Fast Forward .....Chapter 6

[AnneM]

Hi folks. Here are Sarah and co back again. No housework done again.

Fast Forward

In an upstairs sitting room in a tall Edinburgh house two young women are sitting quietly. The elder, tall, and slim is dressed in a blue costume which emphasises the clear dark blue of her eyes. Her thick black hair is styled fashionably but a little severely giving her a slightly serious and formidable appearance. She is engaged in writing a letter.

The younger a handsome girl with luxuriant chestnut locks and a womanly figure is working busily with a pencil and a sketch pad. She is obviously dissatisfied with her endeavours as she regularly sighs and applies her rubber (eraser) to aspects of her sketch. Of all Bella Kerr’s daughters, Margaret resembles her most closely in both looks and temperament. Well aware of her own attractions, she is nonetheless generally good natured and bright and takes a lively interest in the affairs of her fellows.

She breaks off now to ask her companion “Who are you writing to, Sarah?”

“My cousin Euphemia,” replies Sarah, who is by now so used to figuring as the orphan daughter of one of Ninian’s cousins that the words come easily to her lips.

Fortunately the Kerr children were sufficiently well acquainted with Adam’s ability to alienate most of his relatives to accept without question the proposition that their father had a hitherto unknown cousin on his father’s side. As Ninian himself said to Bella he never thought he would be grateful for the old man’s misanthropy. Inevitably, some outsiders with particularly suspicious minds seeing the strong resemblance between the two had posited a much closer relationship but when Bella, doing her duty bravely, had shown no resentment of the addition to her household the rumours had died down. Their progeny with the self absorption of youth had never shown much interest in Sarah’s origins except to assume correctly that they were somewhat more humble than their own.

Now Margaret has become curious, “Where does she live and what does she do?”

Sarah replies “She lives in a Border town near the villages where your father and I were born. She keeps a drapery shop and also does some millinery and dress-making.”

Sarah, who has long since largely forgiven Effie, smiles to herself as she remembers her first visit home after she had gone to school. Ninian had arranged for her to lodge during the holidays with a respectable widow who was, as the saying goes, in reduced circumstances. It was her task to help teach Sarah to become a lady. However it was agreed that Sarah should visit her home for New Year. She was delighted to see Willie and Betty and young Willie again. There had however been changes. The highlight of her return was to be an expedition to the nearest town to view Effie’s new venture.

Effie had persuaded the local carter to bring the family to visit. A huge effort had to be made to get Willie senior into the cart and it looked at one stage as though young Willie was going to injure himself in the attempt. However they were eventually safely loaded and set off for town.

Effie was proud to show them the shop with a little house attached which she had bought, fitted out and stocked with much of her legacy. Everything was new and shiny from the bow window displaying her wares to the brass rule set into the counter to measure the cloth.

It had evidently long been her unacknowledged dream to set up such an establishment and she had convinced her sister Betty to join her. Both were excellent needlewomen and able to supplement the takings from the shop by making clothing and hats to suit the local ladies.

Her family had worried somewhat because Effie had no experience of business but they reckoned without her natural hard headedness and skill for budgeting acquired through years of dealing with and occasionally circumventing Adam’s parsimony. The items in her accounts might not always be spelt perfectly but it could be guaranteed that not one figure was out of place.

Sarah had wandered around the shop stroking the materials and admiring the ribbons. She had never thought that she was interested in clothes until Ninian had given Effie some money to rig her out for her new life as a young lady at school. She had co-operated grudgingly with this task until she had looked down and seen a pair of neat black boots peeping from below her skirt and felt a rush of excitement. Her feet looked almost dainty in the fine leather. To her surprise she also found that she loved the look and feel of fine cloth and although her wardrobe was designed for modesty rather than fashion she was entranced by her new appearance. She had been a little surprised by the number of detailed questions Effie had asked the women in the shops about their business but all was now revealed.

Impulsively she turned to Effie and blurted out, “Let me stay and work with you, Effie. I love materials and am a hard worker.”

