Authors: Rosie Goodwin
Helena cast a scathing glance in Miss Belle’s direction before turning about and following Mrs Bradshaw through the lengthy corridors. Her emotions were in a whirl. She had just lost her husband and apprehended his murderer, and now she was about to meet her grandchild for the first time. It was certainly turning out to be a day she would never forget.
When they eventually reached the door to the nursery, Mrs Bradshaw paused to tell them, ‘You will find that Maria is very upset. One of the babies she has been caring for passed away today. Even so, I have no doubt she will be thrilled to see you and escape this place.’
She then selected a key from the heavy bunch swinging about her waist and unlocked the door. Throwing it open, she ushered them inside, telling them, ‘I shall leave you now to go and begin my packing, but I wish you all the best.’ Then before they could answer her, she was gone.
Helena and Josh looked at each other, then taking her elbow, Josh led his mother into the room.
The light from the candles was dim, but as his eyes adjusted to it, Josh saw Maria sleeping in the chair at the side of the fire and his heart soared.
‘Maria, Maria . . . wake up, darling,’ he said softly as he stroked her arm. ‘We’ve come to take you home.’
Her eyes fluttered open and as they settled on him she blinked, thinking that she must be dreaming. But no, he was really there – and for a moment she dared not allow herself to believe it. And then he was pulling her to her feet, and when his arms went about her she knew that her prayers had been answered. She was about to speak when she noticed Helena and she abruptly clamped her mouth shut as she self-consciously ran her hands down the sides of the faded grey dress. What would the woman think of her? Maria was only too well aware that she must look a complete mess. She didn’t smell very nice either if it came to that, but surprisingly the woman seemed almost as pleased to see her as Josh was.
‘I am so grateful that you are safe, dear,’ Helena told her and then, unable to contain herself for a moment longer, she asked, ‘Which of these babies is Isabelle’s daughter?’
Maria led her to the crib where Faith lay sleeping, and as Helena looked down on her, her eyes filled with tears. ‘She looks just like Isabelle did at that age,’ she whispered. Then, drawing herself upright, she told Maria, ‘Wrap her up as warmly as you can, my dear, and follow me. It’s time we got you both home. We have much to tell you.’
Slightly bewildered, Maria frowned. ‘But what will happen to the babies if I go? I have been caring for them.’
‘Don’t you get worrying about these little souls,’ Helena said firmly as she looked about. ‘I shall be the main benefactor of this establishment from now on, and I intend to see that some drastic changes for the better take place, with effect from today.’
Maria swaddled Faith in one of the thin blankets, then with Josh’s arm tight about her waist she left the room and followed Helena down to the foyer, where Miss Belle was still waiting for them.
‘A word, if you please,’ Helena ordered, and as Josh led Maria out to the waiting carriage Helena began to lay down the law. By the time she left some minutes later, Miss Belle was in no doubt where she stood, and she scuttled away to get one of the better maids to spend the rest of the night in the nursery. Helena had informed her that she personally would be coming to inspect the place the very next day – and that if she did not find the conditions vastly improved for the babies and the inmates, then Miss Belle would have to start looking for another job.
In the carriage on the way back to Willow Park, Josh braced himself to tell Maria of her father’s death. The news came as a shock, but she wasn’t distressed. Despite his Christian beliefs, Edward Mundy had never shown her, or her mother for that matter, an ounce of charity or kindness for as far back as she could remember; all she could feel was a deep sense of relief, tempered with guilt. Josh then went on to tell her of his own father’s death, and of Lennie’s part in it.
She could hardly take it all in. ‘Will he be locked away?’ she asked tremulously, and Josh’s lips set in a grim line.
‘More likely he’ll be hanged,’ he answered. ‘And good riddance to bad rubbish, that’s what I say. He will never bother you again now, Maria, so you have no need to fear him any longer.’
The carriage lurched across the snowy roads, until at last they arrived back at Willow Park, where the servants were still up, waiting for them. They were ushered into the drawing room, where a tray of hot chocolate shortly appeared, and as Helena took Faith from Maria’s arms, Josh passed her a cup. She sipped at it gratefully, still scarcely able to believe that she was free.
