The Secret Orphan. Glynis Peters
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‘Will you have cake? Can I have some? Pleeease!’ Rose threw aside the flower and pressed her hands together as if in prayer.
Elenor was reminded of a pretty doll with a rosebud mouth and smiling eyes.
‘Rose!’ Victoria’s sharp voice interrupted the laughter and made Elenor jump.
Rose’s facial expression moved to sombre.
‘Coming,’ she called.
‘We’ll meet later and discuss cake,’ said Elenor.
‘I’m to stay away from you,’ Rose said. ‘I’m not to be a bother.’
As she ran back inside, Elenor watched her curls bounce on her shoulders and thought the child could never be a bother to anyone. She followed her into the house just in time to see Victoria reprimand the girl.
‘I told you not to disturb Miss Cardew. Stay in your room until you are told to come out. Understood?’
Rose nodded, and a single tear dripped from the end of her nose.
‘She spoke to me. I was already there,’ she said through gulping sniffles.
Elenor stepped inside the kitchen.
‘It’s true, Victoria. I distracted your daughter and we made friends,’ she said in a gentle tone, attempting to calm Victoria down.
‘Well, she’s been told to keep out from under our feet on more than one occasion. Go to your room, Rose.’
‘Victoria, what if Rose is given a useful job? She could help us carry the books from your rooms to the day room.’
Rose looked to Elenor and gave a beautiful smile which lit up her pretty blue eyes and in those few seconds Elenor, unsure why, felt an overwhelming feeling of wanting to protect her.
Victoria folded a tea towel over the back of a chair and Elenor could see she was struggling with the suggestion.
‘After all, why have her sitting around doing nothing? Idle hands are of no use. On the farm she would have several jobs. Think about it, but I am keen to get started.’
Not waiting for a reply, Elenor left the kitchen and entered the day room. She set herself a writing space under the window.
‘I’ve got four books in my arms and they are heavy,’ Rose’s voice called out from the doorway. She was peering above a small pile of paperbacks.
‘Come and put them down here.’ Elenor patted her desk.
‘I’ll get some more. This is fun and …’
Victoria entered the room and Rose ran out.
Two hours later the shelves were full.
After lemonade with Rose and Victoria, Elenor sat at the desk looking through an atlas for Canada. When she found it, she traced her way across the country until she’d found Vancouver. She rushed to her aunt sitting in the parlour.
‘I found Canada. Look!’
Her startled aunt looked up from her newspaper and gave a smile.
‘I do think it was founded by another keen soul, but I congratulate you Elenor.’
Elenor lifted a chair from the corner of the room and sat beside her aunt.
‘I’m sorry, did I disturb you? It is fascinating, this book, and Canada looks enormous compared to England. Here it is, see?’
Her aunt peered into the atlas.
‘I do see, yes. Vast lands are uninhabited, and there are others where brown bears wander free, alongside wolves.’
Elenor sat back in wonderment.
‘I’d be so scared if I came across a bear on our farm,’ she declared.
‘The chances are minimal. I would have liked to visit Canada, but your uncle was not a traveller.’
Her aunt tapped the book. ‘Where shall we visit next, Wales? It is closer to home. Your uncle’s family originated from there. A place called, Blaenau Ffestiniog, now there’s a name for you.’
They spent an hour travelling the world and Elenor sensed the bond between them growing.
Around midday there was a tap at the door, and Victoria entered with a lunch tray. She was closely followed by her husband who, without giving Elenor a glance, strode to her aunt’s side and knelt down.
‘Mrs Matthews, I understand you have been unwell whilst I was away. How are you today?’
Her aunt gave a good-humoured cough.
‘I take it your conference was worth the while. Victoria will no doubt be visiting her family soon. At times I fear you two are ships who pass in the night.’
Elenor disliked his familiarity with her aunt. His voice grated her nerves. Posh school boy education no doubt. Loneliness must have made the old lady blind to his false ways.
‘We moved the books, George,’ Elenor said, rising to her feet. She was determined not to be ignored by him. ‘Victoria and Rose helped.’
Elenor noticed Victoria slip from the room; she hadn’t spoken that morning and looked pale. Her husband turned as she left, then turned back to his employer.
‘I’m pleased to say I learned a lot from my professors. As for Victoria, I have told her a family visit is on the cards. Now your niece is here to assist you, maybe she will go sooner rather than later. Oh, I have arranged for the piano tuner to visit in the week. I understand Miss Cardew sings, I thought we might entertain you one evening.’
Aunt Maude dismissed him with a flick of her hand as she bit into a slice of bread and butter.
Try as she might Elenor still could not find anything pleasant about the man.
‘What a …’ Elenor stopped, remembering her aunt was in the room.
‘Arrogant man? Is that what you were going to say?’
Elenor turned to her aunt, embarrassed by her small outburst.
‘I’m sorry for being rude. It’s just since his return he has upset Victoria, and tries to ignore that I exist.’
Her aunt pointed to the chair opposite.
‘Sit. Victoria is a timid thing when he is around. He dominates her. We have to respect their marriage and how they conduct themselves within it. If I felt for one moment he hurt her physically, I would have something to say, but I have found no evidence.’
‘But …’
Her aunt tutted. ‘No buts. You will do as I do. I watch, I listen, and I say the right words to let him know his place. Victoria is a good housekeeper and I would hate to lose her over something I said to her husband. Rose is a well-behaved child, and of no bother. Everything works as I need it to work and I will not have it altered. I’m too old to change my ways and to have them changed for me. Understand? Keep the balance – and the peace. I look forward to our musical event, at least you will find common ground with George and music.’
Elenor understood the message her aunt communicated.
Later, a gentle snore from her aunt meant their session was over, and she headed back to the day room – a room she now referred to as the study. Victoria arrived with a tray laden with a light lunch.
‘Thank you, Victoria. No Rose?’
‘She’s in the garden. It’s best when she’s at school.’
Elenor shrugged, not sure how to respond.
‘I take it George has returned to work?’
‘Yes. He insists on eating at home. I must confess it is easier when he is away.’
With the impression Victoria resented the presence of both husband