The Windsor Girl Page 4

  Nor will they, she thought, but her heart ached for the need to be close to him.

  For weeks William tried to make contact with Sarah but without success. She never came into the kitchen, having all her meals sent upstairs and rarely went outdoors, unless accompanied by the old lady. He was almost out of his mind with love for her, so much so, he told his father that if he could not have her for his wife, he would go to sea and never return.

  His father tried to reason with him but nothing he said made the slightest difference, the boy was besotted with Sarah.

  It took William three months, and many sleepless nights, to catch Sarah alone, and the meeting was quite accidental.

  One Sunday afternoon, he had been sent upstairs with a message for the housekeeper. It was then, when he was on his way back to the kitchen, that he spied Sarah.

  She was sitting on a window seat, at the far end of the hallway, reading a book. She did not hear him approach, as she was totally engrossed in her book. William could hardly believe his luck. At last he had found her alone.

  Before he spoke he looked along the hall, and having determined there was no-one watching, he ventured towards her.

  ‘Hello Sarah’.

  She started, and then looked up at him, her face slightly puzzled.

  ‘Do I know you Sir?’

  ‘We have not been formally introduced, which is why I hesitate, but you spent some time at my birthday celebration, several weeks ago’.

  ‘Ah! Yes, in the kitchen I believe? You must be William’.

  ‘I am, indeed, and I wanted to make your acquaintance at the time, but you left before I plucked up the courage’.

  Sarah blushed. ‘My Dear Sir, you surely do not need courage to speak to a servant girl?’

  ‘You're hardly that, Sarah. You don’t mind my calling you Sarah, do you?’

  ‘Not at all, if I may call you William’.

  William was beside himself with happiness; she not only looked like an angel, she spoke and acted like one.

  ‘Will you do me the great honour and allow me to walk out with you one day? The park perhaps ... or...’

  He heard the sound of someone approaching. I can’t just leave it this way, he thought, feeling panic rising inside him.

  ‘Young man, what are you doing here?’ It was the Master.

  ‘I have been delivering a message Sir. I was about to return to the kitchen’.

  ‘Oh Yes, you’re the butler’s son. William isn’t it?’

  ‘Yes Sir’.

  ‘Well go on your way William. We don’t stand around when there’s work to be done’.

  ‘Yes Sir’.

  William glanced towards Sarah but she was, once more, absorbed in her book. He had mixed emotions as he walked away. One elation, the other despair.

  Later that day, William was polishing the family’s riding boots, when the footman delivered to him a small, white, envelope. Written on the front were the words, ‘Master William Blunt’.

  As he opened it, he was aware of the sweet smell of lavender. He held the single sheet of paper in bother hands and savoured the aroma. He was in no hurry to read the contents, for the moment, he was happy to know that she had thought about him enough to put pen to paper.

  As he turned the letter over, cherishing the memory of her smile, a disconcerting thought entered his head. What if she is rejecting my advances? It did not bear thinking about. His need to read it was now terribly urgent, so with his pulse racing, he read:

  Dear William

  I thought you might appreciate a prompt reply to your earlier enquiry. I have given much thought to your proposal and, because I feel confident that you are a honourable man, I am inclined to agree to your request.

  I have a free hour, tomorrow afternoon, as Misters Courtney is to have a visit from an old friend and, it would seem, that my services will not be required. I will, therefore, meet you at two o'clock at the stables.

  If this time is inconvenient, then I am sure some other arrangement can be made.

  Respectfully yours,

  Sarah Kensington.

  William held the letter to his chest and started to count the minutes until he could look upon her lovely face once more.

  They met the next day as planned and, although they did not touch in any way, they each knew that the other was the dream lover they had always hoped to meet and from that day on, they met as often as they could manage.

  They spent the next year meeting, secretly, both knowing that they could not go on this way indefinitely, sneaking out to hold each other and steal their innocent kisses.

  It took a year of secret meetings and defiant assignations then desperate pleading, to convince the Master, and William’s father, that they were determined to be together.

  Eventually, the Master called all concerned to the morning room, none of them knowing how the problem was going to be resolved.

  William’s father sat bolt upright in front of the curtained window. He was furious with the boy. He had told him that nothing could come of it. If only he had taken his advise they wouldn’t be in this predicament now. This could because me my job, he thought. Has he considered, for one moment, his mother? Oh no, all he thinks about, is Sarah. She may be a nice girl, but only a 'slip of a girl', after all. He looked across at his wife. She looked nervous, as well she might.

  Missus Blunt was twisting her handkerchief in her hands and looked near to tears. William, who was sitting next to Sarah, stood up and went to his mother’s side.

  ‘Come now Mother. It’s not the end of the world. It’ll be all right. You wait and see’.

  His mother was not capable of saying anything she just shook her head and wished all the fuss was over.

  William returned to Sarah’s side and took her hand. At that moment Mister Fairfax entered the room. He did not speak immediately but took a seat, from which he could clearly see each of the four people sitting there.

  William was conscious of the silence and was tempted to start the discussion, but decided against it, knowing it was not the right thing to do. Just as he thought he could stand it no longer, the Master spoke.

