What You Wish For (4 page)

She had been given an allowance by Mr Hale, which really was too kind of him given how little money the family had, but after he refused her protests she accepted it gracefully, for to continue to refuse would have been rude. Now she was glad of it, as it would allow her to buy the tree bark for Mrs Hale.

Unwilling to spend any money on her own dresses, she was still wearing Margaret's clothes. Fortunately Margaret didn't seem to mind sharing her wardrobe, though Carrie was careful to keep away from the few dresses Margaret expressed a preference for.

Unfortunately, her size seven feet were far larger than Margaret's and Carrie only possessed one pair of boots, those that she had been wearing when she arrived here. Thankfully they were her day boots which she wore to class, so they were relatively comfortable with only a small heel.

She was also keen to help Dixon out around the house, though she had to say that housework in the 1850s was much harder than housework in 2011. Oh, what she wouldn't give for her washing machine and tumble drier right about now!

Some tasks weren't so bad though. This morning for example, she had helped Dixon to make shampoo and conditioner. Dixon didn't see the point in using conditioner but Carrie had been insistent and as a lady's maid, Dixon had plenty of recipes that she could chose from.

The shampoo could be made in bulk since it was made using chamomile, soap flakes and glycerine. The conditioner was harder to keep since it required fresh egg yoke, so whilst Carrie insisted upon washing her hair twice a week, she only used the conditioner once a week. Carrie hated rinsing her hair with cold water, but she had little choice unless she wanted scrambled-egg-hair. Still, the recipe Dixon had for dry hair conditioner also used jojoba, almond and calendula oil, and left her hair feeling beautifully soft after the harsh shampoo, so it was worth a weekly dousing in cold water.

There was little about bathing in this time that Carrie enjoyed. Baths were taken only once a week, on a Saturday night and were nothing like the baths that Carrie was used it. It simply consisted of a small copper tub that would be dragged out into the kitchen, and filled with hot water from the stove. Each family member would then stand in the tub and wash themselves. Not only was the idea of bathing in someone else's water rather icky, Carrie saw no point in simply standing in a large bowl of water. Sure, it was easier to scoop over herself, but it was also easy to spill said water all over the floor.

After trying that once, Carrie had insisted on a daily wash and when it was her turn to bathe, she shooed Dixon out of the room and, kneeling beside the tub, only used it to shampoo and rinse her hair. The water was warm though, so she had to rinse her conditioner out over the sink using cold water from the well.

Dixon was also rather shocked that Carrie liked to wash her hair twice a week. At home it would have been every other day, but she was content to compromise here and wash it every third day. Still, it was something of a hassle to do, with just her small wash basin and water jug.

What she wouldn't give for hot and cold running water right about now. Or even her power shower. Oh, to think that she had ever taken such things for granted!

Now, she was tasked with restocking their supply of almond oil and chamomile tea, since they had used them all in the shampoo that morning. She had already been to the two shops where Dixon told her that they might be purchased, and with those tasks out of the way, she stopped an elderly gentleman as he passed her.

“
Excuse me, sir, I wonder if you can help me. I am new to Milton and I am looking for a chemist shop.”

“
Pardon me, a what?”

“
Oh, um, an apothecary or a herbal remedy shop.” She had no idea what they were called in this day and age.

“
Ah,” he smiled. “There is an apothecary on Chambers Street. Do you know where that is?”

“
I think so, I've looked at a map of Milton. Thank you.”

He touched his hat, bid her good day and walked away. Carrie made her way towards where she believed Chambers Street could be found.

She couldn't remember which bark asprin was found in so she asked the man behind the counter for something to reduce a fever. He offered her powered cinchona bush bark, which she knew contained paracetamol, or powered willow bark, which she now remembered was the one with aspirin in. Knowing that paracetamol was the more dangerous of the two drugs in large amounts, she opted for willow bark. The last thing she wanted was to give Mrs Hale liver failure, since she didn't know how much of the drug was in any given amount.

The shopkeeper advised her how much of the powered willow bark to administer and after weighing the powder, he poured it into a small bottle, which he placed a cork stopper into before he handed it to her.

She paid for it and left the shop, only to see Mr Thornton heading towards her.

Even after only one meeting, her feelings for him were so strong that she had chosen to avoid him at his last two lessons, preferring to let Dixon or Margaret open the door to him. It had taken all her willpower to remain in the kitchen while he was in the house, and not even peek at him as he arrived and left, but somehow she had managed it.

Her heart skipped a beat and she found herself quite stupefied for a moment as she watched him approach, though thankfully by the time he reached her, she had regained some of her sense. She bowed slightly to him.

“
Mr Thornton, how good to see you again.”

“
Miss Preston.” He looked to the shop she had just exited. “I hope you are not unwell?”

“
Oh, no. Mrs Hale has a dreadful cold though, and I thought some willow bark would help her fever.”

“
I am sorry to hear that.”

They fell into step beside one another.

“
What brings you into town?” Carrie asked.

“
Oh, I have come from the cotton exchange.”

“
I hope business was good this morning.” She said, doing her best to make polite conversation, for this man really did turn her into a simpleton when she was in his presence.

“
Quite good, thank you.”

“
Good.” She smiled and cast her mind around for another topic of conversation. “Um, I have been thinking recently about getting a job and I thought that you might be the person to ask.”

“
You want to work?” He sounded stunned.

“
I do. The Hales have been very good to me but I really would rather pay my own way, I would like to give them something in the way of housekeeping for looking after me, and I feel just awful taking money off them when they don't have a lot.”

