A Scandalous Arrangement (32 page)

Now, seeing them reunited, Victoria fully appreciated the wrench that parting had truly caused to the pair of them. It was evident that Violet loved Julia. She always had, and having come to know her well over the months since she arrived, Victoria now understood how deeply the other woman felt she had failed the little girl placed in her charge by marrying that dreadful man. The least her doting aunt could do to rectify the situation was see her little niece safe.

Violet always knew how much Adam loved his daughter, and Violet trusted his judgement in selecting a guardian for her. So when faced with an impossible situation she sent Julia off with Victoria. It was an unselfish act, borne out of desperation and guilt.

Victoria knew as well as anyone what lengths a woman might go to, if she was desperate.

Violet had been able to shed light on a puzzle that was uppermost in Victoria’s mind. In response to Victoria’s probing, Violet divulged what she knew of Julia’s history.

She explained that she had herself first met Julia when the child was just two years old. Adam had arrived with her at the house Violet then shared with Charles Luke, her first husband and Adam’s younger brother. He had explained to them that the toddler was the product of a somewhat turbulent liaison he had enjoyed with a woman whose husband took a lax attitude to his wife’s conduct. Adam and Charlotte had had an affair, on and off, for a number of years, and Julia was the product of it. The little girl certainly bore a close resemblance to her father, and to her uncle, so Violet saw no reason to doubt the claim. Neither, it seemed, did Adam.

He explained that Charlotte and her husband had been living apart when she had taken a fever and died suddenly. The grieving widower wanted nothing to do with a child he knew not to be his and he refused to accept Julia into his household. Adam’s relationship with Charlotte was an open secret, so when faced with this dilemma her husband had contacted Adam and insisted that he assume responsibility for the bewildered little girl. Adam had agreed to do so readily enough, and sought to place her in the safekeeping of his brother and sister-in-law. He provided amply for her, and the arrangement had continued after Charles’ untimely death. It would no doubt have endured much longer still had Violet not been so overcome with loneliness as a widow that she mistakenly allowed herself to be drawn in by the flattering attentions of the respected clergyman. The Reverend Winters had resented the child on sight and had declared that other arrangements must be made.

Violet agonised over that, but gave in and proceeded with her marriage plans. Adam assured her he would bring the child to live with him, and Violet genuinely believed that would be a good arrangement. It was about time Julia really got to know her father. Unfortunately his sudden demise threw those plans into confusion, and before Violet knew it the pair of them were living at Farley Vicarage, and her new husband was working out how he could turn this tragedy to his benefit. He had absolutely no concern at all for the sad little girl who he preferred to keep locked in her room, and who was indeed an orphan now.

Victoria’s arrival at their door, and her declared intent to take Julia to Yorkshire, looked like a blessing to Violet. She would miss her, but she suppressed her own feelings in the matter in order to secure a safe haven for her niece.

As for Julia, almost as soon as she arrived at Wynne House she took to disappearing for hours on end. Victoria panicked, believing she might have run away or become lost in the unfamiliar surroundings. Hester knew better. Julia only ever went as far as the mill, hiding in quiet corners, watching the frantic activity in the workrooms. She was fascinated.

This was something Victoria did understand; she had been much the same herself at Julia’s age. Her father had often taken her to work with him, and Victoria had learnt her trade at his side. She invited Julia to come to the mill with her, and the child was happy to trot along the lane each morning and would have spent the entire day at the mill if Victoria had not insisted that she go to school first.

Victoria decided against sending Julia to the elementary school in the town, preferring to educate her in the mill school. Julia was a little younger than the other pupils there, but she was a bright child and the teachers were impressed with her.

As soon as classes ended she would be darting across the yard and into the mill, but it was not to the office that she headed. Unlike Victoria, Julia had no interest at all in the books or business side of the process. She was interested in the manufacturing itself, or more specifically the machinery that enabled it to happen. Julia was obsessed with how their cloth was made, exactly how the huge machines operated, what each could do, and how to repair them if they broke down. She soon latched on to Seth Ackroyd as the fount of all knowledge in her chosen sphere and would fire questions at him nonstop. The chief engineer was at first startled, but soon became accustomed to his employer’s small ward pursuing him around the premises, peering over his shoulder at whatever he was doing. Before long a small set of overalls was procured for Julia, and she became a sort of unofficial apprentice.

