106. Love's Dream in Peril (2 page)

Mr. Mottram had been a Captain in the Navy and had been lost at sea many years before.

His widow, a large woman with a severe expression and a mass of thick grey hair rolled on her forehead, ran her school with the same tight discipline that her husband had employed on his ship.

She cast a stern eye towards Jane and Adella as they hurried into the Chapel as they were the last to arrive.

When Prayers were over and a moment of peaceful silence had descended upon the rows of schoolgirls, all in the school uniform of grey dresses with white collars, the Headmistress rose to her feet to address them,

“It has come to that time of year when we must bid farewell to those pupils who have completed their studies at the school,” she began.

Adella stared down at her white-gloved hands and hoped that Mrs. Mottram would not say anything about her pink ribbon. Surely she would not single her out for any criticism when she was about to leave the school forever?

But the Headmistress did not seem to notice it.

“It is my dearest wish,” she carried on, “that those who leave us will take with them not just the fluent French, the elegant dancing, the skilful drawing, without which no young woman may call herself a Lady, but will also take with them the true values of refinement and character.”

Adella stifled a yawn. Old Mottram did go on a bit.

It was difficult to keep concentrating on the long rambling speech when she was longing for her breakfast. “So I shall say no more at this time.” At last the Headmistress was drawing to a conclusion. “But I should like to ask each of those pupils who are leaving us to come to my study for a private interview after breakfast.”

She then dismissed the assembly of girls and there was a rumbling of feet and a flutter of hymn books as the long line of pupils hurried off to breakfast.

“What do you suppose she will say to us?” Adella asked, as she helped herself to bread and jam.

“Something about how we must always be ladylike and set a good example. Isn’t that what she always says?” Jane replied.

Adella laughed.

“Do you think Mrs. Mottram lies awake at night, worrying in case one of her ex-pupils misbehaves and casts a bad light on the school?”

“I am sure she does,” Jane replied and her heart sank as she saw the figure of the Headmistress beckoning to her. “It looks as if I am the first for a lecture!”

“Good luck!” Adella wished her, as Jane hurried away from the table.

“Jane Hartley, I have little to say but good about your work,” Mrs. Mottram began, sitting upright in her red velvet armchair. “You apply yourself to your studies with energy and intelligence.”

“Thank you, ma’am,” Jane said.

It was a rare event to receive such praise from the Headmistress and she ought to feel proud and happy, but something about the way Mrs. Mottram was looking at her made her feel uneasy.

“It is always a great responsibility to stand
in loco parentis
and I am sure that I don’t need to translate, Jane, for I know that you have a good knowledge of Latin.”

Jane nodded as Mrs. Mottram was referring to the fact that Jane’s mother had died some years before and her father even longer ago.

“Especially when the young person, as in your case, has no family at all and is without means of support.”

Jane was feeling increasingly uncomfortable. It was true that she had no fortune, as her dear Mama had died penniless, all her money gambled away by her stepfather. But what was Mrs. Mottram getting at?

“I have incurred considerable expense and devoted a great deal of time and attention to your education, Jane. So I am pleased that you have worked so hard and been so diligent a pupil.”

Jane thanked her again for her kind words.

“I understand that you would wish to take a post as a Governess. And I should be happy to offer you board and lodgings at the school for your services as a teacher.”

Jane was taken by surprise.

She had a small amount of money saved up and had hoped to rent a room somewhere until she could find work as a Governess.

“What do you say?” Mrs. Mottram frowned. “I should think that you might be grateful to have the means of returning the kindness I have done to you in keeping you at the school for so long without any fees being paid.”

“Yes – I – ”

Deep down inside, Jane did not want to accept the offer, but she could not think how to refuse.

“Good.” The frown melted from the Headmistress’s face. “I am glad you are showing such good sense, Jane. I must say, I have been quite worried that you might intend to continue your friendship with Adella May – ”

“We will always be friends!” Jane said quickly.

Mrs. Mottram shook her grey head.

