The Royal Lacemaker (14 page)

The clatter of boots on the cobbles and
snatches of cheery chatter heralded the arrival of the ladies for their day's
work. Lily looked at Mrs Bodney.

‘Don't worry, Lily,
I'll see to them whilst you change,' she said, sweeping from the
room.

Lily followed Tilda up the stairs and
waited while she laid out the black dress and cap Mrs Bodney had specified. Then as
the little maid hovered in the doorway, clearly hoping Lily would confide in her,
she smiled her thanks and firmly pushed the door closed.

Gazing around the little bedroom, she
noticed it was clean and tidy but as sparsely furnished as the room at Mrs
Chicke's had been. To her surprise, there was no evidence of any personal
effects other than a hairbrush lying next to the washstand. It was in stark contrast
to the parlour downstairs.

Hurriedly she changed her clothes before
returning to the parlour, where she noticed the vase of flowers had been removed and
a tray piled high with toast and preserve set in its place. Embarrassingly, her
stomach growled but Mrs Bodney merely smiled and gestured for her to help herself
whilst she poured tea for them both.

Hungrily, snatching up the toast, she
bit into it. It was only after helping herself to a second piece that she
noticed Mrs Bodney had cut hers into triangles and was daintily
nibbling at the edge of one. Not wishing her employer to think she had the manners
of a street urchin, she made a supreme effort to take smaller bites. Picking up her
cup, Lily marvelled at how dark Mrs Bodney's tea always was. At home, their
tea got weaker by the day as the leaves were mashed and then remashed until they
were virtually drinking hot water, although she thought it would be rude to mention
this. Finally, when their plates were empty and they'd drunk their tea, Mrs
Bodney summoned Tilda to clear away. Then she turned to Lily.

‘Right, now to work. First of all,
you are right in your assumption that Anna has something wrong with her eyes. Oh, I
know you didn't name names,' she said as Lily looked worried.
‘However, I have been working in the lace business long enough to recognize
the signs of someone losing their sight.'

‘Oh, that's terrible,'
Lily gasped. ‘I didn't realize it was that bad.'

‘As you know it is a hazard of our
trade,' her employer said, shrugging. ‘Naturally, I will help her all I
can. Even though it's summer, I'd let her light a candle if I could
justify the expense. However, every penny I spend is vetted by the
Palace.'

Lily sighed, thinking how tragic it was.
It was so unfair that some had so much whilst others had to struggle.

‘I will arrange for her to see Dr
Trimble, but in the meantime I will let her wind thread onto the bobbins and do any
other jobs we can find for her. We simply cannot afford to get behind
schedule.'

‘No, Mrs Bodney,' Lily
agreed, knowing her employer
was right, yet feeling nothing but
sympathy for poor Anna. It was harsh that a woman who'd worked long hours at
her lace making to provide for her family should be losing her sharp sight and yet
it was indeed a hazard of their trade.

‘Now are there any other problems
I should know about?' Lily thought of the ladies at High House and, as if
she'd read her thoughts, Mrs Bodney asked, ‘What about the other ladies
you've been looking after in my absence? Are they working well?'

‘I think they should be on
schedule. I was only able to pay a couple of visits as it takes so much time out of
the working day.'

‘Yes, that's true,'
said Mrs Bodney, studying her thoughtfully for a few moments. Then, as was her way,
she became brisk again. ‘Now, we need to start making our account ready for
the Queen's Mistress of the Robes. The cost of the lace for the wedding dress
is estimated to be around £1,000.'

‘One thousand pounds for just one
dress?' Lily gasped.

‘Yes, it's a royal sum. We
will spend this morning setting up the ledger detailing the materials used, and then
this afternoon we will work out the wages paid to date. From then on it will be your
responsibility to update the necessary information on a monthly basis.' So
saying, she took out a huge book, along with numerous slips of paper, which she
proceeded to separate into different piles. She passed the first set to Lily.

