The Lost And Found Girl (28 page)

No more than the lower orders, Daisy thought wistfully. Perhaps James’s grandmamma had behaved wickedly. She liked the sound of the word ‘grandmamma’ and repeated it in her head. As Daisy made her way down the dingy back stairs she thought Master James had sounded quite sad when he spoke of his mother. She supposed he missed having a mother and felt quite sorry for him even though she wouldn’t wish a mother like her own on him. Daisy chewed on her lip because she considered she was sinful for not loving her parents as the Bible said she ought. But she didn’t miss her cruel mother and father one little bit and was constantly alert for Father arriving to take her home. Annie Brown had been more of a mother to her in a few short
months than her own mother had been for over seventeen years.

Daisy took her dinner early so she could wait on the other servants for theirs. She was hungry and ate her boiled bacon and cabbage quickly then filled up on apple pudding. She yawned as she drank a mug of tea to finish.

‘Take a nap in your hour off his afternoon because you’ll be awake half the night clearing up.’

‘Will I get to see any of the ladies and gentlemen?’

Annie looked stern. ‘You are not to go in the Abbey under any circumstances.’

Daisy took Annie’s advice and after her nap put on her best – her only – gown that wasn’t Abbey uniform. She covered it well with one of Annie’s huge aprons, for the main event of the day was the banquet and the ball until midnight. Dancing was followed by a cold supper and then carriages home for those not lucky enough to be staying at the Abbey. The kitchens and sculleries were a cacophony of clatter until the dining room was cleared and the music had begun.

Every servant seemed to be rushed off his or her feet but Daisy found it fun because one of the footmen brought round wine for them to taste. He even came into the scullery with proper wine glasses full of wine that was fizzing with bubbles.

‘Try this,’ he announced. ‘It’s Champagne from France.’

‘Ooh la la,’ Annie laughed and lifted the front of her skirt to kick her legs.

Daisy followed Annie outside to drink her wine and cool off. In the distance, flares lit up the driveway lined with waiting carriages. She heard the strains of violins and a pianoforte mingled with chattering voices and laughter through open windows in the Abbey.

‘What next, Annie?’

‘They’ll be dancing until late. You’ll hear the music stop when the chef has laid out supper and you’ll be needed in the sculleries again. Cook will lay out something for us too. Put your feet up for an hour. You won’t get much sleep tonight.’

‘But I don’t feel tired now. Could I go over to the stables and see Boyd?’

‘I don’t see why not if you stay with him. There’ll be a late supper for the visiting coachmen, valets and ladies’ maids in the servants’ hall. Tell him to bring you back for that. As long as I know where you are when the work starts again.’

‘Thanks, Annie.’ Daisy set off in the dark to the stables.

The horses were housed about half a mile away in long low buildings arranged as a square. Well, they only seemed low in comparison with the Abbey for there were two floors of rooms to house outdoor servants over the horse boxes. Daisy followed the sounds of voices until she reached an area behind the stables that was cluttered with more carriages. Visiting servants, men and women with tankards of ale or cider in their hands, stood around lanterns, talking to each other.

One of the men turned as she approached. ‘Who’s that?’

‘Daisy Higgins, sir. I’m looking for Boyd.’

Boyd loomed out of the darkness and she darted forward, unsettling one of the nearby carriage horses and causing the carriage wheels to strain against its brakes.

‘Steady on, Daisy. We don’t want a stampede.’

‘Sorry. Oh I’m so pleased to see you. I’ve been inside the Abbey today. You should see it, it’s magnificent.’

‘So I’m told. Mr Stanton says they haven’t had a gathering as big as this for years. Some guests have travelled for more than a hundred miles.’

‘Master James must be very important. Will you show me where you work?’

‘If you like. It won’t be for long, anyway. I’ll go back to Home Farm when all the guests have departed.’ Boyd picked up a lantern and they went through the carriage arch to the front of the buildings inside the huge quadrangle. Daisy followed him to one of the stable houses. There were six stalls and they strolled in front of them, admiring the horses that nosed curiously over wooden gates. Boyd stroked their noses and patted their necks fondly. ‘I’m looking after these. They’re ponies but they are beautiful, aren’t they?’

Daisy agreed. ‘Are you allowed to ride them?’