Effie laughed and shook her head, “There’s no room for anyone else and anyway since when could you set a seam or even put a stitch in straight? In no time at all you’d be back mooning for your books. Betty and I will manage nicely.”

Sarah had expected nothing different but was nonetheless a little hurt.

On the return journey it had started to rain and Willie senior had caught a chill. As a result, for some time, his breathing was more laboured than ever and he never made a complete recovery.

This worry tainted Sarah’s pleasure at being home as did an even more painful incident. One evening she was walking in the village when she met Jeanie and Annie, arm in arm returning from work. Perhaps a little naively pleased to see them, she rushed over to greet her old friends. Annie put out her hand towards Sarah but Jeanie bobbed an ironic curtsey:

“Well look“, she said “It’s her ladyship in all her finery! Good evening to your ladyship and have you come to see how the poor workers are getting on or have your fine new friends tired of you already? Maybe you’ve decided they’re not good enough for our Miss Clever Sarah. While your Effie was playing the slut she should have aimed a bit higher and your Papa could have been the Duke of Buccleuch or the Marquis of Lothian.”

An older, wiser person might have recognised in Jeanie’s bitter outburst, frustration at her own hard life but Sarah felt only her own pain. Annie moved towards her, bright scarlet, “Sarah, Jeanie did not mean it. She was only joking. Come with us”

But Sarah, her eyes stinging with tears, had turned on her heel and was rushing back towards the cottage. Jeanie linked her arm through Annie’s again. “See, she does not have time for the likes of us.” Both girls continued on their way and Sarah never saw either again.

After that holiday Sarah rarely returned to the village. She did however keep in touch and was pleased to hear that Effie’s business flourished and rather shocked by the news that one night Effie and Betty had been woken by the sound of breaking glass. Rushing out in their dressing gowns, they were horrified to find the bow window broken and their lovingly constructed display showered with glass. The local policeman was summoned, opined that the culprit would be a drunk or boys having a lark but showed little enthusiasm for tracking the malefactor down. He was, nonetheless, pleased to accept the cup of tea Effie offered.

No fool, Effie had taken advice from John Renton before setting up her shop and could therefore be fairly sanguine about the policeman’s prognostications. She was well insured. She and Betty soon returned the shop to rights. Sergeant Shand a large and cheerful widower did not take long to recognise in this astute and hard-working business woman the very person to keep him company and be a mother to his two young daughters. After some hesitation and on the proviso that she had no intention of quitting her shop, Effie finally agreed to re-enter the married state. Soon Betty was promoted to shop manager and the two biddable Shand girls were occupying their spare time measuring ribbon and sewing hems.

Thinking of all this Sarah shakes her head. The elegant and self possessed young woman in the Kerr household is a far cry from the gauche girl who had left the village all these years ago but Sarah’s sense of loss has never truly faded.

She is jolted out of her reverie by Margaret’s demanding, “Sarah, stop dreaming! I have been asking you for ever to come and look at this design for my wedding gown.”

Sarah obligingly joins Margaret on the couch and tilting her head, takes a critical look at the much altered sketch. “It’s not bad at all but did I not read that skirts are a little wider this year and the sleeves more pronounced. You would not want to be behind the fashion on your wedding day.”

Margaret shakes her head seriously and begins once more to make changes to her design. Sarah looks again and muses, “Your waist is not that size, is it?”

“It will be once my dear bridesmaids Sarah and Susan have pulled my stays as tight as they can go!”

“Now dear,” replies her elder sternly “You don’t want to faint on your wedding day. You wouldn’t like everyone to think your marriage was a matter of necessity!”

This causes Margaret to blush to the roots of her hair, giggle and say “Ooh, Sarah. Just like a kitchen maid.”

Sarah is long inured to such comments and joins in the laughter. Among Ninian’s children, Margaret, although several years her junior, is her favourite and friend. Not long after Sarah joined the household, Isabella had married her father’s erstwhile assistant and was now preoccupied with her growing family and her husband’s parish.

Elizabeth is nearest in age to Sarah but sadly, has a jealous and uncertain temperament which tried the patience of her siblings. She too had recently married, in her case an older merchant. This marriage was a source of worry to Ninian who suspected that his daughter was ill-treated but Elizabeth had distanced herself from her family and had he wanted to help her he would have found it difficult.

