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Authors: Anne Brear
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sorry, really, but there’s been no time. Mrs Eldersley is grieving and I’ve had to run the lodgings.”
“Typical.” Frances tossed her head. “Trust it to be you who looks after everyone.”
“I had no choice, no one else wanted the responsibility.”
“Of course not. They’d rather leave it all to you. The lazy good-for-nothing uppity-”
“No, it hasn’t been like that, not really.”
“Can you come to a meeting tonight?”
“No, sorry. I have to look over the account books for Mrs Eldersley. The end of the month August bills have been arriving all week and she’s not up to dealing with them. Also this cold snap means we need more fuel for the fires. I have to order that and plenty more besides.”
Shivering as September’s chill spring air inched inside their clothing, Frances pulled the collar of her black coat higher. “I hate the cold, reminds me too much of England.”
Nicola glanced down and from beneath the coat, pale green skirts poked out.
“Yes, I’m wearing skirts, Nicola.” Frances huffed. “I only wear trousers to make a statement, they aren’t my normal everyday code of dress as you well know.”
“I’m pleased to hear it,” she replied cheekily, knowing it would irritate Fran. “I am terrified of what you will wear from one meeting to the next.”
“You aren’t funny, Nicola Douglas. Go back inside and see to them lot. I’ll come again tomorrow.”
“Thank you.” She kissed Frances’s cheek and returned inside to find the doctor was ready to leave, as were the neighbours.
Once they had left, she stepped into the sitting room and asked Meg and Emily to take Mrs Eldersley to her room, for the poor woman looked exhausted.
“I’ll sit with her for a while, Nicola,” Emily murmured on her way out.
“I’ll retire to my room also, Miss Douglas, I have letters to write.” Miss Burstall nodded to Mr Belfroy and followed the others out.
“A sad day, Miss Douglas.” Mr Belfroy announced, reseating himself on a chair by the fire.
“Indeed, it is.”
“Mrs Eldersley spoke just now of returning to England to join her sister, who is also a widow.”
Nicola slowly sat down in the chair opposite him. “Really?”
“I encouraged her to go, for it is her heart’s wish, but I will be sorry to lose her from my employ.”
Not knowing what to say, Nicola gazed at the fire, thoughts whirling around her head. If Mr Belfroy closed the lodging house she’d have to find new accommodation and likely at a higher rate. Her finances would be further reduced. Oh why couldn’t she find work!
“I was wondering, Miss Douglas, if, once Mrs Eldersley has departed these shores, whether you’d be interested in running this establishment for your board and a wage of a hundred pounds a year?”
Blinking in surprise, Nicola wondered for a moment if she had heard correctly. Run the lodging house? Could she? It was a responsibility she wasn’t prepared for, but one that she found she could do, if the last three days were any judge. Did it matter that she wouldn’t be a governess? No, of course it didn’t matter. The most important thing was having work. And by taking on this position she’d be making sure the women who came here were well looked after. Her initial surprise was quickly drenched in a flood of gratitude towards Mr Belfroy. Once more this kind honourable man had saved her. “Thank you, Mr Belfroy, I accept your proposal.”
Chapter Six
Nat shook the sweat from his eyes, ducking his head and weaving to the side, making sure he kept his shoulders and fists up high to protect his chin. From the corner of the chalked square, he made out the old hunched-back man, who stood and, holding the brass bell aloft, rang it heartily three times. Cheers and shouts went up, there was a surge towards the fighters but the organiser’s men held the rowdy mass back.
“Christ man, what’s taking you so long?” Tristan thumped Nat’s back, laughing. “You should have had
“Typical.” Frances tossed her head. “Trust it to be you who looks after everyone.”
“I had no choice, no one else wanted the responsibility.”
“Of course not. They’d rather leave it all to you. The lazy good-for-nothing uppity-”
“No, it hasn’t been like that, not really.”
“Can you come to a meeting tonight?”
“No, sorry. I have to look over the account books for Mrs Eldersley. The end of the month August bills have been arriving all week and she’s not up to dealing with them. Also this cold snap means we need more fuel for the fires. I have to order that and plenty more besides.”
Shivering as September’s chill spring air inched inside their clothing, Frances pulled the collar of her black coat higher. “I hate the cold, reminds me too much of England.”
Nicola glanced down and from beneath the coat, pale green skirts poked out.
“Yes, I’m wearing skirts, Nicola.” Frances huffed. “I only wear trousers to make a statement, they aren’t my normal everyday code of dress as you well know.”
“I’m pleased to hear it,” she replied cheekily, knowing it would irritate Fran. “I am terrified of what you will wear from one meeting to the next.”
“You aren’t funny, Nicola Douglas. Go back inside and see to them lot. I’ll come again tomorrow.”
“Thank you.” She kissed Frances’s cheek and returned inside to find the doctor was ready to leave, as were the neighbours.
Once they had left, she stepped into the sitting room and asked Meg and Emily to take Mrs Eldersley to her room, for the poor woman looked exhausted.
“I’ll sit with her for a while, Nicola,” Emily murmured on her way out.
“I’ll retire to my room also, Miss Douglas, I have letters to write.” Miss Burstall nodded to Mr Belfroy and followed the others out.
“A sad day, Miss Douglas.” Mr Belfroy announced, reseating himself on a chair by the fire.
“Indeed, it is.”
“Mrs Eldersley spoke just now of returning to England to join her sister, who is also a widow.”
Nicola slowly sat down in the chair opposite him. “Really?”
“I encouraged her to go, for it is her heart’s wish, but I will be sorry to lose her from my employ.”
Not knowing what to say, Nicola gazed at the fire, thoughts whirling around her head. If Mr Belfroy closed the lodging house she’d have to find new accommodation and likely at a higher rate. Her finances would be further reduced. Oh why couldn’t she find work!
“I was wondering, Miss Douglas, if, once Mrs Eldersley has departed these shores, whether you’d be interested in running this establishment for your board and a wage of a hundred pounds a year?”
Blinking in surprise, Nicola wondered for a moment if she had heard correctly. Run the lodging house? Could she? It was a responsibility she wasn’t prepared for, but one that she found she could do, if the last three days were any judge. Did it matter that she wouldn’t be a governess? No, of course it didn’t matter. The most important thing was having work. And by taking on this position she’d be making sure the women who came here were well looked after. Her initial surprise was quickly drenched in a flood of gratitude towards Mr Belfroy. Once more this kind honourable man had saved her. “Thank you, Mr Belfroy, I accept your proposal.”
Chapter Six
Nat shook the sweat from his eyes, ducking his head and weaving to the side, making sure he kept his shoulders and fists up high to protect his chin. From the corner of the chalked square, he made out the old hunched-back man, who stood and, holding the brass bell aloft, rang it heartily three times. Cheers and shouts went up, there was a surge towards the fighters but the organiser’s men held the rowdy mass back.
“Christ man, what’s taking you so long?” Tristan thumped Nat’s back, laughing. “You should have had
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