Hope for Tomorrow (13 page)

Martha's tears sprang up anew.

“
Thank you.”

“
It's my pleasure. Now, dry your eyes, my dear, and let's try and have a pleasant evening.” Gus reached out and took her hand. “Let tomorrow bring what it may, for tonight nothing can touch us.”

“
I hope you know how much I love you.” Martha smiled through her tears and wiped her eyes with her handkerchief.

“
I do, my dear. Now, sip your drink and let's try and relax.”

Martha didn't like brandy but she knew the medicinal effects that it could have so she sipped it as he suggested.

“
There. Everything will be all right, I promise.”

The next morning Gus headed to the factory as usual but soon after he arrived he told his clerk that he had a meeting at the bank and hailed a hansom cab as his carriage was currently delivering Martha to the shop. He told the cab driver to take him to the Grosvenor Hotel, where any self-respecting future Earl and his mother would be staying. He had already written a note which he handed to the receptionist with a healthy tip as he asked for it to be delivered to Lucien Beaumont immediately. Then he went and found a seat in the lounge and ordered a brandy. He wasn't usually a day drinker but he had a feeling that he might need it.

It took about fifteen minutes for Lucien to come down. Gus had wondered if he would know him but as he stepped into the lounge and looked around, Gus knew him instantly because of his resemblance to Hope. He stood up and Lucien headed over to him.

“
Mr Aldercott?” Lucien asked, holding out his hand to shake.

“
I am.” Gus shook his hand and nodded to a vacant chair.

“
Don't you need to check who I am?” Lucien asked.

“
I'm afraid that your resemblance to someone I care deeply about renders that question redundant.”

“
Martha said that she looked like me.”

“
And indeed she does.”

Lucien ordered some tea from the waiter and when they were alone again he leaned forward.

“
I must thank you, Sir, for your kindness to my family. You stepped in and helped them where I could not and for that I will forever be in your debt.”

“
Consider the debt expunged,” he said. “I consider Martha and Hope to be my family and they have never been a burden to me.”

Lucien look a long look at the man opposite him. Gus looked to be older than his father, who was nearing sixty but unlike his father, Gus looked to be in excellent health. He was a little stout and portly but with a friendly and open face. He had wanted to believe Martha when she said that her relationship with Gus was platonic and now that he could see no jealousy or anger in this man's features, only the desire to protect, he could finally rest easy.

In light of this, the kindness he had shown to Martha was all the more remarkable.

“
So, what is it that I can do for you?” Lucien asked, hoping that he wasn't going to ask Lucien to stay away.

“
Someone I care deeply about is very distressed by your reappearance in her life and I want to make sure of your intentions.”

Lucien nodded.

“
I can assure you that I mean neither of them any harm.”

“
I dare say that you meant no harm the last time you met, yet by the time I encountered her she was almost emaciated.”

Lucien hung his head in shame.

“
I offered her money,” he said in his defence, though he knew it was weak.

“
She didn't want-”

“
I know,” Lucien intercepted him, looking up. “I know the harm that I did that day and I am truly sorry for it. You have my word that I will not chase her away again.”

Gus now took a long hard stare at Lucien and could see the regret in his eyes as well as his pain. 

“
I believe that you mean what you say.”

“
But you don't trust me any more than she does,” Lucien stated.

“
No,” Gus confirmed. “But unlike Martha, I am prepared to give you a chance.”

“
What does that mean?” Lucien looked hopeful. “Will you let me see Hope?”

“
That is not my decision to make but I will do my best to make Martha see reason.”

“
I wouldn't phrase it quite like that to her.”

“
She is a very headstrong young woman, which does give me reservations about the match given that your natures seems similar, but Martha is a reasonable woman and if you want to stand any chance with her, you would do well to remember that.”

“
If she is as you say, reasonable, why won't she let me see Hope?”

“
Because like all of us, she must judge on what she knows and I'm afraid you have not shown her your best qualities, if indeed you have any. You must be patient with her.”

