at the shabby flaxen dress. Heaven forbid that Maxwell should see her like this, she shuddered, vowing to retrieve at least one of her silks from her trunk before he arrived.
A movement in the gardens beyond the yard caught her eye. Her uncle and William were picking the mauve flowers before placing them into large woven baskets. Goodness, they must have started work early, she thought. Then her hand flew to her mouth for hadn’t she been told to help prepare breakfast? Hurrying down to the kitchen, she found her aunt rolling out pastry on the kitchen table.
‘Good morning, my dear, did you sleep well?’ she asked, looking up and shaking the flour from her hands.
‘I did until I was woken by that dreadful din those birds were making. Am I too late to help with breakfast?’ Isabella asked.
‘Only by about two hours,’ her aunt chuckled. ‘Dotty said you were out for the count. I expect all that travelling tired you out. Don’t look so worried, dear, you can help tomorrow.’
‘But Uncle said . . . ,’ she began, recalling his stern look the night before.
‘Don’t worry, Isabella, he might sound fierce but underneath he’s as soft as those beloved petals of his. Firm but fair, you’ll find him,’ she added, seeing Isabella’s sceptical look.
‘I saw him out in the garden with William, but where is everyone else?’ Isabella asked, staring around the room.
‘Joseph’s away helping Uncle Bill – that’s Frederick’s brother – pick the flowers on his land. Alice and Thomas are at school, and Dotty is seeing to Grandmother.’
‘Oh yes, Dotty told me she lives next door. I have so much to ask her about Mama. May I call and see her this morning?’ she asked eagerly. Her aunt set down her rolling pin.
‘Grandmother’s not really with us, dear. Hasn’t been since the shock. Best leave it until she’s having a good day.’
‘But Maxwell, my intended, will be arriving to collect me shortly and I must meet her before I leave,’ she insisted. Seeing her aunt frown, she smiled. ‘I sent him a note explaining I was coming here instead of Italy, you see.’
‘And you think he will follow you?’
‘Oh yes, he said my happiness is paramount,’ she explained, her voice trailing off in case her aunt should think her ungrateful.
‘Well, before you go anywhere you must have something to eat, so sit yourself down,’ Mary said, scurrying over to the range and lifting a plate from on top of the pan. ‘There now, get that down you,’ she smiled, setting it in front of her.
‘Thank you,’ Isabella murmured, staring down at the scramble of bright yellow egg nestling on a bed of ruby-red tomatoes. How could anyone be expected to eat all that, she wondered.
‘Don’t worry, the hens are laying well and we grow our own fruit and vegetables,’ her aunt said, misinterpreting Isabella’s look. ‘Quite self-sufficient, we are. Uncle Bill reared the pig, so between us we have a goodly supply of everything we need. Those flitches of bacon and ham will see us right through the winter,’ she declared, pointing to the beams above the range. Isabella stared up at the ominous dark lumps dangling from iron hooks.
‘That’s ham?’ she asked in surprise for it bore little resemblance to the delicate pink slices she was used to. Her aunt nodded.
‘’Tis meat we cured from the pig. Bayliss the butcher came and did the necessary, then we all helped joint it. Took ages to clear up the mess after.’ Isabella stared down at her plate where red juice from the tomatoes was seeping into the eggs. Stomach churning, she pushed it aside and got to her feet.
‘Can I help, Aunt Mary?’ she asked.
‘Bless you, dear, I can make poverty pie with my eyes closed, we have it that many times,’ her aunt smiled as she placed a large dish on the pastry and ran a knife deftly round it.
‘What is poverty pie exactly?’ Isabella ventured.
‘Suppose you could call it leftover pie, really. Anything and everything we can get our hands on gets put into the pie crust. Them swallows had better fly off soon or they’ll be going in too,’ the woman chuckled.
‘Swallows?’ Isabella frowned.
‘Those birds you heard. They’re gathering ready to depart for warmer climes.’
‘You mean you eat them?’ she asked, staring at the woman incredulously.
‘Why, bless you, no. That was just my little joke. Cors, we do bake the odd woodcock or rook but never the swallows or martins. That would bring bad luck for sure. Ah William, picked the flowers already, have you?’ she asked, looking up as the boy appeared in the doorway.
‘Yep. They’re waiting to be bunched. Sleeping Beauty decided to join us, has she?’ he asked, scowling at Isabella. Then he noticed the remains of her breakfast. ‘And wasting more food, I see. Mother’s got enough to do without waiting on you, and Father works hard to . . . ’
‘Now William, what did I tell you about making Isabella welcome?’ her aunt interrupted. ‘Why don’t you show her round the violet gardens whilst I find something to go in this pie?’ There was a moment’s silence then he shrugged.
‘Come on then.’
‘You will call me when Maxwell arrives, won’t you?’ Isabella asked. Her aunt gave her a level look.
‘Should any visitor come calling for you, you’ll be the first to know.’
‘Hurry up then, if you’re coming,’ William grunted. ‘There’s work to be done.’
‘What else do you do, apart from growing violets?’ Isabella asked, making an effort to be pleasant as she followed him across the yard.
‘Pick, posy and pack ’em. Today’s lot are in there having their drink of water,’ he said, pointing to the big barn. She gave him a look, certain he was jesting but he continued walking down the path towards the gardens. ‘Good job you’re wearing decent clothing, ’cos it can get muxy bunching them up ready to take to the station this afternoon.’
‘Then what happens tomorrow?’ Isabella asked.
‘Same again.’
‘You mean you do that every day?’ she asked incredulously.
‘Yep, every single one,’ he nodded.
‘Surely not at the weekends, though?’
‘Yep. ’Tis our livelihood. Flowers don’t stop growing ’cos we fancies a day off,’ he added, giving her a look that reminded her of his father. ‘Cors they need to be perfect so we have to check for signs of disease or pests.’
‘Oh, but of course,’ she laughed, certain he was teasing this time. She shivered, wishing she’d brought her mantle. Although the sun was shining, there was no warmth in it for it was ridiculously early. Why, there was still dew on the grass. At home, she’d be breaking her fast in bed, although Papa would already have departed for his offices. Poor Papa, how wan he’d looked. She closed her eyes and wished for him to get his affairs sorted
