Moments later, she was back in the kitchen talking to Mrs Beddows and the kitchen maid – a young girl of fourteen from the village who lived in too. For the moment, Charlotte confided in the cook, keeping her voice low so that Jane should not hear.
‘Mrs Beddows – I’m so sorry, but I don’t think Lily will be coming back. She’s – she’s in trouble.’
The woman’s mouth dropped open, not because she didn’t understand at once what Charlotte meant, but because she was shocked to hear such a thing about the girl she liked so much. ‘
Lily
is?’ Her surprise was as great as Miles’s had been.
‘Do you know if she’d been walking out with anyone?’
Mrs Beddows pursed her lips. ‘I don’t encourage it, Miss Charlotte. Oh, I know you can’t stop it like you could in the old days, but – ’ she sighed – ‘look where it leads.’
Silently, Charlotte thought, Maybe it wouldn’t have if you’d allowed her to meet her young man openly.
‘It’ll be that Eddie Norton,’ Mrs Beddows said grimly, nodding her head as if agreeing with her own statement. ‘He’s always hanging about the kitchen when she’s about. I’ve had to clear him off many a time.’
Charlotte sighed. ‘Apparently not. Jackson’s already spoken to him and he’s denied it.’
‘Well, he would, wouldn’t he?’ Mrs Beddows pursed her lips. ‘That’s what they all do. Have their fun and then leave the poor girl to cope. The silly, silly girl!’
‘Is there anyone else who works here other than Eddie who—?’
But the cook was shaking her head. ‘No, not that I can think of. No one of her own age, certainly.’ Then she nodded towards the girl washing dishes at the deep sink in the scullery. ‘You’d better talk to Jane. She sleeps in the same bedroom. Mebbe she knows summat.’
‘Thank you, Mrs Beddows.’ As she went towards the scullery, she heard the woman muttering beneath her breath. ‘Wretched girl! Now I’ve got to train another one to my ways.’
‘Jane?’
The girl, singing softly to herself as she worked, gave a startled cry and almost dropped the wet plate she was holding. ‘Oh, miss, you gave me a fright.’
‘I’m sorry. Could you spare me a moment?’
‘Of course, miss.’ The girl dried her hands on a rough piece of towelling.
‘Lily’s in trouble. You – you know what I mean, don’t you?’
The girl’s eyes widened. ‘You mean she’s going to have a bairn?’
Charlotte nodded. ‘But she won’t tell us who the father of her child is. And if we could find out, then maybe we could help her. Help them both.’
Jane was biting her lip anxiously and looking away. Quietly, Charlotte said gently, ‘I think you know, don’t you?’
‘I – I daresunt tell, miss. She’d never forgive me.’
‘Your loyalty does you credit, Jane, but we all need to be able to help Lily, and the only way we can do that is to find out whom she’s been seeing.’
Now tears were running down the young girl’s cheeks. She twisted her fingers together agitatedly.
‘Is it one of the stable lads? Eddie – or someone else?’
Jane shook her head.
‘One of the farm workers, then?’
Again, a shake of the head.
Charlotte took a deep breath and plunged in, forced into voicing her own fears. ‘Is it – is it someone who lives here? In this house?’
‘Please don’t ask me,’ Jane wailed.
Charlotte took hold of the girl’s shoulders and shook her gently. ‘You must tell me. Is it?’
The girl’s tears flowed freely and she pressed her lips together as if to stop the words bursting out. She closed her eyes, trying to shut out Charlotte and her troublesome questions.
‘Is it – Philip?’
Jane’s eyes flew open, staring and frightened. Then, slowly, she nodded.
Charlotte now believed she knew the truth. What she couldn’t decide was how best to deal with it. She didn’t feel able to tell Miles until she was absolutely sure; until Lily had admitted it. So, the only thing to do, she decided, was to confront the girl herself.
She remounted her horse and rode slowly back towards the Warrens’ cottage. The family were seated much as she’d left them, except that John had now got up out of his sick bed and was sitting huddled in a blanket near the range. He still looked pale and ill. Joe was sitting just as Charlotte had last seen him, but Jackson was pacing the floor of the small room.
‘Peggy, could I speak to Lily, please? Alone?’
