A Family For Christmas

by Linda Finlay

  She could hear men making merry, see lights flickering as strange sounds like she’d never heard before wafted out on the stiff breeze. Noticing the door slightly ajar, she inched her way nervously towards it and peered inside. The room was filled with smoke and the sickly, sweet smell filtering out reminded her of Monsieur Farrant’s pungent odour. Peering through the hazy light, she stood transfixed at the scene before her. If he was like that then … She shook her head as realization hit her full in the solar plexus. So he intended marrying her in order to use her as a cover, she thought, hurrying back up the path as fast as her twisted foot would allow. Well he could think again.

  Stealing out through the staff gate, she ran until her breath was coming in gasps. Then her foot gave way, folding under her so that she collapsed on the ground. She closed her eyes but could still picture the scene she’d witnessed. The wind rose higher, moaning and shaking the branches so they showered her with the last of their leaves.

  Forcing herself to her feet she stumbled on. Where could she go? Would James help her? The heavens opened and, with icy rain stabbing her face like needles, she peered ahead. She could hear the river and could just make out the outline of the tannery looming in the distance. Summoning the last of her strength, she dragged herself towards it. Despite the late hour, a light was shining in the workshop and she hammered on the window, desperate to make him hear above the roar of the wind.

  ‘Eliza? What on earth …?’ James cried, pulling open the door.

  ‘Monsieur Farrant, he …’ she muttered, collapsing onto a chair and closing her eyes. As she sat shivering, she heard him rake the fire, then seemingly moments later a mug was placed in her hands.

  ‘Drink this,’ James ordered. She nodded, then saw concern puckering his brow. ‘Deja vu,’ she began. ‘Don’t try to speak,’ he said, placing a hand reassuringly on her shoulder. ‘’Tis lucky for you I was working late. Got a bit behind, what with all our meetings under the oak, and Guv said if I didn’t catch up he’d put a stop to my gallivanting, as he put it. Well, I couldn’t risk not meeting my favourite girl, could I?’ he grinned ruefully.

  Hardly aware of what he was saying, she bent her head over her tea, sipping the hot liquid and listening to the comforting crackle of the fire until gradually her body stopped trembling.

  ‘I’m sorry to turn up at this time but …’

  ‘Something bad happened?’ he guessed.

  She nodded. ‘Something so terrible you wouldn’t imagine.’

  ‘I might,’ he muttered. There was a noise from outside and he frowned. ‘Look, I don’t mean to be rude but I’m guessing from your bundle you’ve left your employment?’

  ‘I had to. Monsieur Farrant insists we buy a ring tomorrow and make the betrothal official. I can’t, won’t marry him so I decided to leave.’

  ‘Look, Eliza, you can’t stay the night here. It’d be more than my job’s worth. My conditions of apprenticeship don’t allow visitors. Lights have to be out at ten thirty and it’s past that now.’

  ‘Sorry,’ she said, getting to her feet. ‘I’ll leave right away.’

  ‘Where will you go?’ he asked, concern clouding his eyes.

  ‘I’ll find somewhere,’ she whispered, shuddering. He frowned. ‘You’re shaking still. Did anything else happen?’

  ‘As I was leaving I saw these boys going down the path and followed them. I saw …’ she stuttered to a halt.

  ‘I can imagine, Eliza. Talk about what happens there is rife. Come on, there’s an old shepherd’s hut behind the tan yard. It’s not used this time of year so you can bide there. I’ll bring a blanket and you can bunk down and get some rest.’ He snuffed out the candle and they crept outside.

  The hut smelled of sheep but provided shelter from the elements. To her surprise, no sooner had Eliza slumped down on the straw than exhaustion overtook her and she fell asleep.

  She was rudely awoken by the sound of shouting and doors slamming, followed by a carriage being driven away at speed. Daylight was filtering in through the grimy window and she couldn’t believe she’d slept so long. Getting to her feet, she was just brushing herself down when the door creaked open and James slipped in, shutting it quickly behind him.

  ‘All right?’ he whispered, handing her a mug of hot tea then producing a hunk of bread from inside his jerkin. ‘Thought you could do with this.’ She smiled gratefully, cupping her hands around the steaming warmth. ‘There was a right old hoo-ha outside just now. Monsieur Farrant’s out searching for you. Seems to think you might have come here. Like I said to the guv, I was busy catching up on my work all last evening but he was welcome to search my room. Farrant was about to, but the guv said that if he couldn’t trust his apprentice then it was a pretty poor show, so the man stormed off. Guv thinks he’ll be back, though, so you’d best lie low.’

  ‘I don’t want to get you into trouble,’ she said, handing him back his mug and gathering up her bundle.

  ‘Don’t be daft. Farrant could be watching the place and God knows what he might do to you. Anyway, where would you go?’ he asked.

  She shrugged.

  ‘Look, I must get back before I’m missed. Eat your bread and we’ll discuss what you’re going to do later.’ He patted her shoulder, peeked through the window, then slipped out of the door.

