Special Note to Readers: Thanks to the good offices of the writer ChocolateIsMyDrug, I recently found out that this site removed ALL the asterisks I had used as line breaks in my stories. As a result, many of the scene changes in my stories are not showing up. So bear with me while I go through the work of the past months and years to clean up and insert the necessary breaks. The whole project has fairly reduced me to tears, as I meant to spend this time revising and posting new material, rather than redoing most of my previous chapters, or explaining to readers what happened.
Many, many thanks to all who have taken the time to read, review, and send encouragement.
And now for some walking and talking, Cranford style.
Chapter 16: Guardian Angels
"Miss Galindo, I do believe you have not recognized me."
Miss Galindo started and froze in her steps. She turned about to face Captain Brown, who was looming over her in the dusk.
"Oh, Captain! I am sorry. I thought –"
"I can well guess what you thought, as you were hurrying down Darkness Lane in an attempt to escape me," Captain Brown said, doffing his hat and smiling down at her. His smile changed to a look of concern as he added, "Though I cannot guess why you would be here at this hour, and quite alone."
"I was delivering some caps, sir. Yes, truly. Not everyone in Cranford gets about so easily as you or I."
"And you are bound for home now, I suppose. Well, I'll see you safely back, if you'll just take my arm, please. There." He adjusted his stride to accommodate her steps as they continued on their way.
"Miss Galindo, it grieves me that you must go about in this manner. Of course I understand there is a considerable burden in keeping a carriage. Like you, I must avoid that expense! But still you ought not to be left wandering the streets of Cranford in solitude."
"Captain, I assure you that is not always the case. Even I am not a stranger to guardian angels." And with that she smiled to herself in a way Captain Brown could read, even in the dimming light. Such a sweet expression she had, he thought. A man would walk clear from Dover to Cranford if he knew he would be the recipient of that smile at the end of his journey.
"I am glad to hear to you speak of guardian angels, Miss Galindo, though I dare say yours are of flesh and blood." I could even name one of them, he thought.
"Quite, but they are of no less assistance." A little embarrassed, she added, "Captain, I am taking you out of your way, and you must be eager to get home to your –"
"Now, now, don't worry about Jessie. The major has returned from Scotland and is at home with her, and I'm glad of it. Jessie and he have been parted quite enough for one lifetime."
Miss Galindo remembered the evening of the party, and Miss Matty's words. In a low voice she said, "And you must be happy to have them here with you in Cranford."
"But they cannot stay forever, Miss Galindo, and that is as it ought to be. Where her husband goes, Jessie must go, as Ruth went with Boaz."
Miss Galindo smiled again. "I think you mean as Ruth went with Naomi."
"Do I? Well, no matter, for Ruth did marry Boaz, after all, and then nothing could part them, either."
At that Miss Galindo could think of no reply. She all too aware that she was walking homewards arm in arm with the captain, and now he was talking of married couples. She hoped it was becoming too dark for him to see the expression on her face.
"I received your letter of thanks regarding A Christmas Carol, Miss Galindo," said Captain Brown. "Judging by its date of arrival, Mr. Carter must have gone to you straightaway when I gave him that book."
"Oh, Captain, I think you may rely upon Mr. Carter to fulfill any commission you have for him," she said, smiling again.
"And so may you, Miss Galindo, so may you."
"I do not doubt Mr. Carter's reliability, but would note that it is my duty to assist him, not the other way round, for as long as I remain in Lady Ludlow's employ."
"Indeed, Miss Galindo, but perhaps even that may change, given time."
She felt a little unsettled at Captain Brown's words, particularly given their ambiguity, and given the recent economies instituted at Hanbury. What had Mr. Carter been saying to him?
"Do you mean to say I shall lose my position, Captain?" she said, very nearly pausing in mid-stride.
"No, no, quite the contrary. Perhaps you shall accept another!"
"Indeed, I know of no such offer, Captain." They had by now arrived at her doorstep, and she turned to face her tall protector. "Thank you for taking the trouble to escort me home."
"It was no trouble at all, Miss Galindo, and indeed it's very kind of you to endure my company, when there are better guardian angels to be had. And with that, I bid you good night."
"Good night, Captain."
The following day Miss Galindo was up to Hanbury again, unable to quite banish the conversation with Captain Brown from her thoughts but also puzzled as to what it might mean. As it happened, Mr. Carter was on that day very engaged in meetings with her ladyship and then with estate staff, and there was no opportunity to discuss anything with him – that is, until he came to her, again as she was preparing to return home.
He came in, evidently distracted, his expression inscrutable. "Shall we walk, Miss Galindo? There is something I need to discuss with you."
