Act of Will (10 page)

Audra took the proffered hand, then found her own being squeezed in the tightest of grips. ‘Good afternoon, Mrs Bell. I’m happy to meet you, too.’

Giving her a warm and winning smile, continuing to hold her hand, Irène Bell drew Audra forward to the two huge sofas which were positioned opposite each other in front of the fireplace. ‘So very good of you to travel all this way, Miss Kenton. And in this frightful weather. Yes, so very
good
of you indeed. Do,
do
sit here. Yes,
yes
, next to the fire. Warm yourself after your journey. Cook is preparing hot chocolate. Cora will bring it up shortly. I
do
hope you like hot chocolate. Would you prefer tea? Or coffee, perhaps?’

‘The chocolate would be lovely, thank you very much,’ Audra said, seating herself tentatively on the edge of the blue velvet sofa. Her keen eyes rested on Mrs Bell, who sat down on the other one.

Now that she was seeing her close up, Audra realized that she had not been wrong about Irène Bell’s age after all. She was definitely a woman in her mid-forties, but very well preserved and exquisitely groomed. Although there were tell-tale lines of age around her eyes and her mouth, these were fine, hardly discernible; she had kept her figure and there was no visible grey in her fiery hair, which was quite obviously natural, not dyed. And her vivacity, her energetic way of moving and speaking with intensity and swiftness, somehow added to the impression of youthfulness she projected.

Intuitively, Audra knew that she was going to like this woman, even though she had only been in her presence for a few minutes. There was something open and easy, honest and down-to-earth about Mrs Bell, and Audra found herself responding to her on a variety of levels. She sat back, instantly relaxing, feeling suddenly comfortable here at Calpher House. And she, who was usually so shy, so reserved with strangers, was perfectly at ease with Mrs Bell.

Irène Bell crossed her long and elegant legs, and focused her dark intelligent eyes on Audra, assessing her, yet without really appearing to do so.

She said in her light, gay voice, ‘In some ways I do feel rather foolish, Miss Kenton. Asking you to come for an interview like this. Matron Lennox spoke so highly about you, gave you such a wonderful reference, I actually thought of engaging you over the telephone. Without even bothering to meet you personally.’

Laughing as though at herself, her velvet eyes glowed with humour as she added, ‘But then I realized how unfair that would be to you, Miss Kenton. After all, it is important for
you
to like
us
. For you to
want
to live and work here at Calpher House. I knew I must give you the opportunity to come here and look
us
over.’

Irène Bell laughed again, leaned back, rested one elbow on the pile of silk cushions, and continued to study Audra discreetly, not wishing to embarrass her. She was intrigued by the young woman who sat before her, who handled herself with such grace and dignity. Margaret Lennox had painted a charming verbal picture of her, and the Matron had obviously not exaggerated. Audra Kenton was smaller than she had expected her to be, even delicate looking, but she was not terribly concerned about physical stamina. Strength of character, refinement, morality and a pleasant
personality were her chief considerations when it came to selecting and engaging a nanny. This girl had every one of these qualities, and more, according to Margaret, whose judgement she trusted.

‘Matron Lennox told me that she thought you and I would be most compatible, Mrs Bell, and she felt sure that I could handle the job here easily.’ Audra levelled her blue eyes at the other woman, and ventured, ‘But she
was
vague about it. Perhaps you would be kind enough to give me a few more details, Mrs Bell.’

‘Good Lord, of course! I must fill you in, mustn’t I? Well now, let me see. As you know from Matron, you would be entirely responsible for our youngest child, Theo. Our only son. Our three daughters are almost grown up. The eldest, Pandora, lives at home. The younger two, Felicity and Antonia, are away at boarding school. Let me explain something, Miss Kenton. I go to business every day. I run the woollen mill I inherited from my father, I also have an exclusive ladies’ gown salon in Leeds.
Paris Modes
. I’m quite certain you must know it.’

Audra shook her head, looking regretful. ‘I’m sorry, I’m afraid I don’t, Mrs Bell. The only store I know in Leeds is Harte’s Emporium. I went there once with my friend Gwen.’

