Dream a Little Dream (37 page)

‘No, I don’t bleedin’ understand, Mr Robert. But I’ll tell yer something for nothing. Wild horses wouldn’t drag me out of that door on Saturday, now. I’ll be staying out of bloody curiosity. So put that in yer ruddy pipe and smoke it.’

‘You drive a hard bargain, Agnes Weatherby. But I ask you to be patient with me. I may have some news of importance tomorrow, or at the latest, on Friday. In the meanwhile, if you hear any screaming and shouting, or things being thrown around, take no notice. It will be my wife taking revenge on me for putting her in her place, at long last.’

‘Ooh, er! Now that does sound exciting, I must say. Before I go to bed I’d better check we have plenty of lint and bandages, to dress the wounded soldiers. But I don’t want no blood spilt, mind, ’cos it’s the very devil to wash out.’

‘I’m very good at ducking, Agnes, so have no fear.’ Robert waved to her from the door, before making his way upstairs to see his children. The housekeeper appeared to have calmed down now, and in agreeing to stay on, she had lightened his burden a little. But nagging away at the back of his mind was how he would get through tomorrow, when faced with the combined fury of his wife and Victoria. He found the prospect daunting, knowing they both had vicious tongues and tempers. He also believed they were capable of using physical violence to get their own way. But no matter what they resorted to, they wouldn’t get him to change his mind, on that he was determined. And no matter what, he would get through the ordeal by reminding himself that at the end of it, he would be going to Chester. There, in Maureen’s arms, he would find the comfort and companionship his heart and mind craved.

Abbie sat at the kitchen table the next morning taking her time with her breakfast. Her father and Nigel had left for work, but she dawdled, wanting to spend as much time as she could with the housekeeper. ‘If you’d gone, Agnes, I would have gone with you.’

‘That would have been a bit awkward, sunshine, wouldn’t it? I couldn’t have taken yer in me case ’cos it’s too small.’ Agnes turned from the stove to stroke the rich dark hair. ‘So it’s just as well I’m not going, isn’t it? Besides, yer wouldn’t want to leave yer dad, or Mr Nigel, would yer?’

Abbie giggled. ‘No, I’d have had to bring them along, too!’

The housekeeper heard voices outside and put a finger to her lips. ‘Not a word.’

‘Good morning, Aggie.’ Kitty stopped in her tracks when she saw who was sitting at the table. ‘Good morning, Miss Abbie.’

‘Good morning to you, Kitty, and to you, Jessie. What’s the weather like outside?’

‘Fair to middling, Miss.’ Kitty thought for a few seconds,
then
said, ‘I don’t think yer’ll need yer fleecy lined ones on, it’s not that cold.’

‘That’s enough out of you, Kitty Higgins,’ Agnes said, removing Abbie’s cup and plate. ‘And it’s time you were on yer way, young lady, or yer’ll be late.’

‘There yer are,’ Kitty said, nodding her head. ‘She’s told two of us off in one go. Naggy Aggie, that’s what we’ll have to call her.’ The little woman stood on tip-toe to hang her coat on the hook behind the door. ‘Why the bleedin’ hell they had to put the hook so high up I’ll never know. Must have been a giant what done it.’

‘Watch your language, please, we have company.’ The housekeeper turned her head to hide a smile. ‘Miss Abbie isn’t used to hearing swear words.’

‘Yes, I am! I hear you swear, Agnes, and my Grandma knows a lot of swear words.’

‘Does she, queen?’ The cleaner’s pixie-like face beamed and her eyes shone. All signs of a joke to come. ‘Will yer ask her to write them down for me, queen, so I can keep up with me mate, Aggie Weatherby? Sometimes the air’s blue in this kitchen with her carry-on, and I get so embarrassed I don’t know where to put me face. Words I’ve never heard of in me life, and I couldn’t tell yer what they mean if yer paid me! I had a very sheltered upbringing, and my old mother, God rest her soul, would turn in her grave if she knew the riff-raff I was mixing with.’ Kitty glanced at the housekeeper. ‘I could have used a bigger word than mixing, but it’s slipped me mind. It was ass . . . something or other.’

Agnes was really enjoying herself. This was just what she needed after the awful day yesterday. ‘I think the word yer want is associating, sunshine.’

Kitty beamed. ‘How many letters in that, queen?’

The housekeeper counted them off on her fingers. ‘Eleven.’

‘She’s not half clever, my mate, it’s not only swear words she knows. Anyway, queen, would yer tell yer Grandma I’d be beholden to her if she’d write all the swear words down
for
me, so I can finish me education?’

