Chapter 4
The Hampers, as Mrs. Hamper was apt to jest amongst her friends, did not live 'above the shop, crammed in between factory and workroom, as some manufacturing families did.' No! The Hampers resided in a grand town house on Neave Square which, Mrs Hamper would inform her friends, was assuredly Milton's smartest residential square. Close enough to the centre of town that one might stroll to the Grand Hotel to take tea or visit Greene's the Drapers, but far enough away that one was removed from the hustle and noise. Mrs Hamper's acquaintances would then be regaled with the latest alterations being made to ensure that No. 5 Neave Square was the smartest house on the smartest residential square, no expense or flourish was ever spared under Mrs Hamper's exacting, highly decorative taste.
When Margaret was shown into Mrs Hamper's vividly wallpapered drawing room the following afternoon, she was pleasantly surprised to find not only the lady and her daughter, Adele, but also Miss Latimer.
'Mrs Hamper has been very kind extending an invitation to me for this afternoon.' Ann said to Margaret once greetings had been exchanged and seats taken. To Adele's slight dismay, Ann Latimer had taken the place next to Margaret on the sofa, leaving her the armchair next to her mother. 'I met Mrs Watson on Church Road earlier and she was full of praises for Miss Hamper's performance of last night.' Ann continued. 'As luck would have it, Mrs Hamper was passing at the time, and, well,' Ann laughed brightly and indicated the room with her hands, 'I could not possibly miss the opportunity of so intimate a recital!' Ann's attention turned to Adele, who's cheeks were now pink with pleasure. 'I am very much looking forward to hearing your pieces, Miss Hamper.'
'Miss Hamper's performa . . .' Margaret took the tea cup offered by Mrs Hamper and began to add her own praise.
'Adele does not perform, Miss Latimer' Mrs. Hamper spoke over Margaret and handed a cup to Miss Latimer. Guest or not, Ann Latimer needed to be informed or what did and did not happen in this household. 'Myself and Adele have chosen one or two hymns that she may play for you in due course,' Ann's expression faltered slightly under Mrs Hamper's stern gaze, but it was renewed as Adele spoke up.
'Oh but Mama, there was also another piece that you . . . that,' Adele felt her cheeks warming again, ' . . . you thought that would be appropriate.' Adele bit her lip and adjusted the position of the tea cup in her lap, her eyes imploring her mother to understand. She wished so very badly to impress the beautiful Miss Latimer and elegant Mrs Thornton and this was her chance, she just could not let anything spoil it!
'Did you have a pleasant evening yourself last night Miss Latimer?' Margaret, wanting to save Adele from her mother's inscrutable gaze, purposefully moved the conversation to what she hoped would be less fraught ground.
'Oh, yes very much so.' Ann spoke warmly. 'Madam Beaumont, my French mistress at the school in Switzerland, came to dine with my father and I. She is currently travelling to stay with an old friend in Scotland and I was thrilled when she wrote to say she would be passing through Milton. Madam Beaumont is such an interesting, clever woman. She speaks four languages, and has lived in Paris and Rome.' Ann smiled, accepting a delicate slice of shortbread from Mrs Hamper. 'Oh, the stories she would tell us in our lessons– all in French of course!'
Margaret laughed at Ann's obvious delight. 'Madam Beaumont sounds like an extraordinary person, such a life she has led!'
Ann laughed too as she continued. 'We learnt so much! The class would converse with Madam about her life and she would ask about our homes and families. Often she would take us to the nearby town for the day or afternoon, Madam Beaumont was always saying to speak a language one must live the language.'
'Oh how wonderful!' Adele sighed. She had been listening with rapt attention, imagining conversations in a sun dappled French town square far away from Milton. Mrs Hamper glanced sharply at her daughter and bit firmly in to a piece of very English sponge cake.
