The Bonbon Girl

Hearing the scraping of chairs on the flagstones below, he jumped up and drew the dividing curtain.

‘Don’t worry, I’ll find out what’s going on, sis. Now, pretend to be asleep,’ he whispered as they heard their father’s tread on the stairs. He came to a halt outside their door and Colenso froze, but luckily he had other things on his mind.

‘Hurry up, Caja,’ he called. ‘A husband don’t like to be kept waiting for his rights.’

As his raucous laugh bounced off the walls, Colenso hid her head under her pillow and desperately tried to get back to sleep.

Chapter 6 (#ulink_97401b4f-2028-500f-96f9-728f71e094b4)

Colenso was being chased by Fenton who was being chased by Kitto. Round and round the serpentine works they ran. Fenton, rapacious arms outstretched, was gaining on her by the second. ‘You’re mine, mine, mine,’ he was shouting. Unable to keep going any longer, she ran to the end of the jetty and jumped. As the cold water closed over her, she woke with a start and lay in the darkness, trembling and disorientated. She blinked, trying to dispel her dream but the images persisted and she knew she had to see Kitto. Quietly, so as not to wake her brother, she slipped on her clothes, then boots in hand crept out of the room. The snores and snorts emanating from her parents’ room told her they wouldn’t be rising any time soon and, tiptoeing down the stairs, she threw on her shawl and bonnet and slipped outside.

Apart from a pearlescent loom to the east, the sky was black as soot. Not a soul stirred, although she knew it wouldn’t be long before the villagers rose to begin the new day. Determination lending urgency to her steps, she sped past the neighbouring cottages, their windows still shuttered and chimneys not yet smoking, over the wooden bridge that spanned the stream and on through the village. Then her ears pricked. She could hear footsteps running towards her. A shadowy figure emerged out of the darkness. Heart pounding like waves on the beach below, she swallowed hard.

‘Colenso?’ To her surprise, Kitto came slithering to a halt beside her. ‘What are you doing out at this hour?’ he asked.

‘What are you doing here?’ she asked at the same time. They laughed then stood gazing at each other, breath rising like steam in the early morning air, until he broke the silence.

‘I had to see you. Make sure you’re all right. I waited ages yesterday, and when you didn’t come I skirted round the back of your cottage so as not to bump into your father. He gave me a right old ear-bashing the other afternoon. Warned me not to visit again, or words to that effect,’ he shrugged. ‘Anyway, couldn’t see any sign of you, so I went home. Spent the afternoon patching up our leaking window. Where were you, anyhow?’ he asked, dark eyes staring into hers.

‘You won’t believe this,’ she muttered. ‘We had to go for afternoon tea at Mr Fenton’s house.’

‘You mean as in the works manager?’ he frowned. ‘But why? I mean your father’s not exactly on the same level, is he? Sorry if that sounds rude but …’ he shrugged.

‘It’s true,’ she agreed, jumping at the snap of shutters being pulled back. As candles began flickering in the cottage windows, she knew the men would soon be making their way to the works. ‘Fenton accused me of theft,’ she admitted.

‘What?’ Kitto gasped, staring at her as if she’d grown another head. A door opened behind them. ‘Come on, we can’t talk here,’ he muttered. Taking her arm, he led her towards the shelter of the adjoining stables. ‘Now, tell me what’s been going on,’ he demanded.

Quickly she told him everything, from her meeting in Fenton’s office to the invitation to tea, although she was careful to keep the manager’s intentions to herself. Then she frowned.

‘Mamm promised to let your mother know I wouldn’t be able to meet you.’

‘Didn’t get any message. Mother would have passed it on if she had. I don’t like the sound of this at all, Cali. You’re my girl … I mean, you are, aren’t you?’ he asked, treacle eyes staring deeply into hers.

‘Of course I am,’ she cried. ‘I love you and can’t wait to be your wife, Kitto.’

‘Then as soon as I get to work, I’ll go to Fenton’s office and have it out with him.’

‘But he saw the things I made and knows some have been skilfully turned. If you do that he’ll put two and two together. Even if he doesn’t call in the constable, he’ll like as not sack you. You can’t afford to lose your job, Kitto.’

Silence descended as he processed all she’d said. There was a soft whinny and the smell of straw and horse emanated through the wooden slats as the animals stirred. Finally, he let out a long sigh.

‘You’re right. Nobody will take on a partly trained apprentice.’ As they stared at each other helplessly, the horses gave another whinny and a nearby door clattered open, followed by the banging of others. Then came the ringing of booted feet on the rough country lane as the men began their trek up the hill towards the works. ‘Got to go, but you can be sure I’ll give this some serious thought. Can we meet later?’ he asked.

‘I’m sewing for Emily today. She’s up to her eyes with orders so I’ll be working late,’ she told him. ‘How about tomorrow? I’d better not risk coming to the factory, so I’ll see you on Mammwynn’s seat when you’ve finished work.’

‘Right,’ he nodded. ‘I still can’t believe you’ve been to Fenton’s house,’ he muttered, shaking his head. ‘It doesn’t feel right. Why do I get the feeling there’s more to all this?’

If only you knew, she thought as an image of the Ferret’s glittering eyes rose before her, making her shudder.