Several weeks passed in this manner, then Victoria asked Seth to call in to see her.

“Is Julia bothering you? I know she is with you a great deal of late.”

Seth declined the seat she offered him. “No, miss, not bothering me exactly. She’s a right bright little thing, in fact. Asks a lot of questions.”

“I know that. She is very interested in the machines.”

“Aye. Under a loom is no place for a girl though, is it?”

“You think not? I was a girl once.”

“I meant no offence, miss. It’s just…”

“I know—I did not exhibit any serious desire to crawl around on the floor or squirt oil over ball bearings. At least, not that I recall.”

The chief engineer’s face split in a grin. “No, miss, you did not. I would have remembered that.”

She gave a wry smile. “Julia is an unorthodox child. I struggle to imagine her ever gracing an elegant drawing room or perfecting a pretty waltz and it seems cruel to insist she restricts her activities to those things she hates.” Victoria paused, recalling her own education, which had seemed to dwell so heavily on the frivolous and trivial. She did not want that for Julia. “She is happy spending her time with you, and if you have no strong objection I would like her to continue to do that. If she is to learn engineering, let her learn it from the best.”

“You want me to train her to be an engineer?” Seth’s jaw dropped, his face betraying his surprise.

“Why not? I have no notion what she will do when she grows up, pretty much whatever she likes I imagine, despite any efforts I might make to channel her into more feminine pursuits. If it is machines she wants, well, we have plenty. Please make sure she is safe among them though. And I would not wish her to be in the mill when she should be at school.”

Seth flattened his lips, considering the matter. At last he gave a curt nod. “Aye, well, I expect the lass will make a better engineer than a seamstress. Will you tell her, miss?”

“No, Seth. You can, if you would.”

He turned to leave. Victoria called to him as he exited her door. “Oh, and Seth, I will speak to Peggy to make sure your additional duties are reflected in your wages.”

He looked back at her over his shoulder. “That’ll not be necessary, miss. Put it in the school fund.”

They experienced another bout of defiance from Julia when baby Harry was born. She refused to so much as look at the tiny infant and did not speak to Victoria for weeks.

“She is jealous. And scared.” Hester always seemed to know what was happening in the girl’s mixed-up little head.

“Why would she be jealous? She knew from the day we met that I was expecting a baby. She spends all her time with you, or Violet or Seth in any case.”

“Ah, but
you
are her guardian, my dear. You are the one who really matters to her. You could send her away.”

“As if I would ever do such a thing! Surely she knows that. She belongs here now, with us.” Victoria was incredulous.

“All she knows is she no sooner gets settled somewhere, than something happens, something she has no control over, and she is moved on. We must give her time, and reassure her. After all, Harry is her brother. He is her only blood relative and in years to come she will need him, I expect.”

“I cannot tell her though, can I? That Harry and she have the same father.”

“Not yet. But some day I expect she will be glad to know. He will too, because above all else family is important. For now, we must simply show her that we love her and want her here.”

Victoria wished Julia would warm to her brother, even just a little, but opted not to press the point. Eventually Julia would settle again; she always did.

Naturally, Hester was proved right. By the time Harry was six months old Julia was back to her usual awkward, confrontational self again. Victoria noted the transition with relief. Nothing more was said.

Harry was the opposite of Julia in temperament. The baby was sweet and happy, a perfect little boy. He gurgled with pleasure at the sight of his mother, rarely disturbed her in the night, ate like a horse, and was growing so fast she could hardly keep up with him. He had just started to walk, after a fashion, so the entire household was run ragged keeping him safe.

Harry loved people. He would have such a good time at the party and of course everyone would fuss over him. Victoria resolved to make sure that Julia was not ignored. This was her day, after all.