She was relieved to see that Helena seemed to be very taken with Faith, and although her heart ached at the thought of handing over the care of her, she knew that it was for the best. Faith belonged with her family; it was what Isabelle had hoped for.
After a time she said tentatively, ‘I could stay here and act as a nanny to Faith, if it would help, Mrs Montgomery, until you have time to appoint one. Faith knows me and it might be less upsetting for her.’
‘Thank you, my dear, that’s very thoughtful of you,’ Helena responded. ‘But I rather think Josh has another role in mind for you, as his wife.’
Acutely embarrassed, Maria answered, ‘Josh pays me a great compliment, ma’am. But I am more than aware that it would not be suitable for him to wed someone from my class.’
‘But Maria,’ Josh began to object. ‘You know how I feel—’
Maria raised her hand and stopped him mid-sentence. ‘And
you
know how
I
feel. We have had this conversation before and I am still of the same mind as I was then. You must marry someone more suitable.’
A maid knocked and entered the room then to tell Helena, ‘The nursery has been prepared for the baby, ma’am. Would you like me to take her up?’
‘Yes, Ruby, thank you. But Maria will stay in there with her for tonight. See that she has all she needs and then we will all talk some more in the morning. I’m afraid it has been a very long day.’
Helena’s face was drawn with the strain of the last few hours, but she kissed the baby gently before handing her to Ruby, and Maria rose to follow her.
‘Maria, I think we should talk,’ Josh said urgently and she paused to smile at him sadly.
‘I think I have said all that needs to be said,’ she answered, ‘and I will not change my mind. I shall stay here and care for Faith for the time being with your mother’s permission, but once a replacement for me has been found, I shall return home.’ Turning to Mrs Montgomery, she politely wished her goodnight and quietly followed Ruby from the room.
‘Eeh, what a day it’s been,’ the plump little maid commented as she carried Faith up the sweeping staircase. ‘First we lose the master then we find this little mite. They say births and deaths come together, don’t they?’
Maria nodded as she tried to take in the luxurious surroundings. Oil paintings of previous Montgomerys were placed all the way up the staircase, and a huge, glittering chandelier dangled down into the stairwell. It was certainly a far cry from the austere rooms in Hatter’s Hall, but she told herself that she must put all this behind her now and get on with her life, even though her heart was aching. Once she left here she would probably never see Josh again – and the thought was almost more than she could bear.
The nursery turned out to be a delightful room with a huge fire roaring in the grate and thick curtains hanging at the windows.
‘I’m told Miss Isabelle, God rest her soul, and Master Josh slept here when they were nippers,’ Ruby informed Maria as she saw her looking around. ‘That were long before my time, but I reckon you’ll be comfy in ’ere.’
‘Thank you, Ruby. I’m sure we will,’ Maria said.
Ruby peeped at her from the corner of her eye. It was hard to believe that the young master actually wanted to wed this bedraggled-looking wench. But he did – Ruby had heard him say it with her own ears. The staff downstairs would be agog when she passed the gossip on, which Ruby had every intention of doing at the first opportunity. Maria spoke correctly enough, admittedly, but with her hair all rats’ tails and smelling none too sweet in the drab uniform of the workhouse, she couldn’t hold a candle to Miss Felicity Pettifer, whom everyone had expected him to wed. Still, as Ruby’s mother had always been fond of telling her, you could never tell where love might strike. It was just a shame this young woman didn’t feel the same for Master Josh from where Ruby was standing.
Once Faith was bathed and settled, Ruby led Maria to a bathroom further along the corridor where she found a steaming bath waiting for her.
‘The mistress thought as yer might appreciate a good soak an’ some clean clothes,’ Ruby informed her kindly. ‘I took the liberty of unpackin’ yer trunk an’ I’ve put yer nightclothes on that chair over there. Master Josh brought it back wi’ him when you an’ the little ’un went missin’. I hope yer don’t mind?’
‘It was very kind of you, Ruby,’ Maria assured her. ‘And it looks like heaven to me at the moment. I’ve almost forgotten what it feels like to be clean.’
‘Well, take as long as yer like,’ Ruby told her. ‘I shan’t leave the little ’un till yer get back, an’ while yer gone I’ll organise some milk fer her, shall I?’
