Chapter Seventeen

Clara busied herself over the following few days helping her mother with her dressmaking, they fiddled around with pins and hems and took in darts here and there. The main piece de resistance was the bridal dress for Mrs Pettigrew’s daughter—Clara thought it was a masterpiece. Lillibeth was due to come to the cottage for a final fitting before the big day. But as well as that, there were other smaller orders waiting to be finished off and delivered around the village. Still, it was nice to keep busy and going as it kept Clara’s mind off other things. So it was quite out of the blue when there was a knock at the cottage door one day at a quarter past three in the afternoon.

‘Are you expecting Lillibeth for a fitting today, Mama?’ Clara asked.

Mrs Masters vigorously shook her head. ‘No, I’m not. Perhaps it’s someone with a request for me to do some work for them but as you can see, we’re up to our eyes in it at the moment.’

Clara nodded, understanding all too well how overworked and tired her mother was of late. Muttering to herself, she went off to answer the door and intended to turn whoever it was away for time being, but she was in for a shock. For there, outside, was a gleaming black coach and stood beside it was the lord himself, very smartly attired in a black frock coat with a silver grey cravat around his neck.

He’s come to tell me off for giving my address to the children! Was Clara’s immediate thought, but then he smiled at her.

‘I’ve come to apologise, if I may,’ he said, removing his shiny top hat.

She hitched a breath, feeling her heart beat like a drum. ‘Apologise, Lord Stapleton? Whatever for?’ She was mocking him really and she guessed he realised it.

‘For sending you away like I did…’ he began to walk towards her, pausing inches away. ‘You had been doing a good job as governess to my children and had even managed to get through to Amelia from what Danielle has told me, but I was very harsh to you…’

‘You were?’ She raised her brow, enjoying all the while her tone of sarcasm. ‘How pray?’

He cleared his throat. ‘Because I made an immediate judgement based on what I thought to be the case and what I thought about Miss Chamberlain.’

Clara frowned for a moment, wondering who Miss Chamberlain was. Then she realised he was speaking about Susannah. She let out a breath of resignation. ‘You did?’

He shook his head. ‘Look, I know I’ve wronged you, but I’ve since discovered that she led you to believe my wife’s dress belonged to her. So I know you did not put that dress on as a deliberate act to provoke me. It’s just…’

‘It’s just what?’ She could hear the pain in his voice, realising how hard it must be for him to arrive at her door to apologise. The great Lord himself, acting ever so humble in front of her.

‘It’s just that you looked so much like Arabella in that dress and the way your hair was styled that your image staggered me somewhat…’

‘So, my hairstyle that evening was the same as your wife’s?’ She was now incredulous that Susannah had gone to so much trouble to make her look like the lord’s wife.

‘Exactly like hers. In fact the maid who I’ve discovered styled you hair, is the one who used to style my wife’s and Susannah knew that.’

‘How calculating of her,’ Clara said, now feeling angry. Oh, she’d felt angry in the early days of this but hearing this from the Lord’s lips himself was astonishing.

‘Precisely. When I’d found out the full extent of her behaviour and how she planned to get you dismissed and her claws into me and my fortune, I banished her from the house. I’ve been so blind, Clara,’ he said, for the first time using her Christian name which seemed so intimate somehow. The children never took to her at all and that should have told me something as they are very good judges of character.’ He smiled broadly at her and she found herself returning the smile.

‘You’re not wrong there.’

‘So, please would you return to us? I found out from James that you’d been to visit them as you were so concerned and then last night, the girls asked if they might write to you and I told them, we could do better than that. I was going to apologise and bring you back home with me.’

Clara felt her cheeks grow hot. It was almost as though he were claiming her for himself and she didn’t know if she liked it or not, but still, she’d be a fool to turn the man down when she not only needed the money for the family but she needed to go back to the children out of a sense of love and duty towards them. ‘I’ll return,’ she said, ‘but on a number of conditions.’

‘Name them,’ he said, his eyes now shining.

‘Firstly, that you allow fun and laughter for those children. I’d like to play the piano to them and allow them to sing and dance. Number two, I’d like you to allow Amelia to visit her horse whenever she likes as long it’s not during class time. Number three, that you allow James to have a pet, he’s been asking for a puppy or a kitten for some time. Number four, you purchase the complete set of Dickens works for Danielle as he’s her favourite author…’ she paused for a moment as if thinking things through, ‘and number five, you allow me one week before returning so I can help my mother to finish off her current dress making orders…’ She held her breath in expectation.

