Cold April (2 page)

“
But we’re your family. How can you not want to live with us?”

Beth spoke in a quiet voice. “Sometimes I think I was born into the wrong family. Oh, not that I don’t love you all! It has nothing to do with you.”

“
But we missed you terribly while you were gone,” her mother said.

“
On my next trip I’ll only be gone a few months, not years.”

“
Thank goodness for small favors.”

“
I missed you, too, but you have four other children.” She gave a little laugh. “I have six people to miss, and you have only one, so I’ll do more of the missing.”

Her mother wiped her eyes. “Wait till you have children. Then you’ll understand.”

“
Yes, I know. You love us all and each in a different way. I realize that, but eventually all children leave the nest and build their own lives and have their own families, so that will happen in any case.”

“
But you think you belong over there?”

“
Not in every way. After all, I’ve been living with the Wheatlys and haven’t experienced life there as an ordinary American. Still, on my days off, I wandered all over the city, talked to the people, looked at everything I could, went to see motion pictures, even took a train to other places not too far away.”

“
And you could afford to do that?”

“
The Wheatlys were very generous, and I saved a lot of money out of my salary.”

“
Surely you’ve sent most of it home,” her dad said.

“
Not really, and Lady Wheatly is going to pay my way back and forth again.”

Her mother looked puzzled. “Why on earth would she want to do so when you’re not going to be her governess any longer?”

“
That’s true, because they’re going to stay in England. However, Lord Wheatly has set up a branch of his business in New York, so they would like to keep their home there. Lady Wheatly wants me to help find renters.”

Her father set down his pipe in the ashtray next to his chair. “But they must have leasing companies which do that sort of thing, as we have here in London.”

“
Of course, but they want me to arrange for some of their possessions to go into storage, and I’m to live there until the house is rented.”

“
And they’ll continue to pay your salary during those weeks or months?”

“
Yes, but when I come back here, I shall have to find a new position. I’m afraid it won’t pay half so well.”

Her mother rose from her chair and poured tea for them from the pot on the hearth. “But what will you do? Can you find a position as a governess to another family?”

“
That’s a possibility, but I’m tired of being restricted to only women’s occupations: nursing, teaching, cooking. I don’t want to go into a factory either.”

“
So, what will you do?”

“
I’m thinking of taking a course in typewriting. The typewriting machines have improved a great deal, and I’m told many businesses hire young women to use them in their offices.”

“
Well, it never hurts to have another skill to fall back on,” her father said.

A short silence followed his last remark, but then her mother spoke up again. “All well and good if you work at typewriting here in England, but you still want to live so far away. We’re not just talking about Cornwall or the Lake District. America is a different country. The language may be similar—”

Beth interrupted her. “American English is no more different than that of some parts of London. The Cockneys practically have a language all their own.”

Her mother sipped her tea. “The Americans have borrowed many of their customs and laws from us anyway.”

“
What I like most about the country is they don’t have our outdated monarchy system.”

“
Elizabeth!”

“
There’s no king and no lords and ladies. Everyone is equal.”

Her father guffawed. “You can’t tell me there’s no class system. They may not have lords, but they have rich people like the Astors and the Vanderbilts. I’ll wager the lower classes, the poor people, don’t hobnob with them or get invited to their homes or parties.”

“
That’s true, but everyone has a chance to get rich like the Astors. Here we can’t rise above the station in life we were born into. There, if you invent something which provides you with a fortune, or you become famous for some other reason, you can hobnob with anyone you like. There are no centuries-old barriers.”

She realized her teacup rattled in its saucer, no doubt the result of her increased emotion. She’d been remembering Richard Graham. In America, if he liked her—as he seemed to do for a moment on the dock that morning—he could call on her and take her to dinner or the theater, even marry her with no one raising an eyebrow.

“
Well, I daresay you will find the right position when you return in a few more months,” her father said.

Beth smiled at him. “I knew you’d understand.”

“
You always were a spunky girl. Smart. Quick to learn things. Look how you learned how to be a governess. You can do typewriting too, if you set your mind to it. I, for one, will not worry about you.” He paused. “You may be assured we’ll support you in whatever you do.”

Beth set her cup down, ran over to her father and hugged him. “I will. Please understand I don’t hate my family. Or even my country. But a monarchy seems so terribly old-fashioned in the twentieth century. I think our Parliament is wonderful, and the people are civilized and orderly. I love the cities and the countryside, and I love our history of art and literature.”

A sly smile lit her father’s face. “Shakespeare gets high marks in your estimation, does he?”

Beth laughed before becoming serious again. “I wish you could come to New York while I’m there so I could show you around. You might grow to like America yourselves. The ships are very fast now. The Mauretania made the crossing in a mere four and a half days.”

“
Your mother won’t get on a ship. She’s afraid of them.”

Beth turned to her. “Oh, you’d be perfectly safe.”

“
I’m not afraid for myself,” her mother said. “I worry about you. I have nightmares that something will happen to you.”

“
I’ve made the crossing twice now and nothing happened. Actually, I found it quite dull.” She shrugged.

“
Nevertheless, I pray every time and shall pray when you go again.” Handkerchief to her face once more, she left the room.

Beth smiled, but she knew, from a voracious reading habit which began at the age of five, that disasters at sea had occurred in the past, although not lately. Ships were built of steel these days. News of the construction of larger, and stronger, ships took up a great deal of space in the daily papers. It was, after all, 1912.

