Glynis Peters - The Secret Orphan

Her aunt tapped the book. ‘Where shall we visit next, Wales? It is closer to home. Your uncle’s family originated from there. A place called, Blaenau Ffestiniog, now there’s a name for you.’

They spent an hour travelling the world and Elenor sensed the bond between them growing.

Around midday there was a tap at the door, and Victoria entered with a lunch tray. She was closely followed by her husband who, without giving Elenor a glance, strode to her aunt’s side and knelt down.

‘Mrs Matthews, I understand you have been unwell whilst I was away. How are you today?’

Her aunt gave a good-humoured cough.

‘I take it your conference was worth the while. Victoria will no doubt be visiting her family soon. At times I fear you two are ships who pass in the night.’

Elenor disliked his familiarity with her aunt. His voice grated her nerves. Posh school boy education no doubt. Loneliness must have made the old lady blind to his false ways.

‘We moved the books, George,’ Elenor said, rising to her feet. She was determined not to be ignored by him. ‘Victoria and Rose helped.’

Elenor noticed Victoria slip from the room; she hadn’t spoken that morning and looked pale. Her husband turned as she left, then turned back to his employer.

‘I’m pleased to say I learned a lot from my professors. As for Victoria, I have told her a family visit is on the cards. Now your niece is here to assist you, maybe she will go sooner rather than later. Oh, I have arranged for the piano tuner to visit in the week. I understand Miss Cardew sings, I thought we might entertain you one evening.’

Aunt Maude dismissed him with a flick of her hand as she bit into a slice of bread and butter.

Try as she might Elenor still could not find anything pleasant about the man.

‘What a …’ Elenor stopped, remembering her aunt was in the room.

‘Arrogant man? Is that what you were going to say?’

Elenor turned to her aunt, embarrassed by her small outburst.

‘I’m sorry for being rude. It’s just since his return he has upset Victoria, and tries to ignore that I exist.’

Her aunt pointed to the chair opposite.

‘Sit. Victoria is a timid thing when he is around. He dominates her. We have to respect their marriage and how they conduct themselves within it. If I felt for one moment he hurt her physically, I would have something to say, but I have found no evidence.’

‘But …’

Her aunt tutted. ‘No buts. You will do as I do. I watch, I listen, and I say the right words to let him know his place. Victoria is a good housekeeper and I would hate to lose her over something I said to her husband. Rose is a well-behaved child, and of no bother. Everything works as I need it to work and I will not have it altered. I’m too old to change my ways and to have them changed for me. Understand? Keep the balance – and the peace. I look forward to our musical event, at least you will find common ground with George and music.’

Elenor understood the message her aunt communicated.

Later, a gentle snore from her aunt meant their session was over, and she headed back to the day room – a room she now referred to as the study. Victoria arrived with a tray laden with a light lunch.

‘Thank you, Victoria. No Rose?’

‘She’s in the garden. It’s best when she’s at school.’

Elenor shrugged, not sure how to respond.

‘I take it George has returned to work?’

‘Yes. He insists on eating at home. I must confess it is easier when he is away.’

With the impression Victoria resented the presence of both husband and daughter, Elenor said nothing, but wondered at the other woman’s happiness … or lack of it.

When she’d finished lunch, she returned the tray to the kitchen. Rose was nowhere to be seen, and Victoria sat polishing a silver candelabra.

‘Do you sew Victoria? I’ve a mind to make something from my mother’s clothes and wondered if you would help me decide what to make. A keepsake item, maybe. Oh, and young Rose can join us. Again, we’ll make use of her idle hands.’ Elenor smiled gently.

Victoria set aside her cloth.

‘I sew, and Rose will also benefit from a lesson, if you are sure she won’t be in your way.’

‘You fret too much, she’s no bother. Meet me in the study when you are ready.’

An excited Rose followed her mother into the room.

‘I’m good at cutting out,’ she declared.

By the end of their sewing session, Elenor had trimmed her hat and Victoria had created a small flower to match. As they were clearing away, the door to the study burst open.

‘There you are! I’m home and thirsty, and the pot is cold!’ George shouted at his wife.

‘Hello Daddy.’ Rose said.

‘Leave. Out,’ he said in reply and pointed to the door.

Rose slipped out of the room and Elenor heard her run upstairs.

‘I said, where’s my tea?’ George’s voice was low and angry.

He ignored Elenor, and she stood in shock at the way he had spoken to his wife and child.

Victoria stopped folding fabric and went towards the door and her husband stepped to one side.

Anger rose in Elenor’s gullet. The man had no respect for women and again, Elenor decided it was her duty to remind him she was in the room. Keeping her voice calm, she spoke first to Victoria.

‘Stay where you are please, Victoria, and continue clearing the things away.’

She turned to George.

‘Sorry to keep you waiting, George. Victoria will be a while longer yet.’

From the corner of her eye she saw an angry man leave the room as she continued about her business.

‘I do hope George won’t reprimand you for doing your duty, Victoria.’

‘I apologise Elenor. Sometimes he forgets he is not teaching his pupils.’

Elenor leaned on the table and spoke across it to Victoria in a clear, precise voice.

‘I may be young and have a simple education, but I am not blind nor stupid, Victoria. Never apologise for George. Through you he has a roof over his head, and food in his belly. There is no place for a bully in this house. We will keep him waiting a while longer and take these things upstairs.’

Days ticked by and Elenor walked Rose to and from school. Their friendship bloomed, and on more than one occasion, Rose, Elenor, and her aunt sat learning together from the encyclopaedia. Each time she opened the book, Elenor went to the page bookmarked with a scrap of paper on which she’d written, ‘a country to visit one day’. Canada had captured her attention.

Rose was fascinated by the bears. Aunt Maude proved herself a quiet, patient tutor, and Elenor enjoyed their time together.

Elenor’s nineteenth birthday was just a few days away, and Rose let it be known how disappointed she was that adults did not celebrate. From Elenor’s point of view, having never celebrated the day for many years, she had no expectations. She promised herself a walk into town and a browse the department store.

She hoped to find the courage to go to the tearooms around the corner from the store. When Elenor had peered through the window on her first visit, she’d noted a few young women seated as if in wait for a companion. Her plan was to pretend just that and enjoy a birthday treat. She would borrow a few coins from her aunt’s emergency dish and repay the money when she had earned a wage.

The morning of her birthday arrived and with it a misty grey atmosphere, but it didn’t bother Elenor, knowing she had the protection of her new coat. After enjoying a warm bath, Elenor dressed in her wine-coloured outfit.

Entering the dining room, Elenor was aware her aunt had not arrived, or eaten and left. It puzzled her as to why her aunt asked for her to live in and help but had never asked Elenor to do anything for her. After waiting a few minutes, she made a start on her porridge and was pleased to see Victoria arrive with a hot pot of tea.