Dilly Court - The Summer Maiden

‘These are all genuine, as far as I can see, and none of the accounts seem to have been settled. It looks as though Parkinson was telling the truth.’

Sadie closed the ledger and laid it on the desk. ‘I’m afraid so, Carrie. Our only hope is for your uncle to return with enough money to satisfy at least some of the creditors, but even a quick glance at the accounts shows that we would need a small miracle to keep the company from insolvency.’

‘Papa must have known about the state of things,’ Caroline said slowly. ‘Why did he allow it to happen?’

‘Only he could answer that, but I do know that Jack blamed the Colvilles for taking away our trade, and I know he went to see Phineas Colville before he went to Germany. He seemed to be more cheerful afterwards, but his mood changed suddenly and he became very withdrawn. Anyway, whatever went on then, it’s up to us to try to salvage what we can.’

Caroline rose to her feet and went to the window. The sun was shining and the River Thames reflected the azure sky, but the heat of midsummer had brought misery to those in the city. Flies swarmed over the detritus in the gutter and the tangled mess of horse dung and straw, which carpeted the cobbled streets. The stench from sewers and uncollected night soil filtered through gaps in the door, and just yards from the window, she could see stick-thin, bare-footed children openly begging. A small gang of bigger and bolder boys were stalking an unwary pedestrian like a pack of hungry wolf cubs, no doubt intent on picking the gentleman’s pockets for anything from a handkerchief to a wallet or a fat purse. It would be easy to condemn them as young villains, but, despite her sheltered upbringing, Caroline understood that terrible poverty existed, although so far it had not touched her life. She turned to Sadie with a sudden feeling of dread.

‘What will happen to us if Uncle George doesn’t return soon?’

Sadie reached for her bonnet and rammed it on her head, tying the ribbons without attempting to check her appearance in the small, fly-spotted mirror that was perched on the mantelshelf next to the black slate clock. ‘Heaven help us, Carrie. That’s all I can say.’ She pulled on her mittens and picked up her reticule. ‘But one thing is for certain – we must not tell your mama.’

‘She’ll have to know some time,’ Carrie said, frowning. ‘Unless I can persuade her to go and stay with Aunt Alice.’

‘They were quite close at one time.’

‘Then I know what I must do. Have we enough money for the cab fare to Bearwood House?’

A wry smile wiped away Sadie’s worried frown. ‘We are not quite destitute. The cab can drop me off at home and take you on to Piccadilly. I think it might be better if you approach Lady Alice on your own.’

Cordelia was in the drawing room at Bearwood House, seated on the floor with her skirts billowing around her like the petals of a flower, and the Aubusson carpet was scattered with swatches of material. She looked up and smiled.

‘Caroline, this is a lovely surprise. You’re just in time to help me choose between silk, lace and muslin, and I’m at a loss to decide what colour will suit me best.’

Caroline felt a sudden surge of impatience – the loss of a beloved parent had turned her whole world upside down, and all Cordelia Bearwood could think of was her next ball gown. But Cordelia’s smile was sunny and she was not to know of the catastrophic events that had overtaken the Manning family. Caroline took a deep breath and forced her lips into a smile.

‘I need to talk to your mama, Delia. Is she at home?’

‘What’s the matter?’ Cordelia scrambled to her feet. Taking Caroline by the hand she led her to the sofa and pressed her down onto the silk damask. ‘My dear, you’re white as a sheet. Are you ill?’

‘I’m quite well, Delia. But I must see Lady Alice. It really is quite urgent.’

‘I’ll go and find her. Wait here, I’ll be as quick as I can.’ Cordelia hurried to the door, pausing to glance over her shoulder. ‘You aren’t going to faint, or anything stupid, are you?’

‘I’m made of stronger stuff, and I’m sorry if I’ve alarmed you, but Lady Alice will know what to do.’

‘Wait there – don’t move.’ With a flurry of muslin skirts and lace-frilled petticoats, Cordelia hurried from the room.

Caroline sat very still, gazing around the luxuriously appointed room with a stifled sigh. Until today she had taken this standard of living for granted, but, for the first time, she was looking at the expensive hand-painted wallpaper and the priceless oil paintings with a new eye. She ran her fingers over the peach-coloured damask, so delicate to the touch that it felt like caressing a baby’s smooth skin. Each piece of furniture had been matched perfectly with its neighbour. The pier table standing between two tall windows, draped with peach damask curtains, was set below a pier glass in which she could see herself reflected. She dropped her gaze, clasping her hands tightly in her lap as the hard truth dawned upon her – this would most probably be the last time she might visit Bearwood House on equal terms with her hosts.

She jumped as the door opened to admit Lady Alice, followed by her daughter, and Caroline rose to her feet, dropping a curtsey.

‘Good heavens!’ Alice stared at her in dismay. ‘Whatever is the matter, Carrie? Delia said that you were upset, but you look distraught. Sit down and tell me what’s happened.’

Haltingly at first, Caroline explained her predicament, and then the words came tumbling out. ‘I can’t tell, Mama. She’s broken-hearted as it is, and to lose Papa and our home would be a terrible blow.’

Alice patted her on the shoulder. ‘Your mama is made of stronger stuff than you realise, Carrie. If you’d seen how she coped during our long sea voyages, when I was laid low with mal de mer , and how she rose to the challenge of living in the Australian goldfields, you would know that she can cope with almost anything.’

‘Except the loss of my father,’ Caroline said sadly. ‘Even if Uncle George were to return today, I doubt if we could save our home. He might be able to persuade our creditors to allow him time to pay off the company’s debts, but according to Sadie they are enormous.’

‘When is your uncle’s ship due in, Carrie?’

‘It’s overdue. No one knows where she is.’

‘That’s worrying.’ Alice rose to her feet. ‘Ring the bell, Delia. I’ll order my carriage and we’ll go to Finsbury Circus. I think, in the circumstances, that it might be best if I break the news to Essie.’

Caroline stood up, eyeing her with a worried frown. ‘What will you say to her?’

‘Don’t worry, my dear. I know how to handle your mama. We’ve been friends for twenty years and we’ve been through a lot together. I’m going down to Devonshire – I plan to spend a few weeks at Daumerle – and I’ll suggest that she accompanies me. In fact, I’ll insist upon it.’

‘That’s very kind of you, but what about my brothers? They’re supposed to be in school.’

‘I’ll talk it over with Essie, but it sounds as if they will have to leave Rugby. Maybe they would like to spend some time with us in Devonshire, and you are more than welcome, also, Carrie.’

Cordelia put her head on one side, eyeing Caroline with a worried frown. ‘You poor girl. I wish now that I hadn’t accepted the invitation to spend the rest of the summer at Fairleigh Hall with Euphemia’s family, which means that I won’t be able to join you. I suppose I could cancel the arrangement.’

‘No, please don’t do that on my account,’ Caroline said hastily. ‘I want to stay in London. There must be something I can do to keep the company going until Uncle George returns.’