by Betty Neels
She quite enjoyed the next hour, however, telephoning for flowers to be sent, a fitter to come that afternoon with a new dress Lady Manderly had ordered, a wine merchant to deliver a dozen bottles of claret, and then settling down to write answers to the bills and begging letters in her neat handwriting. She made out cheques too, and when they were done, took them back to the drawing-room for Lady Manderly to sign. And by then it was lunch time.
Jemima was relieved to find that this was a substantial meal, which meant that she need only get herself a sandwich or beans on toast or an egg in the evening, and since Lady Manderly had a good appetite, she was able to enjoy her lunch down to the last mouthful. The coffee was frightful, though, and Jemima made up her mind to do something about that just as soon as she had got to know the members of the household.
Lady Manderly rested after lunch, she told Jemima, and liked to be read to, so Jemima made her comfortable on the day bed, draped a series of shawls around her massive person, and took a chair close by. She was to read one of Agatha Christie’s earlier books, one she had read at least twice herself. She had got as far as the second chapter when she was brought up short by a tremendous snore from her companion. There was no point in going on, so she marked the place carefully and sat back in her chair, glad of a few minutes’ quiet. So far, she thought, she wasn’t doing too badly. Lady Manderly had watched her like a hawk during lunch, presumably to make sure that she knew which knives and forks to use, but she hadn’t actually grumbled once. The thought that the job was going to bore her to tears within a month she stifled at once; she was lucky to get work and until she could train for something else she hadn’t much choice.
Lady Manderly woke presently and Jemima went on reading, just as though she had never left off. Coco had to be taken for a short walk before four o’clock tea, a welcome break before Jemima found herself behind the silver tea tray once more, this time flanked by plates of little sandwiches and cakes. She had handed Lady Manderly her tea and a plate and was offering her the sandwiches when the door opened and Professor Cator came in, and just ahead of him came the girl who had called at the office in Bloomsbury. She was looking more beautiful than ever, in knickerbockers again, this time plaid ones with a fetching little velvet waistcoat and a ridiculous velvet beret perched on her lovely head. She said: ‘Hullo, Lady Manderly, I made Alexander bring me here for tea—I’m dying for a cup.’ She pecked Lady Manderly’s cheek and grinned at Jemima. ‘Hullo to you too. Alexander said Lady Manderly had a new companion, though I must say you don’t look the part.’ She put her head on one side. ‘Well, perhaps you do—no glamour, poor dear, and you ought to do something with that mousy hair.’
The Professor had gone to stand by the window after greeting his aunt briefly. He had barely glanced at Jemima, but now he stared at her thoughtfully so that she coloured and frowned. ‘I’ll ring for more cups,’ she said rather primly, and stood by the bell until Belling came into the room. She felt awkward and dreadfully plain, and although the girl hadn’t meant to be unkind, her words had poked a hole in Jemima’s pride—a hole made much worse by Lady Manderly telling her carelessly to go and have her tea in the room where she had been working that morning. ‘Find something to do,’ advised Lady Manderly, ‘and come back when I ring.’
So Jemima tidied the desk and then sat behind it, longing for her tea and not sure if she was supposed to go in search of it or ring. Probably Belling would object to bringing it to her—after all, she wasn’t much better than a servant.
She sat for five minutes or so, getting steadily more and more indignant. She was after all a don’s daughter who had enjoyed a social life of sorts, well educated, so that when presently Professor Cator opened the door and came into the room she gave him a look of dislike as well as surprise.
‘Ah, you have had no tea,’ he observed in a bland voice which made her grit her teeth.
‘I don’t want any, thank you, Professor Cator,’ said Jemima while she thought longingly of a whole teapot full, with sandwiches to go with it.
He took no notice of her at all, but pulled the bell rope and when Belling came, ordered tea to be brought at once. ‘And be so good as to put a second cup on the tray,’ he finished, and to Jemima’s annoyance, sat down.
She could think of nothing to say; she sat behind the desk still, twiddling a pen between her fingers and wishing he would go away.