“It is one thing, Jane, to befriend Adella while you are schoolgirls. I had wondered in the past if it was wise to allow you to become so close.”

“She is my dearest friend!”

“Indeed. But pause and consider. Adella will come into a considerable fortune left to her when her father and mother so sadly passed away in India. She will be one of the richest young women in England. And
you
will be a penniless Governess. How may you continue to be friends in such different circumstances?”

“What do you mean?”

Jane felt as if all the breath had been knocked out of her body by the Headmistress’s words.

“Your friend will wish to lavish all kinds of gifts on you. Perhaps she might even invite you to stay with her when she begins her new life as one of the foremost young girls in Society. You are a woman of good character, Jane. I am sure that you would not want people to say that you are taking advantage of your friend’s generosity.”

Jane’s face felt hot with embarrassment.

“I have no intention – and I am certain that Adella would not – she has not made any such suggestions – ”

The Headmistress was not listening.

“It is so hard for a young woman to make her own way in the world honestly and with integrity. It will be impossible for you, Jane, once you have been exposed to the temptations of a life of ease and riches.”

Mrs. Mottram now looked down her nose with an expression of disdain and continued,

“Who would care to employ you, once you have tasted the fruits of idleness and luxury?”

Jane’s legs were trembling.

The picture that Mrs. Mottram was painting was really horrid. She could not bear to think of prospective employers turning her away because she was a friend of a rich young heiress.

“I will offer you a post as a teacher, but you must cease your friendship with Adella May.”

Somehow Jane managed to nod her head.

“Very good.” Mrs. Mottram rose to her feet. “Let’s shake hands, Jane. Your employment here will commence at once. I will entrust the care of the young ones who will be staying with us over the summer holiday to you.”

Jane winced noticeably as her fingers were crushed in the Headmistress’s strong grip.

So she would not be leaving Mottram’s School after all. She would not be going out into the world to find a place for herself.

Her summer would be spent here, just has it had been for many years and she would be responsible for all the little girls whose parents lived abroad and who had no family in England to go to.

And there would be no Adella to cheer her up and always be thinking of ways to make her laugh.

Mrs. Mottram watched Jane leave the study with a cold little smile on her face, as if she was very pleased indeed with the result of the interview.

*

Adella waited for Jane to come back to the dining room and, when she did not appear, she left the table and went up to her room to get ready for her departure.

There was just so much to pack! If only Pargetter was a more cheerful and lively person, Adella would have asked her to come and help.

How
did
you fold a dress and lay it in a trunk so that it would come out at the other end without looking like an accordion, all full of pleats and creases?

She laid it on the bed to wait until she had filled up her trunk with other heavier items and then turned as she heard a discreet tap on her bedroom door.

“Jane! You know you don’t need to knock!” she called out.

The door opened and Adella heard a polite cough. It was Mrs. Mottram.

Adella was surprised to see her. The Headmistress almost never spoke to the girls except in her study.

“Why Adella. You should not trouble yourself with all this,” the Headmistress said, looking around at the piles of shoes, books and clothes. “Pargetter will do it.”

“I don’t mind at all, Mrs. Mottram. It’s rather fun. And I expect Jane will help me shortly.”

Mrs. Mottram shook her head.

“Perhaps she is busy elsewhere. But I am not here to discuss Jane. Come, let’s sit here by the window and we can have our little talk.”

She then walked across the room and sat down.

Adella was feeling rather confused by this sudden visitation. If she had known that the Headmistress was about to descend upon her, she would not have strewn her belongings all over the floor and the bed.

But at least there was plenty of space in the lovely room where she had lived all the years she had been at the school.

Uncle Edgar’s money had meant that Adella could have the use of this spacious and comfortable room all to herself with wide windows overlooking the garden.

Mrs. Mottram was gazing around at all the pretty flowery curtains, the china washstand and silver-backed mirror and brushes that Adella had chosen for herself.

