The Royal Lacemaker (6 page)

Lily really couldn't see where
this conversation was leading. If Mrs Bodney was going to dismiss her why was she
smiling?

‘Sit down, Lily, and I'll
come to the point,' her employer said.

Thankfully, Lily sank onto her stool for
the suspense was making her feel quite sick.

‘I've been watching you
closely these past few days and have been impressed with what I've seen. You
are a highly skilled lace maker and conscientious too. If this afternoon is anything
to go by, you are also proficient at correcting mistakes, which regrettably can and
do occur. Now, if you remember, I mentioned earlier that output needs to
increase?' She paused and Lily nodded.

‘I have realized that if we are to
meet the deadline, I will need someone to watch over the lace makers here whilst I
attend to my other team.'

Lily frowned. ‘I didn't know
there was another one.'

‘Let me explain, Lily. Not only is
this commission highly confidential, the Queen has specifically requested that
nobody except me should have knowledge of the design detail. For this reason, I have
kept the various lace patterns separate, with a different set of lace makers working
on each. Time is of the essence, and in order to minimize any mistakes I now need to
ensure both teams are supervised, as I no longer have the time to do that.
Therefore, I propose working up at High House and want you to see
to the ladies here.'

Lily shook her head, trying to take in
what she'd been told. Bemused, she stared at her employer.

‘High House?'

‘I have rented High House at the
top of the village and that is where the other team are working. You do realize
I'm offering you the job of overseer here?' Mrs Bodney said
impatiently.

‘Me? But I'm the
youngest,' Lily said, shaking her head in surprise.

Mrs Bodney waved her hand dismissively,
in the way Lily had come to recognize. ‘You might be the youngest, Lily, but
you are also the most capable and the loyalty you've already shown is
commendable. Now, the job entails extra work but will merit a substantial increase
in your wage.' Then, as she went on to mention a figure that made Lily gasp,
there was a knock and Tilda put her head around the door.

‘Sorry to interrupt, ma'am,
but Mr Mountsford would like a word before he leaves.'

‘Tell him I'll be with him
directly,' Mrs Bodney said, but a man with dark hair was already entering the
room. Lily's eyes widened in surprise, for it was the stranger she'd
seen earlier and he was so tall he had to stoop low to avoid banging his head on the
lintel above the door.

‘Forgive the intrusion, Mrs
Bodney. I can see you are busy but I merely wish to bid you farewell and give you
this,' he said, holding up a small package. Then to Lily's surprise, his
piercing blue gaze was aimed in her direction.

‘That's quite all right, Mr
Mountsford, and thank you,'
her employer said, taking the
package and quickly pocketing it. ‘Before you go, I'd like to introduce
you to Lily Rose, my new overseer.'

Lily jumped to her feet.

‘Delighted to make your
acquaintance, Miss Rose; Rupert Mountsford at your service,' he said, smiling
at her warmly. She bobbed a curtsy, which for some reason seemed to amuse him.

‘Mr Mountsford is one of my best
merchants, Lily, and pays us regular visits,' Mrs Bodney said, by way of
explanation.

‘Then, you being Mrs
Bodney's new overseer, we shall surely be seeing more of each other, Miss
Rose?'

Lily glanced at Mrs Bodney.

‘Indeed, you will, Mr Mountsford,
and I can see from your expression that it won't pose any hardship to
you,' her employer said smiling.

‘It will be my pleasure,' he
answered, turning the full force of his smile on Lily. Then, bowing briefly, he left
the room. She stared after him, wondering why her insides were fluttering like a
butterfly.

‘Well, young Lily, I think
you've made quite an impression there,' Mrs Bodney said, breaking into
her thoughts.

Immediately, she felt heat flushing her
cheeks and cursed that, despite having recently attained her seventeenth birthday,
she still had the childish tendency to blush.

‘Right, run along now. I've
kept you long enough. First thing tomorrow, I shall explain your new position to the
others and then be away to High House. Now I'll bid you good evening and
pleasant dreams,' she said, her eyes twinkling.

