Hope for Tomorrow (18 page)

“
I understand.” Lucien swallowed hard.

“
Secondly, when it comes to my other life in Penchester and all it's associated areas, you will abide by my rules without question.”

“
Does that mean that you may, one day, let me see Hope?”

“
That has no bearing on this discussion. Whether my rules are about your association with Hope or my scullery maid, you must promise to follow them to the letter.”

“
I swear.” He meant it. “Anything else?”

“
No.”

“
Then might I suggest that you reserve the right to amend, expand upon and make additions to those conditions at any time?”

“
Are you mocking me?”

“
No! No, I was hoping actually hoping to sound reasonable.”

He was so sincere that she couldn't doubt him, however she also couldn't help the laugh that escaped her lips.

“
I'm sorry, I'm making a very poor start at giving you a second chance, aren't I?”

He smiled with relief.

“
Come, we had better get back and make sure that the children haven't started a food fight or something equally frightful.”

Martha laughed again.

“
You don't have much experience of working class children, do you?” she asked.

“
You don't have food fights?”

“
At times we were lucky to have food.” Though her words were true her tone was light, almost teasing. “But in truth, while there are happy families, there is little gaiety as everyone, including the children, have more than their fair share of  burdens.”

“
You're right.” He had seen working class families from a distance, of course but as someone whose childhood had been filled with luxury and whose biggest fear was an overbearing governess, he found it extremely difficult to relate.

His school days had been harsh, of course, especially in the beginning but then schooling from the age of ten was still probably much preferable to employment as a scullery maid from that age. Working from dusk till dawn, or in a factory or coal mine which were both physical and often dangerous lines of work.

“
I wish there was something I could do to revive the town.” He spoke his thoughts without realising it.

“
What do you mean?”

“
I don't honestly know,” he confessed. “But the town is dying and as future Earl of these lands, I feel a responsibility to it. Unfortunately I lack the knowledge, not to mention the means to do so.”

“
Can you not talk your father around on the railway issue?”

“
I still try in his more lucid moments but I fear it is hopeless.”

They arrived back at the house and entered to find that the girls had finished the preparation and Sarah was cooking the stew over the fire while Maggie and Mary made dumplings with flour, water and suet to be added later.

The sun was setting so they got out two of the candles that Mrs Lassiter had sent and lit them; combined with the firelight, the kitchen had a warm glow.

Martha took another cup of milk up to her mother and was pleased to note that her colour looked a little better. She could be imagining it but she hoped not. When she left she went into the boy's room to find that John had thrown around the few possessions that his brothers had brought with them. It was impossible to make much of a mess in the room since there wasn't much in it to begin with, but clearly his temper had got the better of him.

Martha had hoped to come to some kind of understanding with him but her hopes were quickly dashed as she saw the room.

“
Go away!” he told her.

Martha did; she didn't want to get into another argument with him.

Dinner that night was simple, beef stew with dumplings. Martha kept expecting Lucien to make an excuse to leave since he was used to much finer food but he seemed to enjoy the meal. Conversation was slightly stilted, Sarah was especially quiet since she was eating with her Master but everyone seemed to relax after a while. As soon as the meal was over, Martha said that she should be going back to her hotel since she hadn't even unpacked yet.

She took a plate of  bread and butter up to John, hopeful that he might have tidied up but he hadn't.

“
I'll be back in the morning,” she told him. “I expect you to be in town looking for a job by then.”

He grunted a reply.

She drove Lucien and Sarah back to the Hall, glad that it was dark so that she couldn't be clearly seen. He taught her how to drive the horse on the trip and he told her that the doctor would be at the house for about eleven o'clock the following morning. When he got out of the gig, he handed her his riding crop; it was too short to be used on the pony so she knew that it must be for protection. She accepted it but the journey back was uneventful.

The hotel had stables at the rear and Martha left the pony tied to the railing outside. The person manning reception wasn't the manager from earlier and he either didn't know who she was or was too well trained to show it. He assured her that the pony and gig would be taken care of and as he handed her the room key, he directed a porter to accompany her and light her candles.

After the porter had lit the candles, she asked him for a wash bowl and a large glass of brandy to be brought up to her room, which he assured her he would take care of.

The maid had hung and put away her clothes for her so when the wash bowl and jug of hot water arrived, she was able to undress and wash immediately. She felt so good to be clean again. She put a night shirt on then sat down before the fire to sip her brandy and relax.

In truth she was already tired, for the journey and situation she had found her family in had taken a toll on her. She wasn't usually prone to drink in the evenings, other than a glass of wine with dinner, but the brandy reminded her of Gus, whose counsel she would dearly love to seek at the moment. The problems with this town were bigger than her family though and like Lucien, as much as she might wish to help, she just didn't know how.

She missed Hope too, for although her nanny got her ready and tucked her into bed, Martha always read her a story before she went to sleep.

By the time she had finished her brandy she was growing sleepy so she crawled into bed and slept soundly.

