The Downstairs Maid

by Rosie Clarke

  ‘She was a fool.’ Lizzie’s tone was fierce. Her heart beat very fast and she realised that he was still the man she liked best of all those she’d met, including her brother’s friends and the patients at the home. Captain Manning had not been worth the quarrel with her mother. She’d never stopped loving Sir Arthur, even though she’d tried to forget him. ‘I would never have let you walk away …’ She flushed suddenly as he smiled and she realised that she’d revealed more than intended. ‘Oh, I shouldn’t have said that …’

  ‘Please do not give it a second thought. I am flattered that you still find me a proper person to be seen talking to.’

  ‘Of course you are. Papa understands now that you were cheated of those leases. You lost as much as everyone else when the shares became worthless – and he regrets that Amy didn’t marry you. I heard him say that he wished he hadn’t made her give you up.’

  ‘I am sorry it turned out so badly for your family …’ Sir Arthur was thoughtful for a moment. ‘Do you imagine your father might see me if I called on him? I am interested in buying a piece of land that Lady Prior owns and I wasn’t sure if I should approach your father or Jonathan.’

  ‘Jonathan runs the estate but perhaps you should consult Father first. He would receive you I’m sure.’

  ‘Then I may call next week perhaps.’ He put down his cup and turned to Emily as she offered him cakes. ‘No thank you, Mrs Johnson. May I call in the morning to speak with you privately?’

  ‘Yes, of course, Sir Arthur.’ Emily looked a little anxious. ‘Is something wrong? The cottage …’

  ‘Nothing like that. I shall call at about ten tomorrow.’

  After Emily had seen him to the door she returned to the kitchen. She looked at her mother-in-law. ‘You may say what you have to say now. I have no secrets from Miss Lizzie. She is my friend.’

  ‘What about Christopher’s things?’ Mrs Johnson said. ‘He had some gold cufflinks my father left him and a silver watch chain. I don’t see why you should have them. You’ve only been married a few months and you didn’t care about him.’

  ‘Now then, Mother,’ Mr Johnson said. ‘I’ve warned you over this. Emily is entitled to all Christopher had – she’s his wife and …’

  ‘If I find those items I shall give them to you,’ Emily cut across his words. ‘Christopher gave me some things he bought for me but everything Mr Johnson bought is yours once I leave the cottage.’

  ‘No need for that, they were a wedding gift and are now yours.’

  ‘I shan’t need them once I leave here, thank you, sir.’

  ‘Where will you go, lass?’ Mr Johnson asked. ‘Take no notice of Mother – she’s just upset and she doesn’t mean it.’

  ‘I think she does and she’s right,’ Emily said. ‘Christopher was my friend but I should never have married him. I thought I was doing the right thing but perhaps I didn’t make him happy, though I tried. I will return the family things to you, if I can find them.’

  ‘I doubt you will find them,’ Mr Johnson said. ‘I believe he sold them to buy something he wanted more.’

  ‘He wouldn’t do that – they were his grandfather’s things,’ Mrs Johnson snapped, annoyed with her husband.

  ‘Christopher wanted to buy a good ring for Emily. I think that’s where the money may have come from, though he didn’t want me to tell you.’

  Mrs Johnson glared at Emily but said no more. She tapped her friend on the arm. She and the other woman left the house, the woman’s husband following them out. Mr Johnson lingered for a moment, looking uncomfortable.

  ‘Forgive her, Emily. Christopher loved you, and you did make him happy – as happy as he could be in the circumstances.’

  Emily blinked back her tears but didn’t answer him.

  Clarissa cleared away the used cups and plates, putting them into the sink. Lizzie moved closer to Emily, putting an arm about her shoulders.

  ‘I’d better go,’ said Mr Johnson. ‘I’ll come to see you another day, lass – but don’t go blaming yourself. Christopher died because the shrapnel moved, not because you weren’t here. You couldn’t have saved him had you been with him.’

  ‘No but I could have been with him. I wish I had been.’

  Mr Johnson nodded, turned and went out, followed a moment or so later by an embarrassed Clarissa. Emily sat down, her head bowed.

  ‘She shouldn’t have said those wicked things to you, Emily,’ Lizzie said.

