A Mother's Courage (36 page)

'With a pair of scissors.' Phoebe crossed the
floor to stand by Eloise. 'Tell him, Ellen. If you
don't then I will'

Caine stared at the livid gash on Eloise's cheek
and his eyes glittered angrily. 'Who did this to
you? Tell me.'

'It was Matron's fault,' Maria interrupted
gleefully. 'I heard Miss Trinder talking to Cook
about it. She said that Matron put them up to it
because she was jealous of . . .' Maria stopped,
clapping her hand to her mouth as she realised
that she had gone too far. 'Really, Papa. I did
hear her say it. I'm not making it up.'

'My God!' Caine gazed at his daughter in
dismay. 'You've been spending too much time
listening to servants' gossip, Maria. I should
have dismissed Trinder months ago, but she's
the only one who's stayed for more than a fortnight.
Go and sit quietly by the fire with Phoebe.
I want to speak privately to Miss Monk.'

'You called her Ellen just now, Papa.'

One look at Caine's thunderous expression
and Phoebe lifted Maria bodily and set her down
in a chair by the fire. 'You sit there and mind
your manners, miss.'

Maria opened her mouth as if to argue and then
shut it again, eyeing Phoebe with new respect.

Caine drew Eloise aside. 'Now tell me exactly
what has been going on. Who attacked you and
why?'

'I believe it was meant to be a joke, sir,' Eloise
improvised. 'The women meant to cut my hair
but the scissors slipped.'

'The scissors slipped!' Caine repeated. 'You
don't expect me to believe that, do you?'

'It was an accident, sir. I have nothing more to
say.'

'You may not, but I have. I won't allow this sort
of savage bullying. It must be stopped and I will
speak to Miss Marchant right away.' He made as
if to leave the room but Eloise ran after him and
caught hold of his sleeve.

'Please don't, Mr Caine. Please let the matter
drop.'

Caine hesitated, staring at the wound on her
face with anger in his eyes. 'This is a serious
matter. I cannot allow it to go unpunished.'

'It was my fault, sir. I managed to upset them
somehow, and they meant no harm. It really was
an accident.'

'So you keep saying, but it would not be the
first time you have told me an untruth, Ellen. I
will get to the bottom of this, that much I promise
you.' Caine turned away from her to summon
Maria. 'It's time you were in bed, young lady.'

Maria slithered off the chair and ran to him.
'But I may come again tomorrow, mayn't I,
Papa?'

'We'll see.'

That night, Eloise hardly slept. She knew that if
Caine challenged Miss Marchant there would be
repercussions that might make it impossible for
her to stay on at the Foundling Hospital. She
would be forced to leave without Joss and Beth,
or else she would have to claim them as her own
children and face a life on the streets or worse.
Her options were strictly limited. If she admitted
defeat and handed them over to the Cribbs, she
might never see them again, and it was no use
writing to Papa and begging him for help. He
had been adamant that it was Ronnie's parents
who ought to take responsibility for the welfare
of their grandchildren, and he was so intent on
following his vocation that nothing would dissuade
him from the course that he had chosen. It
was a bitter pill to swallow, but he may have
been right in saying that she would never be able
to support her own children and that their best
interests would be served by being sent up to
Yorkshire, but Eloise was not prepared to give in
just yet.

Next morning she awaited the inevitable summons
from Matron, and was hardly surprised
when it came. Facing Miss Marchant in her
office, Eloise waited to hear the worst.

Miss Marchant sat behind her desk with her
hands clasped tightly in front of her. Her eyes
were agate chips set in a pale face, and her tone
was icy. 'I warned you to keep silent about your
accident.'

'I told no one, Matron.'

'And yet the whole hospital knew of it, and Mr
Caine came to see me last night demanding to be
told the facts.'

'I said nothing.'

'No, that at least is true. Mr Caine said that you
had stubbornly refused to give an explanation. If
it were otherwise you would be leaving this
institution right now. However, Mr Caine has
once again saved you.'

'I don't understand, Matron.'

