The Royal Lacemaker (39 page)

Slipping out of the kitchen, Lily hurried
through to the sewing room where she found Sally, on her knees, mopping up the brown
liquid that was spreading quickly over the flags. When she saw Lily, she jumped in
alarm, banging her head on the table above.

‘I didn't mean to, miss. Mrs
Staple will kill me,' the scullery maid sobbed, tears streaming down her
cheeks.

‘Now then, calm yourself and tell
me what's happened,' Lily said, but looking up at the ledge with the
toppled mug and dregs of tea still spilling onto the design paper, it was evident
what the problem was. She snatched up the drawing, but could see it was beyond
saving.

‘I'm sorry, miss. Mrs Staple
sent me in to lay the fire whilst yous was at supper, and me elbow knocked the mug
as I was lifting the bucket of ashes. The tea spilled onto the table. I've
wiped it up as best as I can, but the picture's all smudged. Is it
important?' she squeaked.

Yes, Lily wanted to scream, it's
the design we've been working to. But, as the girl stood trembling before her,
she didn't have the heart to tell her off.

Thinking quickly, she said, ‘Look,
Sally, you get that fire going and I'll clear this up before anyone sees
it.' The young girl stared hopefully up at her. ‘Go on, quickly
now,' she urged, frantically mopping up the rest of the mess. By
the time everywhere was clean again, Sally had the fire burning
brightly.

‘Lily, where are you?' Mrs
Bodney's imperious voice called, making them both jump. Lily looked at the
ruined drawing, quickly screwed it up and tossed it into the flames.

‘I'm in the workroom, Mrs
Bodney,' she answered. Turning to Sally, she put her finger to her lips.
‘Go back to the kitchen and don't say a word about this to anyone,
understand?' she whispered. The little maid nodded and quickly gathered up her
cloth. ‘With any luck, we'll get away with it,' Lily added.

As Sally scuttled out through the side
door, Mrs Bodney swept in the front, her beady eyes as usual missing nothing.

‘What's making that fire
burn so brightly?' she asked, moving closer to the grate and peering into it.
‘Goodness, isn't that the design sheet?'

‘Yes, Mrs Bodney. As we've
finished with it, I thought it wise to destroy it.' Her employer turned and
stared at her for a long moment. Endeavouring to keep her composure, Lily smiled
back. ‘That was the correct thing to do, wasn't it?' she asked.
‘I remembered that when we'd finished with the patterns in Bransbeer,
you cut them up so that no one could copy them.'

‘Well, I must say I'm
surprised you didn't check with me first, but if you're sure it's
really finished with,' Mrs Bodney said doubtfully. ‘Still, you should
know, you are the overseer, after all. And it must mean that you are making even
better progress than I thought, so I'll leave you to it. Good night,
Lily,' she said, giving her another penetrating stare, before bustling out of
the room.

‘Good night, Mrs Bodney,'
she replied weakly.

As soon as the door
had closed behind her employer, she collapsed into the nearest chair. That really
was too close for comfort, she thought. Then she had a terrible thought. Supposing
the ladies needed to refer to the design and she couldn't remember it? What if
they couldn't finish the commission? Whatever would happen then? Would she be
hanged, drawn and quartered? Shivering, she leaned closer to the fire, holding out
her hands to warm them. As she sat there, pondering her fate, the others reappeared
re-energized after their supper.

‘We wondered where you'd
gone, Lily. Mrs Staple said we should have a bit of a break whilst the fire in here
was drawing,' Rosie said, feeling she should explain their prolonged
absence.

‘Quite right too,' Lily
hastily agreed. ‘But now we really need to get some more work done before
bedtime. As you can see, the fire and candles are burning well, so it's bright
and cosy in here.' They took their seats and began to sew, but it wasn't
long before Caroline noticed the design sheet was missing.

‘Where's the drawing?'
she asked, and everyone peered around.

‘It's not here,'
Christina said. ‘That must be why Mrs Bodney came rushing in here as soon as
she arrived back. Funny, though, I didn't notice it in her hand when she came
through to the kitchen.'

‘I expect she wanted to make sure
nobody else saw it,' Lily said carefully. ‘Still, we all know what we
are doing now, don't we?' she asked, crossing her fingers behind her
back.

‘Hope so, or we'll be in a
right old pickle,' Caroline said.

