Hope for Tomorrow (11 page)

Gus still tried to push them together but Martha resisted just as strongly. She tried to explain to him that even if by some miracle Thomas did understand about Hope, her secret would always be on the horizon, just waiting to bring shame to Thomas should it ever come out. She couldn't do that to him.

Although she didn't say this to Gus, there was also no possibility that she would get married and leave Gus alone again in this huge house. She owed him everything and would stay with him until the day he died, which she hoped would not be for a very long time.

When her twenty first birthday rolled around, Gus presented her with an envelope and inside was a letter from the bank. She unfolded it to see her name on the letter and details about a bank account that she didn't remember opening. The balance on the account was truly shocking! For some reason that she couldn't understand it went on to talk of shares in the railway.

“
What is this?” she asked, her voice shaking.

“
These are the profits from your twenty five percent ownership of the company; minus the rather small wages you have drawn, obviously.”

“
What?”

Martha could remember him saying that he would give her part of the company but it had never been spoken of again since that day and in all honesty, she had hardly even thought of it since; she had been more than happy with her wage. She could hardly believe that he had given her a part of his company without her knowledge.

“
Gus, I can't, this is too much!”

“
It is your due,” he insisted. “It is your designs that have improved our reputation and helped to grow the company, not to mention that you are responsible for my renewed interest in the business. You have earned this, my dear, and as you have seen, I have survived very well without these profits, proof that I can more than afford to do this for you.”

“
Oh my,” Martha swallowed.

“
On Monday morning we have an appointment at the bank so that you may start taking care of this money. Mr Armstrong will help you and advise you on possible investment opportunities in the future, just as he does for me. I hope that you do not mind but I took the liberty of investing some of your profits in the railway since it has proved such a good investment for me.”

Martha had never owned anything expensive before and the idea of owning a quarter of his company was actually quite frightening. What if she did something wrong and ruined the company?

“
Do not look so worried,” he took her left hand in his right and patted the back of it with his other hand. “Nothing will change, you just have security now, that is all this means.”

“
Security?”

“
Yes, your own stake in something, your own income. You and Hope will never go hungry from this point onward because you have an asset now that will continue to make you money, or that you can sell should the need arise.”

“
Sell?”

“
I know you do not like to think about it, my dear, but I will not be around forever. After I am gone the company will be yours and Hope's to do with as you see fit, continue to run it, grow it or sell it.”

“
But it's your company.”

“
No, one quarter of it has been yours for quite a while now.”

She thanked him but she had been so astounded that day that it wasn't until they had visited the bank on the following Monday that Martha actually began to realise the true value of his gesture. Her profits from each year could continue to build up in her account or she could invest them in the hope of making further profits. She felt that she had a much greater understanding of the whole thing by the time they left, for Mr Armstrong had been very through and conscientious with his explanations of financial terms.

When they got home (Martha wanted to wait until they were alone) she threw her arms about Gus's shoulders and held him tightly.

“
Thank you,” she said, her voice cracking with emotion. Tears were stinging her eyes as she pulled away and she saw Gus turn away and wipe at his own eyes. “You are a dear man,” she told him.

Chapter Eleven

By the time Hope turned six she was the very picture of an elegant young lady, poised, well mannered and unfailingly polite. Well, she was in public anyway, at home she was much like all children, enjoying her toys, making a mess and she had a very special affinity for the word 'no'.

Hope was much quieter than Martha's siblings had been and it did worry her sometimes. She was reassured now that wearing the corset and Hope arriving two weeks early hadn't done any damage to her intelligence but she did wish that the girl would be a little more outgoing and stubborn! It's an odd thing for a mother to wish for but given how headstrong both of her parents were, Hope really should have more fire about her.

Martha had twice taken the governess, Miss Preston, to task for being overly sharp with Hope; Martha wanted her confidence built up, not destroyed. The second time, after hearing Hope reprimanded for asking a question during a lesson, Martha had assured Miss Preston that Hope was allowed to ask questions and that if she had any intention of turning her daughter into a simpering, polite and thoughtless image of womanhood, then she could leave their employ that instant.

She went on to explain that as well as being educated, Hope was to be encouraged to think for herself, not blindly follow the opinions of others. If she asked a question, Miss Preston was to answer her or find out the answer if she didn't know it. If Hope disagreed with her, she was to explain why Hope was wrong rather than just telling her that she was incorrect.

Hope just sat quietly and watched as her mother read the riot act to her governess.