Mrs Bell said, ‘My dress shop is not as large as Emma Harte’s store. But my imported French gowns
are
beginning to rival those she sells in her Model Room at Harte’s. Even if I do say so myself. But to continue. Obviously, because I am out most of the day, I need a responsible person in charge of the nursery and the baby. A person such as yourself. As to your accommodation here, there is a lovely bedroom, large and comfortable, which overlooks the gardens. It’s on the nursery floor, has its own private bathroom. You would have one day off during the week,
and every other Sunday. One week’s holiday a year. I would provide you with three cotton uniforms for summer, plus a summer coat and hat. The same amount of clothing for winter. Now, regarding the wages—’

Mrs Bell broke off at the sound of a knock, and glanced towards the door. It opened to admit a plump young maid, who rushed forward rather too quickly, pushing a laden tea trolley in front of her with great gusto.

‘Ah Cora, there you are at last!’ Mrs Bell exclaimed. ‘
Do
, please, be
careful
. Bring the trolley over here by the fire. This is Miss Kenton, Cora. Whom I sincerely hope will be joining us at Calpher House. As the new nanny.’

Cora and the tea trolley came to an abrupt stop with a rattling jolt. She stared at Audra, narrowing her eyes, squinting at her. Then, as if she had decided she liked the look of her, she smiled broadly, bobbed a half-curtsy. ‘Please ter meet yer, Miss,’ she said, and proceeded down the long stretch of Turkey carpet, handling the trolley with a kind of dangerous abandon.

Audra inclined her head graciously, and returned the maid’s smile. ‘Good afternoon, Cora,’ she replied, and cringed as she watched Cora’s perilous progress towards them. She hoped that nothing would go crashing to the floor, for the maid’s sake.

After coming to a shuddering halt, Cora positioned the trolley next to Mrs Bell, gave it a final little jiggle to straighten it, asked, ‘Do yer want me ter pour the ’ot chocolate then, ma’am?’

‘No, no, Cora, that’s all right, I can manage,’ Irène Bell replied swiftly, wincing at the thought. She dismissed Cora with a smile and a nod, lifted the silver jug and carefully filled two large breakfast cups, remarking, ‘We have a wonderful cook, Mrs Jackson, and the butler is Mr Agiter. I believe you saw Dodie, the other housemaid,
when you arrived? Did she not open the door to you?’

‘Yes, she did, Mrs Bell.’ Audra rose and went over to the tea trolley, took the cup of hot chocolate which was being offered to her.

Irène Bell exclaimed, ‘Do, but
do
, try one of Cook’s hot Cornish pasties, Miss Kenton. They’re delicious. And quite renowned hereabouts.’

‘Thank you.’ Audra placed the cup of steamy, frothing chocolate on the antique mahogany table next to the sofa, put one of the meat turnovers on a plate and returned to her place.

Taking a sip of chocolate, Mrs Bell continued, ‘As I was about to say when Cora came in, your wages would be sixty pounds a year. This is an increase of ten pounds above what I paid the last nanny. Matron Lennox said it would not be fair of me to offer you anything less than sixty pounds. In view of your superior training at the hospital.’ Irène Bell now leaned forward intently. ‘Well, Miss Kenton, are you interested in taking the position, do you think?’ A perfect, pencilled brow lifted eloquently.

Audra was both startled and delighted at the amount of money she would be paid. She said, ‘I am interested, Mrs Bell, very much so. However, I would like to meet your little boy before I finally say yes.’ Audra gave her a forthright look, and her sudden smile was one of sweetness and sincerity. ‘I’m quite positive I will like him, but I do want to be sure
he
likes
me
.’

‘What a lovely sentiment, Miss Kenton. And I’m overjoyed, simply
overjoyed
, that you’re going to join our little family.’ Irène Bell’s face, always mobile and expressive, now filled with a mixture of relief and pleasure. Her merry laugh echoed around the room. ‘I know the baby will take to you. How could he not? He’s having his afternoon nap at the moment, but you shall meet him
later. And before you leave I shall show you around Calpher House. And introduce you to the staff.’

***

The motor car slid to a standstill in front of the General Post Office in City Square.

A moment later the uniformed chauffeur was opening the rear door and helping Audra to alight. ‘Thank you so much, Robertson,’ she said, giving him an appreciative little smile.

‘It’s a pleasure, Miss. Good afternoon, Miss.’ He touched the neb of his peaked cap and hurried back to the driver’s seat.

Audra swung around and took a step towards Gwen, who was standing near the steps of the Post Office where they had arranged to meet.

Gwen’s eyes were out on stalks. Instantly recovering herself, she rushed forward to meet Audra. Grasping hold of her hands, she cried in a shrill, excited voice, ‘Well, aren’t
we
posh then! Rolling up in a fancy motor car. Imagine that!’

