A Change of Fortune

by Beryl Matthews

  Glad looked scandalized. ‘And what does your ma think about that?’

  ‘She’s so upset I don’t think she knows what’s going on, or cares. They’ve arranged for me to live with –’ She stopped. ‘To live with a man and when I’m old enough he’s going to marry me.’

  ‘And you don’t want to do that?’ Glad asked.

  ‘Oh, no, he must be fifty and he’s awful,’ she wailed in anguish. ‘I’m only sixteen …’

  ‘My God!’ Fred exploded. ‘I didn’t know this kind of thing still went on, did you, Glad?’

  ‘Disgraceful the way some of these high-and-mighty people carry on.’

  Jenny gazed up at the husband and wife who had befriended her, giving a violent shudder. ‘I can’t go to him!’

  ‘Of course you can’t. Give her the fiver, Uncle, or I’ll break your mean old neck.’ Fred glowered at the pawnbroker. ‘You know the stuff’s worth that and more.’

  ‘Throw in the leather bag and it’s a deal.’ He didn’t appear too upset about the agreement.

  After she’d handed over the bag with its contents, he counted out four pound notes, a ten shilling note and another ten shillings in small coins. Then he wrote several tickets and handed them over to her as well. She tried to read the scribble on them.

  ‘They’re in case you wants to buy anything back,’ Glad explained.

  ‘I’ll only give you three months, though,’ Uncle said hastily. ‘If you don’t come back by then, I’ll sell the goods.’

  Jenny doubted she’d ever be able to get them back, and she wasn’t sure she would want to. Nevertheless she put the slips and money in her pocket. ‘Er … can I buy a coat and dress from you?’

  ‘What on earth for?’ Fred rubbed his chin in puzzlement. ‘Them you’ve got on are real good.’

  ‘They’re too good.’ Jenny grimaced and felt she ought to explain. ‘I’ve got to get a job quickly and need to look like someone who would seek employment as a servant.’

  Fred muttered fiercely under his breath, ‘Find her something, Glad.’

  It didn’t take long to sort out a couple of garments that fitted her, or almost. The coat was on the big side but Glad assured her she would grow into it. Jenny was staggered by the amount of clothing in the back of the shop. The dress they finally settled on was dark blue, a little faded but in reasonable condition and it looked clean. The coat was navy blue and a bit frayed around the cuffs. Glad said that after a trim up with a pair of scissors no one would notice. After much fierce haggling, Fred managed to get both items for two and sixpence.

  Jenny was well pleased and left the shop clutching her parcel of working clothes. That was the first part of her plan completed, though how she would have managed without her new friends was hard to imagine.

  There was a café next door, and Glad urged her through the door. ‘Let’s have a nice cuppa, shall we?’

  That would be welcome, Jenny thought. She realized she was shaken by the whole experience in the pawnbroker’s, and would like a sit-down before the worry of getting back into the house without being seen. She took some coins out of her pocket. ‘You must let me pay.’

  Husband and wife both shook their heads. Glad smiled kindly.

  ‘Bless you, my ducky, but we can afford a cup of tea. You’re going to need that money by the sound of things. We’re used to having a struggle to make ends meet, but you ain’t never had to do that, have you?’

  ‘No, but you must let me repay you for helping me.’

  ‘Just saying thanks is enough.’ Fred sat opposite her and three mugs of piping hot tea were immediately put in front of them.

  ‘We comes in here whenever we can,’ Glad explained. ‘The tea’s hot and cheap.’

  Jenny examined the mug in front of her and was amazed at how thick the china was – it didn’t look like any china she’d ever seen. The crockery at home was so thin that you could see the liquid through it.

  Fred sipped his tea and studied Jenny over the rim of his mug. ‘That there Wall Street crash thing was in America, wasn’t it?’

  ‘Yes, my father is … was American.’ She took a drink of her tea and nearly scalded her mouth:

  ‘Well, he must have family,’ Glad said. ‘Can’t you go to them?’

  ‘I don’t know any of them … and my mother said they wouldn’t want me anyway.’ She looked away and worried her bottom lip, feeling very lonely.

