Glynis Peters - The Secret Orphan

She turned and opened the door.

‘Don’t wave me off. You’ll let out the heat.’

Unable to resist another stab of sarcasm, she walked away. With only one bag to carry, her physical load was lighter. Her emotional one was much heavier. In her naivety, she’d hoped her brothers might have missed her and welcomed her back.

The walk back into the village was a sad one. She turned to take one last look at Tre Lodhen and her heart broke. Her tears remained in full flow until she spotted the bus on a return trip. She ran without looking back and climbed on board and burst into tears.

‘What on earth is the matter gal? Come now. Where you headed?’ asked the driver.

‘Back to Coventry. I can’t stay here.’

‘I know your brothers. Pair of drunkards they’ve become. They owe money all over. Let’s get you to Plymouth, you are best out of their clutches.’ Elenor slumped into a seat and changed her boots for her city shoes.

On the train she watched Cornwall fade away as if curtains closing on a stage.

A young man in a uniform sat opposite and Elenor was reminded of more pleasant times. Her birthday tea with Jackson St John and his grandfather.

She wondered if she would be blessed with a man who loved her at some point in her life. So far, she’d only had negative or undesirable communications from her father and brothers. Men who were supposed to love her. She wouldn’t want a man like George in her life. A man full of his own importance and no respect for women. She wanted someone who would smile when she entered a room, a man who would appreciate her gifts. Forcing back tears that seemed to threaten when least expected, she directed her thoughts on the pleasant image of Jackson in the hay field. She closed her eyes and imagined touching his muscular arms. Embarrassed by her new thoughts and the feelings they encouraged, she opened her eyes and looked out of the window just as they were pulling into Coventry station.

On the platform she could see George.

‘George. How did you know I was on the train and returning home?’

A scarlet-faced George stared at her in bewilderment.

‘I, um … err … I …’

Elenor noted he had a suitcase by his feet.

‘Are you waiting for me or off on one of your trips?’

He opened the door of the carriage she’d just left.

‘Another work-related lecture, Miss Cardew. Victoria is off to see her family in the morning, so your aunt will appreciate your early return.’

The whistle and scream of the train about to leave blew away some of his words. Elenor caught he would return Christmas Eve.

Confused by the fact Victoria was leaving her aunt alone and had not mentioned she had any intentions of visiting her family before Christmas, Elenor did not wait to see him off, although she had a sneaking suspicion he might have liked the attention. She took a quick walk home and went down the side entrance to the kitchen with the intention of making a hot drink before she went to bed.

To her surprise as she switched on the light, Victoria sat at the kitchen table in her nightwear. The woman never moved as Elenor walked up to her.

‘Gracious Victoria, you startled me. Are you unwell?’

Victoria shrugged her shoulders but didn’t give an answer.

‘Why are you home so soon, Elenor?’

Her voice sounded tired and Elenor sensed a hint of sadness.

‘I’ve just bumped into George. He said he is off on another trip, and you are to visit your family tomorrow. Is that right, you are leaving my aunt unattended? Were you taking Rose with you?’

Victoria rose from her seat. ‘How come you are back so soon?’

‘That’s my business. I can appreciate you wanting to visit your family, but my aunt needs support.’

She waited for Victoria to explain her decision to leave her aunt, but Victoria appeared distracted by other thoughts.

‘Victoria?’

‘I have no choice, George insists. I must be away for two days. I explained to your aunt I would leave everything in readiness for her, and she agreed. After all, I am her housekeeper, not her nurse.’

Elenor pushed her cup to one side.

‘It is not up to George when my aunt is to be left unattended. We call you housekeeper, but you know your post means caring for my aunt in all areas. Leaving her for two days is simply unacceptable. You can go because I am here, but understand I am not happy about the situation. I’m off to bed. I hope your family visit is more successful than mine. Goodnight.’

Elenor left the kitchen in a state of agitation. As she snuggled under the comfort of her eiderdown her anger towards George heightened.

The following day, Victoria sought out Elenor.

‘I apologise for last night, but I do have to return home.’

Elenor stared at her.

‘It is not up to George to suggest things which threaten my aunt’s well-being. I take it Rose is at school?’

Victoria nodded and stepped out into the drizzling rain.

‘Yes. A friend will bring her home.’

‘I’m surprised you are not taking her with you. All this to-ing and fro-ing by you and George needs to be addressed. It is happening more often than not lately.’

‘Rose needs to stay here.’

Picking up a basket, Victoria walked away, not waiting to continue the conversation.

Elenor sensed a change in the woman and stared out onto the garden. She couldn’t wait for spring when the flowers poked through the soil bringing promises of warmer days.

Setting up a tray for her aunt, she thought of how life might be if Victoria or George didn’t live with them. Thinking ahead, Elenor pondered on an idea. As George earned his own money and appeared to only spend it on trips away, Elenor might suggest they find a place of their own and ask Victoria to become a daily help rather than a live-in housekeeper. Then she remembered Rose. The girl lit up her life, and Elenor would miss her. She tucked the thought to the back of her mind and took the tray upstairs.

‘Good morning, Aunt. How are you this morning? Curtains open or closed?’

‘Good morning Elenor. Open. Why are you back so early?’

Elenor set the tray on her aunt’s lap.

Elenor relayed to her aunt about the upset in Summercourt. Her aunt finished eating and pushed the tray away.

‘Consider this your home now. You are surprisingly better behaved than I’d been led to believe. I enjoy your company.’

Selecting clothes from the wardrobe and drawers, it unnerved Elenor that her aunt appeared to not realise they may not have many years left together and Elenor’s future would need to be one of independence.

‘It is reassuring Aunt, thank you. I am an independent sort, so will seek employment for the future. There will be a time …’

‘Yes, yes. Come along, I do not want to stay in my nightgown all day.’

They spent the day talking about family members Elenor had never heard of, and Maude reminisced about when she had been the same age as Elenor.

‘You are very much like me. Fierce and independent.’

‘That is a compliment, Aunt.’

‘Ah, but you have the traits of your mother too. Quiet and loving. You have the qualities I would have wished for in a daughter.’

Elenor remembered the affection between the Canadian relatives and walked over to her aunt. She placed her arms around her neck and gave her a kiss on the cheek.

‘Thank you,’ she whispered.

By four o’clock the calm of the house had disappeared. Rose burst through the door bringing with her the damp fresh air.

‘Elenor. I missed you!’

She raced over and hugged Elenor’s body.

‘Gracious, I was only gone for a day,’ Elenor said with a laugh. She wiped her floured hands on a cloth and bent down to Rose.