Hope for Tomorrow (30 page)

Chapter Twenty Six

Martha missed Hope dreadfully but she knew that Lucien would take good care of her and two days after they left, she began to receive letters from Hope, detailing her adventures on the estate. It seemed that she was quite taken with country life and all of the animals on the estate, from horses, sheep and sheepdogs to hens, pigs, cows and even one goat owned by one of Lucien's tenants to keep their garden neat.

Martha was slightly worried when Hope wrote saying that Lucien had borrowed a horse like his from a friend and was going to teach her to ride. Thankfully Lucien had added a postscript to the letter detailing the 'horse', which was actually a three foot tall, black Shetland pony called Sooty, who was as placid as it was possible for a pony to be.

Martha wrote back every day, just a quick note to reassure them both that she was healing. Since she was confined to bed she had to write in pencil, as Hope did, and the letters were short because she didn't have much news.

She also received letters from her family who had obviously been told of her illness. Mary was actually quite proficient now and wrote her letters in ink but the others still wrote in pencil and had only a childlike scrawl.

Mary's letters were generally positive and on the few occasions they weren't, Martha did her best to help her, though really she had no idea how to counsel her effectively and hoped that her reassurance and understanding were enough. Thankfully Mary was quite jovial in her recent letters because Martha wasn't sure that she had the mental strength to be of any help to her at the moment.

Aside from getting up to wash each day, Martha was forced to stay in bed so she read the newspaper or a book in between naps. She was still very weak and that didn't begin to ease until a week after her fever had broken.

In the second week of her recovery, Thomas said that she might get out of bed for a few hours a day but that she was not to exert herself in anyway as that could bring about a relapse. He also told her that as the ulcers in her throat were healing, she could start eating more solid food, like eggs, bread and rice but nothing too tough.

Worry about her seemed to have taken its toll on Gus and while he put on a brave face when he visited her, the maids told her that he was almost as tired as she was most of the time and that when he got home from work he looked as white as a sheet.

Martha wished that he would give up work and retire but he still would not countenance it. She also felt guilty that worry over her might have further damaged his health.

As for her own work, Martha wasn't even able to sketch that first week. She wasn't so weak that she couldn't draw but she simply couldn't focus on her task and her imagination seemed to have deserted her. Thankfully she got her spark back towards the end of the second week and began to do a few sketches, though she felt that they were far from her best work.

Finally as her rash cleared up Thomas gave her a clean bill of health and told her that she could see Hope again.

Martha immediately set about writing to Lucien and Hope with the good news. She was desperate to see Hope again but she knew that Lucien couldn't just drop everything to bring her daughter home and Martha didn't feel up to travelling yet so she made it clear that he could bring her when it was convenient. She had missed that day's post so she wouldn't be able to send the letter until the next morning, it would probably take at least a day to get to Lucien, then he would have to make arrangements to bring her home so it would likely be at least three days until she could see Hope again.

She longed to see Lucien as well but she was used to living without him, however she hadn't seen Hope for two weeks, the longest they had ever been parted and she felt slightly bereft without her.

The next day she got dressed for the first time, though her corset was much looser than she would usually wear it and she opted for dress that laced at the back so that it too could be loose.

She was pleased to find that Mary had kept the shop ticking over nicely and thankfully January was a quiet month so only one lady had come in for bespoke gloves. Mary had seen to her and she had chosen one of Martha's existing sketches. Martha had no idea that Mary knew how to cost the gloves but she had obviously seen Martha do it enough times that she had picked it up and there were no mistakes in her calculations.

Martha still had to do the shop's books since Mary didn't know how to do them but the girl had even visited Gus to get some cash to pay the merchants they owed and the receipts were neatly stacked on her desk.

Although she hadn't done a lot that day, Martha was still exhausted by the end of it and the evening was a very quiet one with both her and Gus retiring to bed early.

The next day Martha was still tired but she had the books to finish and she was bored of staying at home so she dragged herself out of bed and began her morning ablutions. When her maid didn't come back at the usual time to help her dress she rang the bell but when still no one came, she went out into the hallway and made her way to Gus's bedroom because his door was standing open.

