The Windsor Girl Page 3

  Oh well, time will tell I expect, he thought as he guided her to his wife, who was to show Ellie the 'ropes'.

  William had always called his wife Missus Blunt, which amused the younger members of the staff immensely, and it was in this way he addressed her now.

  ‘Ellie Windsor has arrived’. Then, turning to Ellie, he said, ‘this is my wife, Missus Blunt, who is Cook here. I am sure she will see that you get settled in’.

  William left her, standing in front of Missus Blunt, still clutching her bundle.

  ‘First of all Ellie, I'm the person who tells you what work to do and I'm the one who clips your ear if you don't do it right. Understand?’

  ‘Yes Missus Blunt’. Ellie was terrified already.

  Missus Blunt smiled at her and said, ‘I'm sure we'll get along fine. Now put your bundle down in the corner. We'll see to it later’.

  Ellie placed her belongings in the corner of the room and followed the cook to the sink. She was handed a piece of brown sacking, to use as a pinny, which she fastened around her waist with a piece of string. She was then instructed to start on the mountain of ‘pots and pans' waiting to be scoured.

  It took Ellie until nine thirty to finish her task, as every time she thought she had cleared them, another batch was quickly added to her load. Now it really seemed as if it was all done.

  For the first time, she turned from the sink and looked around the kitchen, the likes of which, she never knew existed. Apart from the long table in the centre of the room, there were several sideboards with an assortment of crockery, neatly stacked and mostly decorated with a deep blue pattern. Ellie thought that one of the sideboards was known as a 'Welsh Dresser'. It had high shelves at the back, on which were displayed, the most beautiful china Ellie had ever dreamed of. There were cups, saucers, plates and dishes, all of different sizes but of the same, exquisite beauty.

  Ellie was fascinated by it all, so much so, that when a voice bellowed she almost jumped out of her skin.

  ‘You girl. What do you think you are doing? Get back to work at once’.

  ‘I've finished Missus Blunt’, flustered Ellie.

  ‘Finished? Finished? I'll let you know when you're finished my girl’.

  Ellie twisted her fingers behind her back as Cook went on.

  ‘Fill the bucket with soapy water and scrub the floor. Start at the pantry and work your way to the door. And when that's finished there'll be more pan scrubbing to do’.

  ‘Yes Missus Blunt’.

  With tears threatening to overspill her lovely grey eyes, she did as she was bid. But her heart was heavy and she knew she was going to hate it here.

  Whilst Ellie, and another girl, were busy doing the dirty, mundane work, others were equally busy preparing lunch for the Master and his family. It was an elaborate affair with a succulent roast. Had Ellie seen it, she would not have known what kind of meat it was, as her family were lucky to have 'pigs trotters', occasionally, and that was only because of Aunt Dora’s generosity. However, the aroma of the roast made her mouth water.

  After luncheon had been taken upstairs to the family, by a procession of smartly dressed maids, the kitchen workers were given a bowl of soup each and a large piece of bread. The bread was so white that Ellie wondered if it was all right. The kind her mother baked was dark in colour and very coarse, but it was the only bread she had ever had. A glass of water had been placed in front of her, along with, a small apple.

  That’s when she had first met Kate. The girl, sitting next to her, at the end of the long table, was about Ellie's age, and had spoken to her in whispered tones.

  ‘My name's Kate. It's Katherine really, but everyone calls me Kate. What's yours?’

  ‘Ellie’, she said, also whispering and thankful that someone had spoken to her.

  ‘You'll soon get used to the work Ellie, so don't worry too much’.

  ‘It's not the work I’m worried about so much as all the people’.

  ‘Oh they don't bother me none. I just do my work and if I get a crack from 'old sour puss', I make blooming sure she don't catch me out for the same thing again’.

  Ellie laughed, and then quickly glanced around the table to see if anyone had heard her.

  ‘Don't bother yourself’, said Kate, still whispering, ‘they'll not take any notice of the likes of us, so long as we keep it quiet. Not till our thirty minutes are up anyway’.

