A Dream Rides By (9 page)

It would have been nice if she had received a card from Elliott Franfield. He knew where to send one, but he had chosen not to. He had probably never even thought of her, and never would.

‘Well, since you ask, Barney lad, I won’t answer you with a lie.’ Mr Warren frowned at the apprentice over the top of his spectacles since he had not expected a question in his role of preacher. ‘Provided they have their parents’ consent, a lad can marry at fourteen and a cheel at twelve, although she cannot have physical relations until she is thirteen. That is the law. However—’ and here he abruptly got to his feet, his fingers taking a tight hold on his coat lapels as if to emphasize his disapproval – ‘there are those who exploit the law for their own despicable purposes, while people like Mr and Mrs Warrington are campaigning to have the Age of Consent raised to sixteen. In the meantime, all decent, God-fearing preachers try to discourage marriage under that age. If, as I assume, your intentions are to be made known to Arthur Southcott regarding his elder daughter, I should advise you to wait until her birthday, even if it is not legally necessary.’

Barney had been listening intently and now he nodded wisely. ‘Thank you, Mr Warren, sir. ’Tis good advice.’

‘Mr Southcott may not give his consent, of course. Or he may want you to wait until you have completed your apprenticeship and can afford to rent one of the empty cottages.’

‘Well, I’m hoping us can live wi’ Ling’s parents for a while, until I’m established.’ And, seeing the misgiving that clouded Mr Warren’s face, Barney went on earnestly, ‘I’ll really work hard for her; I love her that much.’

‘I’m sure you will. But, remember, love doesn’t put food on your plate.’

‘No, I realize that, Mr Warren.’

‘Well, think on what I’ve said, lad.’

‘I will. And thank you again for your help.’

Mr Warren resumed his seat, his lips pursed against his joined forefingers. A good fellow was Barney Mayhew, and it was clear he was passionately in love with Ling Southcott. And who could wonder at it? A lovely girl she was. And Barney was solid and reliable. But would that be enough for
her
?

The preacher sat back in his chair with a sigh. Only time would tell.

‘Good afternoon, children.’

‘Good arternoon, Miss Southcott.’

With a flurry of release, the band of children, including Fanny, escaped out into the May sunshine. Ling watched them leave, shaking her head with a half-amused, half-exasperated smile. A quiet excitement was brewing inside her as not only was it the first truly warm day that year, but she had also another reason to celebrate.

‘Off you go, then, Ling. You go and enjoy your birthday. I’ll finish up here.’

‘Thank you, Mr Norrish.’ And, as she failed to suppress the skip in her step, the straw hat she had clamped on her bouncing curls sprang off again. She retrieved it from the floor but could not be bothered to try fixing it to her head a second time, and so danced outside, dangling the headgear by its ribbons. She was surprised to see Mrs Warrington’s smart pony and governess cart there as the generous lady hadn’t come to the school, which was the usual object of her visits.

Ling hurried home and, to her amazement, there was Rose sitting on the rustic settle, as elegant as ever in a sensible yet splendid day-dress and fashionable matching hat. And yet the poor woman looked ghastly.

‘Oh dear, is anything the matter?’ Ling burst out.

Both Mary Southcott and Rose Warrington turned their surprised faces towards her. Ling’s mother glanced from her visitor to her daughter and back again, clearly not sure if she should speak before her distinguished guest did, but Rose’s lips stretched in a warm smile.

‘No, my dear. I simply came to wish you a happy birthday.’

Ling’s forehead puckered. ‘Well, thank you, Mrs Warrington. But you look dreadful, if you don’t mind my saying so.’

‘Ah.’ There was a sparkle in Rose’s violet-blue eyes as she spoke and her pale cheeks coloured. ‘There’s a good reason for that. But ’tis happy news. After all this time, all these years, I’m . . .’ She drew in her lips, hunching her shoulders as if entering into some great conspiracy as she whispered, ‘I’m with child.’

‘Oh, how wonderful!’ Ling shrieked with glee, and, ignoring the restraint she should have shown given their differing stations in life, she hugged Rose tightly. ‘You must be delighted!’

‘We certainly are, even if I am feeling somewhat queasy.’ Rose’s face lengthened in a mock grimace, but then she took Ling’s hands earnestly. ‘Do sit down, Ling, as this has brought about something that concerns you. In fact, I’ve been thinking about it for some time, and this has given me a good excuse.’