He was almost dressed, only his cravat and waistcoat were missing but he was lying on the bed. His right hand clutched his chest and his breathing was laboured.

“
Why didn't you call me?” she asked the servants who were standing around as she approached Gus

“
I told them... not to bother you,” Gus answered. “I'm fine.”

Martha sat on the side of his bed and took his left hand.

“
You're not fine,” she said, turning to the housekeeper who had just entered. “Has Dr Blackhall been summoned?”

“
I sent Kate,” she nodded.

“
No,” Gus said. “It will pass.”

Martha wished that she could be so sure but she was relieved when his pained expression relaxed and he stopped clutching his chest. He was still breathless though.

The housekeeper began to usher the maids out of the room, only herself and Lucy, the head housemaid remaining in case they were needed.

“
Oh, my dear,” Gus said. “You and Hope have brought... more happiness than I could have... dreamed.”

Martha felt tears sting her eyes as she realised that his words were a goodbye.

“
No,” she said softly.

“
Thank you,” he squeezed her hand, though his grip was feeble.

“
You can't leave us,” Martha said. 

“
I don't think... I have a choice.” He took a few deep breaths. “Don't feel bad... I was ready to die when you met me... you gave me a reason to go on... these past seven years... have been a bonus.”

“
I love you,” Martha said as her tears spilled over.

“
And I love you, my dear... I am so proud of the young woman... you have become.” He smiled. “I have made provisions for you and Hope...  you will always have independence... but Lucien is a good man... let him love you... I know that he is capable... of being worthy of you both.”

He grimaced in pain again and when he relaxed, Martha could tell that he was gone. She lowered her head to his chest and let her tears flow and she hadn't moved by the time Thomas arrived and gently detached her and led her from the room.

He settled her back in her bed and prepared a strong sleeping draught which he gave her to drink. She tried to push it away but he was insistent as he was worried that she could become hysterical. Martha wasn't as prone to hysteria as many women he knew but her father had just died and her continued sobbing was a worry. The housekeeper told him that she had been crying for almost fifteen minutes before he arrived.

She finally accepted the liquid and a few minutes later she began to look drowsy. Thankfully she hadn't dressed yet so he was able to lay her down in the bed and pull her covers over her.

“
Sleep tight,” he said, kissing her forehead before going to see Gus.

Lucien and Hope arrived in Penchester at around five o'clock that evening. Hope had enjoyed staying with him but it was clear that she missed her mother. He kept her from saying too much in her letters because he didn't want to burden Martha but when he had opened her letter this morning, he knew that Hope would want to return as soon as possible. He had informed the staff immediately and he, Hope, her governess and nanny had caught the afternoon train from Stockport.

He knew that something was wrong as soon as the housekeeper answered the door to them, for her expression was grave. A moment later she looked relieved to see him and stepped aside for them to enter. As she took his coat he leaned down and she whispered in his ear.

“
Mr Aldercott passed away this morning.”

Lucien's heart sank as he heard those words, for he knew how devastated Martha must be. Hope hadn't heard but she had picked up on the atmosphere.

“
Where's Mar?” she asked.

The housekeeper looked to the study and Lucien led Hope in there while the staff made themselves scarce. As he opened the door he saw Martha staring into the fire, oblivious to their presence until Hope called her name. She was dressed in black which suited her mood.

“
Mar!” Hope cried and ran to her.

Martha's reaction seemed slightly delayed but she pulled Hope into her arms.

“
Oh, darling. I missed you.”

“
Where's Uncle Gus?” Hope asked.

Martha didn't answer, she didn't know how to.

By the time she had been Hope's age she had already lost two siblings and was familiar with death. Hope had been sheltered though and Martha didn't know how to tell her that he was gone.

“
Mar?” Hope pulled away and looked at her mother.

“
Uncle Gus was very ill, sweetheart. He went to sleep this morning and he won't be waking up again.”

Hope thought about this for a second.

“
Why not?” she finally asked.

“
Because he's gone to Heaven to be with God.” Martha couldn't help the tears that sprang from her eyes.