Miss Marchant leaned across the desk and her
face contorted with spite. 'You have such an
innocent face, Monk. But you don't fool me. I
recognise you for a scheming little minx, even if
you have managed to wheedle your way into Mr
Caine's good books. We have discussed the
matter and you are to be excused cleaning duties.
In Miss Trinder's absence, Mr Caine has decided
that Maria should take lessons in the schoolroom
every morning. For some reason best known to
himself, he has decided to entrust his daughter
into your care in the afternoons.'

Eloise could hardly believe her ears. 'I am to
look after Maria?'

'The child is spoilt beyond hope, but this is
your last chance. Don't think you are getting off
lightly, though. In the mornings you will help
Phoebe in the nursery and you will do some
night duties there also. You will earn your keep,
Monk. Believe me, you will earn it.'

It was a reprieve that had come out of the blue,
and Eloise could have cried with relief. The
sudden change in her circumstances meant that
not only were they secure for the foreseeable
future, but she would be able to spend more time
with her children. It seemed too good to be true.

That afternoon, when she had finished helping
Phoebe feed the little ones, Eloise went across the
yard to the governor's house. A young maidservant
showed her into the square, white painted
entrance hall, where a flight of stairs rose
opposite the main entrance. The polished
mahogany banisters glowed warmly red in the
sunlight streaming through the fanlight above
the front door, and the feeling of warmth was
echoed in the rich red carpet on the floor and
stairs. On either side of the hall there were two
doors and the maid opened one, ushering Eloise
into the drawing room where Maria was sitting
at a pianoforte, idly prodding the keys. She
jumped off the stool as Eloise entered the room.
'You've come. I was afraid you wouldn't.'

Eloise took off her bonnet and shawl. 'Of
course I came. Your papa has asked me to look
after you in the afternoons, after you have
finished your lessons in the schoolroom.'

'You won't stay long,' Maria said, shaking her
head. 'No one does. They say I am a spoilt brat
and then they leave.'

Eloise smothered a chuckle, keeping her face
straight with difficulty. 'Perhaps I have more
staying power than the rest.'

'I don't know what that is,' Maria admitted.
'But I am wayward and my papa spoils me
because he can't be bothered to say no. He is too
busy to take much notice of me, and he misses
my mama. That's her portrait over the fireplace.
Everyone says that I look just like her, but it was
my fault that she died.'

Shocked, Eloise could hardly believe what she
was hearing. She glanced at the portrait of the
lovely young woman who smiled down at them
with self-assured charm, and she shook her
head. 'That is just not true, Maria. You were not
to blame for your mother's death. It was just one
of those sad and unfortunate circumstances, but
it was not your fault. As to your father being too
busy to notice you, that may be true in part, but I
know he loves you and he wants the best for
you.'

'Oh, well, perhaps he does,' Maria said, shrugging
her shoulders.

'Of course he does.'

'And he likes you too, Ellen.'

It was said artlessly enough, but Eloise felt the
blood rush to her cheeks. 'I hope I won't
disappoint him. You and I will work well
together and that will make him happy.'

Maria angled her head. 'I don't like sewing and
I hate practising scales. I get very cross when
people make me do either hateful thing.'

'Then I suggest we do something else. Perhaps
you would like to visit the British Museum?'

'Do you mean that we can go out for a walk?'

Eloise smiled. 'Of course.'

Maria grabbed her by the hand, dragging her
towards the doorway. 'Come to my room and I'll
show you where my clothes are kept. I have a
new bonnet and a coat with a cape on it and a
matching muff trimmed with fur.'

Eloise allowed herself to be led upstairs to the
first floor landing. Maria scampered along ahead
of her pointing to the doors as she ran past them.
'That is my papa's bedroom, and that is his
study. My room overlooks the hospital gardens,
which is where I first saw you. The servants have
rooms up on the top floor. Miss Trinder's room is
empty now. Perhaps you could have it and then
you'd be here all the time. I shall ask Papa when
he comes home this evening.'

'No, that won't be necessary,' Eloise said
hastily. 'I have to do night duty in the nursery,
but it was a kind thought, Maria.'

'Well, I might need you in the night,' Maria
said, pouting and stamping her foot. 'I have bad
dreams sometimes and I wake up crying. I want
you to live here with us.'

