Singing Heart (3 page)

Mama took the set back like she did any crisis. Seeking logical solutions to the quandaries that ensued. Every female in the house able to adeptly employ a needle and thread did so for the ladies in town. Mammy was sent to market with jellys and jams that had been lovingly preserved for the Winslow family.

Xzan volunteered to hire out as as a maid to the Miller’s next door who were prospering and needed extra help for the forthcoming holidays. Mama altered a rather large black frock leaving plenty of room to grow in to and laboriously washed the voluminous snowy white apron that completed the uniform. A ruffled cap hid long dark curls rendering her eldest child with a rather somber appearance.

Normally exuberant and outspoken around her family Xzan was surprisingly tongue tied and quiet around strangers. Even though they had been neighbors all of her existence, Lady Constance had no children and therefore had rarely visited.

Nervous on her first day, but determined to do her part to help her family survive their financial crisis she took a deep breath and lifted the heavy brass knocker. It seemed to vibrate throughout the entire hall as metal clanged against metal. No one answered. Patient, sure that she was expected and the knocker was loud enough to wake the dead the little girl stood like a statue awaiting the doorman, but to no avail. One was not forthcoming.

Slightly shaken and unsure of what to do next, Xzan made her way around to the back of the house following her nose to the kitchen. The heavenly aroma of fresh baking scones for the afternoon tea assailed her nostrils instantly making her wish she'd taken the milk and biscuits Mammy offered her before leaving. She'd declined knowing how many other mouths there was to feed. But this would be slow torture for the rest of the day without a morsel to staunch her rapidly growing appetite. The bottom half of the door was closed, a cherry tort cooling on its shelf. Timidly she called to the cook who was wrist deep in dough.

“
Hello...”

“
Come on in girl! Be careful with me pie!” she responded with a toothless grin. Flour and cherry juice be-speckled her apron. As she drew near the buxom woman Xzan thought she smelled as good as the food she was preparing. A hint of vanilla wafted from her arms as she waved her out of the kitchen and up the back stairs to find the housekeeper, Miss Chewly.

If Cook was a little rotund no doubt from tasting her own craft, the housekeeper was equally as thin for hers. Her arms were no bigger around than twigs and she was exceedingly tall. Taller than Papa. She appeared severe in countenance constantly sniffing through a pinched nose, wearing a painfully tight white collar pinned to a severe black dress with no frills around the cuffs or hem. But her voice betrayed her exceedingly sweet nature. Soft with a hint of a french accent, she enunciated every word as if straining to be understood. Fascinatingly, she looked at the person she was speaking to straight in the eyes, letting them know they had her full attention at all times. For a child who was often lost in the crowd at home lately, she made Xzan feel important, that her job in the household was priceless. As she led her new helper from room to room showing her the various tasks she would need to perform she was thorough in her training to the last detail.

“
You make the bed, just so.”

Under her quick, skilled hands, the pillows magically were fluffed, sheets tucked in, draperies tied back with golden tasseled chords, coverlets smoothed with no wrinkles in a matter of a few seconds. The worst part of her job was one  Xzan had grown accustomed to in her own home, emptying the chamber pots out the windows. The rancid urine reeked like rotting eggs the longer it sat. It seemed almost too intimate to be in a stranger's home attending to such a private parts of their lives.

Despite her youth and vitality, the work was hard and took a lot of that energy, her back ached miserably by the end of the day. She had worked almost ten hours without food or even a cup of water. Her last chore was to scrub the marble topped foyer in the front of the house. Lady Constance insisted her home was always immaculate and ready for guests at a moments notice. Cleanliness was next to godliness in her eyes. The scalding water filled with lye was heavy and made her eyes sting as she carried it carefully up the stairwell from the kitchen. Miss Chewly entrusted her with that unsupervised final task hastily embarking upon on setting out the fine china for a dinner party only a few hours away.

Tying her skirts up around her knees as Mammy had taught her, Xzan groaned as she squatted down dipping a worn scrub brush in the hot soapy solution. Her hands felt as battered as the rest of her, stung uncomfortably, but she was so happy this was her last chore for the day. She took pride in working hard, knowing at the end of the month she could present her father with her stipend. She began to sing lightheartedly under her breath, one of the little songs she had written in her earlier childhood for the younger children. It was so gay and cheerful that Mr. Dean, the butler found himself lurking behind the stairwell curtains, listening.

Unaware of her audience the young girl scrubbed the floor, rinsing it with a clean bucket of water and ran to find Miss Chewly to approve it so she could go home. The housekeeper was no where to be found but Mr. Dean stepped out of the darkness startling her, regal in his cravat and pantaloons as he awaited the impending guests.

“
You've done well little one. You may have a cup of milk and a slice of cheese for your dinner before you return home to your family.”

Surprised but so hungry she could barely contain her delight, Xzan ran to the kitchen and asked Cook for the aforementioned morsels. They were presented on an older piece of china bedecked with pretty little pink roses and a gold rim. The mug of milk was warm, fresh from the cow and as she sat at the large wooden table enjoying her well earned feast, Cook churned fresh butter humming something light and airy.

The walk home was the best of her life. She was free at last. But her day had also been an awakening. She felt empowered by the knowledge that hard work could help her survive and help those she loved as well. She didn't even mind the blisters on her hands or feet as she skipped the last ten steps home and burst in the front door with a smile.

“
Mama! Papa! I'm home!”

She was greeted by a million questions from her family wanting to know all about her day and the juicy tidbits she had discovered about their neighbor. She didn't have much to impart on the latter as amazingly the servants all seemed to be happy and worked hard, minding their own business. But she had much to share about what she had learned about cleaning the huge manor next door. She went to bed early that evening after Mammy soaked her hands and feet in sea salt reassuring her that it would help her heal faster and rubbing a lineament on them once she was in bed that smelled like camphor.

