CHAPTER 8

‘Are you all right, miss?’ Looking up, Lily saw the maid hovering in the doorway, eyeing her anxiously.

‘Yes, thank you, Tilda,’ she said, forcing a smile. Then, taking a breath to steady herself, she hurried back to the workroom and summoned the ladies in from the yard.

Although they came in willingly enough, she could sense the underlying tension as they settled themselves at their pillows.

‘Oops, I think I’ve put a pin in the wrong place,’ Nell announced, not sounding the least bit concerned.

Lily went over to look at her work. ‘I can’t see anything amiss,’ she said, frowning down at the perfect sprig before her.

‘Silly me, I must have been mistaken,’ Nell giggled, shaking her mane of copper hair.

‘Easily done,’ Lily said lightly. ‘However, I think you should put your cap back on before Mrs Bodney returns. She won’t be pleased if she finds red hair over your lace work.’

Nell glowered, muttered something under her breath and then reluctantly did as she’d been asked.

Impatient to resume her own work, Lily hurried back to her stool but as she sat down a flash of grey caught her eye. Bending to see what it was, her eyes widened in surprise when she saw a mouse nibbling the straw that was poking through a hole in her pillow. As she watched, the creature edged closer to the pristine white of her thread. Deftly scooping it up, she hurried to the door and let it go. She watched it scuttle to freedom, fervently wishing she could join it.

Hearing barely suppressed giggles, she turned to face the lace makers. It was obvious from the looks of amusement Cora and Nell were exchanging, that this had been planned in retaliation for earlier. When they saw Lily staring at them, they quickly looked down at their work.

Returning to her stool, Lily stared at her damaged pillow. Pranks she could put up with, wilful damage she could not ignore.

‘Who slit my pillow?’ she demanded, looking around the workroom, which was now ominously silent. ‘Put down your bobbins this minute,’ she instructed. The lace makers stared at her in amazement but did as they’d been told. ‘I will ask you once more. Who did this?’ she asked, pointing to the slit in her pillow and then staring at each of them in turn. Although they fidgeted on their stools, still no one answered. Knowing she needed to gain the upper hand or she’d never command the respect required of an overseer, she ordered firmly, ‘No more work will be done until the culprit owns up.’

‘But before she left, Mrs Bodney said we had to produce more,’ Anna said.

‘Precisely,’ Lily answered. ‘And if those responsible don’t own up soon, you will still be sitting here like stuffed dolls when she returns.’

‘You wouldn’t dare …’ spluttered Cora.

Lily raised an eyebrow but remained silent. Although her insides were quivering she was determined to maintain a calm exterior. As one, the lace makers turned and glared at Cora but she studiously ignored them. Defiantly she picked up her bobbins.

‘Put those down, Cora,’ Lily instructed. ‘I said no more work was to be done until the culprit owns up. Do you have anything to say?’

‘Yes, I blooming well do, Lily Rose. You think you’re so high and mighty but you’re no better than us. You only got this overseer job by sucking up to Mrs Bodney.’

‘Put down your bobbins, Cora,’ Lily repeated, ignoring the outburst. ‘Well, it’s up to you to decide whether you want to waste what’s left of the afternoon or not. However, Mrs Bodney won’t be happy if your work is behind schedule when she returns.’

As if to emphasize her words, the clock on the church chimed the hour. The ladies, looking decidedly uncomfortable, started squirming in their seats.

‘For God’s sake tell her,’ hissed Mary. This was greeted with a snort of disgust from Cora.

‘All right, it was me,’ she muttered, her green eyes narrowing.

‘And I had to say I’d gone wrong to distract you,’ owned Nell.

‘I see,’ said Lily. ‘Well, in that case, Cora, you will mend my pillow before doing any more lace work.’

‘But that will make me even more behind,’ she spluttered.

‘You should have thought of that before coming up with such a stupid prank, Cora. Nell, you will clear up the droppings our little friend has left and then sweep the floor to make sure it’s thoroughly clean. The rest of you can pick up your bobbins. If you have any sense, you will work like weasels to make up for lost time. Then, with any luck, Mrs Bodney won’t find out.’

‘You mean you aren’t going to tell her?’ Cora asked, staring at her incredulously.

‘If your work is back on schedule by the time she returns, I won’t need to, will I?’ Lily responded.

Relieved they’d been let off so lightly, Cora and Nell hurried over to Lily’s pillow and began clearing up the mess they’d created. The others snatched up their bobbins and fervently resumed their work. As silence filled the room once more, Lily silently let out the breath she’d been holding. Then she walked over to the window and began winding thread onto spare bobbins in order to save time later.

‘They were expecting you to scream when you saw that mouse,’ Mary whispered.

‘What? When I was brought up on a farm?’ asked Lily, grinning. If they thought they would scare her off that easily, they had another thought coming.

‘I’ve mended your pillow, Lily,’ Cora announced. Lily went over to inspect it and was surprised to find the repair was hardly noticeable. She knew better than to say so, though.

‘Yes, that will do, Cora. You may return to your own work now,’ she said, but Cora hovered. ‘Well, is there something else?’ Lily asked, impatient to make a start on her own lace.

‘Will you be taking anything out of my wages for the damage?’ she asked, her voice unnaturally subdued.

‘No, Cora, I won’t.’ The girl brightened and Lily added, ‘But only if you promise me there will be no more tricks like this. We have got to work together for some time yet so we may as well try and help each other, don’t you think?’