Something he didn’t mean to do, for as the tea tray was borne in and set down on a small table he observed: ‘I take milk and two lumps of sugar.’
Jemima raised her eyes to his impassive face. ‘Shouldn’t you be having tea with Lady Manderly and—and the young lady?’
He shrugged massive shoulders. ‘They’re discussing some party or other which I found boring.’ And at the speaking look she gave him: ‘You won’t bore me, Miss Mason, because there is no need for us to talk.’
Jemima poured tea carefully from a small silver teapot. ‘That’s an abominable thing to say,’ she pointed out severely, and handed him his cup and saucer. He put it down by his chair and in turn handed her the plate of sandwiches.
It was a little unnerving, but by the time she had given both of them a second cup of tea, and eaten her share of the sandwiches and started upon the really delicious walnut cake, her sensible nature had reasserted itself. And as for her companion, he appeared to be the picture of ease and contentment, sitting there eating his tea for all the world as if he were alone. It was a chastening thought that she made not the slightest impression upon him, a remark borne out by his: ‘You may not set the Thames on fire, Miss Mason, but at least you don’t chatter,’ as he got to his feet and went out of the room.
She sat very still after he had gone. He had been extremely rude, for two pins she would get her things and leave the house and leave him and his arrogant old aunt to fend for themselves. But of course she couldn’t do that; she hadn’t two pins, let alone a week’s salary, and the beautiful Gloria would undoubtedly fend very nicely for the Professor.
She heard their voices presently as they prepared to leave, and shortly afterwards Lady Manderly swept into the room, told her to get the tray taken away, and when that was done, began on a list of names of those who were to be invited to a party she intended giving. ‘In two weeks’ time,’ she observed. ‘Just a small affair—my birthday, you know.’ She shot a glance at Jemima. ‘There will be a good deal of organising to do.’
From which Jemima concluded that she was to be organiser in chief.
Lady Manderly was still murmuring on about smoked salmon and should she have oyster patties when the carriage clock above the fireplace tinkled the hour. Jemima finished the note she was making and closed the book.
‘I’ll start on the invitations tomorrow morning, shall I, Lady Manderly?’ She stood up, aware that Lady Manderly was looking surprised. ‘It’s six o’clock,’ she went on.
Lady Manderly snapped: ‘A clockwatcher, are you? Another half hour or so…’
‘I’m sorry, but it’s quite a long day, you know, and I have things to do in the evenings—besides, you wouldn’t want to pay me overtime, Lady Manderly.’
Her employer gobbled. ‘Overtime? I have no intention of paying you overtime!’
‘No, I didn’t think you would want to, that’s why I’m going now. Good evening, Lady Manderly.’
Jemima smiled kindly at her companion, who was obviously struggling for words, but by the time she had decided what to say, Jemima had gone.
The flat, when she reached it, looked small and poky and her room dark and shabby, but she told herself that that was because she had just come from such luxurious surroundings. She tidied herself and in response to Shirley’s cheerful shout, went along to the sitting room and sat down to the supper they had invited her to share. Mrs Adams and Shirley greeted her with a casual friendliness which was heartwarming after the arrogance of her employer and Professor Cator’s indifference and rudeness. They piled her plate high with food, poured strong tea and plied her w
ith questions.
‘What’s the old lady like?’ asked Shirley eagerly, and before Jemima could answer: ‘What’s the house like inside?’ asked her mother.
‘Very large,’ said Jemima, and thought that answered both questions very adequately, but it wouldn’t do to make fun of her employer. ‘Lots of lovely furniture and thick velvet curtains. I haven’t seen any bedrooms, indeed I’ve only been in three rooms; the drawing-room is magnificent, a bit like a museum, you know. I work in a smaller room with just a desk and a table and chair or two, and we had lunch in a dining room at the back of the house…’
‘And the old lady?’
‘Very—very dignified. Tall and stout and beautifully dressed. There’s a butler and I suppose there are maids as well, though I haven’t seen any yet.’
‘What did you eat?’ asked Mrs Adams, and cast an involuntary glance at the remains of the steak and kidney pudding on the plastic tablecloth.
