Katherine Woodfine - The Midnight Peacock

‘No wonder you want to go and find out. Well – I suppose we’ll see you after New Year.’

‘You might see me sooner than that,’ said Sophie, with a sudden smile. ‘I’ve got a kind of Christmas present for you. Well, I suppose it’s not exactly a present – it’s really more of an opportunity. ’

Song looked at her quizzically as she explained: ‘They’re bringing in lots of extra staff to help with the Sinclair’s New Year’s Eve Ball. Waiters, mainly – but there will be people needed in the kitchens too. I spoke to Mr Betteredge and – well, there’s a place open for you, if you’d like it.’

Song stared at her. ‘Do you mean the kitchens of the Marble Court Restaurant ?’ he breathed in awe. It was considered to be one of the best restaurants in London, with its famous head chef, Monsieur Bernard.

‘It would be temporary, of course – just for a few days before the party, and on the evening itself. You’d only be working as a kitchen porter, but it would give you the chance to meet Monsieur Bernard – and for him to see what you can do.’

Song wasn’t the sort of person who got over-excited, but now he looked like he could hardly speak. ‘But . . . but . . . that’s incredible!’ he burst out incoherently. ‘Sophie – thank you – this means so much to me! It’s terrific!’ He took a step towards her, as if he was going to grab her hands, but just then, Lil came bouncing through the door.

‘What are you two gabbling about in here? Sophie, we ought to make tracks. The snow’s coming down awfully fast now. We should get a cab.’

Soon the two girls were sitting cosily in the back of a hansom cab, the horses picking their way carefully along the snowy streets towards home. They were both tired, and even Lil was quiet now, gazing out of the window at the ghostly blur of the snow, illuminated here and there by the glow of the street lamps.

Sophie was thinking how pleased Song had been by the chance of a job at the Marble Court Restaurant. Not so very long ago, it had been a struggle to find decent paid work for herself: now, it was very pleasant to be able to help others. As the cab made its way slowly past the shimmering lights and advertisements of Piccadilly Circus and on to Piccadilly, the brightly lit facade of Sinclair’s glittered out of the dark. She remembered how last winter she had stood in the snow looking up at it, feeling certain that this building held promise for her. Now, the Christmas trees sparkled in the windows, and high above, the lights of Mr Sinclair’s private apartments gleamed, and she was surprised to feel a sudden prickle of festive excitement. Perhaps she was looking forward to Christmas, after all.

CHAPTER SIX

‘We need more linen for the Blue Room. Quick, girls! Don’t dawdle.’

‘Mr Stokes, the cases of claret have arrived – where would you like them?’

‘Hurry and ring the gong. We mustn’t be a minute late with luncheon. You know how particular Her Ladyship is about punctuality when there are guests in the house.’

Below stairs at Winter Hall was all a-fluster with activity. The stone-flagged passageways rang with the sound of footsteps. With so many extra people in the house, guest bedrooms to be arranged, and meals to be prepared, there was a great deal to do – and yet Mrs Dawes was not too busy to notice the sound of the motor pulling up on the drive.

Tilly left the bed linen to the other housemaids and followed her outside into the cold, shivering in her thin frock and apron. A small, familiar figure in a plain woollen coat was being helped out of the motor by Alf.

‘Hello, Mrs Dawes! Hello, Tilly! How nice to see you!’ she called out.

Tilly stared in surprise. Miss Leo’s quiet voice was the same, but there seemed to be something different about her. It wasn’t that she had grown any taller or that she was dressed differently – in spite of all the frilly frocks Nanny always wanted her to wear, Miss Leo had never given a pin for how she looked. But she seemed older somehow, and what was more, Tilly noticed that her bulky crutch was gone, replaced by a handsome walking stick.

She wanted to leap forward and ask a dozen questions, but she knew that this was one of the occasions when she was supposed to ‘know her place’ and so she hung back, whilst Mrs Dawes stepped forward. ‘Welcome home, Miss Leonora,’ she said warmly. ‘We’re glad to see you. Now, hurry inside and get warm. Charlie will bring up your trunks and Tilly can unpack for you. You’ve missed luncheon but Nanny will have something ready for you in the Nursery.’

‘Oh, but I don’t need any help,’ said Miss Leo eagerly. ‘I’m quite used to looking after myself now, and being independent.’ But catching Tilly’s expression, she added swiftly: ‘Though actually, it would be nice to have Tilly help me. I’m rather tired after the journey.’

As she came up the steps and through the doors, Tilly saw that Miss Leo was staring all around her, quite as if she was seeing Winter Hall for the first time. She couldn’t imagine why, for it wasn’t as if anything had changed. The big hallway looked exactly as it always did, with the grandfather clock and the portraits on the panelled walls. The door to the Ballroom was open: Tilly noticed Miss Leo peep through at the big Christmas tree that the maids had decorated the day before, with all the usual ornaments, and little red candles. They ought to have waited until Miss Leo came home to do that, Tilly thought. Miss Leo had always loved helping to dress the Christmas tree, and it had always been her job to place the fairy doll in the very top branches. When she had been very little, Tilly had once cried because she wanted to be the one to do that: Ma had scolded and threatened a spanking, but Miss Leo had looked astonished and then put the fairy doll straight into Tilly’s small hands.

Now, in the hallway, they could hear the sounds of the family at luncheon in the Dining Room. Miss Leo hesitated for a moment, as though wondering if someone might come out to greet her. But the voices and the clink of china went on without interruption, and Miss Leo blew out a faint little sigh, and began to trudge up the stairs. Her shoulders hunched, and all at once, she looked smaller and younger again.

Tilly ran up the stairs after her. ‘I’m so glad you’re back,’ she whispered.

‘I wish I wasn’t,’ said Miss Leo in a flat voice. ‘But I am awfully glad to see you , Tilly. Let’s go upstairs – I’ve got heaps to tell you.’

The railway station was noisy and smoky, and damp with melting snow. Porters with trunks swung by, whilst gentlemen in bowler hats hurried for their trains and messenger boys pushed their way through the throng, with brown-paper parcels tucked under their arms. Everyone seemed to be in a terrific hurry, and for a moment, Sophie was buffeted amongst the crowd. Then she caught sight of Lil, waving to her excitedly from beside the station book stall, and a moment later, Jack emerged from the ticket office and strolled over to join them.

Sophie couldn’t help smiling at how effortlessly he seemed to swing through the crowd. Like his younger sister, Jack was tall and good-looking. He had dark hair, which had a habit of flopping over his eyes, and a remarkable ability to charm everyone he met. Today, he was wearing a thick overcoat and carrying a small suitcase, as well as a little leather case that Sophie supposed must contain his painting things – for like Leo, Jack was studying at the Spencer Institute of Fine Art.

He grinned at her in welcome. ‘I say, this is a lark, isn’t it? Splendid that you could come!’

Sophie found herself blushing. Jack had made no secret of the fact that he thought her a fine girl, and when he smiled at her, she was conscious of feeling excited and embarrassed and flustered in a way that was not in the least like her usual self. She was rather glad that Lil was chattering away, insisting that they make a stop in the Refreshment Rooms to buy some chocolate for the journey.