The Buttonmaker’s daughter

by Merryn Allingham

  This morning he’d come down to breakfast but then sat with an empty plate, while Oliver made his busy way around the buffet, heaping his dish with bacon and kidneys and fried potato cakes. She’d tried to persuade William to eat at least an egg, but he had shaken his head and reached for a slice of toast. He’d taken a single bite only, before he rushed from the table, saying he felt sick.

  She called the doctor immediately, but his telephone rang unanswered. This would have to be the very morning, she thought, that Eddie Miller had taken the car to Shoreham to collect packages from the London train, and she was reduced to sending Joe Lacey to the surgery on foot. Since then, she’d been wandering between drawing room and hall for what seemed like hours. The boys had retreated upstairs. She had to admit that Oliver was a good friend: he’d immediately broken off his own hearty breakfast and gone with William to their room.

  But when at last the knocker sounded and Ripley made his dignified progress to the front door, it was Louisa she glimpsed over his shoulder. The doctor, thank goodness, was close behind.

  ‘Good morning, Mrs Summer.’ He handed his hat and gloves to Ripley and, bag in hand, made for the stairs. ‘I’ll go up and see Master William now, shall I? I’m sure there’s not too much wrong.’

  Alice and her sister-in-law were left looking at each other. ‘Your man passed us on the road,’ Louisa said by way of explanation. ‘Dr Daniels was giving me a lift home and we saw the poor man trudging towards the village.’

  ‘Thank you for stopping for him. It was lucky he met you.’ Lucky for William at least, but what was Louisa doing in the doctor’s car and dressed in her finest? Alice wasn’t sure she wanted to know the answer.

  The maids would still be cleaning in the drawing room so instead she led her visitor to her private retreat. ‘Can I offer you some refreshment? You must be very thirsty.’

  ‘Parched, my dear. After yesterday’s gloom, it feels hotter than ever. A glass of lemonade would do nicely.’

  When Ripley had left for the kitchen, Louisa said casually, ‘You must wonder why I am travelling with Dr Daniels.’ Alice shook her head, but her sister-in-law seemed intent on justification. ‘I had a few errands in the village, you see. I walked there from Amberley, but then the sun became so hot, I really couldn’t face the walk back. I saw the doctor just setting off on his rounds and begged a lift with him.’

  With a dozen servants at Amberley, it seemed odd for Louisa to be running her own errands, and doing so in a gown of the palest pink silk and a hat aflutter with matching feathers. It was the biggest hat that Alice had ever seen. But she couldn’t think too much about it. Her whole mind was concentrated on the room above.

  ‘I’m sure the doctor is right, and there’s not too much wrong with William,’ she said hopefully. ‘It may be a chill to the stomach. Yesterday was remarkably cold after all the hot weather we’ve had. It can be disturbing to the system.’

  ‘And William’s system is very easily disturbed.’

  Ripley entered the room at that moment with a tray of lemonade and Alice was forced to bite back a sharp retort.

  ‘He’ll shake off the chill in no time, I’ve no doubt,’ she said quietly, when the footman had left them.

  ‘I’m sure you’re right, my dear, but William does appear prone to illness.’

  ‘He’s prone to being extremely scared, if that’s what you mean.’ This time she couldn’t refrain from a stinging response. ‘The Amberley hounds have terrified him – twice.’

  ‘Perfectly dreadful accidents. I can’t tell you how sorry I am, but it won’t happen again, you can be sure. I would have thought, though, that by now he would be fully recovered from any shock.’

  Alice took a sip of the lemonade before she answered. ‘He has almost forgotten his fright, I think, but he is a sensitive boy.’

  ‘I know he is. We both know it. And it must be such a worry for you. And for Joshua, too, of course.’

  Alice was trying to gauge her meaning when her visitor went on, ‘Your husband has built such a wonderful house here and the gardens are superb. Everyone I speak to says the estate is prospering amazingly well and the home farm doing magnificently.’

  ‘Joshua is a good businessman.’ As you are anxious always to remind me, she thought.