  ‘What time do we finish then?’

  ‘We get done at nine, when we have washed all the crockery from tonight's dinner, but then tomorrow morning we have to scrub the pots and pans that are left. We could stay up late and do them, but we still have to start work again at six, so it's better to get in a good night's sleep. What do you think?’

  ‘I'll let you know at the end of the week, but it's a long day, isn't it?’

  ‘Oh aye, but we stop at six for another bite to eat and then we get something to go to bed with, so at least we're not hungry, and I'm glad of that’. And with this, she took a noisy bite of the apple.

  ‘Less noise Kate’, said Missus Blunt, frowning in their direction.

  ‘Yes Missus Blunt’, said Kate, managing to keep her face straight.

  The cook went back to her conversation and the girls continued talking quietly until their break came to an end.

  Ellie was relieved and very tired, when the clock struck nine and she was told to report to the housekeeper, who was now having a drink in her usual place by the fire.

  After draining the last dregs of tea from the small green cup, Miss Maud surveyed Ellie with some interest.

  She did not fail to notice that the girl's posture was straight and proud; in fact, even though the girl had worked all day Ellie's whole demeanour was noticeably superior to that of their usual scullery maids. Miss Maud was having second thoughts about the maid. She felt uneasy in the girl's presence. She could not put her finger on the problem but there was definitely, something. She felt belittled by these thoughts and decided that should the problem persist, she would have to take action, before the girl 'gets above her station'.

  It did not occur to Miss Maud that the antagonism she felt was due to Ellie's name 'Windsor'. She herself hated her own name of ‘Winterbottom’ and had insisted on being addressed as Miss Maud from the first day she took up her prestigious position as housekeeper.

  Now she spoke to Ellie in a stern manner, ‘I will take you upstairs and show you where you will sleep, so pick up your belongings’.

  Ellie found her clothes and moved towards the stairs.

  ‘No. Not that way. We never use those stairs, unless we are dealing directly with the family, or doing work in the main house. As a scullery maid, you will never use those stairs, ever, unless the Mistress should summons you’.

  Ellie was quite a bit shorter than the housekeeper, and as such, found her face on a level with the woman's huge bosom. Each time Miss Maud raised her voice, so the bosom quivered. Ellie was mesmerized, as once again, Miss Maud shouted, ‘do you understand girl?’

  Ellie turned her gaze away from the trembling flesh, ‘yes Miss Maud’. She was far too tired to feel offended by the woman's attitude.

  She was escorted to a door at the far side of the pantry and up a dark, narrow stairway, lit only by the dim light of a single gas mantle. At the top of the third flight of stairs they stopped and Ellie was confronted with a long landing, along which, were several doors. All were painted brown and each as dull as the other.

  Ellie was steered to an attic at the very end of the landing. The room was long and less than three yards across. From what Ellie could see, it contained two low beds, each made up with a plain white counterpane. By the wall stood a washstand with jug and basin, a large chest of drawers with glass knobs, one interwoven straight back chair and down the length of the room was a strip of threadbare matting.

  ‘You will share this room with another girl. See that you live clean and think clean and you will get on well here’.

  Ellie was so weary she was h
aving difficulty keeping her eyes open.

  ‘You are allowed one candle a week which will be provided every Friday night. If it fails to last seven days, you must still wait until Friday for a new one. It's called 'being prudent' Ellie. You would do well to remember it’.

  Ellie felt sure she would fall down.

  Miss Maud then went on, ‘if you want any breakfast see you are downstairs by a quarter to six. Now I'll say good night’.

  She did not add ‘sleep well’ as she did with the rest of the staff, but as it happened, she had no need. Ellie fell onto the bed and drifted into, instant, oblivion.

  ‘Wakey, Wakey’. The sound forced its way into her sleep.

  Someone was shaking her. She pulled away. Again she was shaken. ‘Rise and shine, time to get up Ellie’.

  She opened her eyes and, after adjusting to the light of the candle, she saw a smiling face. Kate's face.

