Rose Rivers Read online

  ‘That’s nonsense!’ said Nurse Budd, flushing crimson.

  ‘I agree with you on that one. She’s had no training for service and it’s clear she’s come from the streets, even though they’ve scrubbed her up a bit,’ said Edie, wrinkling her nose at Clover.

  ‘How dare you talk about her like that!’ I said. ‘Shame on you both, when Papa has welcomed her into our house.’

  ‘I’m not so sure she’s welcome, Miss Rose. Lord knows what your mama’s going to say about it,’ said Edie, frowning at Clover.

  Mama had plenty to say when we all trooped into the drawing room.

  Nurse Budd was threatening to leave at once if she wasn’t able to take sole care of Beth, as arranged.

  ‘Please believe me, Nurse Budd, I know nothing of this! I promise that we will stick to our arrangement. You must stay. We couldn’t do without you now! I will talk to my husband. This has to be a dreadful mistake,’ said Mama.

  Nurse Budd gave me a dark look and went back upstairs.

  Papa was still skulking in his studio, but Mama sent Mr Hodgson himself to fetch him.

  ‘I can’t believe you could behave so irresponsibly, Edward!’ she said when he came in. She gave Clover a withering look. ‘This girl’s far too young and inexperienced to be a nurserymaid. She’s not at all the right sort of girl in any case. We don’t know anything about her background. I’m sure she hasn’t got any references.’

  ‘Now, Jeannie, let’s calm down,’ said Papa. ‘I’m sorry to spring Clover on you at such short notice – well, no notice at all – but I really had no alternative. I’m sure she’ll work hard for us, and she has a marvellous knack with children. She’ll be a boon to dear old Nurse. Let’s see what she thinks.’

  Nurse was summoned, and arrived with the baby on her hip. Phoebe was wailing irritably, her cheeks bright red.

  ‘Oh dear, hark at little Phoebe,’ said Papa quickly. ‘Poor Nurse, it looks as if she’s getting to be quite a handful.’

  ‘I can manage her, sir,’ she said quickly.

  ‘Yes, but it must be a struggle with Sebastian and Clarrie – not to mention that young demon Algie!’ Papa continued.

  Nurse’s cheeks were almost as red as Phoebe’s. ‘I can still do my job, sir,’ she said.

  ‘Yes, I know, and splendidly too, but I think it’s time you had a little help. So here’s your very own nurserymaid to give you a hand,’ said Papa, putting his hand on Clover’s shoulder. ‘Miss Clover Moon.’

  Nurse was so shocked she very nearly dropped Phoebe.

  ‘I don’t need help, sir – and certainly not from a child straight off the streets. It’s madness! I’ve known you since the day you were born. You’ve been so soft-hearted you’ve lumbered yourself with this girl, and now you’re trying to palm her off on me. Shame on you, sir!’ she said, trying to hush the baby. Phoebe only cried harder.

  Papa squirmed as if Nurse were sending him to bed without any supper, but he went on, ‘Clover will prove a veritable asset in the nursery, you mark my words.’ He patted Clover on the shoulder. She was standing tensely, her green eyes darting from one to the other. I ached for her.

  ‘I know Clover will be very capable,’ I said.

  ‘Don’t be so ridiculous, Rose,’ Mama snapped. ‘As if your opinion counts! Nurse, why is the baby crying so? She’s very red in the face. She hasn’t got a fever, has she?’

  ‘Beg pardon, madam, but she’s just teething. It’s hurting her. I’ve tried rubbing jelly on her gums but it only soothes her for so long,’ said Nurse, jiggling Phoebe up and down.

  ‘Teething jelly’s useless,’ said Clover. ‘She just needs distracting. Give her here.’

  She reached out and took poor wailing Phoebe in her arms before Nurse realized what was happening.