  ‘Indeed. And I’m sure that William will follow in his footsteps.’ Alice wasn’t at all sure, but she would never admit to such a doubt. ‘I do feel, though,’ Louisa continued, ‘Henry too, that it’s more important than ever that Elizabeth makes a good marriage. If William should be too delicate, shall we say, to manage the estate, Elizabeth’s husband would be key to maintaining Summerhayes.’

  She bridled. ‘I’m sure when the time comes, William will manage the estate very successfully.’

  ‘I’m sure he will, my dear. But one never knows what is round the corner. It’s such a shame that Elizabeth was unable to accept Giles’s offer. He would be perfect – for her and for Summerhayes.’

  Since Alice thought much the same thing, she was left with nothing to say.

  ‘Do you think she might change her mind?’ Louisa ventured.

  She couldn’t prevent a small sigh from escaping. ‘Elizabeth can be very stubborn and when she has set her mind against something, it is almost impossible to make her think differently.’

  ‘The question of her marriage is too important for stubbornness.’ Her companion was sounding an uncomfortably strident note. But then she lowered her voice and said, ‘Perhaps if I spoke to her?’

  ‘Oh, no,’ she said involuntarily. ‘I don’t think that would help at all.’

  Louisa replaced her glass on the gate-legged table. ‘I understand the problem you face, I really do. But the young man that Elizabeth has set her eyes on is completely unacceptable. You must see that.’

  Until her sister-in-law spoke, Alice had not realised how widely the news of her daughter’s infatuation had travelled. Louisa’s words shocked her, but she managed to say, ‘I’m well aware of how improper such a union would be. You can be assured that whatever friendship Elizabeth has enjoyed with this man, it is now over.’

  ‘But is it, my dear? You know that he is still in the area?’

  She didn’t know and the news, if it were true, was most unwelcome. And even less welcome coming from Amberley. ‘He no longer works at Summerhayes,’ she protested, ‘and I understood that Mrs Boxall had asked him to leave his lodging.’

  ‘She has, and no other villager will house him, you can be sure. Henry will make certain of that. But there are other villages in the district where he cannot exert such influence. You should take particular care of Elizabeth at this time.’

  She felt herself growing hot. She needed no instruction on how to be a good mother. ‘I hope you are not suggesting that I cannot care for my own daughter.’

  ‘Not at all,’ Louisa soothed, ‘but there is much at stake. The young man in question has a lot to gain by inveigling himself into Elizabeth’s heart and a lot to lose if she tells him goodbye. He will be persistent, you can be sure. And he is an attractive man. I met him at the fair – do you remember – and I could see immediately why she was so charmed. And girls are not as they were in our day, Alice. They have a great deal more freedom.’

  ‘They still need to respect their parents’ judgement.’

  ‘I agree completely, but many do not. Elizabeth is a modern young woman. She is lively and intelligent and has doubtless been imbued with all kinds of free thinking.’

  ‘If she has, it is not by me. Times may have changed, but young women still need to make a satisfactory marriage.’

  It was her sister-in-law’s turn to sigh. ‘You are right, of course. But the wish to follow one’s own path in life, to choose an attractive partner for oneself, is most understandable, is it not?’

  Alice stared at her. She had never before heard Louisa talk in this fashion. Her sister-in-law flushed a little self-consciously. ‘Understandable or not,’ she said in a firmer voice, ‘we cannot allow it
to happen. While this young man is still living close, we need to be on our guard.’

  Forewarned was forearmed. She would speak to Joshua immediately. Banishing their daughter to Scotland was a wild idea, but arranging a protracted visit to Birmingham might be the saving grace. They could send Elizabeth to Joshua’s friends. A month, two months, and this Kellaway boy might have faded from her mind. And certainly from the district. He would run out of money and would need to find work elsewhere.

  A slight cough behind them and the doctor appeared in the doorway. ‘As I thought, Mrs Summer, nothing too much to worry over. The boy’s nerves are fragile and he seems to have suffered an upset recently. I think you’ll find that is the cause of his sickness.’