'I shan't stay at all if you behave like this.'

Maria blinked and stared at Eloise. It was quite
obvious that she was unused to being challenged,
and Eloise met her angry gaze without flinching.

'You won't leave me?' Maria's voice quavered
and her lips trembled.

'Not if you behave like the nice little girl that I
know you to be.'

'I will try to be good, but it's not easy.'

'No, but I'm sure you can do it if you try.'
Eloise smiled sympathetically. There was something
about Maria that touched her to the core,
putting her in mind of herself when she had been
of a similar age. What a difficult and wayward
child she must have been to have earned the
severe reprimands that she had received from
her father. Mama had been so patient and understanding,
but Papa had always been quick to
point out her failings, and Eloise had spent many
hours locked in her bedroom where she was
supposed to contemplate her sins. She smiled as
Maria put on her new hat and admired her
reflection in the mirror. 'That looks delightful. If
you find that smart coat you were telling me
about, we'll go to the museum.'

After an uneventful afternoon, when Maria
was quite obviously on her best behaviour and
out to impress Eloise, they arrived back at the
governor's house in time for tea. Jessie, the
maidservant, had set the meal out in the morning
parlour and Maria sat demurely eating bread
and butter, while she kept an eye on the plate of
small fancy cakes which Mrs Dean had baked.
She stuffed the last morsel of bread into her
mouth and her small hand shot out for the cakes;
then she hesitated. 'I've eaten my bread and
butter, Ellen. Now may I have a cake?'

Eloise nodded her assent.

'And you will tell Papa that I have been a very
good girl?'

'Of course.'

'I believe I heard the front door open,' Maria
cried, dropping the cake on her plate. 'You can
tell him now, Ellen.' Without waiting for permission
to leave the table, she jumped up and ran
to the door. 'Papa, come here.'

Caine strode into the room, but as Eloise made
to rise to her feet he motioned her to sit down.
'Don't get up.' He lifted Maria off the ground,
kissed her on the forehead and then set her back
on her feet. 'Go and ask Mrs Dean to send in a
fresh pot of tea and another cup for me, please,
Maria.'

'Why not ring the bell for Jessie, Papa?' Maria
demanded with an impudent smile.

He gave her a gentle push towards the door.
'Because I want a few words with Miss Monk in
private. Now do as you're told, poppet.'

Maria flounced out of the room and Caine took
a seat opposite Eloise. She caught her breath,
wondering what he could have to say that could
not be said in front of his daughter. Perhaps Miss
Marchant had been causing mischief again?

'Don't look so alarmed, Ellen. I just wanted to
know how you got on with Maria this afternoon.'

Eloise breathed a sigh of relief, and she smiled.
'Perfectly well, sir. She was on her best
behaviour.'

'Jessie tells me that you took her to the
museum.'

'Yes, sir.'

He said nothing for a moment and then he rose
from his seat and walked over to the fireplace,
resting one hand on the mantelshelf and staring
down into the flames. 'Ellen, you are something
of a mystery. I know almost nothing of your
background.'

'There is not much to tell, sir.'

He turned his head to give her a piercing look.
'If I am to entrust my daughter to your care, I
must know a little more about you. For instance,
it bothers me that an educated young woman
like yourself should be in such a dire situation
that she is prepared to undertake almost any
kind of work merely to put a roof over her head.'

'Circumstances change, sir.'

'Damn it, woman. Will you never give me a
straight answer?'

Eloise rose to her feet, facing him angrily. 'I
don't think my personal life is any of your concern,
sir. As long as I do my work well and my
behaviour does not give rise to concern, then
quite frankly I don't see that my past has anything
to do with you.'

'It has everything to do with me if I am to pay
your wages. I might even be giving shelter to a
felon.'

'I've done nothing wrong. Now, if you don't
mind, it's time for me to return to the nursery or
I will be in trouble with Matron.' She turned to
leave the parlour, but Caine caught her by the
wrist.

'You have fobbed me off with half-truths for
long enough. Who are you really, Ellen Monk? Is
that your real name, or is that a lie too?'