Ann smiled wistfully. 'It was such a pleasure to spend the evening with her again, although it did mean I missed Mrs Watson's event.' Ann took Margaret's lead from earlier and skipped carefully over the artistic returning to factual based topics. 'which is why I was so pleased to happen upon her on Church Road this morning, to offer my congratulations on her success. The Ladies Aid must be very pleased to have her, Mrs. Hamper? She will be such an asset.'
'Mrs. Watson has proven to be a very active new member,' Mrs. Hamper agreed, lifting the tea pot from its tray. 'another cup Mrs Thornton? Miss Latimer?' and then pouring Margaret's tea, added. 'I daresay the board will look to her again in the future if her talents are needed. As they would with any member.' Mrs Hamper looked from Ann to Margaret.
'I am sure it will not be long before Mrs. Watson is called upon again,' Ann said. Margaret smiled, sipping her tea, marvelling at Ann's lightwork of Mrs Hamper's recruitment drive. 'Mrs Watson said that you are very busy at Marlborough Mills, Mrs Thornton?' Ann turned to Margaret. 'She said there is a worker's kitchen that you operate there? I have heard a little about it from my father and Mr Locke,' the very faintest blush appeared briefly on Ann's cheek at her fiancé's name. 'It sounds like a wonderful scheme.'
'It is very much Miss Higgins' kitchen, Miss Latimer!' Margaret was always quick to deflect praise for the enterprise to Mary. 'It was her father's idea, well his and my husbands,' Margaret had to bite back a smile at the unfamiliar word, 'Higgins organised the building and then Mary took it on. I just assist her, she and Annie have worked so hard and it is proving to be a great success for them. Just this morning we were at the market meeting the wholesalers to negotiate increasing the orders.' Between Mary's quiet confident knowledge of the needs of both budget and appetites and Annie's friendly but steely bartering skills, Margaret felt that she learned more than she helped that morning. But she enjoyed chatting with the vendors she knew and, alongside Annie, talking about the kitchen to possible new suppliers.
'Has Miss Higgins had interest from other mills and factories in the area to set up their own similar schemes?' Ann asked as she smiled and politely shook her head at the offer of another slice shortbread.
'Annie said that Ferguson from Slickson's had visited twice last week,' Margaret replied, 'and I received an enquiry from Mr. George yesterday asking to make an appointment to come and see it. I need to confirm a day with Mary and Annie.'
'Ferguson is the overseer at Slicksons?' Ann asked as Margaret nodded. Being sent away to school had resulted in the easy local knowledge of Ann's youth faltering slightly and she was at pains to catch up. 'And Mr. George? Is he the new owner of the mill to the north east of Milton?'
'Yes, he has not been there for long, he owns it with his sister,' Margaret explained. 'Their father had a factory in Wales and, from what Mr. George says in his letter, he had very progressive views on welfare and education of workers which they are keen to build on here. I would be interested to hear more of their experiences.'
Mrs Hamper tutted loudly at such nonsensical thoughts, 'Welfare is a concern for the worker's family, not their workplaces.' she informed Margaret. 'And all the education a man of working age could need he will receive from the pulpit on a Sunday. Milton's mills and factories provide a fair wage and plentiful work, there is no need for more.' Mrs Hamper smiled indulgently at Margaret, hoping to save the young woman from herself. 'Mark my words, Mrs Thornton, Marlborough's workers will not thank you for meddling in their lives. And besides, you have a home to run now,' Mrs Hamper adjusted the heavily tasselled and beribboned cushion at her side, 'and there are many respectable charitable boards and committees that would welcome your patronage instead.'
'I see no harm in meeting Mr. George,' Margaret replied, and then added mischievously, 'and Miss George too of course. They have equal stakes in the business after all.'
'Well, if you ask me, they are setting themselves up to fail' Mrs Hamper said dismissively. 'Women have no place muddling themselves in trade and business and Master's have no place meddling in their worker's lives.' With that, Mrs Hamper set her tea cup down on the table and turned to Adele. 'Now then Adele, I think these ladies would like to hear your piano.'
