Belle - Lesley Pearse [62]
But deep down Annie knew Mog had earned that love, and she had to concede that Mog was also right to lay into her for staying in bed feeling sorry for herself. So she had made herself get up, take a bath, wash her hair and put on the clothes that Mog had so thoughtfully been out and bought for her. And as soon as she saw herself in the mirror looking much the same as she had before all her troubles began, she felt more like her old self too.
She was very grateful to Jimmy for rescuing her beautiful red fox coat along with the cashbox. An admirer had bought the coat for her five years ago, and now that her future looked so uncertain she couldn’t help but wish she’d taken him up on his offer of marriage too. But that was all water under the bridge, and she was determined to pull herself out of this abyss she’d sunk into. Yesterday she’d spent a whole pound on a little russet velvet hat which went perfectly with her coat. Mog probably saw that as an entirely frivolous purchase, and would claim that she could have got a second-hand one for less than sixpence, but then Mog didn’t have a reputation for elegance herself, and she certainly wouldn’t understand Annie’s desire not to lose hers.
‘Do you think the two men really went alone to France?’ Mog asked, suddenly breaking the silence.
‘I’m sure that was what the policeman was told,’ Annie said. ‘But then Kent could’ve bribed someone to say it. They might even have smuggled Belle on to the ship. I’d be interested to know who the other man was.’
‘How can we find out?’ Mog asked.
‘I could ask Noah to take the train down to Dover and ask in the shipping office,’ Annie said. ‘He seems to be a resourceful young man, I’m sure he’d be glad to go.’
Mog seemed a little cheered at this and it was some time before she spoke again. ‘What are we going to do for ourselves, Annie?’ she asked. ‘I mean about making a living, and a new home. We can’t stay with Garth much longer.’
Annie had been asking herself similar questions earlier that morning. It would be some time before she could expect any insurance money, and she doubted she’d get enough to rebuild the house or buy another. But putting that aside, she didn’t feel able to make any decisions about the future yet. She needed time on her own to consider all her options.
‘Maybe you should just make plans for yourself,’ she replied. ‘I’m not going to be able to keep a maid, at least not in the immediate future.’
The moment the words were out of her mouth, Annie realized she had implied that Mog wasn’t first and foremost a trusted friend, but just an employee.
‘If that’s how you feel,’ Mog replied, her tone revealing how hurt she was.
Annie tried to rephrase what she’d said, but she could see from Mog’s expression that it made no difference.
Mog didn’t speak to Annie again that morning. Each time Annie tried to start a conversation she pretended she had something to do in another room. But at noon, when Noah arrived at the Ram’s Head, Mog appeared to forget her grievances.
Noah had called the day after the fire to offer his sympathy and to ask if there was anything he could do for them, but this time he’d come laden with a bag of clothes, bed linen and towels from his landlady.
‘How very kind!’ Mog exclaimed, asking him to come through from the bar into the small parlour behind and offering him refreshments.
‘Mrs Dumas is a very kind lady,’ Noah said. ‘She felt very sorry for you and hoped these things might prove useful. She also wished she could offer you both a room in her house, but sadly they