Chapter 25

Mr Shaw telephoned the doctor, and Mrs Bentley helped me take Lady Violet up to her bedroom and change into her nightgown. Louise brought hot water and towels.

‘The doctor is on his way,' she said, before leaving the room.

‘I'm scared, Maggie,' Lady Violet said.

Pressing a damp cloth against her forehead, I said, ‘Everything will be all right, milady, you'll see.' A knock came at the door, and the doctor entered with his briefcase.

‘You may go now,' he said to me, and I left the room, hoping Lady Violet would give birth to the boy she wanted.

Downstairs, in the servants' hall, Mrs Bentley, Mr Shaw, Louise, John and I prayed while we waited.

‘I've known her since she was born,' Mrs Bentley said. ‘A lovely little girl she was.'

None of us knew what to do with ourselves. After dinner, we played cards into the night. Eventually, the doctor came into the servants' hall.

‘It's a healthy baby girl,' he said, with a smile.

‘Delightful news,' Mr Shaw said.

‘Can I go up and see her?' I said.

‘You can indeed.'

Lady Violet's bedroom was lit by a lamp on her nightstand and the curtains were drawn. The wind whistled outside and waves crashed against the shore, and it seemed a storm was brewing. But the baby was here, and so I didn't take this as a sign of anything ominous to come.

Lady Violet was sitting up in bed, propped by pillows, and she held her daughter in her arms. The baby, who was beautiful, had a head of thick dark hair, like Luca, and was wrapped in a blanket. Her eyes were closed, and she was sleeping.

‘Congratulations, milady,' I said.

Looking up at me, she gave a faint smile. I couldn't begin to imagine what she was feeling. Exhausted, but also torn between being delighted at giving birth to such a beautiful daughter and disappointed because she'd needed a boy.

‘I'd like to call her Tabitha, after my grandmother,' she said, softly.

‘All right.'

‘Oh, but I need a middle name. It should give a nod to her father – but what is the female equivalent of Luca, Maggie?'

‘I'm not sure there is one.'

She thought for a moment. ‘It would be nice if it were Italian, don't you agree, Maggie?'

Nodding, and playing along, I said, ‘Yes.'

‘What about Lucia? That's about as close to Luca as one can get, and after Lucy Honeychurch in A Room with a View.'

‘A lovely choice. I shall pass the information on to Mr Shaw and Mrs Bentley. Now, you need to get some rest,' I said.

‘Put her in the crib, will you, Maggie?'

She handed the baby to me and, carefully, I took her, so very light and small, like a doll, and I laid her down carefully in the wooden crib.

Lady Violet took my hand and squeezed it. ‘You must listen to me, Maggie. If I don't make it?—'

‘What on earth are you talking about? Your work is done now and it's time to get some well-earned rest.'

She shook her head. ‘If I die, I want you to do these things for me.'

‘Don't be ridiculous,' I said.

‘Maggie!' She was almost shouting now.

‘What would you like me to do?' I said, humouring her.

‘Firstly, ask Mrs Bentley to call Mrs Willis about giving Tabitha a home. Mrs Willis and I talked about the possibility of adoption if the baby was a girl, so I could have her close to me at Gatley Hall.'

‘All right,' I said, surprised but also relieved that Mrs Willis was aware of the situation.

‘And Luca must not know that Tabitha is his daughter. He wasn't aware of my pregnancy and he has a life waiting for him back in Florence. His father is a baker and Luca is engaged to the daughter of another baker in the city. Their families plan to merge businesses when he gets married.'

I had no idea Luca was engaged. To think his poor fiancée would have no idea about what he'd been up to with Lady Violet.

‘Very well,' I said.

‘When you get back to Gatley Hall, take my emerald brooch from the safe – you know, the one my mother gave to me on my wedding day.'

‘I can't do that.'

‘Promise me you'll do it. You must give the brooch to Tabitha on her wedding day. This will be my dying wish and I expect you to adhere to it.'

‘You are not dying, milady.'

‘Just agree, won't you?'

I nodded, tears pricking my eyes. Surely she was just overtired and deluded.

Lady Violet closed her eyes, and I went downstairs. Mr Shaw poured all of us a glass of brandy and gave a toast to celebrate the happy news. Nobody mentioned that the earl was not the father and that the baby was not a boy. That would all have to be dealt with the next day for everyone was immensely tired.

An hour or so later, Louise went to check on Lady Violet and the baby, and when she rushed back into the servants' hall her face was pale.

‘Whatever is the matter, Louise?' Mrs Bentley said.

‘Lady Violet…I think she is dead,' she said.

No, this could not be true. I swallowed and a wave of nausea swept over me.

‘Surely she is asleep and you are mistaken, dear girl,' Mrs Bentley said.

‘I felt her pulse, Mrs Bentley,' Louise said.

‘All right, I'll go and see for myself. What nonsense.' Mrs Bentley went upstairs. She returned a few minutes later.

‘Telephone the doctor will you, Mr Shaw. Sadly, I think Louise is right. Her ladyship is no longer with us.'

I burst into tears, and Mrs Bentley handed me a handkerchief. Lady Violet had been right after all and I hadn't believed her. I should have been with her when she took those last breaths.

‘This is most upsetting for us all,' she said. ‘But' – ever the housekeeper, she continued – ‘one must be practical and we shall all need to wear black now this house is in mourning. Tomorrow, we shall all go to St Matthew's together and pray for our beloved Lady Violet.'

I had failed in my duty as lady's maid and guilt consumed me. Why hadn't I listened and provided comfort during her last moments? Mr Shaw refilled our glasses with generous measures of brandy to help with the shock, and I downed mine in one go. All I could do was fulfil Lady Violet's dying wishes: ask Mrs Bentley to arrange for Mr and Mrs Willis to adopt the baby and call her Tabitha Lucia. Taking the brooch from her safe at Gatley Hall could be tricky, especially as my job was now redundant, but it would be my responsibility to get that brooch into Tabitha's hands.