‘I have to, to get the feel of them. If any of the young ladies join Master James and his friends tomorrow I shall select her mount.’

‘How lucky she is. I wish I could ride.’

‘You shall, one day. I shall teach you.’

‘Really?’

‘Yes, I promise. Here.’ Boyd dug in his jacket pocket and handed her some pieces of carrot. He led her to the end stall in the corner. ‘This little filly would suit you. Why don’t you get to know her?’

Boyd showed her how to feed the docile animal and Daisy lingered in the quiet enjoying the appreciative snuffling of the pony as it nibbled the carrot from the palm of her hand.

‘Do you mind if I take the lantern down the other end?’

Daisy shook her head and Boyd left her alone to busy himself clearing spilled straw and checking the gates were secure. Boyd was really happy working with horses, she
thought. He mustn’t give it up for her. She didn’t mind hard work but no matter how hard she worked Annie couldn’t keep her on. As it was, she was lucky to be here in the first place.

‘Happy early birthday, Daisy.’

‘Oh! Oh, Boyd, it’s beautiful!’

Boyd had made her a wooden travelling box with a brass lock and key and rope handles on each side to carry it.

‘I thought you could keep it in your dormitory and put your things in it.’

‘Oh yes. Oh it’s perfect. Oh Boyd, I want to kiss you. Please can I give you a hug? No one will see us.’

He placed her box on the floor and took her hand. ‘It’s not that, Daisy.’

‘I know. We’re not children any more.’ She lifted his hand to her lips and kissed it. ‘I do love you.’

She could not see his face in the dim light. ‘I love you too, Daisy.’ He sounded weary as though it was a burden to him and she wondered, again, if the responsibility for her was holding him back from the things he wanted to do. He picked up her box and added, ‘I’ll keep this safe until I can bring it over for you.’

She heard voices. The outdoor servants were gathering outside. ‘Thank you,’ she said. ‘I ought to be getting back to help Annie.’

‘Wait for me. I’m walking over for supper soon and then I have to help out front with the carriages.’

‘Very well,’ she agreed. Daisy felt secure when she was with Boyd. It didn’t matter where they were, he looked after her. She brought her thoughts to a halt sharply. She could not rely on him for ever and she had to show she could take care of herself so that he would not worry about her.

Boyd stowed her box safely and opened the door to see who was making all the noise. Daisy stroked the pony’s neck and spoke softly to her as she nuzzled her cheek. She heard raised voices and Boyd say, ‘It’s very late, sir. I was just locking up.’

A group of young gentlemen in evening dress crowded into the stable house. Some carried lanterns that cast weird shadows on the whitewashed stone walls, and one cried, ‘I say, Redfern, haven’t you any hunters for us?’

‘He’d have to shorten the stirrups for you if he had.’ Laughter filled the enclosed space.

Daisy shrank back into her dark corner and heard Boyd reply, ‘They are settled for the night, sir. But these are some of the horses selected for tomorrow’s ride.’

‘Does that include the filly over there?’ One of them lifted his lantern high to illuminate Daisy at the end stall and a few guffaws echoed in rafters. Embarrassed, she turned her face away from the light. She could not see Boyd but she heard him say, ‘It would be better to view the horses in the morning, sir.’

More sniggers rattled around the stable and a voice quipped, ‘I’ll take a ride on this one, Redfern, unless she’s your mount for the night?’ The laughter grew louder and Daisy’s embarrassment increased.

The ponies were shifting around their stalls, spooked by the unusual activity. Boyd raised his voice. ‘Please take your guests outside, sir. They are disturbing my ponies.’

‘Your ponies?’ It was the first time Master James had spoken.

‘I am responsible for them, sir, and they are becoming restless.’

‘Then what are you doing cavorting with a girl in the stables? As if I don’t know. What’s your name, man?’

‘Higgins, sir.’

‘Aren’t you the new fellow from Home Farm?’

‘Yes, sir.’

‘Then you will be aware of the penalty for having a girl in here. Stanton will hear about this. You will report to him in the morning.’

‘Very good, sir.’

Daisy pressed her lips together in anger. Why were the gentry so quick to judge their servants? If only they knew how hard they worked to make sure life in the Abbey ran smoothly. She turned to face the group, stepped forward and announced sharply, ‘It’s not what you think. I’m his sister.’

