‘I had no idea you didn’t have staff until your mother explained just now.’
‘Be good if we did, though,’ Dotty laughed. ‘We wouldn’t have to wash the dishes or sweep the floor. Don’t worry about William, he’ll get over it. Boy is what Father calls him, by the way.’
‘Doesn’t it get confusing when you have two other brothers?’ Isabella asked. Dotty shook her head.
‘He always called me the girl and when William came along he was the boy. Then Joe was born and Father realized he couldn’t call him boy as well so had to use his name, though he always says Joseph, of course.’
‘And he calls me Alice Band, ’cos he says I’m like Alice in Wonderland,’ the girl added proudly. ‘But I can’t say Isa—, Isba—your fancy name so I’ll call you Izzie.’ Isabella opened her mouth to protest then saw the girl’s eager expression and smiled.
‘Why not,’ she conceded. After all, it was only going to be for a short time. Maxwell was bound to arrive soon.
‘Tay’s up.’ As Mary’s voice sounded up the stairs, Alice turned to Isabella.
‘Come on, Mother’s baked Devon splits ’specially for your arrival.’
‘That’s the boys’ room opposite,’ Dotty told her, as they made their way back down the stairs. Isabella was about to ask where her parents slept when she heard her uncle’s voice bemoaning the extent of her luggage.
‘I tell you, Mother, I don’t know where we’ll put it all. The boy says there’s no space left in the girls’ room. She’ll have to hang her work clothes in the closet and leave the finery in that fancy trunk.’
‘Hush,’ Mary warned when she saw Isabella. ‘There you are, dear. Come and sit down,’ she added, shooing a large tabby off the chair beside her. As the cat yowled in protest, her aunt laughed and returned her attention to pouring tea from the large brown earthenware pot. ‘Don’t mind Tibbles, he thinks it’s his right to sit nearest the range. Now you maak a tay,’ she added.
‘Sorry?’ Isabella frowned.
‘Mother means tuck in, eat as much as you can,’ Dotty told her.
‘Hurry up, I’m starving,’ William grunted. Isabella stared at everyone squashed together around the table, quickly brushed the hair-covered seat with her hand, and took her place beside them. A steaming mug was placed in front of her but the thick dark liquid made her stomach heave, and it didn’t help when Dotty proffered a plate of sponge cakes spread lavishly with cream and strawberry jam. Forcing a smile, she took the smallest then looked in vain for a knife to cut it with. There didn’t appear to be any napkins either. Unaware of her predicament, the others tucked in as if they hadn’t seen food for weeks.
‘Well, Mother, you’ve done us proud,’ her uncle declared, licking cream from his fingers. ‘That’ll keep us going til supper. Come on, boys, there’s still work to be done.’ He got to his feet then noticed Isabella had hardly eaten anything. ‘Didn’t you like Mother’s baking?’ he frowned.
‘Doesn’t do to let good food go to waste,’ William said, snatching it from her plate before she could reply.
‘Will . . . ,’ her aunt began, but she was talking to his departing back. ‘Sorry about that. There’s more in the pantry if you’d like.’ Isabella shook her head.
‘Thank you but I’m not really hungry. Perhaps I could freshen up?’ she asked, getting to her feet.
‘Of course. Dotty, you show Isabella where everything is. Alice, the teddies need boiling and bashing for supper.’
‘You boil and bash teddies?’ Isabella exclaimed, her eyes widening in surprise.
‘How else do you get mashed spuds?’ her aunt asked.
‘Spuds? Oh, you mean potatoes,’ she smiled.
‘Of course. Goodness me, maid, I can see you need an eddy-f’cation,’ her aunt tutted.
‘But I want to go outside too,’ Alice protested, interrupting them.
‘Sorry, pet, I need your help. You know Father insists we eat on time,’ Mary replied.
‘See you later then, Izzie,’ Alice sighed.
‘Her name’s Isabella,’ her mother remonstrated.
‘But I can’t say that so she said I could call her Izzie.’ Her aunt looked askance at Isabella who nodded.
‘Perhaps I could have my mantle if we’re going outside.’
‘But it’s only a few steps to the yard,’ Dotty replied looking surprised.
‘Isabella’s used to city life, Dotty,’ Mary reminded her. ‘Do you have any sturdier footwear, dear?’ she asked Isabella.
‘Sturdier?’ Isabella echoed, frowning down at her button boots.
‘For outdoor wear,’ her aunt elaborated.
‘But these are my outdoor boots.’
‘Ah. Not to worry, it’ll probably be another month before we get any real rain. Gets right muddy then, it does.’
Out in the yard, Isabella looked around for the facilities but could only see a pump and a sprawl of ramshackle buildings.
‘That’s the privy,’ Dotty told her, gesturing towards one of the sheds. Supressing a shudder, Isabella slipped inside and carefully jammed the door closed with the piece of knotted twine which appeared to act as a bolt. Squinting in the gloom, she froze as she saw two piercing eyes glinting up at her. Then something furry brushed against her legs and with a scream, she staggered outside, an indignant-looking tabby cat flashing past her.
‘Oh Izzie, you should see your face,’ Dotty giggled.
‘Well, how was I to know the cat was lying in wait? I shall never go back in there, ever,’ she vowed.
‘You’ll be crossing your legs for an awfully long time then,’ her cousin told her with a shake of her head. ‘Bet poor old Tibbles got more of a fright anyhow ’cos that’s his hiding place when he gets shooed out of the kitchen. Come on, I’ll show you our violets.’
‘Goodness, I had no idea you had so much land or grew so many flowers,’ Isabella exclaimed as they wandered down the stone path. She seemed to be surrounded by fields of green velvet-leafed plants, many sprouting mauve buds.
‘’Tis the mild, damp climate. Brings them on a treat,’ Dotty smiled. ‘And this time of evening when there’s moisture in the air you gets to smell them best.’
As the sweet, musky scent wrapped itself around her, she was gripped by a sense of déjà vu, yet she knew she’d never been here before.
‘Lovely, isn’t it? And definitely an improvement on the smell of those vegetables we grew before.’
‘You haven’t always grown flowers then?’ Isabella asked. Dotty shook her head.
‘Father
