Serving. Isabella smiled to herself. She thought how quick time had passed since her maid Fanny Fulbright had first come that cold morning two months before. She waited sitting up in bed, gazing at the large oaks from her window opposite, wondering how long it would be until Fanny returned. She was pleased and relieved that this, her third maid in the past year, had settled in and showed no signs of leaving. Her brother, Henry, had not so far made any moves towards Fanny as he had the other two maids and driven them away. Molly had left in tears just a few months back. Her father had said that girls like that lead young men astray and get what they deserve. She had been incensed, but did not dare question her father's proclamation to his face. Henry could do no wrong in their father's eyes and their mother merely shrugged her shoulders and smiled weakly. The bedroom door opened quietly and the maid entered. Isabella turned her eyes from the oaks and watched as Fanny walked across the room, opened the wardrobe and peered inside. "Is the bath ready?" she asked. Fanny said it was and turning from the wardrobe stood and watched as her mistress moved slowly out of the bed. "Where’s my brother?" she asked, placing her feet on the carpeted floor. Fanny said he had gone out to his club and Lord and Lady Landbridge had left an hour ago to go to Sir Charles Hylslide's house in Hampshire. Isabella nodded. She felt relieved that Henry was out, and walking down the passageway with her maid behind her, felt as if her breast was about to explode with excitement. She wondered what Fanny was thinking and if she felt the same at that moment as they proceeded along the dark passage. She couldn't know, how could she, one only knew for certain the contents of one's own thoughts, not those of another. She paused at the bathroom door. Fanny stood just behind her. She could sense her presence; could feel her closeness. The maid passed her, opened the bathroom door, and stood with her back to it and her eyes lowered. Isabella breathed in deeply as she passed the maid and smelt the soap that those below stairs used. She would have to get her something better, something less like a washroom. The maid followed her in to the bathroom and closed the door behind them. Fanny watched in silence. Isabella sat in the bath and let the heat of the water relax her. She had felt slightly embarrassed when she first undressed in front of Fanny two months before, but now it seemed so utterly natural, so legitimate, that she looked forward to the occasion like a young child. "Will you do my back, Fanny?" she asked leaning forward, her hands holding the rim of the bath. Fanny said of course she would and taking up the loofah began to rub gently against the soft pink flesh of her mistress. Is that all right? Fanny had asked and Isabella replied it was and closed her eyes. The maid dipping the loofah in the water moved it up and down the back and over the shoulder. Then, instinctively, Isabella placed her hand on the loofah and ceased it motion. Then she put her left hand on the hand of her maid and patted it as one would a pet. The maid leaned forward and kissed the cheek as she brushed the auburn hair of her mistress away from the shoulder with her hand. Isabella sat at the dressing table. In the mirror she could see Fanny with a brush in her hand paused to brush her mistress's hair. "I shall be going out later, Fanny," she said, lifting her eyes and seeing the maid's eyes meet hers. The eyes held for a few moments then departed each to their own task. "I want you to accompany me," Isabella stated. Yes, Miss, the maid replied brushing the auburn hair gently. And will you need the car, Miss? she asked, lifting her eyes to those of Isabella in the mirror. Isabella said they would walk as Ford the chauffeur would not be back for hours yet. And the eyes stayed gazing for moments more and Isabella smiled quietly and the maid smiled as if she too was caught by this strange infection. Isabella watched the swans. The park was busy but she enjoyed the air and bright sunshine and the presence of Fanny. The maid was by the fence throwing stale bread to the ducks and swans. Nannies with perambulators passed by stiff in their dark gowns. Young women walked side by side leisurely with soldiers or young gentleman who lifted their hats as they passed and smiled. Older men and women came by nodding or bowing slowly as did so. But Isabella’s thoughts were elsewhere. She felt warm in her white dress and her skirts made her feel damp with perspiration. "Fanny," she called, indicating with her gloved hand. The maid returned to the wooden seat and sat down beside her mistress. As the maid sat next to her she smelt the gentle scent she'd given the girl after her bath. Fanny had been overwhelmed by the gift and almost cried, but Isabella had told her not to be so silly, and the maid had hugged her, and Isabella had said, let me go before you