The Royal Lacemaker (10 page)

‘I'm afraid your lordship
will be disappointed. As I've already said—'

He leaned closer towards her, eyes
narrowing so his brows joined in the middle like a worm, making him look very much
the low life she always thought him to be.

‘I'm never disappointed,
Lily, of that you can be sure. I know what I want and intend to get it. Soon,'
he added, ogling her body so that his meaning was clear. ‘Oh, and I shall be
sending my land agent over to conduct an inventory before quarter-day. It
wouldn't do for you to leave with anything that wasn't yours, would
it?' Then without a backward glance, he strode towards his carriage.

How dare the man? Lily thought, tempted
to pick up the dung his horse had deposited on the path and hurl it after him.

As Lily went over and stood by the
freshly turfed mound of her mother's grave, she was shaking with anger, tinged
with sadness.

‘Lily, Grace has invited us to
share a bite with her,' Aunt Elizabeth called. Not wishing her aunt to see her
in such turmoil, she turned and forced a smile.

‘That's kind of her, but I
have things I need to do,' she answered. She wanted to be at home for she was
hoping Tom would visit.

‘Well, we'll collect the
girls from Sunday school on our way,' her aunt said, eyeing her
speculatively.

Lily nodded and then watched as the two
women hurried up the lane, jabbering like the crows on the church tower.

All the way back to the cottage, Lily
fumed over her confrontation with the squire, and her resolve not to go into service
for him hardened like glue.

By the time she had finished her midday
snack of bread and cheese, her wrath had subsided, leaving her feeling empty and
tired. She was clearing away when there was a tap at the door.

‘Well, how's my pretty petal
today? Still going to make us our fortune, are you?' Tom asked, grinning.

Instantly her mood lifted. ‘Well,
I've had nothing else to do, seeing as how my betrothed hasn't seen fit
to visit
recently,' she quipped, showing him into the living
room.

‘Not through choice, I can tell
you,' he said frowning. ‘When I was out baiting up the pots I spotted
several rows of corks bobbing close to the caves, and you know what that means?
Someone's been out sowing the crop.'

‘Sowing the crop? It sounds like
you were in a field, not on the water.'

‘Oh, Lily,' he said, shaking
his head, ‘sometimes I can't believe how naïve you are. It's an
expression smugglers use when it's not safe for them to land their cargo. They
pitch it overboard, having first weighted down the casks so they bob just beneath
the surface of the water. Then they lay out rows of corks as markers. Word is, this
time it's kegs of brandy from France.' Lily wrinkled her nose and Tom
shrugged.

‘'Tis the way of things,
Lily, what with taxes being so high. Anyway, the kegs haven't been there long
but I reckon they'll be wanting to reap the crops soon. That's bringing
them ashore to you, land lubber.'

She made a face. ‘So, what's
this sowing and reaping the crop got to do with you not visiting me? Smuggling goes
on all the time. Everyone knows that. Terrible men,' she said, shuddering.

‘Yes, but things have changed
since they installed those naval officers in the coast station down at Coombe Mouth.
Now the Preventatives spend their time looking out over Lyme Bay and when they spot
any suspicious activity, they tip off the Revenue.'

‘Well?' she asked, trying to
follow what he was saying.

‘The smugglers try to fool the
excise men by acting as decoys and rowing out in empty boats. While their
attention's diverted, the carriers load the goods onto
their mules and transport them overland. I've heard the most popular route
they use is up over the cliff path from Bransbeer.'

‘But that's the path I use
to get to Mrs Bodney's,' she gasped in dismay.

‘I know, but you needn't
worry, they only travel under the cover of darkness which, thank heavens,
doesn't fall until late this time of year. I wouldn't want you using
that path come the winter, mind,' he said, so protectively that Lily felt a
warm glow inside. ‘I can't understand why you won't take the
position up at the manor,' he said, looking at her closely. ‘Still,
I'll get to the bottom of it one of these days.'

