The Nanny Diaries

Part 7

Church

Meadvale on a Sunday, in all its glory, was quite a sight to behold. During my first few days in what everyone called the village, although it was very much a small town, I had slowly got used to the clothes some people wore. Not most people, I had learned, but definitely the people I was mixing with, the rich and the well-connected, the first congregation. But Helen was going much further, with both herself and the girls, and as we walked down to the Cathedral in the bright August sunshine, I could see that she had judged the situation perfectly. Everyone was taking the old cliché of wearing their 'Sunday best' extremely seriously, which was, according to Bella, all about conspicuous piety. Reformists were expected to set themselves apart from the heathen masses, to display their faith and set an example. Modesty was at the core of the principle; hence the floor length dresses, high necklines, long sleeves, gloves and hats, but it was also about class and money. Because the clothes obviously cost a small fortune, and I was not sure whether I was on church parade or a fashion parade. I felt almost out of place in my uniform, if I am honest. But I forgot all about that as we approached the Carlisle house, because coming out of the drive with Roberta and her two younger cousins in their child-carrier, was another Norland girl, and one that I knew very well indeed.

"Annie!" I said, in delight, as we embraced, before quietly berating her, and cursing Bella for not telling me about her new job.

"We wanted to surprise you...and I only got here yesterday, so I have hardly found my feet yet...gosh, this is all a bit of a palaver, isn't it?"

"It looks so elegant and graceful, but I am not sure I would like to wear them," I whispered into her ear, as we started to push the carriages again, now side by side, following our various employers down the wide path. Helen Hughes was a few yards in front of me, and her peach and white striped gown was beautiful, but the skirts were so wide, and her waist looked tiny to me. She had to be wearing some sort of corset, I realised, and she had not looked particularly comfortable when we all getting ready to leave. And the girls were not comfortable. Nicola and her sisters were wearing heavy cotton gowns in a red plaid pattern with matching capes and bonnets, white gloves and thick, frilled pantalets, really over the top. And my sweet Caris, in our new four-seater pushchair with her cousins, was wearing the same, but in green plaid. They were all wearing layers of petticoats beneath the gowns, which would shape the wide skirts when we got them standing up, plus their diapers and cotton vests. "I see you have a boy in your new litter...nice kilt!"

"Yes...that was a surprise...I didn't expect to be diapering him and putting him in a sleep suit last night...but the Carlisle's are very strict..."

"How is Roberta?"

"Missing Bella...I am so glad I got to know you and your first three in London, before taking this lot on...but I like it so far..."

Morning worship lasted three hours, although the children were taken out after about ninety minutes for their bible classes. Caris sat on my lap, as promised, with Annie and Roberta right next to us. Roberta and Caris were already firm friends, and I had learned the night before that Caris really liked her, so it was perfect for us. Roberta was a bit down, because she was missing Bella, but Annie was great with her, and Caris was sweet with her. But as I sat there, I almost had to pinch myself. The two girls were sixteen, after all, and in my world, the idea of a sixteen-year-old sitting on my lap, sucking on her pacifier, and dressed up like a Victorian child, would have been preposterous. But I knew that Caris, for one, was happy. She did not seem to mind her clothes, and she was so delighted to be sitting on me that even a boring sermon could not dent her mood. And Roberta seemed fairly content too. Later on, letting the girls stretch their legs on the way home, Annie and I shared our feelings.