Ling blinked at her, tipping her head to one side, and saw her mother nod.

‘You sit down here, cheel,’ Mary said quietly, getting up from the chair she had pulled out from the table, ‘and I’ll make some tea.’

Ling obediently sat down, perching on the edge as Rose’s words had sparked some flame inside her. Her heart had begun to trip nervously and her hazel eyes had opened wide as she concentrated on Rose’s face.

‘Well, as I said,’ Rose began afresh, ‘I’ve been thinking about it for some time. I’ve never had a lady’s maid and companion. But now, with the child on the way, ’twould be an ideal opportunity to engage such a person. Someone who could help to look after the baby as well when the time comes. And I can’t think of anyone I’d like better than yourself.’

Ling’s jaw fell open in amazement. She was stunned, and a hundred thoughts chased each other round in her brain until she could make no sense of any of them.

‘Oh . . . er . . . But . . . I know so little about children.’

‘You teach them every day,’ Rose reasoned.

‘Children, not babies. I’d be no use as a nanny.’

‘Oh, Florrie will be our nanny, just as she was mine. You can learn from her. Only she’s not as young as she was, so she’ll need help. But as much as anything, I’d like you to keep me company when Seth’s away. He often has to go to London on business. I usually go with him, but I won’t be able to once the baby’s born. And I have to oversee the horses. You know we breed them, only in a small way, mind. So an extra pair of hands would really come in useful. Oh, do say yes, Ling!’

Ling shook her head as the enormity of the proposition swamped her, but a bud of joy was unfolding in her heart. To live at Fencott Place, be part of the stunning Mrs Warrington’s daily round, and yet not be far from her family, why, such a dream had never conjured itself in her mind.

‘What about the school?’ she asked as she returned to her senses. ‘I can’t let Mr Norrish or the children down.’

‘All taken care of. I spoke to Mr Norrish last week. You know his daughter was walking out with one of the Civil Guards at the prison? Well, he’s been posted elsewhere, and so she’d like to take your place, to keep her mind off things so to speak.’

Rose paused, her eyes boring into Ling’s with crystal brilliance. Ling sucked in her lips as if to contain the exhilaration that bubbled up within her.

‘Oh, Mother, what do you think? Could you manage without me? The laundry and everything? And what about Fanny?’

‘You can visit your family every week,’ Rose was telling her, ‘and I’ll give you a good wage as well as providing your keep.’

‘Oh!’ Ling burst into a rapturous smile. ‘You seem to have thought of everything!’ she laughed aloud now. ‘And what will Father say?’

‘I’m certain he’ll agree,’ her mother replied, her own face aglow with pride for this wonderful daughter of hers. Arthur had always said there was something special about her, something that Mrs Warrington had also recognized, and now a new world was opening up to her because of it.

Barney had washed, scrubbing his fingernails until they were as clean as a dandy’s, and his face stung from the vicious assault he had made on it with soap and water. He donned a clean shirt and his Sunday suit, and then, smoothing his thick hair and pulling his better cap down over it, strode towards Ling’s home, his chest swelled with the jubilant anticipation of asking for her hand. They probably wouldn’t marry for another few years, but at least they would be
promised
, and that was all he asked.

The chatter of happy voices reached him through the open door as he came up the garden path. He would hopefully find the opportunity to take Ling’s father aside to ask his permission, which he would surely grant at once. And then, later, he would suggest that he and Ling take a romantic stroll in the balmy spring evening, and he would pop the question as they watched the gilded sun sinking over the moor.

‘Barney!’ Ling waltzed outside to greet him, her face radiant and her eyes almost translucent with joy.

Barney had never seen her look so beautiful, and his heart lurched. ‘Happy birthday, my darling,’ he mumbled so breathlessly that she didn’t even hear him.

‘See, Barney, Mrs Warrington’s here!’ Ling grinned exuberantly as they went inside.

‘Barney, son.’ Arthur, still in his working clothes, nodded gravely, making Barney feel uneasy.

‘Mrs Warrington.’ Barney bowed his head cautiously. The woman had always expressed a fondness for Ling, but why was she in the Southcott’s home?

‘Ling has some news, Barney,’ Arthur announced, and, from the expression in his merry eyes, the boy knew that, whatever it was, it pleased Ling’s father immensely. ‘But I expect she’d like to tell you herself.’