‘I still don't see why that
stopped you from coming to see me?' Lily said quickly. The last thing she
wanted was another inquisition about the squire. ‘You would never get involved
in anything illegal like that, would you?'

‘Of course not, but the smugglers
aren't choosy whose boats they steal so I'm keeping a close watch on
mine. That's why I've painted the spars on my lugger white, so they show
up in the dark. I'm hoping that'll deter the smugglers from using
it.'

‘Oh, Tom, you hear such dreadful
things. Promise me you'll keep away from those frightful villains?' she
asked him, her eyes wide with worry.

‘Course I will,' he said,
patting her shoulder reassuringly. Then getting to his feet, he added,
‘Anyway, can't stop now, I've something to sort out.'

‘But you've not long
arrived,' she said, looking disappointed.

‘Look, Lily,
I'm as keen as you that we be wed the minute we can and I think I've
found another way to make a bit extra. If it works out, I'll be bringing in at
least as much as you, if not a bit more besides,' he said, looking
excited.

‘Tom, I thought you'd got
over that silly nonsense,' she sighed, shaking her head.

‘It's not nonsense for a man
to want to provide for his future wife, Lily Rose,' he replied. As he stood in
front of her, chin tilted upwards and that steely look in his eye, she smiled
inwardly, for was it not his spirited manner that had attracted her to him in the
first place?

‘Besides, as I've said
before, it seems you've acquired a taste for wearing those grand frocks, and
right nice you look too,' he said quickly, as she made to protest.

‘You know Mrs Bodney's only
loaned me this. She said, as overseer, I need to look respectable when the merchants
call.'

‘Then I'll need to earn
enough to buy you one of your own, though I hear you're good at the
hobnobbing, Lily,' he said giving her a wry grin. The tone of his voice
puzzled her but before she could ask him what he meant, he'd gone. His choice
of words worried her. Was it merely coincidence that Molly had said the selfsame
thing?

The cottage seemed quiet after Tom had
left and, feeling restless after his talk about the smugglers and her job with Mrs
Bodney, she decided to go to the barn and see if Rob was there. Perhaps he could
have a word with Tom about this obsession of his to earn as much as she. They were
good friends, after all.

As she went outside, she remembered how
they'd met at the Cuckoo Fair the previous April. She'd been gazing at
the brightly coloured ribbons set out on one of the stalls and
thinking how beautifully the cornflower blue would trim her Sunday bonnet, when a
portly gentleman, well the worse for liquor, had bumped into her. Suddenly, this
tall, fair-haired man had reached out and steadied her and the attraction had been
instantaneous. Then her brother had made the introductions. When Tom had called at
their cottage the next day and presented her with the ribbon, she'd been
touched at his kindness, especially when Rob told her he looked after his widowed
mother and didn't have much money to spend. He'd also, bravely, asked
her father's permission to step out with her.

Smiling at the memory, she hurried round
to the barn. However, it was empty and she wondered where Rob could be. Oh, well,
he'll turn up, she thought. Thinking it was time she paid Beth a visit, she
went back to grab her shawl and then hurried down the lane to Mrs Goode's
cottage.

Beth squealed with delight when she saw
Lily, throwing herself into her arms and chattering so quickly she could hardly make
out what the little girl was saying. She was pleased to see her little sister
looking so happy, though.

‘Come and look at my lace,
Lily,' Beth said, pulling her into the living room with its homely smell of
baking.

‘Hello, Lily,' Mrs Goode
greeted her. ‘Elizabeth and I have been having a lovely old chat about when we
were young uns.'

‘Now then, Grace, don't you
go giving away any secrets,' her aunt said, blushing as she got to her
feet.

‘Look, Lily,' Beth said,
tugging at her skirt and holding out a sprig of lace for her to see.

‘Why,
that's beautiful, Beth,' she said, genuinely surprised at how good the
work was.

‘Yes, she's got the makings
of a fine lace maker, just like her dear mother, God rest her soul,' said Mrs
Goode. Lily felt a pang. Surely, she should have been the one to teach her little
sister the art of lace making. Pushing aside her feelings, she smiled and patted
Beth on the head.

