20 Lilac House
Cora was at peace. For weeks now she had tried to reconcile her two lives, being the respectable widow and mother by day, and spending her nights with Cal, and that had brought her a degree of contentment.
Even when she had been alone with Cal during the day, she had clung to her plan and kept all her affection for their nights together.
It would have been too confusing otherwise, and she wanted to do nothing in public that would bring condemnation down on her.
But now the condemnation had arrived anyway, and life was so much better! At last they could be together all the time. There was no need for any pretence, no need to spend dreary hours without him, playing the familiar part of the respectable widow when her heart screamed for his company.
He had no paid employment, so although he still spent the odd day at Frickham Wood, or helped those who needed a hand with their gardens, most of the time he was at home, working on his own garden or repainting walls or restoring furniture to a high shine.
He had found a pair of sisters from the village who came in each day to act as cook and housemaid, so Cora could work on new curtains and bed hangings and cushions.
She ought to write to her friends and relations, but what was she to say to them?
‘I have left my home and family to live with a man who is not my husband.’ They would be scandalised, she knew that. So she said nothing.
On the first Sunday, she went to church alone, sitting discreetly at the back.
It was the first service she had attended there, but she felt safe enough, knowing that her family would be listening to Mr Godley’s sermon in the Staineybank chapel.
Of course she was recognised, that could not be avoided, but no one spoke to her, not even Mr Templeton.
A few locals bowed or bobbed curtsies to her, but most kept their heads down and pretended not to see her. That suited her very well.
She was still at the breakfast table the next morning, enjoying one last cup of tea, when she heard voices from outside. Cal’s, since he was at work in the garden, but the other? It sounded like Mr Templeton.
Cal showed him into the parlour.
“This is a surprise, Mr Templeton,” Cora said. “Would you like some tea? Or coffee? Do sit down.”
“I prefer to stand,” he said stiffly, clutching his hat tightly in his hands. “Mrs Merrington, I should be obliged if you would not attend divine service at St Timothy’s again. Yours is not an example I wish my parishioners to follow.”
“I must go to church, Mr Templeton,” Cora said, shocked. “It is a requirement of the Anglican faith.”
“You may do so, of course, but not at St Timothy’s. That is all I have to say on the subject. If ever you repent of your evil ways, you may apply to me for advice as to a suitable penance, but until then, my church is closed to you. Good day.”
Later that day, the two sisters engaged as housemaid and cook handed in their notice.
“Mr Templeton says it’s wrong, mum,” they told her apologetically.
Then Souter reported that the village haberdasher refused to serve her.
She was wrestling with the buttons on the back of Cora’s gown as she spoke, but Cora spun round to face her.
“Souter, what am I doing to you?” Cora cried.
“You are a fully trained lady’s maid, and you should not be crammed into a tiny little cottage like this, chopping vegetables like a kitchen maid, sleeping in a cupboard off the kitchen and sneered at by the local shopkeepers.
This is all quite below your dignity. If you want to give notice, I would not blame you a bit. ”
“Madam! As if I’d do any such thing!”
“I would miss you abominably, of course, but I would write you a glowing reference.”
Souter rested her fists on her hips. “Don’t you ever suggest such a thing again, madam.
I’ve been with you for twenty years now and I plan to be with you for twenty more.
You’ll not shake me off. I was a bit worried you were going to move out to that little hut, and then I’d have to sleep in the wood store, but this is much better.
At least I have my own room, and I imagine Mr Garford will add on another room or two before long, if you stay here.
He’s clever like that. He’ll make the place much more comfortable.
But wherever you go, I’ll be with you, so don’t you fret over that. ”
“You are very good,” Cora said. “I am very grateful, Souter.”
“Now, now, none of that nonsense, madam. Now turn round, do, or we’ll neither of us get any dinner tonight.”
“This is getting difficult,” Cal said, as they sat round the kitchen table to eat that evening.
“I can cook and chop wood for the fire, and I don’t mind a bit of cleaning, but you’d be more comfortable with proper servants, and it will be inconvenient to go into Brinchester for every bit of meat or butter we need.