  It was what she had thought. William must have overheard the frightful quarrel between Elizabeth and her father, heard Joshua threatening to exile his sister. It would be enough to send him spinning. Her face cleared as a new thought made its appearance. William could go to Birmingham, too – there were still several weeks of the summer holidays left. Oliver could go home and William could accompany his sister.

  ‘Keep him as calm as possible,’ the doctor was saying. ‘A day resting, I think, in preparation for tomorrow. I know he’ll want to be at the wedding. I must be getting on now, it’s a busy morning. Mrs Fitzroy, are you ready to leave?’

  Louisa rose immediately. ‘Are you sure you don’t mind driving me to Amberley, Doctor?’ She smiled up at him from beneath the wide brim of her hat. ‘I wouldn’t wish to be a trouble to you.’

  ‘You are never a trouble, Mrs Fitzroy,’ he said gallantly.

  Alice watched the two of them walk to the doctor’s car. Scattered images of the past few weeks, shifting and undefined, flickered through her mind. She couldn’t say precisely why, but they made her feel uneasy.

  *

  Elizabeth saw the doctor’s car drive away and was dismayed. She’d thought her brother over the sickness and could only imagine that he must be so thoroughly rundown, that he’d been unable to shake off the last vestiges of illness. But when she put her head around his bedroom door minutes later, she saw that his face had a smidgen of colour and he was about to eat the small lunch specially prepared by Cook. She was relieved. She blamed herself for not watching him more closely, but yesterday’s encounter with Aiden was all she’d been able to think of. In all but name, that meeting had been a farewell to the man she loved, and in the hours since, the pain had been indescribable. She would see him in church tomorrow, walking by Eddie’s side, but they would not speak. She couldn’t say the word he wanted to hear. Her decision was made and there was no turning back.

  Someone had drawn the blinds and the boys’ room was enticingly cool, its bluebirds swimming in dark shade. The sun had returned today with a vengeance and a thick haze lay over the gardens, but neither of them would be venturing out. The doctor had decreed that if William wished to be at Ivy’s wedding tomorrow, he must rest today. And he did want to be, she knew, very much. Eddie was a particular favourite. So he was doing as he was told and, in friendship, Oliver had followed suit.

  Olly had stacked their empty plates on the tray and was now engaged in digging deep into the trunk the Summers had brought from their old home. He spread the lead soldiers he found across the carpet and the boys set about creating opposing camps, one on either side of the room. As she watched, they were soon deep in battle strategies. She wasn’t sure how restful the activity was, but it was keeping William happy. She looked at them, their heads bent purposefully over troops of brightly painted horses, and they seemed no more than small boys still playing with toy soldiers. Yet she knew that at other moments, they could be disarmingly adult. She had seen the looks they exchanged at times when they thought no one was watching. There was nothing childlike about those looks. Olly was a staunch friend, a loving friend, but that was the problem. Too loving for both their sakes. Why was life so very complicated?

  Chapter Thirty-Three

  Life was simple for Ivy. She needed to see the man she was about to marry; she had no idea why it was important to see him just that it was. The servants’ supper was ready but before Cook called them to the table, she managed to slip out unnoticed to the courtyard. Eddie was rounding the corner as she arrived. He looked pink in the face and his uniform jacket was unbuttoned.

  She pointed a finger. ‘You better not let Ripley see you like that. He’ll ban you from going to your own wedding!’

  He strode across the cobbles towards her, fastening the jacket as he did. ‘I’ve been running, that’s why – to the Horse and Groom and back. I had a few minutes spare and thought I’d check that everything was fine for tomorrow.’

  ‘And is it?’ She bent down and finished the row of buttons for him.

  ‘It is, my lady. All arranged, and it’s a slap-up meal the landord’s putting on.’

  ‘Is he doing the roast he promised?’

  ‘He is, and not any old roast at that, but half a pig. I persuaded him to splash out. He were a bit reluctant at first, but once he got the order for the beer, he saw things differently.’

  ‘I hope you’ve not ordered too much. We don’t want rowdiness.’

  ‘It’ll be like Goldilocks. Not too big and not too small, but just right. I can’t invite the lads to my wedding, Ive, without giving ’em enough beer, can I?’