“
Excuse me, I was under the impression that ladies from the south didn't work.”

“
Believe me, my mother and sister agree with you.” Her smile faded. “Agreed with you,” she corrected. They may not have been close, but Carrie was starting to miss her family as well as her friends.

“
I'm sorry,” Mr Thornton said, catching the change in tense and how her voice turned sad.

“
Anyway,” she rushed on, preferring not to dwell on sad thoughts. “I am of a different mind and like to be independent. I'm not skilled at anything but I can read and write; I pick new things up quickly and I'm willing to turn my hand to anything, even factory work.”

“
Nay!” he looked appalled by the idea. “A fine young lady like yourself is not made for the likes of mill work.”

“
Beggars can't be choosers,” she smiled. “But if you could keep your ear open for anything that might be suitable, I would appreciate it.”

“
Of course,” he said. “What did you have in mind, something like a governess?”

“
Oh, God no! I worked as a au pair once; dreadful job.”

“
A what?”

“
Oh, a nanny. I'm sorry, my family spent many years abroad, so I have some strange language at times.” Which was true, she had lived in Spain for five years when she was young. In fact her father still lived out there.

“
So what did you have in mind?” he asked her.

“
I don't know, office work? Administration? I'm not bad at maths so perhaps even book keeping or shop work. But like I said, I'm willing to try anything, even mill work.”

“
Give me a few days,” he said. “Don't do anything hasty.”

“
Oh please, procrastination could be my middle name.” She winked at him.

Mr Thornton frowned, not at her words, though he did not like the idea of her getting a job, but at her wink! Young ladies did not wink. Well, the ones he knew didn't. They also didn't want jobs and think it was their duty to contribute to the household in any way other than living in it, or sometimes running it.

Granted, his mother was freer with her attitude; she had often helped him with matters of business, but then she would freely admit she was a tradesman's wife and a manufacturers mother, not a lady.

Of course, in working class families, the daughters were expected to work as soon as they were able, just as the sons were. It wasn't a woman working that he found so strange, it was this woman wanting to work.

“
Well,” she said, pulling him out of his thoughts, “I should get this home. I don't want to leave Mrs Hale in distress for any longer than necessary.”

“
Of course. Good day, Miss Preston.”

“
Good day, Mr Thornton,” she said with a somewhat theatrical bow and a cheeky smile, for the overly formal manners of this society still amused her. She wondered what Mr Thornton would say if she just left him with a jaunty wave and a 'bye' or 'see ya'.

Mr Thornton couldn't be sure but he thought that she found his manner amusing. In almost every way she was lady, yet she was willing to flout convention by winking at him, now she seemed to make fun of him for adopting the manners of a gentleman. She really was a puzzle. She infuriated him and pleased him in equal measure and more than that, she captivated him because as yet, he didn't know how or why she behaved as she did. She was a puzzle, and one he fully intended to solve.

A few days later Mr Thornton had been invited to tea with the Hales. His mother had almost laughed at the notion that he should dress to take tea with them but however low they had been brought, they were still gentry and they deserved his respect. He also couldn't help thinking that he wanted to look his best for Miss Preston, though he had tried not to dwell on such thoughts.

His mother seemed offended by the haughty way in which Mrs and Miss Hale had treated her and John's sister, Fanny, when they called, and indeed Mr Thornton had observed that behaviour for himself when he had first met Miss Hale. It was strange though, because whilst his mother didn't want John marrying Miss Hale, she seemed rather affronted that Miss Hale didn't seem interested in her son.

Thankfully Miss Preston hadn't been present when she had called on the Hales and as such, his mother had yet to pass judgement on her.

“
I was thinking that I might take someone else on in the office,” he had casually said to his mother before he left that evening. “There has been a backlog building up that I never quite get around to clearing.”

“
Can we afford it?” she asked.

“
I was thinking I might hire a woman, perhaps just part-time, at least in the beginning.”

Knowing that women's wages were usually half that of a man, this appeased Mrs Thornton.

“
Very well, just make sure you choose someone with a brain in her head rather than a pretty face.”

“
What if I find someone with both?” John teased.

“
Get on with you, foolish boy.” Mrs Thornton scowled, though John could see she was just playing.

He bent down and kissed her cheek.

“
Don't wait up.”

He was hoping he would get a chance to speak with Carrie this evening, to tell her that he had secured work for her. He wondered how she would react. Would she be pleased as he hoped, or were her words the other day only a veiled attempt at garnering sympathy and possibly get money from him. He didn't like to doubt Miss Preston, but he couldn't help but remember how his sister often angled indirectly for money if she had spent all of her allowance.

Thankfully Carrie opened the door to him and he had his opportunity to speak with her.

“
Mr Thornton, how lovely to see you again.”

“
Miss Preston.” He stepped inside and Carrie took his hat and coat from him, which she hung up by the door. “I was hoping I might get a chance to speak with you alone.”

“
Oh?” she turned to him, looking puzzled and slightly apprehensive.

His spirits plummeted as he realised that she hadn't been serious about finding work. Nonetheless, he had done as she asked and he would finish what he intended to say.

“
I believe I have found you employment as a clerk, of sorts.”

“
Oh? Oh!” Her confused frown was replaced with a broad smile. When he had said he wanted to speak to her 'alone', her first thought had been that he might like her, and while she would dearly love for Mr Thornton to fall in love with her she was, needless to say, a little worried that she would mess up her favourite romance.

“
That's wonderful news,” she smiled. “Thank you so much. I have been looking through the papers every day, but the only positions I have found for a woman have been living-in as a governess, and you know my feelings about that line of work.”