The Christmas Wedding

It took almost an hour to get the kitchen clean, and Linnet had proved herself invaluable as she set about the work methodically, managing to get the fire going so that it blazed up the chimney. She showed Daisy where the pump was situated in the back yard, and the privy, which was in a small wooden hut that had been built to straddle a narrow stream.

‘Does the night soil collector get this far out?’ Daisy asked.

Linnet’s laughter echoed off the outbuildings. ‘Lord, no, miss. Lean closer and you’ll hear the brook racing down to the creek. You sit on the seat and let nature do the rest. No need to dig latrines or such.’

Daisy felt a blush rise to her cheek. As a person raised in the city she knew she had a lot to learn. ‘Thank you, Linnet. An excellent idea, I’m sure.’

‘And don’t worry about the pump water,’ Linnet said, smiling. ‘You’re luckier than most of the people in the village: this one taps into a spring deep down. The water is crystal clear and safe to drink.’ She lifted the pump handle and began to work it vigorously. ‘But this will be my job. You’re a young lady and you don’t need to know this.’

‘I’ll have to find something to do with my time.’ Daisy watched closely. ‘I never gave a thought to how hard servants have to work, but I’m beginning to appreciate it now.’ She went indoors, leaving Linnet to her labours. It was little wonder that the servants at the Carringtons’ establishment had treated her with scorn. They must have considered her to be ungrateful and idle, while they had to slave from dawn until well after dark in order to please their employers. Daisy felt a twinge of sympathy for them as she looked down at her reddened hands. She held the door open for Linnet as she staggered past her, hefting two wooden pails filled with water.

‘Thank you, Linnet,’ she said earnestly. ‘I don’t know how I would have managed if you hadn’t come knocking on the door.’

‘Thank the young doctor, miss. He’s so good and kind – I just hope he decides to stay in Little Creek, but I’m afraid he’ll go away and leave us without a physician again.’

‘Was it so very bad before he came to live here?’

‘I doubt if you could imagine it, miss. I mean it’s obvious you’re used to better things. You’re a lady for a start and you’ve got hands that have never known hard work, but for us in the village it’s a matter of life and death to have a doctor nearby. My cousin died in childbirth, and the babe soon after. If Dr Neville had been at Creek Hall I dare say they’d both be alive now.’

‘I’m so sorry,’ Daisy said gently. ‘How sad.’

‘Life is hard, miss.’ Linnet filled two large pans with water and placed them on the hob. ‘We can finish up when the water is warm enough. Then your cook can make a start on supper and I’ll head off home. Mum will be wondering where I’ve got to.’

‘But you will come tomorrow?’ Daisy asked anxiously.

‘Yes, of course, miss. I’ll be here early, so no need to worry.’ She cocked her head on one side. ‘That sounds like your furniture has arrived. I can finish up here if you want to go and help the old lady.’

Daisy smothered a giggle. ‘My aunt is Mrs Marshall and she wouldn’t thank you for calling her old. I will go and help, and I just want you to know I’m very grateful to you, Linnet. You’ve worked so hard.’

‘That’s what I’m here for, miss.’ Linnet wiped her hands on her apron.

Daisy left the kitchen and went to help her aunt, who was firing instructions at the delivery men like an army sergeant.

‘Perhaps they’d like some refreshment, Aunt,’ Daisy said softly. ‘There’ll soon be enough hot water to make a pot of tea and they’ve had a long journey from London.’

‘Let them do their job first. Time for tea when they’re finished. You can help by unpacking the linen. It’s in that wicker hamper.’

‘It looks as if they’re unloading the beds first. I’ll make them up, if you wish.’

‘That’s a job for Hattie or the girl.’

‘I need to be usefully employed, Aunt. I can’t spend my days idling.’

‘You’ve been brought up to be a young lady, Daisy. I owed it to your parents to see that you have the best chance in life. It’s just a pity you allowed Julian Carrington to get away. Rich husbands don’t grow on trees, my girl. I’m afraid you’ve lost your chance now, and that nice Dr Neville isn’t likely to stay for long. No doubt he’ll go where he can earn a decent living. I’m afraid you’ll be on the shelf if you don’t do something about it, and you know how hard life is for women without means, as well as the disgrace of being an old maid.’

‘I’ll find something to do with my life, Aunt. I don’t intend to be a burden on you for much longer. I just need to work out what is best for me, and then nothing will stop me. I promise you that.’