‘Well, come along, Lily,
we'd best get back before Rob returns and wonders where we've got
to,' her aunt chivvied. Feeling guilty that her visit had been so brief, she
turned to say goodbye but her sister had already disappeared. Through the window,
Lily could see her playing outside with her little friend Harriet and she guessed
her visit had already been forgotten.

‘Beth seems happy but I still feel
guilty about not being around more for her,' Lily said to her aunt as they
made their way back up the lane.

‘Well, you shouldn't. We
have to make the best of circumstances in this life, as I should know only too
well.' Lily looked at her sharply but her aunt, seemingly oblivious,
continued, ‘Beth is settled and it's no good bringing her back to the
cottage then having to find somewhere else for her to go in a couple of weeks. That
is, unless you've changed your mind about working for the squire?'

Groaning inwardly, Lily shook her
head.

‘I couldn't help noticing he
was waiting for you after church this morning. I have to say I didn't like the
way he was gawping at you, young Lily, so you be careful. Happen I was wrong not to
listen to what you said about him after all.'

‘Yes,' Lily said, with
feeling. ‘I'm no liar, I promise you.'

Her aunt turned to look at her. ‘I
realize that now, Lily,
and I apologize for thinking otherwise.
I've heard talk about the squire since I've been back. Men like him grab
what they want then off they go, leaving the likes of you to pick up the
pieces.'

Lily stared at her aunt in
amazement.

‘Oh, I may be a spinster, young
Lily, but I'm not as green as I'm lettuce-looking. I'll have you
know I had my fair share of attention in the past, and not all was welcome, so I
know what I'm talking about.' As her aunt stood there imparting her
pearls of wisdom, Lily could not help noticing what a fine-looking woman she was
with her tumble of dark hair, similar to her own, curling around her shoulders.

‘I'm sure you did, Aunt
Elizabeth. I bet you were quite pretty when you were young …' Her voice
tailed off as she realized how rude she sounded.

‘I got by, young lady. As I said,
I know what I'm talking about so you'd do well to listen. These things
can have far-reaching consequences.'

Lily pushed open the door to the cottage
then waited, feeling there was something else her aunt wanted to say, but the woman
hurried inside and began poking the fire. ‘There, that's better,'
she said, holding up her hands to the flames that now blazed. ‘Anyway, you
haven't told me what it was the squire wanted this morning.'

‘He asked me to serve at table at
the summer ball he's holding up at the manor. Oh, yes, and he said something
about an inventory being carried out before we leave here. I mean, as if we'd
take anything that's not ours. By the way, I haven't seen Rob this
morning. Do you know where he is?'

Before her aunt could
answer, the door clattered open and her brother stood there, his face wreathed in
smiles. As he crossed the room, though, Lily couldn't help noticing his limp
was more pronounced than usual. Aunt Elizabeth grinned.

‘Judging from the look on your
face, young man, I'd say your journey was successful?'

‘It was indeed, Aunt, and I
can't tell you how good it feels. Although I must confess I'm tired out
now,' he said, sinking gratefully into the chair.

Lily looked from one to the other.
‘Will someone please tell me what's going on?'

‘Oh, Lily, it's simply the
best news. I've been offered a position with Uncle Vincent. You know he runs a
fancy repository in Ilminster? Well, he's moving to larger premises in the
town and needs an assistant. I'm to be his apprentice in the clock and watch
making business.'

His face was flushed with excitement and
Lily's heart gladdened. His whole demeanour seemed to have changed and, with a
flash of insight, she realized it was because he now had a purpose in life.

‘Congratulations, Robert,
that's wonderful news,' she said, crossing the room and kissing his
cheek. ‘I wondered where you'd gone.'

‘Yes, it is. I was speaking to
Uncle Vincent after Mother's funeral and he asked what I intended to do with
my future. When I said I had no real plans, he suggested I should visit him at his
repository. I caught a lift with the carter first thing this morning.'