The days passed too swiftly as Xzan fell in to a routine, working ten hours a day next door and coming home to help with her younger siblings while Mammy made dinner for the huge brood. She knew that it was only a temporary position through the holidays but she was learning so much and it very interesting to be around different people all of whom had such unique personalities. She was the youngest person in the house so she was very surprised a week before Christmas to find a girl close to her age wandering in the garden.

Xzan walking two of the family dogs, both miniature collies, jumped as the young lady suddenly appeared seemingly from out of nowhere.

“
Oh...” her heart pounding, “You gave me a start!”

“
Sorry. I seem to be turned around. It took me forever to get out of the maze. Which way do I go to get to the stables? I was thinking of having a ride before Tea.”

Dressed stylishly in a pale gray velvet riding habit with a three quarters length full skirt, a tucked bodice and shiny black toe boots, Xzan realized the lady in front of her was a child like herself despite her adult demeanor and cultured voice. Atop golden curls pinned in front of her ears sat the most unusual hat Xzan had ever seen. Darker gray, velvety in texture, plumed, bespangled with sewn in gems and handcrafted burgundy roses it was the most presumptuous hat for child or adult that the young girl had ever seen. It was all she could do not to giggle at the sight of the obviously wealthy young girl's attire. No doubt it was a fashion statement straight from France but it looked slightly ridiculous on one so young.

Keeping her thoughts to herself stifling her emotions, Xzan pointed to the south.

“
If you don't mind the dogs I'll walk with you and show you the way.”

“
I'm in no hurry.” she smiled. “What is your name?”

Xzan was surprised that a guest would ask a servant such a personal question but she responded politely.

“
Xzan.”

A dainty white gloved hand extended in a friendly way.

“
Xzan, what a lovely name! I'm Carrie. Lady Constance is my paternal Great-Aunt.”

Xzan steered clear of the little presents the dogs deposited along the garden trail. Leading Carrie to the stables she wrinkled her nose in disgust. The smell of manure was even more overpowering than the stench of wet dogs. She grinned.

“
No matter how close I hold my perfumed hanky to my nose it just smells like rose dung.”

Carrie laughed. It lit up her face giving her a beauty that her pale features belied. Hazel eyes met blue ones and they became instant friends. Xzan had a feeling there wasn't much laughter in Carrie's life from how relieved she seemed to share it now. They might not be from the same stations in life financially at the moment, but Papa could make a fortune at any moment and all of that would change again. Holding their noses they ran the rest of the distance together as only children can, filled with a sudden burst of exuberance. The dogs nipped at their heels barking loudly, happy too.

“
Here it is. Have a nice ride. I have to rush or your Aunt will be upset with me for taking too long.”

“
Will I see you later? Do you live here with the staff?”

“
No, my family lives to the east of here. I'm just helping out for the holidays. But I come every day, so I'll see you again.”

Carrie's face fell.

“
Oh...I was hoping you had a room after your through working for the day we could visit with each other.”

Xzan chewed on her lip thinking.

“
Let me ask my mother when I go home tonight if I can stay after I’m finished working tomorrow.”

Carries smiled hopefully.

“
Oh do you think she'll let you? I'll have to ask my Aunt Connie too, but I'm sure she won't mind. She knows I never have anyone my age around. Everyone is soooo old.”

Xzan giggled.

“
I'm the youngest here...but at home, I have maaaaaany younger brothers and sisters. It would nice for me too to have someone my age to talk to.”

“
Oh, me too!”

“
I'll let you know tomorrow.”

Xzan waved goodbye rushing towards the house, knowing that she had taken all the time she could without getting in trouble for her task. Singing lightly under her breath she took the dogs off their leashes and freed them in the downstairs room the lady of the house had designated as their sole domain. Making sure they had plenty of water and a bone each Xzan made her way back to the kitchen in search of Miss Chewly who was last seen there polishing silver.

Cook greeted her in relief.

“
Girl! Where on earth have you been? Lady Constance has been looking for you. Tidy your apron, wash your hands and go upstairs!”

Obeying, Xzan dipped her hands in the bucket of water by the door wiping them hurriedly, smoothing her apron as she climbed the stairs. She knocked lightly on the parlor door. The butler ushered her in the room ceremoniously.

“
Lady Miller, the maid is responding to your summons.”

Xzan curtsied prettily, smiling slightly. Mama always told her to be polite and keep a pleasant expression on her face in public. But it was soon wiped off as her Mistress spoke bluntly, her voice cold and precise.

“
Miss Colby. A particular broach is missing from my jewelry box and you were the last person in my room this morning. I went to put it on and it was gone. I know it was there before breakfast because I took it out of the vault myself. What do you have to say for yourself young lady?”

         Xzan was thunderstruck. She couldn't believe her ears. She would never steal anything from anyone, but especially not someone who was paying her wages. She was so shocked she couldn't even respond Just stood staring in horror at the older woman.

“
I'm waiting. Don't bother lie to me. Just take it out of your pocket or the hiding place you've put it and give it back to me! Now! I don't have the time or energy to play games with you girl! That broach belonged to my mother and it is all I have left to remember her by. I will not tolerate its disappearance. Do you understand me!”

          “
My Lady, I am not guilty of taking it. I...I...I don't even know what it looks like or I would help look for it.” Xzan stuttered, trembling.

          
There was a firm tapping at the door and the butler who had stood mute and still as a statue heralded in the new visitor formally.