Rebecca's Refusal (13 page)

‘I
hope we have remembered everything,' said Louisa, as at last the carriage was packed and they were off.

I'm sure we have,' said Rebecca. The rented house is furnished, and we have already sent the linen and china up to town with Betsy. And besides, if we have forgotten anything, we can always send Betsy back for it.'

‘Yes, my dear, you are right’
said Louisa.
‘I
am so pleased we have brought a few personal touches with us. They will make the place feel more homely. I am looking forward to hanging Grandfather's portrait in the drawing-room.' She settled herself back against the squabs and stretched her legs out in front of her.

'Have you enough room?' asked Rebecca.

Plenty,' said Louisa. Her face suddenly lit up. 'Oh, Rebecca, I am so excited! I can't remember the last time I had any fun!'

Rebecca was delighted to see Louisa's enthusiasm. Her cousin had had a dull winter, made worse by problems with her joints, and was in need of some entertainment. Besides, a round of parties and shopping would take Louisa's mind off the aches and pains her pills had not been able to alleviate.

Then we will make the most of it,' said Rebecca. 1 will have to spend some of my time at the mill, but for the rest of the time we will enjoy ourselves.'

Louisa sighed. 'Jebadiah would be pleased. He always loved Manchester. It is where he began his life, and he remained a Northern lad to the end!'

The countryside rolled past the window, with only a small pocket of snow left here and there to show what a hard winter it had been. The grass was green and verdant, and looked as fresh as if it had been new-washed. Above it was a clear, cold sky.

As they drew nearer the city the scenery changed. Meadows and a rushing river gave way to streets and buildings, some fine, others squalid. The recent expansion of the city had brought both good and bad in its wake. Good, because the manufacturing industries had brought work and wealth to the city; bad because it had also brought poverty, for the mill hands could only work when there was work to be had, and in these times of unrest there were often periods of enforced idleness when the war with France or trouble with the Luddites brought mills to a standstill.

But still Rebecca felt her interest quickening. This was where her grandfather had laid the foundations of his fortune, and she felt a connection to the city.

The coach began to move more slowly as the streets became busier. Smart shops now lined the sides of the roads, and fashionable people strolled along the pavements. Gentlemen raised their hats to greet friends or acquaintances and ladies, followed by footmen balancing columns of hat
boxes, disappeared into modiste's. Young children with their nursemaids skipped along, taking some exercise. Brewers' carts rolled past, drawn by plodding cart horses. Hackney carriages went by; and in front of them assorted carts and carriages made their way forward in a bustle of noise and confusion.

Is it always like this, do you think?' asked Louisa a little fearfully.

1

‘I
think it must be,' said Rebecca. T3ut I dare say we will soon get used to it.'

‘I
have not been to Manchester for some time, and I had not realised how much it had grown,' said Louisa.

At last they turned down a broad street and approached the house they had rented for the next six weeks. They had been in the coach for only two hours, as Manchester was no more than fifteen miles from their Cheshire home, but the day was cold and they were glad to arrive.

'Here we are,' said Rebecca, as the coach rolled to a halt.

‘
We have made good time, then,' said Louisa. 1 was hoping we would be here for lunch, and we are.'

They walked up the steps to the imposing town house and went inside.

This is lovely,' said Rebecca, looking round with interest.

'Oh, yes it is,' said Louisa as her eyes, too, roved round the hall. 1 am so relieved. It was very good of Emily and Camilla to handle so many of the arrangements. Their brother, Edward, helped too. He is a widower now, and Emily keeps house for him, since her own husband is dead.'

Rebecca and Louisa untied the strings of their bonnets as the coachman unloaded the coach, and they were just about to remove their cloaks when Louisa noticed some cards on the console table.

'Oh, look, Rebecca,' said Louisa delightedly, picking up one of the cards from the gilded console table. It is from Emily - Mrs Camberwell. And another one from Camilla. And an invitation to one of Emily's soirees, to be held at the start of next week.' Then her face fell.