  ‘She loved her son and she hates me because she thinks I let him down – and perhaps I did. I should have been here when he needed me.’

  ‘You couldn’t have known. He didn’t want you to fuss over him – and you heard what his father said, you couldn’t have saved him.’

  ‘No, but I should have been with him. I sat talking too long … enjoying myself.’

  ‘Don’t feel guilty, Emily.’

  ‘No, it won’t help.’ She got up and began to put the things back on the dresser.

  ‘What will you do now?’

  ‘I’m not certain …’

  ‘I know Mrs Marsh would take you back. You’ve been missed.’

  Emily gave a little shake of her head but didn’t comment. Lizzie sighed. Life was so difficult. She was in disgrace with her mother for sneaking off to meet a man and, if Lady Barton had her way, she would have been more of a prisoner than ever, but her grandmother had supported her and somehow she’d made Mama see that she must allow Lizzie some freedom. She was going to be allowed to return to her work at the convalescent home, though on a strict promise that she would never again slip out to meet a man without her mother’s permission.

  Lizzie had given it freely. It had shocked her when Granny had that heart attack. She’d blamed herself, though both Jonathan and Papa told her it was not her fault. Lady Prior had been unwell for a while, but no one had told Lizzie how serious it might be if she were upset.

  Lizzie had since realised that she didn’t particularly wish to see Captain Manning again. After meeting Sir Arthur at the funeral, she knew that the feelings she’d had for him were more than just infatuation. She liked him very much. She liked the way he’d behaved to Emily and his kindness spoke for itself. He was the man she would marry if he wanted her – but would he even look at her after the way Amy had treated him?

  ‘You should go home before it gets too dark,’ Emily said. ‘Thank you for being here this afternoon. I don’t think I could have stood it alone.’

  ‘I wasn’t much use.’

  ‘Just you being here meant a lot.’ Emily smiled and touched her hand. ‘I’ll come to the manor before I leave the district.’

  Lizzie was shocked. ‘Where will you go? I thought you were going to open a shop in Ely?’

  ‘That was when Christopher was alive; I’m not sure I could manage it on my own. I think I might join one of the volunteer units – if they will take me. I want to do something useful. I might even train as a nurse.’

  Lizzie sighed. She’d wanted to join one of the volunteer associations but her mother had refused her permission and there was no chance of it happening now. She glanced out of the window and saw how dark it was.

  ‘I’d better start walking back. Jonathan said he would call for me but he must have forgotten.’

  ‘Would you like me to walk a part of the way with you?’

  ‘No, I’ll be all right,’ Lizzie said and kissed her cheek. ‘Please come and see me when you can.’

  ‘Yes, I shall, and thank you for being my friend today.’

  ‘We are friends. If you need me let me know.’

  Emily hugged her and Lizzie left the cottage. It was chilly out and she wished that her brother had come to fetch her as he’d said he would. Perhaps if she walked to the village she could catch a bus to Witchford. Otherwise she was going to have a long walk home.

  She had taken a few steps when she became conscious that someone was following her and she stopped, looking back in case Emily had decided to come with her after all. As the shadow lo
omed out of the darkness towards her, she gasped. It was Derek. He’d seen her at the funeral and he’d come here, followed her. She dug her fingernails into her hands, feeling a rush of apprehension as she remembered that she’d never answered his letter.

  ‘I’ve been waiting for this opportunity,’ Derek said. ‘I hung around a lot at the old place, hoping to see you, but you never came.’

  ‘I couldn’t. I was working …’ Lizzie’s heart thumped as he came closer. She could see the anger glittering in his eyes and was suddenly afraid. She had all but forgotten him but he hadn’t forgotten her and he was determined to pay her back for what he saw as her humiliation of him. Her mouth was dry and she took a step backwards, feeling sick as he moved in closer. ‘Go away, Derek. If you try to touch me I shall scream.’

  ‘Go ahead and scream. I can’t see anyone around, can you? You’re an arrogant little bitch, leading a man on and then dropping him because he wasn’t good enough. I saw you with that army officer, laughing up at him the way you did with me – I bet you gave him plenty of what you denied me.’