  So Monsieur was looking for her, she thought, shivering and pulling the blanket around her shoulders. Knowing she needed to keep up her strength, she nibbled at the bread, then settled down to ponder her next move. Clearly she couldn’t remain here. It had been kind of James to help her but she couldn’t risk him losing his job. What should she do? Where could she go? Back to Fay? She could vaguely remember the route the carriage had taken but they’d been travelling for two days so it was clearly some distance. Perhaps she should revert to her original plan, make for a large town and seek employment there. Round and round her thoughts went until she was exhausted.

  She must have slept for the next thing she knew, James was standing over her.

  ‘Cor, it’s all right for those who can idle the day away,’ he quipped. ‘Here.’ He handed her a piece of pie and another mug of tea.

  ‘Thank you,’ she said, biting into the crust. ‘Lovely, good old English pie,’ she added, remembering all the hazelette she’d eaten.

  ‘’Tis my noon break so when you’ve eaten, happen you can tell me what’s gone on?’ he said, those cornflower eyes boring into her as he settled himself on the straw beside her.

  Briefly she ran through everything that had happened, but when she got to the bit about the men in the forbidden building her voice faltered.

  ‘It was weird …’ she muttered, shaking her head.

  James reached out and squeezed her hand. ‘At least you’ve been spared having to wear his ring. Of course, most sensible girls would be thrilled at the prospect of being taken to the jewellers,’ he smiled.

  ‘Huh, he only wanted me to choose one so that people could see I belonged to him. I mean, what kind of man would do that?’

  ‘Probably one with an ulterior motive, like needing a cover for these activities of his,’ he muttered. She stared at him, amazed by his perception.

  ‘I’m not going back, that’s for sure,’ she said, shuddering. ‘I was thinking maybe I could make my way back to Exmoor and Fay. See if she’d take me back. Apart from anything else, it would give me a chance to thank her for all she did for me.’

  James sat silently mulling this over.

  ‘’Tis a long way, Eliza, and your foot has taken a hammering these past few days,’ he said eventually.r />
  ‘Well, I’ve no money for fancy travelling. Perhaps a passing carter will take pity.’

  ‘Or you could come to Salting Regis with me.’ She stared at him in surprise. ‘On me day off, I usually pay a visit to Father and then have lunch with Grandfa Sam and Nan Doll. They’re kind people and you’ll like them. I was thinking they might even let you bide a night or two until you’ve recovered your strength.’

  ‘Oh, I couldn’t impose,’ Eliza protested. ‘Besides, I’m scared Monsieur will return soon so I think I’d better make tracks first thing.’

  ‘Tomorrow just happens to be my Sunday off, so isn’t that convenient?’ he grinned. He took hold of her hand and her heart flipped with happiness. Could she just up and go with him, though?

  ‘I thinks the world of thee, Eliza, and hopes you will come to think of me …’ His declaration was interrupted by the sound of a carriage screaming to a halt and Monsieur Farrant’s shouts.

  ‘I’d better scuttle and find out what’s going on,’ James whispered. ‘Stay here.’

  Eliza didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. As if she could go anywhere, with Monsieur Farrant on the warpath.

  ‘Blimey, he don’t give up,’ James said, creeping back into the hut sometime later. ‘He insisted he had a right to look over the premises to find out if his betrothed was hiding here. The guv told him there must be something wrong if a woman needed to run away from him. Monsieur went berserk, insisting he would return with the constable and a warrant to have the premises searched.’

  Eliza gasped. ‘I don’t want to get you into trouble, James.’

  ‘In view of what you said, Farrant’s hardly likely to involve the police. However, if you comes to Salting Regis with me, we won’t be here if he does,’ he grinned. ‘Guv lets me borrow the cart on me day off.’

  ‘Well, put like that, how can I refuse?’ she replied, a feeling of relief washing over her. The sooner she could put some distance between her and Monsieur Farrant the better.

  ‘Get some sleep and we’ll leave at first light.’

  No sooner had they trotted out of the yard first thing the next morning than there was movement from the bushes opposite.

  ‘Quick, get down,’ James hissed.

  Awkwardly, Eliza slid onto the floor of the cart and he just had time to cover her with a blanket before Monsieur Farrant stepped out on the track in front of the cart.

  30

  ‘Going somewhere, Cary?’ Monsieur Farrant demanded.

  ‘Yup, as you will see from the saddle in the back, I have a delivery to make and then I’m off to see my grandfather. He’s ailing, sir, so I’d be grateful if you would move out of the way.’

  ‘You’re travelling alone?’

  ‘Unless you can see someone sat beside me,’ James answered.

  Monsieur Farrant cursed and Eliza stifled a giggle.

  ‘Think you’re being funny, do you, boy? Well, let me tell you, nobody makes a fool of Monsieur Farrant. Eliza is mine and I intend to find her and return her whence she belongs, Cary. Do I make myself clear?’

  ‘Yup, but it seems strange to me. I mean, nobody owns another person, do they? Surely the girl should be free to go where she wants? I’d only want someone with me who wished to stay out of choice. Still, I’ll bid you good day, sir,’ he said, calling to the pony to walk on. As the cart began to move, James whispered, ‘Keep down in case he follows, Eliza.’

