The Winds Of Fortune Episode 17
Norah had been up since five a.m. as usual.
She’d cleaned and relaid the fires in the communal rooms, polished the silver in the dining-room and was about to deliver tea to all the ladies of the house, who were only just waking.
She was glad to be busy. Without constant activity, she couldn’t keep her thoughts from dwelling on poor Joe and his predicament.
It didn’t help that, since she’d learned of his plight, Betsy had been going around with a face like a wet dishcloth.
Every now and then Norah found the other servant in tears.
“Oh, what will become of him?” Betsy would say in a quavering voice. “ It ain’t right, Norah.”
Norah knew that Betsy was sweet on her brother, and the younger girl had a good heart, but what was the use of wailing? That wouldn’t get Joe out of prison.
Norah sighed and carried the first tray upstairs.
She took it to Miss Pearl’s room and was pleased to see that the young lady was looking well.
Of the three visitors, Miss Pearl had struggled most with the tragic events they’d endured.
Now, however, she was eating properly and had a bloom to her cheeks.
In Norah’s opinion, Mr Harry had played a great part in that.
On the whole, Norah was all in favour of an attachment between the two of them, but what of Miss Daisy?
She shook her head. She had enough troubles of her own without worrying about the gentlefolk.
She knocked on Miss Minnie’s door, went in
and curtseyed.
“Good morning, miss. I’ve brought your tea.”
“Good morning, Norah. Thank you.”
Norah placed the tray across Miss Minnie’s knees.
She was sitting up in bed looking elegant, an open book beside her.
“How are you, Norah?”
“I’m well, thank you, miss.”
She was about to leave, but hesitated on the threshold.
“Excuse me, Miss Minnie, but I don’t suppose there’s no news about our Joe?”
“I’m sorry, Norah,” Minnie replied. “There’s nothing new yet, but Mr Northaven and I have not given up.”
“Yes, miss. Thank you.”
Norah bobbed another curtsey and left the room, trying not to feel disappointed.
She had always doubted there was much could be done.
She went down to the scullery and found Betsy at work with the mangle.
“Oh, what will become of him? It ain’t right,” she said once again.
Norah bit her lip.
“No, Betsy, it ain’t right, but you mentioning it every five minutes won’t help,” she snapped.
The girl’s eyes began to fill and Norah wished she’d held her tongue.
“You finish that and I’ll go hang these sheets on the line,” she continued in a gentler tone.
“All right, Norah.”
She went outside and tried to be positive.
It was only six days until her half day, when she would be able to visit Joe, and it was another fine crisp morning.
It was bitterly cold, but the sun was shining.
She could hear the birds calling from the dovecote and smell the scent of pine and cranberries from the garden.
She’d begun to peg out the washing when she heard her name and turned to see Davie, her brother, jogging towards her.
“All right, our Norah.”
“Davie!” Norah bundled him up in her arms. “How is everything at home?”
He looked up at her.
“Ma’s well, but she sent me with more news.” His tummy rumbled. “You got anything to eat, Norah? I’m that hungry.”
Taking his hand, she led him inside and found a slab of bread and a small piece of cheese.
He ripped into it ravenously.
“Don’t go so fast,” she told him. “I don’t want you to choke. Now, what’s your news?”
Davie’s put down the piece of bread.
“It’s our Joe, Norah. He ain’t good.”
Norah felt a sinking in the pit of her stomach.
“What’s happened?” she asked.
“His cough came back and he ain’t well. Ma says he’s got a fever. His trial’s in a month, too. Ma told me the date, but I forgot.”
Norah sank down on to a chair beside Davie and put her head in her hands.
Poor Joe. Now he was ill and her worst fears had been realised.
She needed to nurse him – he’d always had a weak chest.
She must get him out of that cold cell, but unless she could clear him she’d never secure his release.
What’s more, she only had a month before he was sentenced.
She sat up.
“You OK, our Norah?”
She tried to reassure him.
“Yes, Davie, just a bit tired. You eat up.”
She watched him as he turned back to his food.
Norah sighed. Perhaps Miss Minnie and Master Harry would be able to do something after all.
Still, she wouldn’t bank on it.
She’d go out on her half day and do as much investigating as she could.
At that moment, Betsy entered the room.
She saw Davie and her mouth fell open.
“Oh, Norah, what’s happened now?” she asked, twisting her apron in her hands. “Is Joe all right?”
Norah took a deep breath.
“He ain’t well, Betsy, and the trial is in a month.”
The younger girl’s mouth quivered but, to Norah’s surprise, instead of wailing her usual mantra, she simply gave Norah a hug.