A Woman Undefeated (45 page)

“I’ve told Miss Osborne she can stay in the back bedroom fer a couple of days, while the baby settles in with us. I’ve lined one of the drawers with some bedding and she’s put the baby in. Now she’s havin’ a wash and changing her clothes. I haven’t said anything to her, Maggie, but she’d be the answer to all our problems. She’d have to swear though, that she wouldn’t tell anyone about Jack or Kitty. We’ll have to use the story of Hannah being sent over from Ireland by her grandma.”

“She might not want to stay, she might want to go back to her
parents, and I’d have to ask Miss Rosemary’s permission if yer want them to stay at Selwyn Lodge.”

“Well, it’s what yer’ve wanted, havin’ a nursemaid and Mikey there, so what’s the problem? Yer’ll just have an extra couple of mouths ter feed.”

“Sarah was telling me that Jack has sent over a money voucher for the child’s expenses, but I’ll have to sort out with Miss Rosemary who will be paying the nursemaid’s wage. As yer know, she only gives me enough money to pay you, fer havin’ Mikey.”

“Pooh, well that’ll have to be your problem. Yer do enough fer that woman. She should be payin’ yer as a companion help.”

“Let’s wait then until Miss Osborne comes down and we’ll ask her what her plans are. No good surmisin’, until we know what she wants ter do.”

Maggie had to leave then, because it was time to walk to the dressmaker’s. She left Alice to make the guest some dinner and, while doing so, sound Sarah out. It was no use making plans for the nursemaid’s future, if Betty wasn’t agreeable and it would be a squash in Seagull Cottage for Sarah and a nursery.

She took Betty aside, away from the ears of Annie. Maggie didn’t want her business to become the property of Ruthie.

“So, can this woman be trusted to stick to the story of Hannah being a member of Alice’s family from Ireland? Servants do like to gossip. They can’t always keep confidences, my dear.”

“She seems to be from a good family, Betty. She told me she was from a small village called Malpas, outside Chester. Her father is the local doctor there. She thought she would like to see something of the world and that is why she went with her employers to America, but she couldn’t put up with the hot summers and cold winters. She prefers the four seasons that we have over here.”

“And what about followers? Is there a man friend spoken of, because I don’t want young men hanging around Selwyn Lodge?”

“I was only in her company a short time, but there was no
mention of one. I couldn’t imagine any man on the scene, because she’s bin in America fer two years.”

“And how do you feel? Taking on the responsibility of another woman’s child?”

“I must say I felt aggrieved that Jack didn’t keep his baby-making tackle where it should be, but I wouldn’t like the little mite to have gone anywhere else, but here.”

“Oh Maggie, you show such a hard shell to the world, but inside I know there is a soft centre. That’s why I admire you so much. I don’t think that I could be so forgiving, if I was in your shoes.” Betty decided to become practical again.

“I have to take it on your authority that this woman is what we are looking for. But, if it doesn’t work out, I will have to ask her to leave and the children will go back to Alice. Then, there is the question of payment for the young woman. As you know, I haven’t got a bottomless purse and we did say you would pay for a nursemaid, out of the Sheldon Loan Company.”

“Jack has sent a money voucher for Hannah’s expenses. I don’t know how much it is, because Sarah hasn’t given it to me yet. It is to be cashed at the Chester Bank, so if I gave it to you, you could pay it into the Sheldon account.”

“It will be a big problem though, now that Mr Arlington is doing the banking,” said Betty thoughtfully. “He will wonder, when he sees it, what it is all about. Now, I can ask for a bigger allowance to be taken by me before the banking’s done, and say that I have increased expenses. That will cover the nursemaid, but I’d have to make an excuse next week and go alone to Chester, to pay the money voucher in. Alice will have to sign it on the back. I presume it was sent to Alice, as he won’t know that you have moved out to live with me. It’s a good job I’ve always had my business statements sent to my home, and I haven’t made bookkeeping part of Mr Arlington’s job.”

