A Family For Christmas (28 page)

James grimaced. ‘Don't know much
about that kind of thing, working with leather and oak bark. Still, I guess we have the creative
side of things in common.' He turned and smiled at her. ‘You're looking really
nice this evening. Not as formal as the other day, or as dirty,' he teased.

‘I don't know what you must have
thought of me. I couldn't believe it when I got back to my room and saw how dishevelled I
was. Oh, I nearly forgot,' Eliza said, delving into her basket and drawing out his
kerchief. ‘All the dirty marks have come out.'

‘Thank you,' he said, taking it and
staring at it solemnly.

‘Is something wrong?' she asked.

‘I guess I'll just have to rely on my
natural charm to entice you to walk out with me in future.' Looking at his serious
expression her heart soared.

The next few weeks were the happiest she had ever
spent. Mrs Buttons appeared with her new ‘walking out' dress and the formidable hat,
which Eliza vowed she'd never wear. She did manage to persuade her to remove the
flamboyant gold bow, which she hid in her box in case
Monsieur should ask any questions. Then the woman handed her a
length of leftover material.

‘Make yourself another skirt, ducks. Best
not tell Monsieur, though,' she said, tapping the side of her nose with her finger, as was
her way. ‘What he don't know won't hurt him, and I'm sure your young
follower will appreciate you looking all natural and pretty, like. Besides, it's healthier
you walking out with someone like him, rather than … well, you know,' she said,
giving a wink, then disappearing before Eliza could ask her how she knew about James.

The staff began speaking to her again and Eliza
had a feeling Mrs Buttons was behind that for soon after the woman had left Mimi had been sent
to invite her to join them for her meals in the dining room. After the initial embarrassment, it
wasn't long before their former friendliness was restored. Only Bertram remained
aloof.

‘I don't know what Monsieur will say
when he finds out,' he muttered.

‘Well, he won't know if you
don't tell him, will he?' Mrs Symms snapped.

‘But it is my duty to inform him what goes
on in his absence.'

‘What, like you having hands like a
blinking octopus,' Mimi piped up.

Bertram glowered, then rose to his feet and
walked stiff-backed out of the room, their laughter following after him.

As the heat of summer cooled and the leaves on
the trees turned glorious gold and russet, Eliza continued walking out with James. Although she
enjoyed his company immensely, whenever he tried to turn the conversation
to the future, she changed the subject, saying they both had
their apprenticeships to think of. After Duncan's abandonment and Amos disappearing
without telling her, she wasn't about to trust another man again anytime soon.

One evening she was humming happily as she let
herself in through the little gate before curfew when Bertram appeared.

‘Monsieur Farrant has returned and wishes
to see you in the parlour,' he announced.

Her previous good mood vanished like the morning
mist. She looked down at her new cotton skirt and grimaced. There was no time to change into her
formal work wear or put her hair up.

‘Good evening, Monsieur Farrant,' she
said, entering the room.

He was stood staring out of the window but turned
on hearing her voice.

‘Is it?' he hissed, green eyes
glittering.

Clearly Monsieur Farrant was in a foul temper.
Perhaps his trip to France hadn't gone well, Eliza thought, as he threw the letter opener
he'd been toying with down on the table with a clatter.

‘Before I left, I gave strict instructions
on how you were to spend your time, Mademoiselle. Yet now I return to find out you have been
mixing with all sorts. What do you have to say for yourself?' he demanded, his shiny
moustache quivering as he enunciated every syllable.

‘Is it so bad that I joined the others in
the dining room?' she asked, assuming Bertram had carried out his threat.

‘You mixed with the staff as well?'
he exclaimed, his eyes narrowing. ‘This is too much.'

‘Really, Monsieur, I can't believe
that eating with the …' she began, but he moved closer until he was inches from her
face, his peculiar smell wafting literally up her nose.

‘That is bad enough, certainement, but to
hear I have been cuckolded is more than Monsieur's pride can bear,' he hissed.

‘Cuckolded?' she laughed.
‘Surely a man can only be cuckolded if he's married?' Silence hung heavy in
the air as Monsieur Farrant reflected on her words. Then a gleam sparked in his eye.

‘That is the literal meaning, of course.
However, we have an understanding, do we not?'

‘As I was trying to tell you before you left, I never
agreed …'

‘Oh, but you did, Mademoiselle,' he
insisted, his voice ominously low. ‘And on Saturday we will see the jeweller and choose
the largest betrothal ring he has.'

‘There really is no need,' she cried,
but he held up his hand to silence her.

‘Oh, but there is, and then we shall hold a
big party to celebrate. We will invite the whole of Follytown and everyone will see that you
belong to me.'

‘Belong?' she started, but he was in
full flood.

‘I have even set the date for our wedding.
We are to be married on the 19th of February next year.'

