how you’ve walked anywhere in those boots is beyond me. Things have
been difficult for you these past months and I’d liketo
help. Seeing as I’m between situations, I’m free to suit myself, so why
don’t you let me take care of things here while you work at Mrs Bodney’s
cottage?’
‘You’d do that for
us?’ Lily stared at her aunt in amazement. ‘Why?’
‘Because we’re family and,
as I see it, a family’s like that lace you make. A single thread by itself is
not very strong but when worked together with others it gathers strength. You
won’t be able to manage everything by yourself but if we work
together …’
Lily’s heart almost skipped a
beat. ‘What can I say? It’s such a kind offer and I really don’t
know how to thank you, Aunt Elizabeth,’ she said and then frowned. ‘But
if I take the job we don’t have enough put by to last until I get paid at the
end of the month.’
‘Well, not having to pay out for
my board over the past years means I have eggs nested,’ her aunt said. Lily
looked puzzled for a moment, then realized what she meant.
‘But you can’t use those to
pay our bills; you hardly know us,’ she spluttered. Her aunt looked at her
sadly for a moment, then shrugged.
‘I can’t think of a better
way to spend them than on helping my family.’ Then, as Lily began to protest,
she held up her hand. ‘Call it a lend until you get paid.’
‘But where would you sleep,
Auntie? Mother, Beth and I share the bedroom and, as you can see, Rob has his bed in
here.’ Lily nodded towards the mattress.
‘My, my, Lily Rose. All you see is
problems. As it happens, I visited my friend Grace Goode before I came here, and she
kindly offered me a bed. If I’m going to stay in Coombe for any length of
time, I’ll sort out something sounder.’
‘Thank you, Aunt
Elizabeth,’ Lily cried, jumping up and throwing her arms around the other
woman. Her aunt returned her embrace then, looking flustered, became brisk
again.
‘Now, we really have to do
something about those boots or your feet will be shredded. I left Doris in the back
paddock; you can hitch her to the donkey-cart and ride to Bransbeer tomorrow.
That’ll start you off on the right foot. Put her in the stable behind the
hostelry, and if old Ned’s still there, tell him he’s to look after her
whilst you’re at work.’
Lily was hardly able to believe her
luck. Only an hour ago her hopeful future had been threatened. Now, thanks to her
visitor, her dilemma was solved.
Smiling, her aunt Elizabeth gave her a
quick hug. ‘Now, my dear, off you go to the land of nod. I’ll tidy up
here and tell Rob what’s happening when he comes in.’
Next morning, as the first streaks of
grey were lighting the sky, Lily carefully steered the donkey-cart down the lane
from Coombe, turning eastwards onto the sunken cliff track with its canopy of
wind-bent ancient oaks. Seeing the splashes of mauve dotting the verges, she felt
her heart lift. Wild violets were her mother’s favourite flowers. She would
stop and pick her some on the way home. They’d be sure to cheer her up, she
thought, as the donkey-cart began its descent down the cliff path towards
Bransbeer.
As she guided the cart into the yard
behind the hostelry, old Ned, the stable hand, shuffled over and took the reins.
‘Aunt Elizabeth said to leave
Doris here for the daywhile I’m working at Mrs
Bodney’s,’ Lily said, smiling nervously as she climbed down from the
cart.
‘Ah, come back, has she?’ he
asked curiously, taking the reins and leading donkey and cart towards the
stables.
With excitement bubbling up inside her
again, Lily clutched her lace pillow to her chest and made her way down the lane
towards Mrs Bodney’s cottage, which stood close to Agent Pike’s house.
Her thoughts raced as fast as her footsteps as she finally allowed herself to think
Elizabeth Ashby, T. Sue VerSteeg