The Royal Lacemaker (3 page)

‘Ah, come back, has she?' he
asked curiously, taking the reins and leading donkey and cart towards the
stables.

With excitement bubbling up inside her
again, Lily clutched her lace pillow to her chest and made her way down the lane
towards Mrs Bodney's cottage, which stood close to Agent Pike's house.
Her thoughts raced as fast as her footsteps as she finally allowed herself to think
about the job she'd been offered and the secret she'd managed to keep
since the previous day. Who would believe that she, Lily Rose, was going to make
lace for Queen Victoria's wedding dress?

Suddenly Lily stopped in her tracks.
Supposing her work wasn't good enough? She stood in the lane dithering, her
excitement replaced by doubts.

Peasants are plucky people. Remember, you can do anything you set your mind to,
our Lily.

Hearing her father's whispered
words, her heart leaped and for one magical moment she thought he was standing right
beside her. Of course he wasn't, but she remembered he'd always
encouraged her to believe in herself and, certain she could feel his presence
spurring her on, she continued her journey. An old lady stopped and waved as Lily
walked between the terraces of cob and thatch cottages, and she smiled happily
back.

On reaching Mrs Bodney's property,
she noticed it was larger than its neighbours and set well back from the others. As
she carefully skirted the brook to reach it, her stomach began to churn once more.
Clutching her pillow tighter and reminding herself this was the chance of a
lifetime, she stepped through the gate. Never had she seen a cottage as grand as
this before, she thought, marvelling at the red and blue patterned brickwork.
Resisting the urge to peer through the leaded windows, she lifted the little brass
knocker.

The maid who answered seemed younger
than Lily and was impeccably dressed in the customary black cotton
dress, but her snowy white cap and apron were edged with lace. As she was shown
through to the large, open workroom, Lily looked down at her own brown woollen
homespun skirt and coarse linen apron, and felt decidedly drab. With money being
tighter than ever these past few months, new material had been the last thing on her
mind. When she got paid, she'd visit the draper in Sidmouth. She was pondering
the colour she'd buy – and the look on Tom's face as he walked her along
the promenade in her new finery – when a voice as sharp as a butcher's blade
sliced through her thoughts.

‘Don't stand there
cluttering the doorway, girl. Since you've decided to grace us with your
presence at last, be seated and we can commence the day's work.'

Embarrassed, Lily snapped back to the
present to find Mrs Bodney, lips pursed in a tight line, staring at her with those
all-seeing conker-bright eyes. Glancing around the room, she deduced she was the
last to arrive and hastily sank onto the only vacant stool beside her eight or nine
fellow workers. Across the table, a woman of middle years with silver streaking her
tawny hair shot her a sympathetic smile, but before she could respond Mrs
Bodney's strident voice was addressing the room.

‘Ladies, welcome to this, my most
important venture yet. I say welcome and you are, provided you heed the following
instructions. We are working together in my cottage because this commission is
confidential. Before we proceed, I must remind you not to reveal a word to anyone
about what is being made here. Do I make myself clear?' She paused and they
nodded.

‘There will be some people intent
on finding out what
you are making. They may even offer you a bribe
to reveal the secret, and anyone doing so must be reported to me immediately. You
all know for whom we are undertaking this work and you can believe me when I tell
you that, in months to come, the eyes of the highest gentry in the country will be
upon our handicraft. You are the finest lace makers in Devonshire; however, do not
flatter yourselves that you are indispensable.' Mrs Bodney stared at each of
them in turn. ‘If necessary, you can, and will, be replaced.'

There was silence as she studied them
again, and Lily held her breath in case she was already found wanting.

‘However,' Mrs Bodney
continued, ‘I expect you to work diligently. In return you will receive the
wage already mentioned, which is above the going rate.' She afforded them a
rare smile before continuing.

‘Usually you receive your wages in
credit, which you have to use to purchase goods at exorbitant rates from your
employers' huckster shops, do you not?'

The women groaned their agreement, for
the trucking system had long been a sore subject with them.

‘Well, ladies, good news. As you
know, your money for this commission will be paid at the end of each month.' A
collective groan sounded around the room but then their employer smiled. ‘You
will, however, receive it all in cash.'