‘But that will be my birthday,' she
cried.

Monsieur Farrant grinned. ‘Exactement. You
will be seventeen so it will be appropriate, non?'

Stunned into silence, Eliza could only stand
there gaping at him.

‘You cannot believe your luck? I
understand, for it would be a lesser man than Charles Farrant who would take on a …'
He pointed to her foot. ‘No other man would risk the siring of another
crip—'

‘That is a despicable thing to say,'
she cried, her voice returning at last.

‘Non, Monsieur, he speak the truth. He also
knows that when we marry he can expect the rest of the Beaumont woman's
receipts.'

‘But …' she began, but he held
up his hand to silence her.

‘Which, despite your denial, I know you
have. Monsieur Farrant is far from stupid, Mademoiselle. Now I have things to do. You will go to
your room and reflect
upon your good fortune. My
proposal is a generous one, but in return I expect you to act and dress like a lady.' He
waved his hand at her dress, curling his lip in disgust. Then a gleam appeared in his eyes.
‘Ah, I do believe Saturday is tomorrow, non?'

Her heart sank to her boots. ‘I'm
sure you will be busy after your time away,' she ventured. He shook his head.

‘I will see you in the main hall at ten of
the clock. You will wear the new outfit I ordered. It is one befitting the betrothed of Monsieur
Farrant, Master Perfumer – and the toque will add the finishing touch, non?' he
said, giving a mocking bow.

Back in her room, Eliza paced the floor. What
should she do? The very idea of marrying the man made her stomach churn. He was old – why,
he must well into his thirties – and had that peculiar smell. And frighteningly, there had
been something quite cruel in his demeanour tonight. Things were moving too fast, she thought,
snatching up the toque from the dresser and glaring at its ostentatious points. Never would she
wear such a ridiculous thing on her head, she thought, scrunching it in half then and twisting
it round and round in her hands.

She looked down at the misshapen mess and sighed,
for that was the least of her problems, wasn't it? By this time tomorrow, if Monsieur
Farrant had his way, it would be a ring on her finger she'd be wearing. She could not,
would not
contemplate such a thing. Married women had to … With her insides
heaving, she ran outside to the privy.

Feeling better and clearer headed, she made her
way back across the courtyard. She would leave this wretched place. The sound of ribald laughter
nearby clarified her
thoughts. If Monsieur
Farrant was having one of his house parties this would be the time to make her escape. Back in
her room, she quickly gathered her precious things into a bundle. Throwing her cloak around her
shoulders she made her way back outside and was heading towards the staff gate when she saw the
glow of a lantern flickering its way down the garden. A light didn't move by itself did
it, she thought, dodging back into the shadows. Squinting into the dark, she could just make out
the shape of two figures heading towards the forbidden building. As others joined them, more
laughter ensued. What was going on, Eliza wondered. All went quiet, but her curiosity was
piqued. Using the bushes as cover, she made her way to the perfume garden, past the hothouse and
onto the building that rose ominously out of the shadows.

She could hear men making merry, see lights
flickering as strange sounds like she'd never heard before wafted out on the stiff breeze.
Noticing the door slightly ajar, she inched her way nervously towards it and peered inside. The
room was filled with smoke and the sickly, sweet smell filtering out reminded her of Monsieur
Farrant's pungent odour. Peering through the hazy light, she stood transfixed at the scene
before her. If he was like that then … She shook her head as realization hit her full in
the solar plexus. So he intended marrying her in order to use her as a cover, she thought,
hurrying back up the path as fast as her twisted foot would allow. Well he could think
again.

Stealing out through the staff gate, she ran
until her breath was coming in gasps. Then her foot gave way, folding under her so that she
collapsed on the ground. She
closed her eyes but
could still picture the scene she'd witnessed. The wind rose higher, moaning and shaking
the branches so they showered her with the last of their leaves.

Forcing herself to her feet she stumbled on.
Where could she go? Would James help her? The heavens opened and, with icy rain stabbing her
face like needles, she peered ahead. She could hear the river and could just make out the
outline of the tannery looming in the distance. Summoning the last of her strength, she dragged
herself towards it. Despite the late hour, a light was shining in the workshop and she hammered
on the window, desperate to make him hear above the roar of the wind.

‘Eliza? What on earth …?' James
cried, pulling open the door.

‘Monsieur Farrant, he …' she
muttered, collapsing onto a chair and closing her eyes. As she sat shivering, she heard him rake
the fire, then seemingly moments later a mug was placed in her hands.