Do you want to move somewhere else? There’s no need for us to stay in this miserable little house now, is there? ”
“Where would we go?” Cora said. “Another village would have the same problem, but the town would cut you off from the woods. This house at least has a few trees round it. You would be miserable in Brinchester, admit it.”
“It wouldn’t be ideal,” he said. “So much stone, and great tall buildings looming over me! Perhaps I can find something on the edge of town, near enough that you can walk in without needing a carriage, but close to some trees for me to be able to breathe freely.”
“Stupid Richard,” she said, although without heat. “If he had not thrown you out of your little hut, we could have gone on quite happily. You would have had your trees and I would have had you.”
He smiled at her. “You’re easy to please, Cora.
I can’t quite bring myself to blame Richard for what he did.
We’re in the wrong, after all, and he’s just protecting his family by removing a bad influence.
You will be held up to your grandchildren as a morality tale, I hope you realise that.
Behave yourself and do as you’re told or you’ll end up like Grandma Merrington. ”
“So long as they remember me,” she said equably. “How far is it to Brinchester on foot?”
“Three miles or so by the shortest way. I can do it in well under an hour, but you might find it quite a stretch to walk. The stage coach goes through at about ten and back at four or thereabouts, or you could get a ride with the carter. I can get a gig, if you like but—”
“That would be far too expensive.”
“It’s more the need for a groom to tend the horse. I know nothing about horses, except that they need the right feed and proper care.”
“I know less than nothing, except that they cost the earth, what with the price of oats and all the taxes,” Cora said. “Richard grumbled constantly about it.”
Cal smiled. “He grumbles about everything. If we’re to stay here, then you must be able to get about, Cora, and that means a conveyance of some kind. A gig or a small pony cart is essential.”
“Can we afford it?”
“We can afford it.”
He sounded very sure, but Cora was not so confident.
She knew how much she had been used to spend on mere fripperies, and although she had no need for new gowns and bonnets whenever the wind changed direction, she would still need to replenish her wardrobe occasionally.
Then there were the costs of food, candles, tea and all the other necessities of life.
Cal had no income, and his savings would soon disappear if he continued to buy her the best cuts of beef and provide her with wine with her dinner, as he liked to do.
She had her jointure, of course, but she was not confident that Richard would pay it.
This latter point was resolved very soon. Cora had not expected any morning callers, but one day the knocker sounded and she opened the door to see Georgie Hammond’s smiling face.
“Are you at home?” she said mischievously. “Of course, if you’re not receiving—”
“Come in, come in,” Cora said. “I cannot tell you how glad I am to see you, but… are you permitted to call upon me?”
Georgie laughed, setting her basket down on the floor of the hall. “Jamie doesn’t mind, and he is the only man with the power to forbid me. Richard grumbled about it when I told him I was coming here, but everyone else is agog to know how you’re going on, and whether you’re regretting it all now.”
“Does Richard expect me to come crawling back with my tail between my legs?” she said, helping Georgie disentangle the strings of her bonnet. “How he would gloat if I were to do so. He would be quite unbearable.”
“Forgive me for saying so of your son and the future Duke of Brinshire,” Georgie said, “but he is quite unbearable as it is. Poor man, he does so dislike it when things don’t go the way he thinks they should.”
“Heaven forfend that I should have a mind of my own,” Cora said. “Do you mind if we go into the kitchen? I am without a house maid at the moment, and you will want a cup of tea.”
Souter soon chased them out of the kitchen, muttering, “I’m not so grand I can’t make a pot of tea for you, madam.”
“Pretty curtains,” Georgie said, as soon as they were settled in the parlour. “You’ve been busy.”
“I managed to buy the material and thread before the village haberdasher told me never to darken his door again,” Cora said, gurgling with laughter. “Even Souter is barred, so we have to shop in Brinchester now.”
Georgie pulled a face. “How very disagreeable for you. But I come bearing gifts. First, one of my cakes — ginger, one of your favourites.”
“All your cakes are my favourites, Georgie.”
“How kind of you to say so. What else do I have? Some strawberry jam. We’ve had the most astonishing surplus this year, and there was a great jam-making below stairs, of which I was permitted to keep more jars than we will ever get through, so you can have one.
Some potted shrimps, a present from Mrs Bright, but please don’t mention it to anyone in case she gets into trouble. ”