The Summer Maiden

Caroline glanced at Gilroy’s set expression and she had a feeling that anything they said would be repeated to Mrs Colville. She snatched Maria’s spoon and shovelled the rest of the dessert into her mouth, gulping it down with difficulty as it was cold and glutinous. She stood up, waving the empty plate in front of Gilroy. ‘It’s all gone. You can tell tales to your mistress if you like, but I’m taking Miss Maria out for a walk in the sunshine.’

Maria rose hastily from the table. ‘I’ll fetch my bonnet and parasol.’ She scuttled past Gilroy as if afraid that the affronted servant might try to prevent her leaving.

Caroline fixed the maid with a hard stare as she left the room. Whatever happened, she would not allow the servants to bully Maria – it was bad enough having to stand by and watch the poor girl being browbeaten by someone who was supposed to love and care for her.

Minutes later they were walking beneath the trees on the pier head.

‘I feel quite guilty,’ Maria said shyly. ‘I should have asked Grandmama’s permission.’

‘Nonsense. You’re not a prisoner and we’re only going for a short walk on a sunny afternoon. I told Gilroy to inform Mrs Colville where we were going, that should be quite sufficient. You aren’t a child, Maria.’

‘I know, but Grandmama is accustomed to ruling my life.’

‘Then it’s high time she learned that you are grown up, and in a year or so you’ll reach your majority.’

‘She plans to have me married off before then.’

Caroline came to a halt beneath a London plane tree. ‘Has she selected your future husband?’

‘I don’t know, but I hope not.’

‘You’ll have to stand firm. She can’t force you to marry someone you neither know nor like.’

‘You don’t know her as I do, Caroline. Grandmama has a will of iron.’

‘I can be very stubborn, too. I’m on your side now, Maria. We’ll stand up to her together.’

Maria came to a sudden halt as they emerged on to Wapping High Street. ‘Look, there’s our office building. Shall we pay Phin a surprise visit? He’ll be astounded to see me out and about.’

‘I don’t see why not.’ Caroline had not intended to visit Colville Shipping Company so soon, but now the opportunity had arisen she did not intend to turn it down. What could be more innocent than Miss Maria Colville paying a social call on her cousin, who just happened to be the head of the company?

The first person Caroline saw when she entered the building was none other than Sidney Masters. Bold as brass, he was seated behind the reception desk, but his bland smile froze when he recognised her and he stumbled to his feet.

‘Miss er …’

‘Miss Manley,’ Caroline said hastily. ‘I know you, Mr Masters. You used to work for the Mannings.’

He licked his lips, giving her an owl-like stare. ‘Yes, Miss Man—’

‘Manley,’ Caroline said firmly. ‘I am Miss Manley, Miss Colville’s companion, and she would like to see Mr Colville.’

Masters swallowed convulsively. His face was a picture of consternation and confusion. ‘Miss Manley,’ he repeated dully. ‘But, I thought …’

Caroline moved closer, leaning over the desk. ‘Does Mr Colville know that you accepted money from Parkinson that he’d taken without permission from his employer?’ she said in a low voice. ‘I think he might be very interested to learn the facts.’

‘No, miss. It were Parkinson who opened the safe, not me. Don’t say anything, please. I can’t afford to lose this job.’

‘Just keep what you know to yourself and I will return the compliment. Please inform Mr Colville that we’re here.’

‘Yes, Miss Manley.’ Masters stood up and backed away as if in the presence of royalty. Caroline turned to Maria, who was gazing round the remarkable entrance hall with its carved oak panelling hung with paintings of sailing ships, screw steamers and the latest ship of the line. ‘This is all very impressive. You must be proud of your cousin for building up the business to what it is today.’

Maria gave her a curious look. ‘You sound as if you know something about shipping.’

‘I grew up close to the river, and I love ships,’ Caroline said casually. ‘We’re a maritime nation, after all.’

‘I wish I knew more about the business. Not that I’d be much use because I am quite a dunce when it comes to learning, but I’m sure there must be some way in which I could contribute.’