Her thoughts returned to Richard Graham. She would have liked to see him again but, even if that were possible socially, it couldn’t happen. He lived in England and she was about to go back to America.

Chapter 2

On her visit to Lady Wheatly a few days later, Beth rode to the mansion in one of their automobiles, which Lady Wheatly still called a “carriage.” Beth had been there a few times before, the first being when she applied for the position of governess to Penelope and Charles, then five and three years of age. At the interview she’d been terribly nervous, but it ended with the thrill of being chosen to accompany the family during their voyage to New York and their lengthy sojourn in that city.

Lord Wheatly planned to establish a branch of his British textile company in America. However, he’d apparently recognized that such a venture would require extra time. After all, Beth reasoned, he would be in a different country, working with strangers. He had no doubt elected to bring his family with him for however long it might take rather than return to London too soon, or too frequently, because he missed them.

Now that the subsidiary was doing well and little Charles was ready to start school, Lord Wheatly obviously preferred to resume his life in his beloved England.

Her duties as governess finished, Beth expected to return home, but Lady Wheatly had insisted that, after she enjoyed a vacation and an opportunity to visit her own family, she return to New York for a month or two. Besides, as she had explained to Beth only the week before they had boarded the ship home, Lady Wheatly, for the sake of her children, absolutely required the presence of their governess on the return crossing.

When the automobile arrived in front of the house, Beth exited and mounted the steps. The door already stood open. She saw the same butler she’d met on previous visits. He nodded, as if recognizing her as well, and ushered her across the wide entry hall and into the spacious sitting room.

Lady Wheatly, seated in a chair, extended her hand. “Ah, here you are, my dear.” She gestured to a chair near her own. As always, she looked elegant in a well-fitting rose-colored gown, and well-groomed, every dark hair in place.

“
Thank you, M’Lady.” Beth sat down.

“
My husband will be here shortly, but, meanwhile, I would like to discuss a few things about the New York house with you.”

“
Of course.”

“
Some tea?”

“
Thank you. I’d like that very much.”

Lady Wheatly reached toward the table at her side and poured tea into two cups. “Milk, sugar?”

“
No, thank you.”

After adding both to her own tea, Lady Wheatly took a sip, replaced her cup and saucer on the table, and picked up a small silver pencil and notepad.

“
First, of course, is the matter of the items I believe should be placed in storage. My secretary will provide you with a list before you leave today.”

“
I see.”

“
We have already made arrangements with the storage company, and they will remove the items, pack them and store them. Monthly bills will be sent directly to us and, in turn, we will arrange for them to be paid from our New York banking account.”

She paused. “Your responsibility in this matter is simply to arrange for the day the workmen should arrive to do the packing and oversee it. Make certain nothing is overlooked.”

“
I understand.”

Lady Wheatly looked up at Beth and smiled. “As usual, your superior organizational skills will be most appreciated.”

“
Thank you.”

“
As for the rental of the house itself, the leasing company will find proper tenants. They will, of course, wish to show the property. You will arrange for the dates and times for those visits and accompany the agents and their clients during their perusal.”

“
The leasing agent will keep you informed, as well?” Beth asked.

“
Only when a suitable offer is made. Actually, they will communicate with my husband.” She glanced at her notepad and continued.

“
As soon as you know the date on which the tenants will move into the house, you will make arrangements to return home. Payment for your passage will be handled by my husband’s New York office.”

“
I’m very grateful for this opportunity to be of help to you again, M’Lady.” She paused. “However, I wonder why you didn’t arrange for someone in New York to handle these matters. I imagine it would be much less costly.”

Lady Wheatly leaned closer and spoke in a softer tone.

“
I expect another person might have done so, but I’m ... well, I prefer to deal with people I understand. English people, like you, for example, people I feel I can trust.”

“
No doubt during these past few years you met many Americans whom you came to trust.”

“
The upper classes, yes, but servants and other workers might not be so ...” She let her voice trail off, as if Beth would understand her meaning.

Beth did. “I shall do my best.”

“
Excellent.” Lady Wheatly smiled again, returned her notebook and pencil to the table and resumed drinking her tea. “I can’t tell you how much I’ve enjoyed your presence in our home. Charles and Penelope adore you and, were it not that our children must now go to public school, I would most certainly keep you on.”

She lifted her shoulders briefly. “As for the cost, I hope you understand, my dear, that, inasmuch as you will be traveling alone, with no duties to occupy you on board, I have arranged for you to travel to New York and back in second class, rather than first.”

“
You’re most generous. I’m told second class on the White Star’s new ship is similar to first on other vessels.”

“
It is our pleasure.”

Beth set down her teacup. “If there’s nothing more ...”

“
Don’t go. As I said before, my husband will be joining us shortly. I believe he has something to say to you.”

Although she kept her expression carefully blank, Beth wondered what Lord Wheatly could possibly have to add to his wife’s careful instructions.

Lady Wheatly continued. “And, there is one other thing. My secretary will give you some letters I’ve composed. They are letters of recommendation should you care to look for another position as governess upon your return.”

“
That’s very considerate of you, and I’m most grateful.”

She said no more, as Lord Wheatly entered the room. He was not alone. Richard Graham entered behind him.