“Oh, I’m sorry, Betty, to be puttin’ yer to all this trouble. What can I say? You’ve always bin so good te me.”

“I’m only doing it because I want you to be happy, Maggie,
but I won’t be so accommodating if I don’t get any peace. We’ll ask Mary to prepare the front bedroom. It is the largest one, so we can put in a single bed and Mikey’s bed, and Hannah can have Mikey’s cradle. It can be the nursery, and I’ll have a chest of drawers and a blanket box put in there. You’ll have to get someone to bring the cradle up from Alice’s house and any bedding that Alice can spare. Now, I think you can run along back to Seagull Cottage. It’s quiet today and I’m sure you have much more pressing matters on your mind.”

After Maggie had gone, Betty examined her conscience. If truth was told, the Sheldon Loan and Property Company was doing better than Maggie was aware. The account had just tipped over the two hundred pound mark. Even taking Mr Arlington’s wage and expenses out, the company was coming on in leaps and bounds. Her dressmaker’s as usual, just paid for its existence by supporting Selwyn Lodge, its staff and their allowances. It was imperative in Betty’s mind that her business had to do some expanding. And the shop across the road would be just the place to attract a more wealthier clientele.

Sarah Osborne was quite taken aback when Alice spoke to her about a nursemaid’s position. She had been looking forward, at the end of her long voyage, to spending some time with her family. She had three younger brothers and a married sister and was thinking that a rest and her mother’s home-made cooking would put her in a better frame of mind.

Sarah wasn’t sure if she wanted to keep on looking after other people’s babies. It would be pleasant to have a home of her own, as she was coming up to thirty-three. But, Hannah was a sweet, compliant baby and perhaps she would enjoy working in this peaceful corner of Cheshire. She had to admit she would like the healthy sea air and the magnificent view over to the Welsh Hills. If Mrs Haines Senior was to be believed, the house that Sarah would reside in was nothing short of sumptuous, and there were other servants employed as well. Not that Sarah thought of herself as a servant. A “paid help” were the words that came to
mind. When the younger Mrs Haines arrived back and offered a wage that was quite handsome, she accepted. She asked for paper and pen and wrote home to her parents instead.

It was lovely having Mikey with her again, Maggie thought, as she lay in bed one morning. She listened to him laughing in the bathroom next door, as Sarah got him ready. The nursemaid had settled in well and got on famously with Joan and Mary. She was deferential with Betty, who was head of the household, and kept Maggie involved in the welfare of both the children.

Baby Hannah was coming on in leaps and bounds, she had a smile for everyone and Mikey was her slave. The pram was in daily use, weather permitting, Hannah cosily wrapped up inside and Mikey perched on the apron surveying all around him. He would come back from his walks with Sarah, his cheeks red from the wintery air, talking incomprehensibly to anyone who would listen. Hannah had blossomed into a little doll. She had huge dark brown eyes, black hair falling into curls and a calm, sweet nature.

Maggie couldn’t resist making her tiny lace trimmed dresses in her spare time, with matching bonnets, little knitted jackets, and bootees and mitts. In fact, secretly she was beginning to treat Hannah as the daughter she’d never had with Jack. But for an act of fate, the child could have been her daughter. It was just that Jack had made her with somebody else! When Sarah had her day off, sometimes on a Sunday or one day in the week, then Maggie took over her duties and had the children all to herself.

There had only been one slight problem, early on in Hannah’s residence at Selwyn Lodge. Had the child been christened? No one knew, but the priest asked Alice when the family turned up
one Sunday to worship. It was coming up to Christmas and Maggie decided that, although she wouldn’t go to Confessional, in case she confessed something she shouldn’t, it wouldn’t harm her to go to Mass and introduce Hannah to the congregation. No one had thought of a story, and the three of them looked in dismay at each other.

“Was anything said, Alice?” Michael stuttered, wishing a hole would open and swallow him up. They were on Holy ground after all. Alice shook her head and said, “We didn’t think to ask about it, Father. Surely as she’s from a Catholic family, she probably will have bin.”

