Together for Christmas (36 page)

Flora gave her a handkerchief. ‘Michael’s mother knows Lady Bertha and is going to ask if Will can come here to convalesce.’

Hilda blew her nose. ‘You’d better tell me all about it, while I get what Mrs Harris wants.’

‘I’ll help you.’ Once again, Flora drew close.

Hilda only wanted to weep, though she held her tears in check. Time had passed her by. Her friend had blossomed while she was left behind. She felt abandoned by Lord Guy and bullied by Mrs
Burns. Even Gracie had been made up to a housemaid. It just wasn’t fair.

Miserably, Hilda led the way to the greenhouse, hoping Peter and the boys were working in the fields. She didn’t want them to give away her secret that she was just a glorified skivvy.

‘I’ll use my influence to have him brought here from Bristol at once.’ Lady Bertha stood with Lillian Appleby under the vaulted ceiling of the vast interior
gallery of Adelphi Hall. Beneath them the staircase wound down to the reception hall, which was filled with noisy strangers. Bertha missed the old days: the parties and excitement, the splendid
gowns and perfumes of her friends and the gilt-framed paintings on the walls, now removed and packed away with all of Adelphi Hall’s treasures. Only the golden lion emblazoned on the Calvey
coat-of-arms remained on display. A proud relic of the past; a past that, it seemed, had now returned to haunt her.

Trying to hide her fear, Bertha’s agile mind raced. This boy that Lillian spoke of, could he be the one – could he? He was the right age, almost twenty. A Boniface brat.
Bertha’s mind slipped back two decades to her brother’s refusal to give up the servant girl. William was a fool. A wealthy fool, but a sentimental one. He’d had a perfectly
acceptable wife in Amelia, who gave him an heir before she died. Why endanger Guy’s inheritance by wedding a simple-minded peasant? If only William had seen sense. There would have been no
need for the measures she had to take . . .

‘Thank you, Bertie. Will is an orphan and has had a bad deal in life.’

‘And he knows one of our housemaids?’

‘Yes, Hilda Jones. Together with Flora, the three of them were Boniface children.’

‘Remind me again of what you wrote? The girl who accompanied you today is your son’s fiancée?’

Lillian Appleby looked into her eyes without blinking. ‘Flora is very lovely, don’t you think?’

Bertha did not think so at all. Had Lillian taken leave of her senses? To condone a union between her only son and an orphanage brat was complete madness! ‘Then congratulations are in
order to you and your son,’ Bertha replied tightly.

‘Time drags, of course, as we wait for Michael to return from the war. You must be relieved that Guy is well out of it. How is he these days?’

Bertha shrugged indifferently. ‘He has his moments. The last time he had an episode was in spring of last year. He was out hunting when an attack overcame him. Fortunately, his horse
brought him back safely.’ Bertha omitted to mention that her nephew’s quarry had not been animal but human. The girl hadn’t perished but was found to be injured. Guy had drunk far
too much wine and, as usual, gone to extremes. If only he could learn to be more discreet.

‘And your brother, the earl, what of him?’ Lillian enquired.

‘Much the same!’ Bertha snapped. Talk of William always made her nervous. He was a threat, always had been. But a weak one. Choosing to remove himself from the family gave her the
upper hand. Let him sit and dream of his glorious past, his lost love and their bastard son. They were nothing more than relics of the past. A past that Bertha was determined to keep hidden. When
this boy arrived at Adelphi, in the guise of concern for his welfare, she would speak to him and decide what she must do.

‘Adelphi hasn’t changed,’ Lillian was saying as she gazed down into the busy hall. ‘Still as beautiful as ever, despite the hospital disruption.’

‘We suffer in silence,’ Bertha murmured piously, ‘for Britain’s sake.’

‘How noble,’ Lillian responded softly.

Bertha glanced out of the corner of her eye. Was she being mocked? Reluctantly giving Lillian Appleby the benefit of the doubt, she gestured ahead. ‘Shall we go? I’ve asked Guy and
Gabriella to meet us in the library for tea.’

‘Is Gabriella staying the weekend?’ Lillian asked as they turned to walk along the richly carpeted hall.

‘Yes, we are to announce their engagement to friends.’

‘Then I mustn’t keep you long.’

‘Oh, perhaps you should stay?’ Bertha said without enthusiasm. Lillian’s company was tiresome. Now that the favour of the boy was done, there was little else to be said. But
she supposed she must go through the motions.

‘I must take Flora back soon.’ Lillian Appleby smiled. A sweet, tolerant smile that made Bertha feel undermined. She had never really liked Julian’s wife, but had tolerated her
when their lives in the city had coincided. It was Julian who had brought them together and Julian who had separated them. Julian, with his devilish charm and good looks and his lean, energetic
body that never tired between the sheets . . .

