Dream a Little Dream (3 page)

‘I’ll serve the soup, Agnes.’ Abbie scraped her chair back. She’d do anything for this woman who showed her more love than her mother did. Whose arms she’d run to when she was little and had fallen over and hurt herself. It was always the housekeeper who kissed her wounds better. And it was still those arms she ran to when anything went wrong or she thought she was being treated unfairly. ‘I don’t mind.’

‘Thank yer, Miss.’ With a withering look, the housekeeper left the room. ‘Lazy buggers,’ she chunnered on her way back to the kitchen. ‘Won’t even get off their backsides to feed themselves. If it wasn’t for the master and Miss Abbie, I’d have told them where to put their bleedin’ job and I’d be packing me bags right now.’

‘Really, Mother, she goes too far,’ Victoria said. ‘You need to have words with her so she knows her place.’

‘I would, darling, but she flies off the handle so quickly. And if she took it into her head to leave, we’d never get another housekeeper like her. There isn’t one of my friends who wouldn’t snap her up if she left here.’

‘But Agnes isn’t going to leave here,’ Robert said, watching Abbie attending to the soup and feeling disgust that the rest of his family thought they should be waited on hand and foot. ‘And anyone who upsets her will feel my displeasure. I hope I’ve made myself clear?’

Oh dear, Edwina thought, it seems as though everyone is deliberately being difficult tonight. But the fear of being humiliated by her husband made her change the subject quickly. ‘Are you going out tonight, Victoria?’

‘Yes, Charles is calling for me about half eight. He can’t wait to try his new car out, so we’re going for a run in it.’ Victoria only ever mixed with those in the same social class as herself. She’d had several boyfriends, all sons of wealthy men, but in each case the courtship lasted no longer than a few months. Her reason was that they bored her rigid. But one
thing
Victoria Dennison was not, and that was stupid. She pandered to her mother because she was the one who handed over her monthly allowance and it was easy to wheedle extra cash from her for a new dress or hat. But Victoria never lost sight of the fact that at the end of the day, it was her father who held the purse-strings. He could, if he chose to be awkward, make them all dance to his tune. So putting on her brightest smile, she said, ‘You haven’t seen Charles’s new car, have you, Father? It really is very swish. We went for a run in it last night, just as far as the Pier Head because it was late, but everyone we passed turned their heads.’

Is that all you want out of life, for people to notice and envy you? Robert didn’t speak the words but that is how he felt. For some unknown reason he was seeing his family in a different light today, and he didn’t like what he was seeing. He must share the blame with his wife; he should have noticed sooner that spoiling the children wasn’t the right recipe for making them kind and caring. Then he mentally corrected himself. Only two of his children had been pampered and spoilt. The youngest, Abbie, could easily have turned out the same way, but she hadn’t; she was unspoilable. ‘No, I haven’t seen Charles’s car, I’m usually in the study when he calls. Besides, you know I don’t share his passion for cars. They are a means of transport to me, nothing more.’

Nigel, who spent the best part of every day in the company of his eldest sister, was sensitive to her mood swings. Why she wanted to be nice to Father he didn’t know, but she must have a reason. ‘Yes, it’s a jolly spiffing car. You must tell me what speed Charles gets it up to tonight on the country roads.’ He looked around to see if any face showed a spark of interest, and when he saw none, he tried something no one could argue with. ‘I say, this soup is absolutely delicious.’

Robert laid down his spoon and using the heavy linen napkin, he wiped his mouth. ‘I hope you pass that compliment on to Agnes, Nigel.’

‘Oh, absolutely, Father! I’ll tell her when she brings the dinner through.’

‘Why not tell her when you help your sister carry the soup plates out? That would save Agnes making two journeys. And while you’re there, would you ask her to serve me my meal in the study, please? I have a headache and need to be quiet.’ Robert saw the look of disappointment on his youngest daughter’s face and hastened to add, ‘Before I go, I want you all to know that Abbie has expressed a wish to go to commercial college and I have agreed that she may.’

Victoria gasped. ‘Commercial college! Whatever for?’

