The Summer Maiden

Caroline drew Max aside. ‘Take Jimmy to the schoolroom and I’ll send up some food. This is going to be deadly dull.’

Max nodded. ‘Thanks, Carrie. I’m starving, so don’t forget.’ He turned to his brother and whispered something in Jimmy’s ear that brought a smile to his sad eyes.

Caroline watched her brothers take the stairs two at a time. They were young and resilient, and would have to return to Rugby School very soon, where they would continue their education, but it was Mama who concerned her the most. At the moment Esther appeared pale but calm, and in control of her emotions as she greeted her guests. Caroline and Sadie stood at her side, acknowledging the hesitant commiserations, awkward silences and set smiles as friends and acquaintances filed past. Housemaids relieved the visitors of hats, parasols and tightly furled umbrellas, while Ingram directed them to the Chinese Room where refreshments had been laid out on sparkling-white tablecloths. Caroline had checked everything before they left for Brookwood, and she had personally supervised the flower arrangements, refusing to stick to the convention of funereal white lilies by the addition of bowls spilling over with tea roses and honeysuckle from the garden. She drew one of the maids aside and gave her instructions to take two generous plates of food upstairs to the schoolroom. Satisfied that her brothers would be looked after, Caroline went to join her mother and Sadie.

‘It will soon be over,’ Sadie said in a whisper.

‘That’s what I’m afraid of,’ Esther answered in an undertone. ‘Reality will set in, but I’m not sure how I can face life without Jack.’

Caroline squeezed her mother’s cold hand. ‘We’ll help you, Mama. There’s nothing so bad that we can’t overcome it if we’re together.’

Esther’s lips quivered into a semblance of a smile. ‘Thank you, darling girl. I know I can rely on you.’ She looked up at the sound of hurrying footsteps and her smile broadened. ‘Alice, you came.’

Caroline turned to see Lady Alice Bearwood, dressed in the latest Paris fashion. Her pert bonnet was decorated with silk roses and satin bows, and the frilled skirts of her gown were drawn back into a large bustle. She exuded an aroma of expensive French perfume as she embraced Caroline before turning to give Esther a hug.

‘My dear Essie, I am so sorry I wasn’t able to attend the funeral, but I had to support Bearwood, and I must say he addressed the House in the most impressive manner.’ She held Esther at arm’s length, gazing into her face. ‘Can you forgive me?’

‘Of course. I understand how important Sir Henry is now.’

Despite her mother’s brave smile, Caroline knew that she was close to breaking point, and she squeezed her hand. ‘It’s been a difficult day, Aunt Alice.’

‘I know, and I would have attended the funeral had I been able. Your father was a good man and will be much missed.’

Caroline looked over her shoulder, frowning. ‘Is Cordelia with you, Aunt?’

‘No, I’m afraid not. She was at a ball last evening and she was still in bed when I left. I didn’t want to disturb her beauty sleep.’ Alice smiled and shook her head. ‘The season is quite exhausting, and Cordelia is much in demand.’

‘Essie, you should rest now.’ Sadie stepped forward, acknowledging Alice with a curt nod of her head. ‘It’s been a trying morning, Lady Alice.’

Esther opened her mouth to reply, but Alice slipped her arm around her friend’s shoulders. ‘Nonsense, Sadie. Essie will survive this terrible blow, but what she really needs is company and something to take her mind off things.’

‘Thank you, Alice, but I’m quite capable of speaking up for myself. I will do my duty. These people have come to pay their respects to Jack and I owe it to them to show my gratitude. It must be done.’ Esther started towards the Chinese Room, pausing to look over her shoulder. ‘I’m afraid I can’t face taking the boys back to school, Carrie. You will have to travel to Rugby with them.’

‘I will, Mama. We’ll leave first thing in the morning.’

‘I’d like you to go with her, Sadie,’ Esther said firmly. ‘They have only a short time before the term ends, and maybe you could persuade the headmaster to allow them to return home with you. I could simply keep them away, but that would be bad form.’ She continued across the hall to join the rest of the mourners with Alice at her side.

Caroline stopped outside the Chinese Room, barring Sadie’s way. ‘Just one thing, Aunt. I don’t think we should wear black tomorrow.’

‘Why ever not? It’s the custom, Carrie. We must observe the niceties.’

‘Well, I wasn’t suggesting you should wear your beloved red boots,’ Caroline said, chuckling. ‘I remember how you used to sport them on every occasion possible.’

Sadie pursed her lips. ‘I was younger then. I wouldn’t dream of doing such a thing now.’

‘You were more fun then, Aunt. Anyway, that’s not what I’m saying. I just think it’s hard enough for the boys without us looking like a pair of carrion crows. I’ll wear my grey poplin, and you have a pretty lavender silk, if I remember rightly. We can change back into mourning when we return home.’