  ‘Oh I'm sharing with you then?’

  ‘Aye. Aren't you the lucky one?’

  ‘I'm so glad Kate’.

  ‘So am I. I knew we'd be friends. I tried to wake you last night with your cocoa and a scone, but you were dead to the world so I had double rations. Hope you don't mind?’

  ‘Not at all Kate, your welcome, I must have fallen asleep as soon as my head hit the pillow’.

  ‘Aye I think you must have because I wasn't more than five minutes behind you. I pulled your blankets over you and you never stirred’.

  ‘Blankets?’ Ellie lifted up the counterpane and there they were. ‘Blankets’, she repeated, and fingered the softness of them both. First one and then the other. She had slept in such lovely blankets and been quite unaware of the experience. How strange life can be, she thought, wistfully. But Ellie had started the day with a smile and she was grateful to Kate.

  Now, languishing in the warmth of her bed, Ellie smiled, remembering the beginning of their friendship. Kate made her laugh and she knew they would remain friends. She had worked hard this past four weeks and now she was going home.

  She washed as quickly as she could and dressed in the same black skirt as she had worn every day since she came here. It was very dirty, being the only one she owned, but the blouse was as neat and clean as new. She had stayed up last night to iron it and had taken great care to press each little tuck and pleat.

  She brushed her hair and skillfully twisted it into a knot at the nape of her neck. Because of her daydreaming it was now six thirty and too late for her usual breakfast of porridge but she was happy to go without today.

  After making her bed, she snuffed out the candle, and opened the 'skylight window' a little. Standing on the chair, she peered out, over the rooftops. It was not yet daylight but she could make out the shapes of the, soot covered, chimneys and in the distance the colour of the sky was lightening, as if to say, 'get out there Ellie, it's going to be a good day'.

  She made her way to the door and down the backstairs, her clogs making a sharp sound on each bare tread.

  ‘You would think they would have a carpet on the stairs in such a fine house’, she said, out loud. She smiled to herself, ‘and now you're talking to yourself Ellie’.

  She entered the kitchen by the back of the pantry and there was Kate, up to her elbows in water. Ellie smiled at her and Kate said, ‘have a nice visit Ellie’.

  ‘I will Kate. I will’.

  She said her 'good byes to the others and most of them answered her.

  Cook smile at her and said, ‘you've worked well Ellie. Enjoy your day and give my best regards to your good mother’.

  Ellie thanked her and left the house.

  As she reached the garden gate and was about to go out, into the street, she heard her name called.

  ‘Ellie! One moment if you please’ and there was William hurrying in her direction.

  ‘Yes Sir?’ she said, wondering what was wrong.

  William reached her and handed her a, covered, basket tied up with string.

  ‘Open this Ellie, when you get home, you may find some use for the contents’. He was quite out of breath but smiled at her, then added, ‘be off with you then, otherwise, it will be time to come back’.

  Ellie was taken aback by his kindness. She gave him a smile of appreciation and said, ‘good bye Sir and thank you’, then once more turned to go through the gate. She turned to wave but William was already walking back the way he had come.

  Chapter Five

  William returned to the kitchen and down the four steps into the wine store to check the wine for dinner. There were to be eight guests at the table tonight and the Master wanted a good quality red with the pheasant.

  Whilst he searched the relevant racks, clearing the cobwebs and dust as he went, he thought of little Ellie.

  She reminded him so much of Sarah, with her porcelain complexion and fine jaw line. Sarah’s hair had been the colour of spun gold, where Ellie's was fairer, but the resemblance was, nevertheless, remarkable. And the eyes, well it was as if the last two decades had disappeared and Sarah was smiling at him with those same large grey pools of love.

  He shook his head as if to halt his thoughts. Although many years had passed, it was still too painful. He knew that it didn’t do to dwell on these things.

  William chose the wine, and then, with a cloth, carefully polished each bottle and placed them in the carrier to take upstairs. On his way out he picked up a small wine rack and climbed the steps to the kitchen. As expected, Missus Blunt had a pot of tea waiting for him.

