The Downstairs Maid (17 page)

‘I hope you won’t hate me, Emily …’

‘Why should I hate you?’

Harry cleared his throat again. ‘I really like you, you know I do – but … there’s this girl called Christine. We used to go out and then she broke it off just before the dance last Christmas. I was a bit cut up over it that night and you were such a pretty, decent girl. I liked you and I asked you out but … two months ago I met Christine again at a young farmers’ meeting and well … she told me she still loved me.’ He took a deep drink of his beer. ‘We … we started kissing and one thing led to another. I did things I shouldn’t have done. Afterwards, I told her I was seeing you and I needed time to think … but she came to see me this morning. She’s having my baby, Emily. I have to marry her. I don’t have a choice.’

Emily was stunned. She didn’t know whether she was more shocked because he’d got a girl into trouble or that he’d carried on seeing her, Emily, knowing what he’d done. Harry was right about one thing. He didn’t have a choice. Her family would demand that he marry the girl and it was only right that he should.

‘No, you don’t,’ she said, feeling let down and disappointed. The idea of becoming the wife of a successful farmer had taken root in her mind and she had thought it would be nice. She liked Harry, enjoyed his kisses and being taken out in his car, but she wouldn’t marry him now even if he asked. Not after what he’d done.

‘I’m sorry, Emily. I didn’t know any other way to tell you.’

Emily took a sip of her orange juice. At least he had told her. He’d brought her here and let her down as easily as he could, but it didn’t alter what he’d done. She wasn’t sure how she felt. It was a blow to her pride, but had he broken her heart? Emily didn’t think so, though she knew Ma would go on about it when she told her – and Pa would feel Harry had let her down.

‘Well, maybe it’s for the best. I’m probably going into service so I shouldn’t have much free time to see you.’

Harry looked relieved. Perhaps he’d expected her to make a fuss or get angry, but she couldn’t be bothered. She’d enjoyed his company and she felt let down, but she wasn’t going to break her heart over him. After all, she’d been seeing Christopher sometimes, as a friend – but Harry had seemed serious for a while. Finishing her drink, she stood up.

‘Let’s go. I wouldn’t want your fiancée to think you were cheating on her with me.’

Harry looked red in the face but didn’t speak. He hadn’t finished his beer but he left his glass and followed Emily outside. Neither of them spoke on the way home.

Harry pulled the car to a halt outside her house. He got out and opened the door for her, looking at her in such a miserable way that her anger evaporated.

‘It’s all right, I shan’t die of a broken heart,’ she said, kissed his cheek and ran into the house.

‘So Harry Standen’s marrying someone else,’ Ma said when Emily got back from helping her pa the next morning. ‘You might have told me, Emily. I warned you what might happen if you went out with that Christopher as well as him.’

‘It wasn’t important.’

‘Harry Standen was a catch, my girl, and don’t forget it. He would have given you a good home and a secure future – do you want to end up like me?’

Emily turned away without answering. Ma wouldn’t understand that though she’d liked Harry she didn’t mind that he was going to marry his former girlfriend. Nor would Ma understand that she felt comfortable with Christopher, because she wasn’t ready to marry anyone just yet.

‘I’m going out to see if there are any eggs,’ she said and took her coat down from the peg behind the door.

Having shrugged on her coat and boots, she picked up a large rush basket and went out into the yard. The weather had turned really hot of late. Emily thought that might be the reason the hens were not laying as much as usual. She checked the hen houses but found nothing, then walked into the paddock and started to make her way round the large field, bending down to look under the hedges. She found three eggs but was about to give up when she saw a patch of violets and knelt down to pick them with a cry of pleasure. They were always such a joy at this time of year and she picked some, holding them to her nose, to inhale the fresh perfume. They made her smile, because little things like this made her feel good to be alive.

‘A penny for them,’ the voice she least wished to hear was so close behind her that she jumped. ‘Dreaming of your lover I suppose?’

Emily looked at her uncle as she rose to her feet. Something in his face made her shiver, her blood running suddenly cold. She glanced round, realising that they were out of sight of the house behind the high hedge. Her mouth felt dry and her stomach tightened with nerves. Why was he looking at her like that? His expression was so strange, so menacing that it frightened her.

‘I don’t have a lover,’ she said icily. ‘I was just enjoying the violets and the mild weather.’