‘If I remember correctly, Victoria, when you were her age it was your heartfelt wish to spend a year at finishing school. I never at that time asked “Whatever for?” Your wish was granted, and now I am granting your sister’s wish. And I want it known that I am more than happy to do so.’ Robert rose to his feet. He was still a very handsome man, tall and well-built. His raven-black hair was now grey at the temples and this gave him an air of distinction. His brows were black and bushy, his eyes a deep brown and he had a strong jawline. ‘If you will excuse me, I will retire to the study. When the meal is over, Abbie, join me and we can discuss the way forward.’

There was complete silence until the door was closed behind him, then Edwina hissed, ‘You little madam! You know that’s going against my wishes.’

‘It’s what I want, Mother. I intend to go out to work, and to get a decent job I need qualifications. I won’t get those at a finishing school.’

‘Don’t you dare talk to me in that tone. You have no thought for what I would like for you. You want this, and you intend doing that. Selfish, selfish, selfish! You are a very ungrateful girl, Abigail, and you may find you live to rue the day you went against me.’

‘Oh, steady on, Mother!’ Nigel said. ‘If it’s what Abbie wants to do, why not let her?’

‘Keep out of it, Nigel,’ Victoria said, sitting back in her
chair
and crossing her legs. At twenty-two, she was four years older than her younger sister, who was not yet eighteen, and she had never felt any sisterly bonding between them. The difference in their ages meant they had different interests and little in common. It was only in the last year she’d noticed her sister blossoming into a very pretty girl. And envy had set in. For Abigail had inherited her father’s looks and colouring. She had jet-black, thick luxuriant hair, black eyebrows perfectly arched, long black lashes, a slightly turned-up nose and a set of strong white teeth. All set in a heart-shaped face, above a body beginning to show signs of a firm bosom, slim waist and hips, and long shapely legs. Competition was something Victoria wasn’t used to, and she’d be quite happy for her sister to be sent away to finishing school for a year.

‘I’m not selfish, Mother, and I’m not ungrateful.’ Abbie thought her mother was being very unfair. But then she’d noticed for years that she wasn’t given the same treatment as her brother and sister. She hadn’t worried about it because she knew her father loved her, but she couldn’t bow down to pressure now, she had to stick up for herself. ‘I don’t know what you have against me going to commercial college. My best friend in school is going – her parents think it’s a jolly good idea.’

‘If, by your best friend, you mean Rowena, I’m not surprised her parents agree. They are no doubt looking to her to find a job because they are not particularly well off. You are not in the same position. You do not need to go to work.’

‘But I want to! And what you said about Rowena wasn’t fair. Her—’ Abbie broke off when the housekeeper entered the room. ‘Oh, I’m sorry, Agnes, I was supposed to take the plates out to save you a journey.’

The housekeeper could feel the tension in the air. She’d heard part of what the girl said, but not enough to know why she sounded so upset. The mistress had a face on her like thunder, but that wasn’t anything new, she was a miserable cow at the best of times. Victoria was wearing that supercilious
expression
that made Agnes want to clock her one, and Nigel was looking very uncomfortable. But it was the young girl’s flushed face and tear-filled eyes that brought forth a reaction. ‘What’s wrong, Miss Abbie? Is someone having a go at yer?’

‘No, I’m fine, Agnes, thank you.’

Victoria clicked her tongue. ‘I really don’t think it’s any of your concern, Agnes. How dare you interfere in what is a private family matter! Now please remove these plates and bring in the dinner. I have a visitor coming soon.’

Chubby arms were folded under a voluptuous bosom as Agnes took her stand. ‘Who was yer bleedin’ slave before I came along, eh? I might work here, but I’ll not be walked all over by an upstart like you. If yer want those plates removing, do it yer bleedin’ self, ’cos I’ve finished fetching and carrying for you lot. I’m off to pack me bags.’

Edwina jumped to her feet. ‘Please, Agnes, don’t be hasty. Victoria didn’t mean it to come out the way it did. We are all very fond of you and appreciate your work. We’d be devastated if you left us.’

‘While yer were being devastated, yer’d be bleedin’ hungry as well, ’cos there’s not one of yer would know what to do with a pan. Except Miss Abbie, of course, at least she does try. But that’s your hard luck, nowt to do with me ’cos I’ve had a bellyful and I’m off.’

Edwina caught up with her at the door. ‘Please, Agnes, I beg of you. We’d be broken-hearted if you left. Come back and let Victoria apologise.’

‘If she was sorry she’d have said so before now. And an apology is no good if it’s got to be dragged out of someone. Perhaps she’ll watch what she says in future, ’cos once words have been spoken, yer can’t take them back.’ The housekeeper pulled her arm free. ‘She’s looked down her snotty nose at me for the last time.’

