Tired after the long car journey back to London, Millie stretched out in the tin bath Ruby had placed in front of her bedroom fire. This was something she still loved to do – laze in a steaming bath, with the blaze of the flames warming her. Much better than shivering in the bathroom that Papa had had installed a few doors down from her room.
‘Eeh, there’s a to-do downstairs, Miss Millie.’
Millie opened her eyes, not wanting to be disturbed, but knowing Ruby wouldn’t do so unless it was serious.
‘Your papa is storming about the place. He’s called for his working suit to be made ready, and for a car to be at the front door. By, Larkson’s going mad, saying the engine needs to cool before he can fuel up the car, but he’s been given no time for that.’
‘Have you heard any hint of what’s wrong, Ruby? Has something happened at the factory?’
‘Aye. Sommat bad an’ all. The downstairs maid said she overheard your papa ranting about an accident, and a young lady being killed.’
Millie froze. ‘Did she hear a name?’
‘Naw. There were naw names, but when your mama tried to calm him, he did shout out that this could ruin him. Not just the scandal, but if the Board of Trade came down on him again for safety measures; and sommat about a Women’s Federation interfering, getting the women to join it. He was raving.’
Millie put her hands on the side of the bath and stood up in one movement. ‘Ruby, get my riding clothes for me while I dry myself.’
‘Where are you going, Miss? Please don’t go to the factory, or to that housing estate again. I really got it in the neck with a threat of being sacked, if it happened again. Me ma’s frantic. She don’t knaw how she can carry on, if I’m not here. She misses the North and all her friends, as it is.’
‘If you swear that you’ll never tell a soul, you can come with me.’
‘Naw. Please listen to me, Miss Millie. If one of them’s been killed, the mood amongst them could be very angry. Seeing you could trigger a violent outrage. I beg you.’
‘Look, we’ll drive the trap to St George’s gardens, then you can take a note for me. I know where two of the factory girls live. All you have to do is go to the tenement blocks and ask anyone for Elsie, Dot or Elsie’s brother, Cecil. When you find one of them, ask them to come to me in the park. If they won’t, then ask if they are all safe and give my note to them. You can do that for me, can’t you? I must find out if they are all right.’
‘I don’t knaw. Look, if you just want to find out who was killed, why not ask your mama? She probably knaws.’
‘I’ll try that first. But I do want to go out for some fresh air, so I’ll dress in my riding clothes anyway.’
‘I’m sorry, Miss. I – I knaw I should help you do whatever you want to, but in this . . .’
‘Don’t worry, Ruby. But you do need to toughen up. I may want to do any number of things I’m not allowed to. And I need a friend in this house – someone who can cover for me, and who I know is loyal to me.’
‘Aw, Miss Millie, I’m all of those things. But you don’t knaw your papa; not really knaw him.’
‘Tell me, then. How can I know what you are afraid of, if you don’t tell me? I know you are afraid of losing your job, but I wouldn’t let that happen. But I also know there is something else you are afraid of.’
‘It’s not for young ears, Miss.’
‘Poppycock! I am nineteen – twenty in May; you are only four years older than me. I am just getting my papa to stop treating me like a child. I don’t wish to go through the same thing with you, Ruby.’
‘But this is sommat as would shock and hurt you.’
‘Does my papa try to molest you, Ruby?’
Ruby’s mouth dropped open. Millie hoped against hope this meant that he didn’t. But no matter the pain she would feel if it was true, because it would disgust her and break her heart, she had to know.
Ruby lowered her head. Her hands wrung in agitation, but she didn’t deny or confirm anything – she didn’t need to.
Wrapping the towel around herself, Millie went up to Ruby and put her arms around her. ‘I’m sorry. Sorry that I have such a letch for a father; but mostly sorry for your hurt and humiliation, dear Ruby. Has anything happened yet or does he simply threaten you?’ Swallowing hard, Millie tried not to cry, but when a tear plopped onto Ruby’s cheek, her own floodgates opened. They sobbed in each other’s arms.
