Garlands of Gold (14 page)

Elizabeth shook her head firmly. ‘No, it is she who told me to discuss this matter with you. After all, although you are Dutch-born you have Parisian blood in your veins and therefore have a distinctive flair where clothes are concerned. My godmother said over tea that you even wear your apron like a fashion accessory. She thought you could advise me very well.’

Saskia smiled and shook her head almost in bewilderment. ‘You have given me an alarming task, but also a very enjoyable one.’

‘Then I’m sure we shall do well together in this and everything else.’

The seamstress and her two assistants arrived next morning. Saskia, remembering the fine silks that Mistress Gibbons had always worn, was pleased to find some of equal quality and beauty among those that were displayed with a rippling flourish. Henrietta had told Elizabeth to totally replenish her wardrobe with garments for every occasion, but the girl, unused to being allowed whatever she wanted and wary of the cost, would have chosen several times from a cheaper range if Saskia had not tossed those swatches aside.

‘Those would not drape so well!’ Lost in the pleasure of the task in hand, Saskia became equally dictatorial when it came to the choice of colours. ‘Not the orange patterned silk! Nor that harsh blue! Neither would suit your fine complexion, Mistress Elizabeth. This soft pink will enhance your colouring and so will this ivory silk.’

The seamstress was displeased that her advice was not being sought, but she endorsed the various choices being made.

As well as the silks there were also samples of delicate lace on display, for styles of the new gowns had also to be decided. It was fashionable to have wide necklines, which were cut low to expose the shoulders for evening, and most often were trimmed with a fall of beautiful and expensive lace. It was a good time for lacemakers, for their products had probably never been in such demand by both men and women in the fashionable world, and Saskia thought often of Nanny Bobbins whose beautiful work had graced Bessie Gibbons’ gowns and her husband’s cravats.

By the time everything was decided Mistress Henrietta came to approve all that had been chosen and Elizabeth was still in a daze of excitement.

‘I thank you with all my heart, dear Godmother!’ she exclaimed, kissing her on both cheeks. ‘Saskia has been such a help as you said she would be. May I tell her now what her reward is to be?’ As the woman nodded with a smile, Elizabeth spun around to face Saskia. ‘I saw you holding one length of silk against yourself – not once, but twice! – and I could also see how it would suit you.’ She turned to the seamstress, who stood waiting while her assistants packed away all they had brought with them. ‘Now you may measure Saskia for a gown of the turquoise silk and another from the velvet swatch that my godmother selected earlier.’

Saskia, scarcely able to believe what she had heard, flushed delightedly and curtsied deeply to Mistress Henrietta. ‘I scarcely know how to thank you, madam. You are most kind.’

Saskia had had silk gowns in the past and still had two brought from Holland, but they had all been hand-me-downs from Mistress Gibbons, who had only worn silk or silk velvet, and every one of them had had to be taken to pieces to be recut and altered in order for the garment to fit her. Usually she had made a purse or a jacket from the surplus material, but this one would be to her exact measurements.

‘There is a reason,’ Mistress Henrietta replied. ‘I intend that you should chaperone Elizabeth at times when I choose to remain at home or I am otherwise engaged, and you will have to be suitably dressed. All I ask in return is that you put my god-daughter’s interests and welfare before all else in your attendance on her.’

‘I give my word gladly, madam.’

Within a week the fittings took place. Saskia’s two gowns, one for formal day wear and the other for evening occasions, had no extra fripperies, but it would not have been seemly for her garment to outshine any of Elizabeth’s new gowns. In her unassuming way, Elizabeth rejoiced as much in Saskia’s new garments as in her own. Fittings took place within the week and the finished garments were delivered soon afterwards. Mistress Henrietta had already sent out invitations to a ball at which Elizabeth could renew acquaintances from past visits.

Saskia found Elizabeth a pleasure to look after, for she was level-headed and undemanding, appreciative of everything done for her. An intelligent girl and a happy one, she seemed to glow from within at this new turn her life had taken.