‘Now these are the purchasing
invoices. You read them out and I'll enter the figures into the ledger. Then
this afternoon I'll read out and you can write up the ledger.'

Lily stared at Mrs Bodney in dismay.

‘Well, come
along, Lily. Don't stand there gaping like a fish out of water.'

‘I'm really sorry, Mrs
Bodney, but I can't do this.'

‘Don't be stupid, of course
you can.' Mrs Bodney snapped. Time was of the essence and she was fast losing
patience.

‘But, Mrs Bodney, I
am
stupid. I can't read,' she wailed.

As Mrs Bodney stared at her aghast, Lily
lowered her eyes, blinking back the tears that were threatening. Determined not to
cry, she concentrated on the rug on the floor, tracing its pattern with her boot as
she waited for the other woman to speak. Despite her best efforts over the past few
weeks, she knew she'd be asked to leave and would end up having to go into
service after all. She shuddered, for wasn't the squire just waiting to make
her life a living hell?

‘Lily, did you hear what I
said?'

She started back to the present. As if
she wasn't in enough trouble she'd been caught woolgathering yet again.
Her day was going from bad to worse.

‘Sorry, Mrs Bodney, I'll get
my things and leave right away. Don't worry; I'll see your clothes are
washed before I return them.'

‘Lily, what are you wittering on
about? If you'd been listening, you would have heard what I asked you. I
don't suppose you can write either?'

‘No, Mrs Bodney. There
wasn't a charity school in our hamlet and Mother and Father couldn't
afford for me to take the time to journey to the nearest one like some of my friends
did. Besides, they needed the money I could bring in helping Mother with the lace
making.'

‘Evidently I've been away
too long. I'd quite forgotten
things were different in these
parts,' Mrs Bodney said, shaking her head. ‘You're such a bright
girl, Lily. And you speak so well, I'd assumed you'd been educated to
charity school standard, at least. Presumably you are not the only one here who
can't read or write?'

Lily shrugged. ‘I really
couldn't say, Mrs Bodney,' she whispered.

‘Well, it's not too late to
learn.'

Lily stared at her employer in
disbelief. ‘But I'm seventeen. Could I really learn my letters, Mrs
Bodney?' she gasped.

‘Yes, Lily, you could. It's
something we can discuss later. In the meantime, I have no desire to lose a good
lace maker and overseer. I must confess this is an inconvenience, but nothing we
can't work around. It just saddens me that here we are, well into the
nineteenth century, and a bright young lady like yourself has been denied the chance
of even a rudimentary schooling.' She shook her head, looking up at the
lilies, which Tilda had now placed on the mantel over the fire. ‘Lily, the
message that came with your flowers, has anyone read it to you?'

‘No.'

‘Did you know who had sent them to
you?'

‘Not until you said,' she
answered quietly, bending her head in shame.

‘Oh, Lily, how awful it must be
not to be able to read or write,' Mrs Bodney exclaimed. ‘Not only did Mr
Mountsford send you these beautiful flowers, he penned a delightful poem to
accompany them. If you'd like to give me the card, I could read it to
you.'

Lily still couldn't understand why
Mr Mountsford had
sent her flowers but she was curious to know
what his poem said, so, delving into her pocket, she brought out the now crumpled
card and handed it over.

Mrs Bodney cleared her throat then
read:

I send these flowers to make amend,
perchance my candour did offend.

Oh Lily Rose of fairest face, with
speedwell eyes and dainty grace

Take pity on a merchant's
plea; that I may take you out to tea?

R. M.

Lily's lips twitched and then she
burst out laughing. ‘Why should he want to take me out to tea when he can have
a cup here?'

This time, it was Mrs Bodney's
turn to shake her head. ‘Lily, dear, it's terribly unkind to mock
someone who clearly wishes to spend time in your company. For the sake of my
business, I beg that when he next calls, you receive him courteously.'

‘Yes, Mrs Bodney.'