  Although she did as he instructed, it wasn’t long before her foot protested and she got cramp in her legs. Just when she thought she couldn’t stay still a moment longer, the blanket was pulled back and she saw his cheeky face grinning down at her. Easing herself into an upright position she rubbed her legs, then looked nervously over her shoulder.

  ‘Don’t worry, the road here’s straight so there’s no way he can follow without being seen. Good job we hid your bundle under the saddle, though.’

  ‘James, if your grandfather’s ill he won’t want me descending on him, will he?’ she asked.

  ‘’Tis true Grandfa suffers badly with rheumatics but he soldiers on. I only mentioned that to Farrant so as to get him out of our way. Don’t worry, both Grandfa and Nan will be overjoyed to meet you.’

  Finally she relaxed in her seat and looked around. They were travelling eastward and the sky before them was bathed in rosy reds, pearly pinks and glowing gold.

  ‘The sea’s over there, through those trees and down the cliffs,’ he said, pointing to their right.

  ‘Really?’ she exclaimed, peering over his shoulder. ‘I’ve never seen the sea before.’ He laughed and shook his head.

  ‘Then you’ve never lived. Don’t worry you’ll get a proper view when we’ve climbed the hill. Mind you, Minty here takes her time, don’t you, old girl?’ he said, leaning forward and slapping the pony’s rump.

  ‘Minty? What kind of name’s that?’

  He laughed. ‘Apt, as you’ll see when we stop.’

  Eliza smiled, thinking how nice he was. His easy-going nature was a tonic after Monsieur’s fiery temper and pernickety ways. Lost in thought, she hardly noticed they’d crested the hill and turned south so that the breeze hitting her full in the face took her by surprise. She pulled her cloak tighter round her, then noticed the wide expanse of blue shimmering in the distance.

  ‘Oh, look,’ she pointed.

  ‘That’s the sweep of Lyme Bay and the buildings you can see in front are where we’re headed,’ he said. She sniffed the air. ‘What’s that smell?’

  ‘’Tis called ozone, the fresh, pure air you get by the sea.’

  She inhaled again. ‘Well I’ve never seen the sea before but that scent reminds me of something.’

  ‘Some flower perhaps?’ he asked. She thought for a moment then shook her head. ‘I don’t think so, but it will come to me.’

  As the fields gave way to buildings, she looked around. The broad street was bustling and James had to concentrate on steering the cart around several carriages pulled up beside the church and people dismounting for morning service. Then he turned right onto a cobbled road, where the pony automatically came to a stop before a shop fronted with latticed windows. Jumping down, James secured the reins to an iron ring then helped Eliza down from the cart. As the pony nuzzled his pocket, James laughed.

  ‘Here you go, old girl,’ he said giving her a mint. The pony crunched, swallowed then opened its mouth for more. ‘Now you see why she’s called Minty,’ he said, placing another sweet on the animal’s tongue. ‘I’ll just get the saddle for father. You go on down the entry.’

  However, Eliza’s attention had been caught by the display of boots and shoes in the window.

  ‘These are beautiful, James,’ she said when he joined her.

  ‘Father’s the finest cobbler in Salting Regis. Course, he used to be a fulltime cordwainer before Mother went,’ he said frowning from behind the saddle.

  ‘Oh, I’m sorry, James,’ she said.

  ‘It was a long time ago but best you don’t mention it in front of Father. Come on, I’ll introduce you,’ he said, leading the way down the side passage, then nudging a door open with his shoulder. ‘It’s me, Father,’ he called. ‘’Tis your lucky day for I’ve brought the saddle you wanted – and a visitor.’

  An older man, dark hair greying at the temples, appeared, wiping his brow on his kerchief. He assessed Eliza with eyes that were the same colour as his son’s but without the glow, then nodded.

  ‘How do, I’m sure.’

  ‘Delighted to meet you, Mr Cary,’ she smiled.

  He grunte
d then turned to his son. ‘Been a fine bit of tanning done there,’ he said, running his hand over the shiny saddle James had placed on the workbench. While they discussed its various merits, Eliza stole a look around the room, which seemed filled to bursting with tools, lasts, spools of coloured threads and beautiful-smelling leather.

  ‘Well, better get down to Grandfa’s,’ James said a few minutes later. ‘Mustn’t be late for Nan’s roast,’ he grinned, rubbing his stomach. ‘Why don’t you come, Father? You know you’d be welcome.’

  The man gave another grunt and shook his head.

  ‘See you soon, then.’ James patted his father’s shoulder and opened the door.

  ‘Goodbye, Mr Cary,’ Eliza said.

  The man nodded and grunted before turning back to the saddle.

  ‘Don’t mind Father,’ James said, once they were seated in the cart. ‘That’s the way he is these days.’

  The reception they got from his grandparents was completely different. Eliza followed James to the stairs that led up from behind the apothecary’s shop into the living quarters above. As the succulent smell of roasting meat drifted towards them, he turned to her.

  ‘Beef, my favourite,’ he whispered.

  ‘James, how lovely,’ a voice cried, as a tiny woman with cherry-red cheeks darted out of the kitchen and threw her arms around him.