Martha had kept a close eye on them after that and was pleased to see that Miss Preston's attitude towards Hope was starting to relax. It seemed that her teaching style had more to do with emulating what she knew rather than thinking for herself and perhaps oddly, after that dressing down, Miss Preston came to Martha much more frequently, asking for her opinion on various matters, not only those related to Hope's education. Slowly a friendship of a sort formed between them, though Miss Preston seemingly found it hard to forget that Martha was her employer and she was always a little reserved in her manner. 

Whilst the nanny was visiting her family (her father was very poorly and so she had been given a week off to visit him) Miss Preston also fell ill and was forced to spend a week in bed on Doctor Blackhall's orders so Martha took the unusual step of taking Hope into the shop with her. With any luck, one day Hope would become a part of the business, so Martha saw no reason not to include her a little, plus it was now January, which was normally a quiet month. She dressed Hope in her prettiest dress then asked her lady's maid to do Hope's hair for the day.

Every morning Gus took the carriage into work, then it returned to take Martha to the shop which opened later. During the day the carriage ran errands and delivered gloves to their more exclusive clients; it then returned to the shop to ferry Martha home and then to the factory to collect Gus later on.

Martha had often argued against the carriage, saying that they could call hansom cabs but Gus insisted that if they wanted to receive upper class custom, they had to behave like the upper classes themselves, which including extravagances like keeping a horse and carriage whilst living in town.

Today Martha could finally see the point as she helped Hope into the carriage, for in her opinion Hope should always be treated like a queen.

Once in the shop Martha settled Hope on one of the armchairs by the fire and gave her some paper so that she could draw like her mother. Mary was shocked to see the child in the shop during working hours but she didn't question it. Mary was becoming more confident under Martha's guidance and even sold some of the off-the-peg items without Martha's help but she still knew her place and did not dare to question her employer.

Mary brought them tea throughout the day and sandwiches for lunch and Martha was pleased to note that Hope was quite talkative with Mary, since she was virtually a stranger to the girl. Mary sat with them for a while when she had finished sorting the latest stock delivery and Hope went through her drawings with her, obviously proud of her work.

Martha smiled as she watched them and had an idea. They made childrens' gloves, obviously but not luxurious ones since children were not commonly seen in public. Hope had her own pair of bespoke ones but it suddenly occurred to Martha that she couldn't be the only proud parent in England. She began sketching some smaller gloves for girls and boys, styles that were practical but still had some special touches, like points, silk lining and fur trim.

That afternoon they had one client come in, Mrs Cairn who was a regular. Martha asked Mary to take Hope through to the back but not before introducing Hope to the lady. Hope curtseyed and told Mrs Cairn that she was very pleased to meet her, sentiments which the older lady repeated back to her.

“
I do hope her presence hasn't upset you?” Martha said once Hope had been removed. She had no intention of apologising but she knew that she had to keep up appearances.

“
Oh no, she's a charming young girl,” Mrs Cairn said as she sat down. “May I ask what she is doing here?”

“
Her nanny is away and her governess is ill. I could have left her in the care of another housemaid I suppose, or stayed home but this is the family business and I couldn't see the harm.”

“
Training her up young?” Mrs Cairn bantered.

“
Don't tell Mary.” Martha played along.

“
She is very lucky to have a sister who loves her as much as you do.”

“
I'm the lucky one,” Martha assured her. “Can I offer you some tea?”

“
No thank you, dear, not today.”

“
How is your family fairing?”

“
That's why I'm here actually. My youngest, Margaret, has found herself a nice young man and they're getting married.”

“
Oh, that's wonderful news. When?”

“
In the summer; they only recently became engaged and I always think it's best not to rush these things, but I am determined to make it the happiest day of her life.”

“
How can I help with that?” Martha smiled politely.

“
Well I called on Mrs Simpson this morning, she'll be making the dress and I was hoping that you and she could coordinate your efforts so that the dress matches the gloves.”

“
I would be happy to. I will call on Mrs Simpson tomorrow and make arrangements.”

“
Wonderful, I knew you would understand.”

Mrs Cairn made small talk for a few more minutes then said that she had to call on the florist and bustled out of the shop. She was the only customer that day but they had other clients throughout the week. Although some were shocked by the presence of a child, no one seemed mortally offended and indeed some ladies came in just for the interest factor.

The experience seemed to do Hope's confidence a great deal of good and by the Friday she was curtseying to each client, wishing them a good morning or afternoon and asking them how she could help.

Martha did a few more designs for childrens' gloves throughout the week and showed them to Gus on the Sunday as she explained her idea. He wasn't entirely convinced by expanding the line in children's gloves but promised her that they would give it a try.

He had also been unsure of allowing Hope to go into the shop but had been smart enough to realise that Martha wouldn't brook any argument where her daughter was concerned.