“
Why has be gone to be with God? Why doesn't he want to be with us?”

“
Because God wanted him.”

“
Why?”

“
Maybe he was lonely,” Martha said, realising that explaining death wasn't going to be easy.

“
Doesn't God have his own friends?”

“
I don't know, darling. Maybe not.”

Hope was silent again as she processed this information.

“
Isn't Heaven a nice place?”

“
Yes, it's a paradise.”

“
Then why are you crying?”

“
Because I'm going to miss him,” Martha admitted, accepting the handkerchief that Lucien handed her. “We won't get to see him again until we go to Heaven.”

“
I won't see Uncle Gus again?” Hope asked, her eyes growing wide as her lower lip began to tremble.

“
Not for a very long time.”

Hope's eyes filled with tears which spilled over as she clung to her mother again and began to cry.

Lucien watched, wishing that there was something he could do for them.

“
It's not fair!” Hope sobbed.

“
I know, darling.”

“
I want Uncle Gus!”

“
Me too.” Martha looked over to Lucien and he could clearly see the agony written on her every feature. Her eyes were red and glassy so he wondered if the doctor had given her something.

With the resilience that all children seem to  possess, Hope's tears soon dried and she did her best to comfort her mother. She couldn't yet grasp what it meant to never see someone again and that knowledge would come in small increments over time, which was perhaps a kinder way to deal with the loss of someone you loved, though sadly it only worked with the young.

When Martha's tears had dried, she suggested that Hope go and unpack so she went to find her nanny.

Lucien knelt before Martha.

“
I'm so sorry,” he said.

“
I didn't expect you back so soon.”

“
We both missed you and came as soon as we got your letter. I'm only sorry to find you in such pain.”

“
Thank you.”

Chapter Twenty Seven

For the next few days her reactions were slightly delayed but not because of Doctor Blackhall's sleeping draught because Martha never took it again. It was more as though she were numb and her reactions were slightly off-kilter with those around her.

She didn't cry much but her grief was clear for all to see.

Lucien handled the funeral arrangements and the wake while Martha just drifted through life, going where and doing what she was told. Only when the coffin was removed from the house for the funeral did reality seem to break through whatever bubble she had been living in.

She broke down and caused something of a scene as her legs seemed to give out and she sat in the middle of the parlour sobbing. Lucien got down beside her and cradled her to him as the other mourners followed the coffin out. Thankfully Lucien couldn't see scorn in their eyes for her behaviour, only sympathy.

As Gus's closest family were women and unable to attend the funeral, Thomas felt that he had to go. He lagged behind the other mourners though and left a bottle on the sideboard.

“
It's a sleeping draught,” he told Lucien. “Just in case.”

Lucien nodded his thanks but in the end he simply held Martha until her tears subsided.

“
Where's Hope?” she asked eventually.

“
You thought this would be too difficult for her,” he reminded her. “The nanny took her to the petting zoo instead.”

Martha nodded, his words striking a vague memory.

“
Come on,” Lucien got to his feet and helped her up, then he sat her on the sofa and fetched a brandy for her, which she sipped slowly.

Martha spent the rest of the day reminiscing about Gus and Lucien listened attentively, gaining a unique insight into their relationship. She put on a brave face when Hope returned but the events of the day had taken their toll and she retired early to bed.

She hadn't been visiting Lucien at night time so he was surprised when she stole into his room just after midnight. She didn't have romance on her mind though and he just held her, offering what comfort he could.

The next day she was much more herself and she, Hope and Lucien made their way to the solicitors office to hear the reading of Gus's will.

He left a larger estate than most had imagined and aside from bequeathing some money to his staff and some local charities, he divided the rest of his estate equally between Hope and Martha, stating that the majority was to be held in trust for them, thereby giving both women an independent income that would not become their husband's if they married.

Lucien admired this canny step, for many a woman had been unhappily married as her husband had desired her fortune more than her.

Martha was feeling slightly overwhelmed, for whilst Gus had explained how to operate the business, she had confined herself to designing and running the shop. She did the books for that part of the business but overall the company was so much larger and more complicated. It daunted her.