"Of course, Mr. Carter," she said, feeling a sort of grim relief that Captain Brown had at least dropped a hint of what might happen.
Though they had spent considerable time together, she and Mr. Carter had seldom had reason to go anywhere on foot. Now Miss Galindo noticed that though he moved about easily and quickly, the walking stick remained always in his hand. She decided, therefore, it would be best to follow his pace.
But if she could observe how he conducted himself, she had failed utterly at divining his purpose in inviting her to walk with him.
"Miss Galindo, I want to say again how grateful I am for your willingness to help Harry Gregson with his schooling."
"Oh, Mr. Carter, you know you need only ask me," she said, relieved.
"And I do ask you, and I need not only your assistance but your counsel as well."
"I stand ready to give both." She was astonished at the course their conversation was taking.
They walked on in silence for a few moments before Mr. Carter spoke again.
"You may wonder, Miss Galindo, why Harry is still employed at Hanbury and not safely enrolled in school somewhere. Indeed, I had thought to send him off to Shrewsbury to be educated. I offered to assume the expense myself, but Job Gregson would have none of it, and so much the worse for Harry. The boy would benefit from seeing something of the wider world."
"You might consider, Mr. Carter, that perhaps Harry is not ready yet to go away to school," said Miss Galindo. At that Mr. Carter came to a halt and, brow furrowed, blue eyes coolly stern, turned to look at her. It was a look she'd often drawn from him, and disconcerting now, rather than amusing.
Still, she had to press on. "I think Harry might fare best among people who sincerely care for his welfare. He is so young, after all, and might be lonely and frightened in the midst of so many strangers."
Mr. Carter frowned. "Miss Galindo, you know there must come a time when Harry –"
He checked himself. Surely there's no need to construct an argument, not when she's here to help you, to advise you, rather than to defeat your purpose, he thought.
"I am sorry, Miss Galindo. I spoke just now in haste." She smiled encouragement at him, and he began again, more gently. "We both know that Harry must make his way in the world, but I understand your reluctance to force him into what you see as a premature acquaintance with it. He is indeed very young."
"Yes," she said softly. "Don't misunderstand me, Mr. Carter. Your nestling will grow stronger and one day fly away, and you will be both proud and a little sad. But he needs your guidance and protection now."
The very thought that she saw him as Harry's guide and protector moved him deeply, and it cost an effort for him to continue, briskly, "Oh, I think Harry immensely capable, Miss Galindo. Why, he could someday go to university -- read law, perhaps, or even take orders. Or he could become a teacher himself –"
"Mr. Carter, I know that you have only the kindest possible intentions, but I would caution you against mistaking your dreams for Harry's. The boy's talents and inclinations will become evident as he grows, as he pursues various courses of study, and cannot be determined as yet." She spoke with a calmness she did not feel, and trembled a bit within as he again looked back at her sternly.
"And what would you have me do, then?" he said, with a trace of his old gruffness.
"Seek a way of providing the most comprehensive education for Harry – a continuation of reading in various areas, of course, and the study of mathematics, science, perhaps the modern languages. And you could, of course, apply to Reverend Hutton to undertake some of the instruction or to recommend someone who could, as you might have done if you had sent Harry to Shrewsbury."
For a long moment he looked at her.
"Mr. Carter, I fear I have offended you –"
"Offended me? No, no, I think your suggestions completely sensible. I had thought at first – I had thought –"
"Perhaps you thought I would echo my lady and suggest that Harry be taught only to serve and to know his prayers?" she finished, with a playful lift of her eyebrows.
"No," he said softly. "I never thought that. But you once thought me cruel for offering Harry lessons, given the position he holds at Hanbury."
"Did I say such a thing to you? Oh, Mr. Carter, I am sorry. I know that everything you've done for Harry has been meant kindly."
He smiled, a bit sadly. "I think, Miss Galindo, that you feared Harry's hopes, and mine, would end in disappointment."
They began to walk again, as if by mutual consent, and spoke not a word for some minutes.
It was again Mr. Carter who broke the silence. "And perhaps you were right to think of disappointments. As it is, there has been so little I have been able to do for Harry. If Lady Ludlow no longer stands in the way of educating the boy, Job Gregson remains very nearly as great an obstacle."
"Is it that Mr. Gregson is opposed to sending Harry away, or to educating him, or perhaps both?"
"Both, I think, and there is something more." Miss Galindo could guess what "something more" meant but waited for Mr. Carter to speak.
"I think he resents my influence on Harry and sees what I do as usurping his role. Harry's gone from assisting his father at poaching to spending his evenings with books."