Bertha wondered smugly if Lillian had ever guessed they were lovers.

Flora, Hilda and Gracie sat on the benches in the pretty folly by the kitchen gardens. Flora had not been invited into the house, nor did she wish to go. The few hours with
Hilda in the open air had been most enjoyable. Now, they were ending the afternoon with Gracie who had brought a tray spilling over with succulent slices of Mrs Harris’ freshly cooked gammon.
To accompany this were fresh cheeses, sweet salads, warmly baked bread and ripe red strawberries.

‘Mrs Harris has gone to a lot of trouble,’ Flora said to Gracie as they drank the pressed apple juice from thick glass tumblers. ‘Please tell her how much I enjoyed
it.’

‘I’ll tell ’er,’ Gracie said as she stuffed the last strawberry into her mouth. ‘But she probably won’t hear. Too busy sweating over the stove for
tonight.’

‘What about tonight?’ Hilda asked, looking bored.

‘Ain’t you ’eard?’ Gracie’s pale face flushed.

‘No.’ Hilda sat up.

‘Don’t matter. It ain’t nothing.’

Hilda looked thunderous. Gracie prepared to leave, and Hilda pulled her down again.

‘You’d better tell me, Gracie,’ Hilda said threateningly. ‘Or I’ll go to Mrs Harris meself and find out.’

‘Ouch. You’re ’urting me arm.’

‘Well then?’

‘Everyone knows. I thought you did,’ Gracie said. ‘It’s the master and Lady Gabriella. They’re . . . they’re—’

‘What are they?’ Hilda’s brown eyes were fixed on Gracie’s face.

‘They are engaged.’

Flora saw Hilda blink and shake her head as if she hadn’t heard.

‘Engaged?’ Hilda repeated, her bottom lip trembling. She stared at Gracie.

‘I ain’t tellin’ fibs,’ replied Gracie, nervously licking her lips. She pushed the wisps of mousey fringe under her cap. ‘They’re to be wed.’

‘That’s very good news, isn’t it?’ Flora broke the strained silence. ‘A marriage at Adelphi. How lovely that will be.’

‘She’s plain and dowdy and just horrible!’ Hilda spat.

‘She has a mare’s girth,’ Gracie pointed out, ‘just right for child-bearing.’

Flora stared at her friend. They had enjoyed such a lovely afternoon. And Hilda had been touched when Flora had gone back to the car for her sewing bag, delivered with Mrs Bell’s message.
They had discussed Will and, despite Hilda still pleading a weak stomach for hospitals, she had promised to visit Will frequently, if she was allowed.

But now, Hilda’s change in mood was evident. What did this engagement mean to her?

‘I’ve got to go.’ Gracie piled the dishes on the tray. ‘It’s been nice seeing yer, Flora.’

‘You too, Gracie.’

‘And if you can knock some sense into ’er ’ead, please do!’ Gracie nodded at Hilda and quickly left.

‘What did she mean?’ Flora asked when they were alone.

‘Search me.’ Hilda looked under her brown lashes.

‘Hilda, what’s wrong?’

Hilda sniffed, wiping the end of her nose with the back of her hand. ‘Oh, Flora, how could he do such a thing to me?’

‘Who?’ Flora said, handing Hilda a handkerchief.

‘I can’t say.’ Hilda dabbed her eyes. ‘You’d tell me I was mad. Or worse, just bad.’

‘I’d never do that.’

‘Flora, I love him,’ Hilda spluttered.

‘Who?’ Flora asked again.

‘Lord Guy, of course.’

‘But you can’t love a lord. He’s marrying Lady Gabriella.’

‘He doesn’t want to, I’m sure,’ Hilda argued. ‘He’s only marrying her because his aunt says he must, for the money. It’s like that with rich people. If
there’s no money in the family, you have to marry into it.’

‘But Adelphi is very wealthy,’ Flora said in surprise.

‘Gracie told me it’s the old earl who holds the purse strings and he won’t let ’em go to his family. Not till he dies, anyway.’

Flora sighed heavily. ‘Hilda, even if Lord Guy wasn’t marrying Lady Gabriella, he couldn’t marry you. What makes you think he would?’

‘Don’t you remember I wrote and told you about a special person?’

Flora blinked. ‘I thought you meant Lady Bertha. And Mrs Bell thought it was a footman.’

‘It was Lord Guy. Oh, Flora, I’m so unhappy. I ain’t ever been as unhappy as this before.’