‘Well, it sounds a lot, but it wasn’t nearly as good as this pudding, Mrs Adams. It was awfully kind of you to ask me to share it…’
‘It’s your first day,’ explained Mrs Adams. ‘Well, what did you eat?’
‘Soup—just a little bowl full—a clear soup.’
Shirley sniffed. ‘Bovril watered down!’
‘And then a fish soufflé with spinach and afterwards a crème caramel.’
‘Not enough to put into a hollow tooth, I’ll be bound. Tell you what, love, you can eat with us in the evenings for another two pounds a week. Shan’t make anything out of it, but it’s just as easy to cook for three as two and it’ll give you a bit more time to enjoy yourself.’ Mrs Adams added sharply: ‘There ain’t no butler, mind, nor no pudding for afters. Just a cup of tea.’
‘You’re very kind, Mrs Adams, and I’d love to do that if you’re sure it doesn’t put you out. Only if you have visitors will you say so and I’ll have supper in my room? It’ll be lovely to come back to a meal in the evenings, it seemed a long day, but I daresay once I know more about the work, the days will go faster.’
Shirley gave her a look of sympathy tinged with pity. ‘Sounds like a dull old job to me,’ she observed. ‘Any men around?’
‘There’s Belling the butler, but he’s elderly and a bit severe…’ She hesitated and Shirley said quickly: ‘And someone else?’
‘He doesn’t really count,’ said Jemima slowly. ‘He’s Lady Manderly’s nephew—a Professor of Endocrinology, but he doesn’t live there. He came this afternoon with a girl, an absolutely gorgeous creature. You know, golden hair and blue eyes and most wonderful clothes—those knickerbockers, and a waistcoat and the most heavenly boots.’
‘Got ’im ’ooked, ’as she?’ Mrs Adams wanted to know. ‘I don’t ’old with them knickers, nor don’t Shirley’s young man.’
Shirley pouted. ‘Old-fashioned, that’s what ’e is,’ she complained, ‘always talking about moons and roses and Ginger Rogers dresses!’
‘Well, they were rather fetching,’ said Jemima, and far safer for Shirley, she thought privately; such a nice friendly girl, but her legs didn’t bear too much limelight on them. Nor do mine, for that matter, thought Jemima, erroneously, as a matter of fact; she had nice legs, but since no one had ever told her so, she took it for granted that they were better concealed by a skirt.
She helped with the washing up presently and then went to her room to write to Dick before making herself a mug of cocoa on the gas ring. She lit the gas fire, and sitting up in bed, reading, belatedly, the morning paper, she decided that the little room wasn’t too bad at all. Tomorrow she would buy some flowers, she promised herself, and in a week or two, when she had a little money to spare, she would buy one of those cheerful coloured rugs and a cushion or two. She didn’t allow herself to think about her old home; it had gone for good, and she had been lucky to find someone as kind as Mrs Adams. She turned out the fire and the light and closed her eyes. She had a job too, although she wondered sleepily just how long she would keep it. Lady Manderly was an old tyrant and Jemima, although tolerant to a fault, had no intention of being anyone’s doormat. She would see how the cat jumped, but meanwhile, she told herself resolutely, she was both happy and content. Not quite, perhaps; no girl, however happy and content, liked to be told that she wouldn’t set the Thames on fire. ‘Beastly man,’ said Jemima aloud, and went to sleep.
It was all go the next day. Lady Manderly, disappointed that Jemima should present herself exactly at nine o’clock, was inclined to be tetchy and had to content herself with the remark that she hoped that Jemima would continue to be punctual each morning. ‘As punctual as you were leaving yesterday evening,’ she added sourly.
Jemima agreed with her cheerfully and began sorting the post. She followed yesterday’s pattern exactly so that beyond a frustrated snort from her employer, nothing had to be said. It was fortunate that the paper reported at great length the wedding of a peer of the realm’s daughter. Jemima prudently earmarked it for reading, discarded the more gloomy titbits, studied the weather forecast, found an amusing story about a dog purported to play the piano, and held herself ready to receive Lady Manderly’s instructions.