"And in your company."
"And in my company, though Gregson tolerates what I do for the boy. But I've only gained that tolerance through something close to bribery, as I also provide Harry a meal with his lesson. Harry's is one mouth his father won't have to feed, you see.
"Of course Gregson does not see the value of so much as learning to do sums or sign one's name. But as long as Harry is seen to be in Lady Ludlow's employ, and brings home his wages, that is enough, and he'll not stand my way or his son's – not at the moment."
"And what is Mrs. Gregson's opinion on this, Mr. Carter?"
He seemed astonished at the question, but when he turned to her to make reply, there was none of the accustomed sternness in his expression or his words. "You will understand, Miss Galindo, that I have not conducted a private interview with Mrs. Gregson, about her eldest son or any other matter."
"But surely she must be consulted, and I would hope that her husband has at least done so, and shared her thoughts with you."
At that Mr. Carter's face betrayed astonishment, perhaps a little exasperation. In replying, however, his voice remained as mild as his words were measured. "I think, Miss Galindo, that you'd hope in vain for Job Gregson to seek his wife's opinion.
"I know it is unfair," he added, with a shy smile, "but I cannot envision him discussing this matter with Mrs. Gregson as you and I have done.
"But you have given me much to contemplate, Miss Galindo, and everything you have said leads back to two tasks I have been avoiding."
"And what might those be, Mr. Carter?"
"The first is finding a way to make up for the loss of Harry's wages, should he begin study in earnest. His father won't take charity, but he also won't release his son from his obligations."
"Indeed. And the second?"
He stopped in mid-stride and turned once more to face her.
"I think, Miss Galindo, I shall have to found my own school."
A few days later Miss Galindo happened to be making her way from her shop to the High Street when she heard yet another familiar voice call out to her.
"Oh, Miss! Miss, it's been ever such a long time." As she turned and shielded her eyes against the winter sun, she could see Anthony Beckett hurrying to catch up with her.
"Why, good afternoon, Anthony -- I mean Mr. Beckett." She noticed that he very nearly winced at the address, but somehow it felt wrong to call him by his Christian name now, when he was no longer Lady Ludlow's servant.
"And where are you bound today, Miss?"
"Johnson's Universal Stores." She was bracing herself for another possible encounter with Mrs. Johnson but secretly hoping she'd only have to deal with Mr. Johnson, who evidently did not share his wife's appetite for village gossip.
"Johnson's? Well, perhaps you'd let me walk part way with you."
The offer of temporary company was not surprising. If Mrs. Johnson cast scornful glances her way, she could well imagine what Mr. Beckett might face.
"It was before Christmas, last time I saw you," said Mr. Beckett, falling into step beside her.
"Indeed it was," said Miss Galindo with a smile.
"And are you well, Miss?"
"I'm very well. And yourself?"
"Never better. And how is your Mr. Carter?"
"Oh, he's quite well. Full of energy, full of purpose, but bearing more than his share of burdens as well, and as usual." She smiled wryly at Mr. Beckett. "I think you understand that Mr. Carter is the sort of man who wants to set the world right -- or at least his little portion of it."
Mr. Beckett grinned back. "Oh, he's a decent man, as few are, Miss. That time he scolded me on your behalf, he couldn't have been angrier if you'd been his own – if you'd been his –"
He was very nearly overcome with blushing and stammering, but managed to recover nicely.
"If you had been his own sister," he finished, in a neutral tone. He was avoiding her eyes, and she decided it best to make a graceful retreat from the subject of Mr. Carter.
"And what do you hear from your own brothers and sisters, Mr. Beckett?"
"Why, Joe's got married, Miss. We never thought to see him do it. Perhaps he had to go all the way to America to find someone who'd have him." Miss Galindo laughed.
"And in every letter Molly tells me I must emigrate too, that it's time. Ah, but I'll never see New York Harbor. I mean to stop in Cranford. Truly I do, Miss. I've done with going from one place to another."
"Still, who knows what life holds for you? You're a young man and may yet cross that ocean," she said, smiling and looking off in the distance.
"Perhaps, Miss, but I wouldn't lay money on it." He turned to look at her. "And you? You've told me of your travels. Do you mean to go back to Italy someday, or Germany?"
"Oh, Mr. Beckett, I could not possibly tell you. Perhaps one day. Perhaps never again."
That last thought ought to have made her sad. But truth to tell, she felt a certain relief, perhaps even pleasure, in coming to the realization that she did not long for coaches and trains and ships to carry her away. Her heart was in Cheshire, and there it would remain.
To be continued…