Chapter Sixteen

The next morning she arose early and wrote to Gus. Just putting the problems here down on paper was helpful but she doubted that he could suggest a way to help this town any more than she could.

When she had finished she walked the short distance from the hotel to the High Street and after stopping in at the Post Office to send her letter, she set about buying what the cottage needed.

It had a large table and benches in the kitchen as well as enough plates and pots to make do, so she bought a second chair to sit by the fire, a rug for the stone floor where the younger children could play, feather mattresses for everyone so that they wouldn't have to share for the first time in their lives, bed linen, pillows, plenty of warm blankets, towels and various other sundries.

The shopkeepers clearly all knew who she was and reaction varied from open distaste (though they were happy to take her money) to whispers behind her back to one shopkeeper who propositioned her. She left his shop immediately and thankfully the haberdashery was able to provide her with bed linen. She also purchased a few bolts of fabric at the same time so that her siblings might fashion themselves some new clothes.

With that done she headed back to the hotel, had the gig readied and proceeded out to the hamlet with her smaller purchases stacked beside her, the larger ones were to be delivered later.

Mary had made the children porridge that morning with real milk, which was obviously a rare treat for them. No more though; Martha would see to it that they were well fed from now on.

John was nowhere to be seen so when she hopefully asked if he had gone into town, the downcast looks she received made her sigh.

“
Tell me,” she said to Mary.

“
'E went poachin'” the girl admitted.

“
Poaching?”

“
Aye.”

“
Does he do that often?”

“
No. He usually sends me an' Alf but Alf wouldn't go wiv 'im today.”

Poaching was a serious offence and if caught, John could be in serious trouble.

“
Mary,” she said gravely, taking her hand and gently pulling her over so that Mary sat beside her on the bench. “Poaching is a very serious crime and is usually punished much more severely than is warranted. I know that you had to do as John said but please promise me that you won't ever poach again?”

Mary nodded. Her eyes had widened when Martha spoke of punishment so she had probably only been aware that it was a crime in the very vaguest sense.

Martha pulled the girl to her and kissed the top of her head.

“
I love all of you too much to want to see you in jail.”

Mary was stiff and unresponsive so Martha released her.

“
Do you know, I work with a girl called Mary?”

“
You work?” Mary sounded shocked.

“
Of course I work, I have always worked. I know that I look very fine now and I have at times since I arrived appeared austere but it is only because I was so very upset to find you all living in those conditions. I do love you all and please remember that once I was an eight year old girl like you, watching
'ma n' pa'
fight and wishing for a way out.” 

“
What's it like?” Mary asked with a smile.

“
What's what like?”

“
Bein' a gamer?”

Martha's eyes widened as her temper rose.

“
I suppose John told you that word?”

“
Aye.”

“
Did he tell you what it means?”

Mary shook her head.

“
It is a very insulting work for a woman who sells herself to men. I can assure you, Mary, my work is legitimate and above board. I am very well respected, in fact.”

Mary clearly didn't understand what was wrong with using that word and Martha tried to let go of her anger. She called Maggie and Alf in from the garden and let them know, in no uncertain terms, how insulting it was to call a woman a gamer and assured them that she drew pictures for a living.

“
What kinda pictures?” Alf asked.

“
I would like to tell you but my livelihood depends on my reputation. You probably know of my past with Lord Beaumont and if that should ever be discovered, I would lose the respect that I need to do my job.”

“
Did you 'ave a baby?” Alf asked. Curiosity was natural, after all.

“
I did. She is six and a half now.”

“
Why din you bring 'er?” Mary asked.

“
Because she isn't used to this life like we are and I don't want her exposed to it if I can help it. Plus she still believes that she is my sister and she is too young to learn the truth.”

“
Does Lucien come and visit you?” Alf asked.

“
That's Lord Beaumont,” she corrected. “And no. Until three weeks ago he had no idea even where I was and we ran into each other by accident.”

“
But now you're friends, are you gonna marry 'im?” Mary asked.

“
What makes you say that?”

“
John,” Alf cut in. “He were saying nasty things this mornin'.”

“
What kind of nasty things?” she asked.

“
Only stuff like you'd only get your good name back if 'e married you but he wouldn't marry no jumped up gamer like you... Sorry.”

“
It's okay. Sit down,” she said and Alf and Maggie sat opposite her and Mary. “It seems clear to me John is not a good influence on the family and mother is still far too weak to look after you all-”

“
I took her milk before bed time and twice this morning!” Mary said.

“
That's good, thank you. As I was saying, while I hope she will recover, she is likely to be weak for a while. I mean to help you by buying you a house and making sure the money I send gets through to you-”

“
Won't we be stayin' 'ere?” Alf asked. “I like it 'ere.”

“
I don't think this house is for sale,” she said. “But we can discuss that later. What I was thinking about was finding a woman who could act as a governess to you. She could keep you in line, make sure that you are properly fed and clothed, help Mother and possibly even teach you all to read and write a little.”

“
We do all right on our own,” Alf argued.

