Black Road to Heaven

Chapter 13: Emily

As I approached the back of the house the next morning, I realised that it was only slightly less intimidating than the front.

The wrought iron door, which seemed so strong that I did not think anyone would hear my knock, swung open on my third try and a girl with blonde hair and an unflattering big nose opened the door. She was clothed in an apron and a faded blue frock with large, clumpy black shoes; and despite having no experience in kitchens, I found myself thinking how inappropriate they were. I judged her to be somewhere in her mid-twenties.

“What d’you want? If yer selling something, we don’t want nothin’! If yer begging, we ain’t got no money to give yer! If yer want a job, the mistress won’t ‘ave yer.” She spat at me in an ugly accent.

“Actually,” I said, used to impoliteness towards me, “I have not come here to beg or sell, I am here to see Lady Freda, and I do believe she takes residence here?”

There was a pause and then the woman laughed a thick, wheezy laugh that was almost as ugly as her voice. “Who the bloody hell are you? Putting on airs and graces? You believe she takes residence ‘ere do you? Well we don’t ‘ave the likes o’ you ‘ere with us!”

Tears welled up in my eyes. I was not going mad was I? Lady Freda had asked me here, had she not?

Then another girl appeared, this one was very pretty, only her hair let her down for it hung limp and lifeless around her shoulders like a rag doll. Surely loose hair was inappropriate also?

The news girl’s eyes widened when she saw me and I just stood in silence, the huge lump in my throat preventing me from saying a word.

“Oh my!” She almost squealed. “She’s black, she is! What is your name?”

She appeared more excited than disgusted, so I cleared my throat and said, “Emily miss.”

With that, the girl clapped her hands to both cheeks and let out a cry.

“That is so sweet, how old are you? What are you doing here?”

I said, “I am ten miss and-”

The blonde girl snorted, “And she wants to see Lady Freda; as if her Ladyship will have anything to say to ‘er!”

“Actually, Lady Freda sent me here!” I said.

The other girl said, “Really? Well my name is Ella and this is Anna. Don’t mind her; she is horrible; shall we call Lady Freda for you?”

Anna stared at her, “You cannot actually fetch her, surely? The girl’s lying; she’ll have the bloody silverware!”

“Go and alert her Ladyship, now!” Ella instructed, and Anna scuttled away out of the door.

***

I was brought by Ella upstairs and into a big lushly decorated room.

In the middle, Lady Freda sat on the biggest, most comfortable looking chair I have ever seen. I felt my eyes physically widen as I looked around in wonder. I had never been anywhere so nice in the whole of my life.

Wallpaper in rich colours gave the room a warm feel, huge ornaments and decorative hangings were draped everywhere and everything matched everything else perfectly.

Lady Freda was wearing red, along with a matching red lipstick, so bright in comparison to her pale complexion.

“You have the most wonderful home m’Lady!” I cried, and then wished I had said nothing. She was rich, she knew she had a nice house, and did not need the likes of me reminding her; I had to remember my place here. I did not even work here, and I was below everyone, even the lowest servant!

To my surprise however, Lady Freda smiled welcomingly at me and said, “Why thank you dear.”

I am so glad Sam took me to the well for some water to wash my hands and face, and to scrub the dirt and grit from beneath my nails. I had thought I was quite clean, but I had not been!

Lady Freda began to tell me about my new job. She said I am to leave the house at the same time that her breakfast ends – nine of the clock, and that until then, I can help the other girls with things downstairs. Then I must walk to Baker Street and take something to eat with me. I will proceed to stay there until five of the cock, getting my days’ food in my usual way so as not to draw suspicion towards myself. I shall then come back to Hycott Manor to report to her immediately. Then I can help the girls again downstairs, and eat with them, before going to bed whenever they have no need for me anymore.

I could not help smiling; how exciting this all seemed!

“But first, Ella will bathe you, teach you how to curtsey and will tell you, as I am about to tell you, to cease talking in your way.” Lady Freda added.

I paused for a moment, “Sorry m’Lady but cease talking in what such way?”

She sighed irately, “You talk like a maid and it does you no favours. Why do you talk so?”

I began to shuffle my feet nervously. I could not admit to trying to imitate her own voice, for not only is it strange, but a bad copy. She looked at me expectantly and I said, “I thought it would help m’Lady, when I had no home, so I have always spoken so.”

She stood up abruptly, a sign that I possibly should not have mentioned the street, and told me to pour her some water from the glass jug behind her. I walked over to it, when I saw Charles entering the room quietly.

My God, he could not see me here; then it would all be over for me before it had even begun. And he would be angry with his wife and she would hate me...

Lady Freda had stood up and now had her back to the door and looked frustrated at me, for I had not yet touched the jug. My eyes darted away from her face and around the room, looking for a place to hide, but he had seen me now and ‘twas too late.

“I know I am disgusting and I promise to stay away from Baker Street from now on m’Lady. I do not wish to offend your eyes, so yes m’Lady, as you wish, perhaps ‘twould be best for all if I disappear.” I thought fast, hanging my head in mock shame.

Lady Freda looked at me as if I had gone mad and I tried so hard to tell her with my eyes what was happening.

My heart wrung as she said, “What in Earth’s name-” But luckily she was cut short by a tremendous bellow.

“What in hell’s name is that thing doing in my house?”

Lady Freda jumped to attention for a second, faltering before I said, “Please kind Sir, your wife was telling me what a waste of space I am, and how she is aggrieved enough that she has to go to Baker Street, without me being there too.” I tried to bring a break into my voice, as if I was crying. Lady Freda seemed shocked, and I suppose she wondered how I knew about her hatred of Baker Street.

Charles appeared satisfied with the answer however, and so I ran out of the room and retraced my steps back downstairs. I decided to try and find Ella.