“
Why would you help me? If she realises that you are on my side, won't she be angry with you?”

“
Make no mistake, Sir, I am always on Martha's side; I just so happen to think that perhaps you could be good for her.”

“
And what is it that you think I can do for her?”

“
Love her.”

“
Are you... Are you saying that she still...”

“
Loves you? Of course. I can see it in her face every time she talks of you.”

“
But she is so cold and angry towards me!”

“
She is protecting herself because you still have the power to hurt her. If she felt nothing for you, she would simply be indifferent towards you.”

“
How do you know so much about women?” Lucien asked, somewhat ungraciously but he needed to know if he was being given false hope here.

“
About women I claim no specialist knowledge, but I have lived a full life and known more than my fair share of loss, so I think that I might claim a little knowledge of human nature.”

“
I'm sorry, I didn't mean-”

“
I understand. How long will you be in town?”

“
Mother is planing to stay for another five nights but I may be able to stay a little longer. My father is unwell and I have been managing our estate for a while now but the steward is good, he can manage without me for a time.”

“
Very well. Now I must be getting back to work. I will talk to Martha this evening, though it may take a good deal more persuasion that I can manage in one evening.”

“
And what should I do?” Lucien asked.

“
Go about your life and do not reveal what you know. It is not enough to simply tell her that you are trustworthy; you must prove it.”

Lucien nodded and stood up when Gus did. They shook hands.

“
Thank you, Mr Aldercott.”

“
Do not thank me yet, for I am far from certain that I shall be successful.”

“
Nonetheless, I appreciate your attempt.”

Chapter Thirteen

That same morning, the post for the store was waiting for Martha as usual. Although the majority of post was sent to the factory, there were often a few letters addressed to the shop. Today also sitting on her desk was a parcel about six inches by three and wrapped in brown paper. She untied the string and opened the box within to find six yellow tulips tied together with a yellow ribbon and a note enclosed, which was sealed with letter wax.

She broke the seal with equal parts trepidation and excitement. There was only one line written on the paper and no signature but she did not need to wonder who the parcel was from. The note read
'I love you. I always have and I always will.'

Thanks to the restrictions placed on couples in these times, flowers had their own language which almost every girl understood. Yellow tulips said
'I am hopelessly in love'
.

She put the note back in the box, placed the lid back on and put it in the bottom drawer of her desk.

For the rest of the morning, unless a customer came in, she was copying her latest bespoke designs to be sent to the other shops but all the while she worked, her mind kept drifting to the box in her drawer.

She moved out to the shop and sat by the fire to work, in the hope that some distance might help to keep her focused but it failed to make any difference as her mind kept drifting back to the parcel.

She wondered what his plan was? Why he had sent the flowers? What did he hope to achieve? Would he keep his promise and their secret?

That evening Gus told her that he had gone to see Lucien and that he was of the opinion that Lucien was genuine in his desire not to hurt Martha and suggested that perhaps she might like to introduce Hope to him.

Martha wouldn't hear of it.

The next day another parcel was waiting for her at the shop with another six yellow tulips inside. The note read
'I love the way your smile lights up your whole face.'

The same thing happened over the following three days with each note in turn reading.
'I love your intelligence.' 'I love how kind you are .'
and
'I miss you more than words can say.'

Each day as she entered the shop she hated herself for looking forward to there being another parcel. She stored each parcel in the same drawer but it would soon be full up.

On the sixth day another parcel awaited her and its note read,
'I hope that one day you will find it in your heart to forgive me.'

Martha made a snap decision and found a larger box into which she placed all the flowers and notes. She wrapped it in brown paper, tied it securely with string and addressed it to the Grosvenor Hotel for the attention of Lucien Beaumont.

That should get her message through.

The next day however, there was another parcel sitting on her desk, the same six yellow tulips inside. The note read.
'I love your laugh.'