“
I'm sorry, Alf, but the situation I found you in was far from all right; you were barely surviving. I want you to thrive.”

“
What's thrive?” Mary asked.

“
Doing well. Wouldn't it be nice to have someone in charge who made sure that things get done? Who makes sure your clothes are clean and your bed linen changed regularly, for example?”

“
Suppose,” Alf shrugged. “Can't be worse than John were.”

Martha smiled, pleased for the support, no matter how lacklustre.

“
Good. Now, the next thing I want to discuss is the younger ones. First of all, why doesn't Maggie ever talk?”

Alf looked down to the girl who sat beside him.

“
Our Mags 'as never been much o' one for talkin'.”

“
And what about the twins? They don't talk much either and as for the babies, they don't even cry. It's not normal and as the elder children I'd like you all to spend some time with your siblings. Every day that is, not just while I'm here. Try to build up their confidence and help them to talk.”

“
How?” Alf asked.

“
By talking to them and playing with them, that's how they learn. I intend to get some toys before I go, some building blocks, toy soldiers, activities that you can do with them and hopefully enjoy too. Most importantly though, just be with them, talk to them even if they don't answer back and include the older ones in any games; I noticed you and John were playing separately from the twins in the garden yesterday.”

When Alf and Maggie began to stare at Mary, Martha noticed that her eyes were full of tears.

“
What is it?” she asked, putting her arm around her shoulder.

“
I din' no,” she said. “I fed 'em and changed 'em but I din' know I were meant to talk to 'em too.”

“
Of course you didn't,” Mary tucked the girls head under her chin and held her while she cried. “You're still a child yourself, Mary, no one expects you to know what to do without being shown.”

“
I'm sorry.”

“
I'm sorry too. I didn't mean to make you feel bad, I know you did your best. I know you all did your best,” she looked to Alf and Maggie, letting them know that she included them in that statement.

They heard horses outside and Martha turned to the window to see a carriage drawing to a stop.

“
That must be the doctor,” she said. “He's here mainly for Mum but I'd like him to take a look at all of you.”

“
I don't need no doctor,” Alf said.

“
I hope not,” Martha replied. “And if there's nothing wrong with you, then there's no harm in letting him look, is there?”

Alf scowled but didn't argue any further, so Martha got up and went to the door. She saw someone who she assumed was the doctor helping Mrs Lassiter down from the carriage. The driver was unloading two boxes from the rear of the carriage.

“
Mrs Lassiter,” Martha said stepping forward. “How lovely to see you again.”

“
And you, child.”

“
You must be Dr McCoy. Thank you for coming.” Martha curtseyed to him and he bowed slightly to her. If he was upset by visiting her and her family, he made no show of it.

“
I understand that your mother is unwell.”

“
Yes. I'd like you to take a look at the children as well, if you wouldn't mind.”

“
Of course not. Lead the way.”

Martha looked to Mrs Lassiter to see if she was coming too.

“
I have brought some more items that you may need. You go ahead while I unpack them.”

“
Thank you.” Martha led the doctor inside and up to her mother's room and waited by the door as he examined her. He took her pulse, listened to her heartbeat and asked how long her symptoms had been occurring, though he used simpler language. When he was finished he and Martha went outside into the hall to talk.

“
I can detect no other signs of illness so I believe that she is suffering from extreme malnourishment,” he said.

“
Can she recover?”

“
Yes, though she will probably never be as robust as she once was.”

Martha had never known her mother to be at all robust.

“
She is unused to food at the moment so feed her on liquids, milk if you can afford it. Over the next two weeks slowly introduce some soft foods, like bread and soup, eggs and rice pudding. Feed her little and often and as she improves you can introduce more substantial foods.”

“
Thank you.” Martha nodded and breathed a silent sigh of relief.

“
I'll take a look at the other children now, if I may.” 

He examined the children in the empty downstairs room while Martha boiled the kettle in the kitchen. Mrs Lassiter was unpacking the boxes that she had brought with her but stopped to enjoy a cup of tea with Martha.

Mrs Lassiter couldn't help but wonder how a penniless housemaid could become the fine figure that she saw before her today and she worried about how Martha might have accomplished this.

“
I must say, my dear, I had hoped that you would find your way in the world but I never expected you would do this well.”

“
I was very lucky,” Martha smiled.

“
You are all right, aren't you? Master Lucien won't tell me anything of your circumstances.”

“
I am very well, Mrs Lassiter. Lucien is protecting me but not in the way you think. I have made something of a name for myself now and I cannot risk society discovering my past.”

“
You will not even tell me?” She sounded hurt.

“
I do trust you, Mrs Lassiter, but I have discovered that the best way to keep a secret is to tell no one. Lucien found me and so now I must trust him to keep my confidence but I cannot risk telling anyone else, not even my family.”

“
I understand. I am pleased to know that you are doing well though.”

“
Thank you. I'm sorry that I didn't write but I thought that Lucien might have found me-”

“
Hush, he said that would be why I had not heard from you.”