Barney took in Ling’s elated face, and his heart began to beat faster. His own jubilation was instinctively dampened, and his mouth suddenly felt dry. He knew what Ling was going to say before she even opened her mouth.

‘Mrs Warrington has asked me to go and work for her. As her companion!’ she cried triumphantly, since Rose had sworn her and Mary to secrecy regarding the baby.

Barney was poleaxed. Ling.
His
Ling. His girl, his
wife
, to be spirited away from him, and they all looked so bloody
delighted
about it! The room seemed to spin, and he had to take a staggering step sideways to keep his balance.

‘Congratulations.’ He was amazed to recognize that the flat voice that spoke was his own. It was all he could do to stay standing as Ling hopped across to him, her face alight and exultant. ‘Happy birthday.’ The strange voice spoke again and his hand held out the tiny package containing his present to her.

Ling drew in a gasp as she opened the little brooch, and a spark twinkled in the blackness of Barney’s soul.

‘Oh, thank you, Barney! It’s lovely. I shall wear it always!’

She reached up to plant a kiss on his cheek, and then she was away, the brooch he was paying off at a hard-earned penny a week for the next two months pinned to the bodice of her dress, but forgotten as she chatted merrily to her family.

‘Now I really must go,’ Rose declared at length, ‘or Seth will be starting to worry.’

There were farewells and thanks all round, and Ling felt it right and proper that she should accompany her new employer to where the pony and trap was waiting. Barney had been slowly returning to his senses, and now he shot out of the door after them. He’d bloody well assert himself in whatever way he could and tell that jumped up woman that she couldn’t just come breezing in, destroying people’s lives like that!

The pony and trap, however, was already disappearing along the track, and Barney’s face was set in a mutinous scowl as he came up behind Ling as she waved to Rose’s back.

‘Isn’t it wonderful?’ Ling turned to face him, her eyes gleaming, and his heart ripped. It must have shown, for her eyebrows dipped questioningly. ‘What’s the matter, Barney?’

‘I were going to ask you to marry me,’ he blurted out at once, his voice tight. ‘This evening. On your birthday. I’d been planning it for months, and now—’

‘Oh, Barney.’ Her words were soft and her eyes stared into his with infinite compassion as she cupped his cheek in her hand. ‘Of course I’ll marry you. In a few years’ time. But this is a unique opportunity. Surely, you don’t begrudge it me? I’ll only be a few miles away, and we’ll see each other often. And I will marry you,’ she repeated, her brow knitted earnestly. ‘One day, I promise.’

Her eyes were gentle, appealing, wide with honesty. Oh, yes, she meant it
now
, Barney knew that. But he remembered how it had been when she had met that Elliott Franfield last summer. It had taken her weeks, months, to settle down after that one day in more elevated company. So God knew what she’d be like after
years
living with Mr and Mrs High and Mighty Warrington!

Ling paused by the wide gateway and attempted to calm the anticipation that frothed inside her. She had passed Fencott Place so many times on walks across the lonely moor, never dreaming that the grand building would one day become her home. She had never even stepped inside the manager’s house at the quarry, and now she was to live in what to her seemed like a palace.

It might have appeared incongruous to find such a fine house so isolated on the moor, but Ling knew that it had been built at the very end of the previous century by one of several affluent gentlemen who had shared the famous Sir Thomas Tyrwhitt’s dream of improving the land and cultivating that part of the moor. Fencott Place had even outshone Sir Thomas’s Tor Royal, but when the entire project had collapsed and Sir Thomas had nevertheless kept up Tor Royal, all the other pioneers, including the owner of Fencott Place, had sold their holdings to men who knew that rearing sheep and cattle was the best use of the high moor. The properties and the acreage that came with them were leasehold but with extremely long leases, and Fencott Place was by far the most magnificent of them all. And now Mr and Mrs Warrington bred horses on their enclosed fields that had originally been earmarked for cultivation.

The long walk on the warm June afternoon had allowed Ling time to meditate quietly on the new direction her life was taking. And now, as she walked steadfastly up the drive, her feet crunching on the gravel, she was bursting with expectation.

She rang the bell and waited under the pillared portico. It seemed only seconds before the right-hand side of the double door was opened and a neatly dressed girl, several years her senior, smiled at her in welcome.