Whispers (18 page)

Jess suddenly giggled nervously. ‘Oh, you’re probably right. It’s just me imagining things, like you say. Now how about I refill your mug, eh?’ And with that she deliberately changed the course of the conversation and spoke of other things until Karen eventually left after a light lunch some time later.

She then shot off upstairs. She still had a little time before the girls came home from school, and the book was like a magnet to her now.

2 November

Miss Melody, as she insists we should call her, has made such changes to the place and suddenly there is laughter here again . . .

‘Who would have thought it, eh?’ Granny said to her granddaughters as she peeped into the newly decorated drawing room, a look of awe on her face. The walls had been covered in fine red flock paper, and elegant swags and tails hung at the windows. The floor was covered in silk-fringed rugs.

‘Me heart is in me throat every mornin’ when I clear the ashes out o’ the fireplace,’ Grace confided in a whisper. ‘I’m scared to
death
o’ droppin’ ’em on the new rugs. It’s the same in the dinin’ room an’ all.’

The dining room had been painted in various shades of green and was just as elegant as the drawing room. But then, considering the amount of workmen who had been swarming all over the place since Miss Melody’s arrival, it was hardly surprising.

‘I’d best get back to the kitchen an’ start the breakfast,’ Granny commented after a final peep at the room, but then a bout of coughing brought her bending almost double. Eventually she straightened and pressed her clenched fist into her chest as she waggled the other hand at the two girls.

‘Now don’t go lookin’ at me like that,’ she gasped. ‘’Tis only a bit of a cough, an’ once the weather picks up it’ll go. Now go on the both of yer and get away to yer chores.’

The two young women scuttled away as Granny stood watching them, a smile twitching at the corners of her lips. They were good girls, there was no doubt about it, and she thought herself a fortunate woman indeed. She had looked after them since their mother had died in a cholera epidemic when the girls were little more than nippers, and when her son had been killed in a pitfall, and she didn’t regret a single day of it. In a happier frame of mind she pottered off back to the kitchen. Miss Melody was welcome to all her finery; Granny Reid was never happier than when she was ensconced in her kitchen which she considered to be very much her domain.

‘What about the latest bit o’ news then?’ Granny gossiped to Phoebe as they sat in the kitchen later that day enjoying a well-earned sit-down. ‘Miss Melody’s informed us that she’s expectin’ a child too – an’ not long after our Grace’s is due. I have to admit we’re all made up about it, an’ her an’ Master Leonard seem tickled pink wi’ the idea o’ becomin’ parents. Maybe this will mean she’ll be stayin’ fer a good while longer. She told us at lunch that her lady’s maid is comin’ to join ’er from Herefordshire. Her name is Miss Prim an’ we can only hope that she don’t live up to it else I can see a few sparks flyin’ atween us. But then I’m prepared to give the woman a chance. There’s a seamstress callin’ this afternoon to measure Miss Melody fer some new gowns to see her through till the nipper arrives. Eeh, yer should see the gowns she gave to our Grace an’ Martha. They’re beautiful, although as Grace pointed out, it’s ’ighly unlikely they’ll ever go anywhere grand enough to wear ’em. But she’s a kind-hearted soul.
The
other bit o’ news is she’s throwin’ a dinner party come the weekend. It’ll be the first this place ’as seen since the Mistress left an’ I don’t think the Master is none too pleased about it. But then he wouldn’t dare to say so, he’s too scared o’ Master Leonard withdrawin’ his financial support from what we can make of it.’

‘I think yer could be right there,’ Phoebe agreed musingly. ‘Hal reckons Master Leonard has the mill runnin’ like a well-oiled spring again – no thanks to the old ’un.’ Granny chuckled. ‘Do you know summat? I ain’t seen the Master drunk once since his nephew arrived. An’ long may it continue that’s what I say.’

‘Hear, hear,’ Phoebe agreed, helping herself to a piece of Gran’s gingerbread. ‘An’ I agree wi’ what you said about the young Mistress bein’ kind an’ all. Did yer know she’d sent the doctor in to take a look at our Joey’s back? God knows how she found out about it, but the ointment he prescribed is workin’ a treat.’

Granny would never forget the terrible sight of the lad’s injuries. ‘I doubt very much the Master will even be here on the night o’ the party,’ she confided. ‘He keeps out o’ the young ’uns’ way as much as he can – an’ that suits us all just fine, devil that he is.’