‘Miss Abbie would be better employed going on her way and bringing her own education up-to-date. So, come on, sunshine, poppy off. If yer have to wait for a tram, yer’ll be late for yer first class.’

‘I’m going, I’m going, I’m going! I don’t feel like it this morning, but needs must when the devil drives.’ As she rose from her chair, Abbie smiled at Jessie who was always very quiet when a member of the family was present. ‘Are you settling down in your job, Jessie?’

‘Oh, yes, Miss.’ A lovely smile came with a curtsy. ‘Aggie and Kitty take good care of me, and I really like it.’

Abbie looked at Kitty who had mischief written all over her. ‘Are you always so happy, Kitty?’

‘No point in being otherwise, queen, ’cos yer won’t get many friends if yer walk around with a miserable gob on yer. Take Naggy Aggie here, she hasn’t got a friend in the world, and it’s all down to the miserable clock on her. All day long I’m telling her jokes to try and make her smile, but I might as well talk to the wall.’

The housekeeper clapped her hands together before jerking her thumb towards the back door. ‘Will yer get going Miss Abbie, so I can give these two a cup of tea before they start work?’

‘I know when I’m not wanted.’ The girl picked up her briefcase and as she was passing, she kissed the housekeeper on the cheek. ‘I’ll see you tonight, Agnes.’

‘You will, sunshine, and you take care how yer go.’

It was nine o’clock and Agnes was filling the breakfast serving dishes when Victoria flounced into the kitchen. She was wearing a floor-length pink satin dressing-gown, tied at the waist, and the matching mules on her feet were adorned with feathers. ‘Agnes, Mr Charles is calling about ten o’clock, and I would like Jessie to change into her maid’s uniform to open the door to him. She would look far more efficient, don’t you think?’

‘Whatever you say, Miss Victoria.’ She’s brazen, she is, thought Agnes. The trouble she caused yesterday and now she was acting as though it had never happened. ‘Was there anything else?’

For a brief moment, Victoria was taken off-guard by the abrupt question. She’d been hoping to build up some dialogue to try and gauge the housekeeper’s mood. Something that would give an indication as to whether she still intended to leave on Saturday, or whether Abbie had been able to talk her round. But bold as she was, the stern face gazing unblinkingly at her told her clearly she didn’t stand a snowball’s chance in hell of finding anything out. ‘Will you see Jessie looks presentable, then, Agnes?’

‘As you wish, Miss Victoria.’

Her lack of subservience began to grate on Victoria’s nerves. This woman was getting paid to do her bidding, and should show more respect. Tossing her head, she said, ‘Oh, and keep Kitty out of the way, will you. She looks like a bag of old rags.’

That was something Agnes was not prepared to stand and take. Not about her mate, Kitty, who, as a person, made ten of this arrogant young upstart. ‘Shall I stay out of sight as well, Miss Victoria? Yer see, Mr Robert bought us all new uniforms last week, so if Kitty looks like a bag of old rags, it follows that I must look the same. Oh, my uniform isn’t black, but it would be stupid to put white on Kitty when she’s on her hands and knees scrubbing floors and cleaning up the waste left lying around by the family.’

‘I really don’t have time to stand chatting when Mr Charles will be here in an hour and I still have to dress and eat breakfast. Just make sure that both my orders are carried out to my satisfaction, Agnes.’ When she reached the door, she called over her shoulder, ‘Mr Charles will expect refreshment – make sure it is to his liking.’

The housekeeper didn’t know how she kept her mouth closed, except that it was with great difficulty. That was one
young
lady who deserved to be taken down a peg or two, and given a ruddy good hiding into the bargain. Agnes wasn’t that keen on Mr Charles, he had a wandering eye and was too sweet to be wholesome, but she felt sorry for him if he intended to tie himself to Miss Victoria for life. No one deserved that sort of fate.

The housekeeper carried the tray through to the dining room and spread the covered dishes out on the sideboard. There was no sign of Miss Edwina or Victoria, so she went in search of Jessie. And when told she was to wear the frilly lace cap and apron, the young girl’s pretty face lit up. ‘Can I get changed now, Aggie?’

‘No, there’s plenty of time. You finish Miss Abbie’s room, then come down. Now where will I find Kitty?’

‘Someone taking my name in vain, are they?’ Kitty came out of Nigel’s room and began to act the goat by using a feather duster as a sword. Thrusting, ducking and diving, she advanced towards the housekeeper and brandished the feather duster under her nose. ‘Yer money or yer life.’

‘Ye’re tickling me nose, sunshine.’

‘Better than tickling yer fancy, queen! Now hand yer money over, or else.’