However, the evening
passed without anyone needing to refer to the design, and Lily breathed a sigh of
relief.

The next few days passed in a whirl, as
they worked diligently from the break of dawn until bedtime, and though they were
weary, their spirits remained high. The thought of finishing their job early and
still getting paid until the end of the month spurred them on. Mrs Staple ensured
they were amply fed, maintaining that they needed extra nourishment to replace the
energy they were expending.

Then, late on Saturday afternoon, the
final sprig was stitched into place. Giving a rousing cheer, the sewers held hands
and danced around the table in delight.

Their employer came rushing in to see
what all the noise was about and Lily smiled widely.

‘That's it, Mrs Bodney, the
sewing up of the Queen's lace is complete,' she proudly announced.

‘Well done, ladies,' Mrs
Bodney said, clapping her hands in delight. ‘Go and wait in the kitchen whilst
I inspect your work. Tell Mrs Staple she may serve tea and a slice of cake
each.'

‘Cake, how wonderful,' cried
Rosie.

‘You, young lady, would do well to
forgo some of these sweet treats. No man wants a barrel for a wife, you know,'
Mrs Bodney said, shaking her finger.

‘No, Mrs Bodney,' Rosie
answered, looking down at the ground. Then, the other woman's features
softened.

‘Well, as you've worked so
hard, you can start on the morrow,' she relented, and Rosie rushed through to
the kitchen before she could change her mind.

When they were sitting at the table
enjoying their
refreshment, Caroline turned to Lily and asked,
‘Can we go home now we've finished?'

‘More to the point, can we have
our money now we've finished?' Christina butted in.

‘I guess it depends on whether our
work passes Her Majesty's eagle eyes,' Rosie said, helping herself to
another piece of seed cake.

‘I'm afraid I can't
speak for Her Majesty, Rosie,' Mrs Bodney said, making them jump as she
appeared in the doorway. ‘For myself, however, I would like to say you have
all done a splendid job. Yes, Caroline, you may go home this afternoon and yes,
Christina, you can have your money now. As for you, Rosie, please remember what I
said about men not wishing to marry little barrels.' They all laughed as Rosie
looked longingly at the cake in her hand, then reluctantly put it back on her
plate.

‘Right, ladies, please
listen,' continued Mrs Bodney. ‘Lily, as overseer, you will remain until
the lace has been suitably parcelled and collected. The rest of you may go and pack
your things. And, I have no doubt you will wish to come and see me before you
leave,' she added, her eyes twinkling with amusement.

Lily watched as they rushed from the
room, chattering like excited magpies, and sighed. What was she going to do once her
job here was finished?

When the door had shut behind them, Mrs
Bodney turned to her saying, ‘I have something to ask you, Lily.'

‘Oh?' she asked, her hopes
rising.

‘When I return to Bransbeer, I
intend promoting Mary to housekeeper. She lives close enough to return home each
evening. However, I will need a live-in maid to assist her.'

Lily's heart
sank. So that was to be her fate. Well, it was better than being out of work and she
did need somewhere to live …

‘Lily Rose, are you listening? I
asked you what you thought of my idea,' Mrs Bodney said, looking at her
expectantly.

‘I suppose I don't really
have any choice. I mean, it's very kind of you but I hadn't really
thought of working as a maid—'

She was interrupted by a peal of
laughter.

‘Not you, you chump. You're
capable of much better things. No, I was thinking of that young scullery
maid,' she said, getting up from the table. ‘Sally, a word,
please,' she called, and the little girl came scuttling in, her lip trembling
as if she was expecting a dressing-down. ‘How long have you been working in
that scullery, girl?'

‘Since the summer hiring,
ma'am,' she said, bobbing a curtsy and earning a grunt of approval from
the older woman.

‘Well, I'm in need of a
housemaid, so what do you think? Would you like to work for me in
Bransbeer?'

The little girl's eyes widened in
surprise and she nodded vigorously.

‘What do you think, Lily? Would
Sally be up to the job?'

The girl stared at Lily in mute appeal
and she smiled, giving her a surreptitious wink behind the other woman's
back.

‘I'm sure Sally will be more
than capable, Mrs Bodney.'

‘Right then, that's settled,
I take it you can speak, child?' she asked as an afterthought.

‘Yes, ma'am.' It came
out as a whisper but Mrs Bodney,
seeming satisfied, waved her away
with the promise of arranging things with Mrs Staple.