  ‘No …’ Lizzie’s throat tightened with fear. ‘No. I’m not like that … really. I liked you but you went too far. I didn’t understand at first and then … I shouldn’t have met you or let you kiss me.’

  ‘Don’t pretend to be innocent. I know you for the sly bitch you are … just like the other one, but I showed her who was boss.’

  Lizzie let out a desperate scream as he came closer. She tried to run but her feet seemed glued to the ground. As he grabbed her, she screamed again and again, trying to fight him off, her nails scraping his cheek, but he grabbed her by the throat, his eyes staring at her oddly as he said something she did not understand.

  ‘I taught the other one a lesson she couldn’t forget. I’m going to have what you promised me, you bitch, and then I’ll do the same to you as I did to …’

  ‘What do you mean?’ Lizzie couldn’t think what he meant but she sensed the evil in him and gasped, struggling and screaming again. ‘No …’

  ‘Let her go, you brute.’

  Lizzie knew Emily’s voice even though she hadn’t seen her coming. She hardly understood what happened next, except that Emily must have attacked him from the rear. She had something in her hand and then Lizzie saw it was a garden hoe. They were only a few yards from the back of Emily’s house. She must have heard or seen something, come out and grabbed whatever was to hand. She was shouting at the top of her voice and wielding her hoe like a weapon, hitting out at Derek over and over again. He staggered back, looking bewildered, the blood running down his face. Emily’s first blow had taken him by surprise and the blade had cut him above his right eye.

  ‘I’ll kill you,’ he muttered and lunged at Emily, seeming to forget Lizzie in his desire to wreak revenge on his attacker. ‘If your pa hadn’t come that day in the field I would have shown you then …’

  ‘He means it,’ Lizzie said. ‘He’s evil …’

  ‘Bitches! I’ll teach you both a lesson.’

  ‘I know what you are,’ Emily said, keeping him at bay with her hoe. ‘You’ve always been a bully – and I think you had something to do with Carla’s murder. I saw you hanging about after her … What happened, did she turn you down? Is that why you killed her?’ She saw the guilt and shock in his eyes and knew she was right. ‘I’m right, aren’t I? Good grief … you did kill her …’

  ‘I’ll shut your mouth for good …’ He moved towards her menacingly.

  ‘You leave her alone, you wicked man,’ Lizzie said and rushed to help Emily.

  Derek swore and lunged at her with his fist. It connected with her chin and she went down like a stone, lying unconscious as the battle raged about her. She was unaware when the newcomer arrived on the scene. Nor did she hear what was said as someone picked her up and carried her back to Emily’s house and laid her on the bed in the parlour.

  Lizzie woke to see a stranger looking down at her. She gave a little cry of fear and then someone came into her view, placing a hand on her arm as she started up.

  ‘It’s all right, Lizzie,’ Sir Arthur said. ‘You are with friends now. This is the doctor and Emily is in the kitchen making us tea.’

  ‘She saved me …’ Lizzie shuddered. ‘That man … he was attacking me …’

  ‘We know,’ Sir Arthur said. ‘We think he must have mistaken you for Emily. He is her uncle and he already tried to rape her once before she came to work at the manor. Derek Black thought he was attacking Emily – and that was his mistake, because she had come after you. She discovered that you’d left your purse on her table and she was going to return it to you.’

  Lizzie swallowed cautiously. She hadn’t left her purse behind. Emily knew the truth. Had she made up this story to protect Lizzie from the scandal that must result if the attack on her was made public?

  ‘She attacked him and then …’ She touched her chin. ‘He hit me and I don’t know what happened next …’

  ‘I happened to return to the cottage. There was something I wanted to tell Emily. I heard the screams and ran to help. It was just too late to stop you being hurt but in time to stop either of you being murdered. I heard his threats to you – and Emily suspects that he’s killed before.’

  ‘Do you mean Carla Bracknell? She was murdered in the spring of 1914. I remember it was just about the time Emily came to the manor and Granny was most upset that it should happen in our village. Do you think – could he really have done it? It seems so wicked …’

  ‘Emily has told us about her suspicions, which are only that – and also about the day he tried to rape her. She didn’t go to the police then, but she is willing to do so now. I saw him attacking you both and heard him say he would kill you both. I think her testimony and mine should be enough to convince the police to investigate further without them bothering you too much, Lizzie.’

