The Child Lives On
Chapter Four
Interesting, isn't it? how an unpleasant circumstance can sometimes change one's life for the better. For example, I would never have met the man of my dreams if the following unpleasant encounter had never occured on that sunny autumn afternoon.
It happened like this: Mama, Emily and I were strolling through Hyde Park, as we often did when the weather was nice, when a pudgy, flouncy, silly kind of girl, in a plethora of ribbons and curls and silk and lace, screeched, "How adorable!" and sprinted in our direction, falling to her knees in front of Emily, and grabbing her little hands. "You're so cute!" she giggled. "So adorable! What's your name, sweetheart?!"
"Emily," I said. "Her name is Emily."
The girl looked up at me. Her glare was intense. She hissed, "Does she not have a voice?"
I took a step back. "Yes, she..."
"Was I talking to you?"
"Well, I..."
"Where are you manners?"
Needless to say, I was stung by the rebuke, and took an instant dislike to the girl.
Having dismissed me, like a petulant monarch, she returned her attention to Emily. "Your name is Emily, sweetheart?" she asked, in that cutesy voice people use when speaking with a small child.
"Yes, miss," said Emily, who has a naturally cute voice.
"Such a pretty name."
"You think so?"
"My name is Julia."
"Is it?"
"Will you come play with me? I have a room full of lovely dollies."
"I'm sorry, miss. I'm rather busy at the moment."
"Busy? With what?"
"My garden."
"And where is your garden?"
"At home."
"But you're here in the park."
"I assure you, miss, I'm only taking a short break."
"Won't you spare just a few minutes? Please? Oh, pretty please? Pretty please with a cherry on top?"
Emily, the sweet girl that she is, acquiesced.
So Julia, who loves all things tiny and cute, took Emily to her home in a fancy carriage. Mama was concerned, though she didn't explain why, and insisted that I accompany her. Still resentful, I fussed and fumed (inwardly) until the carriage came to a stop in front of a palatial mansion. Well, let me tell you, that changed everything. Lounging in a luxurious sitting room, sipping tea and eating delicious cakes, made tolerating Julia a whole lot easier. Besides, Lady Harrington (Julia's mother) was quite charming.
Though I was reduced to a sort of governess, or watchdog, this budding friendship between Emily and Julia actually worked to my advantage. I was invited to parties and balls to which I would not have been otherwise invited, I met people I would not have otherwise met, and went places I would not have otherwise gone.
I remember that special night, the night of the party, like it was yesterday. Emily and I had just finished dressing when Julia burst into my bedroom, swooping up Emily into her arms and twirling her around while giggling and shrieking, "My little sweetheart! You're so adorable! Yes, you are! Yes, yes, you are! Oh, how I've missed you so!"
The strange thing was, at least to me, Emily was smiling and giggling as well. She actually liked the girl, though I could never figure out why.
After this immoderate greeting, Julia set Emily down on the floor, and they did a little dance, pirouetting here and there, while Julia hummed a waltz. Mama joined in the singing, taking my hand and spinning me around. I went along with it, reluctantly.
When this impromptu little dance was over, Julia took hold of Emily's little hand. "Come, my little sweetheart," she said, "the carriage awaits." Without a word to me, they hurried out the door. I followed along like a servant, expected to be there.
The entrance to the Harrington mansion was framed by pillars, like a Greek temple. Servants, in fancy dress, greeted each arrival - opening carriage doors, and helping out the ladies. Julia and Emily were greeted with extravagant fanfare, as if princesses were arriving. Guests and servants gathered around - men bowed, and women curtsied, and a great to-do was made. I slipped out the other side of the carriage, avoiding the throng.
The mansion was lit up with a multitude of candles and lamps. Dazzling decorations covered the walls and hung from the ceilings. Everybody who was anybody in London was there - in their finest clothing and jewels. Orchestral music filled the air, adding to the already festive atmosphere.
Once inside, Julia led Emily away, leaving me free to wander on my own. While ambling aimlessly, and chatting with folks here and there, I saw him - dark hair, dark eyes, and so handsome in his tailored suit. Our eyes met. He took a step towards me. Another young man asked me to dance. I thought it impolite to refuse. At the end of each dance, another young man took his place, then another and another, until I was staring into the eyes of the man of my dreams. "Finally," he said. "In my arms at last."
"Have you been waiting all this time?"
"Yes."
"But surely there are other girls."
"None that I can see."
"I don't even know your name."
"Victor. And yours?"
"Ruth."
"I hope you don't mind, but I have no intention of letting you go."
"Is that so?"
As if by magic, everyone and everything in the room faded away. Victor and I had the ballroom all to ourselves, dance after dance. The clock struck twelve. "Is this where you run away and lose a slipper?" he asked.
"Are you a prince?"
"No."
"Whatever will we do? I have no evil step-mother or ugly step-sisters - although Julia..."
"We'll have to create a fairy tale of our own. May I see you again?"
"I believe that would be suitable."
"Merely suitable?"
"We shall see."
"Indeed, we shall see."