It was then that the sound of a pony and trap entering the courtyard interrupted their conversation and minutes later a small, smartly dressed woman tapped at the kitchen door. ‘Hello, I’m Miss Prim,’ she introduced herself with a kindly smile and Granny Reid hurried forward and took her valise from her.

‘Ah, we’ve been expectin’ yer. Would yer like a sup o’ tea before yer go up to the Mistress?’

‘That would be lovely, thank you.’ The woman took a hatpin from her hat and laid it neatly on the edge of the large pine dresser before joining the two women at the table.

‘Been ladies’ maid to Miss Melody fer long, ’ave yer?’ Granny enquired pleasantly as she strained tea into a clean cup.

‘Well, between you and me I was Miss Melody’s nanny when she was a child,’ Miss Prim confided. ‘And then when she grew too old to need a nanny I took on the role of ladies’ maid.’

‘Ah, so yer’ve never been married then?’

Miss Prim threw her hands up in horror. ‘Oh dear me, no!’ she exclaimed. ‘That would have meant me leaving my dear sweet child.’

Phoebe and Granny exchanged an amused glance. Miss Prim had referred to Miss Melody as if she was her own flesh and blood and
they
all knew in that instant that they were going to get along famously.

Later on that same day, another snippet of gossip filtered into the kitchen when Hal returned from the mill.

‘I’ve heard tell that Master Leonard has bought a ribbon-weavin’ factory in the town,’ he told his captive audience.

‘Then let’s hope it’s true,’ Granny answered. ‘The more ties he has here the longer he’ll stay an’ that would suit us all just fine.’

The speculation on whether the rumour he had heard was true was stopped from going any further when Bertie too strode in with a broad smile on his face as he hurried over to his wife.

‘You’ll never guess what’s happened, pet,’ he said animatedly.

‘I dare say we won’t if you don’t tell us,’ Grace agreed wryly.

‘Well, the thing is, whilst I was at work today young Master Leonard waylaid me an’ asked me how you an’ me were copin’ in the rooms above the stables. I told him we were right cosy, but he said that seein’ as we’re to have a baby he wants to build us a little cottage in the grounds! Think on it, Grace – our own four walls – an’ he’s aimin’ to have it started as soon as possible. The Master didn’t look none too pleased wi’ the idea at all, but seein’ as it’s Master Leonard’s money as will pay fer it, he didn’t dare open his mouth.’

‘Our own little cottage?’ Grace looked astounded. ‘Why, I can scarcely believe it. That man has a heart o’ pure gold.’ Tears stood in her eyes.

Martha glanced at the clock. It was her afternoon off, and she’d spent it at home. Despite all the good news, she was keen to get out of the house for a while.

‘I’ll be off now then, Granny,’ she said, as she lifted her shawl and inched towards the back door.

Granny frowned. ‘Eeh, yer never goin’ out in this, lass? It’s been rainin’ cats an’ dogs fer days. Everywhere is like a quagmire.’

‘That’s as maybe, but I feel the need fer a bit o’ fresh air, an’ it ain’t rainin’ now.’ When she saw the look of concern on the old woman’s face, she then promised, ‘I shan’t go far, an’ I’ll be back in time to help yer wi’ the evenin’ meal.’

Granny shrugged. ‘Have it yer own way, lass, but mind yer wrap up warm.’ She then turned her attention to the exciting news that Hal and Bertie had just told her as Martha slipped away.

She immediately headed down the long lawn to where the River
Anker
ran. The river had broken its banks after the prolonged rain and the bottom of the garden was flooded but Martha set off surefootedly towards the stone bridge, glad of the fog that was swirling in from the river. The currents were treacherous at present and only the week before, a man had drowned in it when his boat capsized. But it wasn’t of this that Martha was thinking now, but of Jimmy, whom she now met each week on her afternoon off. Sure enough she saw him waiting for her with his hands thrust deep into his coat pockets as he stared into the swirling water. Her heart began to beat a tattoo in her chest. Eeh, he was a handsome lad, and she was sure now that she loved him. Perhaps soon she might be able to have a word with Miss Melody and ask if she would give her permission for her to walk out with him? The Master would never dare say anything to oppose it if Miss Melody had given her blessing, and then they needn’t keep their meetings a secret any more. She hurried on with a spring in her step.