squeeze me to death. Now they sat together watching the swans and ducks float by. A gentle breeze briefly passed them. Isabella sensed the maid's thigh against her own as they sat and she sensed her pulse quicken. She finally rose and breathed deeply to drive off the rising passion she felt coming. "Come, Fanny, let us walk further," she said as if out of breath. The maid rose and together they walked slowly on in silence. The two women lay in the punt. Beneath a huge weeping willow the punt was tied and the two women lay with their eyes closed. "Peaceful isn't it, Miss?" the maid said. Isabella smiled. Yes, she said, it was. But told the maid to call her Isabella while they were alone together. The maid nodded, her eyes still closed. Yet she felt it awkward as if asked by her own mother to call her by her Christian name of Maud. She tried it a few times in her head repeatedly until they drifted off in sleep. Isabella awoke. The punt rocked gently and as she turned her head she saw that the maid was asleep. Her hair she noticed, perhaps for the first time, was a little lighter than her own was. The complexion paler. And leaning forward she kissed very softly the cheek uppermost towards her. The maid stirred and opened her eyes. "Oh, sorry, Isabella," Fanny exclaimed,” I didn't mean to fall asleep, it's this hot air." "Don’t worry, Fanny," Isabella said softly. "We shall have to get back soon or Father will wonder where I am." Fanny sat up and looked about her. She said she enjoyed the day and Isabella smiled. Soon we shall go further, Isabella informed, taking the maid's hand in hers. Fanny moved the punt closer to the edge of the river and tied it up. They disembarked carefully. The punt now empty rose up and down with the passing river as the women gazed back as they walked. Splendid day, Isabella told herself. Lovely day, Fanny mused. Isabella stood by her window. Soon it would be tea and she wondered if her parents would be back or if Henry was home from his club. The day had been wonderful she felt and gazing out at the swaying oaks she wished she could live those moments over and over. The maid had gone to the kitchen for her tea with the other members of staff. And if Mrs Stone, the cook, was in a good mood perhaps they'd get some cake as well, Isabella mused smiling to herself. I suppose I'd best go down. Not that I am particularly hungry, she said to herself leaving the window. She opened her door and closed it gently. Then descending the stairs she listened for sounds of others to break the afternoon silence. Fanny sat next to Mrs Stone. Mrs Stone asked Fanny where she'd gone with Miss Isabella as she held her cup of tea in her hand. Fanny told them about the ducks and swans and about the shops they visited, but said nothing about the punt on the river. "You were a long time just doing that, then," Mrs Stone said after sipping her tea. She eyed the young maid like a mother hen wishing she wasn't so quiet and shy and had more to say for herself. "‘Ope you last longer than the last maid Miss Isabella 'ad," Ena the kitchen maid said. She peered over her cup at Fanny as if she were about to say something else but didn't. "I’ll stay as long as Miss Isabella needs me," Fanny said looking at the well-scrubbed table in front of her. "‘Ope yer do," Ena said. " Master Henry," Ford the chauffeur informed," is one for the ladies, I hear." Mrs Stone told him to hush and not spread rumours, but he said they weren't rumours if Molly was to be believed. Polly the parlour maid said she'd heard things as well. Mr Haines the butler told them all to hush and remember whom they served. He stared at Fanny as if she'd suggested something improper. She was silent. Each sat drinking from their cups. The kitchen fell into a deadly hush. Isabella watched her brother. Henry sat opposite eating cake, his right hand holding a napkin. She sipped from her cup and gazed at his jaw rise and fall. He paused and looked at her. "How’s that Fulbright girl coming along?" he asked after swallowing his mouthful of cake. Isabella said she was fine and settling down well. Henry smiled. "Strange girl," he stated. Isabella asked why he thought that and he said she looked strange and seemed to stare right through him if he passed her on the stairs. Isabella frowned. Perhaps she doesn't have much time for men, Isabella said. Henry sniffed and ate more cake all the time gazing at her with a slight grin on his face. Isabella thought him annoying and wished he'd not grin so. After a few minutes he said:" She's pretty, I'll say for her." Then he resumed his silence and ate. Isabella watched him and hoped he wouldn't attempt anything with Fanny as he had with the other maids. She hoped he wouldn't. She hoped and hoped he wouldn't. The maid looked up. Henry Landbridge stood on the stairs blocking her path. She froze. "Are you not coming up then, Fulbright?" he said. The maid lowered her head, looked at the carpet and said