  ‘I suppose not,’ she said a trifle doubtfully. ‘And the meal will be ready for us straight from church?’

  He took her left hand, waggling the fourth finger back and forth. ‘As soon as the ring is on this pretty little finger, we’ll be off to the Horse and Groom for a feast. So stop worrying.’

  ‘I’ve stopped, honest, I have. I just feel all jumbled up, it’s that exciting.’

  ‘There’s a bit more excitement, too, that you don’t know about. Remember I mentioned mebbe going on a little jaunt? Well, we are!’

  ‘You asked to borrow the car? You really did?’ Her face was one wide smile.

  ‘I really did. And we’ve got two days off to enjoy it. The gaffer wants a few errands run but there’ll be time enough to get to Bracklesham and give Ma a couple of rides out. And plenty of time for other things.’ He gave her a wicked smile.

  ‘And what would they be?’ she asked, affecting innocence.

  ‘I’ve no idea,’ he teased. ‘But we’ll find out together.’

  She blushed a fiery red and turned to go. ‘I’ll see you in church then,’ she said at the doorway.

  For a minute, he looked a little uncertain. ‘Talking of church, Ivy, love, I’m not really sure about the jacket.’

  She walked back to him. ‘The one Mr Kellaway has leant you? But it’s a beautiful jacket.’

  ‘I know it is and I know it cost him a lot of money. But, when I tried it on last night, I felt a bit stupid. I dunno why. Mebbe because I’m always in uniform. Ma has sent up the new trousers and I wondered if you’d take a look at them both? I want to look good for you.’

  ‘You’ll look wonderful,’ she said warmly, giving his cheek a gentle stroke. ‘But, if you like, I can meet you later. Before I help Miss Elizabeth to bed.’

  His face cleared. ‘In the garden then. Nine o’clock?’

  ‘Nine o’ clock. I’ll be there.’ And with a swift kiss on his lips, she disappeared into the house.

  *

  Ivy arrived to dress her mistress for dinner full of the plans that she and Eddie had made. The girl chattered twenty to the dozen as she gathered together the evening’s finery, and Elizabeth didn’t stop her; she was glad of the distraction.

  ‘Your pa has been that generous. We’re going for two whole days and he’s given Eddie the car to drive – yes, really.’ She nodded her head vigorously when her mistress looked surprised. ‘We can take Eddie’s ma out and about. That’s something she can’t ever do on her own.’ She slipped the simple gown of blue satin over Elizabeth’s head. ‘She can’t walk much, you see. It’s her left leg, Eddie says. She had a bad fall and now it won’t work at all
.’

  ‘Does she live in Sussex?’

  The maid looked nonplussed. Her world was bounded by house and village. ‘She lives a fair distance. Chichester way, I think. Mebbe it’s Sussex.’

  ‘It is,’ Elizabeth assured her, ‘and it will be wonderful for Eddie to see his mother, and to introduce his new wife to her.’

  Ivy dived into the bottom of the satinwood wardrobe and brought out a pair of embroidered slippers. ‘Will these be all right?’

  She nodded. ‘So no more laundry to sort or tea to bring or dresses to iron? You’ll be as free as a bird, at least for a few days.’

  The maid took up the hairbrush and began to pull it through a painful knot. ‘Your hair do get in a tangle, miss,’ she scolded. ‘I’ll make sure to brush it slowly though. There’s a few errands that Mr Summer wants done around Chichester way, but they’ll not take long. Then we can do whatever we want.’

  ‘It sounds wonderful.’

  She tried to sound enthusiastic. Ivy’s wedding signalled a huge change and it was not one she was looking forward to. The two girls had grown up together and over the years had confided some of their innermost feelings, but once Ivy was married that would stop. Her maid would move into the flat above the motor house, as modern as the mansion it aped, and delight in being its mistress. She would be Mrs Miller, a wife first and a confidante second. A poor second at that. They would live different lives, there would be secrets they couldn’t share, and the understanding between them, if not broken, would be constrained. Tomorrow she would go to St Mary’s and see Ivy married, and feel more lonely than ever. She would go to St Mary’s, but not say the word that could make her own dreams come true.