  ‘Oh dear, is it those toothy-pegs?’ said Clover, shaking her head at Phoebe. ‘Those cheeks look very red and hot. Let’s cool them down, shall we?’ She blew very gently into the baby’s face. Phoebe stopped mid-cry, looking surprised. ‘Yes, it’s nice, isn’t it. Again? And in those hot little ears too?’ She blew, and Phoebe wriggled and smiled.

  ‘There now!’ said Papa. ‘Didn’t I say she had a way with children? Bravo, Clover! Look, little Phoebe’s chuckling now!’

  ‘Give the baby back to Nurse this instant, Clover Moon, or whatever your name is,’ Mama commanded. ‘I don’t trust you for one moment.’

  ‘Clover’s in our employ now, Jeannie, whether you like it or not,’ said Papa, quietly but firmly. ‘I’d like you all to remember that I am the head of this household.’

  I was sure Mama was going to argue, but she pressed her lips together and nodded. She was holding Alphonse very tightly, and he started yapping furiously, as if he were expressing Mama’s feelings for her.

  ‘Follow me, then, girl,’ Nurse mumbled to Clover, sniffing her disapproval.

  Clover did as she was told, still holding Phoebe. She looked demure, but when she passed me she gave me a tiny wink.

  She kept Phoebe quiet and amused, had a long conversation about the breeding habits of mice with Sebastian, complimented Clarrie’s dolls, and played a new card game, Snap, with Algie, letting him win every time.

  When I came back from a very frosty dinner, with Mama and Papa saying scarcely a word to each other, Clover had given the children their supper and got them all into bed. Nurse sat sulking by the fire, warming her sore bunions and muttering to herself.

  Clover kissed each child goodnight. She tried to see Beth too, but Nurse Budd was guarding her fiercely.

  ‘Goodnight, Beth! Sleep tight. And make sure the bugs don’t bite!’ Clover called through the door.

  ‘Don’t bite, don’t bite,’ Beth called back, calmer now.

  Nurse kept Clover up doing the darning till late. I heard her pattering along the corridor in her soft felt shoes.

  I lay awake, wondering how she was feeling, having to cope with this strange new life and all these people who were set against her. Would she fall asleep as soon as she put her head on her pillow, or was she lying awake too, feeling lost and lonely?

  I wondered where she was sleeping. There was no room in the night nursery, unless she shared Nurse’s bed, and I was sure they’d both hate that. Nurse Budd certainly wouldn’t let her in with her. Perhaps she had to share a room in the attic with Edie and Maggie. I didn’t think they would be very kind to her.

  The house was silent. When I heard midnight strike, I decided to go looking for Clover. The house seemed intensely dark, even with my candle. I climbed the stairs to the attics, shivering, though I kept reminding myself that there was nothing to be frightened of. I wasn’t a governess like Jane Eyre, confronting a mad woman. I was the daughter of the house, concerned about the welfare of one of our servants.

  I peeped into Edie and Maggie’s room. They were both fast asleep, Edie with her hair in curling papers, Maggie flat on her back and snoring. I peered under the bed, but there was no sign of Clover.

  Then, back on the narrow landing, I heard a muffled sound, soft and regular. Someone was crying. I crept along until I found the right door, and then knocked timidly. The crying stopped abruptly.

  ‘Clover?’ I whispered. ‘Clover, it’s me, Rose. Can I come in?’

  She murmured something, so I opened the door and slipped into her bedroom. But it wasn’t a bedroom at all. It wasn’t even a proper room, but a cupboard – a junk room stuffed with a three-legged armchair, a lopsided table, a battered nursery screen, and any number of trunks and suitcases. I couldn’t see them properly in the dark, but they made large, oppressive shapes in the tiny space. I stumbled over a bucket on the floor to catch drips from the roof.

  Clover hadn’t even been given a proper bed. She was curled up under a blanket on a mattress on the floor.

  ‘Oh, Clover, are you crying?’ I asked foolishly.

  ‘No,’ she said, but her voice was thick and snuffly, and when I bent down and touched her face I felt the tears on her cheeks.

  ‘Y