The Schoolmaster’s Daughter — Episode 44
The Schoolmaster's Daughter by Suzan Lindsay Randle
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- 45. The Schoolmaster’s Daughter — Episode 45
YOU have a lovely view of the garden,” Edith remarked, looking out of the window of Louisa’s new bedroom in the Townsend house. “And look, there are the stables.” She turned excitedly to face her sister.
“Do you think Doctor and Mrs Townsend will allow you to use their carriage?”
“I haven’t given it any thought.”
Louisa joined Edith and gazed out at the formal flowerbeds and shrubs. Yes, it was possible to see the stables where Alfie, the Knibbs’ pony, had been brought to recuperate after the bakery fire, and where George had first expressed feelings for her.
One day he’d like to walk beside her, that’s what he had said. And that’s what she wanted, too.
“Even if they don’t let you use the carriage,” Edith continued, “you won’t have so far to walk to the shops. Who knows what I’ll see from my new bedroom window in Kent.”
Louisa put her arm around Edith’s waist.
“I’ll be too busy to spend much time shopping or looking out of the window. You might have a glorious view of the sea. You must write to me as soon as you arrive and tell me all about it. And before that you have London to look forward to! How exciting to stay overnight in an hotel.”
Downstairs in the drawing-room, Edward pressed a small box into Louisa’s hand.
“I’d like you to have this,” he said. Inside was a necklace with a gold chain and a heart-shaped pendant on a velvet cushion. “It belonged to your mama. I intended to give it to you on your wedding day but it feels appropriate to give it to you now.”
“It’s beautiful!” she cried. “Oh, Papa, thank you. I will wear it often and it will remind me always of you and our family and that no matter how far apart we are, we have a link that can never be broken.”
“Beautifully put, my dear. You have expressed my own feelings exactly.” Edward cleared his throat. “There is one other matter. I had a visit yesterday from a certain Private Jevcott, Rifle Volunteer and assistant baker.”
George? Why on earth had he been to see her father? Surely not to ask for her hand?
“He impressed upon me that his intentions towards you are entirely honourable,” Edward continued, “and that he intends to make a man of himself. He wishes to wait until he is in a position to support you financially and give you the standing in society that you deserve before proposing marriage. In the meantime, he wanted to ask my permission to walk out with you and to call on you now and then.”
“What did you say?” she whispered, hardly daring to hope.
“I told him not to be so foolish.”
“Papa!”
Louisa thought her legs might give way beneath her. Seeing the colour drain from his daughter’s face, Edward reached out to catch her in case she should faint.
“Please hear me out, my dear. I told him it was foolish to think that you cared about your place in society, as you had far greater priorities, and that if money was an issue I was sure I could help. However, it seems that he is a proud and stubborn young man.”
Louisa could have told him that, she thought.
“We came to an agreement. You have my blessing to walk out together, so long as you do so with propriety, and Doctor Townsend has agreed that George may call on you here when either he or Mrs Townsend is at home.”
“Thank you, Papa!”
Louisa flung her arms around her father’s neck. It felt as though she had two hearts, one bursting with happiness, the other breaking at the impending separation.
Saying goodbye to them all at the station on Saturday afternoon was more painful that she had imagined.
Their belongings were being taken by road but Edward had tried to sugar the pill for Edith by giving her a taste of the bright lights of London on the way down.
Stephen shook Louisa’s hand rather stiffly and it looked for a moment as though Aunt Charlotte was going to do the same.
But then she gave Louisa a hug, told her to wrap up warm and kissed her cheek.
Edith burst into tears.
“I wish you were coming with us!” She sobbed. “I’ll miss you so much.” Louisa held her sister tightly.
“I’ll come to visit at Christmas. That’s not too far off. In the meantime I’ll write lots of letters and you must do the same.” Edith nodded tearfully.
“I promise.”
Edward helped Edith to board the train before turning to Louisa.
“Look after yourself, my child, and you know you always have a home with us if you need it.”
One last kiss and hug and then he, too, boarded before the guard walked along the platform and slammed the door shut.
Edward pulled down the window of their compartment to say a final farewell. As he did so, he spied something over Louisa’s shoulder.
“I believe your carriage awaits.”
The guard blew the whistle and the train pulled away in a cloud of steam and smoke.
Louisa waved until her arm hurt and there was nothing to wave at but a tiny dot in the distance.
“Here, dry your eyes.”
Mrs Townsend held out an embroidered handkerchief. Louisa hadn’t seen her arrive on the platform.
“Thank you.” She sniffed.
“I thought you might like to ride to your new home in the carriage.”
“That’s very kind.”
William the groom stood waiting with the horses. As he opened the carriage door for Louisa, she noticed there was someone already sitting inside.
“Hello, Louisa.” George wore a broad smile. “I was on my way to the Drill Hall for rifle practice when Mrs Townsend kindly offered me a lift, in a roundabout way.”
Mrs Townsend got in, too, and they set off, clattering past the schoolhouse
