Cousins

When I heard that Master Freddie was coming home my heart sank. He was sure to be a younger version of Sir George, stuffy and overbearing. It also meant that Charlotte and I would be even further down the pecking order. However, there was a chance that with Freddie getting all the attention Charlotte and I would be able to have a little more freedom to do as we liked. Although with Miss Downing keeping her beady eye on us the chances of that happening were fairly slim.


We were summoned to greet the returning hero. Eleanor and Johnny had been sent to meet him in the Rolls whilst the rest of the staff were lined up outside either side of the front door. Sir George, Charlotte and myself stood on the top step.

I saw the Rolls sweeping down the driveway. It really is a beautiful car, I’m surprised Sir George doesn’t go out in out more often – maybe the thought of being with Eleanor puts him off – it would me. I was surprised to see only two people in the car, and even more surprised to see a stranger in the front seat alongside Eleanor. Poor Johnny had obviously been jettisoned and left to walk. Eleanor’s doing, no doubt.

I had my first proper look at Freddie as the car drew to a halt on the gravel and a footman stepped forward to open the car door. He was taller than I had expected, quite a slender build, dark hair, a rather fetching moustache. I caught my breath, my he was something of a looker! I had heard that Freddie had been injured, so was expecting a sling, or a limp, or a crutch or something. But he seemed perfectly fine and moved without a hint of discomfort.

Beside me Sir George beamed a smile I had never witnessed before and hurried down the steps to greet his son. It was funny to see him put his arm around Freddie’s shoulders and lead him towards the line of servants. I felt a lump come to my throat as I remembered my own dear Daddy. I brushed a tear away with the back of my hand, determined not to show weakness in front of everyone. Charlotte squeezed my hand; she had noticed and probably felt the same.

I managed a smile as Freddie came up the steps.

“Cousin Charlotte, Cousin Lucy,” he beamed “I’ve heard so much about you.” He kissed me on the cheek and I caught the scent of his lovely manly smell. I couldn’t help but shiver, he was so handsome, so full of vitality.

We went through into the drawing room where tea was waiting. Freddie held court, amusing us all with stories of his journey home and all the daring deeds that had happened in South Africa. I found myself hanging onto his every word. I had feared he would be dull and stuffy like his father, I couldn’t have been more wrong. He was fascinating to listen to and very good to look at! Oh if only I could get him to myself, how wonderful that would be!

The opportunity came the very next morning. Since it was Saturday we had no lessons. Nevertheless I had risen quite early and had come down to breakfast before nine o’clock. There was only one other early riser at the table – Master Freddie!

He stood as I came in and wiped his moustache on his napkin.

“Cousin Lucy, why you do look very lovely this fine morning. I don’t know about you, but it seemed too nice a day to by lying in bed.”

I felt myself blush a little. I always go red when I’m complimented by a man; it doesn’t happen often enough for me to be used to it.

“Yes, it is very nice this morning,” I said. I gave myself a mental kick for sounding so insipid. “What are your plans for today cousin?”

“Oh I don’t know,” he said languidly. “It’s been a long time since I’ve been home. I’m sure much has changed at Winterbrook.” He fixed me with his gaze and I saw that his eyes were cornflower blue. “I say, why don’t you give me the guided tour?”

I nearly choked on my tea. “Oh…” I stammered “Yes, why not? That’s a splendid idea.”

“You don’t have to if you don’t want to,” he said “I’m sure you’ve got other things arranged for today, I mustn’t impose upon you.” He gave me a lovely smile.

“No really, it would be a pleasure.”

And it was a pleasure. He was delightful company, attentive and charming and completely at ease. We toured the house, the stables, and the garden, chatting amiably as we went. We ended up back by the main staircase.

“Well Lucy, thank you for being such a diligent guide,” he said “What takes up most of your day at Winterbrook, it must be riding I imagine, since you love the horses so.”

“If only that were true,” I said, failing to hide the bitterness in my voice. “Most of my days, and Charlotte’s too, are wasted in pointless lessons in the schoolroom. We have a horrid governess who does not allow us a moments’ fun.”

“Oh really? That must be Miss Downing, I was introduced to her yesterday, she seemed pleasant enough.”

“You don’t know her, she’s nice enough in company but she’s nasty and mean in the schoolroom.”

“Do you use the old schoolroom at the top of the house?”

“Yes we do… would you like to see it?”

He grinned “That would bring back a few memories! Lead on Lucy.”

I led the way upstairs to the schoolroom. He stood in the middle of the little room and looked all around him, his hands on his hips.

“This place hasn’t changed at all!” he exclaimed “I haven’t been up here for ten years but it’s exactly the same as it always was. This was where I had my lessons when I was a boy. I had a governess too, Miss Littlefield, she was a holy terror I can tell you Lucy!”

“She sounds like Miss Downing. Was she awfully strict with you?”

He nodded. “Very strict indeed. She had a little cupboard where she kept the strap and the cane…” he paused and turned to look into the corner. “Well I never, it’s still there!”

He crossed the room and flung open the cupboard door. “My God the implements are identical… but I can’t believe Miss Downing ever has cause to use them on you or Charlotte.”

“Cause or not, we’ve both felt the sting of them,” I assured him. “I told you, she’s awfully mean to us.”

“Does she shut you in the cupboard too. I used to hate that.”

I shook my head. “No that’s never happened, what do you mean?”

He pointed to a door in the centre of the wall, a door that to my knowledge had never been opened. I shook my head again. He walked over a tried the handle, it was locked. He thought for a moment and then reached up to the lintel. When his hand came down there was a small brass key in it.

“Gosh I never knew that was there!” I said.

“No, and neither did Miss Downing, or I’m sure she’d have had you in here.”

So saying he unlocked the cupboard door. It was a shallow space, the wall lined with shelves. I reckoned there would be just room for a single person, but they would have to stand with their nose pressed to the inside of the door. I shuddered, imagining how dark and claustrophobic it would be in there.

“Your governess used to lock you in there?” I asked, the horror clear in my voice.

“Often, especially after I had been beaten, she said she didn’t want to have to look at my miserable face. It was horrid to begin with but after the first few times I found a way to make it bearable.”

“What did you do?”

“Come here and I’ll show you.”

He got me to put my face up close to the door. I wasn’t sure what he was trying to show me and then I saw it. There was a crack in the panel, a thin crack, but large enough to see through.

“I made that crack myself,” Freddie said “That way I could see out, and watch what she was doing. Polishing the cane ready to beat me again, usually!”

“She sounds as bad as Miss Downing!”

“I’m sure she was worse!”

“No governess is worse than Miss Downing!”

He laughed “If only I could be a fly on the wall I could see if that was true.”

It came to me in a sudden flash of inspiration. “But you can see for yourself, it’s very easy. All you need to do is hide in the cupboard and you will see everything!”

He laughed “Oh Lucy, you are a girl after my own heart! What a wonderful wheeze that would be! Shall I, shall I really?”

“You must!” I urged him. “If only to prove me right. I wager you’ll find that Miss Downing is five times worse than your Miss Littlefield!”

“Oh a wager is it now?! Very well then Cousin Lucy… but it will cost you a kiss if I’m right.”

I felt myself blush again. “Very well, you have your wager Cousin Freddie!”

Lucy