  ‘Well William. What do you have to say for yourself?’

  ‘With respect Sir. I love Sarah and nothing you can say would make it otherwise’.

  ‘And you Sarah?’

  ‘I wish to marry William’.

  ‘I see’.

  Mister Fairfax paused in thought then turned his attention to William’s father.

  ‘John, what do you make of these young people? Please speak freely’.

  John Blunt glanced quickly in the direction of his son. William's eyes pleaded with him. He rose to his feet.

  ‘Sir, I have done my best to dissuade William from this folly. After all, the girl is very young. However, I know my son to be, an otherwise, sensible boy and over the last year, his love for Miss Sarah has been proven, beyond all my expectations’.

  John hesitated and looked, once more, at his son. He knew he was putting his job on the line but he loved his son very much.

  ‘Yes, go on John’, said the Master.

  ‘Well Sir. He is a good worker and is learning quickly and one day he will be a good butler, in what I hope will be as fine a house as this. He has a strong sense of duty and loyalty, be it for work or family, and I’m sure that, should he marry, he would care for his wife with great consideration’.

  ‘Thank you John. Please be seated’.

  The Master then spoke to John’s wife. ‘Do you have anything to add Missus Blunt?’

  William’s mother shook her head again and began to weep. Mister Fairfax revealed none of the pity, he felt for her, but went with the discussion.

  ‘Now this is my proposal’. He looked directly at William, ‘if your parents are agreeable, and if you adhere to my conditions, I will agree to a union’.

  He held up his hand as William began to thank him.

  ‘I am not finished yet young man and you may not wish to thank me when I
am done’.

  William waited with bated breath.

  ‘As I see it, neither of you may marry, without my permission, this being the rule of the house, so it is in your own interest to hear me out’.

  He looked from one to the other, and then continued.

  ‘My conditions are, firstly, you may not meet secretly, as I believe has be the case. You, William, will treat Sarah with respect at all times. You will be allowed two free afternoons in which to call upon her, and these meetings must, without exception, be here in the house. The Drawing Room will be put at your disposal, at these times; the door is to be left open throughout the visit. If, at the end of the year, you both feel as you do today, I will not only pay for you’re wedding, but will make a settlement on you of forty pounds a year. This will assist you in your life together; after all, Sarah is kin of this family’.

  When no one spoke, he asked, ‘well William. What do you think?’

  ‘I can only thank you Sir for your understanding and kindness. I agree to your conditions. A year is a long time but I am more than willing to wait for Sarah’.

  The Master stood up. ‘That’s settled then. Now perhaps you would all be good enough to return to your work?’

  His eyes met William’s, ‘the house does not come to a standstill you know, even for affairs of the heart’.

  He said this with a smile, and then left the room, leaving the door ajar behind him.

  William was overwhelmed and hugged Sarah to him. ‘I love you’, she whispered, before he and his parents returned to the kitchen. His father was relieved that it had been resolved so amicably. His mother was just pleased to get back to the kitchen where she could regain some of her usual composure.

  The months that followed were the happiest that William could remember. He and Sarah met twice a week and came to know each other’s every thought. They were both happy to wait knowing that, eventually, they would be united in marriage.

  On his visits, upstairs, they would sit in the drawing room and hold hands. When the strawberries were in season, he would arrange the most succulent ones, on a small silver tray, cover them with clotted cream and feed them, one at a time, into her lovely mouth.

  Sarah would read poetry from her favourite book and William would gaze at her, in wonder, and think himself the luckiest of men, to have a love such as this.

  He composed his own love poems for her, and memorise each line by heart, repeating the loving words to her, whilst his eyes poured out his love. She would search his eyes, whilst he recited the words and would see the adoration written there.

  Their togetherness gave them a wondrous feeling of being the only two people on earth. They were quite certain there had never been such a love as theirs.

  Spring turned to summer and summer to autumn and William was not only busy with his usual work, but worked, in his spare time making furniture for his future with Sarah.

  One Sunday, after stocking up the wine cellar, he was putting the finishing touches to a straight back chair, which had taken him four weeks of intricate work. His father came out to the yard where William was working.

  ‘William, you had better go up to the house. Sarah is feeling ill and the Master said for you to meet with him before visiting her’.

  William heart missed a beat, ‘oh my God! What's wrong with her?’

  ‘Calm down boy. It’s probably just ‘the vapours’; you know what ladies are like? As they reach womanhood, they get vapours’.

  ‘I must see her’, shouted William, already running towards the house.

  He found the Master in the morning room. William's breath was coming in great gasps as he said, ‘Mister Fairfax? What’s wrong with Sarah? Is she all right?’

  ‘Sit down for a moment William. It will do no good getting into an anguished state; Sarah is all right, for the moment at least. I have had the Doctor in to see her and it looks as if she has caught a chill on her lungs. You may visit her in her rooms, but a warning William, the child needs rest and must not be disturbed for long. Please see that you stay only five minutes.

  William felt panic rising in his chest as he was escorted, by a manservant, along a maze of hallways to Sarah’s quarters.