“Are you sure you want to get married, Maggie?” asks Sarah “You are very young.”

“Bell married young and she is happy” replies Margaret.

“Lizzie is not”

“Lizzie deserves everything she gets.” returns her unsympathetic sister.

Sarah could not share this cavalier attitude to the possibility that Lizzie was beaten. She remembers only too well an evening when Jeanie’s mother had run out of her house screaming while her husband had pursued her with a stick. What had shocked Sarah most was that not even Willie, who would hardly raise his voice never mind his hand to his wife and children, had thought it right to intervene. It was a matter between husband and wife. From then on she had noticed how often Mrs Wilson had tried to hide black eyes and bruises and suspected that Jeanie’s slight dullness of hearing had as much to do with a clout on the ear as the noise of the looms. She could not avoid knowing that Mrs Wilson was by no means alone.

Margaret has put down her drawing pad and is now looking out of the window. “Look, there is that queer young man again.”

“And what queer young man would that be?”

“The one who lodges with Dr Bell. Mrs Brown is friendly with Mrs Bell’s housekeeper and she told Mama that Dr Bell makes him work all hours in return for his lodging and that he works for a Chemist as well to make money to pay for his medical studies. His father is very poor, a blacksmith or something like that. They say he comes from a poor Highland village. That’s why he is not always in church. He goes, when the Bells will let him, to the Gaelic Church where they all sing psalms in that wailing voice.”

“Well you can’t blame him for wanting to worship God in his own language. And don’t you think it’s quite admirable that he is prepared to work to get the chance to study? Anyway, if you are about to be a respectable married woman you should not be listening to backstairs gossip. Don’t you think Henry would want his household run in an orderly manner?”

This instantly diverts Margaret’s attention to the much more interesting subject of her betrothed. “Is Henry not just the most handsome man you ever saw? And so clever too. Mr Drummond the solicitor told Papa that he was quite the most promising young advocate of his age. He could be a judge and I would be milady or maybe he could go into politics. He’s very interested in politics you know and we could go and live in London. He plays such a good game of tennis too and does not get angry when I fluff my shots because I am looking at him. I’m surprised you do not love him as much as I do”

Sarah laughs “I am sure he is the most excellent young man but he could be Lord President and Prime Minister all rolled into one and I would not want to get married to him which is just as well because you love him enough for everyone”

“Don’t you ever want to get married?”

“Maybe someday if I really felt it was right but who would look after Bell’s children when she comes to visit or help your Papa?”

Surprisingly a real understanding and sympathy has grown between Ninian and Sarah. They are sufficiently alike as brother and sister to enable this to happen and Sarah’s arrival at the age of 17 coincided with a difficult time for the Kerrs.

Middle age had not been kind to Bella. Her customary energy had faded and monthly complications meant that she had to stay in her room for days on end. The doctors seemed unable to offer any help except radical surgery which she not unnaturally feared greatly. Most doctors indeed suggested she was making a lot of fuss about something that was perfectly normal at her age.

Sarah, unused to being idle, had willingly offered to help with parish duties. This offer was particularly welcome once Ninian had to take charge for a protracted period of a parish in Leith whose overworked incumbent had dropped dead unexpectedly. Ninian’s own children, pleased that the burden had not fallen on them, were only too happy to let Sarah become their father’s trusted lieutenant and Sarah felt that she was useful and valued by her brother.

Remembering Ninian’s views she says to Margaret, “Anyway, your Papa might not be too charmed if Henry takes up politics. All Kerrs are little Liberals and Henry is most definitely a little Conservative.”

“Fa la la,” replies the bride “but even Papa must agree that if it was not for that awful Mr Disraeli putting our money into the Suez Canal, Adam would not be home as soon as he will be. Is it not exciting and he’s bringing his little girl and her Indian ayah. I can’t wait to see them.”