Audra could not help laughing at Gwen’s incredulity. Then she explained, ‘Mrs Bell kept me at Calpher House rather longer than I expected. I started to get a little nervous in the end. I didn’t want to be late, to have you standing waiting outside in the cold. So she sent me in the car.’

‘That was nice of her!’ Gwen exclaimed, obviously impressed not only by the car but by Mrs Bell as well. She peered into Audra’s face, and demanded, ‘Well, did you take the job then?’

‘Yes, Gwen, I did.’

‘Oh, lovey, I
am
glad!’ Gwen threw her arms around Audra, hugged her tightly. Audra hugged her back and the two of them clung to each other, did a happy little jig, and then began to laugh uproariously.

Their frivolity was interrupted by a masculine voice, which said, ‘They’ll be sending the wagon for you two next, the way you’re carrying on like a couple of lunatics, and in the middle of City Square, no less.’

‘Oh hello, Charlie,’ Gwen said, pulling away from Audra, looking up at her brother, who stood with his hands in his pockets, towering over them both, surveying them through amused eyes. ‘You’re right on time, I see.’

‘Aren’t I always?’ Charles Thornton grinned at his sister, then gave Audra a shy smile. ‘Hello, Audra,’ he said, unable to keep the look of adoration off his face. He thrust his hand at her.

Audra’s heart sank at the sight of Charlie, whom she had not expected to join them for the evening, as he no doubt had. She had wanted to be alone with Gwen. They hadn’t seen each other for several weeks and they had a number of things to talk about, especially now that she had taken the job with the Bells.

‘Hello,’ Audra responded in her quiet way, taking his hand, glad she was wearing her gloves. Charlie always had such clammy hands, even in the cold weather. Audra found this unfortunate physical trait dismaying and distasteful. She liked Charlie well enough as a person but she had no wish to have him as her boyfriend. This was Gwen’s hope though, and she was forever pushing Charlie at her. Audra fervently wished she would stop doing it. Charlie Thornton was not her type at all. It was not that he was unattractive, because he wasn’t. He was tall, well built, with broad shoulders, very masculine really, although Audra suspected he would become flabby as he grew older. He had blond hair, a fair complexion and friendly grey eyes. His face, like his personality, was bland. Audra could not help thinking that he was soppy in certain ways, and most of the time she found him
dreadfully dull. She supposed he was a good person, very worthy, and yet instinctively she knew he was a weak man.

Gwen volunteered, ‘Charlie’s taking us to the pictures later, Audra. He’s treating us. We’re going to the Rialto in Briggate to see the new Mary Pickford picture. Isn’t that nice of him?’

‘Oh yes it is,’ Audra was quick to agree and forced a smile.

Taking charge as usual, Gwen rushed on, ‘Well, don’t let’s stand here like three sucking ducks gawping at each other. We’ve an hour to waste before we go to the pictures, so let’s toddle along to Betty’s and have a nice cup of tea.’

Audra and Charlie readily agreed.

It had turned even chillier and the snow that had threatened throughout the day began to fall in small fluttering flakes, settling on the ground. The light was being squeezed out of the lowering sky as dusk descended rapidly. Charlie took hold of the girls’ arms and hurried them across City Square in the direction of Commercial Street where the café was located. As they turned into the street they all three stopped abruptly, staring into the windows of Harte’s department store, captivated by what they saw. The windows had been dressed for Christmas and they were dazzling in the gathering twilight, filled with twinkling coloured lights and glittering scenes depicting different fairy tales. One window was devoted to Cinderella, showed her arriving at the ball in her shimmering glass coach, another to Hansel and Gretel, who stood outside the gingerbread house, and yet a third paid tribute to The Snow Queen in all her icy glory.

‘How beautiful they are,’ Audra murmured, lingering a moment longer than the other two, thinking of High Cleugh and the glorious Christmases of her childhood.

‘Yes, aren’t they just,’ Gwen said, tugging at her. ‘Come on, lovey, the snow’s really coming down now. We’re going to be soaked before we know it.’

Gwen tucked her arm through Audra’s and kept up a continual stream of conversation as they walked down Commercial Street, living up to her reputation as a chatterbox. Charlie, trudging along on the other side of Audra, interjected a few comments, but Audra remained silent—and reflective.