‘Granted as you wish!’ he said. ‘I have been wrong to stop the children enjoying themselves, I can see that now and I have spent too much time away from the family home. All of that is about to change from this very moment,’ he said brightly.

She took in a composing breath and wondered what had caused this turn around for him? Maybe there would be time to ask him later. But for time being, he seemed less imposing towards her. ‘Thank you,’ was all she managed to say as he nodded and replaced his top hat on his head before he retreated towards the coach, swinging his gold tipped cane and whistling a song she did not recognise. She guessed he was off to attend to business somewhere or other, but right now she was just happy to know all would be well from here on in.

***

Clara hadn’t heard anything from Patrin and she wondered what had happened between Flori and Mrs Montgomery. Had they discovered that they were mother and daughter after all or was it simply a case of wishful thinking and the woman knew nothing whatsoever about the beautiful shawl Flori had been wrapped in when she was discovered?

She decided to stop fretting about things so she busied herself helping Mama with the upcoming orders. Eventually, Lillibeth Pettigrew and her mother turned up for a final fitting for the wedding gown at the cottage.

Clara got the distinct impression that the woman was now looking down upon them for their circumstances having changed so drastically. Previously, she might have considered them the same class as herself but as they gathered in the small bedroom as Lillibeth stood gazing at her reflection in the long oval mirror, Mrs Pettigrew’s eyes were everywhere. Mama kept the cottage spotless so she’d have no cause to complain there, but Clara could tell by the gleam in the woman’s eyes, she now considered herself to be a superior class of person and would probably waste no time telling her cronies as much.

‘So, you’re now working as a servant at Stapleton Manor are you?’ the woman said, addressing Clara as if pulling her down a peg or two, maybe she’d never forgiven her for that incident at the post office as she had shown the woman up a little in front of her friends.

‘Oh, she’s not a servant,’ Mama said proudly. ‘She’s a governess to Lord Stapleton’s children. In fact, he called around in his coach to see her the other day…’

Mrs Pettigrew sniffed loudly. ‘I see,’ she said, then changing the subject she gazed at her daughter. ‘Does the dress feel comfortable, Lillibeth? Speak up now for goodness sake as we’re not coming back here again,’ she said in a short manner. What she really meant was she didn’t want to lower herself by coming to a small cottage in this area of the village, Clara thought crossly. She was in no mood for the woman, her daughter though was affable enough and seemed to love the dress Mama had created for her.

She turned around to face them all. ‘Yes, it’s simply beautiful and far better than I’d ever imagined it would be. Thank you, Mrs Masters.’ She lowered her head to kiss Mama on the cheek, causing Mrs Pettigrew to recoil in horror. She wasn’t a woman for great shows of affection and now the Masters had gone down in the world, she would hate to think of her daughter kissing one of them.

When Lillibeth had changed out of her gown, Clara carefully folded it and wrapped it in tissue paper and then a covering of brown paper and finally, tied it neatly with string. Then she and Mama watched as Mrs Pettigrew and Lillibeth walked up the path towards their awaiting coach.

‘She won’t be back again by the seem of it,’ Clara said as she draped an arm around her mother as they watched the coach depart with Lillibeth waving from the window as her mother stared ahead, not even looking at the pair of them to say goodbye.

‘I don’t much care if she doesn’t darken my doorstep ever again, but you’re wrong about that, she will return as now she loves the fact she can lord it up over me and gossip with all her friends, it’s a sad fact of life I’m afraid…’

‘What is, Mama?’

‘That the worse sort of class is those that previously didn’t have much but have risen above the ranks as it were.’

Clara frowned, not understanding what her mother meant by that. ‘Pardon?’

‘Well, Mrs Pettigrew came from very humble beginnings, she was from a large family where there were lots of hand me downs and her father fought to put food on the table for them all.’

‘What happened to change her circumstances?’

‘She married well, didn’t she? She worked at the flour mill at Crownley and caught the eye of the youngest son who fell for her. He even fell out with his family over her, but he was a man of means. He wanted to marry her against his father’s wishes. He left the mill over it and took up baking instead.’

Clara let out a long breath of disbelief. ‘Well who would have thought it?’ She said as they both turned around to enter the cottage and she closed the door behind them.

***

When Clara returned to Stapleton Manor, the first thing she did was go in search of Cook. The woman had her hands in a bowl of flour and appeared to be scolding Maggie about something or other. ‘Hurry up, gal!’ she shouted. ‘I’ve got all this baking to do and all you’re doing is staring into space! Go and get those buns out of the oven.’