Chapter Four (#u41b0e7d7-195b-5fc7-856f-84ebb6fbe3a3)

Eleanora and Sidney had retired soon after supper, and Hattie had gone to her room on the dot of ten, leaving Daisy to wait up for Toby. She spent the time unpacking boxes of linen, but she was tired, and when he had not returned by midnight she decided to go to bed, leaving the key under a flower-pot outside the front door. Despite the lateness of the hour she was not worried – she imagined him and Nick playing cards after a good dinner, or sitting by the fire chatting about their student days. Toby, she knew, kept London hours and she suspected that Nick was glad to have his company. It must be lonely living in a large house without the comfort of a family to fill the rooms with laughter. Although, thinking back, there had not been much jollity in the Carrington household, and Master Timothy had often come crying to Daisy when his father had punished him severely for some minor misdeed. Julian had been the only member of the household who had had a kind word and a smile for Daisy, and now she was away from Queen Square she realised how easy it must have been for him to charm her into believing his promises of undying love and devotion.

All these thoughts passed through Daisy’s mind as she lay in her bed with the covers pulled up to her chin and prepared for sleep. It came eventually, and she awakened to the sound of the wind rattling the branches of a tree close to her window, and the scrape of thorns on the windowpanes as the stems of a climbing rose brushed against the glass. It took a moment or two for her to work out why she was sleeping in a strange room, and then the memories of the previous day came flooding back. She sat up and yawned, but the chill in the room was even greater than that of her small bedchamber in Queen Square. Mrs Carrington had not allowed the governess to have the benefit of a fire, no matter how cold it was, and Daisy had often had to break the ice in the pitcher before she could pour the water into the washbasin. She reached for her wrap and was about to get up when someone tapped gently on the door.

‘Come in.’

The door opened and Linnet entered carrying a jug of steaming water in one hand and a cup of tea in the other. ‘I took the liberty of bringing this up to you. The mistress was asking why you wasn’t at breakfast.’

‘That’s very thoughtful of you, Linnet. Thank you.’ Daisy took the cup and saucer from her and sipped the tea. ‘It’s so cold. Is it snowing again?’

Linnet placed the jug on the oak washstand. ‘The east wind got up in the night. It blows in off the sea – straight from Russia, so my pa says. If it goes round to the north, there’ll be more snow.’

‘It feels much colder here than it does in London, but I dare say I’ll get used to it. Would you be kind enough to tell my aunt that I’ll be down soon?’

‘Yes, miss.’ Linnet bobbed a curtsey. ‘I could light the fire for you, if you so wish.’

‘Maybe this evening. We don’t want to waste coal.’

‘There are plenty of logs in the shed. I lit the fires downstairs and helped Hattie to get the range going. She’s still grumbling about it, but I dare say she’ll get used to it, given time.’

Daisy sipped her tea, which was still quite hot and more than welcome. ‘I’m afraid she might leave and return to London. It’s very different here in the heart of the countryside.’

‘There’s plenty who would be more than willing to take her place, miss.’ Linnet backed towards the doorway. ‘There’s not many jobs to be had in Little Creek and times are hard. We just hope that the doctor will stay, but people are saying he’ll go back to London.’

‘I think that’s up to Dr Neville.’ Daisy placed the cup and saucer on a small table near the window. ‘I must get dressed and I mustn’t keep you from your work, but it’s good to have you here, Linnet. We need someone young and capable like you.’

Linnet’s plain face flushed scarlet. ‘Ta, miss.’ She hurried from the room and her booted feet clattered on the bare boards as she hurried downstairs.

Eleanora was about to rise from the table when Daisy walked into the small dining room. ‘Your uncle has been up for hours,’ she said, sighing. ‘I hope he isn’t going continue like this or I’ll never get any peace.’

Daisy suppressed a smile. ‘Where is he now, Aunt?’

‘Goodness knows. He put on his hat and coat and went out muttering something about fishing, although he’s never shown any interest in such a thing before.’

Daisy took a seat at the table and helped herself to porridge, adding a generous amount of sugar and cream. ‘It would be good for him to have something to occupy his time. A man who’s worked all his life might find it hard to do nothing.’

‘I suppose so, and we could eat the fish he caught. At least it gets him out from under my feet and I have such a lot to do.’

‘I can help you.’

‘Thank you, dear, but I need to do things my way, and I’ll get the village girl to help. She has to learn our ways.’

‘You mean Linnet. She has a name, Aunt.’

‘I don’t want to be too familiar. Servants get above themselves in such a situation.’

‘You call Hattie by her Christian name.’

‘Hattie has been with me for twenty years or more, and I don’t want to lose her. Anyway, I know how to handle my servants, thank you, Daisy. Why don’t you wrap up and go for a walk? Get to know the area, and if you see your uncle tell him to keep away from the river-bank. He can’t swim.’ Eleanora left the room and Daisy was able to finish her breakfast in peace.