A man did call on me, but it wasn't Victor. Thinking it might be Victor, I ran to the foyer when I heard the knock. Stopping short, and hiding my disappointment, I put on a smile. He was tall and lanky, a little stooped, as if embarrassed by his height, with a long thin face, thinning hair, a beak nose and a weak chin.
"Good afternoon," he said in a slow sad way. "We met at the Harrington party."
"Did we?"
"Surely you remember me."
"I met so many people. Would you like to come in?"
"If it's not too much trouble."
"No trouble at all."
Mama and Emily were in the sitting room, knitting. "Mama," I said, "this is…"
"Ben," said the man, surveying the room with his sad droopy eyes. "Ben Johnson."
"Would you like some tea, Mr. Johnson?" asked Mama.
"If it's not too much trouble."
"No trouble at all."
Emily, putting her knitting aside, hopped out of her little rocking chair. "I'll make it," she said, skipping out of the room.
"Don't worry," said Mama, as Ben took a seat. "Emily makes excellent tea."
"I wasn't worried," he said.
As we were chatting casually about the weather, I stifled a yawn, and tried to look interested. The housekeeper entered the room with a calling-card. Much to my surprise, she gave it to me. The name on the card was Victor Willoughby. Seeing the name, I jumped to my feet and ran out of the room. He was in the foyer. My heart was in my throat.
"I hope you don't mind my stopping by," he said, with a twinkle in his eye.
"N-not at all," I somehow managed to say. "Come in and meet Mama."
We entered the sitting room. He stopped when he saw Ben. "If you have company," he said, "I can come back."
"Don't go," I said, grabbing his hand. "Emily is making tea."
At that moment, Emily entered the room with the tea tray. "Oh!" she said. "Another guest. I'll fetch another cup." Setting the tray on a little table, she hurried from the room. Victor and I sat together on the couch. A moment later, Emily poured the tea and passed around the cookies. When that task had been accomplished, she returned to her little rocking chair and took up her knitting.
"My employer, the Harrington Company, will be expanding the business into the Americas," Victor was saying.
"Isn't there a war going on over there?" I asked.
"Yes, yes, there is, but it won't last much longer."
"I hope you're right. Every time there's a war, I worry about Daddy."
"Your father is a soldier?"
"A Major in the cavalry."
"Impressive."
"I could have been in the cavalry," said Ben.
"What stopped you?" asked Victor.
"Lumbago."
"That's too bad."
"What is it you do?" asked Mama.
"I'm a lawyer," said Ben.
"An honorable profession."
"I like to think so. Not everyone would agree."
"I suppose not."
Throughout this conversation, Ben had been watching Emily with increasing interest. "I say, little one," he said. "What's that you're knitting? A sock?"
"It's a snake," said Emily.
"Oh dear! A snake?"
She held up a long knitted tube. "We stuff it with rags and place it next to the door to keep out the drafts."
"How clever."
"It wasn't my idea."
"Emily is quite clever," I said. "If you're interested in tonics and herbal remedies, Emily is the girl to see."
"Is this child a doctor?" asked Victor, raising his eyebrows.
"An herbalist," said Emily.
"Would you care to see her garden?" I asked.
"She has a garden?" asked Victor.
"You won't believe it."
Upon viewing the garden, Victor and Ben were suitably astonished. "When you said garden," said Victor, "I didn't expect anything quite so… so expansive. It's like a cultivated jungle."
"No tigers I hope," said Ben.
"We do have a cat," said Emily, "for the rodents."
"Necessary, I'm sure."
"I never expected to find a garden like this in the middle of London," said Victor.
"Well," I said, "we do have our own little garden fairy."
"Pardon?"
"Never mind."
Emily giggled, "I'm glad you didn't say gnome."
"Gnome, ha, ha, ha… We'd have to get you one of those little pointy hats."
"And a little beard, ha, ha, ha…"
The men were staring at us. Suddenly, I felt a little flushed.
Emily's neat and tidy workshop brought out even more admiration. She climbed up onto her step-stool and picked up a small jar from off of a shelf, handing it to Ben. "Try this," she said. "It might help your lumbago."
Looking at it dubiously, he took a sip, and made a wry face. "Bitter," he said.
"Drink it down quickly."
He did as he was told, shuddering slightly.
She turned and spoke to Victor. "Any maladies?"
"None to speak of," he said, with a chuckle.
"Something for general health then?"
"Whoa!" said Ben. "I'm feeling a burst of energy. What's in this stuff?"
"Just herbs," said Emily.
"I think I will try it," said Victor. "But let me pay you. You've gone to a lot of trouble."
My estimation of him went up when I didn't think it possibly could.
"You can have this," said Emily, placing a small jar into his hand. "If you want more, visit Hammer's Apothecary."
"Does he carry this lumbago medicine?" asked Ben.
"He carries all of our products."
"Quite the little business woman," said Victor.
"No, no, not me. Clara has the head for business."
"You're a team?"
"Certainly. We have been for many years."
"Can't have been too many, I shouldn't think."
"Would you care to stay for lunch?" asked Mama.
"If it's not too much trouble," said Ben.
"No trouble at all."
From that time on, Victor came to see me almost every day; and soon, we were courting. So you see, sometimes an unpleasant situation can lead to something wonderful.