As they headed out in the afternoon for their regular walk, he could see the change in Hope for himself. She wasn't running around and pulling on other's coattails but she did say 'hello' to everyone they met and answered their questions much more readily than normal, never once trying to hide behind her mother's petticoats, which she was sometimes prone to do

In April of that year it was time for Martha's yearly visit from Lucien's mother. On average Gus received a letter from her twice a year, usually under the guise of thanking him for a past purchase and asking if he and Miss Aldercott would care to come to dinner or a garden party or a ball and any other number of other events in the not too distant future.

Martha had refused to even countenance accepting any of their offers and so for the past five years Gus had politely written back making a number of different excuses.

Lady Beaumont usually visited Penchester an average of once a year and stopped into the store to order gloves for the following season. She always examined Martha's left hand for a ring when she entered and seeing none present, suggested that she and her father should attend one of their events some time soon because, truly they would have a wonderful time. They could even spend the night at the Hall if that would make things easier.

There were so many times that Martha wanted to tell her that Lucien had already met and refused her, but then she would remember how such a revelation could damage her current position and always managed to hold her tongue.

One of these days she was just going to relent and go, then see what Mrs Beaumont made of that! In Martha's eyes her disgrace was as much his as it was hers, but society never punished the man and should her secret be discovered, it would not only be she that paid the price but Hope and Gus too.

Still, she couldn't afford to alienate an aristocratic client and so she sat politely and chatted with her while Mary made their tea.

“
Lucien came with me this time,” Lady Beaumont said, clearly pleased that her son had accompanied her.

“
Oh?”

“
Yes, he's becoming a fine man. I was worried about him for a time, he was so headstrong, but in recent years he's settled down and really applied himself to looking after the estate.”

“
Your husband couldn't join you this year?” Martha didn't need to ask why Lady Beaumont was here, for each year the Penchester Theatre Company performed an opera and that was one of her passions.

“
No, sadly I am afraid that his health is failing him.”

“
Nothing serious, I hope?”

“
The doctor thinks it's consumption. His troubles come and go, usually with the poor weather they get worse and improve as spring and summer approach but this year he doesn't seem to be recovering nearly so quickly.”

“
Can the doctor do nothing to help?”

“
He is doing what he can. We shall be taking a holiday by the sea this year as sea air is supposed to be beneficial.” She sighed. “It's all that time he spends with our tenants, working class farmers, covered in muck and mud and God only knows what else. It's not healthy.”

“
I am sorry.” Martha meant it, although Lady Beaumont didn't seem at all pained by his illness. She couldn't help but wonder how Lucien was feeling. His relationship with his father had always been acrimonious but he was certain to be pained by this. And what a cruel disease it was, stealing the life and vitality of a person bit by bit. Death by increments.

“
Thank you. Actually he was supposed to accompany Lucien and me and as such I find myself with a spare ticket for tomorrow night's opera. I don't suppose you would be interested in joining us?”

“
Thank you but no. My father is having a guest to dinner tomorrow and I must be there.”

Lady Beaumont nodded but her displeasure was clear for all to see. Martha couldn't help but wonder how many women she had lined up to throw at Lucien while they were here and she couldn't help but wonder if he might take a shine to one of them.

Lady Beaumont put her tea cup down and picked up the portfolio of sketches that sat on the coffee table.

“
Did you have a specific gown in mind?” Martha asked, for usually Lady Beaumont liked to order a pair to match each new dress that was being commissioned. By now she must easily have a drawer full of gloves that had hardly been worn.

“
No, I'm afraid that given my husband's condition, I haven't been able to get down to London this year. I shall just have to pick a selection and hope that the local seamstress can craft something in a similar colour.” She sounded most put out by the fact that her husband's dying was limiting her sartorial choices.

It took her forever to decide on which gloves to order and they were already on their second pot of tea when the bell over the door rang.

“
Mother, are you going to be much longer?” Lucien sounded impatient as he strode into the shop and spoke to his mother as though she were a child in need of chastisement rather than a grown woman. He froze as his gaze fell upon Martha, who could feel the blood draining from her face.

“
I won't be much longer, Lucien. Why don't you join us?”

“
If you'll excuse me, there is something out the back... something I have to get. I won't be a moment.”

Martha fled through the rear door and quickly pulled it closed behind her. She sagged against the wall, feeling quite peculiar.

No, it couldn't be him, not in her shop. What was he doing, shopping with his mother? Then she realised that clearly he had simply been waiting for her and she had hesitated so long over her choices that it drew him into the shop. Martha was at a loss to understand why Lady Beaumont was so keen on them meeting, for surely there were many more suitable girls among their own society? But then perhaps Lady Beaumont had already thrown most of them into his path and she was becoming desperate.