A Change of Fortune (18 page)

Then she sealed the envelope and placed it by her bed, ready to post in the morning.

14

Would Edna come? Jenny was excited and apprehensive at the same time. She’d left without saying goodbye to her friend and perhaps she might not want to see her again. She’d been tempted to give Edna her address this time, but, for all her brave words to Ma last week, she was still wary of anyone knowing where she was.

Jenny reached Speakers’ Corner in Hyde Park, where she’d suggested they meet, and gazed around, worry gnawing away at her insides as she paced up and down. Had Edna received the letter in time? Perhaps this hadn’t been such a good idea – she was going to be very disappointed if her friend didn’t come.

‘Jen.’

She turned round at the sound of the voice behind her. She had come!

‘Oh, Jen.’ Edna rushed up and hugged her. ‘I’ve been that worried about you.’

They were both laughing with pleasure at seeing each other again.

‘I’m sorry I rushed off without seeing you first, Edna, but I panicked.’

‘I understand.’ Her friend stepped back so she could see her better. ‘Oh, my, you’re all skin and bones. What
have you been doing to yourself? You look as if you’ve had a rough time.’

‘It has been hard,’ Jenny admitted.

Edna slipped her hand through Jenny’s arm. ‘Let’s find a café and I’ll buy us a pot of tea and some buns.’

They walked arm in arm to Oxford Street, and Jenny listened avidly as Edna gave her all the news about the other servants. It was wonderful to hear her friend’s bright chatter and laugh again. It was then that she realized how right Ma had been to urge her to get out.

‘This will do.’ Edna urged her through the door of the first tea shop they found. ‘I’ve only got a couple of hours and there’s such a lot to tell you.’

They were soon settled at a corner table with a large pot of tea in front of them and buns, butter and jam. Jenny’s mouth fairly watered at the sight of such luxury.

‘Tuck in, Jen.’ Edna frowned as she studied her. ‘You don’t look as if you’ve had a good meal for ages. Can you tell me what you’re doing and where you’re living? I won’t say nothing to no one without your say so.’

Jenny knew she was going to have to start trusting people again, so she explained about Ma and the work she was doing.

Edna’s mouth opened in disbelief. ‘Hell, Jen, no wonder you look worn to the bone.’

‘It’s not too bad. I’m getting used to it now, and I’m very fond of Ma. These are poor people I’m with, Edna, and I’ve got to do my share. If they hadn’t taken me in, I don’t know what I would have done. I didn’t have anywhere to go.’ She took a gulp of tea.

Edna put another bun on her plate. ‘Your aunt and Albert Greaves paid the Stannards a visit.’

Jenny’s cup clattered back into the saucer. ‘Looking for me?’

Her friend nodded and then explained what had happened.

‘They denied knowing me?’ she asked in disbelief.

‘Sent them on their way with nothing.’ Edna grinned. ‘And we was all told that if anyone came asking questions about Eugenie Winford, we was to say nothing. Which wouldn’t have been hard, because we don’t know anyone by that name.’ She winked to make her point.

‘Well, I’ll be blowed!’ Jenny picked up her knife and spread extra butter on her second bun after that staggering bit of news. ‘But how did my aunt find out I’d been working there?’

‘She’d picked up on some servants’ gossip, I expect. They said that they were following up any lead, however unlikely.’

‘It’s as well I left when I did, then.’

‘The family’s dead worried about you, Jen. Would you mind if I told them I’ve seen you?’

‘I’m not sure I want them to know anything. I don’t understand why they are concerned. They accused me of being a thief and turned me out.’ Jenny shook her head. She still viewed this incident with horror. ‘And yet they’ve protected me from my Aunt Gertrude. Their change of attitude is a complete mystery.’

She looked up at Edna and found her with a wide grin on her face. ‘What have I said?’

‘It isn’t what you’ve said,’ Edna chuckled, ‘but the way you said it. What happened to the London accent?’

‘Oh, that.’ She joined in the laughter. ‘I don’t need that now. The people I’m with know all about me, and Ma loves me to read to her in my “posh voice”, as she calls it.’

‘How did you come to know them?’ Edna asked.