Lily's heart soared as a cheer
went up. Conditions here were better than she could ever have dreamed and her
impression of this straight-backed, dignified woman rose ever higher.

‘Use the money wisely, ladies,
and, better still, maybe put some by for the hard times,' Mrs Bodney
continued,
looking so serious Lily forced herself to concentrate.
‘In return, I expect total loyalty and will have no hesitation in dismissing
anyone who breaches my trust. Before I hand out the cotton thread, please ensure
your hands are scrupulously clean. If they are even slightly grubby, go outside and
wash them at the pump in the yard.'

The ladies glanced at each other but
their employer was continuing with her speech.

‘Our Queen has decided to break
with tradition and wear a white satin wedding gown, which is being made at
Spitalfields as we speak. Our job is to produce the lace for the flounce, veil and
collar along with other embellishments. As the flounce alone is to measure 25½
inches deep by 4 yards in circumference, you can see the challenge that our time
restraint poses. All the lace must be ready to be sewn up by the beginning of
November.'

‘Surely we won't be able to
manage all that work in six months,' exclaimed the tawny-haired woman.

Mrs Bodney smiled. ‘You leave the
details to me, Mary. Now, ladies, are you ready to begin making the finest lace
ever?'

As a wave of agreement rippled around
the room, Mrs Bodney's eyes twinkled, her features softening for a second
before she resumed her strict composure. Well, I'll be, thought Lily, her lips
twitching. The old girl's got a heart after all. She spoke too soon.

‘Would you care to share your
secret joke, Lily?' Mrs Bodney asked, giving her such a penetrating stare Lily
was sure the other woman could see into her heart.

‘Oh, no, Mrs Bodney, I don't
have any secret to share,' she stammered, feeling her cheeks grow hot.

‘Good. The only
secret I want here is that which is made in this room. Now let us begin our
day's work.'

As Lily began pricking out the pattern,
she risked a glance around the room. The other ladies, all working industriously at
their pillows, seemed older than she. Quickly she looked down at her own lace,
determined to be as conscientious as they.

The morning passed swiftly as they all
followed Mrs Bodney's instructions. She was a stickler for perfection. Just as
Lily felt she had mastered the pattern, their employer picked up a little brass bell
and shook it vigorously.

‘Ladies, time for you to take a
break. Due to the delicate nature of our work no refreshments are permitted in this
room. However, you may partake of your nuncheon in the back yard. The fresh air will
invigorate you, ready for a productive afternoon's work.'

Eagerly, the women picked up their noon
pieces and filed outside. Lily perched on the low stone wall enclosing the little
yard, enjoying the warmth of the midday sun as it eased the stiffness from her
shoulders. Being hunched over her pillow for hours on end was agony on the back.
Looking around, she took in the pump with its stone trough and the privy in the
corner. Biting into the bread her aunt had baked the previous afternoon, she thought
how good it was to have someone else looking after her family at the cottage. The
other women were chattering like magpies as they compared their morning's
progress and Lily smiled, happy to be amongst them. Then, Mrs Bodney appeared,
ringing her little brass bell and reminding them to wash their hands before starting
work again.

‘It's like being back in
Sunday school,' whispered Mary,
the woman with the silver
streaks in her tawny hair, as they rinsed their hands at the pump.

‘Lord help us if she expects us to
say grace,' copper-haired Nell shrieked, quickly turning it into a cough when
Mrs Bodney glanced their way.

‘Where is your cap, Nell? Please
see that you are properly attired before you return to the workroom,' their
employer instructed as they filed past her.

‘Can't stand wearing the
blooming thing,' Nell muttered to her friend Cora, but Lily noticed the girl
quickly did as she'd been told.

Under her employer's watchful eye,
work resumed and the room was heavy with concentration as they carefully followed
the new pattern. Finally, the sun began to sink behind the cottage and just when
Lily thought she couldn't concentrate a moment longer, there was a knock on
the door. The maid stood there bearing a silver tray and Mrs Bodney snatched up the
calling card.

‘Right, ladies,' she said,
turning back to them. ‘As this is your first day, you may leave early. From
tomorrow, expect to be working on for another hour at least. Now I'll bid you
all a very good evening and expect to see you at sunrise. Please cover your work
with the sheeting on the shelves behind you and leave by the back gate. Tilda will
bolt the door behind you.' Skirts rustling, she swept out of the room.