The room had only just gone quiet again
when the sewers reappeared, swarming excitedly around Mrs Bodney like wasps at a
picnic.

‘Right, ladies, quiet
please,' she said, going over to her reticule and drawing out her purse.
‘Hold out your hands,' she ordered before carefully counting a generous
number of coins into each palm. ‘You have all done very well. When people
remark on the fine workmanship of our dear Queen's wedding dress, you can be
proud to know you had a hand in making it. Now I'll bid you goodbye and good
luck, ladies,' she said, sweeping out of the room.

Looking down at the shiny coins in their
hands, the women's eyes widened in surprise. Despite being the finest sewers
and finishers in the county, they'd never earned this much before. Suddenly,
eager to be on their way, they turned to Lily.

‘Goodbye, Lily. Hope we'll
see you again one day,' they chorused. Then gathering up their bags they
headed for the door, leaving her alone in the deepening shadows.

So that was it then. Everyone had
somewhere to go, apart from her. Alone as usual, Lily Rose, so you might as well get
used to it, she thought.

Peasants don't pity themselves, Lily. They prepare for the next thing life
has in store.

‘That's all very well,
Father, but I don't know what that is.'

You must have faith, Lily.

As she pondered her father's words,
Lily hardly registered the knock on the front door, or Mrs Staple muttering under
her breath about unexpected callers as she hurried to answer it. However, it was Mrs
Bodney who appeared in the doorway.

‘Lily, please go through to the
front room. Your presence is required immediately.'

What now? she thought, getting wearily
to her feet.

‘Yes, Mrs Bodney,' she
answered dutifully.

‘And for heaven's sake pinch
some colour into your cheeks. You look as white as the chalk cliffs back
home.' Not having the strength to argue, she nodded, thinking the other woman
did take worrying about appearances to extremes. Making her way along the hallway,
she was about to enter the room when she stopped in the doorway, her eyes widening
in surprise.

The figure warming his hands in front of
the fire turned to greet her, but she'd have known those broad shoulders
anywhere.

‘Hello, Lily,' he said,
grinning.

‘Tom! What are you doing
here?' she gasped, her heart thumping wildly.

‘Just thought I'd drop
in,' he quipped, his eyes sparkling with mischief.

‘But how did you know where I
was?'

‘I didn't
for ages,' he said. ‘When I got back from Coombe and found you'd
left Picky Pike's, I was that sore. Thought you'd done a runner on me.
Just when I thought we was getting on well again. I asked around, but no one knew
where you'd gone. I was out of me mind.'

‘But, Tom, I didn't know we
were coming here until the last minute. I—'

‘Well really, Lily, that's
no way to treat a guest. Where are your manners?' her employer asked, bustling
in. Lily's eyes widened in amazement, for Mrs Bodney herself was carrying a
tray of refreshment. ‘Tom, it's good to see you again. Please take a
seat and make yourself comfortable.' If he was surprised at the change in
Lily's employer's manner towards him, he chose to ignore it.

‘Thank you, Mrs Bodney,' he
answered politely. ‘It's nice to see you too.'

Smiling graciously, she set down the
tray. ‘I'm afraid you'll have to excuse me, Tom, but I'm
frightfully busy preparing for a wedding,' she announced regally, before
bustling out.

‘But I thought your job here was
finished now?' he said, turning to Lily and frowning.

‘It is, Tom, but Mrs
Bodney's received an invitation to attend the royal wedding and she's in
a right state deciding what she's to wear.'

‘You women and weddings,' he
said, grinning. Then, realizing what he'd said, he sat there looking
uncomfortable.

‘Tea?' Lily asked in the
heavy silence that filled the room. Tom nodded. Relieved to have something to do,
she busied herself with the tray. Then, as she passed
him one of
the fine bone-china cups, he burst out laughing.

‘You'll be expecting me to
sip daintily and hold up me pinkie next,' he quipped, demonstrating with his
little finger. He looked so funny, she burst out laughing and the awkwardness
passed. ‘Oh, Lily, I've really missed you,' he declared, setting
down his cup so suddenly it clattered in the saucer. ‘I done a lot of thinking
on that walk to Coombe, and realized you and me had a good thing going
before—'

‘I know, Tom, and I'm sorry
I didn't believe you about the ring,' she said.