Is anything wrong?' asked Rebecca.

'Oh, no, dear. It's just that I thought there might be one from Joshua.'

'He probably does not know we are here,' said Rebecca lightly.

Yes, he does/ said Louisa, for I wrote to him and told him all about it. Still, never mind. I told

Emily and Camilla he was here, and no doubt we will meet him at the soiree.'

* * * *

The house in Manchester soon became a busy one. Louisa's friends, Mrs Emily Camberwell and Mrs Camilla Renwick, were both well known in Manchester, and through their good offices Rebecca and Louisa were quickly made to feel at home. Visitors called, cards were left, and invitations flooded in. Rebecca and Louisa attended a number of dinner parties and other entertainments, but most of all they were looking forward to the soiree .

Have you decided what you will wear to the soiree?' asked Rebecca. She herself was uncertain as to what she should wear.

Well, I thought I would wear my new grey silk.'

The one you had made up with the London material?' asked Rebecca.

Yes.' She paused. 1 wonder . . . ?'

Yes?' asked Rebecca, pleased to see the happy gleam in Louisa's eye.

'My long white evening gloves have been darned twice, and I was wondering about a trip to the shops this afternoon.'

'An excellent idea,' said Rebecca. 1 have a few purchases I wish to make as well. I am in need of a new pair of clocked stockings.'

'Oh, yes,' said Louisa approvingly. 1 do so like clocked stockings - though why stockings with embroidery on the ankles should be called clocked stockings I really do not know.' She laughed. When I was a little girl I used to think it was because they were decorated with pictures of grandfather clocks!'

Where shall we go for them, do you think?'

'Emily says the Exchange Hall is the best place for that kind of thing.'

Then we'll go there after lunch.'

Having settled the afternoon to their satisfaction, the two ladies set out, after a light meal, for the Exchange Hall.

'Mrs Camberwell shares a house with her brother, I think you said?' asked Rebecca as the two ladies climbed into the carriage.

Yes, my dear. You remember Edward.' Louisa went slightly pink as she spoke.

'No,' said Rebecca, shaking her head. I'm not sure I do. I remember Emily and Camilla, but I don't remember Edward.'

1 suppose it is not surprising. I don't think he ever visited with the girls. He is five years older than Emily.' Louisa gave a sudden smile, which took ten years from her face as she remembered the days of her youth. 'And didn't he make the most of it! He used to tease us all shamefully when we were children.'

You knew him, then?'

'Oh, yes, my dear. I used to see a lot of him in the holidays, when he was not at school. I went to stay with Emily on a number of occasions and Edward was often there. He asked me to dance with him at my very first ball. I felt terribly grown up, even though it was only a private family gathering and I cannot have been more than fourteen.'

They soon arrived at the Exchange Hall, which was home to a colourful bazaar that sold all kinds of interesting and elegant goods. Gloves and stockings, ribbons and purses, all could be bought there, and Rebecca and Louisa spent an interesting hour looking round before finally making their purchases. They were just about to leave the Exchange Hall and venture further afield when they bumped into Mrs Camilla Renwick, accompanied by her husband and by another gentleman.

Rebecca smiled as she recognised Mr and Mrs Renwick. The other gentleman was one Rebecca did not know.

Well, this is a pleasant surprise,' said Mrs Renwick. 'I had not looked to see you before Emily's soiree this evening. You remember my husband, Henry?'

Henry doffed his hat, and the ladies declared they remembered him very well.

'And this is Mr Willingham.'

Mr Willingham also doffed his hat. He was of middling height with dark brown hair, and was smartly, though unostentatiously dressed. A pair of cream breeches and a blue tailcoat could just be glimpsed beneath his caped greatcoat. On his head he wore a tall hat and he carried a silver- tipped cane.

'Mr Willingham owns a number of mills in Stockport/ said Mrs Renwick; Stockport being a nearby town.