Even in her business with Lucien, she had kept to the creative aspects and left the business side largely to him. Besides which, if she and Lucien did now marry, she didn't want him left out in the cold. If they became a family, she wanted them to be partners in all things, not just in some aspects.

When they arrived home Martha and Lucien settled in the study while Hope resumed her lessons with her governess. Martha decided to tackle the elephant in the room.

“
Lucien, we haven't spoken of this in a long while... do you still wish to marry me?” she sounded hesitant which surprised him.

“
Of course. Why would you even ask such a thing?”

“
Because you have been silent on the topic and I would have expect you to stake your claim long before now.”

Yes, at one time he would have staked a claim, desperate to know that she would finally be his.

“
I didn't want to intrude on your grief,” he explained. “Nor did I want you to agree because you felt pressured into it.”

Martha smiled, appreciating his compassion.

“
I do still want to marry you,” she assured him. “And on that basis I would like sign the twenty five percent share I own in Aldercott & Daughter over to you.”

Lucien was confused by such a move.

“
But the thirty seven percent you own is in trust?”

“
What I was left today is held in trust but Gus gave me a twenty five percent share when I became part of the business. I cannot make you an equal partner with Hope and me but I hope that a quarter share will be enough for you to get involved in the business and help protect our interests.”

“
I would do that with no share,” he smiled. “You and Hope are my family and I will always look after what is yours as well as the both of you, if you will let me.”

Martha took his face in her hands and kissed him tenderly.

“
Of course we will let you.” She smiled. “I would however like to wait six months. I feel I owe it to Gus to mourn him properly.”

“
I understand.”

There were details to be worked out, such as where Martha would stay until they were married and where Lucien would stay when he visited them. He had stayed in the house this time because Martha needed him but as she was now a single woman living alone, it would cause scandal if he continued to stay with her and already some were questioning his decision to support Martha following Gus's death. From now on he would have to stay in a hotel.

Martha would be expected to stay at home for two weeks following Gus's passing, then she could resume her work but wouldn't be expected to socialise much. She didn't mind as she didn't much enjoy socialising and without Gus as an escort, she wouldn't be invited to many events anyway.

Lucien had agreed to become a part owner of Aldercott & Daughter, although he insisted on buying the share from her. The next day he went to the workshop so that he could learn how the business worked. Martha was the majority owner of this business now and she didn't just want to foist Lucien on the other workers so although she was in mourning, she accompanied him.

They had agreed between them that Lucien couldn't relocate to Penchester to look after the business full-time and so they decided to appoint Mr Myers as the manager since he had been with Gus the longest and was his right hand man.

Lucien already had some experience of the garment business thanks to his partnership with Martha so he knew a little of what he would be dealing with. He looked over the accounts first so that he had an idea what the business turned over and its profit margins, then they sat down with Mr Myers to discuss terms and remuneration for his increased responsibilities.

That evening he moved to the Grosvenor Hotel but still ate dinner with Martha and Hope. He went into the workshop for the next three days so that he had a full understanding of the business but then he had to return home as he had been absent from the estate for over a week now.

Martha already missed him since he had moved into a hotel but she knew that this was only temporary.

Staying at home was beginning bother to Martha as she had nothing to occupy her time and so she sketched more gloves and outerwear than she had probably ever done before. Keeping busy helped to cope with her grief.

Hope seemed to have bounced back well but she did cry sometimes as she began to feel Gus's loss. Dinnertimes were the worst as they had always eaten as a family.

The staff had cared a great deal for Gus and they missed him too. They had all been left something in Gus's will, dependant on how long they had been with him. Martha sat down with the housekeeper after Lucien left so that she could discuss her future plans with her. She didn't want to fire anyone but working out what would happen when she moved in with Lucien would take some time and if any maids didn't have a job or didn't want to move to Marchwood, they would have plenty of time to find work elsewhere.

The nanny and governess would go with Hope if they were willing, which thankfully they were.

