Patchwork Universe

Lady Violetta Kingsley

Anna received the summons from Miss. Harrison via another of the housemaids. Certainly there was nothing out of the ordinary about being summoned by the aging housekeeper. She saw Bob Higgins the coachman in one of the back corridors on her way to the pre-emptory summons and whispered to him as she passed. "The old bat's on my back again - bet I missed a spot of dust again." Pulling a face, she hurried about her business as Higgins watched her depart, his expression neutral while she was in sight, but showing some concern once she had passed out of his field of vision.

It transpired that his worries were, in fact, well founded. Mrs. Harrison was more than usually stern as Anna hurried into the housekeeper's tiny office. The stony silence knocked the cheefulness out of Anna very quickly.

"You asked to see me, mum."

"You're putting on weight, Anna."

"A little bit, mum, but I'm still doing me job good as always. I've just been really hungry lately - heavens knows why!" Anna was now very tense. What was going on? There were plenty of women in service with more on their bones than her, even if Miss. Harrison herself was skinny as a rake. It wasn't against the rules to put on weight, was it? What was going on.

"Heavens, me, and three quarters of the staff, Anna. Don't think your morning sickness has gone unnoticed. What on earth were you thinking, girl?"

Morning sickness? She'd felt a bit queasy in the mornings this last month or two, that was true, but sometimes you got ill. Didn't mean you stopped working.

"I'm a good hard worker, mum. I wouldn't let a bit of sickness in the way of doing me job."

"Stupid girl, you don't even know, do you? Anna I'm afraid that your employment here is being terminated without references. You knew that you weren't supposed to take a gentleman friend. Just be thankful I found out you were pregnant before Lady Beatrice did. This way there'll be far less trouble for you. The father's not on the staff is he? He'll have to go too if so."

"No, mum," Anna lied, staring down at the floor. They'd been so careful, but she wouldn't lose her Bob his job as well. Not careful enough, obviously. And she was going to have a baby. Oh, god. "A lad from the village, it was."

"You have until tonight to clean out your things. Here is the remainder of your wages." Miss. Harrison handed her a couple of coins. What was she going to do for money? "Best make sure I see of little of you as possible until you're gone."

Anna bobbed a quick courtesy reflexively and hurried out of the room, tears already forming in her eyes. As she went Miss. Harrison's features relaxed from disapproval to sadness. Thankfully the idiot girl had lied about Higgins, so they wouldn't have to fire him as well, and the baby might have some chance of support, albeit precious little on a coachman's salary. But it was the best she could do. Lady Beatrice had already fixed her attention upon the flighty chambermaid, and it wouldn't have been long before the whole sordid story had come out. She'd done the best she could for Anna. Which was not to say Miss. Harrison approved of her conduct, quite the opposite. But the child shouldn't have to suffer for the mother's mistakes.

Sometimes Miss. Harrison hated her job.

Lady Violetta Kingsley · Posted: Thu Jul 08, 2004 5:52 pm Post subject:

Night had fallen, and already the rumour of Anna's dismissal was all over the house, gossip being the one thing that travelled faster than light at Aldersley. Bob Higgins had heard it from one of the cook's boys, had gritted his teeth, and grunted non-commitally. On the inside, however, he was in a lot of turmoil.

Anna was a nice enough girl, and they'd had some fun, yes, and maybe, someday, when he was ready to settle down, he'd do it with Anna. But not while the village lasses kept seeing him in his footman's uniform and smiling that way. He was only human, after all.

He wasn't asleep when the stone hit the window of his small room. Pushing it open, he stuck his head out and made shooing gestures to Anna. This seemed to infuriate the poor woman, and if he was to avoid an embarrasing scene, he'd have to sneak through the house to talk to her. At least he could go the back way. Reluctantly he mimed that he'd be down in a minute and to meet him in the kitchen yard.

"Oh, Bob," she said. "What're we going to do? There's nothing wrong with having a child, but how're we going to keep it. There's no work around, and I can't be a maid anymore with the baby on the way." She had been crying, and with this fresh outburst the tears returned.

Bob was angry at her for putting him in this situation. He stood to lose a great deal, and the last thing he needed was her going to pieces on him. And although he would not admit it to himself, he was angry at himself for putting Anna in the situation too. "Anna, you know you're not supposed to be here. If they catch you trespassing on the estate, the missus'll have your guts fer garters fer sure, baby or no baby. And there is no we. I never asked for a baby, so don't go trying to make me responsible. That's women's stuff. There's plenty of women has fun all the time and doesn't get with child. Go on, get."

She looked at Bob with an unspoken horror. "It's your child to, Bob Higgins" was all she said before vanishing into the dark.