Chapter 26

Mr and Mrs Willis were delighted to be asked to adopt Tabitha and Mrs Bentley made all the arrangements. Mrs Willis concocted a story about her niece dying in childbirth and said no one would suspect a thing. Mr Shaw telephoned the earl to inform him that, sadly, Lady Violet had died from influenza. Butlers tended to be good at delivering bad news in an expert way. After the call, Mr Shaw reported that the earl had been practical in his response to the news and they had discussed arrangements relating to the return of Lady Violet's body to Gatley for the funeral. She would be buried at St Andrew's along with other members of his family, as was tradition.

Not only did I have to deal with losing Lady Violet so suddenly after we had become friends, but also I had been left without a job. Once again, I'd need to lean on Aunt Edith and, after informing her of what had happened – sticking to the official line of Lady Violet dying of influenza – I asked to stay while I was working out what to do.

After that, I telephoned Mrs Willis to discuss collecting my belongings from Gatley Hall.

Mrs Willis said, ‘But where will you go, Margaret?'

‘I'll stay with my aunt while seeking another position,' I said.

‘You have been through a great deal, and Mrs Bentley said you performed your role superbly in Seamouth. You were a friend to her ladyship in her time of need, and you should be very proud.'

‘Thank you, Mrs Willis. It has been a trying time.'

‘I would like to offer you the position of nanny, living in, at Rose Cottage with Mr Willis, myself, Tabitha and a wet nurse.'

Staying with Aunt Edith would mean sleeping on a mattress on the floor in Lilian's bedroom, whereas at Rose Cottage I'd have a bed as well as paid work.

‘I'll take it,' I said.

‘Jolly good. Mr Shaw will bring the baby here by car, with Mrs Bentley and a wet nurse. I suggest you take the train to avoid arousing suspicion as regards to Tabitha's parentage.'

‘All right.'

Before leaving, I went into Lady Violet's bedroom. Her body had already been removed and would be taken to Gatley, as requested by the earl. Seeing A Room with a View on her nightstand, I went to pick it up. Should I take it? Would Lady Violet want me to have it? She had said I should read it after her. It would be a keepsake, to remind me of our days in the library; and, as she'd suggested, I would learn more about Florence. Despite what had happened with Luca, I still dreamt of visiting one day, after the war was over. I picked up the novel and went to put it in my suitcase, then descended the stairs. Mr Shaw would take me to the station in the horse and trap and soon I'd be back at Gatley Hall again.

I took the train back to Gatley, via London, the next day, and walked to the village. Thinking back to my arrival that day in September, I felt as though I'd aged years in the ten months that had passed. Sadness enveloped me and thoughts of dealing with Elsie and the other unfriendly servants consumed me. It would be difficult to bite my tongue while I was feeling such immense grief; who knew what I might say? I wouldn't want to risk losing my new job.

Mrs Willis was in her parlour when I arrived, dressed in black, as all the servants were. They were all sitting quietly in the servants' hall. Even Elsie had the good sense to leave me alone. Hopefully she was done with her troublemaking, and now I wouldn't see her as much. Mrs Willis handed me a key for Rose Cottage and I found my room upstairs at the front, overlooking the Surrey Hills. It was far less luxurious than what I'd become used to in recent months, but, being smaller, it would be warmer at night. What would happen to the servants at Gatley Hall now Lady Violet was dead? Presumably the earl would decide after the funeral.

The week that passed between my arrival at Rose Cottage and Lady Violet's funeral dragged. I shed many tears, always finding a quiet corner to do so. Much of Tabitha's time was spent with the wet nurse, but I still took her for walks in a pram into the village. Getting outside in the warm summer air lifted my spirits. We would pass through the rose garden, walled with red brick. There were beds of roses in different shades of pink and yellow and peach and red, and so many varieties. Often I'd stop and select one to hold to my nose, inhaling its wonderful scent. Many of the roses were in full bloom, some with dry and wilted petals in need of removal. With Tom's absence and therefore Sam's increased responsibilities, Mr Carter would be maintaining the gardens alone, no doubt, and growing vegetables was sure to be his priority.

One morning while I was getting ready to take Tabitha out for a walk, a knock came at the door. It was Sam.

‘I have a message from Luca,' he said.

‘For me?'

Nodding, he gave me the piece of paper, and I unfolded it.

Please meet me? I need to talk. Luca

Why did Luca want to meet me? Did he somehow know about Tabitha?

‘What's this about?' I said.

‘I don't know. What would you like to say in reply?'

‘Tell Luca I'll meet him tomorrow under the willow tree at one o'clock.'

The next day, I took Tabitha into the village and waited for Luca under the willow tree. I thought back to when we had kissed in this very spot, how I'd been in love with him. Now we were meeting under very different circumstances, and I was anxious to know why he wanted to see me. He arrived promptly at one o'clock on his bicycle and leant it against the wall. He had bags under his eyes and his hair, thick with grease, looked as though it hadn't been washed in days. I was sitting on the bench with Tabitha in the pram next to me. She was sleeping. Luca threw her a glance, seemingly oblivious that he was her father. How I wanted to tell him, to allow him to pick up his child and hold her in his arms. But Lady Violet's words came back to me. He had a life waiting for him in Florence and was engaged to be married. His father's business was dependent on this union of families. Telling him the truth would only bring him pain and sadness.

‘Ciao, Mags,' he said.

‘Hello, Luca.'

‘This is Mr and Mrs Willis's adopted daughter, Tabitha,' I said.

He looked over at Tabitha again and, for a moment, he seemed to be thinking, but then he turned his attention back to me.

‘I am very sad about Lady Violet's death. We spent much time together when she was painting me,' he said.

Did he really think I didn't know what had gone on between them? Playing along, I said, ‘I shall miss her immensely.'

‘Sam said the funeral is on Friday,' Luca said.

Nodding, I said, ‘Indeed it is, at St Andrew's.'

‘Can I go?' he said.

I wasn't sure this was such a good idea. What if one of the servants spotted him and said something? The rumours had been rife; everyone below stairs knew. There was a chance that the earl may have become aware. How long might it be before someone worked out who Tabitha's real parents were? I thought of how difficult life would be for Tabitha if she were thrown into scandal. We couldn't take that risk.

‘I don't think it's the best idea,' I said.

Nodding, he said, ‘All right. Thank you, Mags.'

He got up and leant down to kiss me on the cheek, then got on his bicycle and rode off down the high street.

The day of the funeral came, and we servants all walked to St Andrew's. It was a moving service and I found myself sobbing into a handkerchief for most of it. The earl spoke for a few minutes, without expressing a jot of emotion. He announced that he'd bought a Spitfire in Lady Violet's memory and arranged for her name to be painted on the side. This action was clearly for show, and no doubt she'd have been delighted to have her name written on the side of a killing machine.

We stood in the graveyard while the coffin was lowered into the ground and, when I looked up, I saw a man on the pavement opposite, holding a flat cap in his hand. It was Luca. He had come, but kept his distance, and somehow Lady Violet would know this and that he'd always love her even if she hadn't loved him.