There were tears streaming down Abbie’s cheeks as she jumped to her feet. ‘I’m going to fetch my dad because this is so unfair.’

‘You stay right where you are,’ Victoria warned. ‘Or you’ll be sorry.’

The girl ignored her and made for the door. ‘I don’t care what you say, I’m going for my dad.’ She pulled the door open and walked straight into her father’s arms. ‘Oh Dad, Agnes said she’s leaving us.’

‘There, there, now, dear.’ Robert gave her a brief hug before walking into the room. ‘I don’t need an explanation because I heard everything. I had left my cigars on the small table and I’d come to collect them. And I can honestly say I’ve never been so ashamed in my life. Victoria, you will come and apologise right this minute.’

‘It’s no good, Mr Robert, she wouldn’t really mean it and what’s the good of that?’ Agnes was untying the bow in the back of her apron. ‘Yer don’t have to worry about me, I can walk into another job tomorrow.’

Robert ignored her words. ‘Victoria, this instant!’

His daughter had been regretting her words since she realised Agnes was serious about leaving. She didn’t want the woman to go, she was fond of her in her own way. The house was always immaculate, there were never any complaints about clothes being left on the bedroom floor instead of hung in the wardrobe, and there was no doubt she was a wizard in the kitchen. But having to say sorry to a person she looked on as her inferior, didn’t come easily.

‘I’m sorry, Agnes,’ she said stiffly. ‘I should not have been so rude. I would very much like you to stay.’

‘Words are cheap, Miss Victoria, and not always sincere.’

Robert took the housekeeper’s arm. ‘Come to the study with me and we can talk in peace. My wife and daughters will see to the dinner, which I presume is ready to serve?’

‘It is, Mr Robert, but I’m not serving it.’

‘I don’t expect you to. My wife is quite capable of seeing to her family for once. In fact, when she brings my dinner through to the study, she may as well bring a plate for you. For once in ten years, Agnes, you can be our guest.’ The look he
gave
Edwina before he led the housekeeper away held a warning that she would be advised to do as he said.

Robert handed the housekeeper a glass containing a generous measure of whisky. ‘This is not a bribe, Agnes, I need a drink as much as you. I am so ashamed that a daughter of mine would talk to you in such a manner. But a lot of the blame lies at my door for not seeing that she and Nigel were growing up into snobs. If I’d been at home more, perhaps things might have been different, but when you have a business like mine, you have to keep a close eye on things. It was hard graft getting where I am; I’m not about to let others ruin it for me.’ He held his glass high. ‘Here’s to me and you, Agnes, and no more talk of you leaving. If you went, Abbie and I would follow you. We couldn’t do without you, and you must know that we are both very fond of you. What happened today was unforgivable and will never happen again, you have my promise.’

Agnes raised her glass. ‘I’d have cried me bleedin’ eyes out if I’d had to have walked out and left you and Miss Abbie. But I would have done it, Mr Robert, ’cos I’ve got me pride. I’ll have no toffee-nosed little madam looking down her nose at me.’

‘I rather think Victoria will have learned her lesson, Agnes. She does love to show off and act the lady, but beneath the surface she’s not as cold as she appears. I don’t think she would deliberately hurt anyone. But that is not to excuse her behaviour because there is no excuse for bad manners.’ Robert sighed. ‘It’s been a rare old day today. I’ve spent much of it thinking about the past, when we were skint and happy. And I’ve been remembering my mam and dad. You’d have liked my mam, she’d have been right up your street. She was only the size of sixpenn’orth of copper, but she was wiry and all there on top. If she’d had a day like today, she’d have been waiting on the step for me to come in from work. And she’d have said, “It’s been a right bleedin’ day today, son, and that’s the truth.
I’ll
tell yer all about it when ye’re having yer dinner. That’s if there’s any arse left in the bleedin’ pan” ’

Agnes grinned and raised her glass. ‘Ye’re right, I would have liked yer mam. Me and her would have been the best of mates.’

Abbie rapped lightly on the study door with a knuckle, and when her father answered she opened the door and popped her head in. ‘Would you rather wait until tomorrow night, Dad, to have our talk? What with all the upset, and you having a headache, perhaps this is not the right time?’