‘Drink this,' James ordered. She
nodded, then saw concern puckering his brow. ‘Deja vu,' she began.
‘Don't try to speak,' he said, placing a hand reassuringly on her shoulder.
‘'Tis lucky for you I was working late. Got a bit behind, what with all our meetings
under the oak, and Guv said if I didn't catch up he'd put a stop to my gallivanting,
as he put it. Well, I couldn't risk not meeting my favourite girl, could I?' he
grinned ruefully.

Hardly aware of what he was saying, she bent her
head over her tea, sipping the hot liquid and listening to the comforting crackle of the fire
until gradually her body stopped trembling.

‘I'm sorry to turn up at this time
but …'

‘Something bad happened?' he guessed.

She nodded. ‘Something so terrible you
wouldn't imagine.'

‘I might,' he muttered. There was a
noise from outside and he frowned. ‘Look, I don't mean to be rude but I'm
guessing from your bundle you've left your employment?'

‘I had to. Monsieur Farrant insists we buy
a ring tomorrow and make the betrothal official. I can't, won't marry him so I
decided to leave.'

‘Look, Eliza, you can't stay the
night here. It'd be more than my job's worth. My conditions of apprenticeship
don't allow visitors. Lights have to be out at ten thirty and it's past that
now.'

‘Sorry,' she said, getting to her
feet. ‘I'll leave right away.'

‘Where will you go?' he asked,
concern clouding his eyes.

‘I'll find somewhere,' she
whispered, shuddering. He frowned. ‘You're shaking still. Did anything else
happen?'

‘As I was leaving I saw these boys going
down the path and followed them. I saw …' she stuttered to a halt.

‘I can imagine, Eliza. Talk about what
happens there is rife. Come on, there's an old shepherd's hut behind the tan yard.
It's not used this time of year so you can bide there. I'll bring a blanket and you
can bunk down and get some rest.' He snuffed out the candle and they crept outside.

The hut smelled of sheep but provided shelter
from the elements. To her surprise, no sooner had Eliza slumped down on the straw than
exhaustion overtook her and she fell asleep.

She was rudely awoken by the sound of shouting
and doors slamming, followed by a carriage being driven away at speed. Daylight was filtering in
through the grimy
window and she couldn't
believe she'd slept so long. Getting to her feet, she was just brushing herself down when
the door creaked open and James slipped in, shutting it quickly behind him.

‘All right?' he whispered, handing
her a mug of hot tea then producing a hunk of bread from inside his jerkin. ‘Thought you
could do with this.' She smiled gratefully, cupping her hands around the steaming warmth.
‘There was a right old hoo-ha outside just now. Monsieur Farrant's out searching for
you. Seems to think you might have come here. Like I said to the guv, I was busy catching up on
my work all last evening but he was welcome to search my room. Farrant was about to, but the guv
said that if he couldn't trust his apprentice then it was a pretty poor show, so the man
stormed off. Guv thinks he'll be back, though, so you'd best lie low.'

‘I don't want to get you into
trouble,' she said, handing him back his mug and gathering up her bundle.

‘Don't be daft. Farrant could be
watching the place and God knows what he might do to you. Anyway, where would you go?' he
asked.

She shrugged.

‘Look, I must get back before I'm
missed. Eat your bread and we'll discuss what you're going to do later.' He
patted her shoulder, peeked through the window, then slipped out of the door.

So Monsieur was looking for her, she thought,
shivering and pulling the blanket around her shoulders. Knowing she needed to keep up her
strength, she nibbled at the bread, then settled down to ponder her next move. Clearly she
couldn't remain here. It had been kind of James to help her
but she couldn't risk him losing his job. What should she
do? Where could she go? Back to Fay? She could vaguely remember the route the carriage had taken
but they'd been travelling for two days so it was clearly some distance. Perhaps she
should revert to her original plan, make for a large town and seek employment there. Round and
round her thoughts went until she was exhausted.

She must have slept for the next thing she knew,
James was standing over her.

‘Cor, it's all right for those who
can idle the day away,' he quipped. ‘Here.' He handed her a piece of pie and
another mug of tea.

‘Thank you,' she said, biting into
the crust. ‘Lovely, good old English pie,' she added, remembering all the hazelette
she'd eaten.

‘'Tis my noon break so when
you've eaten, happen you can tell me what's gone on?' he said, those
cornflower eyes boring into her as he settled himself on the straw beside her.

Briefly she ran through everything that had
happened, but when she got to the bit about the men in the forbidden building her voice
faltered.

‘It was weird …' she muttered,
shaking her head.

James reached out and squeezed her hand.
‘At least you've been spared having to wear his ring. Of course, most sensible girls
would be thrilled at the prospect of being taken to the jewellers,' he smiled.

‘Huh, he only wanted me to choose one so
that people could see I belonged to him. I mean, what kind of man would do that?'

‘Probably one with an ulterior motive, like
needing a
cover for these activities of
his,' he muttered. She stared at him, amazed by his perception.