Jenny told her about Fred and Glad, and her visit to the pawnbroker’s. By the time she’d finished, Edna was almost crying with laughter.

‘How I wish I’d been there.’ Edna mopped her eyes. ‘That took some courage.’

‘Not really. It was desperation,’ Jenny admitted. ‘Fred and Glad gave me their address and said I could go to them if I needed help any time. They’d met me only once, but I had nowhere else to go. They’ve been very kind, Edna. I was terrified I’d have to go home or spend the night in the open, but they took me in without question. I’m grateful and do all I can for them. Unemployment’s getting bad, and I was lucky even to get a job scrubbing floors.’

‘They sound like good old Londoners. Live in Lambeth, do they?’

Jenny had nodded before she realized that her friend had slipped that crafty question in. ‘Did you ever tell the Stannards I might be in Lambeth?’

‘Yes.’ Edna reached across and patted her hand. ‘Do you remember when you first started work at the house and I asked you where you came from?’

‘I said the first thing that came into my mind: Lambeth.’

‘That’s right. You said you’d been to school in Lambeth.’ Edna grinned again. ‘What a whopper that was, Jen. It was the only place you’d mentioned, and when I saw how worried the mistress was, I told them. I didn’t see no harm in it because I didn’t believe you anyway. Neither did they, but the sons, Luke and Matthew, have been scouring the borough for you.’

‘I know.’

‘What?’ Edna sat upright, her eyes wide open. ‘Did they find you?’

‘Nearly, but everyone in the street told them they didn’t know me. Don’t tell the brothers, though. I don’t want to be found yet.’

‘You needn’t be afraid of them,’ Edna said kindly. ‘I’m sure they only want to help. They would probably help you get another place – not as an under housemaid, of course.’

‘No!’ She gave a firm shake of her head. ‘I couldn’t leave Ma. She needs me.’

‘I understand, but please let me tell them I’ve seen you and you’re all right. I’m sure they’ll be relieved to know that.’

‘All right,’ she agreed. ‘But don’t tell them anything else.’

‘I promise.’ Edna then poured the last of the tea from the pot, giving them another half a cup each, talking all the time about the things she’d done since they last met.

The time flew by, and Jenny was sad when it was time for her friend to return to work. It had been really
lovely to see Edna again, but it had also made her acutely aware of just how lonely she was. ‘Can I ask you a favour, Edna?’

‘Of course, anything.’

‘My mother’s living with Aunt Gertrude in Bloomsbury, and, although she didn’t seem to care what happened to me, I’d like to know how she is getting on. Do you think you could find out how she is?’

‘Should be easy,’ Edna told her. ‘I know a girl who works round there and is bound to have heard gossip. You leave it with me; I’ll find out how your mum is.’

‘Oh, thanks. It would be a relief to know.’

‘You’re a strange one, Jen.’ Edna shook her head. ‘Your mum don’t deserve to have you worry about her after the way she’s treated you. I wouldn’t dream of bothering to find out how my mum is. I left for good reasons, and, as far as I’m concerned, that’s the end of it.’

‘I wish I were more like you, Edna, but I can’t just dismiss her like that. She is my mother, and if I knew she was all right, it would put my mind at rest.’

‘You leave it with me.’ Edna patted her hand and stood up. ‘I’ve got to get back now.’

Once outside the tea shop Edna hugged her. ‘Let’s meet again. You write when you’re free. Perhaps we can go to the pictures next time.’

‘I’d like that.’ Jenny watched her friend hurrying to catch her bus, then she headed for her own bus stop, already looking forward to their next meeting. She’d have to try to save enough for the pictures.

‘Miss Winford?’

Jenny stopped and spun round to face the man who had called her, cursing herself. She should have kept walking as if she didn’t know the name. Too late now. It was their old footman, Gerry.

He hurried up, a big smile on his face. ‘You caused a lot of trouble by disappearing like that.’

‘Hello, Gerry,’ she said politely. ‘Have you found another job?’

‘Only as a footman again, but it’s a nice enough household. What about you? Where are you living?’

Jenny had to think quickly. He would know about the reward, so it wouldn’t be wise to tell him anything. ‘I’m with friends just around the corner in Great Cumberland Place.’