‘I think you’re right, Carrie,’ Sadie said slowly. ‘Lavender silk it shall be. Now we’d better go and support your poor mother. She’s being very brave, but I’m afraid she might find it all too much.’

Next day at Rugby School, the headmaster’s study smelled of old books, beeswax polish and ink. Dust motes danced and twirled in the rays of sunlight streaming through the tall windows, and the sound of the school bell being rung enthusiastically by an overzealous pupil signalled the end of morning lessons. The boys had been spirited away by Matron as soon as they had arrived, and Caroline had asked to see the headmaster, but she had been told that he was too busy to see anyone. In the end she had had to demand to see him and they had been granted a brief interview.

He had listened sympathetically, although, with the boys’ best interests in mind, he had said he was reluctant to grant Caroline’s request for her brothers to be released early from their studies. She had stood her ground, insisting that it was their mother’s wish to have her sons with her at such a difficult time. It was a short battle of wills and Caroline thought she had been winning the conversation when the headmaster was called away on urgent business. She stood by the smoke-blackened fireplace, anxiously awaiting his return while Sadie paced the floor.

‘What’s keeping him?’ Sadie glared angrily at the clock on the mantelshelf. ‘I’ll be very cross if we’ve spent three hours on the train only to be fobbed off by some jumped-up pedagogue.’

Despite her anxiety, Caroline could not repress a chuckle. ‘That’s a big word, Aunt Sadie.’

Sadie tossed her head. ‘Just because I didn’t have much education it doesn’t mean that I’m ignorant, Miss Caroline.’

‘Don’t get on your high horse. I remember when you used to pull faces at my governess behind her back, and you used to sneak food into the nursery when Max and I were sent to bed without any supper for being naughty.’

Sadie pursed her lips, but her eyes were smiling. ‘Don’t remind me. I shouldn’t have gone behind your parents’ backs, but I thought they were a bit too strict with you at times.’

‘And we loved you for standing up for us.’ Caroline was suddenly alert. ‘Someone’s coming.’ She clasped her hands tightly, hardly daring to breathe as the door opened.

‘Good afternoon, ladies.’ A tall man entered the room, his black gown billowing round him, and he had to bend his head in order to prevent his mortarboard from catching on the lintel. He closed the door, turning to them with a rueful smile. ‘That is the disadvantage of being too tall.’

‘Maybe it’s the fault of the doorway being too low,’ Sadie said, smiling.

Caroline glanced at her in surprise. Was it possible that her spinster aunt, who always obeyed the rules of etiquette, was flirting with this gangly, copper-haired teacher?

‘I should introduce myself.’ He looked from one to the other, his smile broadening. ‘My name is Laurence Bromley, and I have the pleasure of teaching both Max and James. The headmaster asked me to fetch the boys, but I wanted to speak to you first.’

‘I am Miss Sadie Dixon, and this is Miss Caroline Manning, the boys’ sister.’ Sadie’s cheeks were suspiciously pink as she made the necessary introductions, and Mr Bromley was smiling foolishly.

‘Is anything wrong?’ Caroline demanded. ‘Why do you need to speak to me? I simply want to take my brothers home before the end of term. Our mother needs to have them with her at this sad time.’

‘Yes, so I was told, but the Head is unlikely to give his consent, and he’s very strict about this sort of thing. They’re in the anteroom waiting to say goodbye.’

‘That isn’t good enough,’ Caroline said firmly. ‘It would be better if I had the Head’s permission, but I should warn you that I intend to take them home, regardless.’

‘In your position, I would do the same thing. I’ll show them in.’ He ushered the boys into the room and left, closing the door softly behind him.

‘I’m the man of the house now,’ Max said in a choked voice. ‘I want to go home and take care of you and Mama.’

Jimmy nodded, forcing a smile. ‘And I’ll do my best to cheer Mama up.’

Caroline dropped a kiss on his curly head. ‘I know you will, Jimmy. It will be lovely having both of you at home for a while longer.’

‘Mr Bromley is leaving today,’ Max said eagerly. ‘He’s a good chap, Carrie. All the boys like him, but he’s had some rows with the Head.’

Sadie eyed him curiously. ‘Mr Bromley doesn’t give the impression of being a difficult man.’

‘Well, it’s none of our business.’ Caroline patted James on the back. ‘If you’re feeling better we’ll get going. I told the cabby to wait for us.’

‘What about our trunks and tuck boxes?’ Max said frowning. ‘If I know the fellows in my dorm they’ll take what’s left, although there’s not much.’

‘I’m sure we’ve got enough food at home to satisfy your appetite.’ Sadie ruffled his hair, but he moved away, gazing anxiously at his reflection in the glass-fronted bookcase and smoothing his dark-blond curls.