There were a great many of them, and they kept Jemima occupied for the rest of the morning, so that, by the time they had had lunch and she had taken Coco for a long-delayed walk, it was time for the tea tray to be brought in, and since there was no Professor and no Gloria today, she was able to drink her tea in comparative peace, if she discounted Lady Manderly’s frequent demands for this that and the other to be done at once.
She left the house promptly, shared a supper of toad-in-the-hole with Shirley and her mother and then, unable to bear her little room after the spaciousness of Lady Manderly’s house, went for a walk. It was a cool evening and she walked fast, not noticing where she went and when she got back to her little room she was tired enough to go straight to bed and sleep, which was a good thing, for she was feeling utterly miserable.
But with the morning she felt better. Here she was half way through the week, and pay day within sight too. She presented a calm face towards Lady Manderly, carried out her manifold duties and went back to the flat that evening feeling that at least she was holding her own. And for the next couple of days she was busy enough not to have the time to mope, indeed she was surprised to find that she was actually beginning to enjoy herself. True, Lady Manderly never ceased to remind her that she had no qualifications of any sort and that a girl in her position should be able to type at the very least, but on the other hand, she was forced to concede that Jemima had a pleasant voice, good manners and didn’t answer back. On the whole, they were beginning to like each other, in a guarded way.
It was raining when Jemima left for work the next morning, with a mean little wind which hinted of winter ahead. She skimmed along into its teeth and was almost at the house when a car, driven too fast, forced her against the railings, checked momentarily, and then drove off.
Jemima looked at her mud-spattered legs. ‘The horrible wretch!’ she muttered with a good deal of feeling, and then repeated herself at the sight of the furry heap in the middle of the road. It mewed soundlessly and stared at her with beseeching eyes, and she went to it at once, kneeling down in the muddy road to touch it with a gentle hand. ‘Oh, my poor dear!’ She was so angry and upset she could hardly get the words out. ‘That devil! Let me take a look.’
The little beast lay still as she felt it carefully through its sodden fur, but it bared its teeth as she touched its hind legs. She would have to get it to a vet as quickly as possible. She stroked its head while she thought what was best to be done. Lady Manderly’s house was only a few doors away, she could at least telephone from there, but the thought of leaving the little cat in the road made her hesitate. If only someone would come…
She barely heard the car purring to a halt, but she looked round when the car door was slammed and someone came towards her. Professor Cator. She wasted no time. ‘Oh, good, I’m glad it’s you,’ she told him
urgently. ‘Some fiend ran over this poor little beast not five minutes ago and didn’t stop. I think he’s broken his back legs, but I’m not sure. Would you mind telephoning a vet for me, I can’t leave him here.’
The Professor didn’t say anything, only crouched down beside her and looked closely at the animal. ‘Go and get into the car,’ he told her. ‘I’ll bring him over to you, he can lie on your lap—it’ll be much easier to take him to a vet straight away.’
She hesitated. ‘Yes, but won’t you hurt him?’
He said dryly: ‘Not intentionally, Miss Mason, and he can’t stay here.’
Jemima did as she was told then, getting into the front seat and leaving the door open. A Rolls-Royce, she noticed vaguely, gleaming and spotless and the acme of comfort. She sat with her head averted because she couldn’t bear to see how the Professor would manage, but in no time at all the little cat was on her knee and he was sitting beside her, reversing the big car and driving back the way he had came.
‘Is there a vet close by?’ she asked.
‘I’ve no idea, I’m taking him to my own vet.’ The tone of his voice didn’t encourage her to talk; she sat without speaking until he turned down a narrow street and pulled up before a small door in a high wall. ‘Wait here,’ he told her, and got out and went through the door, to return very shortly with a short thin man who nodded at her, eased the cat on to what looked like a miniature stretcher, and went back through the door. The Professor went with him and she was left sitting there, suddenly in a frightful state because she had remembered that she should have been at her desk all of twenty minutes ago. Probably she would get the sack, she thought unhappily, in which case she was entitled to a week’s salary? Or was she entitled to no salary at all?