Letting herself out
into the lane, Lily saw the sun was already setting, the pink sky turning to deep
mauve. There was no sign of Tom and her heart sank. Obviously he'd got tired
of waiting. For some reason, her need to see him was greater than usual. Fighting
down her disappointment, she made her way to the stables. At least Doris was there
this evening. As she hitched up the cart and climbed in, she couldn't help
wondering if her suspicions about the donkey's disappearance the previous day
were founded.

As usual, thoughts of the squire
unsettled her. Determinedly, she brushed them aside, then spent the rest of the
journey plucking up the courage to confront her aunt. First, she'd make it
clear she was no liar and point out that she felt hurt her aunt should think she
was. Then she was going to tell her she would be continuing her job with Mrs Bodney,
and that she'd now been promoted to overseer. This was too good an opportunity
to turn down, and for once she intended putting her own future first.

As excitement bubbled up inside her,
Lily couldn't help smiling. With the extra money she'd be earning,
they'd be able to afford to rent somewhere in Bransbeer.

However, when Lily reached the cottage,
her good mood vanished for it was neither her aunt nor her brother who came out to
greet her, but the bulky figure of Parson Peddicombe. He was looking so grave she
was immediately anxious as she jumped down from the cart.

‘Lily, my dear, you need to be
brave for I'm afraid I have very sad news.'

Lily felt her stomach churn.

‘What is it?' she asked.

‘I'm sorry to have to tell
you your mother passed away earlier this afternoon,' he said, patting her
shoulder. She stared at the parson for a long moment, trying to take in what
he'd said. Then she gave a cry of dismay and rushed into the cottage.

‘Tell me it isn't true, Aunt
Elizabeth?' she cried, dashing at the tears that were coursing down her
cheeks.

Her aunt put her arm around her
shoulders and sighed. ‘I'm afraid it is, my dear,' she said,
wretchedly. ‘I took her in the beef tea I'd made specially and there she
was, gone in her sleep, just like that.' She snapped her fingers. ‘She
looked just like a little doll lying there so peaceful.'

‘But, she wasn't even ill.
Not really,' Lily cried, shaking her head in bewilderment.

‘Not in the true sense, perhaps.
But, since your father died, she was only existing, wasn't she?'

Lily nodded, realizing
that what her aunt said was true.

‘Now, mop those tears and
I'll take you in to see her.'

Lily shuddered, then wiped her eyes with
the back of her hand.

‘She's all laid out. It
looks just like she's sleeping so come and say goodbye to her,' her aunt
said, gently taking Lily's arm and leading her into the room she shared with
her mother.

Lily looked down at the figure on the
bed. It was her mother lying there and yet somehow it wasn't. Aunt Elizabeth
was right, though, she did look at peace. In fact, she looked more like the woman
she remembered her mother being before the accident.

‘Goodbye, Mother,' she
whispered. ‘Sleep in peace.' At least she could say farewell this time.
It had been different when her father had died for his body had been flattened by
the falling building and nobody had been allowed to see him.

‘Now then, Lily,' Aunt
Elizabeth said gently, breaking into her thoughts as she handed her two shiny
pennies, ‘you place these over her eyes.'

Blankly, Lily stared at her aunt.
‘Why, will they open otherwise?' she asked.

‘No, silly, it's to pay for
her safe passage to the afterlife. Now, while you do that I'll open the window
to let her soul fly free.' With trembling hands, Lily did as her aunt
directed. Then, as the tears began to flow again, her aunt put her arm around her
shoulders and led her from the room.

‘You've had a nasty shock,
Lily. I've banked up the grate, so you have a warm while I make us a hot
drink,'
Aunt Elizabeth said, nudging her towards the chair by
the fireplace. Feeling her legs giving way, she sank thankfully into it then leaned
towards the crackling logs, trying to coax some warmth back into her ice-filled
body. She'd only just stopped shivering when Robert burst into the room.

‘I hate you, Lily Rose. It's
your fault Mother's dead,' he spat.

Eyes wide, she stared at him in
horror.

‘Now then, Robert, enough of talk
like that,' Aunt Elizabeth rebuked, coming into the room, a steaming mug in
each hand.

‘Well, it's true. Miss
High-and-Mighty here refused to work for the squire and Mother knew we'd be
out on the street. It was the shock that killed her. I wish it was you that was
dead, Lily Rose,' he shouted.