“How charmingly you have made your room,” she said. “I do wish that all my pupils had even half of your good taste. What a privilege it has been to teach a girl like yourself – so refined and elegant.”

“Thank you, Mrs. Mottram.”

Adella perched herself opposite the Headmistress on the window seat, as she prattled on,

“It will give me the greatest pleasure in years to come to offer my humble services to your own offspring, when they are old enough to start at school.”

Mrs. Mottram’s eyes were shining at the thought.

“Goodness,” Adella sighed. “That is a long way in the future!”

“Don’t be so sure,” Mrs. Mottram gave a laugh. “You will be the most sought after girl in Society with your fortune, good looks and your charming character.”

“You are too kind, Mrs. Mottram. “But I have no intention of getting married for a very long time indeed.”

“We shall see.” The Headmistress suddenly looked rather dour. “It pains me, Adella, but I must introduce a sombre note into our conversation.”

‘Oh dear,’ Adella thought. ‘She has indeed noticed my pink ribbon after all! I am about to be ticked off!’

But Mrs. Mottram was gazing out of the window, a deep frown on her brow.

“A girl as lovely as you and with such abundant riches soon to be at her disposal will be like a candle to a moth to some of the less desirable elements of Society,” she said in a grave tone.

“I am sure that Uncle Edgar will take good care of me,” Adella replied.

“Your uncle has been most generous in the way that he has provided for you. But he is a bachelor, Adella, and he has spent a very long time in India, devoting himself to his work for the Civil Service. He will know nothing of the pitfalls that lie in store for a young girl, an heiress like yourself, as she makes her debut in London Society.”

“Pitfalls?”

Mrs. Mottram leaned forward on the sofa.

“You have been protected from all the evils of the world here at the school, my dear. You are a high-spirited girl but an innocent one. It will be all to easy for you to fall prey to the unscrupulous fortune-hunters who lurk on the fringes of Society.”

“How awful!” Adella gave a little shiver. “Perhaps you are right, Jane is always telling me I am too impulsive and that I should look before I leap.”

Mrs. Mottram nodded.

“There will be many who will seek you out not for your own sake but for your money. People are not always what they seem, Adella.”

“I suppose not. Maybe I should take dear Jane with me so that she can look out for these villains!”

The Headmistress rose to her feet.

“I am glad that we have had our little talk,” she said. “I hope that you will take my words to heart, Adella. Oh, and I must tell you, I am very pleased to have been able to offer Jane the post as a teacher here at the school.”

Adella jumped up from the window seat.

“What – ?”

Mrs. Mottram was leaving.

“It is a great opportunity for a young woman like herself with no prospects and nowhere to go, as I am sure you are aware, Adella.”

“I suppose so.”

Adella felt a chill run over her body at the thought of Jane having to stay on here at the school.

Suddenly everything felt very strange and different. It was a whole new life beginning for both of them.

“Mrs. Mottram!” she called out. “I wonder, might I take Jane out to tea in the town this afternoon?”

“You know it is against the regulations for pupils to go into town unaccompanied by a teacher.”

“But we are not really pupils here anymore,” Adella countered. “Jane is about to be a teacher herself and I am about to be a Society lady. I promise to be exceptionally well-behaved.”

“The streets of Oxford are thronged with young gentlemen who have just finished their examinations at the University. I cannot allow it.”

“I should not think that the young gentlemen will be going to a tearoom,” Adella said, “and if they do, they will have their mothers and sisters with them.”

Mrs. Mottram hesitated.

“Please!” Adella continued. “One day I should love to be able to tell my own little girls how I took my best friend out to tea on my last day at school!”

“Very well,” she agreed reluctantly. “But you must be back by five o’clock and you must speak to no one you have not been introduced to! And, Adella, please remove that ribbon from your hair before you leave the premises.” The June sunshine was making dappled patterns on the pavement as it shone through the green leaves on the trees and it was a perfect afternoon to be strolling through the quiet streets of Oxford towards the town centre.