‘If you can make her open her door, miss. She’s put summat against it and none of us can open it from this side. Not even Jackson, an’ he’s as strong as an ox. Usually. Reckon the flu’s taken more out of us all than we realized. And now this.’ Charlotte went up the dark, narrow staircase. How ironic, she thought, that only a few months ago she, too, had locked herself in her room and refused to come out. She sympathized with Lily; she knew just how she felt.
Only one bedroom door was closed. She knocked and called out softly, ‘Lily, it’s me – Charlotte. Please open the door. I need to talk to you. I want to help.’
Silence.
She tried again. ‘Lily – ’ Her voice was firmer now and she was aware that Jackson was listening at the bottom of the stairs. ‘You’ve got to come out some time, so why not now? Let’s talk about it and see what can be done.’
Still – silence.
Charlotte sighed. There was nothing else for it except to be cruel to be kind. ‘Lily – I believe I know who the father of your baby is and if you don’t come out, then I’m going to tell your family – and his father.’
There was a scrambling sound inside the room, the scraping of something heavy being pulled away from the door and then the door itself was flung open. Wild-eyed, her face swollen and ravaged by tears, Lily faced her. ‘Don’t you dare say anything, miss. It’s nowt to do wi’ you. Leave me alone. I’ll sort it out mesen. I’ll go away – ’
‘Now, now, don’t be silly. There’s no need for all this. Your family’s shocked and hurt, but if I know them – and I think I do – they’ll stand by you.
I’ll
stand by you.’ She wasn’t sure how she was to do it when her own future was so precarious, but somehow she’d see the girl cared for.
Suddenly, the girl was crying heart-wrenching tears. She sobbed against Charlotte’s shoulder. Charlotte put her arms round Lily and held her close. ‘There, there,’ she soothed. ‘We’ll see what’s to be done. Come along downstairs now.’
She led the weeping girl to the head of the stairs to see both Peggy and Jackson staring up at them. Lily gave a sob and tried to flee back to the sanctuary of her bedroom, but Charlotte held her firm. ‘It has to be faced, Lily.’
Downstairs in the crowded kitchen, the atmosphere was tense. Even Tommy, the only one to escape the influenza, had come indoors from playing outside and was staring wide-eyed at his sister, not understanding what was happening.
‘Tommy, love, go out and play, there’s a good lad,’ Peggy said.
‘But, Mam—’ he began to protest but seeing the look on his mother’s face, his father hunched by the fire and Jackson looking like thunder, the boy went meekly, even closing the back door quietly behind him.
Lily flew into her mother’s arms. ‘Oh, Mam, I’m so sorry. I thought he really loved me. He said he knew how to – to be careful. He
promised
me . . .’
Seeing her genuine distress, the tension in the room eased. The Warren family came together in their love for this daughter, this sister, who’d been so hurt.
‘Who is it, Lil?’ Jackson demanded. ‘Just tell us who it is? I’ll bloody kill him.’
‘Aye, well,’ Peggy said, holding her daughter close. ‘You’re not the first lass to be taken in by promises, an’ I don’t expect you’ll be the last.’
‘Come here, love,’ Joe said huskily, standing up and holding out his arms. ‘Come to your ol’ dad.’
As Lily went into his embrace, Charlotte couldn’t help feeling tears prickle her eyes. How wonderful to have a father who loved his daughter enough to forgive her anything.
‘Don’t worry, Lily.’ John spoke up too. ‘If he can’t or won’t marry you, we’ll take care of you and your bairn. Fancy,’ he smiled round at the rest of the family, trying to lighten the tension even further, ‘our Tommy is going to be an uncle. Whatever will he say?’
‘Sit down, lass,’ Joe urged at last. He pushed her gently into the chair and sat down opposite her, taking her hands in his. ‘Now, you’ve got to tell us who it is.’
‘I can’t, Dad.’
‘Why not, lass? Whoever he is, he ought to know.’
‘Is he married?’ Jackson asked bluntly.
Lily’s head shot up. ‘No – no. I’d never . . .’ She began to deny it hotly, then subsided into fresh tears.
‘Then tell us.’
Lily glanced at Charlotte, who asked, ‘You want me to tell them?’
