he chuckled.
‘Well done, you’ve obviously made a good impression,’ her mother smiled, turning back to Colenso.
‘He just wants a woman’s opinion on his draperies, Mother. I volunteered your services too, so you’ll be accompanying me.’
‘Well, it’s a start, I suppose,’ Caja frowned. ‘And if you do a good job on his home and he sees how well you look in it, well …’
‘I’m tired and going to bed,’ Colenso interrupted, unable to listen to any more of her mamm’s scheming. ‘I promised Emily I’d go in early tomorrow and help with her orders and I intend going,’ she told them. To her surprise her father nodded.
‘Good idea, then you can nab another bit of that silk, maid. This time though, make a top without that netting stuff over it.’
‘Yes, you can’t be seen out with the works manager wearing the same blouse,’ her mamm added. Colenso shook her head. All her life she’d been told to make what she had last, and now she was expected to produce a new top each week. Well, she wouldn’t be asking Emily for any more material, she was already in her debt as it was.
✳
‘And neither should yer have to, maid,’ Emily agreed. ‘A man should takes yer as yer is, not worry about what yer wearing.’ They were sitting by the fire, taking their noontime break after a frantic morning of cutting, sewing and pressing, and Emily had asked how her afternoon with Fenton had gone. ‘Them parents of yers wants shooting, if yer don’t mind me saying. Keep within yer own class and cut yer coat according to yer cloth, I say. Mind yer, I was asked this morning if I was interested in some French lace,’ she winked. Colenso smiled.
‘I was relieved to have that gauze covering my blouse. If Ferret Fenton’s nose got any closer I’d have smacked it.’ Emily eyed her sharply.
‘Don’t you let him take no liberties, maid.’
‘I won’t, don’t you worry, though he gets so close I can smell him. It gives me the shivers.’ Emily looked thoughtful for a moment.
‘Yer grandmother used to hum a tune if a person she didn’t like got too near. She said it cast a ring of protection round her.’
‘You’re right, she did,’ Colenso exclaimed, remembering how she used to do that when Father was pontificating. ‘I’ll try it. My singing’s that bad it will send anyone fleeing to the moors anyway,’ she grinned.
‘Well, there yer are, then,’ Emily chuckled.
‘Would it be all right if I finish early this afternoon? I promise to come in again tomorrow. Kitto didn’t turn up for our meeting the other evening and then Father banned me from leaving the cottage. I need to tell him about yesterday before he hears it from someone else. You know what Father’s like once he’s had a drink. He’ll have exaggerated everything out of proportion and I don’t want Kitto getting the wrong idea.’ Emily nodded.
‘Be sure he understands yer his girl. He’s a good ’un, is young Kitto, and yer’ll do well together. Yer’ll need to finish that skirt for Mrs Tallis before yer leaves, mind. Can’t afford to have my reputation ruined, young love or not.’
✳
And love was the crux of the matter, Colenso mused as she hurried down the lane later that afternoon. Kitto was her beloved. He was young and attractive, but most of all he set her pulses racing whilst the Ferret was ancient and repulsed her. If only she’d stuck up for herself more forcefully when he accused her of theft she wouldn’t feel like a fly trapped in a web with the silken thread tightening around her.
Whilst it was heartening that the evenings were beginning to draw out, she didn’t want her father to see her. As soon as she heard the ring of scutes on the rocky path and the workers began appearing, weary and dirty after their long day’s work, she slipped into the shadows of the hedges. She frowned as they passed by, for some were arguing whilst others earnestly voiced their opinions. What could have upset these equable workers, she wondered. Usually they’d be keen to get home to their supper. Her musings were interrupted by a piercing whistle and she stared around in surprise. Then it came again and she saw Kitto beckoning to her from behind a large elm tree.
‘What are you doing?’ she whispered, slipping over to join him.
‘Coming to see you but I daren’t risk bumping into your father.’ He fell silent as the next huddle of men noisily passed by. ‘He’s been trying to cause trouble with Fenton,’ he continued, his voice low.
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