‘Thank you.’ Maria waited until Ruby had gone then after locking the door she stripped off her clothes and dropped them in a pile onto the floor before sliding into the hot water and sighing with contentment. She washed her hair and every inch of herself thoroughly with lavender-perfumed soap, then after climbing from the bath she rubbed her clean hair with the soft towels Ruby had provided and donned the linen nightgown that Isabelle had bought her on their shopping trip before they sailed for Australia. It all seemed like a lifetime ago now. So much had happened since then, but soon she would return to her mother and somehow life would have to go on without Josh. It was a daunting thought, and as she made her way back to the nursery, her heart was heavy.
The next morning, later than usual due to the disturbed night, Ruby carried a tray of breakfast up to the nursery, only to find Maria already up and dressed and giving Faith a bottle. The girl was shocked to see that, dressed in respectable clothes and with her hair shining, Maria was actually a very attractive young lady. Setting the tray down, Ruby crossed to stare down at the baby.
‘By, she’s a little beauty, ain’t she?’ she sighed. ‘Everyone below stairs is made up at the thought o’ havin’ a little one about the house again. I’ve no doubt she’s goin’ to be spoiled rotten. But while I remember, I must pass on a message from the mistress. She says to tell yer that a carriage will take yer to visit yer mother as soon as you’ve a mind to go. I shall watch Faith till yer get back, an’ I’ll take good care of her, I promise.’
Maria chewed her lip. Of course, she was longing to see her family again but she was sure that Josh had said her father was to be buried that morning.
‘Thank you, Ruby. Perhaps you could arrange for me to go as soon as possible then? I believe my father’s funeral is to take place this morning and I ought to attend.’
Ruby nodded understandingly as she made for the door, telling her, ‘O’ course yer should. I’ll order the carriage to be brought round to the front in ten minutes, miss. But while I do that, eat some o’ that breakfast. You ain’t as far through as a broom handle.’
Maria smiled as she laid Faith back in her crib although she wasn’t looking forward to the ordeal ahead at all.
She picked at the food, then after making sure that Faith was sleeping soundly, she put her cloak on and hurried down to the entrance hall, where Jennings told her, ‘The carriage is all ready for you, Miss Mundy. Good luck.’
Maria thanked him. Jennings obviously knew about the funeral and now she just wanted to go and get it over with. It was then that Josh appeared from the dining room to ask her, ‘Would you like me to come with you, Maria?’
Her heart pounded at the sight of him but she shook her head.
‘Thank you for offering, but no. I’d like some time alone with my mother before we go to the church.’
‘Of course.’ He stood uncertainly for a moment. There was so much more he wanted to say to her. They hadn’t had a second alone together since he had rescued her from Hatter’s Hall, but in the end he merely turned and walked away as Maria went out to the waiting carriage.
Thankfully the snow had stopped falling during the night. It was still bitterly cold, with a threat in the sky of more to come, but at last the carriage pulled up in front of Maria’s home and the driver helped her alight saying, ‘I’ve been told to take you an’ yer family to the church whenever yer ready, miss. Take your time and just give us a shout when yer want to go.’
‘Thank you,’ she told him, then walking to the familiar door she pushed it open and there was her family. There had been times over the last months when she had thought she would never see them again, and now the tears in her throat threatened to choke her; she could not speak a word as her mother and Emma rushed over to envelop her in a hug, whilst Henry looked on with a broad smile on his face.
‘Eeh lass, you’ll never know how much I’ve missed you,’ Martha told her as she drew her towards a chair, and then suddenly they were talking ten to the dozen as they caught up on all that had been happening to them. Aware of the man left out in the cold, Maria ensured that everyone was ready to leave shortly. The time seemed to fly by, but eventually they heard the hearse that Josh had ordered to take Edward’s body to the church draw up outside and the undertaker entered to nail down the coffin lid.
‘Your father is in the parlour. Would you like to go in and pay your last respects?’ Martha asked quietly.
Maria nodded. She supposed she should; it was her duty to say goodbye to him. As she stared down at his face, stern even in death, a tear trickled from the corner of her eyes for all that should have been. He had been her father, after all, and she would have liked to have been a normal loving daughter to him, but for some reason Edward had always held her at arm’s length. And now it was too late to change anything.