The maid had her lips firmly shut and Grace gave a little sigh.
‘Your mistress is quite right to insist that you do not give away any secrets, so I will not ask you to say anything. But I am sure you understand my anxiety. Being unmarried and alone I am very anxious to avoid taking on someone who may prove unreliable.’ She then turned the subject, talking about such innocuous topics as the weather and the trials of running a house in town.
Goodness, Grace Duncombe, you sound very much like a lonely spinster, desperate for company!
She finally ran out of words and fell silent. Nelson and Lottie chose that moment to move to one side of the path to investigate some interesting smells at the base of a tree. Grace and the maid both stopped and after a moment the maid let out a hiss of breath, as if she had been searching her conscience and had come to a decision.
‘I don’t see what harm it can do for me to tell you, ma’am,’ she burst out. ‘Mrs Meesden was turned off, you see. That’s why she has no reference from Arlington Street. Rude to Mr Payne, she was, and although the mistress said she was an excellent dresser, she couldn’t allow insolence towards her son.’
‘No, I should think not,’ said Grace, shaking her head. ‘Very bad indeed.’
‘Well, from what I heard in the servants’ hall afterwards, it wasn’t the first time she’d been turned off. And she was never married, neither, even though she called herself “Mrs”.’ The maid was in full flow now and Grace let her talk, she would sift out the important points later. ‘Seems she couldn’t abide men. Well, that’s understandable.’ The maid sniffed. ‘Being in service can be hard for a woman, ma’am. Some of the tales I’ve heard would make your hair stand on end and that’s the truth. Not that there’s anything of that sort at Mrs Payne’s house, which is why I’ve stayed so long. She’s a strict mistress and she don’t allow no goings on.’
‘I am very glad to hear it,’ Grace said warmly. As they began to stroll on again she said casually, ‘Do you know what became of Mrs Meesden?’
The maid shook her head.
‘Bad business, ma’am. I heard she couldn’t get another position and is now taking in sewing.’
‘Oh, the poor creature,’ exclaimed Grace, thinking how far the woman had fallen since being lady’s maid at Arrandale. She said, in perfect sincerity, ‘I do hope her fortunes can be improved.’
‘Ah well, ma’am, p’raps they can be, if you was to take her on, you not having a gentleman in the house for her to take against.’
‘Where is she living now, do you know?
‘That I don’t, ma’am, but Mrs Payne must know, because she sometimes sends gowns to her for mending.’
‘That is very charitable.’
The maid gave a snort. ‘Not her! It’s more that Meesden’s the best needlewoman she’s ever known. The mistress ain’t the charitable sort, for all she’s patron of the Foundling Hospital. The Lord helps them as helps themselves, she says.’ She looked up guiltily. ‘You won’t tell the mistress I told you any o’ this, will you, ma’am?’
‘No, of course not,’ replied Grace. They had reached the southern end of the Queen’s Walk and she could see her aunt’s carriage in the distance.
‘Thank you for the information, you have been most helpful.’
The maid was gazing round-eyed at the silver coin Grace had pressed into her hand. ‘Ooh, ma’am, I shouldn’t—’
‘Nonsense, that is for allowing Nelson to have Lottie’s company on his morning walk, nothing more,’ said Grace, thankful that the two animals were actually walking together quite amicably.
‘Yes, yes, of course.’ The maid nodded. She added ingenuously, ‘But I shan’t tell anyone who gave it to me, ma’am.’
‘No, that might be best,’ said Grace, stifling her conscience. ‘You could merely say a lady pressed it upon you, when you gave her directions.’
With another friendly smile Grace scooped Nelson into her arms and set off briskly for the waiting carriage, pleased with her morning’s work.