‘I said that's enough, young
man. Pull yourself together and show some respect for your poor mother lying in the
next room.'

Robert glared at them and then hobbled
from the room, banging the door behind him. Lily rose to go after him but her aunt
stopped her. ‘Let him be. It's the shock talking. He didn't mean
it and will see reason when he's calmed down. You sup your drink, dear, you
look as if you've seen a ghost, not that I meant …'

‘But it is my fault Mother's
dead,' Lily muttered, oblivious to her aunt's blunder.

‘Of course, it's not.
It's nobody's fault, she just lost the will to live. Besides, she never
knew you weren't taking the position the squire offered. It was the shock of
having to leave the home she'd shared with your father that was
too much for her. You said yourself, she never recovered from his
death so you've nothing to blame yourself for, my dear,' her aunt said,
cuddling her close. ‘It's you that's kept the family going these
past couple of months. If anything, you should be proud of yourself.'

Remembering her aunt's accusations
from the previous day, Lily opened her mouth to say something, then realized this
was not the time.

‘Where's Beth?' she
asked instead. She hadn't seen her little sister since she'd come
in.

‘Don't look so worried.
Grace came and collected her while the parson was giving your mother the last rites.
There's no point in the little lamb having to know before she needs.
She'll be better off staying with Harriet whilst we sort things out here, and
happen you need a bit of looking after yourself, after the shock you've
had …' Her voice tailed off when she saw that Lily wasn't
listening.

‘I can see that Beth can't
sleep in the same room as … oh, Aunt Elizabeth, it's all so
horrible, and to think I was planning to tell Mother my good news …'

Her aunt leaned forward and patted her
hand. ‘What good news was that, Lily?'

‘Mrs Bodney's made me up to
overseer,' she cried. ‘She increased my wages by quite a lot and I was
planning to move us all to Bransbeer.' She looked sadly towards the next room.
‘What happens now, Auntie?'

Aunt Elizabeth patted her shoulder.
‘The parson said he could do the funeral next Wednesday. Would you like me to
see to the arrangements?'

Woeful Wednesday, how appropriate, Lily
thought.

‘Yes, please. I really
wouldn't know where to begin.'

‘Perhaps
you'd like to choose a couple of her favourite hymns?' her aunt
suggested and Lily nodded, relieved there was something she could do.

‘Why don't you go down to
the church and look in the hymnal? Then you can tell the parson.'

As Lily got up to leave, she glanced
towards the next room. ‘What about—'

‘Your mother will be quite all
right, my dear. I should imagine she's with your father by now, God rest her
soul,' her aunt said, sighing and making the sign of the cross.

Glad to be out of the cottage, Lily ran
down the shadowy lane towards the church, almost colliding with Tom, who was
hurrying up the lane towards her.

‘Oh, Tom, something dreadful has
happened,' she cried.

‘I know,' he said, taking
her hand. ‘Parson Peddicombe told me. I came as fast as I could. Ran all the
way,' he gasped, pausing to catch his breath. ‘I'm that sorry
about your mother, Lily, but I likes to think she's at peace now.'

‘She is, Tom. I'm sure of
it. She was lying on the bed just like she was asleep, but she looked – oh I
don't know – it was as if all the sadness had drained out of her.'

‘She never recovered from losing
your father. Happen they're together again now.'

‘That's just what Aunt
Elizabeth said. She's sent me to the church to choose some hymns for the
funeral. It's next Wednesday. You will come, won't you?
Please?'

‘Of course, I will.' He
sighed. ‘I waited for you earlier, Lily.'

‘Mrs Bodney asked me to stay on.
She had something important to discuss …'

‘Sorry, Lily, I have to go. I wish
I could stay, but we're
sailing at first light. I just had to
come and make sure you're all right,' he murmured, squeezing her hand.
‘Look, Lily, leave the hymns until tomorrow. There's talk the owlers
will be busy transporting their goods this night, so I'd feel better knowing
you was indoors.' She shuddered and Tom patted her shoulder. ‘I wish I
could walk you back but there's no time. Promise me you'll go home
now?' he asked. Reluctantly, she nodded and then watched as he ran back down
the track.