She wondered if perhaps her parcel hadn't been delivered but when another five parcels arrived she knew that he simply hadn't taken the hint. She once again boxed up all the flowers and notes, this time including a message of her own.

'Please leave me alone.'

The parcels stopped at once, which oddly disappointed her since she had requested that they stop and her disappointment angered her.

Gus was still trying to make her see that Hope deserved to know her father even if she was too young to be told who he was but Martha wasn't willing to listen.

After one day without a parcel, a different shaped parcel arrived, the size of a book. She opened it to find a black leather-bound volume without any lettering and a letter on top of it in now-familiar handwriting. She broke the seal and opened the letter with trepidation.

My Dearest Martha,

I will not repeat the sentiments which you returned to me however I am afraid that I cannot altogether refrain from contacting you. I want to be included in your and Hope's lives in whatever way you see fit and I will not stop asking until I succeed. I will however give you my word that I shall not be so intrusive in future.

I have returned to Marchwood now and am no longer in your town but I shall be sure to give you plenty of notice when I plan to return so that you are not taken by surprise again.

I know that you doubt my sincerity and so I have sent my journal along with this letter. Most of the entries take the form of a letter to you since you are the only person who has ever truly understood me and it helped me to imagine that I was conversing with you.

I also realise that the reason you did not continue to correspond with Mrs Lassiter is because you feared that your letter to her was the reason I discovered your location. Please be assured that she did not betray your trust. Your Master contacted me following an advertisement that I placed in the local paper, all local papers, offering a reward for information about you. I do not know how he discovered our relationship but I was not the one to tell him, though I must inform you that following an argument with my father, it has been common knowledge in the town for a while now.

In light of the above, I believe Mrs Lassiter would greatly appreciate hearing that you are well. I have not told her of our encounter or of your new name, and I will not do so without express permission from you. 

I have also been keeping an eye on your family in your absence. I realise that you have been sending your mother money twice a year through a neighbour but you are probably lacking details about their lives.

You have four new siblings, two of them twins. When you left I believe your three closest siblings in age were already employed. Since then I have found positions for your next four siblings. Two have found jobs on the estate working as labourers for some of my tenants and the two girls have gone into service. One in the home of a businessman I know in town and one, Sarah, in my home and she keeps me informed of your family's well-being. Please be assured though, that I have not even told her of our meeting.

Unfortunately I must now inform you of some bad news.

The neighbour to whom you sent money gave your secret away to your father, who has not been seen in these parts since your last letter arrived. I fully expect him to return when the money runs out but in the meantime, I have been paying their rent. Your mother is a proud woman however and will not take any further help from me. Your siblings who are employed and can afford it, send money home and I always add a few shillings to what Sarah takes home. Mrs Lassiter also sends some food with Sarah when she visits your family on a Sunday. They manage and the children seem happy enough I am informed, but sadly your mother is not in good health.

Sarah told me that your mother's last two births took their toll on her and she has never fully recovered. She is losing weight and ageing rapidly. They fear what will happen when your father comes home for they do not think that she can survive another birth.

I would like to house your family in a nicer area of town, perhaps in one of the unoccupied houses on my estate but your mother will not hear of it.

I am sorry to have to be the bearer of such news but since I am likely the reason why you do not correspond with your family, it is perhaps only fitting that it is I who must tell you this.

If you would like me to do anything or pass any message on to your family, please let me know. I am at your service.

All my love,

Lucien.

Martha sat at her desk for a long while, wondering what she should do and in the end she decided to ask Mrs Lassiter to pass a letter on to Sarah.

She wrote the housekeeper a long letter, telling her about Gus and that she was now in trade but leaving out any specific details, such as the type of trade and any mention of her new surname. Then she realised that Mrs Lassiter would address the return letter to Martha Dawley, which would not do. She didn't have much choice but to tell her to give her reply to Lucien to post. She may not trust him but so far he had kept her secret and the more people who knew her new name and address the greater the chance of her being found out.