'Really?' said Louisa politely. How interesting.'

Rebecca smiled. Louisa had done her best to make it sound as though she really found it interesting, but Louisa was in reality rather appalled by the mills, which could be glimpsed from the coach when the two ladies drove around the town.

Indeed,' said Mr Willingham.

If you are not too busy, why don't you join us?' said Mrs Renwick. *We are just about to repair to the library for a rest. We can take the weight off our feet, and they also serve splendid ices.'

Rebecca and Louisa happily fell in with this plan, and the five of them turned their steps towards the library. Before long the pavement narrowed and Mr Renwick, who had his wife on one arm and Louisa on the other, we
nt ahead, whilst Rebecca and Mr
Willingham walked behind.

‘I
understand you are Jebadiah Marsden's grand-daughter ' said Mr Willingham, turning to Rebecca and making polite conversation.

1 am.'

'He was a well-loved figure in Manchester, and is sorely missed.'

Thank you.'

You have recently become a mill owner yourself, I hear,' he said, offering her his arm as they crossed a busy street.

'Half a mill owner,' Rebecca corrected him, as they safely reached the other side.

'Ah, yes. Half a mill owner. And which half is it you own?' he asked her smilingly.

She laughed. 1 really cannot say.'

You are to take an interest in it, Mrs Renwick says?'

Yes. I feel that, as my grandfather left it to me, I should acquaint myself with what goes on there.'

'A laudable attitude. However, if I may issue a word of warning? Although it is a lot easier to be a mill owner today than it was a year ago - the Luddites seem to have accepted that they cannot go around breaking up machinery and times are quieter than they were - there are still outbreaks of unrest from time to time. I hope you won't think it impertinent of me if I ask you to take care.

There are those who like the mills, as they bring prosperity to the region, but there are also those who resent the mills for producing goods cheaply and efficiently, and for using machines that take work away from men.'

Do you think there will be further trouble?' asked Rebecca. She felt she must gather as much information as she could about the situation, and Mr Willingham, being a mill owner himself, seemed to be knowledgeable on the subject.

That I cannot say. But I believe it would not be wise to rule it out. The ringleaders might have been dealt with, but the name of Ned Ludd lives on.'

Ned Ludd. Rebecca shivered. 1 don't even know who he was, and yet his name inspires fear nonetheless.'

'Reputedly he was a simpleton who lived in Leicestershire,' said Mr Willingham. 'One day, or so the story goes, he broke his stocking frame in anger because he had been punished for some trivial offence. But whether the Luddites really took their name from him, or from King Ludd, one of our ancient rulers, or General Ludd - another name they use to inspire terror -1 cannot say.'

'Are there any precautions we can take against attack?' asked Rebecca.

'Alas, very few. A determined man can cause havoc if he wishes to, by breaking into a mill and attacking the machines with hammers, or by setting it on fire.'

Rebecca shivered.

'Forgive me. I should not have mentioned it.'

'No. I'm glad you did.'

It is not a pleasant thought, particularly for a lady, but forewarned is forearmed. But you have no need to worry about that kind of thing, I am sure. You will have night watchmen at the mill.'

Rebecca frowned. 'I'm not sure. That is something I will have to find out.'

You have a partner, I understand? He will no doubt see to the mill's security and take care of any difficulties that may arise.'

By this time they had reached the library and Rebecca's conversation with Mr Willingham was brought to an end.

The gentlemen stood back to allow the ladies to enter first and Rebecca was able to free herself from Mr Willingham's company, falling in beside Mrs Renwick instead.

Conversation then became more general. The ladies exclaimed on the wonderful things they had seen in the shops, whilst the gentlemen fetched them ices. Though the weather was cold, the shopping had heated the ladies and they were glad of the cool refreshment. Whilst they ate, they showed each other their purchases, and the gentlemen contented themselves with talking about the war. An hour later, feeling much refreshed, Rebecca and Louisa took their leave.