Millie’s grief was for her friend, as well as for her own hurt – she had learned so many bad things about her father in such a short time. I have been blind to his faults and only saw Mama’s, because Papa gave in to me at every turn and she seemed to be a sourpuss, who wanted to spoil everything I wished to do.
But suddenly she saw everything differently. Mama wasn’t spoiling everything; she wanted Millie to get away from all of this, never find out the truth and be shielded from falling from grace. And yes, Mama may even have feared that Papa’s hold on the business was fragile because his ways might lead to disgrace, and she wanted her daughter safe and secure. Her means of trying to achieve this was misguided, but nevertheless Millie no longer saw her as the enemy, but rather as a victim.
As she cried out her pain, and tried to comfort Ruby’s, Millie’s mind questioned if her papa truly loved her, or if he saw her as a weapon to beat her mama with. I have often cold-shouldered Mama, and counteracted her wishes by getting Papa to champion my cause against her.
A great feeling of shame washed over Millie as these revelations hit her, and she made her mind up to put them right.
Patting Ruby on the back, she withdrew from her arms. ‘Now that I know, Ruby, I will protect you. I may only be nineteen, but in these last weeks I have aged years in my knowledge of the world, and in my wisdom. I have had a peek into another world and have seen how the poor live; and a lot of what I have seen can be put down to my papa’s actions. I have learned that I have taken after him, in his determination to have what he wants – only my needs are very different. I want justice. I feel compassion for those who are less fortunate. I would never step on them to better myself. You have a friend in me, Ruby. You need never be afraid of my papa again.’
‘Eeh, Miss Millie, you mustn’t do owt. Please . . .’
‘Not doing anything isn’t an option for me. I will do something, but you won’t get into trouble. I will make sure of that. My father is a despicable man, but I must be careful, because it is vital that he carries on with his plan to take me into the business. Now, I will dress and go and see my dear mama, and let her know how much I love her and that I am on her side.’
Ruby dried her eyes. ‘By, Miss Millie, you’ve turned from a girl into a woman – a strong woman – in five minutes! Eeh, I feel as though the whole world had better watch out, and not just your father.’
‘And you’re right, Ruby. I do want to put the world right. There is so much that is wrong, especially for women. Have you heard of the National Federation of Women Workers?’
‘Naw. Was that what your father was on about?’
‘Yes. Well, I have written to its leader, Mary Macarthur. I have read so much about her in my father’s trade journals – not that he knows that I read them, I take them from the bin before the maids empty it. Anyway, I have explained who I am in my letter and how I need the help of the Federation to try to make things better for the women who work in my father’s factory.’
‘Eeh, Miss Millie, won’t that lead to trouble for you?’
‘Probably, but I am hoping not to be found out; you see, I have asked that any mail to me is sent in a plain envelope, which cannot be identified as coming from her or the Federation.’
‘Eeh, that’s grand, if risky to yourself, but I admire you for it, Miss Millie. From what you tell me things do need to change for the poor women working in the jam factory . . . Ooh, wait till I tell my Tommy . . . I mean—’
‘Your Tommy? Tommy Ryan, the stable hand?’
‘Aw, Miss Millie, me tongue slipped. But aye, that Tommy: me and him are walking out.’
‘Oh, Ruby, I’m so pleased for you, but why the secrecy?’
‘Because we staff are not allowed to have relationships amongst us, and if we were found out we’d get the sack. And me ma would, an’ all, as the housekeeper, because she’d be judged as allowing it. And that’s your mama’s rule, not your father’s.’
‘Oh, dear, another battle for me. I’m beginning to regret being me. Why can’t I simply be a demure little lady who does as exactly as she is told?’
Ruby burst out laughing at this. ‘You? Never, Millie, you’ve allus been a rebel!’