“I think if you’re not very sure and we haven’t got a certificate, then maybe I should christen her. Have you any idea of her birthday, when she was born?”

Again, all three of them shook their heads and hoped that the priest wouldn’t start asking for details of the child’s background.

So, the following week Hannah was christened. Hannah Victoria Haines. Though it was Alice’s side of the family she was supposed to come from, nobody queried the name.

Maggie had enjoyed that particular Christmas. It had been a really special time. Part of the household went to worship at St. Mary’s (that was Betty, Sarah, Mary and Joan) and Maggie had taken Mikey and Hannah to join Michael, Alice and Seamus at St. Winefred’s. Then they all trooped back to Selwyn Lodge for an early Christmas dinner, so that Mary and Joan could go home to their families, and the rest of them could go to Seagull Cottage for Christmas tea.

It had felt good to be part of it all. Maggie felt settled and contented, listening to Mikey’s excited chattering, as he opened his parcels, and seeing his delight when he saw all his toys. She noticed also how Seamus had grown in confidence, as he told them tales of the antics he saw in some of the upper class cabins. Then Ezra had called in with a small wooden rocking horse, trimmed with a leather saddle and little leather reins and a pot doll that looked like Hannah, which was whipped away from Mikey’s
probing fingers, of course. Ezra stayed and kept Betty company, as Betty said she was feeling too tired to walk down to the shore.

Sarah went with them for Christmas tea, so that she could help with the children. Her time to herself was New Year, when she would visit her parents for a few days. To top it all, Maggie wore her brand new outfit, guaranteed, said Ezra when he saw her in it, to cause all heads to turn. The skirt was of a heavy velvet, maroon in colour and gathered at the waist to fall in pleated folds. She wore a cream blouse, trimmed with the same maroon material and topped it off with a long sleeved bolero, also piped in maroon. Let Alice argue at my choice of colour, she had thought, as she dressed herself that day.

It was February 21st. The anniversary of Jack’s supposed funeral. Maggie wondered briefly where he was, as she lay in her bed listening to the sounds of the household wakening. Was Jack well, was he happy? Would she and the children ever see him again?

Later that morning Betty and Maggie had an appointment. Mr Jeffries, the ship chandler from across the High Street, had closed his business down and Mr Arlington had been given the key. It was full speed ahead to get the new shop ready to open at Easter.

They were meeting with Mr Freeman, the man that had refurbished Selwyn Lodge, to tell him how they wanted the place modernizing and to discuss fixtures and fittings with Madeline. She had received the necessary permission from her husband, “to amuse herself ” for a few hours each day and, as the pub’ didn’t open until the evening, Ted was happy to keep an eye on their baby. For the moment, anyway. There was always the nursemaid at Selwyn Lodge to look after little Eddie, if Ted couldn’t cope.

That day would be a bittersweet one for Betty, as she didn’t own “Anne Rosemary” (Dressmaker) outright anymore. Maggie had found her a few weeks before, hunched over her bank statements at her writing desk in the drawing room. Feeling concerned, she asked her what was the matter, as Betty looked quite pale and worried, as she studied her accounting book.

“I have to be honest with you, Maggie. The money in the dressmaker account is going down at a very alarming rate. It is the upkeep of this place, the staff, the food, the maintenance, and everything, and I spent more than I should have done on furnishings. Now I am committed to Mr Arlington to put his plan of expansion into operation. Sheldon Loan and Property Company cannot go forward unless the dressmaker’s shop moves across the road.”

Maggie stared at her friend in amazement. Betty looked as if she had aged another ten years. The serenity in her face had gone, to be replaced by a careworn look, with frown lines etched deeply between her brows.

“Maggie, what am I going to do?” she whispered. “Everyone here relies on me for their living. If we took on a smaller place, there would be only enough room for you and me.”

Maggie had to consider her words carefully, because it was possible Betty wouldn’t follow what Maggie was talking about.

“How is the Sheldon Loan and Property Company doing?”