  ‘Dear God!’ Fred looked furious. ‘We ain’t got much, but we’d never see one of our own in want.’

  ‘What you gonna do?’ Glad asked.

  ‘I must get a job with accommodation.’ Jenny turned her mug round and round in agitation. ‘And I’ve only got another two days to find a place. If I’m lucky, I might be able to find something as a lady’s maid. I know what a lady’s maid does,’ she assured them quickly. ‘My mother has one.’

  ‘A servant?’ Glad shook her head in disbelief. ‘That don’t seem right for the likes of you.’

  ‘There isn’t any choice. It’s either that or go to that horrible man.’

  ‘I can see how you’d not want to do that, but being a servant’s hard graft,’ Glad told her. ‘I know ’cos I’ve done it. But of course that was some time ago. From what I’ve heard, things are a bit easier going now. It still won’t be easy, though.’

  ‘I’ll manage.’ Jenny dredged up a smile. It wasn’t right to burden these kind people with her problems, but it was such a relief to have someone to talk to about the disaster. When she’d got off the bus, a feeling of loneliness had engulfed her, but having someone to talk to had helped. She was able to give a genuine smile. ‘It will be quite an experience.’

  Fred whispered to his wife, who nodded. Glad found a scrap of paper in her capacious bag and wrote something down, then handed it to Jenny.

  ‘That’s where we live. Now, you keep it safe because if you finds yourself in trouble any time, you’re to come to us and we’ll give you a roof over your head. We ain’t got much, but you’ll be welcome.’

  As Jenny took the paper from Glad, her hand shook. She was quite overcome by the kindness of these strangers. Fred and Glad were obviously poor in worldly goods, but they had given her the one thing they had in abundance: kindness and understanding, without thought of reward.

  4

  The morning excursion to Lambeth had taken longer than anticipated, and it was one o’clock before Jenny ran up the stairs to her room. The first thing she did was to put the clothes she’d bought at the pawnbroker’s in the old suitcase and place it at the back of her wardrobe again. Then she had to sit down for a moment, because she was trembling with a sense of triumph and fear. What an adventure! The forfeits they’d played at school had been nothing like this. Thank goodness no one had seen her coming back into the house with her bundle of clothes. If her aunt had spotted her, she would certainly have demanded to know what was in the parcel. Then she’d have been in trouble.

  She saw her trunk had arrived from the school and the servants had put it at the bottom of her bed. With a sense of urgency bordering on panic, she rushed and knelt in front of it. Her aunt was bound to arrive at any moment, and it was imperative that she believed Jenny was falling in with her plans. She must try to fool her by packing her best clothes in the trunk. This would be left behind, but Aunt Gertrude mustn’t have the slightest suspicion that she was intending to run away – if she could, of course. This morning had been a step towards that, but another two days was not enough. If only she had more time. She was desperate to go out again and find a job, but if she left the house once more today it might arouse suspicion, and she mustn’t risk that.

  When she opened the lid there was a note from her friends saying, ‘Write to us.’ She clutched it to her and bowed her head as sorrow flooded through her. That was something she couldn’t do, for no one must know where she was going or what she was doing. Secrecy was of the utmost importance. Also trying to keep in touch would only add to the pain. They wouldn’t want anything to do with her
now, and she would never see them again. They were nice enough girls and had been fun at school, but they were all from very wealthy families and inclined to look down on people not in the same class as their own. A clean break was the only way.

  For a moment she remembered the ballroom-dancing lessons they’d had to prepare them for their ‘coming out’ parties. She had loved the music of the dance bands, and they had all sighed over the lovely crooner Al Bowlly. But none of that would happen now.

  Pushing away the unhappiness, Jenny tossed the note on to the bed and began to empty the trunk. The school things wouldn’t be needed, so they could be left behind. She piled these in the corner of the room, and, without wasting any more time, she grabbed her good clothes from the wardrobe and shoved them in the trunk, not bothering to fold them properly. It didn’t matter if they got creased, because she wouldn’t be wearing them again. If her aunt saw that she was packing, she might not watch her too closely over the next couple of days. The trunk was nearly full when the door burst open and her aunt strode in.

