38. Business Matters

After her two best friends had left, Zelda spent more and more of her time in her garden shed. With Constanza either sleeping peacefully or gurgling contented in her big posh pram, Zelda pondered on her future. Casting her eyes around the shed, she spotted the few remaining little pots of lavender-scented hand cream that she had made as Christmas presents for the residents. Taking them down from the shelf, Zelda set them on the bench before her and scrutinized the prettily decorated labels on which she had hand-drawn pictures of wild lavender and beehives. They looked nice enough, but could she really make a living out of selling hand cream? Her eyes strayed to her trusty Herbals, lying open on the bench. There were so many amazing remedies that she longed to try out. Gazing through the window at the gloomy February garden, Zelda knew that life was stirring underneath the damp earth. Very soon daffodils, tulips, irises and bluebells would come bursting through the sodden ground; blossoms would be riotous in the convent orchard; and herbs would once more grow in wild abundance.

It was time for making and planning, but Zelda felt she had nobody to make or plan for, not until she heard the gentle sound of Constanza happily sucking on her little pink thumb. Smiling adoringly at her baby, Zelda was suddenly galvanized – she had a child, a beautiful daughter, whom she was totally responsible for – she had to get hold of her life and do something.

Frank had promised to look out for a vacant cottage that she could rent, but she couldn’t keep nagging the poor chap; it simply wasn’t reasonable. This was one of the busiest seasons in the farming year: Frank simply hadn’t got time to go running around the countryside looking for vacant properties, and it was her responsibility to do that anyway. If the truth were known, Zelda had seen little of Frank since Diana’s wedding day. She had tried not to take it personally, blaming lambing for Frank’s absence. Nevertheless, it couldn’t be denied that since his emotional outburst at the wedding breakfast Frank Arkwright had certainly made himself scarce.

Impatient and now on a mission, Zelda decided there was no time like the present to turn thoughts into actions. After she had fed Constanza and settled her down in one of the little white canvas cots in the nursery, she caught the bus into Kendal. As the bus rumbled through the narrow, winding streets of the pretty town built of local grey slate, memories of happy market days with Gracie came flooding back. Sadly, the old Bedford van that Gracie had so painstakingly restored now stood idle in Mary Vale’s garage.

Hurrying down the main street to the chemist’s shop, Zelda passed several locals whom she recognized and smiled at. Even the granite-faced woman who ran the wool shop cracked a smile as their paths crossed. Zelda found Mr Marsden in the back room of the shop, where he was preparing a bottle of cough mixture for a customer. Curious, Zelda gazed at its intense black colour, then (after asking permission of the chemist) she sniffed the contents.

‘I can smell blackcurrant and liquorice.’

Mr Marsden nodded. ‘I know it looks like a witch’s brew but it’s extremely effective when taken regularly.’

After he had completed his task, the chemist made a pot of tea for his guest, which they drank as they sat by the spluttering gas fire.

Laying down her cup, Zelda took a deep breath before making her announcement. ‘I’ve been thinking over your suggestion.’

Mr Marsden raised his thick eyebrows in a quizzical expression. ‘I want to give it a go, to try to market my herbal products,’ Zelda blurted out.

Reaching into her shopping bag, she pulled out her precious old Herbal.

‘There are so many wonderful remedies in this book – maybe you’re right that there could be a market for good old-fashioned products?’

‘Zelda, you don’t need to convince me of the benefits of herbal remedies,’ the chemist responded. ‘With the war worsening by the day and medical provisions at an all-time low, there’s a real need for alternative medicines.’

Zelda’s pulse started to quicken with excitement.

‘Mind you,’ he added, ‘I wouldn’t encourage quacks and charlatans, but I’ve seen your work and how effective it has been.’

Zelda blushed with pleasure. ‘You’ve given me a lot of your time, Mr Marsden,’ she reminded him. ‘I don’t think I would ever have had the confidence even to start this venture without your advice and support.’

‘I’ve enjoyed the challenge; it keeps me on my toes,’ he chuckled. ‘You shouldn’t heap all the praise on me, young lady,’ he continued. ‘You’ve come into this business as a qualified botanist, your research is thorough and well-grounded, and, so far, your products have proved to be successful and reliable.’

Zelda smiled to herself as she recalled her far-off student days, working in the botany laboratory in Munich. It was there that her interest in herbs and healing had started – strange to think she was now pursuing that same interest hundreds of miles away from her homeland. The chemist broke through her reverie.

‘How many products were you thinking of marketing, Zelda?’

For the second time she reached into her shopping bag, this time producing the scented hand creams and restorative tonics she had made.

‘I was thinking of starting with these,’ she said, as she handed them over for the chemist’s inspection.

‘They look very attractive, nicely packaged,’ he remarked.

Flushing with excitement, Zelda explained her plan. ‘I thought I might widen my range to face creams, and ointments for acne and rosacea, hair restorers and salves for aching bones. All of them would be genuine remedies from my trusty herbal,’ she assured him.

Mr Marsden stared thoughtfully at the products in his hands. ‘If you cost them sensibly and keep up with the market demand, they could be a winner.’

Hardly daring to ask the question, Zelda breathlessly said, ‘Would you consider stocking them?’

The chemist nodded firmly. ‘Certainly. We could have a three-month trial run and see how it goes. It might be a good idea to give your products a brand name to pull the sales concept together. Have you thought of one?’

Without a moment’s hesitation, Zelda replied with a bright smile. ‘Mary Vale – that’s where it all started.’