Lucien had been wrong when he said that he was probably the reason that she hadn't corresponded with her family. She had sent the money and short notes through a neighbour because her family couldn't read.

Martha had learned to read a very little from the few neighbours they had who could read but it was Mrs Lassiter who had properly taught Martha to read and write. Martha had wanted to teach her siblings a little each Sunday but her father didn't like education and so she was unable to teach them anything if he was at home.

By the time Martha ran away Sarah had known a few words but not nearly enough to read a whole letter or even a note.

She hoped that Mrs Lassiter had shown Sarah how to read too but she knew that it was Martha's own interest in books and learning that had convinced the housekeeper to help her and Sarah had never shown any great interest in learning when she was young.

Nevertheless she address a letter to Sarah, which she folded inside Mrs Lassiter's, knowing that the housekeeper would read it to her if necessary. Finally she wrote a note to Lucien which was polite but distant, thanking him for his help and asking that he forward any replies on to her.

She went to the bank and withdrew five pounds, which she put inside Sarah's letter. The clerk kindly let her use his wax and stamp to seal each letter within the others. She stopped in at the post office on her way back to the shop to post it.

The wait for a reply seemed interminable but finally four days later she received a short response from Sarah though it was written in Mrs Lassiter's hand and addressed by Lucien.

Her mother, Lizzy, was indeed very frail but refused all offers of a doctor. The elder children who were still at home did what they could but Sarah was worried about what would happen.

When she left the shop that evening, Martha had the driver take her to the factory so that she could speak to Gus. He wasn't surprised to see her for she or Mary often had to drop into the factory but he knew about her recent letters and upon seeing her concerned expression, he ushered her straight into his office.

“
You received a reply?” he asked.

“
I did.” She told him of Sarah's vague description of her mother's malaise and her refusal to see a doctor.

“
I take it you have an idea?” he asked, for he knew her well by now.

“
I do. I believe I have more than enough money to purchase a house, something nice but not too extravagant, where she and the children can be comfortable. Do you think that's a good idea?”

“
If it will put your mind at rest, I think it's an excellent idea.”

“
Good, because I think I should go there now. Tomorrow to be exact.”

“
And how long do you think you will be gone?”

“
Perhaps a week at most. I hope to find a vacant property that they can rent while the sale goes through, then I will have to purchase furniture for them and probably some other goods. Could you manage without me for a week?”

“
I'm certain that we can. We have ample designs for customers to look through and should a client require you to design something specific, I am certain that they will be able to wait a week; our wealthy customers usually give us plenty of notice.”

Martha sagged with relief.

“
Will you be taking Hope with you?” he asked.

Martha shook her head. “I don't want her exposed to that life. I've decided that I'll book a ticket to London on the train but get off in Manchester and since Marchwood doesn't have a rail line yet, I'll take a stagecoach the rest of the way, then book into a hotel under my old name so that no one can connect me with you.”

“
I was about to ask if you wanted me to go with you but it seems that you don't.”

“
I would love your company and support,” she admitted, “But I won't risk tarnishing your good name.”

“
Then allow me to contact Lord Beaumont- hear me out!” Gus spoke over her as she opened her mouth to cut him off.

Martha glared for a moment but finally nodded for him to continue.

“
From what I understand, you will be going to some quite insalubrious places and I'm sorry my dear, but you no longer fit there. Even if you were to try and dress as one of them, which would severely hinder your attempt to purchase a house, your elegance and manner would set you apart and make you a target for the less scrupulous elements of society. I have no objection at all to your helping your family; I only wish for you to have someone with you to act as protector should the worst happen.”

Martha thought through her options for a moment. He was right, she would be a target for thieves or worse. She wondered if she might hire someone to act as a chaperone but she didn't know where she could find someone like that in Marchwood and if she found someone from Penchester to accompany her, that would lead a trail back to her life here. Unable to find an alternative, Lucien was the best choice.

“
Very well,” she agreed.