  ‘I’m glad to see you’re getting on with the packing. Whatever have you done with your hair?’ she exploded.

  Jenny looked up from her task, her expression carefully schooled to show little emotion. But it was difficult because her heart was fluttering badly. ‘I’ve cut it in the latest style,’ she answered innocently, changing the subject quickly. ‘I’ve nearly finished packing, Aunt Gertrude. I’m taking only my best clothes.’

  ‘Your hair was past your waist and I don’t think Albert will like it short! Now, where’s your jewellery?’ Her aunt was pulling open drawers in the dressing table.

  ‘I’m wearing the diamond pendant; everything else is at the bottom of the trunk.’ Jenny didn’t even blink as she lied, praying that her aunt believed her and wouldn’t insist on seeing them. And she wasn’t the slightest bit interested in what Greaves thought of her hair!

  ‘It will be safe enough there,’ her aunt said briskly. ‘None of it is of much value, but you may as well take it with you. As Albert’s wife you will have only the finest gems.’

  Jenny breathed a silent sigh of relief when she knew she’d got away with the deception. However, she couldn’t understand why Greaves wanted someone as young as her, and the question was out of her mouth before she could stop it. ‘Why doesn’t he marry my mother? She’s still quite lovely.’

  Aunt Gertrude snorted in disgust. ‘He doesn’t want a neurotic woman who would refuse to give him an heir. He needs someone young and biddable.’ She narrowed her eyes and glared at her niece. ‘You are going to be biddable, aren’t you?’

  ‘Yes, Aunt.’ Jenny had been considered quite an actress in the school plays. She used that talent now with a demure downward cast of her eyes. ‘He’s offering me a home and a secure future. What else could I do?’

  ‘Exactly! I’m relieved to see that one member of the Winford family has some sense.’

  The rest of the day was agony for Jenny. She had to endure not only lunch but also dinner alone with her aunt and Albert Greaves. Her mother was still refusing to leave her room. She spoke when she was spoken to and listened with feigned interest as they discussed their plans for her. She even managed a shy smile or two, and wondered if she was overdoing the play-acting, but Greaves seemed highly pleased with her conduct – apart from expressing his disapproval of her short hair and ordering her to grow it again.

  It was nine o’clock before she could get away from them, and, after receiving a kiss on the cheek from the repulsive man, she raced up to her room. After shutting the door firmly behind her, she locked it just to be on the safe side, in case they were staying the night. She hoped they weren’t, because she was due to move into Greaves’s house the day after tomorrow. So little time!

  She paced the room, questions and doubts running through her head. Suppose she couldn’t find a job that quickly – what was she to do? She was certain that as soon as she was under Greaves’s roof, she would be watched all the time. Her freedom would be gone. She wrapped her arms around her in desperation. A floorboard creaked under her foot and she froze in case her aunt heard her pacing around, but it was difficult to keep still. She must have somewhere to stay – somewhere they wouldn’t find her.

  Fred and Glad! She scrabbled in her purse and took out the address they’d given her. They’d seemed sincere when they’d told her she could go to them if needed. She chewed her bottom lip. She wouldn’t want to bother them, of course, as they could ill afford another mouth to feed. Still, having the address was a comfort but she’d use it only as a last resort. She put it back in a separate compartment of her purse. She mustn’t lose that.

  Kneeling beside the bed, she bowed her head and prayed as she had never prayed in her life. ‘Dear God, give me the strength to do what I have to. And let me find a job tomorrow … I’ll take anything – but please help and guide me. Oh, and by the way, Lord, from now on I’m going to be known as Jenny.’

  The next morning Jenny was up at seven, before it was light. She had passed a long sleepless night worrying about the day to come. As each minute had dragged by, she’d convinced herself that her plan didn’t stand a chance. How was she going to get a job? She didn’t have any experience or references. What if an employer looked into her background and found that someone called Jenny Baker didn’t exist? In the dark of the small hours it had all seemed hopeless. But she had to try.