‘Yes, I thought about that too. I
guess it must have seemed strange, me going on about not having enough money for one
and then giving you that ruby. It's a beauty, even if I do say so meself.
I'd been nagging Nana for ages to let me have it for you. Luckily, being her
blue-eyed grandson, I finally managed to talk her round,' he said, a twinkle
in his eye.

‘So I understand,' she said,
recalling Mrs Westlake's words.

‘I had the devil's own job
persuading her to let me have it the second time, though, and Mother didn't
help, of course.' Bemused, Lily stared at him. The second time? But, as if
he'd said too much, he abruptly changed the subject.

‘The trouble I had finding
you,' he told her, shaking his head. ‘I looked everywhere I could think
of and asked everyone I saw, but it was like you'd vanished into thin
air.'

Her heart did a double flip. So he did
still care for her. And he'd tried to find out where she'd gone.

‘So, how did you
discover I was here, in Honiton?' she asked.

‘Your Aunt Elizabeth told my
mother that she had something important to tell me and that she'd be at Mrs
Goode's if I wanted to find out what it was.'

‘Aunt Elizabeth! Of course she had
an appointment with Lady Clinsden. I wonder how she got on.'

‘Well, gal, you can ask her
yourself later, 'cos we travelled here together.'

‘Aunt Elizabeth is here as
well?' Lily asked, shaking her head in surprise.

‘Yes, she's taking tea with
Mrs Bodney. They are being discreet,' he said, moving towards her.

She moved to meet him and as his arms
closed around her she knew without a shadow of doubt that this was where she
belonged. Then, as his lips came down on hers, setting her pulses racing, she could
think no more.

‘I stand by what I said about the
ruby matching that fiery spirit of yours,' he gasped, when they finally pulled
away from each other. Then, to her astonishment, he dropped to one knee, holding out
the betrothal ring before her.

‘Lily Rose, will you please put me
out of my misery and say you'll marry me?'

‘Oh, yes, Tom,' she
whispered, her heart singing like a thousand choirs. Grinning, he got to his feet
and gently placed the ruby ring back on her finger, where it belonged. Then, he let
out a whoop of delight, lifted her off the floor and swung her round and round until
she was helpless with laughter. Suddenly her cap went flying across the room. Tom
set her back on her feet and stood there staring
at her. Her hand
flew to her shorn locks and, for a long moment, the only sound in the room was the
crackling of the logs on the fire.

‘I'm sorry Tom, I was in a
temper and chopped off my hair, but it will grow back eventually. Then we can be
wed, can't we?' she asked, her words coming out in a tumble.

He looked at her aghast. ‘Oh, no,
Lily,' he said, shaking his head.

Her heart flopped. So Mrs Bodney had
been right about appearances all along …

‘Don't worry, Tom. I
understand you won't want to marry me now,' she mumbled, biting her
tongue to hold back the tears.

‘But that's just it, Lily. I
do want to marry you now. Well, as soon as it can be arranged. I'm certainly
not waiting until your hair grows back. Besides,' he said, his lips curling
into a smile, ‘I rather like your new hairdo. It makes you look sort of
impish. Come here, you dollop. Hair or no, you'll always look good to
me,' he declared, kissing her cheek. Then he bent and retrieved her cap.
‘Here, best put this back on before the old dragon reappears,' and he
placed it gently back on her head.

‘You're sure you don't
mind?' Lily asked.

‘I don't, but you'd
best not let my mother see you looking like that,' he said, wagging his finger
at her. ‘She's been on at me to get a decent haircut for years.'
He grimaced, tugging at the fair hair curling around the nape of his neck.
‘Now me wife's going to have shorter hair than me,' he exclaimed,
looking so indignant that Lily burst out laughing. Then Tom joined in and the room
rang with the sound of their merriment.

‘Well, if
I'd known we were celebrating I wouldn't have bothered with that
tea,' Mrs Bodney said, smiling at them from the doorway. They stared at their
untouched cups on the table as if wondering how they'd got there. Then Aunt
Elizabeth appeared behind her.

‘Look, Auntie,' Lily cried
in delight, holding out her hand, and the ruby winked up at them in the
firelight.

‘Congratulations, both of
you,' Aunt Elizabeth said, giving Lily a hug and then shaking Tom's
hand.

‘And I too wish you every
happiness,' said Mrs Bodney. Then, practical as ever, she asked, ‘Do I
take it this means you won't be coming back to Bransbeer with me,
Lily?'