The young gentlemen sniggered but their laughter died away as Master James snatched one of the lanterns and walked towards her, tall and unbelievably handsome in evening dress. He held the light close to her face as he had done once before, when she had encountered him at the harvest supper. She should have looked down at her feet but she was angry that he had misjudged Boyd so she held her head proudly and looked him in the eye.

‘I’m Daisy Higgins.’

‘So you are.’ Master James examined her face in detail. His friends continued their ribald sniggering and muttering until he snapped, ‘Do be quiet, gentleman, or go outside.’ Then he addressed Daisy. ‘Who gave you permission to enter the stables?’

Boyd pushed his way through the gentlemen and appeared behind Master James. ‘I did, sir. She had an hour off duty and came to find me. I came in to check the ponies were calm for the night and Daisy was helping me.’

‘He’s not to blame, sir,’ Daisy said, adding as an afterthought, ‘I am.’

Boyd responded immediately, ‘Do not listen to her. The fault lies with me. I invited her in here. The – the horses were quiet in her presence.’

‘You’re lucky to have such a devoted sister, Higgins. I apologise for my guests. They have taken too much wine and the walk over here was supposed to calm them down. You had better get your sister out of here. You wouldn’t want her in any trouble, would you?’

‘Daisy, go and wait outside with the others.’ Boyd was tall and had broad shoulders. He elbowed a way through Master James’s friends and held open the stable door for her.

Daisy curtseyed to Master James, and walked by him keeping her head high. Master James turned with his lantern to watch her. But his friends had closed their ranks again and blocked her way to the door. They were sniggering and grinning as though she had been placed in the stable for their amusement.

She kept her back straight and her face serious. They were young bloods who had been drinking and if Boyd had not been there she would have been frightened of them. But now was not the time to look at her feet. Now was the time to face it out. Eventually James snapped, ‘Enough, gentlemen. Where are you manners? Let her pass.’ Daisy turned her head to give James a grateful smile and murmured, ‘Thank you, sir.’ She was pleased to note that he responded with a kindly nod towards her, as his boisterous companions parted so that she could escape.

She hurried outside where a straggle of outdoor servants was already heading for supper at the Abbey. Boyd joined her several minutes later and she was relieved to note that he was cheerful.

‘Master James said to forget about seeing Mr Stanton,’ he said.

‘You’re not in trouble, then?’

‘It seems not, nor you. I have to say I was very proud of you back there. You behaved in a dignified and graceful manner. Still, I shouldn’t mention the incident to Annie Brown.’

‘I thought Master James might be angry with you.’

‘He asked me a few questions about where I came from. I was fairly vague but he said he wanted to know who was looking after his horses. Mr Stanton encourages him to learn as much as he can about the estate.’

‘Well, his father won’t know anything about it. He’s never lived here.’

‘So I’m told. It’s due to some family feud or other. His father will be the next Lord Redfern, though.’

‘You’d think, with all their wealth and luxury, they wouldn’t fall out.’

‘I reckon it’s
because
of all the riches.’

‘Well, if Master James’s friends are anything to go by I’m not surprised. They have no manners.’

Boyd laughed. ‘He was very civil to you, though. I thought he did rather well with them. He’ll make a good Lord Redfern when his turn comes.’

Daisy agreed. There was something about Master James that warmed her heart when she thought about him. She was attracted towards him and sometimes felt he sensed the same for her. It was more than a master’s interest in a servant and she did not understand it. But it was there and she could not deny it.

He would deny it, of course. It wouldn’t do for the young master to be seen conversing in a friendly manner with a housemaid, not for him nor her either. And it would be
worse for her because she would be blamed and dismissed and her perceived behaviour would have a detrimental effect on Boyd’s prospects at the stables.

So, she reasoned, if Boyd stayed at the Abbey stables it was for everybody’s good that Master James would be away for years being educated and then travelling. He would meet and marry some beautiful young lady with a title who would become his Lady Redfern of the future. How lucky that girl would be. She gave a big sigh.

Boyd heard her and asked, ‘Is something wrong, Daisy?’

‘I was just thinking what it would be like to be one of the ladies at the ball, dressed in silks and feathers.’