Millie laughed with her and her mood lifted, making her feel able to seek out her mama. She wasn’t sure how she would approach her, and was afraid of rejection, but took a deep breath and marched determinedly down the stairs.
Mama was in her sitting room, seated staring out of the window. She looked startled when Millie walked in.
‘Oh, Millicent, I wish you would tap on the door before you enter. You made me jump. And besides, this is my private sanctuary.’
This dampened Millie’s enthusiasm for changing the world, but only for a moment. She took a deep breath. ‘I don’t wish to be impudent, Mama, but if I had done, you would have called out, “Not now.” I didn’t want to give you that opportunity. I want to talk to you.’
She looked taken aback, but she soon recovered. ‘What about this time? Haven’t you achieved all you wanted to?’
‘No, all I wanted to achieve was having you love me.’
‘Don’t be ridiculous. Whatever brought this on? Of course I love you. Now, please, Millicent, I have a headache. I’ve had enough of being ranted at by your papa.’
‘My father – I don’t wish to call him my “papa” any longer.’
‘Oh, and when did this change take place?’
Another deep breath. ‘It took place the moment I learned who, and what, my father really is. And I don’t like it. But, like you, there is little I can do about it.’
‘Millicent! What on earth has happened to you? You seem like a different person. What in heaven’s name do you mean?’
‘I am a different person, Mama. I have grown up. I was a young girl up until the moment I ventured out of the protected world you wrapped me in. Then I saw and learned. And now I have to be an adult – about everything that is different in my world from the picture that I had of it.’
‘I don’t understand. Sit down, Millicent. What is all this nonsense you are talking? Are you feeling unwell?’
Millie smiled as she sat down. ‘No, Mama, I am quite well. But I want you to know that I love you, and that now I feel I understand you, too – at least your motives in wanting a good marriage for me. I understand why you think that falling in love isn’t a consideration, because it won’t protect me from heartache. But if I married well, I would have some standing in society, and friends among those who have to put up with infidelity – as you have.’
Mama’s face was a picture. She started to speak, but seemed unable to.
‘I have learned that Father is not only unfaithful, but a brute of a man, who uses others’ fear to bend them to his will.’
‘Millicent! I – I, well, I—’
‘You cannot keep this from me by denying it all, or by forbidding me to say such things, Mama. I know them now. And I will do all I can to change things for those who are in fear of my father, and for those working as his slaves.’
A tear trickled slowly from Mama’s eye. Followed by another. Millie watched them trace a path down her cheek.
‘Mama. I love you. I don’t want to hurt you. You know all that I have spoken of is true. Please may I hug you?’
‘Just . . . just hold my hand. I am afraid I may break down if you do more than that.’
Millie jumped up and went to her mama’s side and knelt down beside her. She took her tiny, cold, shaky hand in her own and held it gently, afraid that her mama might indeed break down. Her own tears spilled over when Mama stroked her hair.
‘The day you were born, my beautiful daughter, was a happy day. Papa was so in love with me, and besotted with you. I trusted him with our lives, but he threw that back at me, and you and I have suffered. At least in how we were unable to relate to each other, because I made sure – well, I tried to make sure – that you didn’t know anything about the other side of your papa. And then – misguidedly, it appears – I insisted on you having the very best chance of meeting someone who, as you say, would have meant that you were in the right circles to have confidantes. I haven’t had that, and I have led a very lonely life.’
‘I know what loneliness feels like, Mama. The upper classes can be very cruel to anyone trying to join their ranks by any means other than right of birth. And this is how my own loneliness was born.’
‘I really didn’t realize. I am sorry, my darling girl. But what will you do? Do you really wish to join your papa’s business? From what I hear of his workplace, it’s a very unpleasant environment.’
‘I want to change that – and the way Papa’s business is run – but I can only alter things from within. I need to learn the business and make changes gradually. Without being there, I cannot know what goes on, or how it might alter.’