One afternoon, when Elizabeth had given Saskia a letter to post, it was also the chance to set out on a brisk walk. She had a letter to send herself, for she wrote jointly to Nanny Bobbins and Vrouw van Beek, who had formed a friendship after her departure. Her foster mother, guessing how much she would be missed, had begun calling on the old nurse and they enjoyed each other’s company.

After dispatching the letters Saskia set off on her walk. It was a crisp, cold January day and the sky very cloudy as if snow might be in the offing, but she had a warm, hooded wrap and a muff for her hands that Mistress Henrietta had given her at Christmas. She had not seen Grinling since the day they had drunk coffee together with Robert and, inevitably, she turned her steps in the direction of the cottage, hoping he would be there.

It was as Saskia approached the cottage that she saw a gentleman, cloaked and wearing a wide-brimmed hat, following the road that went past it. She recognized him, for he was a familiar tall, thin figure in the neighbourhood. He was Master John Evelyn, a distinguished gentleman who lived in a great mansion not far away. Quite often she had seen him striding along while she was on her own walks and she was sure that he believed as she did that clean fresh air was good for the lungs.

When he came level with the cottage he would have passed it without a glance as no doubt he had done many times before, but at that moment the clouds broke and some pale winter sunshine shone through to pierce the window and show movement within. As Saskia watched she saw that he glanced involuntarily towards the sudden illumining of the interior and then he halted abruptly to stand staring at whatever he had glimpsed happening within. Then with a sudden spurt of speed he approached the cottage door and knocked on it briskly with the head of his cane.

Saskia came to a standstill. She saw Grinling open the door to Master Evelyn, who entered almost deferentially. The door closed after him and Saskia, hoping that the wealthy man wanted some carving done at his home, resigned herself to waiting until he left again. It was too cold to stand still and she walked up and down for at least half an hour before the visitor departed. He was smiling as he went. Grinling, about to close the door again, spotted her and, grinning widely, waved for her to come in. She saw as soon as she entered that it was the Tintoretto carving that lay on the workbench and a final polishing had been taking place.

‘Saskia! You could not have come at a better time!’ He picked her up and swung her around joyously before setting her on her feet again.

‘What has happened?’ she asked, laughing with him.

‘John Evelyn was here! Did you see him?’

‘Yes. He was going past the cottage, but whatever you were doing caught his eye.’

‘He said that as he glanced through my window he happened to see me at work on my Tintoretto carving. He recognized the subject matter instantly, having seen the original painting in Venice just as I did. He seemed extremely impressed, saying he had never thought to see that masterpiece come alive in wood.’

‘What a fine compliment!’

‘And there’s more to tell. He holds some position of importance at Court and is going to arrange for me to show my carving to the King! He is certain that His Majesty will want to purchase it!’

As she exclaimed with delighted surprise he in his own mind was recalling how surprised John Evelyn had looked when hearing that the purchase price would be a hundred pounds. It was a tremendous sum at any time, but even more audacious for work done by an unknown carver working in poor conditions. Yet Grinling was resolved that his work should never be undervalued. He knew the quality of it and for a long time had believed that it was only a question of time before his skills were truly appreciated and fetched the price they deserved. Now that conviction showed every sign of coming to fruition.

‘How long will it be before you go to the Palace of Whitehall?’ she was asking eagerly.

‘According to Master Evelyn it should only be a matter of two or three weeks.’

‘What an exciting day that will be!’

‘It will indeed, but I ask a favour of you, Saskia. Do not mention this matter when you go back to Rushmere House. I should like to choose my own moment to speak of it.’

She nodded. ‘Of course I’ll respect your wishes.’

On her way home she rejoiced that from a distance she had viewed a meeting that showed every sign of being a turning point in Grinling’s life.

