Hello, there!
Shall we?...
Traditionally, a well fattened goose, fed on the stubble from the fields after the harvest, is eaten to protect against financial need in the family for the next year; and as the saying goes:
"Eat a goose on Michaelmas Day, want not for money all the year".
September 29th 1843
…
Isabella Swan
On the morn of Michaelmas, I found myself up and out of the door by four in the morn, and although it was still dark outside, I did not let that hinder me in my chores. Everything I had to do was done by candlelight, but I had no choice in the matter.
By six, all the cows were milked, the animals fed, and the eggs collected.
I knew that I did not have to, but I made sure that every room, apart from mamma's, had been swept through, dusted and everything put back in its place. Windows were clean and the furniture was straightened. I even made sure to clean out the fireplaces and that any and all traces of soot were gone.
Today was the day that the new tenancy would be signed and that meant that the land agent was to visit. I did not want to give him any cause to not let me sign the papers and I wanted to prove, no matter my age, that I was capable of doing this.
Mamma had always sent me and Charles out of the house when the tenancy was signed for the next year, so I did not know what to expect and it worried me, so I worked harder so that they would not have any cause to refuse. It was going to be hard enough to convince them of my worth, not just because of my age, but that I was a woman, too.
When midday came around, I sent Emmett back out with Charles so I could conduct this meeting with no distractions. I had given mamma her lunch a little early and was sitting at the table waiting for the knock at the door, in my best dress, that was at least two full inches too short for me.
I did not have a choice in the clothes that I wore because we simply did not have the money to provide them, but I made do with what I had and would have to cope with the looks people gave me.
When the knock came, I took a deep breath and went to answer the door, trying to calm my nerves with every step I took. I was beyond shocked to see not just the land agent, but Lord and Lady Cullen, too.
I must have paled quickly, because the next thing I knew, Lady Cullen had rushed forward to support me as I took in the people.
Were they here to evict us?
Was that why Lady Cullen had been nice to me?
Was she trying to soften the blow?
"Do not fret, young one, no bad news, we promise," she whispered into my ear as she guided me by my arm, back through the small house to the kitchen and I could not help but lean on her a little.
Only when I was sat down did the land agent and Lord Cullen follow suit.
"How about I make some tea for us? Will that be okay with you, Isabella?" Lady Cullen asked gently, and I gave a muted nod, but carried on staring at my fingers.
I suddenly felt so small against these people. Could I really act like the adult that they proclaimed that I was? Could I act like a man to lord and gentry, yet maintain my age and sex?
"Isabella, be at peace, all is well," Lord Cullen addressed me directly and I could not help but to look at him and his kind eyes.
If I thought hard, I would say that he was a handsome man and from my limited time in a man's company, I think I would use mamma's words and say he was a fine catch, but that was as far as I would go. I knew that he was a gentle man and very caring towards his tenants, but as a woman looks at a man in personal regards, I had no point of reference.
When Lady Cullen placed the small teacups onto the table, the land agent, who I was to call Timothy, took out a large pile of paperwork from his briefcase.
My stomach plummeted as I took in the vast amount and it was only Lady Cullen's hand on mine that stopped my breathing from turning erratic.
"We have a proposition for you, Isabella, and if you are in agreement, it will lessen your workload, but be more financially secure for you,"
Lady Cullen said with a kind smile as Timothy cleared his throat.
He proceeded to tell me about downgrading the animals on the farm and to start growing fruits and vegetables for garden and farmer's markets and possibly even flowers like daffodils and other forms of stem cut produce. Lady Cullen cut in through his talk at times and encouraged me to keep some of the animals and all the land except the woodland to the edge of us and concentrate on pies, crumbles and preserves, which is what I loved to do. She said that she would personally help employ more farm hands for me while Lord Cullen would help directly with the planning of the venture.
To say that I was not scared and a little overwhelmed would have been lying.
I was petrified.
I was secure knowing that I could make preserves, pickles, and pies, but other plants and flowers I knew little to nothing about. How much would this all cost and at what cost to Lord and Lady Cullen? And would I even be able to do this as a profitable business? How many business ladies were there?
"I do not think that I could do so much in such a short space of time. I have a small patch in the garden for fruits and vegetables for personal use, but a whole farm? I do not know how to do that. Also, it will take more than a year for some plants to bear fruit, what shall we do in between now and then?" I said softly as I looked back at my fingers.
"Isabella, you have more strength than most men I know. You can organize the land over the winter months and by spring, we would be ready to plant. We will plant the trees and bushes as soon as possible so that they can mature, but others will be quicker to produce," Lord Cullen said with another kind smile and I wondered why they were doing this.
Lady Cullen must have seen the question in my eyes because she took up my hand before talking.