‘Now, whilst I'm certainly
not asking you to compromise yourself in any way, you must understand that relations
with our merchants and customers are, well, that is to say, they can be somewhat
sensitive. Any suspicion that you find his approach amusing would offend him deeply
and could cause him to take his trade elsewhere. Not that I'm suggesting you
should encourage any improper advances, you understand,' her employer added
hastily.

‘Oh, I wouldn't. I'm
betrothed to Tom, after all.'

‘Indeed you are,
Lily, and he is a fisherman, is he not?'

‘It's a respectable living,
Mrs Bodney,' she said, her chin jutting up defiantly.

‘Of course it is, Lily, and
apologies if I inadvertently implied otherwise. Now when Mr Mountsford next calls, I
suggest you entertain him to tea here in the parlour. It's a comfortable room
away from prying eyes,' she said, nodding her head in the direction of the
room next door where the ladies were working. ‘I know he is a respectable
merchant; however, should you at any time feel uncomfortable in his presence, you
have only to ring the bell and Tilda will appear.' She nodded towards the
little brass bell on the table.

Like I did before, Lily thought,
thinking back to the squire's visit.

She glanced around the room, taking in
the comfortable furnishings and colourful rugs on the floor, appreciating for the
first time how much it contrasted with the rest of the cottage. As ever, Mrs Bodney
was ahead of her.

‘In order to gain a good
reputation and trade profitably, it is vital to appear successful. That is why I
always entertain my merchants and clients in here.'

‘Sort of all fur and no frock, as
my dear mother would have said.'

‘Appearance and perception are
all,' said Mrs Bodney, pursing her lips. ‘Now let's return to our
earlier conversation. You've been to see a room that's become vacant so
can I take it you're intending to move to the village sometime
soon?'

‘Yes, Mrs Bodney. We've been
served an eviction order
by our landlord, Squire Clinsden. Aunt
Elizabeth and Robert are moving to Ilminster and Beth is staying in Coombe with our
neighbour Mrs Goode. Harriet Goode is her best friend.'

‘Indeed. Robert is your brother
and Beth your sister?' Lily nodded. ‘Your parents had just the three of
you?'

‘Oh, no, Timothy was born frail.
He got the consumption and died when he was three, and then the twins were born
sleeping. They're all buried in the churchyard along with Father and
Mother,' she sighed. ‘Still, at least they're together now. Do you
believe in heaven, Mrs Bodney?' she asked.

‘Indeed I do, Lily. It can be a
comfort to think we'll be reunited with our loved ones when our time on this
earth is over. Now, you need to find somewhere to live?'

‘Yes.'

‘And you managed to secure this
room you went to see yesterday?'

‘The landlady insists she needs to
see two testimonials. I said you would provide one …' Lily stuttered to a
halt. ‘Sorry, Mrs Bodney, it would have been good manners to ask
first.'

The other woman, a stickler for
propriety, nodded in agreement.

‘I shall of course furnish you
with one, and presumably your present landlord, the squire, will as well?'

Lily was about to tell her that the
squire might be difficult but, remembering it was her employer she was talking to,
checked herself. ‘Yes, that's right, ma'am.'

‘Well, I'm sure that
won't pose any problem. Now we really must get down to business, we've a
lot to sort out
today and I must see how the ladies at High House
have been faring.'

‘The lace is going to look
absolutely beautiful when all the flowers and leaves are joined together. Imagine
having a wedding gown as detailed as that,' Lily said, sighing.

Mrs Bodney smiled and then put a finger
to her lips.

‘Confidentiality, remember, Lily.
Although it is becoming increasingly difficult to keep what we are doing a secret.
Still, we owe it to our dear Queen to try our best. With that in mind, I think it
will now probably be safer to have all the ladies working together.' Lily
looked at her employer in surprise but the woman waved her away. ‘You'd
better return to your duties in the other room. Remember, it's your job to
encourage the ladies to be as productive as possible.'

‘Yes, Mrs Bodney,' she
replied getting up to leave. ‘Thank you for the tea and toast. It was quite
delicious.' Her employer's lips twitched, though Lily couldn't
think what she'd said to amuse her.

