A Dream of her Own Read Free Page B

masters”, that’s all she’s interested in!’
     
    Constance pulled off the cheap cotton uniform dress and left it lying on the floor where it fell. Quickly, for the attic room was freezing cold, she put on one of her own blouses and a blue serge skirt. Then, she started to pull open the drawers at her side of the shared chest and toss the rest of her belongings on to her narrow iron bed.
     
    Nella’s small features were taut with worry. ‘But, what will you do? Where will you gan?’
     
    ‘Hush, Nella, not so loud. If we wake the others, Mrs Mortimer will have something to say to us in the morning.’
     
    They looked at each other. ‘“Noisiness is considered Bad Manners” ’ they intoned, each trying to imitate the cook-housekeeper’s attempts at refinement.
     
    Nella giggled. ‘Old Mortimer’ll be fast asleep by now, tucked up with her bottle of mother’s ruin. And, besides, come the morning, she’ll only hev me to scold. You won’t be here.’
     
    ‘Thank goodness!’
     
    Constance stopped what she was doing and they smiled at each other. The prospect of freedom was marvellous and Constance knew that Nella was pleased for her, even though she was going to be left behind.
     
    The moment was short-lived. ‘But you heven’t told me what you’re gannin’ to do - or where you’re gannin’. Will you gan to John’s?’
     
    ‘No. His mother would be shocked if I turned up there without an explanation the night before the wedding.’
     
    ‘Why can’t you tell her what has happened?’
     
    ‘Nella, you know I’ve never met her, but John has told me that, in spite of my circumstances, he’s convinced her that I will make the perfect wife for him.’
     
    ‘Of course you will. I knew the minute that I set eyes on yer ma that she was a real lady!’
     
    ‘And me? Surely I’m just another workhouse brat?’
     
    ‘Like me, you mean? The difference is that I was born there.’
     
    ‘Oh, Nella, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean—’
     
    ‘Nivver mind. Anyone can see that you were born to better things. What happened wasn’t your fault.’
     
    ‘That’s just what John said! He told me that when we first met he would never have guessed that I was in service and, when I told him, oh, Nella, it made no difference to him!’
     
    ‘He fell in love with you!’
     
    ‘When I tried to tell him about what had happened he said it didn’t matter. He said it was obvious that my family had fallen on hard times - like many another - and that he thought all the more of me for keeping my standards.’
     
    ‘Spoken like a true gent!’
     
    ‘But now, if I tell John’s mother that my mistress has thrown me out, she might begin to question her son’s judgement.’
     
    ‘I suppose so ...’
     
    ‘I’m sure of it. And, besides, her health is not good. I wouldn’t want to start my married life by upsetting my mother-in-law.’
     
    ‘No, that wouldn’t do, especially as you’re all gannin’ to live together. Ee, Constance—’
     
    ‘Hush, don’t fret. I’ll go to John’s friend’s house in Fenham; his parents are away but his sister, Rosemary, should be there.’
     
    John’s friend Matthew Elliot had agreed to collect Constance from the Sowerbys’ in the morning and take her to the church in his motorcar, but she had never been invited inside the grand house overlooking the Town Moor and she had no idea whether she would be welcome there now in such strange circumstances. Nor would she tell Nella that Rosemary Elliot was three years younger than she was and, at fifteen, was hardly old enough to be a proper chaperone. She did not want her friend to worry.
     
    ‘Now, please help me to pack my things. And hold that candle steady; you don’t want to set light to the place.’
     
    ‘Divven’t I just!’
     
    Nella set the candlestick down on top of the chest of drawers next to the one Constance had brought up, which was almost spent. She took another from their precious hoard and