Quickly, the lace makers placed their
bobbins tidily on their pillows, then duly covered their work. Relieved to be
finished for the day, they clattered through the back gate, chattering away like
excited children so that they didn't notice the carriage that had pulled up
alongside the cottage.

‘Goodbye,'
called Lily to the others.

‘Aren't you staying to
chat?' Cora asked, looking surprised.

‘Not tonight, Cora. I've
someone to see,' she said, smiling.

‘Well, get you, Lily Rose,'
Cora sniffed, green eyes glittering. Lily shivered, wondering why the woman had
taken umbrage.

Glad to be out in the fresh air, and
knowing the tide meant Tom would be ashore, Lily hurried down to the harbour. Her
heart flipped as she spotted his boat pulled up on the beach, only to sink when she
could find no sign of him. She'd been longing to tell him about her first day
in her new job.

Disappointed, she trudged back up Sea
Hill and made her way to the stables. But a group of haulers and handlers were
congregated outside the alehouse opposite, shouting and swearing. These men, who
helped unload the fish and drag the boats up the steep shingle beach, were renowned
for sinking copious amounts of beer. Remembering her father's warning about
men's unpredictability when under the influence of intoxicating liquor, she
made to give them a wide berth. As she hurried on her way a hand suddenly grabbed
her arm and she cried out in fright.

‘Well, if it isn't my own
sweet Lily.'

‘Tom Westlake, you fair made me
jump,' Lily cried. ‘Whatever are you doing here?' She stared
apprehensively at the rowdy group.

‘I was hoping to see you, of
course. Why don't I buy you a drink and you can tell me about your day?'
Ignoring the whistles and catcalls, he took her arm and led her towards the more
salubrious surroundings of the hostelry.

Settling her at a bench overlooking the
bay, he asked, ‘What do you fancy, my lovely?'

‘Barley water would be good.
I'm dry as dust,' she said, pulling her shawl tighter round her against
the freshening breeze. Gazing out over the harbour, she saw the sun was dipping its
orangey-red fingers into the sea and decided not to dally too long. She didn't
wish to impose upon her aunt any more than she had to.

‘Here you are then,' said
Tom, returning with two jugs and settling himself beside her. ‘Have I told you
I can't wait till we're wed, Lily my love?'

‘Oh, you might have mentioned
it,' she said, glancing down at the third finger of her left hand, imagining a
gold band gleaming there one day. Tom, following her gaze, frowned.

‘We must see about getting you a
betrothal ring, Lily. I'd love to buy you one with a stone the colour of
flames, to
match that fiery nature of yours, but I'm afraid
you'll have to wait until my boat comes in, as they say.'

Knowing he didn't have money to
spend on fripperies, she patted his hand. ‘I'll be content to wear your
wedding band, Tom Westlake. Now, aren't you going to ask me about my
day?' she asked, grinning at him.

‘Well, let me see,' he said,
studying her face. ‘You're looking mighty happy so I'm thinking it
must be because you've met up with me.'

‘Of course,' she said,
laughing, ‘and it has nothing to do with the fact I started working for Mrs
Bodney today.'

‘I was wondering about
that,' Tom said, furrowing his brow.

‘That's the strange thing,
Tom. When I arrived home yesterday, Aunt Elizabeth was there. It seems the children
she's been looking after are going away to school and her services are no
longer needed. She decided to pay us a visit, and has offered to stay on and help.
Isn't that amazing?' she told him, her eyes shining.

‘That explains it then,' Tom
said, smiling. ‘Anyway, seeing as you're bursting with excitement you
can tell me more about your day.'

‘Mrs Bodney told us everything
we'll be making over the next few months and the lace makers seem friendly.
It's nice to have the company of others, but best of all, Tom, we'll be
getting all of our wages in cash.'

He raised an eyebrow. ‘My, that
will make a big difference, won't it, Lily? You won't have to worry
about paying the bills.'

‘Yes, but we will only receive it
at the end of each month,' she explained.

‘Monthly?'
He was frowning again. ‘How will you manage till then?'

‘Aunt Elizabeth said she has
savings put by and is happy to help us until I get paid.'

