‘You could never presume.’
‘I must go.’ He made a sad moue. ‘I am needed in Bradbury.’
They talked briefly of Karoline, how it is soon to be her fiftieth birthday and of Stefan’s plans. Julia kissed his cheek. ‘Give her my love and tell her I shall visit.’
Stefan stepped into the hansom and was gone. He left a letter. ‘ This is Susan Dudley. It appears Lady Carrington prefers body maids to be known by the one name Bella. I brought Susan in the hush of the evening to save unnecessary neighbourly interest. Small towns have codes of conduct. They are not to be breached. On that subject I shall endeavour to make my visits few and far between and always in glare of day. One’s good name is easily lost and slow to replace. As a man who now happily claims the status of friend I will try not to overstep the boundaries of good manners and create for you difficulties.
I wish you every joy and every heart’s ease,
I am always your most humble servant,
Stefan Willem Adelmann .
Along with the letter were details of a monthly sum transferred in her name to a local bank. Having seen the statement, and trembled at the generosity, Julia resolved to draw as little as possible.
The following morning she called at the bank and then to the Nelson.
Nan seemed rather cool. ‘You left your back door unlocked last night.’
‘Did I?’
‘You did. Luke found it so and he said not for the first time. ’
‘Please thank him and tell him I shall take greater care.’
‘Aye do! You don’t want anyone stealin’ from your fancy new tea shop.’
‘You’ve heard?’
‘Everyone’s heard.’
‘And you don’t think it a good idea?’
‘I do not. You’ve no experience runnin’ a place like that. Caterin’ is hard graft, twenty-four hours a day non-stop. Take it from one who knows.’
‘If the Newman sisters can do it why not me?’
‘Because you’re not cut out for it! I’ve heard Miss Clarissa was built like a carthorse and though they were sisters she didn’t share Justine good looks. She was a big woman with hips wide as canal boats. It was her did the heavy work and there is heavy work feedin’ folk.’
‘I know it will be hard.’
‘I hope you do. There were two of them. You’ve none but yourself.’
‘I can manage. You forget I looked after my father. A man whose wits are wandering needs a great deal of care.’
‘Yes and your father’s the reason you shouldn’t be doin’ it! You’re a vicar’s daughter not a person in trade!’
‘Nanette Roberts!’ Julia smiled. ‘You are a snob.’
‘I’m no snob. I like things to be in a correct order, every man in his rightful sphere, a ‘rich man in his castle and a poor man at his gate,’ so to speak. You dishin’ tea and scones to every Tom Tiddler and his wife it’s not seemly.’
‘Seemly or not I’m going to do it. And I shan’t be alone. I have Mrs Mac to help, and Maggie Jeffers, and our new young lady.’
‘Maggie Jeffers is a hindrance not a help. As for your young lady she might be young but from what I hear she’s no lady.’
Nan was cross with Julianna. Her and her dainty ways, what can she know of business? Elderly Irish spinsters pursuing a fancy is one thing but quite another for an English rose to do the same, a bruised rose at that. Julianna Dryden is bruised. A while back, smiling and promising to bring an opera programme, she caught a London train. When she left she was decently clad in a woollen coat and feathered hat. She brought back more than an opera programme! Her shoulders naked and hair loose she brought back a reputation.
One train journey and the whole of Bakers, Upper, Middle, and Lower, is agog. Seven in the morning looking like that, what was she thinking? And see her now! What’s happened to her fancy clothes? She’s gone from giving away costly scarves to haunted eyes and sending begging telegrams to London.
Nan is worried how Luke will react. He’s over his head dizzy on the girl and
‘I must go.’ He made a sad moue. ‘I am needed in Bradbury.’
They talked briefly of Karoline, how it is soon to be her fiftieth birthday and of Stefan’s plans. Julia kissed his cheek. ‘Give her my love and tell her I shall visit.’
Stefan stepped into the hansom and was gone. He left a letter. ‘ This is Susan Dudley. It appears Lady Carrington prefers body maids to be known by the one name Bella. I brought Susan in the hush of the evening to save unnecessary neighbourly interest. Small towns have codes of conduct. They are not to be breached. On that subject I shall endeavour to make my visits few and far between and always in glare of day. One’s good name is easily lost and slow to replace. As a man who now happily claims the status of friend I will try not to overstep the boundaries of good manners and create for you difficulties.
I wish you every joy and every heart’s ease,
I am always your most humble servant,
Stefan Willem Adelmann .
Along with the letter were details of a monthly sum transferred in her name to a local bank. Having seen the statement, and trembled at the generosity, Julia resolved to draw as little as possible.
The following morning she called at the bank and then to the Nelson.
Nan seemed rather cool. ‘You left your back door unlocked last night.’
‘Did I?’
‘You did. Luke found it so and he said not for the first time. ’
‘Please thank him and tell him I shall take greater care.’
‘Aye do! You don’t want anyone stealin’ from your fancy new tea shop.’
‘You’ve heard?’
‘Everyone’s heard.’
‘And you don’t think it a good idea?’
‘I do not. You’ve no experience runnin’ a place like that. Caterin’ is hard graft, twenty-four hours a day non-stop. Take it from one who knows.’
‘If the Newman sisters can do it why not me?’
‘Because you’re not cut out for it! I’ve heard Miss Clarissa was built like a carthorse and though they were sisters she didn’t share Justine good looks. She was a big woman with hips wide as canal boats. It was her did the heavy work and there is heavy work feedin’ folk.’
‘I know it will be hard.’
‘I hope you do. There were two of them. You’ve none but yourself.’
‘I can manage. You forget I looked after my father. A man whose wits are wandering needs a great deal of care.’
‘Yes and your father’s the reason you shouldn’t be doin’ it! You’re a vicar’s daughter not a person in trade!’
‘Nanette Roberts!’ Julia smiled. ‘You are a snob.’
‘I’m no snob. I like things to be in a correct order, every man in his rightful sphere, a ‘rich man in his castle and a poor man at his gate,’ so to speak. You dishin’ tea and scones to every Tom Tiddler and his wife it’s not seemly.’
‘Seemly or not I’m going to do it. And I shan’t be alone. I have Mrs Mac to help, and Maggie Jeffers, and our new young lady.’
‘Maggie Jeffers is a hindrance not a help. As for your young lady she might be young but from what I hear she’s no lady.’
Nan was cross with Julianna. Her and her dainty ways, what can she know of business? Elderly Irish spinsters pursuing a fancy is one thing but quite another for an English rose to do the same, a bruised rose at that. Julianna Dryden is bruised. A while back, smiling and promising to bring an opera programme, she caught a London train. When she left she was decently clad in a woollen coat and feathered hat. She brought back more than an opera programme! Her shoulders naked and hair loose she brought back a reputation.
One train journey and the whole of Bakers, Upper, Middle, and Lower, is agog. Seven in the morning looking like that, what was she thinking? And see her now! What’s happened to her fancy clothes? She’s gone from giving away costly scarves to haunted eyes and sending begging telegrams to London.
Nan is worried how Luke will react. He’s over his head dizzy on the girl and
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