it lovingly.
‘Am I in time for tea?’ he asked.
‘Of course. It’s laid up in the garden. Jane likes to sit out there on fine days.’
‘Thanks. Will you be joining us?’
‘I think so.’ Milly’s heart was racing. Why was Richard having this effect on her? ‘I’ll take your bag up to your room.’
‘Thank you.’
Their fingers touched as he handed her his bag, and excitement filled her.
In his room Milly put the bag on the bed. She longed to put his clothes away. That way she would feel very close to him, touching his personal things.
‘Milly,’ called Jane when she went back into the garden. ‘As it’s such a beautiful evening, Richard said he would take me to the park. Would you like to come with us?’
‘I’d love to. I’ll have to ask Betty if that’s all right with her.’ She was so thrilled; she was going for a walk with Jane and Richard.
They were all chatting away merrily as they made their way round the park. It was a warm evening and children were laughing and paddling in the pond.
‘I’d love to put my feet in the water,’ said Jane, looking longingly at the children splashing each other.
‘Perhaps I could lift you and you could let the water trickle over your toes, like I used to years ago,’ said Richard. ‘How wonderful would that be?’
Milly looked horrified. ‘You can’t do that. Say you drop her, or worse still, what if someone pushes you?’
‘You can keep them at bay.’
‘Well I don’t think it’s such a good idea.’
Richard looked at her. ‘This was something we used to do before Walton came on the scene.’
‘Oh come on, Milly. Only us three will ever know.’ Jane was flushed with excitement.
‘What if your mother finds out? Besides, we’ve nothing to dry you on.’
‘Do you know, young Milly, I never took you as a spoilsport,’ said Richard.
Milly was torn. She loved Jane and wanted her to be happy, but what if something happened to her? ‘I’ve got my scarf,’ she said with a smile.
She discreetly took off her friend’s shoes and stockings while Richard took off his own shoes and socks. Then she held the chair while Richard lifted Jane like a baby and gently lowered her feet into the water. Jane’s face was a picture, and she squealed with delight. Milly’s heart was full of joy for her.
‘Cor, she’s a bit big to need a carry,’ said a little girl who was standing watching them.
‘Susan, come ’ere. I’m sorry, miss,’ said a woman as she dragged the girl away. ‘Can’t yer see she can’t walk?’ she said to the child.
‘That’s all right,’ said Jane, laughing with joy.
‘I’ll have to put you back, sis, you’re getting too heavy.’
He placed Jane back in her chair and Milly began drying her feet.
‘Thank you. That was one of the best times I’ve had for a long while.’ Jane gripped Milly’s hand. ‘This is our secret.’
Milly smiled. Despite her worries, it was lovely to see Jane so happy, and Milly thought this was the most wonderful evening she had ever spent. Tenderly she watched Richard put his shoes and socks back. They were together like a family.
‘Did you live near here?’ asked Jane as they started to leave the park.
That question suddenly put Milly ill at ease. What if Jane wanted to see her old home?
‘Is this where you came from?’ asked Richard in a puzzled voice.
‘This is where I found Milly,’ said Jane. ‘In this park.’
‘It’s not really near here, it’s more the docks way.’ She hoped that sounded convincing enough. Then another thought struck her. What if Billy or Dan were around? They would come up to her and ask her how she was getting on. She didn’t want them to see her nice clothes, and Jane would want to know all about them. Suddenly all the joy of the evening vanished.
‘Are you all right?’ asked Richard.
> ‘Yes thank you.’
‘You’ve gone very pale. Let’s sit for a while.’
They were sitting on a bench and Jane was facing them.
‘If you like, perhaps we could go to the top of your road and try to see your brothers. I know you want to see them again,’ said Jane.
‘I don’t think that would be a very good idea.’
‘Why?’ asked Richard.
As far as Milly knew, Jane had told him nothing about her family and the reason she had left home.
‘Milly, you are a mystery. We know nothing about you.’
Milly looked at Jane.
‘I do,’ she said.
‘Why did you run away?’
‘It’s a long story.’
Jane put her hand out to Milly. ‘I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to stir up old memories. But you know me, I talk before I think. Now come on, how about we all have an ice?’
Richard looked at Milly. What had this young girl been through? He knew about men who beat women and did terrible things to them. Had Milly been violated in that way?
As they walked towards the man on a bike who was selling ice creams, the mood became very sombre.
Richard looked at Milly. She was growing into a very beautiful young lady, but why was she so upset about her past? He knew that it was very run-down near the docks and there were a lot of thieves and layabouts there. This was something he would have to ask her about one of these days. After all, Jane had found her sleeping on a park bench in the winter. Something terrible must have happened to her to make her run away, but whatever it was, it would never stop him from feeling the way he did towards her.
Chapter 11
IT WAS A LONG hot summer, and many evenings Richard, Jane and Milly would go to the park. After that first evening Milly decided to take a towel along to dry Jane’s feet, but it took a lot of persuading before she would have a paddle herself. It did look very tempting, but she was reluctant to remove her shoes and stockings in front of Richard. After plenty of coaxing from Jane and Richard, though, she gave in, and once she had overcome her shyness she enjoyed it almost as much as Jane did.