nothing. "Don’t expect your mistress wants to be kept waiting, girl," he added his voice firm. The maid began to climb the stairs slowly, her limbs weak and shaking. Henry watched her and sniffed a small laugh. "Come on, Fulbright, I won't eat you," he said. The maid came to a standstill just before him. She raised her head and looked nervously at him. He placed his right hand on her arm and drew her closer to him so that her face was within a few centimetres of his own. He saw the look of fear in her eyes, smiled, and sniffed again. He leaned forward and went to kiss her lips. "Henry! Let her go," Isabella shouted at her brother from the stairway above him. Henry turned and looked up. He said he was only being friendly and released the maid's arm. Fanny ran passed him up the stairs. He shrugged his shoulders, sighed and smiled. "I shall speak to Father if you dare to molest Fanny again," Isabella said firmly, glaring angrily at her brother on the staircase beneath her. His smile faded and his eyes became cold. He sniffed again. "I haven't time to waste here," Henry said. "Keep your precious maid." He descended the stairs heavily, only glancing back once to give a final glare before disappearing out of sight and sound. Lord Landbridge nodded. "If what you say is true, Isabella, and I've no reason to believe it isn't, if you yourself witnessed this event, then I'll have a word with Henry. I'll not have my staff treated in this way especially not by own son." Isabella sighed with relief. At least he believed her where he would not have trusted the word of a servant against his precious son, she mused to herself as she watched her father return to his papers. "Anyway off you go my dear, I've papers to read through and sign." She gave a slight curtsy and left her father's study, letting the door close with a soft thud. Isabella sat in her room. She had managed to escape after dinner without being rude. Her father's guests Sir Raymond Worth and his wife, Lady Anne Worth and their daughter Lily Worth had left her feeling dreary with boredom. Her mother had been engaged in conversation with Lady Worth mostly about servants, her father and Sir Raymond had rambled on about politics and business and Henry had captured Miss Worth and gently flirted and gained almost her whole attention, while she herself had been left isolated with only the occasional word to add when someone engaged her for a few moments. Even Polly the parlour maid looked jaded, she mused looking at her reflection in the dressing-table mirror. How she missed Fanny not being there to talk with. Never to be, she thought sadly pushing her fingers through her auburn hair, never to be, never to be. Polly stared into the dark. Ena hasn't come to her bed in the attic, she mused. And Fanny next door hasn't made the noise she usually does at that time of night getting ready for bed. "Where the bloomin' 'ell they all gone to ?" she asked the darkness, snuggling down in the creaky bed pulling the blanket tight about her, "sod 'em," she said to the night, "sod 'em." Giggles came from Fred Ford's room. Ena linked thin arms round Ford's neck as they kissed. Ford told Ena to keep her voice down or someone would hear them and Ena told him not to tickle her so much or she'd scream so " Even old 'enry'd 'ere us." Ford kissed her mouth shut. Their bodies merged. The darkness closed in. Henry sighed in his bed. He told himself that with a little more effort Miss Worth would be his for the taking, and that the bloody maid Fulbright could rot in hell for all he cared, although he knew deep down he burned for her as he sniffed at the night air. Isabella reached out. She felt the soft body beside her. Fanny moved nearer and their hands touched. "I’m so pleased you are here," Isabella said. The maid said she was too and hoped no one would find out about them. Isabella kissed her and drew her nearer. "This is our little secret, my dear Fanny," Isabella whispered. She sensed the warmth and closeness and the scent she'd given Fanny. Dinner seemed a long way off now and the waiting had been well worth it, she mused happily. Fanny had been about to leave after she'd helped Isabella to undress for bed, but Isabella had asked if she would like to stay. Fanny had hesitated for a few moments not unsure of her feelings but fearing discovery. Then she said she would if Isabella wanted her too and Isabella said she did, but only if Fanny wanted to stay. Fanny smiled and nodded her head and stood there uncertain what she should do next. Isabella gave her one of her own nightgowns and after undressing Fanny put it on and climbed into the huge bed at her mistress's bidding. There they lay side by side, Fanny in her mistress's arms, looking out of the window at the bright moon and sprinkled stars and not a sound from the house except their two hearts beating and whispered words drifting on the night air just above their heads.
Copyright © 2000 Terry Collett |