Martha's lady's maid was also a housemaid as Martha didn't require as much pampering as many women. That wouldn't suffice once she was Lady Beaumont, Countess of Marchwood though. The maid was willing to move to Marchwood so Martha sent her down to London where she would apprentice with Lucien's sister's lady's maid and learn the skills which she hadn't needed so far.

The housekeeper had been considering retirement but when she learned that Martha intended to keep the house for when they visited Penchester to oversee the business, she decided that she could handle the reduced duties and staff and agreed to stay on.

Two housemaids would stay on with her and the other two would move to Marchwood and be integrated into the staff there.

The groom was also the carriage driver and the only member of staff who didn't live in. Although Lucien could have used another groom, especially if he was getting a pony for Hope, he had a wife and child in Penchester and wanted to stay there.

There wouldn't be a need for a full-time cook either so she opted to find other employment and one of the remaining housemaids who had assisted Cook offered to take over the staff meals and cater to the family when they were in town.

Martha felt much better knowing that the staff were happy and did everything she could to help Cook and the groom find good positions.

Lucien returned to Penchester for five days once a month to oversee the business and although it wasn't seemly for him to dine alone with Martha any longer, by meeting after hours in the shop they did manage to get some time alone together. Lucien refused to be intimate with her in such a setting. Martha missed that closeness but it was nice just to be able to hold and kiss him without fear of censure.

The months dragged by and as her mood improved, Martha began to look forward to moving to Marchwood, which only made the time pass even slower than it had before.

She had worried that Hope would need some convincing to move since this house was all she had ever known but she liked Lucien, had enjoyed her time at his estate and more than anything, she wanted her pony! In fact ponies and horses were just about the only things that she would draw at the moment.

She really was a sweet and well-behaved girl, but she had a lot to learn about subtlety.

Martha was having a wedding dress specially made, which seemed like an extravagance to her but it was expected of the upper classes. She kept it simple with elegant and flowing lines and as few petticoats as she could get away with, which was still rather a lot!

Lucien had arranged for the banns to be read and the wedding would be in the middle of July at Marchwood's parish church on the estate, where his parents had been married. The marriage licence was in the name of Martha Aldercott so no locals suspected that this Martha was the same one as the housemaid who had run away years ago, despite the rumours which were being told about her return and rescue of her family.

Martha still worried that someone would find a reason to object to the wedding however and she would not relax until the ceremony was over.

She and Hope journeyed to Marchwood a few days before the wedding and Lucien moved into Brown's Hotel so that they could settle into the house. Besides, it was much harder for a woman to prepare for a wedding than it was for a man and he understood that.

Martha felt strange to think of herself as Mistress of a house which she had once cleaned. Mrs Lassiter took tea with her the day she arrived and made it clear that she respected her new position as head of the household and couldn't be happier that she had finally found happiness.

Still, Martha felt as though she had an anvil poised over her head, ready to fall at any moment. The pressure she felt was almost physically oppressive and she was subdued.

As the Wednesday of their wedding arrived, Lucien finally began to feel nervous as well. He had waited so long for this day that he couldn't quite believe that it was here at last. There were times when he had begun to think that Martha would never be his, even after he had found her again.

They hadn't invited many people to the wedding, not even Martha's family as she was paranoid that someone would object to the union if they realised who she was. They didn't have any grounds to object, of course, because even if someone raised their affair, they were doing the 'right thing' by marrying now.

The church was about a quarter full, mainly with Lucien's closest friends. His Oxford friend,  Peter Ellison, was there. He still didn't understand Lucien's obsession with this housemaid but he was pleased that his friend would finally get what he wanted. When Lucien lifted Martha's veil, Peter at least had a little idea what he had seen in the girl.

Lucien's mother hadn't been invited.

On Martha's side of the church, only the governess, nanny, Hope and Mrs Lassiter were present. Thomas had also come but he had agreed to give her away and as she walked down the aisle on his arm, her heart was pounding. She expected someone, like the Dowager Countess, to storm in and ruin everything and as the priest asked if anyone knew of any just cause or impediment why they should  not be married, she thought that she might pass out, she felt so light-headed.