‘Don’t worry, Cali, I’ll get it sorted,’ he murmured, pulling her closer. For one blissful moment she was enfolded in the warmth of his arms and then, with a quick peck on her cheek, he was gone. She watched as he ran towards the line of workers snaking their way out of the village. Why was life so difficult? One minute they were planning their future, the next that horrid Fenton had arrived, making her life a misery. And she still had to tell Kitto about the forthcoming outing on Sunday. It wasn’t fair, she fumed, heading towards Emily’s cottage.

‘Cripes, maid, yer early, and looking wild as a winter storm,’ the woman greeted her through a mouthful of pins. ‘Still, unless yer at death’s door, yer’ll have to wait till later to tell me what’s wrong. We’ve got a busy morning ahead. Mrs Jeans is coming for her dresses and yer know how particular she is. I offered to deliver them as usual, but it seems her son has business over at Ruan so he offered to convey her. Convey,’ she laughed. ‘They were her very words.’ Despite her mood, Colenso couldn’t help smiling at the woman. ‘Now, I’ve pinned up the hems so if yer can stitch them and add pearl buttons to the bodices, I’ll get on with the skirt for Miss Cardew.’

Although Colenso’s hands automatically performed her tasks, her mind was running amok. The thought of another long week confined to the house, doing only light chores so as not to redden or scratch her hands, was more than she could bear. As for making an appealing top for that odious manager to gawk at her in, the very idea made her shudder.

‘Someone walk over yer grave?’ Emily asked.

‘Might well have done,’ she sighed.

‘Well, the smoothing irons are hot so yer can get them hems pressed, that should warm yer up.’ Colenso couldn’t help smiling at the woman’s humour as she picked up one of the heavy irons with the thick cloth and spat on it. When it hissed, she wiped the sole, spread out one of the dresses on the table and set about her task. By the time they heard the knock on the door, the garments were ready.

‘That’ll be Mrs Jeans,’ Emily said, getting stiffly to her feet. ‘Let’s hope she pays cash rather than insisting on having an invoice sent. Gives me extra work when I could be sewing, and goodness knows I can do with the money,’ she grumbled. ‘Yer go and make us a brew while I see to her. There’s a heel of bread and some cheese on the side to go with it.’ Colenso smiled gratefully, for in her hurry to see Kitto, she’d quite forgotten to break her fast.

‘Well, there’s a turn-up for the books,’ Emily smiled as Colenso returned with the loaded tray. ‘Mrs Jeans not only paid on the spot, she wants another dress made – a fancy one for entertaining, no less. She’s brought some lovely emerald satin material and wants it trimmed with black fringing. Naturally she needs it immediate, like, so there’s more work for yer this week.’ When Colenso didn’t respond, Emily frowned. ‘Thought yer’d be pleased.’

‘I would, only Father ordered me to stay indoors for the rest of the week. I’ve to sew another top, a more appealing one this time, and make different dishes to increase my cooking skills. He says they’re too limited,’ she sighed.

‘Get away with yer. Young Kitto’s that besotted he’d think yer was appealing if yer wore yer bedcover,’ Emily grinned. ‘And I can’t imagine him complaining about your cooking either.’

‘It’s Father. He wants to impress the new works manager.’

‘Oh?’ Emily narrowed her bird-like eyes. ‘Would this be anything to do with them accusations of theft he made?’ Colenso nodded.

‘He told Father I could make it up to him by going for afternoon tea at his house. It was ghastly. Mamm simpering, Father kowtowing, Fenton gawking. And that’s not the end of it. He’s asked for me to show him the local sights on Sunday. When I started to refuse, Father told him I would. He says it’s a good opportunity.’

‘I’d like to say I’m surprised, but I’ll not lie. Always one to feather his nest at another’s expense, if yer’ll excuse me being candid, maid.’

‘But Mamm backed him up.’

‘Well, she would, wouldn’t she? I mean she might be the sick nurse and a capable one at that, but she’ll not stand up to yer father. Course, she were different before she married him.’

‘What was she like then?’ Colenso asked. Emily took a sip of her tea, a faraway look in her eye.

‘Happy, spirited, do anything for a lark,’ she said eventually. Then she grinned. ‘One day she took your mammwynn’s bloomers off the washing line and sewed up the ankles. Keren never realized till it were too late. Hopping she were, literally,’ Emily chuckled.

‘I can’t imagine Mamm being mischievous, or laughing,’ Colenso replied, her eyes widening in surprise.

‘Well, that’s the thing, see. The right man will make a woman blossom and grow, but the wrong one’ll crush the life out of yer.’ Colenso stared at her in surprise. How could someone who’d never married know about such things? ‘Seen it happen too often,’ Emily added as if guessing her thoughts. ‘So, make sure yer choose the right man.’

‘Oh, I will,’ Colenso assured her, an image of her darkhaired, treacle-eyed Kitto rising before her.

‘And if it’s who I think it is, make sure yer tell him about that outing. Honesty’s everything and it wouldn’t do for him to find out from someone else.’

‘I intend telling Kitto when I see him later. Though I can’t see him being pleased about it. Still, if I accompany Fenton this one time, I’ll surely have paid my debt for this perceived theft.’

‘Hmm, I wouldn’t be too sure,’ Emily frowned. ‘Now about that appealing top yer father expects yer to make,’ she added, stressing the word appealing. ‘Does yer have the material to make such a thing?’ she asked before taking a sip of her tea.

‘No,’ Colenso admitted, not wishing to admit what her father had suggested.