Clara smiled. It was nice to see some things never changed. Maggie sighed behind Cook’s back and looking heavenward, went off to attend to the buns in the oven. Suddenly, Cook turned as if she was aware that someone was watching her. ‘Oh, my giddy aunt!’ she said smiling, as she walked towards Clara with her hands covered in flour. She wiped them on her pinafore. ‘So, you’re back for good, gal?’

Clara nodded. ‘I am indeed.’

‘Nasty business that were. The Lord told us what went on with that Susannah one and fair play to him, he also told all the staff he wrongly dismissed you.’

‘He did?’ Clara arched an eyebrow, realising it couldn’t have been easy for the man to summon his staff to tell them that as it would mean losing face before them. He’d certainly gone up in her estimation.

‘Yes, he was most regretful about it all he was, bless him. Look, I’ll just wash me hands and we’ll have a cuppa. I need to let that pastry rest in the pantry anyhow.’

Clara nodded gratefully, it would be lovely to catch up with Cook and the latest news of the goings on at Stapleton Manor.

They both settled themselves down in front of the fire while Cook sent Maggie to brew up for them. ‘I’m worried about that girl,’ she said, scratching her chin.

‘What do you mean?’

‘Well her head is elsewhere lately, it’s like there’s something going on she doesn’t want the rest of us to be privy to. She often seems to be staring into space like she’s day dreaming about something or other. It’s all very well but when I need her to work I don’t want to have to keep cracking the whip.’

Clara thought for a moment. She had noticed Maggie and Billy whispering to one another in the corridor earlier. Oh no! If it was right what she was thinking that maybe the pair were sweet on one another, then maybe one of them would be dismissed from the house as staff relations were frowned upon unless a couple was already married. She decided for now she would not mention what she’d seen to Cook but instead would warn Maggie. After all, look what happened to Mrs Montgomery back in the day! She decided she wouldn’t risk telling the girl the woman’s sorry tale, instead, she’d invent some faceless creature who got despoiled when working at another house when she fell in love with someone there. But at the end of the day, all she could do was warn the girl, it was up to her how she behaved after that. And from what she’d seen of young Billy lately, his ardour would be difficult to cool down.

‘I suppose it’s because she’s young and full of hopes and dreams like we all were at that age,’ Clara said knowledgeably.

‘Young? When I was her age I’d been married for a couple of years and I already had a baby to tend to! I didn’t have time to bloomin’ idle about the place daydreaming all day long.’

‘Maybe not,’ Clara said lowering her voice as Maggie drew near to present them each with a cup of tea. She waited until the girl was out of earshot before adding, ‘but you cut the girl some slack for time being and I’ll have a word with her. Would that be all right?’

Cook scowled, then her features relaxed and she smiled again. ‘Has anyone ever told you what a calming influence you have here?’

Clara’d never thought of that before but she was secretly pleased that she had that effect on most people around the house it seemed. As soon as she’d finished her chat, she was going to put her clothes away in the wardrobe in her quarters. Jake had brought her back to the house as she hadn’t seen Patrin for a few days. ‘Have you seen Patrin lately?’ She took a sip from her cup and set it down in the saucer on the small table by her side.

‘Haven’t you heard?’ Cook looked surprised.

‘Heard what?’

‘He’s left already. Apparently there was some sort of goings on here the other evening and Mrs Montgomery left at the same time.’

Clara chewed on her bottom lip, that seemed most odd. ‘Did they say where they were going?’

Cook shook her head and pursed her lips. ‘No, they did not. It was most rude of Mrs Montgomery to go off like that without as much as a bye as you leave. The woman’s gone and left us all in the lurch without a housekeeper now!’

Clara arched an eyebrow in surprise. ‘Don’t worry, Mrs Cantwell, I’ll have a word with his lordship about it.’

‘Well please see as you do, we can’t carry on like this.’

The truth was, Clara had an idea that maybe Mrs Montgomery leaving in haste like that had something to do with Flori, though she could hardly tell the staff of her suspicions. It was strange though as hadn’t Patrin said he’d be bringing his sister to the house?

Clara forced a smile which she didn’t really feel like doing as now she was concerned about all three: Patrin, Flori and Mrs Montgomery. Whatever could have gone on to make them all disappear without word so quickly? Still, she had other more pressing matters on her mind now and that was getting settled in once again at the big house and taking care of the children. The thought of those brought a real smile to her lips as she walked along the corridor. Maybe his lordship wasn’t so bad after all.