The day before the party, the seamstress that Miss Melody had employed to make her new gowns called at the house. She had taken both Grace’s and Martha’s measurements on her last visit and now as well as a beautiful new gown for the young Mistress, she was delivering their new uniforms.

Granny looked on with amusement as Martha sashayed up and down the kitchen in hers. The new outfit consisted of a grey serge dress over which went a long white bibbed pinafore trimmed with lace, and she had also made them both a new mobcap of broderie anglaise.

‘Eeh, I feel that posh I reckon I could attend the party in this,’ Martha laughed.

‘Don’t you go forgettin’ yer place, girl,’ Granny warned but the words were said with affection. ‘An’ I suggest yer take it off before yer muck it up. I don’t reckon the Mistress will be too pleased if you ruin it before the party.’ They were all in high good spirits as they had been paid for the first time in months – a fact they had all taken advantage of when the talley man had called the day before. Martha had bought a fine woollen shawl for Granny and a pair of gloves for Grace as well as a scarf for Bertie, and she had now hidden them away until Christmas came. The mood in the house had lightened further when Master Leonard had informed them that he and Miss Melody would now be staying until after their baby was born. He was
concerned
that the long journey back to Herefordshire might be too much for her, and so now they were all envisaging a happy Christmas. Granny had been busily crocheting little hats and a shawl ready for her great-grandchild’s arrival every spare second she had, and Martha had sewn some tiny nightgowns from a piece of flannel she had bought off the market, which she was very pleased with. It had already been agreed that the care of the baby would be shared between the three women once he or she arrived, so that Grace could go about her duties, and they were all looking forward to it as the time drew closer.

And now the house was alive with activity as they all prepared for the party. Master Leonard had ordered caterers to come in and help Granny with the food, and there would also be maids he had hired especially for the occasion. For the first time in a very long while they were all content and prayed that the happy atmosphere might continue.

Jess closed the book with an enormous lump in her throat. Now when she shut her eyes she could imagine the house as it had once been, and she found herself caring for Martha and her family. It was almost as if she was coming to know the girl through the journal she had left behind. But that in itself was a concern. Why would Martha have left her clothes and her journal upstairs? Did Martha marry her Jimmy? Was Grace’s baby delivered safely? Did Granny Reid recover from her dreadful cough? Did the kindly Mistress restore peace to Stonebridge House?

Jess hoped that the journal would eventually supply her with the answers. Sometimes she was tempted to read the end of it to find out what had become of Martha – but that, she told herself, would be like reading the end of a good book and would spoil it. And so she forced herself to be patient and tried instead to concentrate on the trip to Paris that she was organising for herself and the girls.

During the half-term holiday in October, shortly after Mel’s fourteenth birthday, Simon drove them all to Birmingham International Airport early in the morning to get on the flight to Paris.

Jess was nervous, Jo was excited and Mel was, as usual, very quiet and unresponsive despite Jess’s best efforts to involve her in the planning of the trip.

‘She’ll perk up once we get on the plane,’ Jess whispered to Simon.

‘Hmm!’ His tone said without words that he wasn’t convinced but she chose to ignore it. This was supposed to be a little holiday and she didn’t want it to get off to a bad start.

‘We are going to see the Eiffel Tower, aren’t we?’ Jo asked for at least the tenth time. ‘We’ve been reading about it at school and it will be so
cool
to be able to tell the teacher that I’ve actually been there. I already know all about it. It was built in 1889 to commemorate the centenary of the French Revolution, and King Edward VII opened it.’

‘Yes, well, why don’t you wait until we get there and then you can give us the rest of the history lesson,’ Jess said indulgently. At least Jo was looking forward to it, while Mel looked more like she was going to her doom than on holiday.

‘And is there anywhere special you’d like to go, Mel?’ she now asked hopefully.

When the girl shrugged Jess didn’t push it. It really didn’t matter as Jo was chatting away enough for all of them. Jess was feeling very mixed at present. Half of her was excited at the prospect of the break ahead; the other half was feeling apprehensive. She and Simon had never holidayed apart before, and she had never flown either, but then she knew deep down that he could have come if he had really wanted to. The men who worked for him were very trustworthy and reliable, and she was sure they would have covered for them had he asked them to. But then, he was conscientious when it came to work, so she didn’t hold it against him. And they were only going for five days, after all. They’d be back before she’d had time to miss him.