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put the whole thing off, bless her, until it was convenient for me, but I can’t have that—it isn’t an emergency, you understand, but it will take time before she can come back to me—nasty little pins in her toes to straighten them, so I’m told, and when she does return she must have someone to do the lion’s share of the work until she can cope once again. I’m told that when she has got over whatever it is that they intend to do to her, her feet will be like new. She has been with me for more than twenty years and is a treasure as well as a friend.’ She stopped to take a breath. ‘Very like that nice woman who opened the door to me.’
‘Betsy—she’s been with me since I was a baby.’
Mrs Culver eyed Meg thoughtfully. ‘It’s scarcely my business to ask, but when you leave here, will she go with you? If not, would she consider staying on until my Kate is well enough again? Two months at least…and I suppose you wouldn’t know of a good cook? Someone to work with her—it’s a big house and I’m not allowed to be energetic. I dare say I could get someone from the village to help with the rough work.’ She smiled at Meg. ‘I’m an impertinent old woman, aren’t I? And you’re at liberty to say so if you wish.’
‘I wouldn’t dream of it, and I don’t think you are anyway,’ declared Meg. ‘It’s a most sensible idea. As a matter of fact, my sisters want me to go and live in London in a flat and find a job, and they thought Betsy could find a room in the village.’ She felt a strong urge to tell Mrs Culver all about her sisters’ arrangements and plans, but of course that was out of the question.
Mrs Culver nodded and gave Meg a sharp glance, sensing that there was a lot left unsaid. ‘What work will you do?’ she asked.
‘I have no idea. I’m not trained for anything; our mother was ill for a long time so I took over the housekeeping, and Betsy taught me to cook…’ She stopped suddenly and stared at her companion, who stared back.
‘It’s as plain as the nose on my face,’ said Mrs Culver. ‘I suspect that we’re being unbusinesslike and impulsive, but I’ve always relied on my female intuition, and it tells me that I can’t go wrong. Will you stay on as housekeeper and have your Betsy to help you? It would give you time to settle your future; I dare say you’re in no hurry to go and live in a London flat. And dear old Kate can have her feet put right without worrying about getting back to me until she’s quite fit and well. Would you mind being a housekeeper, my dear?’
Meg hadn’t felt so happy for months; the dreaded London flat could be abrogated at least for a month or two, she could stay in her home, doing exactly what she had been doing for some years, and Betsy would have time to get used to changes. Her vague idea had become reality.
‘I wouldn’t mind at all, Mrs Culver. I’d like it very much and I know Betsy would too, and if you want someone for the rough work, Mrs Griffiths, the postman’s wife, has been coming here for years.’
They beamed at each other, and Mrs Culver asked, ‘The garden? Is there a man…?’
‘Well, no, I’ve been doing the gardening, though you could do with someone for the hedges and the digging—I’ve had to leave a good bit.’
‘Well, you find someone, my dear; I’m sure I can safely leave it to you—and more help in the house if you need it. I suppose it will take the solicitors weeks to get things settled— I’ve been mystified as to why. But in the meantime, will you go on as you have been doing? I’ll write to you as soon as things are settled, and we must have a talk before I move in.’ She looked round the pleasant room. ‘Would you consider selling the furniture? There must be treasured pieces you would want to keep so that you can furnish your flat eventually, but the rest?’
‘I’ll have to ask my sisters,’ said Meg. ‘They did suggest that I had some of it and my younger sister might want some things—she hopes to buy a flat near the hospital and live out.’
‘And you have another sister?’
‘Yes, older than me—she’s married and doesn’t want anything here.’
Mrs Culver got up to go. ‘Well, we can settle that when you have seen them, can’t we? You’re sure that you are happy about our little arrangement?’
Meg smiled widely. ‘Oh, yes—very happy. I—I really am not too keen on living in London.’ They walked unhurriedly to the door, pleased with each other’s company. ‘Would you like a word with Betsy?’
‘A very good idea. Shall we go to the kitchen, if she’s there?’
Betsy’s elderly face crumpled into dozens of wrinkles at the news; she looked as though she might cry, but she chuckled instead. ‘There, Miss Meg—yer never know, do yer? What’s round the corner, I mean. I’m sure I’ll bide ‘ere and ‘appy ter do so just as long as I’m needed.’
‘I’m so glad,’ said Mrs Culver, and shook Betsy’s hand. ‘I look forward to living here in this nice old house.’
Meg saw her out to the car and gave the solid-looking man who opened the car door a guilty look. He understood at once. ‘Your cook kindly gave me a coffee, miss,’ he told her. ‘Thank you.’
‘Oh, good—I’m sorry I forgot—as long as Betsy saw to your comfort.’
She put her head through the still-open door. ‘I’m glad it’s you,’ she told Mrs Culver, who was being cosily tucked in with rugs by the chauffeur. ‘Mother and Father would have liked to have met you.’
‘Why, thank you, my dear—what a nice thing to say. You shall hear from me very shortly. Goodbye.’
Over their midday snack Meg and Betsy talked over the morning. They found it difficult to believe that it had all happened. ‘It’s like a fairy tale,’ said Meg. ‘I can’t believe it…I know it’s not going to last, but it does give us another month or so. We’ll be here when the daffodils are out.’ She cut a wedge of cheese. ‘You’re to have your wages, Betsy, and so am I—nice to be paid for something I’ve been doing for nothing for years!’
She fell silent, her busy mind exploring the chances of getting a job as housekeeper when she finally left—if Mrs Culver would give her a reference she might be lucky—then there would be no need to live in London. Presently she said, ‘I must let Cora and Doreen know,’ and went to the telephone in what had been her father’s study.
Of course they were both delighted.
‘Now we can get the boys’ names down for school,’ said Cora.
‘I’ll make a firm offer for that flat,’ Doreen decided and added as an afterthought, ‘once it’s all dealt with, Meg, I’ll look out for something for you—you’d better take a course in shorthand and typing.’
It seemed hardly the time to tell them that Mrs Culver had plans of her own; Meg put down the receiver without having said a word about herself and Betsy, but then, neither of them had asked.
There was purpose in the days now: the house to clean and polish, cupboards to turn out, the silver to polish, wrap up and stow away, curtains to be cleaned… Mrs Griffiths, when approached, was glad enough to continue coming three times a week, and what was more, she had an out-of-work nephew who would be glad to see to the garden.
There were letters too, learned ones from the solicitor, triumphant ones from the estate agents and a steady flow of instructions from Cora and Doreen. What was more important was that there was a letter from Mrs Culver, stating that she would be glad to employ both Meg and Betsy, and setting out their wages in black and white. She had urged the solicitors to make haste, she had written, and hoped to move in in about three weeks’ time.
‘A nice letter,’ said Meg, putting it back neatly into its envelope. ‘I wonder where I’ve heard the name Culver before?’
She discovered the very next day. It was a lovely day, clear and frosty and with a brief sunshine which held no warmth but gave the illusion of spring. She was perched on a window-seat in the drawing-room, carefully mending one of