Emmy grinned. ‘Well, I’m glad someone is excited about it,’ she said quietly. ‘I’m so nervous my stomach is in knots. What if my aunt doesn’t like me?’
‘O’ course she will, ’ow could she not like yer?’ Hetty answered as the cart rumbled towards them.
It drew to a stop beside them and soon they were rattling on their way. As they passed the castle and Astley Pool, Emmy realised how strange it was going to be if she did get the job and had to move away from everywhere that was so familiar. Over the years her parents had taken her and Abi on numerous holidays abroad. They had been to the South of France on many occasions and even as far away as Switzerland, so she considered herself to be fairly well travelled, but holidays were different. She had always come home when they were over, if she got the job she would be leaving for good. It was a daunting thought.
By the time she arrived at the train station she felt so nervous she was nauseous.
Hetty had insisted on coming to see her off and as they stood on the platform waiting for the train to arrive Hetty gave her a hug.
‘You’ll be fine,’ she said reassuringly but Emmy wasn’t so sure.
‘What will I do if I don’t get the post? Mama will be so disappointed.’
Hetty scowled and wagged her finger at her. ‘Don’t talk so daft. O’ course you’ll get the post. She’s yer aunt, ain’t she, so she can’t say no. And yer a lovely person, nothin’ like yer .?.?.’ Her voice trailed away as she realised she had almost said too much.
Emmy grinned. ‘If you were about to say Abi, don’t worry. I know she can be a bit difficult. Just don’t let her give you any grief while I’m gone,’ she told her. ‘I shall be back tonight, although I have no idea what time. But don’t worry, Mama gave me enough money to get a cab to the cottage if it’s too late when I get back to Nuneaton, so I shall be perfectly all right.’
At that moment they heard the train approaching and it was soon huffing into the station, belching steam and smoke that floated up to drift amongst the rafters. The guard hurried along the length of the platform opening doors so the passengers could alight.
Hetty pushed her towards the nearest door. ‘Off yer go then. An’ good luck.’
Emmy lifted her skirts and clambered aboard and once she was settled in a carriage, she waved at Hetty through the window. As the train chugged into life again, Emmy wondered what the day would bring. It would certainly be interesting if nothing else.
Back at the cottage, Abi was preparing to go for a walk regardless of the mountain of dirty breakfast pots piled high in the sink. As far as she was concerned, they were Hetty’s job, no matter that the girl had gone shopping. So far since moving in she had managed to escape doing any of the menial jobs and she had no intention of changing that now.
‘I shan’t be long, Mama, I’m just going out to get some fresh air,’ she told her mother as she fastened the ribbons of her bonnet beneath her chin, and the woman nodded absently.
Abi had almost reached the gate when she saw Jasper striding towards her looking very smart in a brand-new suit, a starched white shirt and a silk cravat.
‘Ah, I thought I’d just pop in to see how you were all doing,’ he told her cheerfully as he came abreast of her.
‘I’m just off for a stroll and there’s only Mama in,’ she informed him.
His smile slipped. ‘So where are Emerald and Hetty?’
‘Emerald has gone to London to see an aunt we never even knew we had, and Hetty went into town to do some shopping and see her off,’ Abi told him. As he fell into step with her, she told him about the job Emmy might get.
Jasper listened in astonishment, his lips set in a grim line. He hadn’t known they had an aunt either, and he wasn’t happy about the news that Emmy might be leaving. Although she was his cousin, he had suddenly developed an affection for her and the thought of her moving away was too painful to consider. Thankfully Abi didn’t seem to notice the change in his mood and after a few moments he pulled himself together enough to ask, ‘And what about a job for you? Have you thought any more about what I suggested?’
She fluttered her eyelashes and giggled. ‘Of course I’ve thought about it, but what do you think Mama would make of the idea? Why, she’d have a fit if I so much as suggested it.’
‘So, are you prepared to stay here with no prospects of making a good marriage?’ he said somewhat unkindly. ‘If you stay here the best you could hope for is for some farmer or labourer to ask for your hand and I can’t see you being happy with that. Alternatively, you could become an old maid and grow old with your mother in the cottage.’
Abi’s face fell at his words. He was quite right; she wouldn’t be happy with that. She wanted someone who would spoil and pamper her and she certainly didn’t want to stay in the cottage for a minute longer than was necessary.
‘I .?.?. I will give it some serious thought,’ she said slowly. ‘But if I did decide to do it, Mama must never know where I’d gone. If I didn’t like it then I could always come back and tell her I’d been staying with a school friend.’
‘She certainly wouldn’t find out from me,’ he assured her as he turned to take another path. ‘Just let me know what you decide.’
She stared after him thoughtfully. She had to admit that the life he had painted was appealing: being wooed by rich men and having expensive presents showered on her just for giving them her company sounded wonderful, and she was becoming more tempted by the idea every day.
Jasper’s emotions, meanwhile, were in turmoil. He knew that the feelings he had formed for Emmy were unnatural but he couldn’t seem to help it. Just the sight of her sweet face set his pulse racing, but how could he ever tell her how he felt? They were first cousins and it would be wrong for them to marry. He knew that nothing could come of his feelings. All the cousins knew the tragic story of the two children their grandparents – who had been first cousins – had had who had not survived infancy. Apparently, this had been due to an illness caused by the close familial connection. Jasper didn’t understand much about that. Jake had tried to explain it to him, but really, it meant nothing. However, what he did understand was that under no circumstances would either his parents or Emmy’s mother allow a union between the cousins. Personally, he didn’t care if he never had children, but he knew his father would cut him off if he ever went against this unwritten rule. He had already had more than his share of young women but since Gerald had left, he had got to know Emmy better and seeing her spirit and courage in the face of adversity – so unlike Abi’s whining – he felt sure he would never meet anyone who could measure up to her. If he had a woman like that by his side, he was sure the world would be his oyster. Somehow, he would have to let her know how he felt and come up with a plan on how he could persuade her to be his. Up to now he had kept his feelings well hidden, and if Emmy left for London, then he’d have no choice but to continue to do so. He sighed.
Hetty arrived home after lunch laden down with two bags of shopping and dropped them on the table with a sigh of relief. It had been a long walk from the cart and her arms felt as if they had almost been pulled out of their sockets
‘Ah, Hetty, here you are at last,’ Dorcas greeted her. ‘Abigail and I are ready for our lunch now.’
Hetty’s eyes stretched wide as she looked at the dirty pots still piled in the sink. ‘So why didn’t you make yourselves something?’ she asked boldly.