‘It will be a difficult world for you to adjust to, but I have already seen what a strong young woman you are. I will give you my blessing, but promise me you will tread very carefully?’
‘I will.’ Sitting up, Millie looked into her mama’s eyes. ‘Mama? Something has happened at the factory, hasn’t it?’
‘Yes, but . . . Oh, well, I suppose if you are going into jam-making, then you will witness these things. It’s horrible. It has greatly upset me, and is why I was sitting here quietly. I was trying to come to terms with it. You see . . .’
Millie listened in horror to what Mama knew of the terrible details of the accident.
‘Oh, Mama, that poor woman. Do you know her name?’
‘No, dear. All I know, besides the accident itself, is that Chambers, the supervisor at Papa’s factory, has caught the culprits – two girls. He says they deliberately shoved the young woman. Papa said he will personally see to it that they are hanged, drawn and quartered, as he put it.’
Millie felt extreme fear clench her stomach. ‘I have to go out, Mama. Ruby is to accompany me. And, Mama, may I speak with you on one more matter?’
‘What is it, dear, and where are you going?’
‘It’s about the rule you have that our staff must not get over-friendly with each other or they will be sacked. I am of a mind that we cannot help who we fall in love with. So if two of the staff do fall in love, they don’t deserve to lose their jobs and have no chance of setting up home together, getting married and having children. It is so unfair on them.’
‘Oh? Has it happened then?’
‘It has, and the two concerned are terrified that you will find out. They may even end up leaving us and getting work elsewhere, whereas they could get a home near enough to travel to work and—’
‘Oh? I . . . well, it is the usual rule of a household. I didn’t think it through. I will tell the housekeeper that the rule no longer applies, but there is to be no courting while on duty.’ Mother smiled then and lifted an eyebrow. ‘Does that meet your approval, dear?’
‘It does, Mama. Thank you.’ Standing now, Millie impetuously planted a kiss on the top of her mother’s head.
Mama gave what sounded like a happy giggle. ‘Now, please leave this to the housekeeper to deal with. It is her place, and we mustn’t interfere with the smooth running of her staff. But you haven’t told me where you are going, Millicent?’
‘Just out to get some air. It was stuffy in the car, and such a long journey. I feel like some fresh air.’
‘If we’d had this conversation earlier, I might have come with you – especially with our new sense of companionship. I feel cooped up myself. But make sure you are back in time to dress for dinner. Papa will be in a foul mood, as it is – that’s if he even bothers to show up for dinner.’
‘I will, Mama.’ The thought of taking her mama with her made Millie smile, as she was sure her mother would have a blue fit at what she was intending to do. Although would she? Millie hugged herself. Mama isn’t the only one to find a new friend, in me. I think that I have found one in her, and it feels so wonderful.
She would have skipped for joy, but for her worries.
She wasted no time getting ready and making sure Ruby understood that she must accompany her. Millie was soon heading out to the garden, with a note in her pocket for a very nervous Ruby to take to Elsie, Dot or Cecil.
Millie found it difficult not to blurt out her mama’s new decision, regarding courting amongst the staff, when she saw Tommy jump back as Ruby tried to greet him with a kiss. Ruby giggled at him and told him, ‘Millie knows all about us, and she won’t tell on us, will you, Millie?’
She smiled. If only she didn’t have to respect her mama’s wishes and leave this matter to the housekeeper. She longed to put their minds at rest.
As they set off, Millie could hardly speak for the prayers she was sending up, begging God not to let anyone involved in the accident – or the accused – be Elsie or Dot. Her heart pounded with fear for them, for if it was one of them who’d lost her life, it would break her heart. If one or both of them was accused, then she would do everything she possibly could to help them. I know neither of them could do such a thing – I just know it!
Cecil did come to her, when Ruby found him, his face red, his eyes raw. What he told Millie filled her with anguish. Elsie and Dot had been arrested.