‘It's all a bit strange
maybe, isn't it?' he asked.

‘What do you mean?'

‘Well, from what you've told
me, you don't really know her.'

‘Tom, you're such a
worrier,' Lily said, punching him lightly on the arm.

‘That's as maybe, but
it's only because I care about you, Lily,' he protested.

‘It's kind of you to be
concerned, Tom, but she is my mother's sister and wants to help. She's
even lent me her donkey-cart until I can get my boots mended.'

‘Get you, our Lily. Riding into
town like a lady, eh? You'll be considering yourself too high and mighty to
walk out with the likes of a mere fisherman soon,' he said, grinning.

‘Oh, don't be daft. Anyway,
it's only a donkey-cart. But I'd best be on my way. I mustn't take
advantage of my aunt's kindness.' Draining her jug, she rose reluctantly
to her feet.

‘Allow me to walk you to your
carriage, my lady,' Tom said, jumping up, affecting a bow and then holding out
his arm.

‘Why, thank you, my good
man,' she giggled. Linking her arm through his they made their way through the
cobbled yard to the stable.

‘Up you go then, my lovely,'
he said, helping her into the cart. ‘Keep safe and, God willing, I'll
see you at the same time tomorrow.'

‘Oh, I'll
be an hour later, Tom,' she said, frowning down at him. ‘Mrs Bodney let
us off early as it was our first day.'

‘Doesn't sound like Mrs
Bodney to me; that one's business through and through, so I've heard.
More like she had something or someone to see to, I'll be thinking,' he
added, patting the donkey's withers.

Raising her eyebrows, Lily turned the
cart for home. She was so busy reflecting on her first day at work that she passed
by the clumps of violets without noticing them.

The days passed and Lily settled into
her new job with enthusiasm.

Then to her surprise, on arriving back
at the cottage a week after she'd started in Bransbeer, her mother was dressed
and sitting by the fire. Rushing over, Lily bent to give her a kiss, but her joy
quickly turned to concern when she saw the tears rolling down her cheeks.

‘Mother, whatever's
wrong?' she asked, putting her arms around the woman's shoulders. But
her mother just stared at her with vacant eyes and Lily felt a shiver prickle her
spine. It was almost as if she didn't recognize her, she thought.

Just then, Aunt Elizabeth came into the
room with Beth.

‘I've been to play with
Harriet,' the little girl said, running over to Lily and throwing her arms
around her legs.

‘That's nice, and what did
you play?' Lily asked, smiling down at her. Then, she looked back at her
mother, her brow creasing again.

‘You go outside and wash your
hands, Beth,' their aunt said, intercepting the look. ‘You can tell Lily
about your
day over supper.' As Beth hurried out to the pump,
Aunt Elizabeth turned to Lily.

‘Your mother had a visit from
Squire Clinsden earlier and I'm afraid what he had to say saddened her
something sorry. She's been sitting like that since he left an hour
ago,' she said, shaking her head.

‘What did he say that upset her so
much, Auntie?' Lily asked.

‘He was here to serve us an
eviction notice,' growled Robert, hobbling into the room with an armful of
logs. Angrily he threw them down by the fire.

‘What?' Lily gasped.
‘That can't be right. We're not behind with the rent; I made sure
it was paid on the last quarter-day.'

‘Yes, but the cottage went with
your father's work as a labourer. Knowing the state of your mother's
health, the squire's been kind enough to let you stay on these past few weeks.
Now he's had to take on someone new to work the farm. Goes by the name of
Stanton, apparently. Anyhow, his lordship visited today. He could have just sent his
land agent but had the decency to come himself,' her aunt said.

‘But he can't just evict us,
surely?' Lily asked, her eyes wide with shock.

Her aunt looked at her and sighed.
‘I'm afraid he can, Lily dear. As I said, this is a coupled cottage and
Stanton's moving in on the next quarter-day. However, the squire has
generously said you can stay till then.'

‘But that's no time at all.
It's May already. Where does he expect us to go?' Lily asked, her voice
rising in panic. Beth, who'd crept back into the room unnoticed, gave a
whimper and Aunt Elizabeth scooped her up into her arms.

‘Now calm yourself, Lily.
You're frightening Beth. I suggest we have our broth. Things always look
better when you've a full stomach.'

