“I could just as well have asked you these questions at your cottage,” said Rose. “Do you find it difficult to make ends meet?”
For the first time colour appeared on Miss Friendly’s pale cheeks. She hung her head. “Papa was fond of hunting and hunting is an expensive sport. When he died I had to sell his horses, my jewellery and pictures and furniture to pay his debts. The church charges me a low rent but I have nearly reached the point where I do not think I can go on paying it. Forgive me. Ladies should not talk of such things.”
“Oh, we talk about anything,” said Daisy. “Don’t you worry about it.”
“Can you sew?” asked Rose.
“Yes, I am a very good seamstress. Do not judge me by my clothes. It is a long time since I have been able to afford any material and… well… I gave up troubling about my appearance.”
“Our lady’s maid, Turner, is not very expert with a needle but is an amiable creature and I would not like to lose her.” The main reason Rose liked Turner was because Turner never reported any of her doings to Lady Polly. “Perhaps you might consider working for me? You would have a comfortable room and board and you would not need to worry about the rent.”
Miss Friendly burst into tears. Rose handed her a handkerchief and waited.
“It seems like a miracle,” she gasped when she could.
“Then we will return to your cottage and you may pack a trunk and we will send a fourgon for the rest of your things later. My parents’ secretary will advise the church of your leaving.”
Lady Rose should really have put Miss Friendly in a second-class compartment, which is where servants normally travelled. But the woman looked so frail, she decided to buy her a first-class ticket. Full of food, Miss Friendly fell asleep as soon as the train moved off.
“That was right decent of you,” said Daisy.
“I think when this murder is solved that I should get involved in charity work. My parents cannot object. It is quite fashionable to do so.”
“Do we have enough work for her?” asked Daisy. “We’re always getting new clothes.”
“There is plenty of work. Servants’ clothes often need to be altered. Hats need to be trimmed. I will make sure she is kept busy.”
Aunt Phyllis started to complain about the employment of Miss Friendly, but Rose silenced her with a haughty glare, and saying, “You have no right to question who I engage.”
To Rose’s relief the housekeeper, Mrs. Holt, actually welcomed the newcomer, privately planning to have several of her own gowns made over. Miss Friendly was given a small bedchamber off the second landing and shown the sewing-room in one of the attics.
Matthew Jarvis called on her to get the details of whom to notify in the church and where to send the fourgon. To Miss Friendly’s amazed delight, she found she was to get a salary as well.
Then the housekeeper, under Rose’s instructions, presented Miss Friendly with two bolts of cloth.
“Lady Rose says you might want to begin by making some frocks for yourself.”
The next day, Miss Friendly began to work, the sewing-machine humming under her clever fingers, stopping occasionally to caress the rich cloth. As she worked, she began to search her mind for everything she knew about the Tremaines.
Perhaps she had forgotten something that might help Lady Rose’s fiancé with the investigation.
Harry called on Rose that evening. He listened carefully while she told him about the blacksmith’s son. “I’ll tell Kerridge. He might have followed the Tremaines to London. I would like to speak to this woman myself. I will go to Apton Magna tomorrow.”
“That will not be necessary. I have engaged her as a seamstress. She is here.”
“How did that come about?”
“She was so poor and so hungry. Besides, she will be of use.”
Harry thought of his rescue of Phil. How like he and Rose really were. He wanted suddenly to tell her that they should start again, that perhaps they could deal very well together, but Rose had risen to ring the bell and ask a footman to fetch Miss Friendly.
She came in and sat down timidly on the very edge of a chair. “I am Captain Cathcart,” Harry began, “and I believe you have supplied Lady Rose with some very interesting information about the blacksmith’s son.”
“Only that he and Dolly were very much in love. I believe they used to meet in secret. You can’t keep much quiet in a village. The rector complained to the blacksmith and the blacksmith gave Roger a terrible beating. That was just before they took Dolly to London.”
“Miss Tremaine gave Lady Rose a note saying she was running away. It is possible that she knew where this Roger was and was going to join him. On the other hand, he could have killed her. What sort of fellow was he?”
“Very strong. Curly black hair and quite tall. He told someone in the village that he was running off to London.”
“Would it be possible to find a photograph of him?”
“I shouldn’t think so, sir. I cannot remember anyone in the village having a camera.”
“I’ll get Kerridge on to this,” said Harry. “Thank you, Miss Friendly.”
She curtsied and left.
“You should not have risked going to Apton Magna without telling me,” said Harry.
“How could I tell you? You are never here.”
“I do have a telephone, as you well know.”
“I do not like not having the freedom of a man,” said Rose. “You are able to visit Scotland Yard any time you like and find out the latest developments.”
“I could wish you were more conventional for your own safety.”
“One could hardly call you conventional.”
“True, but it is different for a man.”
“I sometimes feel like cancelling our engagement and marrying Sir Peter.”
He glared at her in outrage. “That would be a marriage in name only.”
“As this is an engagement in name only,” retorted Rose.
The much-goaded Harry seized her in his arms and kissed her hard on the lips. When she reeled back after he had released her, he said, “I am sorry. I should not have done that. But you are infuriating!”
And with that, he turned and left the room.
∨ Sick of Shadows ∧
Five
The accepted man is in duty bound to spend most of his leisure with his intended bride. He must not go off for a sojourn abroad while she is spending some weeks by the sea in England, unless she has expressed a wish to that effect. It would be a considerable “snub” to her to do so… This almost always means that the man has been entrapped into a proposal, and would willingly retreat if he possibly could.
– MRS. HUMPHREY
Rose almost telephoned Harry to cancel the outing. That kiss had left her feeling weak and shaken. Somehow, she could not even bring herself to tell Daisy about it. Also, Daisy was volubly looking forward so much to the outing.
Rose knew the rigid rules of society were relaxing. A gentleman was no longer expected to ask the parents’ permission first if he wanted to pay his addresses to their daughter. Only sticklers for the old ways such as her own parents and no doubt the mercenary Tremaines expected the old ways to be followed.
She looked down at the small engagement ring on her finger. She had bought it herself out of her pin money, Harry having seemingly forgotten that he was expected to supply one.
The weather held fine for the day of the outing. Rose was torn between “armouring” herself in a new white lace gown with a high-boned collar and settling for comfort. Comfort won. Her maid dressed her in a divided tweed skirt and a striped blouse. Although the day showed every sign of becoming hot, Rose put on a tweed jacket and wore a straw boater on her glossy hair.