Seven

I
t was at the ball at Rushmere House a week later when Saskia saw Grinling again. He was much on her mind as she dressed Elizabeth’s hair for the evening, drawing it back from her face in the new turn of fashion that was banishing curls from the sides of the face to fall down the nape of the neck. The trouble was that Elizabeth was so excited and nervous that she fidgeted and fussed. It was the first social occasion since her arrival, for her godmother had not wanted to present her officially before she had a wardrobe that would encompass everything to which she would be invited.

‘Are you sure I should change my hairstyle this evening?’ Elizabeth asked anxiously for the third time. ‘I do so want to look my very best.’

‘So you shall,’ Saskia reassured her. ‘You have a lovely neck and the beautiful earrings that Mistress Rushmere has given you will enhance it. Now if you could sit still for a few more moments I’ll fasten these little flowers in your hair.’

When that was done and Elizabeth was ready to go downstairs she did look very pretty in her pink silk gown, its overskirt drawn back to show the rose-patterned underskirt. Saskia took the fan, which lay ready, and handed it to her.

‘I hope this will be the happiest evening of your life so far,’ Saskia said sincerely.

‘Thank you, dear Saskia! You have done your best for me.’

She left the room in a swirl of silk and Saskia followed after her. Her attendance duties for the evening, which she would share with Martha, were the same as she had carried out so often in the past for Mistress Gibbons’ lady guests. She had to be on hand for any of them wanting replacement hairpins or feeling faint or needing guidance to the room where the close-stool was to be found. She had just returned to the ballroom from such an errand, passing Martha who was standing nearby, when Grinling arrived. He looked very fine in a blue silk coat, his cravat a fall of lace and in honour of the formality of the occasion he was wearing a fine curling wig that flowed over his broad shoulders. He had already greeted his hostess and was searching the room with an eager gaze.

For a few blissful seconds Saskia thought he was looking for her. Then everything seemed to crash about her as she saw him sight Elizabeth, who turned as if sensing his arrival and there passed between them a look of such intense joy that it was almost tangible.

A dance had just finished and Saskia, gripped by shock, all colour draining painfully from her face, watched as he strode swiftly across the shining floor to take Elizabeth’s hand into his. The girl’s expression was radiant and their eyes held even as he bowed low to her and put her hand to his lips.

Saskia in her wretchedness saw that he did not release it afterwards. Instead they kept their clasped fingers hidden by the folds of her skirt and his coat. As they gazed at each other, smiling and speaking softly, not wanting their private conversation overheard, it was easy to guess that he was caressing her palm, conveying all the secret messages that the touch of lovers can pass to each other in total understanding. There flashed through Saskia’s mind the packet of letters tied with pink ribbons that she had unpacked from Elizabeth’s travelling box upon her arrival at Rushmere House and the inner glow in Elizabeth’s eyes that she had not recognized as love. Then this evening there was the girl’s trembling excitement when getting ready, understandable now since she was soon to meet the man who loved her and whom she loved in return.

Saskia was unaware that she was standing as if turned to ice until suddenly Robert spoke softly in her ear. ‘Do you want them to see how devastated you are? Where is your pride, Saskia? He was never for you.’

‘How did they meet?’ she asked brokenly, somehow absorbing his advice and trying to conceal the anguish she was feeling.

‘On her last visit about a year ago when she was here with her stepmother.’ He put his hand on her arm and drew her away until they were by a window and out of the earshot of others. ‘They have written to each other ever since.’

‘I didn’t know,’ she whispered, feeling that her whole life had shattered.

‘They loved each other on sight,’ Robert continued, not sparing her. ‘Grinling has already gained her godmother’s consent to the marriage. He told me that he knew instantly when he first set eyes on Elizabeth that he had met the woman he would marry. It can happen like that more often than most people realize.’

She lowered her head and spoke in a choked voice. ‘I’ll love him till the end of my days.’

He showed no sympathy. ‘You probably will, but you can slot the memory away and get on with your life.’