The girl bit her lip but nodded.
‘Of course, if I’m wrong—’
‘I’ll say if you are, miss. I won’t let someone else take the blame, I promise you that.’
All eyes turned upon Charlotte now, Lily’s almost imploring her to be wrong, so that she could deny it. How desperately she wanted to keep her secret.
‘I’ve seen you with him twice,’ Charlotte said quietly. ‘Once coming from one of the outbuildings at the back of the manor. The other time was in the icy weather on Christmas Eve. He was holding your hand, saying he was helping you . . .’
Lily gasped, her eyes wide, her hand flying to cover her open mouth and everyone in the room knew that Charlotte was right.
‘It
is
Eddie Norton! The little liar,’ Jackson shouted, thumping his fist into the palm of his other hand.
‘No, Jackson,’ Charlotte said softly. ‘It isn’t Eddie, though—’ She stopped herself mid-sentence. She’d been going to say that if the father of Lily’s baby had been Eddie, then she’d no doubt the lad would marry her willingly. Charlotte pulled in a deep breath before she said, ‘It’s Philip, isn’t it, Lily? Philip Thornton.’
There was a stunned silence in the room, but seeing Lily hang her head and make no denial, they all knew it was the truth.
‘Philip Thornton!’ Joe was incredulous. ‘But – but he’s only a boy. He’s – he’s still at school, for heaven’s sake.’
‘Huh!’ Jackson spat through gritted teeth. ‘Not such a
boy
.’
Lily clutched at her father. ‘Please, Dad, don’t make trouble for him. I’m as much to blame. I – I love him and he loves me. I’m sure he does.’
‘Aw, lass,’ Joe said heavily. ‘But he’ll never marry you. Not the likes of him with – with
us
.’
Now Peggy turned to Charlotte. ‘Thank you for your help, miss. We appreciate it. At least we know the truth now. We know what we’ve got to deal with.’
Already Peggy was stronger. The whole family was rallying round, taking strength from their love for each other and determining to protect Lily. They’d be all right now, Charlotte was sure.
‘If there’s anything I can do to help, you let me know.’ She looked straight at Joe. ‘Promise me?’
Joe nodded. ‘Aye, an’ thank you again, miss.’
She left the cottage and walked her horse back up the lane towards Buckthorn Farm. They’d be all right. They’d come through this trouble, she knew. They’d pull together as a family.
As she neared her home, she lifted her head and let her glance roam over the house, the buildings and the surrounding fields.
But what about her? What was to become of her?
The only two people in the world who had any affection for her were no blood relation: Mary and Edward. And by nightfall, if her father had meant what he’d said, they could all find themselves homeless.
She smiled wryly to herself. Never mind trying to help others in trouble – who was going to help her?
Charlotte entered the farmhouse by the back door to find the kitchen alive with chatter. Euphemia and Percy were sitting in the Windsor chairs on either side of the range whilst Mary was busy making tea and handing round her home-made biscuits. Edward stood to one side, listening as Euphemia held court.
As Charlotte opened the door, they all looked up.
Euphemia flung her arms wide. ‘My dear child, we were so worried about you after last night. We just had to come and see if you’re all right. Come here and kiss your old aunt.’
Charlotte was enfolded in a perfumed embrace. ‘Now, sit down, dear girl. Your uncle and I want to talk to you.’
Edward placed a chair for Charlotte to sit beside her aunt, who didn’t let go of the young woman’s hand.
‘We’ve seen your father – briefly – but he’s made it quite clear we’re not wanted in this house, but’ – she glanced up – ‘we found a welcome with Mary and Edward. From what I can glean, it’s these two good people who’ve been the mainstays in your life. Am I right?’
‘You are, Aunt,’ Charlotte said huskily, realizing just how very much she owed these loyal people. She couldn’t and wouldn’t call them servants. They were more than that. So much more.
‘Well, now,’ Euphemia went on, patting Charlotte’s hand. ‘We’ve come to ask you to come and live with us when we find a place and get settled. We’re hoping to buy a house somewhere near Lincoln.’ She looked up at the couple standing nearby, a question in her eyes. ‘I don’t know, though, what Mary and Edward want to do. I mean, we’ll be needing a cook, so . . .’