‘Pretty name, with a nice local ring. So,’ Mr Marsden enquired, ‘how soon can you get started?’

Zelda’s sweet face glowed with excitement. ‘As soon as possible,’ she exclaimed.

The chemist’s face became serious. ‘I hope you don’t mind my asking, but how much longer can you practically continue to work out of Mary Vale’s garden shed?’

‘I’ve been asking myself exactly the same question,’ Zelda admitted. ‘The shed is only part of my worry: it’s not right for me to be in the Home any more,’ she confessed. ‘I should free up my room for somebody who needs it more than I do. The problem is, I have nowhere else to go.’

The chemist thoughtfully scratched his bald head. ‘There’s a little flat over the shop that I used to have before I got married and moved out of town. I’ve not bothered trying to rent it out – it’s small and a bit old-fashioned – but if you don’t mind that, it might do for you and your daughter pro tem,’ he suggested. ‘In fact,’ he continued as he rose to his feet and reached for a key hanging on a hook by the door to the stairs, ‘why don’t you take a quick look at it now?’

‘I’d love to,’ Zelda exclaimed.

‘I’ll leave you to it,’ Mr Marsden said, as he handed over the key. ‘I’ve got to get back to work.’

Zelda slipped up the narrow flight of stairs that led to the flat, where she switched on the electric lights to familiarize herself with the place. There was a very small kitchen with a gas stove and an old-fashioned sink, a sitting room with an open fireplace and a bedroom that was big enough to take a single bed and a cot, plus a little bathroom with a gas water heater.

‘It will do well for Constanza and myself,’ Zelda said out loud.

It would need a good airing and a good clean, but apart from that it was completely habitable. A lick of paint and some bright new curtains would cheer it up too. Hurrying back downstairs, Zelda nervously asked the chemist what rent he would charge.

Kind Mr Marsden gave her a reassuring smile. ‘Let’s talk about that when we know the profit margin on your products,’ he said kindly.

Zelda was so excited she had to stop herself from flinging her arms around him. ‘Thank you so much,’ she cried. ‘I’m very grateful to you.’

The chemist shook her by the hand. ‘I wish you luck with your new enterprise, Zelda. I’m quite certain we’ll work well together in the future.’

Once back at Mary Vale, Zelda rushed into the nursery, where starving hungry Constanza protested loudly at her mother’s absence.

‘I’m sorry, my darling,’ Zelda soothed her cross baby as she put her to the breast. ‘Mama had important business to attend to in Kendal. Next time I’ll take you with me, I promise.’

Once Constanza had been fed and changed, Zelda rocked her off to sleep in her little white canvas cot, before hurrying away to look for Ada, whom she found writing reports in her office.

‘Ada, I’m so sorry to interrupt you,’ Zelda cried, as she burst into the office without even knocking.

Seeing Zelda’s wide eyes and flushed cheeks, Ada jumped up from behind her desk. ‘What is it, dear?’ she cried in alarm.

Zelda filled her dear friend in on all the morning’s developments. Ada shook her head, astonished. ‘Really?’ she gasped.

‘Really, really,’ Zelda giggled excitedly.

Though Ada was delighted to see her friend so happy, she was nevertheless a little concerned about the suddenness of Zelda’s decision.

‘I hope you’re not leaving Mary Vale because you feel you’ve overstayed your welcome?’ she asked anxiously.

Zelda vehemently shook her head. ‘I feel the time has come for me to vacate my room; there are others in far greater need of it than me.’

Ada couldn’t argue with what she said. Mary Vale was rapidly filling up with new residents; there was no doubting that Zelda’s big double bedroom would be most welcome.

‘I need to think of my future beyond Mary Vale too,’ Zelda said frankly. ‘I want to make a life in this beautiful part of the world for Constanza and myself.’

Delight that Zelda and her little girl would be close by brought a smile of relief to Ada’s worried face. ‘I’m glad you’ll be near,’ she admitted. ‘After saying goodbye to Gracie and Diana, it would be very hard to say goodbye to you too.’

Tears swam into Zelda’s big dark eyes. ‘I would hate to be far away from you, dearest Ada. I want Constanza to grow up knowing you and Dora, and Sister Mary Paul and Sister Theresa too.’

Ada gave her a warm smile before asking another question. ‘So when are you thinking of moving to Kendal?’

‘As soon as the flat’s been aired and cleaned,’ Zelda replied.

‘Is there enough room there for you to make your herbal products?’ Ada enquired.

‘The kitchen is small, but it has a stove and hot water – I’m sure it will be fine.’ Suddenly Zelda’s face dropped as a worrying thought occurred to her. ‘My garden!’ she exclaimed. ‘What will happen to my lovely garden when I leave here?’

‘I’m sure you’ll be able to keep an eye on it,’ Ada assured stricken Zelda.

‘If only I could drive,’ Zelda cried in a frustrated voice. ‘Gracie’s old Bedford van is sitting out there in the garage doing nothing.’

‘Maybe you should learn to drive,’ Ada suggested. ‘It would make life a lot simpler for you.’

A smile lit up Zelda’s face. ‘If I could drive, I could transport my herbs and flowers in the back of the van,’ she said thoughtfully. ‘I could even take my products further afield, to Lancaster and Grange, and try to sell them there.’

‘You’ll have an empire before you know it,’ Ada laughed.

‘Mary Vale Health and Beauty Products,’ Zelda proudly proclaimed.

Ada slowly repeated the name. ‘Mary Vale Health and Beauty Products, I like it,’ she declared. ‘It has a lovely ring to it.’