Lily nodded absent-mindedly as she went
over to her mother, who hadn't yet stirred.

‘Don't worry, Mother,
we'll sort it out,' she promised, patting the woman's thin
shoulders. But her mother didn't answer. She just sat there staring blankly
ahead of her.

Her aunt, meanwhile, was filling mugs
with broth from the pot over the fire. Despite the savoury aroma, they had little
appetite and it was only Beth who ate. Gloomily they sat there, lost in thought as
they pondered the future. A sudden tug at her skirt brought Lily back to the
present.

‘Will you tell me a story,
Lily?' Beth asked, clambering onto her lap. Forcing a smile, Lily nodded and
put down her mug.

‘Rob, you clear away and
I'll see to your mother,' Aunt Elizabeth said. ‘I'll give
her some valerian root to calm her, then settle her in bed.'

Lily looked over at her mother and,
seeing she was still in a trancelike state, her heart sank. Will she ever recover
from Father's death? she wondered. And how will she cope with having to leave
the home she's lived in since she was married?

‘Come along, Sarah,' Aunt
Elizabeth said, gently leading her sister from the room.

Later, with her mother and Beth asleep,
Lily crouched on the floor beside the fire while her aunt and Robert settled
themselves in the chairs.

‘So I guess
we'd better talk about where we're going to live,' she said,
wondering how her aunt could seem so calm about it.

‘The squire said he was
disappointed you weren't here when he called as he was worried about your
wellbeing.'

Lily snorted and her aunt frowned.
‘I told him you were working for Mrs Bodney. He's a nice, caring man to
take such an interest in you, Lily.'

‘So interested, he still intends
making us homeless,' she retorted.

‘Well, he did have a
solution.' Rob leaned forward in his seat. ‘He said to tell you
there's a job for you up at the manor house.'

‘Go into service for him?
Never,' she spat.

‘But, Lily, I don't
understand. Squire Clinsden owns the whole of the Coombe and Dean Valleys and
he's offering you a respectable position,' said her aunt, looking
bewildered.

‘Respectable?' Lily
retorted, her voice rising.

‘Yes, respectable, Lily.
You'd get a roof over your head up in that fine house, as well as a living
wage. Why, he even offered to help you move. And he said there's a
gamekeeper's hut in the grounds that could house your mother, Robert and Beth.
Now, it seems to me that would solve all of your problems.'

‘But it wouldn't,'
Lily said, shaking her head.

‘Why wouldn't it?'
Aunt Elizabeth asked, looking at her sharply.

Lily felt her insides wrench. If only
she could tell her aunt the truth.

‘I like working for Mrs
Bodney,' she muttered, looking
at Robert for support.
However, the desperate appeal in his eyes made her heart sink. Obviously, he wanted
her to take the job, but there was no way she could or would work for the
squire.

‘I can't pretend to
understand you, Lily. You've been handed the answer to your problems so why
won't you take it?'

Not trusting herself to answer, Lily
looked at the ground.

‘Well, perhaps you'd prefer
to discuss it by yourselves. I'll take myself back down to
Grace's,' said their aunt, getting to her feet. ‘Grace and I have
had such a good time reminiscing, she offered me a bed for as long as I want. While
she's busy with young Harriet and her lace making during the day, she gets
lonely in the evenings now her husband's gone. As her cottage is only a couple
of minutes away it's the obvious solution. I can continue to come up here
first thing and be away when you get home. Now, I'll bid you good night, but
think hard, Lily. Make the right decision, you get a job and the family get
somewhere to live.'

Lily watched her aunt go and then turned
to Rob.

‘I have my reasons for not wanting
to work for the squire, you do realize that, don't you?' she asked.

He shook his head. ‘All I know is
that we've been served our eviction notice and the squire's offered us a
roof over our heads. The solution seems simple to me. But, of course, if this lace
making job is more important to you than your family, then there's nothing
more to be said,' he growled, getting up and hobbling from the room.

All night Lily tossed
and turned, unwelcome dreams invading her sleep as lusting hazel eyes burned through
her clothes and pudgy fingers slithered like slugs over the contours of her body.
I want you and I shall have you
, his voice echoed over and over,
taunting her; haunting her.