  Lizzie knew that they had got together to protect her. Emily would use her part of the story to have him arrested, but it was sure to come out that she’d been involved, though if Emily swore that he’d been trying to attack her, Emily, she might not get dragged into a scandal. After all, it had taken place near Emily’s cottage.

  ‘What happened after you arrived?’

  ‘He saw me and ran off. I considered you needed me and let him go. The police have been alerted and he will be arrested. We shall keep your name out of it as much as possible, Lizzie. Your brother arrived ten minutes ago. He was delayed and blames himself for not being here when he promised.’

  Lizzie felt the tears slip down her cheeks. She wanted to tell them about meeting Derek and that it was her fault he’d attacked her, but she couldn’t find the words. Sir Arthur would think she was cheap and she wanted him to like her.

  Emily came through then, bringing a cup of tea. ‘Your brother thinks you should stay here tonight, Lizzie. He will tell your mother that you fell and hurt yourself … it is all arranged.’

  ‘He won’t come back … Derek?’

  ‘He won’t get near the cottage,’ Sir Arthur said. ‘I shall have a man outside all night – and, believe me, Black knows what is waiting for him if he shows his face here. The penalty for murder in this country is still hanging. If they can prove he killed that poor girl, he will undoubtedly hang. And he would be arrested for assault if nothing more.’

  ‘It’s only our word …’ Lizzie faltered. The thought that Derek might hang was horrible despite what he’d done.

  ‘Oh, I think Emily’s testimony will be enough.’ Sir Arthur frowned. ‘Besides, the police have been watching him for some time. They believe he attacked two girls in Ely. The girls had been to the public house he owns and runs with Mrs Carter and were attacked on the way home. They didn’t report it for some days but when they did the police decided to keep an eye on him. Also, they know he’s been buying beer that was stolen from the brewery. Mr Black is going to be in a lot of trouble when the police catch up with him.’

  Lizzie’s head was aching. She closed her eyes
, shutting out the pictures that crammed into her mind. Derek had made her feel so dirty and she couldn’t help feeling that she was in part to blame – but if he’d killed one girl and attacked others perhaps he deserved to be punished.

  ‘I think Miss Lizzie would like to rest now,’ Emily said.

  ‘I shall leave something to help her sleep,’ the doctor said.

  ‘I’ll be back tomorrow,’ Sir Arthur said and smiled at her. ‘I’ll take you home then. Lizzie – don’t worry, your mama won’t blame you. You were quite innocent in all this …’

  Lizzie didn’t answer as he went out, but she opened her eyes once she and Emily were alone.

  ‘I feel so awful … so dirty.’

  ‘I know. It makes you feel like that,’ Emily said and squeezed her hand. ‘He isn’t worth feeling pity for, Miss Lizzie. Believe me, he deserves to be punished. I should have gone to the police years ago, when Carla was murdered. I knew what he was – and I’d seen them together – but I didn’t dream he would do something like that, though I should’ve known what he was capable of. I can’t know for sure but when I accused him of it, the look in his eyes told me I was right. He tried to rape me and he hurt my father. I was lucky that a farmer I knew came to the rescue.’

  ‘It was lucky for me that you came out when you did …’

  ‘I thought I heard a cry.’ Emily frowned. ‘He must have thought you were me. If he’d come into the house when I was alone …’ She shuddered. ‘He has always wanted to get his own back on me for what happened that day.’

  ‘He was at the funeral,’ Lizzie said thoughtfully. Perhaps Emily was right. He couldn’t have expected to see her or to know she would go home with Emily. He’d probably hoped to get Emily alone when everyone had gone. ‘I did know him a little. We spoke a few times and – and he kissed me …’

  ‘Derek was always a charmer if he wanted to be. Don’t tell anyone about that kiss, Miss Lizzie. We don’t want you to lose your good name over him.’

  ‘Mama would be furious with me. I don’t think she would ever let me out of her sight again.’ She clung to Emily’s hand. ‘If you hadn’t followed me …’