As she entered the workroom, Mary looked
up and whispered, ‘Your Tom was looking for you earlier. He wanted to check
you were safe and said he'll be by the stables when you finish this
evening.'

‘Thanks, Mary. Is everything all
right in here?'

The other woman looked disappointed at
the change of subject but nodded and resumed her work. Glancing around the room,
Lily saw Cora and Nell, heads bent, deep in conversation. She coughed and they
looked up quickly. When they saw her, they raised their eyebrows at each other then
resumed their work. Wistfully, Lily remembered the early days when she would have
been
included and thought again that her job hadn't come
without its price. Pulling herself back to the present, she noticed Anna was
measuring out thread and winding bobbins and was pleased to see the woman humming
softly to herself and looking calmer. Sinking onto her stool, Lily pulled her pillow
towards her.

As she worked, her thoughts turned to
Tom. It sounded as if he'd found out she'd not been back to the cottage
the previous evening and wanted to know why. No doubt she'd be in trouble with
her aunt too. How good it was going to be having her own room where she could come
and go as she pleased – well, at least until 10 p.m., she thought, remembering Miss
Chicke's stern face as she'd reeled off the rules of her house. For
Lily, the day she and Tom wed and got a place of their own couldn't come quick
enough.

Lost in thought and lulled by the rhythm
of the bobbins, it seemed no time at all before the shadows had lengthened,
darkening the room until it was impossible to work. She stood up and rang her bell
indicating the day's session was at an end. Relieved, the ladies covered their
pillows then stretched their stiff limbs. Calling good night, they hurried outside,
their companionable chatter carrying back to her on the evening air.

Heavy-hearted, she watched as they
laughed and joked their way down the lane. They were still friendly, but their
actions made it clear that now she was overseer she was no longer one of them.
Moving swiftly from pillow to pillow, checking their work, she was pleased to see
that the lace was perfect, and the pile of sprigs in the middle of the table growing
satisfactorily. Now that Anna was
winding the cotton onto their
empty bobbins, the ladies could work almost continually. Thanking her lucky stars
that things were going well for once, she checked the door to the workroom was
bolted.

Breathing in the early evening air,
laced as ever with the tang of salt, her mood lifted as she made her way towards the
stables. When she'd been lace making with her mother, they'd often taken
their pillows outside and worked in the fresh air.

She'd just reached the hostelry
when Squire Clinsden staggered out of the door, almost falling onto the cobbles in
front of her. He treated her to one of his lecherous leers, letting his gaze rove
deliberately over her body as he leaned over her. Instinctively, she recoiled but he
was too quick for her, his clammy fingers grasping her wrist and pulling her towards
him. She could smell the liquor on his breath and for one dreadful moment she
thought he was going to kiss her. Then, as if remembering he was in a public place,
he let go of her so abruptly she nearly fell.

‘Not long until the summer ball,
young Lily,' he sneered. She was tempted to spit in his eye then remembered
she needed his testimonial.

‘Indeed it isn't,
sir,' she replied, smiling up at him.

Encouraged by her friendly response, he
grinned, clearly wondering whether to push his luck a bit further.

‘Squire Clinsden, I wonder if you
could please provide me with a testimonial? As you know, we shall be leaving the
cottage this month and I need to secure a room in a lodging house here in
Bransbeer.' He looked down at her, taking so long to reply that she wondered
if she should
have waited until he was sober. Then, in a snap, his
manner changed.

‘A testimonial can only be given
once the premises you rent have been inspected and the inventory checked. Of course,
had you accepted the position I so generously offered, you wouldn't be
requiring one. It pays not to upset your landlord, Miss Rose, as you will soon find
out.'

Before she could respond, Ned appeared,
leading his lordship's bay. As he helped the squire into the saddle, Lily took
the opportunity to slip away. Loathsome man, she thought. And although it was
uncharitable of her, she couldn't help wishing he'd fall off and break
his neck.