‘Oh, I don't know,'
Lily said looking askance at Tom, who was standing there beaming like a beacon.

‘Indeed, she won't, Mrs
Bodney, for you are now looking at the new blacksmith of Coombe,' he announced
proudly. ‘And when my betrothed and I are wed, we shall be living in the
cottage right opposite the forge there.'

‘Why, Tom, that's
marvellous,' Lily cried, clapping her hands excitedly. ‘But how can that
be?'

‘Well, it's like
this—'

‘Yes, well done, Tom,' cut
in Mrs Bodney, flushing with excitement. ‘That will afford you a much better
standing in the community, Lily. Now, shall we make ourselves comfortable while Tom
tells us all about it?' she asked, signalling to Aunt Elizabeth to take a seat
before neatly perching on the chair nearest the fire.

Lily looked at Tom and grimaced. True to
form, her employer had no intention of missing anything. Only Mrs Bodney would have
the audacity to think she had the right to share their private moment.

‘Do hurry up,
Tom. I'm waiting,' she demanded impatiently.

‘Well, I had an inkling the sea
weren't the life for me a while back, and began looking around to see what
else I could do. Remember you asking me why I was always at Coombe, Lily?'

‘Oh, yes. It crossed my mind you
might have been seeing someone else,' she said, her eyes clouding as she
remembered the hours she'd spent fretting.

‘You are a dollop, Lily Rose. As
if I'd ever look at anyone else,' he said. ‘I'd heard old
Benjamin was looking to retire, but wouldn't till he found someone to take
over. He could never let the horses suffer for want of shoes, he said. Anyhow, he
saw I had the nice calm sort of nature that was needed …'

‘Tom Westlake, that's a fib
if ever I heard one. You, nice and calm?' spluttered Lily.

‘Well, as it happens, I do seem to
have a way with the horses. I was troubled about giving up the lugger, being as how
it was Father's. Then, when we got caught in that blow, it kind of decided
things for me. Anyway, with the money I got for selling it, I was able to buy
Benjamin's tools and pay the rent till the next quarter-day. I've been
dying to tell you, but—'

‘Oh, so that was the surprise you
had to show me,' Lily cut in, remembering their last meeting.

Tom nodded, sighing. ‘Yes, old
Benjamin's been teaching me the trade. I thought, I'd show you the
forge, and see if you liked it.'

‘That's all very well and
fine,' interrupted Mrs Bodney, ‘but I take it you won't be moving
in until you are wed,
young lady?' She looked sternly at
Lily then exchanged glances with Aunt Elizabeth.

‘Goodness me, no,' Tom
exclaimed. ‘Perish the thought. I mean, I've got Lily's reputation
to think of, Mrs Bodney,' he added, pretending to look affronted, then winking
at Lily behind her back.

‘Quite right, Tom,' Mrs
Bodney agreed. ‘Thank heavens someone understands the importance of keeping up
appearances.'

‘Indeed, Mrs Bodney,' Tom
said gravely. ‘I took the liberty of speaking with Mrs Goode whilst I was
there. She agreed that Lily can stay with her until we're man and wife. It
wouldn't do to set tongues wagging, now would it, Mrs Bodney?' he asked,
sounding so earnest that Lily had to bite down on her lip again.

‘Indeed, it would not,' Mrs
Bodney agreed, turning to Lily. ‘I always said Tom was a fine, upstanding
young man, didn't I?'

And Lily, not trusting herself to speak,
could only nod in agreement.

‘Well, it seems this is an evening
for good news, for I too have something to tell you,' said Aunt Elizabeth,
smiling. ‘Lady Clinsden is opening a charity school in Coombe and has engaged
me to help with its running. It will be for the children of lace makers, so young
Beth will be able to attend and learn her letters.'

Mrs Bodney gave Lily one of her
meaningful looks, and she smiled back knowingly.

‘Aunt Elizabeth, that's
wonderful news,' said Lily, going over and giving her a hug.

‘Yes, isn't it? And as part
of my working agreement,
Lady Clinsden will provide me with a
cottage next to the school,' she said, her eyes shining.

‘And talking of Lady Clinsden, I
expect you will be taking on her commission when you return, Lily?' Mrs Bodney
asked.

‘Yes, of course. Though I
don't know where I shall work,' Lily said, frowning.