Kate wondered what he meant by that. Was Eliza keeping secrets? Did they have plans?
They had enjoyed each other’s company but the wind was beginning to find its way through Kate’s coat and she suggested they should keep moving. Tommy explained that he had to be home before three, as there were special preparations in the house for a family gathering tomorrow. They said goodbye to each other and walked back to their own separate houses.
As soon as Tommy was out of sight, Kate asked the question that had been burning her tongue. ‘What did Tommy mean when he said not so long now?’
‘He’s asked me to marry him, Kate. I was going to tell you. That’s the trouble with Tommy, no sense of occasion.’
Kate’s expression changed; she was shocked to hear that she might be losing Eliza so soon.
‘But don’t worry, it won’t be for a good while, more’s the pity. The sooner we can get married the better.’
Kate was sure she detected a ripple of worry lines appear on Eliza’s forehead.
‘I thought you were happy at Woodland House. Aren’t you happy?’ Kate asked.
‘Oh yes,’ Eliza hesitated. ‘It’s just that . . . well a girl wants to get married, doesn’t she?’
Eliza’s pensiveness was only fleeting, however, and she quickly returned to her usual light-hearted self.
‘Don’t look so worried, Kate. It will be a while yet. As I said, Old Richards is not exactly on his last legs yet. I’ll probably be an old maid before it all happens.’ She laughed.
There was something strange about Eliza’s mood. Kate suspected that Eliza wasn’t telling her everything. Sooner or later the time would come when her new friend would move on.She decided not to dwell on such thoughts. Sometimes there was little to be done but accept that things never stay the same.
When they entered the kitchen, Mrs B was rolling out pastry.
‘Ah good, just in time,’ she said. ‘I’ve prepared tomorrow’s lunch and this is the apple pie for their pudding. All you have to do is heat up the beef casserole and then you can serve the pie with some custard. I think I can trust you to do that, Eliza, can’t I? I’ll be back in time to serve the dinner, but the two of you will have to manage afternoon tea. Now, make sure you measure the tea carefully. You know what the master’s like, too strong and he says money is being wasted by adding extra water and throwing tea leaves away, too weak and he says that we get enough housekeeping money and we’re trying to cut corners.’
‘I think we’ll manage just fine, Mrs B. You relax and enjoy your day off. Going somewhere nice?’ Eliza asked.
‘To visit my sister in Monkton,’ Mrs B replied. ‘She’s been laid up with bronchitis, poor thing. I’m taking her some of my beef tea, that’ll set her right.’
‘You deserve some time off,’ said Kate. ‘A pity your sister’s not well enough to enjoy it with you. We’ll be fine here.’
‘Well you’d better be. Make sure you follow my instructions to the letter. I’ll have no time to pick up the pieces once I’m back. It will be full on preparations for Christmas come next week.’
Kate didn’t even want to think about Christmas. It would be the first one spent away from her family. She was going to miss the gathering of the holly and the glow of candlelight in Micklewell church, the carol singing around the village and the making of biscuits on Christmas Eve. Christmas at Woodland House would, no doubt, be a grand affair but she would be thinking of them all gathering firewood in Micklewell woods while she laid fires in another family’s hearth.
Chapter Four
December 1912
Kate took a deep breath and counted to twenty. Persuading those twins to get washed and dressed in their Christmas finery was proving a struggle. She’d been up before dawn to help in the kitchen and now the children were not being helpful. Mrs Winton had been quite specific about the timing of the entire day and had emphasized that the children must be ready for family breakfast by half past eight.
‘Ouch, you’re hurting,’ Sophie squealed as Kate struggled to untangle the night-time scramble that wound her unruly curls around the brush.
‘All done now,’ Kate said and neatly distracted Sophie with choosing a ribbon. The red silk slipped through Kate’s fingers and fell to the floor. She fought to make it stay in place, but it finally succumbed to her deft fingers.
‘There,’ Kate said, ‘now don’t you look beautiful?’
Sophie twisted and turned in front of the mirror and a smile crept across her face.
One down, one to go, thought Kate and turned to find Simon.
‘Where’s . . . ?’ Kate began and then noticed the tip of a sock peeking out from under the bed.
‘Thomas,’ Kate said. ‘What did you say about present opening time in this house? Always after breakfast, wasn’t it?’
Thomas looked up briefly from his book. ‘Yes, always,’ he replied.