‘Godspeed and bring you safely
home, my love,' she whispered. A hoot nearby made her jump, sending her
scuttling back to the cottage. Whether it was an owl or owler she wasn't
waiting to find out. She'd heard that the menacing hoodlums who moved their
wool under the cover of darkness made short work of anyone they encountered and she
wasn't going to risk bumping into them. Besides, she knew her mother's
favourite hymns had been ‘Love divine, all loves excelling' and
‘Rock of ages'. She'd taught Lily all the words and they'd
often sung them as they worked side by side at their pillows. Her heart tugged at
the memory, and she dashed away the tears as she ran back down the lane.

Glad to be safely home, she hurried
indoors, eager for some company. However, her aunt had already left and Rob was
nowhere to be seen. He was probably consoling himself with his beloved chickens, she
thought.

Unable to contemplate sleeping in the
same room where her mother was laid out, Lily dragged her mattress out and placed it
in front of the fire. Then, covering herself with the blankets, she tried to sleep
but her thoughts kept going over the events of the day. She was still awake when her
brother hobbled into the room.

‘Rob,' she
said, but he didn't answer. Instead he climbed onto his mattress and made a
show of pulling the covers up over his head. Oh, blow him, Lily thought, turning
over and falling into a fitful sleep.

After a restless night, Lily was roused
by the cockerel raucously heralding the dawn. Stiffly she rose from her makeshift
bed. She could hear her brother's gentle snoring and, not wishing to wake him,
hurried outside to the barn. Climbing into the donkey-cart, she thought about
calling in to see Beth, then chided herself. Her sister would probably still be
asleep and Lily would not be popular if she woke the household.

Urging Doris onwards, she relaxed in her
seat and let her thoughts drift back to happier times: how thrilled she'd been
when her father let her help him in the orchard, claiming he would never be able to
pick all the apples by himself; sitting beside her mother learning to make lace, and
how excited she'd been when she'd finished her first sprig; paddling in
the stream with Rob, catching tiddlers and having water fights; cradling young Beth
in her arms just after she'd been born and declaring her to be wrinkled as a
prune, much to her mother's dismay.

When she arrived at the cottage, she
found Mrs Bodney waiting for her.

‘I was sorry to hear about your
mother, Lily. I know it will have come as a great shock to you. Are you quite sure
you feel up to starting your new position today?'

‘Thank you, Mrs Bodney. I'll
be fine.'

The other woman patted her arm and Lily
couldn't help but notice how relieved she looked.

‘It's better to keep busy,
my father always said.'

‘Quite. As
overseer, it is your responsibility to ensure only the lace ladies enter the
workroom. Tilda has been given strict instructions to that effect. Now, come with
me,' Mrs Bodney instructed, leading the way upstairs and into what appeared to
be her own bedroom. ‘You need to look the part of overseer, for it will be
your duty to receive merchants and tradespeople in my absence.' She pointed to
the bed where a fine black cotton dress, white linen bonnet and apron were laid out.
Then Lily noticed the corset and grimaced. The other woman smiled.

‘The female figure is enhanced
when it is contained and your dress will hang in a better fashion. It is a good
discipline to adopt and, I can assure you from personal experience, it will correct
your posture and guarantee you move in a ladylike manner. Now hurry and change so
you're ready when the others arrive. After I've explained your new
position to them, I shall go and see to the ladies at High House. However, I will
endeavour to be back before you leave this evening to find out how you've
managed,' she said.

There was so much to take in,
Lily's head was spinning. Then, seeing her employer was waiting for an answer,
she nodded. Seeming satisfied, Mrs Bodney bustled from the room.

Looking down at her new outfit laid out
on the bed, she felt a tingle of excitement, but when she tried to wriggle into the
corset she felt like the contortionist she'd seen at the Cuckoo Fair in April.
Then, when she did finally manage to get the wretched thing on, she could hardly
breathe. It was so tight she was sure she'd faint. She struggled into the
white cotton petticoat and
then the dark dress, marvelling at the
softness of the material. It was far superior to anything she'd ever worn
before and to her delight the full skirts swished about her ankles when she moved.
It was a good job it was black, she thought with a pang, for now she was in mourning
for her mother.