The Doorstep Girls by Valerie Wood

Author:Valerie Wood [Wood, Valerie]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: Fiction, Sagas
ISBN: 9781446436417
Publisher: Random House
Published: 2011-06-29T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

‘What do you mean, you’re going away?’ Ruby demanded when Grace told her of her plans. ‘How can you go? What will I do? Who will I talk to?’ She clutched Grace’s arm. ‘Please don’t go, Grace. It’s a mad idea.’

‘But Ruby! You’re seeing Mr Newmarch.’ Grace dropped her voice, for they were in the Market Place on Saturday morning. ‘You can talk to him. You won’t need me and anyway it’s only for a few weeks.’

Ruby gasped. ‘Talk to him? I can’t talk to him. He doesn’t ever want to talk! He’s so passionate, Grace. He said last night that I mustn’t see anybody else, but only him.’

Grace felt uncomfortable; she didn’t really want to hear about Edward Newmarch’s passion.

‘And don’t ever say that I won’t need you, Grace,’ Ruby said vehemently. ‘I’ll allus need you. You’re my best friend!’

‘I know that,’ Grace said gently. ‘But I have to do this. Don’t you remember when we said that we would support each other in whatever we decided to do?’

‘Yes,’ Ruby wailed. ‘But I didn’t think it meant that we should be parted. What’ll I do without you, Grace?’

‘You’ll manage very well.’ Grace was being as patient as possible. ‘And at least you’ll be still at home with everyone that you know, and I’ll be alone with complete strangers.’

‘Oh, Grace! Will they look down on you for being poor – those grand ladies? You must let them know that you are as good as they are in spite of having no learning or money! Here!’ She felt in her pocket. ‘Take these two shillings. Go on.’ She saw Grace’s eyes open wide. ‘I’ve plenty.’

Grace shook her head. ‘I don’t need your money, Ruby, but thank you anyway. I’ve got my wages and I shall have next week’s as well before I leave,’ and she gave an involuntary shudder at the idea of using Edward Newmarch’s money. ‘I’m going to ’baths this afternoon,’ she announced. ‘Do you want to come?’

‘Yes,’ Ruby agreed eagerly. ‘But let me pay, please, Grace.’

So Grace reluctantly agreed that Ruby should pay this time, but determined that she would give her the penny back at some stage. She was going later in the day to Miss Emerson’s to try on some of her clothing, hence her bathing. I may be poor but she’ll see that I’m clean, she decided. However, on presenting herself at the Emersons’ back door as usual and being shown upstairs to Miss Emerson’s room, she found one of the maids, Molly, whom she had met before, there to greet her.

Molly smiled at her. ‘Hello, Grace. Miss Emerson said would I help you with these.’ She pointed to the bed, which had gowns and petticoats laid upon it. ‘What’s happening?’ She dropped her voice to a whisper. ‘These are too good for a scullery maid!’

It wasn’t said with animosity. Molly was merely stating a fact, and she was right. The gowns were much too good for a scullery maid. Though they were not fancy or elaborate, the cloth was costly, being velvet or silk, and the colours plain.

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