"Isabella, you cannot run a farm, take care of your ill mother and your brother all at the same time. I have seen you several times to the point of exhaustion and if you fall ill, what will become of it all? If you do this, you will have a lot more time for your family and apart from the general weeding of the beds, the produce will take care of itself. I think it would be wise to keep a few of the animals for your own keeping and for milk and cheese for sale as well as meat, but Emmett and a couple of other hands can look after them. You will have a lot of strain taken off your shoulders and you could rest for most of the day if need be," she said softly and before I knew it, I was nodding to her.
It would be a scary process and I would have to learn a great deal, but if it cut my workload down to focus on mamma and Charles, I would have to do it.
I would have to have a great deal of trust in Lord and Lady Cullen, but I was sure that they would make this work and after all their kindness to us, I would make sure that I made the best situation out of it. I would make it work for them.
As soon as I agreed to the idea, Timothy started opening plans of the farm onto the table, telling me where the best places to plant and where work was needed. Lady Cullen also suggested converting the Oast houses into habitable places for the farm hands.
It seemed very complicated and time consuming, but Lord Cullen told me not to concern myself with it all, or the costs. As soon as the land was ready, I could get out into the fields and concentrate on what to plant or hire staff to do it for me. Lord Cullen joked that a woman who was worth her weight knew how to direct men to do her bidding. It was a shock to see him so free from his position of Lord and Master.
"When would you like to start?" I asked as I looked at the draft of the plans for the farm.
"Well, with converting the Oast houses, I would like to start before the weather is too cold for the Lyme mortar to set, but the rest need not be rushed. If we have the land double ploughed before the first frost of the season, we could plough again just after the last frost in spring and have it ready for you to plant then. We would need to bring someone in to oversee and manage the improvements, but that should not be too hard," Timothy replied as Lord and Lady Cullen nodded in agreement.
"May I suggest you give the position to Emmett McCarty? He has been with this family for a few years now and knows more than anyone else I know. He lives very close, of course, and could always be here when needed." I asked bravely.
"Yes, of course, it would be my pleasure to have someone you know, and trust oversee the work. I will make sure I have words with him before we leave," Lord Cullen said with a beaming smile.
He stood up from the table, causing everyone to follow his lead and I gave him directions on where to find Emmett.
"Timothy, would you be a dear and bring in the dress box from the carriage," Lady Cullen asked, and he quickly went out to retrieve what she had brought.
"I hope you haven't forgotten that the ball is tonight," she smiled, and I was full of dread yet again.
"No, not at all, but may I suggest something?" I asked and when she nodded, I continued, "I have made quite a substantial amount of food to take with me, so maybe it would be wise to have Mr. Cope bring me there on his dray? I do not think that there would be room in your carriage," I hedged, and I watched as she thought over my words.
"Yes, I can agree to that, but I do not want you to make any excuses about not coming." She grinned as Timothy walked back into the kitchen with the black and ivory detailed box.
"Thank-you, Timothy. Maybe Lord Cullen would like for you to join him outside to talk with Master Emmett?" she hinted, and he was quick to leave.
"Now, this dress is not new, because I knew that you would not wear it if it were, but it is dear to me. It was my 'coming out' dress the year I met Carlisle. I have had it altered to meet with the fashion changes, but it should fit you perfectly," she said with a great deal of fondness as she lifted the lid of the box.
I could not contain my gasp as I looked over the bodice of the light blue and gold trimmed gown.
"It has many petticoats and a corset to match, but Mrs. Cope will help you with those and your hair," she said gently as I let a solitary finger run over the lace of the collar.
"It is beautiful," I whispered with awe. The material felt so soft compared to the usual coarse material I was used to.
"Thank-you, dear. There are some slippers in the bottom of the box that match, along with some gloves, so all you need to do is put it on and turn up looking as beautiful as you are now." She grinned as she took my hand in hers.
Lady Cullen excused herself to have a quick word with mamma while I took the box upstairs to my room and when I came back downstairs, the two gentlemen were standing by the front door and were waiting for either myself or Lady Cullen.
Lady Cullen appeared not two minutes later, and they bade me a good day, until tonight, and I was left to reflect on the day so far.
How bizarre the way things had turned out.
Very bizarre indeed.
...
So Isabella will become a proper businesswoman! Do you think she'll make it work, being a young girl? Esme won't let her fail.
I had a 'bolshy' guest review about how it didn't take them four days to do the washing. I had a bit of a giggle. History is my subject (I'm boring like that). From the stone age right up to the 1900s.
The standard woman's Edwardian/Victorian week go like this:
Day one: soak and treat stains
Day two: Washing clothes in giant copper kettles
Day three: rinse and wring clothes (by a mangle, usually)
Day four: hang washing to dry on any surface (this can include washing likes, shrubs, fences, etc...) and then iron (if you were lucky)
Day five: Baking pies, breads, cakes, etc...
Day six: making preserves, salt meat, general housework, visiting those in need, etc...
Day seven: Church.
Aren't we lucky that we have washing machines and dryers!
Someone also asked what a dray was. It's a large, flatbed cart that's pulled by horses. Usually used for beer barrels, large/heavy loads.
We're back with Edward tomorrow!