‘It’ll have to be or else, ’cos I haven’t got no money. And you’ll have no job if Tilly Mint or Tilly Flop come out and find yer acting daft. I only wanted to see yer to say we’ll have our break from a quarter past ten this morning. That’s an extra fifteen minutes.’

‘How come, queen? Has someone died and we’re having a little service for them, out of respect, I mean? If I’d known I’d have picked a few flowers out of the garden when Pete had his back turned.’

‘I thought I had a good imagination, sunshine, but you beat me hollow. No, Mr Charles is calling at ten, Jessie is to open the door to him in her new outfit, and then the ladies will be entertaining for at least an hour. Which means we can take it easy. That’s not to say the jobs don’t get done properly, ’cos
I’ll
be checking. It just means working a bit faster so we have a longer break.’

A door opposite to where they were standing opened, and out came Victoria. ‘Is this all you have to do with your time, gossip?’

‘I was just passing on your orders, Miss Victoria,’ Agnes told her with the innocence of a baby. ‘But we all know what’s expected of us now, so I’ll get back to me kitchen and the dirty dishes. Jessie, I’ll see you when yer’ve finished in Miss Abbie’s room.’ Chuckling silently, the housekeeper walked down the stairs behind Victoria. With a bit of luck Mr Charles might propose today, and wouldn’t that be the best news ever? Not for Mr Charles, like, but that was his worry.

‘Do I look all right, Aggie?’ Jessie’s emotions were very mixed. She was happy and proud, but also terrified. ‘I hope I don’t say nothing wrong.’

‘All yer have to do, sunshine, is open the door, smile, give a little bob, and say “Good morning, Mr Charles.” If he has a hat, you take it from him and lay it on the table in the middle of the hall. Then you walk in front of him to the drawing room, open the door and announce him. When he’s in the room, you close the door quietly and come along here to tell me how yer got on. And when they ring for refreshments, you can help me serve those. Yer might as well get the wear out of the uniform while yer can, sunshine.’

‘I’ve never met this Mr Charles, is he kind?’

‘Yes, he’s very friendly, so you’ve no problems. Now turn around so I can get a good look at yer.’ The flawless beauty of this fresh-faced young girl never failed to strike Agnes. And the innocence in her eyes added to the beauty. ‘Yer look grand, sunshine, I bet yer mam would be proud of yer.’

‘Ooh, there’s the bell, Aggie, are yer sure I look all right?’

‘Yer look lovely, just don’t forget to smile.’ Agnes patted her bottom. ‘You’ll be fine.’

Kitty was on her hands and knees on the landing polishing
the
spindles of the staircase, when the bell rang. With a smile on her face, she sat back on her heels and waited for Jessie’s big moment. She watched the girl walk towards the front door, and she looked so pretty, the cleaner couldn’t have felt more proud if she’d been her own daughter.

‘Good morning, Mr Charles.’ Jessie kept the smile on her face and did a little bob, even though her whole body was shaking with nerves. ‘Can I take your hat?’

Charles Chisholm was speechless for a few seconds. He’d never seen anyone so lovely in his life. ‘Well, well, who do we have here?’ He held on to his hat and stood in front of Jessie to bar her way.

‘My name’s Jessie, sir, and I’m a junior maid.’ The girl’s face reddened and she stared down at her shoes. ‘Can I take your hat, now, please?’

Charles put a finger under her chin and raised her face. ‘You are a very pretty girl, why haven’t I seen you before? I’ll have to come more often if you are to open the door to me.’

Kitty, hidden away on the landing, looked on with mounting horror. Jessie’s head was being propped up by Charles’s finger, and she was forced to look him in the face. Kitty could almost smell the young girl’s fear and embarrassment. If he doesn’t stop, the cleaner thought, I’m going to tell Aggie and I don’t care whether Miss Victoria likes it or not.

‘How old are you, Jessie?’ Charles asked, his face getting closer. ‘You’re quite the prettiest thing I’ve ever seen in a long time.’

That does it, thought Kitty, the poor girl looks terrified. Someone’s got to put a stop to it before he goes too far. These rich people think they can do what they like with servants. He won’t see me if I slip down the stairs, he’s got his back to me and is too interested in Jessie to hear me. With her hands holding up her skirt, the cleaner tip-toed down the stairs and headed for the kitchen.

‘Mother is looking for a new junior, Jessie.’ Charles had a liking for young girls, and this beauty was like a rose-bud
waiting
to burst into full bloom. Young and innocent, the perfect combination. ‘Would you like to come and work in my home? I’d make sure you were well looked after.’ His face was within inches of hers when he felt himself being pulled around and away from the now crying girl.