Cora nodded vigorously and then hurried back to her own pillow. Lily hoped there would be no more trouble but knew she’d need to keep her wits about her.

She glanced around the room, pleased to see everyone was working furiously. Clearly they were anxious to make up for lost time and the workroom was silent apart from the clacking of their bobbins. Settling down to continue the sprig she’d begun earlier, Lily realized she was going to earn every farthing of her pay rise.

It seemed no time at all before the shadows were creeping across the room and Lily picked up the bell to signal the end of the working day.

‘Have you all made up the time you lost earlier?’ she enquired. Nodding their heads, the ladies eyed her warily. ‘In that case you may cover your work and I’ll see you bright and early tomorrow.’

As the sound of their voices faded away, Lily sank on her stool, relieved to have made it through her first day as overseer. Then, conscious her employer would soon be returning, she got up and began inspecting their work. Luckily, despite their earlier escapades, the lace appeared to be up to standard. She was just returning to her own pillow when Mrs Bodney bustled into the workroom.

‘Well, Lily, I’m pleased to say the ladies at High House have had a productive day. I hope yours have too. Did you encounter any problems?’

‘Not really. Everyone has achieved the amount of work required for us to keep to the schedule.’

‘And did you experience any difficulty with the ladies accepting you as their overseer?’

‘I think they now understand my position, Mrs Bodney,’ Lily answered, wishing to be truthful without giving them away.

‘Hmm,’ her employer said, looking at her closely. To Lily’s relief, she didn’t pursue the matter, asking instead, ‘Did you receive any visitors?’

‘Just Squire Clinsden, ma’am,’ she answered.

‘Did he perchance call to place an order for lace?’

The thought of that unlikely scenario made Lily smile and she shook her head.

‘Well, if you encounter any problems, and I do mean any, you must feel free to bring them to me.’

Lily looked at Mrs Bodney in surprise.

‘In the short time I have known you, Lily, you have become a valued employee and I should hate to lose you.’

Shocked by the woman’s perception, she stammered, ‘Thank you, Mrs Bodney.’

‘That’s all for today, Lily. Just remember what I’ve said,’ and with that she left the room.

The arrangements for her mother’s funeral had been made and Aunt Elizabeth, having declined Lily’s offer to help, had been tidying and cleaning like a demented demon to ensure the cottage was presentable for those coming back to pay their respects after the service.

Now it was the Sabbath and, while Aunt Elizabeth was enjoying a well-earned rest, Lily and Tom packed a picnic of bread and freshly made brawn and went out to the orchard. It was a beautiful morning. The trees were laden with fragrant, feathery blossom and a skylark trilled overhead. Tom took off his jacket and spread out a blanket on the grass. Then, sitting side by side, he and Lily tucked into their meal, revelling in the rare treat of not having to rush. Afterwards, they lay on their backs watching the fluffy clouds and playing their favourite game.

‘That one looks like a fish,’ murmured Tom.

‘What’s that cloud like, then?’ she asked.

‘A wolf?’ he guessed.

‘No, it’s a dragon,’ she laughed.

‘Like your Mrs Bodney, you mean?’

‘Oh, Tom, she’s really nice when you get to know her. By the way, I’ve been meaning to tell you, I’ve been made up to overseer and—’ But Tom had spotted her brother returning in the donkey-cart and jumped to his feet.

‘Hey, Rob, we’ve some food left if you want to join us,’ he called. But Robert shook his head, glared at Lily and passed by without stopping.

‘What’s up with him?’ Tom asked.

‘He’s sore at me,’ she muttered.

‘What do you mean?’ he asked, looking at her sharply.

She sighed. ‘He’s blaming me for Mother’s death. When the squire told her about Stanton moving in here, he said there was a job with a room for me at the manor. If I take it, a hut in the grounds would be made available for them to live in.’

‘Yes, but how does that make you responsible for your mother’s death?’

‘I refused to even consider the proposition and Robert got the notion that’s what killed her. Aunt Elizabeth said it was the shock of knowing she was to lose her home, though. It was just too much, it coming so soon after Father’s death.’

Tom looked serious for a moment, then shook his head. ‘Look, Lily, I know you like this job with Mrs Bodney but it doesn’t give you anywhere to live, does it? Surely, it’d be better if you did work for the squire, even temporary like? Leastways, you’d all have a roof over your heads?’

‘No, I couldn’t work for that pomp— I mean, it makes sense for us to move nearer to Mrs Bodney’s so I’ll be making other arrangements …’ Her voice tailed away as she saw his eyes narrow.

‘Has Squire Clinsden done something to upset you, Lily?’ he asked, studying her closely.

‘Of course not, whatever gave you that idea?’ she asked, jumping to her feet and gathering up their picnic things.

‘It was something Molly said,’ he muttered.

‘Well?’ she asked, her voice sharper than she intended.

‘What do you mean, well?’

‘I mean, Tom Westlake, just what was it that your dear old school friend said?’ she asked, glaring at him.

He looked away, shrugging. ‘I guess it was nothing. Look, Lily, it’s been an awful week and you’re exhausted. I need to check the nets before we sail tomorrow, so I’ll leave you to get some rest,’ he said.

‘I will see you for the funeral?’ she asked, looking worriedly at him.

‘I’ll be here first thing Wednesday,’ he promised before turning and striding across the orchard towards the cliff path. With heavy heart she watched him go. Just what had that scheming shrew Molly Baker said to him?