  ‘Oh there you are William; I was beginning to think you’d got lost. Do you want your tea now?’

  She had flour on her nose and her plump cheeks were flushed with the heat of the fire. She had baked three stone of bread this morning and it was warm work. He had noticed the mounds of doe, last night, standing on the table in several large bowls. ‘Rising’ his wife had informed him.

  He smiled at her now and asked, ‘will you bring the tea to the pantry? I have work to do’, and walked briskly to the end of the room and into the food store.

  Like everything else here, at the Courtney Residence, the pantry was large, and needed to be, what with the family, the numerous staff and regular guests, three or four times a week.

  He sat on the wicker chair by the ‘cold slab’ just as his wife entered with a pot of tea and a scone.

  ‘Thought you might like a bite to eat, seeing as you left most of your breakfast’.

  Missus Blunt did not wait for a response but left the store, closing the door quietly behind her.

  William thanked her, then realised she was no longer there.

  As he sipped his tea, his thoughts once more turned to Sarah.

  He first set eyes on her when he was celebrating his twenty first birthday. His father, also a Butler, had arranged a party for his only son’s ‘coming of age’ and had invited all the kitchen and household staff.

  What seemed like a banquet was laid out in the kitchen and a trio of musicians had been brought in to entertain the large gathering of friends.

  In his younger days, William was a good-looking and was enjoying the attentions of a pretty girl who worked in the house as a kitchen maid. He was on the verge of asking the girl to walk with him in the garden, where he hoped to persuade her to allow him to flirt with her. He had been brought up to be well mannered and courteous, especially to the fairer sex but he knew how good it felt when his hand wandered down the front of a girl’s bodice and he was not, immediately rebuked. The thought excited him as he let his eyes rest on the bosom. So visible were the round breasts, in the summer dress, he could almost feel the silky texture of her skin.

  He had just plucked up the courage to ask, when he caught a glimpse of Sarah. He had never seen her before tonight so knew nothing about her or from where she came. He could not believe how beautiful she was and found it difficult to take his eyes from her face. He had an overwhelming desire to speak to her.

  Excusing himself from his present company, he said, ‘please forgive me, I really
must have a word with my father, I hope to see you again later’. The girl was, somewhat, disappointed but nodded her head and accepted that William was no longer interested in her.

  He made his way to the other side of the kitchen, weaving his way through the guests, acknowledging waves and good-humoured shouts, until he was within two yards of his target.

  She was unaware of his gaze as his eyes caressed her. Ten minutes later, he was still lost in his adoration, when his father drew him back to reality.

  ‘I see you are fascinated with young Sarah? Lovely little thing isn’t she?’

  ‘She’s the most beautiful girl I have ever had the good fortune to see’.

  ‘Well my son, she is not for you. She’s much too young’.

  William was conscious of his pounding heart, ‘how old is she Father?’

  ‘She’s not quite fifteen years old William. She works upstairs’.

  ‘Why have I not seen her before?’

  Because she has only recently started work here. She is a distant cousin of the family. A very distant cousin and a very poor one, by all accounts. She has been employed as companion to the Master’s old mother, so you had better put away all thoughts of wooing that one’.

  William, not to be dissuaded, said in a determined manner, ‘all’s fair in love and war Father’.

  His father shook his head. ‘You had better give it up Son. It will only bring you grief. She’s only a child’.

  William watched his father walk away, and then returned his attention to Sarah, only to see her leaving the kitchen.

  Suddenly, he had lost all interest in the party and had completely forgotten that it was, in fact, in his honour. As there was no one else he now wished to spend his time with he decided to retire early and made for the door to his quarters.

  As he went, he passed within feet of his earlier ‘fancy’.

  ‘Good night Rose’, he said, not really seeing her.

  ‘Good night William’.

  Rose’s eyes followed him until he disappeared through the doorway. She had worshipped him for two years and no one had ever guessed her secret.