‘But he can’t love a servant, Hilda. It just wouldn’t be right.’

Hilda jumped up, her cheeks bright with anger. ‘Well, he loves me! I know he does.’

‘Hilda, you’ll look back on this one day and smile.’

‘No I won’t. Not ever.’

‘This is just a girlish crush.’ Flora reached out.

‘You don’t understand,’ Hilda replied, roughly pushing her away.

‘What don’t I understand?’

‘I’m going to have his baby!’ Hilda screamed, her eyes bright with defiant tears. ‘That’s what you don’t understand!’

Dusk was settling amongst the trees and over the hills as Lillian drove them back to London. Flora sat in shocked silence.

‘Flora, what’s wrong?’ Lillian asked.

‘I don’t know if I should say.’

‘It will be kept in strict confidence,’ Lillian assured her.

‘It’s Hilda . . . she thinks she’s expecting.’

Lillian turned and gasped softly. ‘Is she certain?’

‘Yes.’

‘Has she seen a doctor?’

‘No. But she
is
feeling sick and has missed her monthly.’

Lillian looked thoughtful. ‘Please don’t be upset when I ask if Hilda knows who the baby’s father is.’

Flora hesitated. Should she tell Lillian what she knew? Lillian was, after all, Lady Bertha’s friend. ‘Hilda says she has been seeing Lord Guy.’

‘But Lord Guy is marrying Lady Gabriella!’ Lillian exclaimed.

‘Yes, but Hilda still loves him.’

Lillian was silent, staring at the road ahead. ‘What is she going to do?’

Flora shook her head. ‘Hilda doesn’t seem to know.’

‘She will lose her position at Adelphi.’ Lillian turned the wheel sharply. ‘The family will pull together and deny the affair. This is how it works in high places.’

‘But he should be made to admit what he’s done.’

‘That will never happen,’ Lillian replied tightly. ‘Bertie said that Guy’s last seizure was in spring of last year. Isn’t that when Hilda was ill?’

‘She told me today she wasn’t ill, but had broken her arm.’ Flora drew the blanket over her knees as it was growing cold. ‘It was after this that he was kind to
her.’

‘A guilty conscience on his part?’ Lillian drove a little faster.

‘It could be, although Hilda doesn’t think of it like that.’

‘I wish I had known this afternoon. I could have challenged Bertie over the affair,’ Lillian said fiercely.

‘But you said the family would close ranks and deny it. And anyway, if you had, Lady Bertha might refuse to take Will.’

Lillian was silent as she gripped the wheel. Flora knew they were both aware that it would be Hilda who bore the consequences alone. Oh, if only Hilda hadn’t allowed that evil man his way.
But even now, Hilda believed he was in love with her.

Flora wanted to ask Lillian to slow the car down. The hedgerows and bushes were flying by. She knew Lillian was very angry.

For Flora, the time passed slowly as she waited to hear news of Will. As she was so concerned for Hilda, she had taken Dr Tapper into her confidence and asked him if he could
think of a solution. But though they talked at length about Hilda’s plight, there seemed no answer. Everyone knew that if a girl got into trouble in service, she was usually sent as far away
from the family as possible.

‘But where will she go?’ Flora had continually worried. ‘What will happen to her child?’

‘Perhaps Lady Hailing will have her back,’ the doctor suggested as they spoke a few words together in the middle of a busy surgery. ‘But as for the infant . . .’

‘Will it be taken away from her?’

The doctor glanced sternly at her but said nothing. He couldn’t predict the future. And what a future it would be for Hilda, with no home and disgraced. Lord Guy would never admit his part
in it and Hilda would be left to fend for herself.

The tears came close as she thought of Hilda and of all her dreams of becoming a lady’s maid. If only Hilda hadn’t given her heart to someone like Lord Guy.

But Hilda still believed he loved her, and would make her his wife when she told him about the baby.

If only that were so.

At the end of July, Lillian arrived with news. ‘Will is safely at Adelphi,’ she said as she joined Flora and the doctor in the surgery. The day had been very busy,
but now the waiting room was empty.

‘How is he? Do you know?’ Flora asked anxiously.

‘I received a telegram from Bertie this morning. She said that she would make sure Will had the best of attention from the top doctors.’

‘Did she talk about Hilda?’

Lillian took Flora’s arm, her elegant figure and gentle manner reminding Flora of Michael. ‘I am afraid, my dear, that if Bertie knows of Hilda’s condition, she will not admit
to it. The housekeeper will be given the task of sending Hilda away. And then—’

‘How can she?’ Tears burned in Flora’s eyes. ‘Why doesn’t she make Lord Guy face up to what he’s done?’