  He arrived there to find her sleeping; her golden hair tussled and damp, her breathing shallow. He noticed, with concern, the dark shadows beneath her closed lids.

  ‘My love, if anything should happen to you, how would I bear it?’ he whispered. He carefully took her delicate hand in his and pressed it to his lips. He stayed this way for five minutes then quietly left the room.

  The next few days were a nightmare. William could not work. He could concentrate on nothing but his lovely Sarah. He was allowed to see her every day, but only for a few minutes. She was showing no improvement at all, in fact, she seemed to be ‘sinking’ more each day. The Doctor said she had a ‘lung impurity’ and it would take some time for her recovery.

  Sarah slept most of the time, but when she was awake, William told her how much she meant to him and how they were going to marry and live in a fine house and have beautiful children.

  She smiled at him and said, ‘we will always be together William, no matter what happens won’t we?’ But the effort of talking seemed to be too much for her. She closed her eyes, once more, and slipped into a deep sleep.

  The next morning, just six days after the onset of the illness, William’s world fell apart. Sarah was dead.

  The dreadful news was conveyed to William by the Master. He himself had insisted on this. It was important to him that William should understand how devastated he felt at Sarah’s passing, and how sympathetic he was for the boy’s loss.

  William was ravaged with grief, but allowed himself to be escorted to the house, where he could see Sarah, for the last time.

  Mister Fairfax silently closed the door behind him as he left the young man in the bedroom. William tiptoed to the bed somehow afraid he would wake her.

  ‘Oh that I could’, he cried, tears now leaving a trail of sadness down his face. He pressed her limp hand to his cheek and wept as if he would never stop.

  ‘How could you leave me Sarah? How can I survive without you? My poor, sweet, love. My only love’. He did not move for a long time.

  When the tears subsided he suddenly felt calm. He turned back the sheets and lay next to Sarah, his body close to hers for the very first time. He kissed her lips, to find them cool, but not yet cold, and William thought, how ironic that we should be left here, alone, only now when it is too late for us. He lay there, undisturbed, for what seemed like an eternity.

  They made a strange picture, he and his dead Sarah. And he vowed, there and then, never to give his heart to anyone else, as long as he lived.

  The next six months were taken up with work, and then, more work. It was the only thing he could do. He wanted nothing from this cruel world, only to work until he dropped. His parents were worried for his health.

  ‘The boy can’t go on like this John, he really can’t’, his mother said, ‘I’m so worried about him. All he does is work and I know he’s not sleeping well’.

  ‘He should find someone else’, his father replied, ‘if only he would, it would help him to get over his bereavement’.

  She looked at her husband and sighed, ‘John, do you honestly think he will ever get over Sarah? If you do, then you’re closing your eyes to the truth. I don’t think he will ever be happy again and it makes me sad. If only I could help him’. But she knew there was nothing to be done.

  William's father tried on numerous occasions to reason with his son, but so far he had made no progress. He decided he would try one last time.

  He approached William, who was in the Dining room, sorting the upstairs silver.

  ‘William. I want to have a serious conversation with you’.

  As William started to protest, his father said, ‘no. I don’t want to hear any arguments. You really must talk about it’.

  ‘I haven’t time for this Father’.

 
‘Well you will have to make time, because I’m not going until you’ve, at least, heard what I have to say. I have watched you turn into a shadow of your former self and it’s not right. I cannot stand by and see you work yourself into the ground without doing anything to stop it’.

  ‘I’m all right Father, really’.

  ‘You’re not all right Son. Sarah would not have wanted this. It’s about time you did something about it’.

  ‘And what do you suggest Father?’ he said, his face suddenly dark with rage.

  He had never spoken to his father in this manner and was immediately sorry.

  ‘I shouldn't have spoken to you like that Father. Forgive me’.

  ‘It’s all right Son. I know how you are grieving for Sarah. I do understand’.

  Again, William’s anger emerged. ‘How can you understand? You haven’t had your heart torn form your chest’.

  In desperation John shouted, ‘I think you should pull yourself together. Find a girl and marry her. Surely there’s a girl somewhere you could .........’ He didn't get to finish.

  William, with his face like thunder, picked up his jacket and made for the door. His parting words were, ‘oh yes, there’s a girl all right’.

  Rose was preparing vegetables, at the kitchen table, when she saw William enter. She was surprise to see that he was hurrying in her direction. Since the night of the party, so long ago, he had not stopped to speak to her, other than, to say ‘good morning’ or ‘good night’. And now he was coming towards her.

  William, not stopping to consider the girl’s reaction, burst out, ‘Rose. If I were to ask you, would you marry me?’

  ‘What?’ Rose was shocked. This was the last thing she expected.

  ‘I know we don’t love each other, but will you marry me? Yes or no?’

  He was aware of his angry tone and his uncaring manner but added, ‘Well?’

  Rose thought she felt her heart break as she looked into his tortured eyes.

  ‘Yes William. I will marry you’.

  William said, more kindly, ‘thank you Rose’, and then walked out of the kitchen without another word.

  Four weeks later, Mister and Missus William Blunt, left the Fairfax Residence for the last time, to start their life together.