Gypsy - Lesley Pearse [34]
Mrs Bruce thought about that for a few moments. ‘Yes, I suppose you are right, he wouldn’t be free to travel and look for the best prospects, and later if he wanted to get married, that could be a problem. But it’s hardly fair that you should be left behind with all the responsibility of Molly, either here or over there. She’s his sister too.’
‘That’s the nub of the whole thing,’ Beth replied, her voice flat and dispirited. ‘He’s far too conscientious to leave us, but I feel bad that I’m holding him back.’
‘I see.’ Mrs Bruce nodded. ‘Tell me, if you didn’t have Molly, would you like to go to America?’ she asked.
‘Oh yes,’ Beth exclaimed, her eyes brightening. ‘It sounds such a wonderful place. I often daydream of playing the piano in a big hotel.’
‘You play the piano?’
Beth smiled shyly at her surprise. ‘Yes, though I’m probably rusty now because we had to sell ours when Mama died. I play the fiddle too. Sam managed to save it in the fire. I like that best, but Mama called it Devil’s music because they play the fiddle in low ale houses.’
Mrs Bruce smiled. She had heard someone playing jigs on a fiddle on many an occasion but she’d never guessed it was coming from the coach house. She didn’t think it was Devil’s music either; it was gay and bright. ‘Why didn’t you ever tell me this before?’ she asked. ‘It’s such a wonderful accomplishment.’
‘I thought it might sound like I was boasting. Servants aren’t supposed to do that.’
‘I would never have thought it boastful, and I would love you to bring your fiddle over here sometime and play for me.’
The way Beth’s eyes lit up made Mrs Bruce smile. ‘And don’t you stop dreaming or planning for your future,’ she went on. ‘I made the mistake of always putting duty before my own desires and ambitions, and because of that I missed out on marriage and children. I wouldn’t want that to happen to you.’
‘What wouldn’t you want to happen to Beth?’
Both Mrs Bruce and Beth turned their heads in surprise on hearing Mrs Langworthy’s question. They hadn’t heard her come down the stairs to the basement. She looked stunning in her apple-green silk dress with leg-of-mutton sleeves and her hair arranged in sleek, fat curls on the top of her head.
‘Beth was just telling me that Sam is dead set on going to America, and I suspect she really wants to go with him,’ Mrs Bruce said.
‘I can understand that.’ Mrs Langworthy nodded. ‘It sounds such a wonderful, exciting place. But don’t go rushing off just yet, Beth, I’ve just got used to having your help. And seeing this little one every day!’ She stood by the perambulator looking down at Molly adoringly. ‘She is just the most perfect baby. I wish she’d wake up so I could cuddle her.’
Mrs Bruce could feel her mistress’s raw longing for a child as she leaned over Molly. When she first married Mr Edward she used to say she wanted at least six children, and she was so strong and healthy that Mrs Bruce had expected it would come about in the fullness of time. But it hadn’t, and as each year passed it seemed less likely.
Molly woke and stretched. On seeing Mrs Langworthy, her face broke into a wide smile and she lifted her arms to be picked up.
‘She’ll be wet and spoil your dress,’ Beth said in alarm.
‘As if I care about that!’ Mrs Langworthy laughed and eagerly scooped the baby up. ‘So, little Molly, it must be nearly your dinnertime,’ she said. ‘What is it to be today?’
Molly was busy playing with Mrs Langworthy’s necklace, and tentatively tried to chew it.
‘Cook saved some of the lamb stew from last night for her,’ Mrs Bruce said. ‘She’s such a joy to feed, I’ve never seen her refuse anything.’
‘Could I feed her?’ Mrs Langworthy asked.
Beth couldn’t understand why her mistress would want to do such a thing, but she readily agreed. ‘You’d better put an apron on, though, she’s a bit messy,’ she added.
Mrs Bruce busied herself with her duties, but made a point of going in and out of the kitchen as Mrs Langworthy fed Molly. To her surprise the mistress looked entirely at