Sarah is largely indifferent to Adam’s return. They have never met. Fulfilling his early promise, he had been excluded from Edinburgh University without a degree due to debt, a dalliance with a tutor’s wife and academic failure. The family had never seen Ninian so angry. Despite Bella’s pleas, her eldest son had been banished to India where one of Ninian’s uncles had business interests. Confounding his critics he had proved to have a head for business and was now returning home a relatively prosperous young widower with a motherless daughter.

“I wonder what she will be like?” muses Margaret.

“Your niece? Spoilt and petted like them all, I dare say”

“No silly, the Indian woman, her nurse”

“Cold” replied the ever practical Sarah, “I just hope that Adam has thought to provide her with a warm overcoat and that the other servants don’t ill-use her. He would have been better to leave the poor soul at home.”

“Sarah, you can be such a spoil sport. Are you not at all excited to meet Adam? We are all so happy. I’ve not seen Mama look so well in ages”

“Of course I am” replies Sarah regretting being so abrupt “It’s just that he’s not my brother but I’m sure that I will very much enjoy meeting him and his dear little girl. Now let’s go and see if Susan has come back from playing tennis and if Mrs Brown will bring us any tea”

[AnnetteR]

Marvellous Anne - can't wait to meet Adam - keep it coming and thanks for the excellent read.

Cheers

Annette R

[Laura]

The plot thickens. Thanks Anne.

All the best,
Laura

[CatrionaL]

This Saturday I had time to enjoy a leisurely and most enjoyable read. Thanks, Anne. Perhaps we should offer to take turn about doing your housework.

Catriona

[marilyn morning]

Hi Anne

You're a very talented writer and I enjoy reading all of your stories.
Thanks for sharing them with us!

Regards
Marilyn

P.S. Have you ever heard of Merry Maids?

[AnneM]

Thanks all.

Yes indeed have heard of Merry Maids and also here Molly Maids. Unfortunately they're rather expensive (Children's reporters are not overpaid!) and don't necessarily find my house, which is inhabited by full time working female of the not too tidy variety, two young adult males one of whom is of the very messy variety, frequent visitor in shape of daughter (very, very messy indeed!!) and 3 resident cats who believe in dragging food along the floor and shedding fur everywhere, not to mention much of oldest son's (who is currently in South America on one of these trips so beloved of the young) possessions, congenial. I've tried to persuade offspring that that is what their father my ex has a garage for but he seems unconvinced. Husband not surprisingly still has his own flat.

I did have a cleaner but she disappeared without trace. Honestly she is not buried under the patio nor did I drive her to a nervous breakdown. I think that cleaning my house is a job for the owner I'm afraid.

PS I do do the cleaning honest!!!

Anne

[WilmaM]

Oh dear Anne , is that what I've got to look forward to?

I've 3 not too neat males uner 8 and a very very untidy pre-teen female

One big plus is a very tidy [ too tidy ] hubby.

I'll remember to avoid the cats though!

[AnneM]

Hi Wilma

I'm sure you are a much better mother than I am and yours will grow up tidy and organised and leave home at a reasonable age. If not it's not too bad anyway. I don't know what I will do when all of mine finally fly the nest, if they ever do! Who will I have to yell at for not doing dishes, mowing the lawn or tidying away their rubbish from the sitting room?

Anne

[mjh]

Hi Anne,
I not only got a chance to read the latest postings I also seem to have been left alone with the computer long enough to post a reply. Heather K. is off to visit Tom and the children are not here. It was strange to see the computer turned off for a change.
I am really enjoying you story and can't wait to read what happens next. I'm sure any new members will read an episode and have to back track right away to read it all from the beginning.
I assure you if this was an exerpt from a book, I would rush right out to buy it. I'm really enjoying it.
The first thing I do when I get a shot at the computer is check to see if you've added anything new.
Oh, well , my lucks run out ,Meg just came in and asked if she could have the computer next and Rob was just behind her,so much for peace and quiet
Bye till next time,
mjh

[Alison Plenderleith]

Thanks for another great read, Anne.

Have been away from home most of the last fortnight, just the occasional visit and not much computer time so saved this for today.

Looking forward to the next installment.

Regards,

Alison