‘Don’t lie to me, Emily. You bitches are all alike. I know you’re giving it to Standen. You little whore.’

‘Don’t you dare say such things to me,’ she said, anger making her forget caution. ‘I don’t have to listen to your filthy talk.’

‘You’ll do as I tell you,’ he muttered and moved to block her path as she tried to pass him. ‘Always pretending to be so high and mighty. I saw you with him …’ He grabbed her as she would have walked off, swinging her round to face him. ‘Don’t you dare ignore me. It’s time you were taught a lesson, Emily Carter.’

‘Let go of me. You filthy brute!’

She hit out at him but he caught her wrists, thrusting her back against the hedge and clawing at her skirt. The branches caught in her hair and scratched her cheek but she hardly noticed them. Fear was curling inside her as she felt his warm breath on her face. Guessing what he meant to do, as he released one of her wrists to fumble at his breeches, she screamed for all she was worth and, in desperation, kneed him in the privates. Derek gave a yell of pain and let go of her. Emily made a run for it across the field but Derek was faster. He caught her and brought her down with a flying tackle so that she landed beneath him on the ground. She landed with her face against a protruding stone, feeling a sting of pain as it grazed her cheek. Panic made her scream again and again. She fought him, wriggling, bucking and fighting to throw him off, her nails going for his face as he pawed at her skirt. She managed to claw his cheek deeply before he grabbed her wrist. Then he hit her and swore, before trying to kiss her, to force open her mouth to allow his tongue inside as his hand went beneath her skirt to feel for the tender place between her legs. She bucked and fought as hard as she could, screaming out once more, even though he hit her across the face again and warned her to be quiet.

‘Scream again and I’ll break your neck,’ he muttered.

Emily’s reply was to turn her head and bite his exposed wrist. He yelled and hit her harder. Her senses reeling, she knew there was little more she could do to defend herself when she heard a roar of rage and the next minute Derek had been hauled off her. She struggled to open her eyes and see what was going on. Realising hazily that her father had come to her aid, she was more anxious than relieved. Pa was breathing heavily, shouting at Derek, calling him a dirty bastard as they struggled.

‘I always knew you weren’t to be trusted,’ Pa muttered as he swung out with his stick. ‘Come near my girl again and I’ll kill you.’

As Emily struggled to her feet, one hand to her head because she still felt dizzy, she saw Derek punch her father in the stomach and then land another in the same place. Until then Pa had been giving a good account of himself but now he buckled and she saw blood trickle from the side of his mouth. He doubled over, the thick cudgel he’d been using falling from his hand. Seeing that Derek was about to kick her father, she swooped on the stick and raised her arm, bringing the stick down against the side of Derek’s head with all the strength she had left. He swore and reeled. Her blow had brought blood to the surface. He touched it with his fingers and his top lip curled in a snarl of rage.

‘I’ll finish that lesson …’ he began but then a shout from the gateway made him pause and, seeing the man charging across the field towards them, he suddenly took off in the opposite direction, a threat on his lips. ‘I’ll get you another time, Emily. Just wait and see …’

Emily ignored him and dropped to her knees beside her father who remained doubled over. ‘Are you all right, Pa? Did he hurt you bad?’

‘Be all right in a minute …’ Pa said but when he tried to rise he swayed and if Harry Standen hadn’t arrived in time to catch him Emily couldn’t have saved him from falling. His skin was ashen, his dark hair damp where the sweat trickled down his forehead and into his eyes. He wiped it with the sleeve of his coat. ‘Feeling a bit sick …’

Pa turned away and vomited a mixture of blood and some vile-smelling bile. Emily gave him her handkerchief and he wiped the mess from his mouth.

‘I should have gone after him,’ Harry said. ‘Who was the bastard? I heard you screaming as I got out of the car, Emily, but your Pa was here before me.’

‘It was …’ she stopped and looked at her father. ‘He’s tried before, Pa – but not like this. The first time it was just a joke or so he said …’

‘Your mother will have to know,’ Pa said and looked at Harry. ‘Derek Black – my wife’s brother. I’ve seen him looking at Em before and wondered, but I didn’t dream he would try anything like this … filthy bastard! I’ve a good mind to go to the police.’

‘Be careful, Pa,’ Emily said. ‘Are you sure you want people to know about this? Ma will be so upset.’

