Dilly Court - The Summer Maiden

‘That’s very sad,’ Caroline said sympathetically. ‘Are you sure they aren’t simply taking care of you?’

‘Does your idea of taking care of someone include beatings, being locked in your room and fed on bread and water for days?’

Horrified, Caroline shook her head. ‘Certainly not.’

‘Then let’s hope that Phineas can persuade Grandmama to take you on.’

‘At least you have a caring brother,’ Caroline said, grasping at anything that might bring a smile to Maria’s sad face.

‘Phin? He’s not my brother, he’s my cousin.’

‘Oh, I see.’

‘No, I don’t think you do, Miss Manley. It’s not as simple as that.’

‘I don’t understand.’

‘My birth caused a scandal that has never been forgotten. My mother did something for which I have to atone, even if it takes the rest of my life.’

‘Good heavens!’ Caroline gazed at her, wondering what Maria’s mother might have done that would lead to such a dire statement. ‘Surely not.’

Maria opened her mouth to answer but was prevented from speaking by the sound of footsteps. Caroline turned her head to see Phineas Colville advancing on them, and she experienced a sudden and violent feeling of dislike. The man was arrogant and authoritarian. Surely he could see how his young cousin was suffering, and yet he did nothing to help her. The Colville family had a lot to answer for, and whatever the outcome of her interview she could not and would not leave Maria to endure such treatment.

‘Rest easy, Maria,’ Phineas said calmly. ‘I’ve convinced Grandmama that it would be sensible to give Miss Manley a month’s trial, starting tomorrow.’ He headed for the graceful curving staircase, taking two steps at a time with the ease of an athlete.

‘Thank you, Phin.’ Maria clapped her hands, her eyes shining with delight. ‘I couldn’t be more pleased.’

‘I’d better go home and pack my things,’ Caroline said dazedly. She had not expected that Phineas would put in a good word for her, but then he had no idea of her true identity. She wondered if he would have acted so generously had he known that she was Jack Manning’s daughter.

‘I can’t wait for you to move in.’ Maria followed Caroline to the door. ‘You can’t imagine what this means to me. I’ve never had a close friend and I truly hope we will get on well together.’

Caroline turned to her with a wry smile. ‘I’m being paid to look after your best interests, Maria, but I would do so anyway,’ she added hastily, noting the sudden downturn of Maria’s mouth and the look of hurt in her eyes. ‘We will be like sisters, I promise you.’

‘Oh, I do hope so.’ Maria opened the front door. ‘You will come early, won’t you? Maybe we could go for a little walk. I’m not allowed out alone and I have to wait for Grandmama to take me in the barouche.’

‘I’m sure that could be arranged.’ Acting on impulse, Caroline leaned over to brush Maria’s thin cheek with a kiss. ‘We’ll do well together, Maria. I’ll see you in the morning.’

Caroline walked away, but when she glanced over her shoulder she could see Maria standing in the doorway, waving a hanky like a child saying goodbye to a loved one. She raised her hand in acknowledgement and hurried on. It was a relief to know she had employment, but as she walked back to the Captain’s House Caroline wondered if she had done the right thing in accepting the first situation that had come along. Throwing her lot in with the family whose business practices had all but bankrupted the Mannings might not be such a good idea after all. But Maria’s plight had touched her heart and she simply could not walk away and leave her in that beautiful but cold and austere setting. It seemed cruel and unjust to blame Maria for whatever it was that her mother had done to upset her family. Maria Colville was in desperate need of a champion, and now she had one.

Caroline’s first day in Pier House was not what she might have wished. Maria gave her a warm welcome, but Mrs Colville was as frosty as ever and spent a good fifteen minutes going through all the things that Caroline was not allowed to do. Having laid down the law in no uncertain terms, she rang for Gilroy and Caroline was taken below stairs to the housekeeper’s office.

Mrs Bury was a little less friendly than her mistress, and Gilroy had been downright rude. Caroline stood in front of the housekeeper, hands folded demurely in front of her, but the sudden change in her status was becoming more obvious with every passing minute. A short while ago she had been Miss Caroline Manning, daughter of a wealthy ship-owner and had had servants running round after her – now she was neither part of the family nor was she a servant.

‘You will be responsible only to Mrs Colville, but I assume that she will have told you that already.’ Mrs Bury looked Caroline up and down with a sceptical twist to her thin lips. ‘I will introduce you to the servants, and then I will show you your room.’ She rose from behind her desk with a rustle of starched petticoats. ‘Follow me, Miss Manley.’

Caroline had rarely ventured below stairs when living in Finsbury Circus, but she was familiar with the general layout of pantries, still rooms, boot rooms and kitchens. Mrs Bury allowed her a cursory glance into each area, ending up in the kitchen where Cook was busy preparing luncheon. Through the open door Caroline could see a young skivvy, who was standing on an upturned wooden box in order to reach the sink as she struggled to cope with the never-ending supply of dirty pots and pans. The smell of washing soda and grease wafted out in damp steamy clouds, but Mrs Bury hurried Caroline out of the kitchen and led her down a long dark corridor to a cupboard containing uniforms. She brought out a faded grey poplin gown with white collar and cuffs.

‘Mrs Colville wants you to wear this, although in my experience ladies’ companions usually wear their own clothes. This was last worn by Miss Maria’s governess and it’s quite serviceable, although it might be a bit large for you.’

‘I would prefer to wear my own clothes,’ Caroline said firmly. ‘As you say, Mrs Bury, it’s not the custom for a lady’s companion to wear a uniform, let alone one that has seen better days. I will tell Mrs Colville so.’

A fleeting look of admiration crossed Mrs Bury’s face. ‘Very well, Miss Manley. I’m sure you would like to see your room. Gilroy has taken your luggage upstairs for you.’

Mrs Bury took the back stairs, which were steep and narrow, winding their way through the house in a discreet manner to enable the servants to do their work without disrupting the lives of the family. Caroline’s room was on the third floor at the side of the building overlooking the entrance to Wapping Basin. It was small and crowded with unmatched furniture, but the single bed looked reasonably comfortable and the room was spotlessly clean.

‘Luncheon is at noon,’ Mrs Bury said as she prepared to leave. ‘You will take your meals in the dining room, of course.’

The door closed on her, leaving Caroline to unpack her valise. She was just putting the last of her clothes in a deal chest of drawers when there was a knock on the door.

‘Come in.’ Caroline knew it was Maria even before she burst into the room.

‘I’m sorry they put you in here,’ Maria said breathlessly. ‘I wanted Mrs Bury to give you the room next to mine, but she said that you were to be put in here, and I suspect that was Grandmama’s doing.’

‘It’s perfectly fine,’ Caroline said, closing the top drawer. ‘I’m done now, so what would you like to do, Maria? Shall we go for a walk?’

Maria’s cheeks paled. ‘I can’t – I mean I have to ask Grandmama first.’