  The dining room was set for breakfast with silver dishes full of hot food on the sideboard, just as normal, but the smell of bacon nearly made her heave. She was relieved no one was around because her eyes were red from crying. The loneliness and fear she felt were awful, but she made a great effort to appear outwardly composed. Whatever the future held for her would have to be faced. She was about to spin the coin again, and fervently hoped it would fall as heads this time.

  An hour later she was creeping along the hallway, her hair pinned back to make her look older, wearing one of her own dresses, with the old coat thrown over her arm. She didn’t dare to put it on in the house in case she was seen. If that happened, then questions would be asked. Her hand was on the latch of the front door when a voice called from the top of the stairs.

  ‘Eugenie! Where do you think you are going at this unearthly hour?’

  Jenny stopped as if she’d walked into a wall. Aunt Gertrude! She turned slowly, holding the coat behind her, and gave what she hoped was an innocent smile. ‘I’m going to post a letter to my friends at school,’ she lied.

  ‘The servants will do that for you.’

  ‘I’ll enjoy the walk, Aunt. We always had a long walk before breakfast at Templeton.’

  ‘Disgusting habit,’ Gertrude snorted. ‘Well, if you must, then put on your coat. Albert won’t want a sickly house guest.

  ‘Of course Aunt Gertrude,’ she replied meekly. Then she shot out the door, slamming it shut in her haste, and ran down the street, not stopping until she was out of sight of the house. Only then did she pause long enough to put on the coat, as she leant against a wall and waited for her heartbeat to stop pounding in her ears. What a fright! On the rare occasions her aunt had stayed over, she’d never left her bed before noon.

  Jenny drew in several gulps of air, welcoming the reviving coldness that filled her lungs, then headed up the road. If her aunt were staying, she’d have to sneak in the servants’ entrance when she got back.

  A bus for Tottenham Court Road arrived and she ran up the stairs. After paying her fare she gazed out of the window as doubt assailed her again. This was crazy! She was crazy. She had been offered a good home, comfort and security. With head bowed she picked away at the frayed cuff of the coat with shaking fingers. But the price was too high.

  Lost in misery, she jumped when the conductor called her stop. After getting off the bus, she stood and stared up and down the long road. Where to start? Jessop had said that the domestic agency was in this road.

  By the time she’d walked up one side and started down the other, it wa
s nearly nine thirty. At last she found a notice nailed on to a side door saying that this was Mrs Dearing’s Domestic Agency. The door was locked and there was nothing to indicate when it would be open.

  She hurried into the haberdashery shop next door to ask the assistant if she knew when Mrs Dearing would be there.

  ‘Any minute now,’ she was told. ‘She’s usually arrived by now.’

  ‘Thank you so much.’ Jenny smiled in relief, and then noticed the shop lady studying her with a frown on her face. She left the shop quickly. Her accent didn’t go with the tatty coat she was wearing. It was time to act again; she would have to be careful not to slip back into her usual way of speaking. She tried to fix Fred and Glad’s voice in her head. She would have to try to sound something like them – without the cockney rhyming slang, of course. There was no way she’d get away with that.

  A smartly dressed woman of middle years walked up to the door and put a key in the lock.

  ‘Mrs Dearing?’

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘I’m looking for work. The servants I’m with said you might be able to help.’

  ‘Come in.’ She held the door open and walked up a flight of narrow stairs.

  The room at the top was small, clean and bright. It contained a desk, two chairs, a large wooden cupboard, holding crockery and a biscuit tin, and a table. In the corner she could see an ancient gas stove and a tiny sink. Everything was so clean it sparkled.

  ‘Sit down,’ Mrs Dearing said, as she removed her coat and hat.

  Jenny sat down and waited, feeling sick with apprehension.

  ‘Now what kind of work are you looking for?’

  ‘Anything, ma’am. I know ’ow to be a lady’s maid.’ When Mrs Dearing looked up sharply, Jenny thought she might have overdone the accent.

  ‘I haven’t any vacancies in that line at the moment. If you’d like to come back next week …’

  ‘Oh, I can’t do that,’ she blurted out. ‘I’ve got to find a job today so I can start tomorrow.’