‘I won’t have the bugger here again,’ her father said and turned to Harry. ‘Thanks for coming to help us. I’m not the man I was and he had the advantage.’

‘You’re not well,’ Harry said looking grave. ‘Naturally, I shan’t speak of this to anyone else. It’s up to you whether you report it or not – but if he tries it on again let me know. I’ll take a couple of my men to his place and we’ll teach him some manners.’

‘Please don’t do anything foolish,’ Emily said, and then, without thinking, ‘I’m probably going to work in the kitchens at Priorsfield Manor so I shan’t be here. Derek will think twice about attacking me there. I’d go to the police myself but it would break Ma’s heart. I don’t think we should tell her, Pa.’

‘You’re wrong there, Em love. She should know what her brother is. He’s helped me out on the farm a few times, I’ll admit, but now I’m going to do what your Ma wants and get a man in full time. It will be a lot easier if you’re bringing in a wage.’

Emily saw the pleased look in her father’s eyes and knew there was no going back.

‘I’ll take you through to the doctor,’ Harry said. ‘I’ve got the car.’

‘I’ll be all right …’

‘No, Pa,’ Emily said. ‘Let Harry take you in now. I’ll go and change my dress and then I’ll be off to the manor. I probably shan’t be the only one to apply.’

‘Harry could take you as far as Witchford, if he wouldn’t mind? You’ll still have a couple of miles to walk even then, because the house is a bit off the beaten track.’

‘Are you in pain?’

‘Yes, just a bit, but I can wait while you change your dress – if Harry can?’ Harry nodded. ‘Hurry and change. Leave it to me to tell your ma when I get back later – she might not believe you.’

Emily had been thinking the same thing. Besides, she didn’t want to throw something like this at her mother, despite their disagreements.

‘Thank you,’ she said, looking at Harry. ‘You don’t mind waiting?’

‘It’s the least I can do. I came to have a word with your pa.’

‘I’ll be as quick as I can,’ Emily said. ‘Thank you for coming to our rescue.’

‘I was glad to help.’

Emily could see the relief in his face and knew he felt he’d made it up to her a little. Her insides were churning, because she was too aware of what might have happened if Pa and then Harry hadn’t come along. Emily would always be grateful to Harry. He’d been embarrassed because of letting her down with Christine, but he was still Pa’s friend and she could never thank him enough for saving her from her uncle. She brushed at her face as she walked back to the house, wiping away a tear. Her cheek felt sore where Derek had hit her hard a couple of times. She would put a little powder over her cheek; she just hoped the bruise wouldn’t come out until the next day or her mother was going to ask questions she didn’t want to answer.

‘What experience have you had?’ the housekeeper at the manor asked her later that day. ‘I prefer girls with some training behind them.’

‘I’ve helped my mother at home,’ Emily replied, her heart sinking as she looked at the woman’s stern face. Her grey hair was scraped back into a bun and held in place with tortoiseshell combs. Dressed in black with a neat lace collar and a silver brooch, she looked very like the pictures of Victorian housekeepers Emily had seen in illustrated gothic tales. From what she’d seen of the manor so far, it was as if the whole house was stuck in the mid-nineteenth century!

The room they were sitting in was dark, its windows small, and the heavy oak furniture solid and probably worth a few bob in her father’s shop. It was the housekeeper’s sitting room, but there were no personal bits, flowers or photographs, or anything to make it homely. At that moment she wished she’d never thought about applying for the job, but she was here now and she didn’t like losing. The woman was waiting for her to go on, so she tried to make an impression. She explained that she was a good plain cook, could iron, wash and clean stoves, scrub floors – and had helped her father in the yard, making it clear she didn’t mind hard work.

‘Your standards will hardly be up to ours.’ Mrs Marsh looked down her thin nose. ‘However, I dare say you can learn.’

‘Yes, ma’am,’ Emily counted to ten in her head before speaking again. ‘I am sure I can learn whatever you require of me. My mother was in service as a lady’s maid for a while when she was a girl. I’m good at washing and ironing silk or lace – and I can cook most things.’

‘Cook will decide whether that is true,’ the housekeeper said. ‘However, I think we shall give you a trial of one month. If you are not satisfactory you will have your wage and go at the end of that period.’