‘I’m sure there is.’ Caroline turned to see Phineas Colville striding across the polished floor. ‘Your cousin is coming.’

Maria spun round and her pretty face lit up with pleasure as she hurried forward, holding out her hands. ‘Phin. Thank you for seeing us. I was afraid you might be too busy.’

His taut expression lightened just a little. ‘What are you doing here, Maria? This is no place for you.’ He glanced at Caroline. ‘I suppose this is your doing, Miss Manley. If you intend to interfere in my family’s affairs I should warn you that it won’t meet with my grandmother’s approval.’

‘Phin! That’s not fair.’ Maria’s voice shook with emotion. ‘I wanted to see the office. It had nothing to do with Caroline.’

‘But I imagine it was Miss Manley who brought you out in the heat of the day. You know you have a delicate constitution, Maria. I’m surprised that Grandmama allowed it.’

‘She didn’t,’ Maria said with an impish smile. ‘We escaped, Phin. And I’m not delicate. Grandmama keeps me hidden away because she’s ashamed of me.’

Phineas shot a wary look in Masters’ direction, but the clerk had his head bent over a pile of correspondence. ‘Come into the office, Maria. This is not the place to discuss family matters.’ He turned to Caroline, a frown creasing his brow. ‘You’d better come, too.’

Caroline bit back a sharp retort. Phineas Colville was just as arrogant and disagreeable as she had thought at their first meeting, but she might learn something to her advantage. If there was the slightest chance of saving even a small part of Manning and Chapman she would be prepared to do anything within reason. She followed them across the vast, cathedral-like hall to an office that was twice as big as the front parlour in the Captain’s House, and furnished with an eye to quality as well as comfort and utility.

‘This is a lovely office,’ Maria said enthusiastically. ‘Why have I never been here before, Phin?’

A wry smile curved his lips. ‘I didn’t know you were interested in the business, and I doubt if Grandmama would approve of a young woman venturing into a man’s world.’

Stung by his patronising attitude, Caroline glared at him. ‘I heard that there was a very able lady running your main competitor, Mr Colville.’

‘So able that the business is now bankrupt and closed down.’

‘I believe that was caused by the sudden demise of her husband, sir.’

He turned to give her a searching look. ‘You seem to know a lot about the shipping industry, Miss Manley.’

‘I’ve lived close to the river all my life.’

‘But this sort of business is not the usual subject of conversation in polite circles, or so I’ve been led to believe.’

‘Then my upbringing must have been lacking in social graces, sir. My father believed that girls should be educated to the same standard as boys, and that women have much to contribute outside the home as well as within its four walls.’

‘A radical view, certainly.’ He turned away, concentrating his attention on Maria. ‘Now you’ve seen my office, what do you think? Perhaps I should have some embroidered cushions or a few vases of flowers.’

‘That would make it much more comfortable,’ Maria said, smiling. ‘It is a very masculine room, Phin. Perhaps a couple of pictures on the wall would make it a little more cheerful.’

It was obvious to Caroline that Phineas was merely humouring his cousin and she suspected that he was laughing inwardly, although he maintained a straight face. She picked up a copy of Lloyd’s List and searched for the name of her uncle’s ship, the Esther Manning, but it was not amongst the expected arrivals. On the other hand there was no bad news, and that gave her cause for hope. What had befallen the vessel was anybody’s guess, but she felt a huge wave of relief and she could not wait to share it with Sadie and the boys. A sudden feeling of homesickness almost sucked the breath from her body, and she was beginning to regret her rash decision to accept the position at the Colvilles’ establishment. It had been taken for the best of reasons and the worst of reasons, and perhaps she should have given it more thought. Now she was embroiled in Maria’s troubles and they far exceeded her own. Even if she wanted to walk out on the Colville family she knew that she could not. Maria’s sad story had touched her heart, and she could not simply abandon her.

‘So where exactly does your interest in shipping lie, Miss Manley?’