“Mama, I am going to meet Uncle Horace!”

Julia’s shrill little voice broke into her thoughts. Victoria peered up the lane to see Julia emerging from the house at a trot.

“Wait! What about your bath?”

The girl had the grace to stop and wave to her. “I’ll not be long. The carriage will be coming along the road in a few minutes. He sent a telegram.”

“But…” It was no good. Julia was already sprinting along their narrow lane, her small clogs clattering over the gravel. Still clad in her grubby work clothes, she was hardly suitably dressed to greet their guests, but Victoria knew Julia didn’t care, and neither would Horace probably.

Despite her initial antipathy to the elderly lawyer, she and Horace Catchpole had become friends. She liked him, respected his advice, and quite enjoyed her regular visits to his offices in Gresham Street. She felt the lawyer held her in some measure of regard, certainly his manner was always respectful and polite, but his real affection was reserved for Julia. ‘Uncle Horace’ always asked after the child, and she was the only source of disquiet between them. Horace was unconvinced by the Wynnes’ relaxed attitude toward Julia’s foibles. Victoria understood his concerns. When she achieved maturity Julia stood to inherit a vast fortune. Horace feared for the child’s future if she emerged into adulthood not suitably educated to take her place in polite society, and thus far Victoria had to admit, there was little sign of it.

Horace had challenged Victoria’s decision not to send Julia straight off to a good school for girls of wealthy families. He pointed out that ample funds existed to finance such an education, and he could recommend any number of excellent establishments. The decision to educate Julia at home, at least for now, was not taken lightly. Victoria consulted Hester and Violet, and the three of them were in agreement that the last thing their charge needed was to be uprooted again and sent away to school. Perhaps later, but not now.

Victoria’s concession to Horace’s concerns was to engage the services of a private tutor, though she sought one with experience of teaching boys. Julia’s interests tended toward the sciences, mathematics, perhaps some geography, so those were what Victoria supplied. Her ward would have no use for a governess who would train her in ladylike pursuits, and Victoria agreed. She had herself never found a use for embroidery or playing the pianoforte, though she readily acknowledged the delight Georgina took in painting.

Julia exhibited no desire to paint. Her tutor specialised in chemistry, and offered the added bonus of supplementing the teaching support for her beloved school. Violet was delighted, and Julia remained at home. Eventually she would need to attend a secondary school, and Victoria was beginning to wonder about a university place perhaps. There were some colleges that would accept young women as students. She would have to look into it.

She entered the house, resigned to the inevitable. Julia would appear at her birthday party with her hair not brushed and her face grubby. Victoria preferred not to even think about the child’s clothing. Ah, well, at least the jelly would be nice. And Mrs. Bridger made a delightful cake.

* * *

“Ah, here is Mr. Catchpole. And yes, Julia is with him in the carriage. Who is that though?” Georgina leaned on the drawing room window sill to peer through at the hired hackney cab rolling to a halt outside.

The rest of Julia’s guests were already feasting on Mrs. Bridger’s birthday tea and Victoria was too busy sharing out strawberry mousse among Julia’s classmates from the mill school to take much notice. Hester Wynne, with Harry in her arms, joined her younger daughter at the window.

“Oh, my lord, look at the state of the child! Is there time, do you think…?”

Victoria glanced across the room at her. “No, mother, she will have to do as she is. I will make her up a plate. Did you say we have an extra guest, Georgina?”

“Yes, a tall gentleman. A business associate of yours, no doubt. Who else did you invite?”

“No one that I can think of. Everyone is here, I believe.” She looked around the assembled throng. Apart from their immediate family there were Oliver Timmins, Peggy Holroyd, Seth Ackroyd, several more of her mill workers, those whom Julia had befriended and insisted be invited, as well as pretty much all the children from her school. Their dining room had never been so crammed and the din from childish chatter was deafening.

“What? Who
is
that?” Hester leaned across for a better view. “Julia seems pleased to see him, at least.”