‘I know it. I’ll walk you back, shall I?’

‘You don’t have to go to all that trouble.’ Now she was worried about the calculating look in his eyes.

‘It’s no trouble.’ Gerry took hold of her arm and steered her in the right direction, talking amiably about his new job.

She stopped outside one smart-looking house, her heart beating erratically, but she managed a bright smile. ‘This is it. It was nice to see you again, Gerry. I hope all goes well for you.’

‘And you, Miss Winford.’

She had been hoping he would walk away after that, but he didn’t. He just stood on the pavement, smiling down at her.

‘In you go, then.’

Now she was really alarmed. He obviously wanted
to see her enter the house to confirm that she actually lived there. There was nothing for it but to knock on the door and try to persuade whoever owned it to let her in for a moment.

Her luck was holding. The door was slightly ajar and, without stopping to think, she stepped inside, closing the door behind her. She peered through a small stained-glass window at the side of the door and saw Gerry writing the address on a piece of paper. She had been right to be cautious. He was going to try for the reward!

He seemed to take ages to walk out of sight, and Jenny expected to be discovered at any minute. If the owners found her standing in their hall, they would think she was a thief. Being accused of that once was quite enough! As soon as she thought it safe, she slipped out, leaving the door slightly open as she’d found it, and hurried up the street in the opposite direction. By now she was shaking very badly; that had been a close thing. Too close: she saw a woman come out of a house two doors down and go into the one she had just left. Then she began to grin to herself as she thought how foolish Gerry was going to look when he found out that she didn’t live there after all.

That evening the three brothers were having a fierce discussion, with John and Matt trying to convince Luke that the rise of the Nazi Party in Germany was something to be concerned about.

‘It won’t affect us,’ Luke argued. ‘All right, I don’t
agree with the near-hysteria and fanaticism they’re causing, but you must admit they’re giving the people something to cheer about.’

‘Yes, but they’re growing too fast,’ John said. ‘In September the Nazis won about one hundred seats from moderates in the German elections.’

Luke didn’t look convinced, but said, ‘And you think that makes them a threat?’

Matt leant forward in his chair and spoke with conviction. ‘I don’t trust this man Hitler. He’s already calling for the Treaty of Versailles to be torn up. Once he’s got the power and the means, he’ll start to regain the territory the Germans lost as the result of the last war. After that he might set his sights on the rest of Europe.’

‘Oh, I doubt that, Matt. I’m sure you’re being alarmist.’ Luke glanced at John. ‘Do you think that man would be crazy enough to start a second world war?’

‘It’s possible. Like Matt, I have grave misgivings about what is happening in Germany. Fanaticism of any kind isn’t healthy.’ John reached out to pour himself a cup of coffee just as their mother came into the room.

‘Coffee?’ Luke asked her.

‘Yes, please.’ She sat down and took the cup from Luke. ‘I have some news, but I’m not sure whether to be pleased or even more worried.’

‘What is it?’ John asked.

‘I’ve just been talking to Mrs Douglas and Edna. It seems Jenny contacted Edna and they met this afternoon.’

‘Is she all right?’ Matt asked, feeling a surge of relief that Edna had seen the girl.

‘It seems so …’

‘Well, that’s good news, isn’t it?’ John said.

‘I agree it’s a relief to know she isn’t sleeping on the streets, but –’ She stirred her coffee, and then took a deep breath before continuing. ‘Edna said she was shocked when she saw her – “all skin and bones” was the way she put it. The poor child is obviously living a hard and frugal life.’

‘Where is she?’ Matt was on his feet. ‘I’ll go and bring her back here.’

‘Edna doesn’t know where she is living.’ She smiled sadly at her youngest son. ‘And Jenny said she wouldn’t leave the elderly woman she’s living with because she needs her.’

Matt sat down again, not trying to hide his disappointment. He’d really thought they were about to put right the wrong they had done her. Though why he was so worried about Eugenie Winford, or Jenny Baker, as she now called herself, was a puzzle he hadn’t been able to solve. Perhaps it was like the time he had found that emaciated kitten and brought it home for their cook to look after. The poor little thing was so helpless and needed someone to care for it. Jenny Baker had had the same look about her.