Christmas Child: an absolutely heartbreaking and emotional Victorian romance by Carol Rivers (i wanna iguana read aloud .txt) 📗

like two pairs made in the same size and style, but in pale yellow and olive green. Also, a pair of button boots and walking boots of your highest quality,’ Ettie requested.

He gave her a suspicious frown. ‘I don’t come cheap, you know. Each pair of shoes will cost eight shillings and sixpence. Twelve and sixpence for boots. I use the finest leather from Cordorba in Spain; my materials and workmanship are unique. My regular customers, none of ‘em short of a pound or two, can vouch for that.’

‘Will my order be ready by the first week of September?’

The boot maker looked her up and down. ‘You must settle the account up front.’

Now it was Ettie's turn to hesitate. For Sister Ukunda had shown her how to barter and this man seemed not unlike the market traders. ‘I shall pay you for the shoes now,’ she decided. ‘And the remainder in September when the order is complete.’

‘You drive a hard bargain,’ the boot maker complained, but nevertheless, eyed her plump purse. ‘Wouldn’t have thought it when you walked in this shop. A child, I imagined, wanting patches on soles for next to nothing.’

‘We are agreed then?’ Ettie ignored his rudeness. ‘Four sets of footwear in total?’

‘As soon as I see the colour of your money.’

Ettie opened her purse and took out the note.

The boot maker looked startled. ‘Well, well! I should have asked for more,’ was all he could say.

Ettie smiled. She had struck a fine deal and been offered a position of some interest, all in one day!

Chapter 18

‘Good gracious, you would think we were leaving England for good,’ complained Lucas later that month, when business was over for the day. He inspected the three cabin trunks that Ettie had labelled, and secured each with locks.

‘One is for footwear,’ Ettie explained. ‘Mrs Benjamin’s favourites in addition to her new shoes.’ The boot maker had proven trustworthy and had produced the highest quality footwear. Both pairs of shoes and boots fitted Clara perfectly. ‘The other is for dresses, coats, underwear and night clothes. The third trunk is yours, Sir, which you packed yourself.’

‘And what a tiring job that was!’ exclaimed Lucas, heaving a sigh. ‘How is my wife today?’

‘A little better, Sir,’ Ettie said hopefully. ‘We took a walk to the green. She seems to be in good spirits.’

‘Perhaps the prospect of the holiday has helped?’ Lucas suggested.

‘Yes, Sir.’ Ettie hoped that was the case.

‘Wintering abroad is the very best thing, so the Soho Square physician tells me.’ And as the days passed by Ettie saw that Lucas could barely contain his enthusiasm.

On the morning of 15th September, he mopped his brow anxiously. ‘We must be on time for the cab at nine o’clock,’ he muttered as he stood in his best suit, checking his fob watch repeatedly. ‘Is everything ready?’

‘Yes, Sir. Here are your papers and Mrs Benjamin’s medicine should you need it on the journey.’ She gave Lucas the small leather satchel and watched him loop the strap across his shoulder. ‘I have given Mrs Benjamin a separate purse containing a mirror, a compact of face powder, some rouge en crepe and a phial of eau-de-cologne.’

‘Ettie, you are a marvel!’

‘There are crackers and sandwiches in the carpet bag, should you be delayed on the road.’

‘You have thought of everything. After breakfast, we shall adjourn to the salon; a last-minute refresher will do no harm.’

‘I shall write to you with every detail,’ Ettie promised.

‘Oh, Ettie, my dear!’ He threw his arms around her. ‘Thank you.’

He was whistling through his two big front teeth as he walked away. It was the first time in many months that Ettie had seen him so happy.

The cab arrived on the dot of nine. While Lucas helped the driver to stow the trunks, Ettie assisted her mistress inside. She tucked a stray wisp of Clara’s hair under her new silk bonnet. The pale rose tint of its ribbons looked tasteful against the dark plum of her cape. Ettie had dusted Clara’s cheeks with rouge and fastened her button boots securely about her slender ankles.

‘You look most charming, Mrs Benjamin.’

Clara grasped her hand. ‘Where am I going, Ettie?’ she whispered.

‘To Dover,’ Ettie replied, a little disturbed at the lapse in Clara’s memory. ‘And afterwards to France.’

‘I shall miss you.’ Clara’s pale eyes blinked tears.

‘And I, you.’ Ettie took her mistress’s hand. ‘Mr Benjamin will hire a maid when you arrive in Paris.’

Clara gave a little choke. ‘Goodbye.’

Ettie embraced her. ‘Next time we meet you will be your old self.’

‘Perhaps,’ Clara replied sadly.

‘We are all set,’ shouted a voice, making Clara and Ettie jump. Lucas stood waiting impatiently.

‘May the Good Lord be with you, Mrs Benjamin,’ Ettie murmured. ‘I shall pray for you each day.’

‘Hurry along, Ettie,’ ordered Lucas as he waited at the cab’s door. ‘We must keep to schedule.’

Ettie climbed down the carriage steps. ‘Goodbye, Sir.’ She watched Lucas settle himself next to Clara.

‘I leave all I own in your hands. Don’t fail me,’ he called.

Ettie stood on the cobbles, watching the cab disappear in the early morning mist. She was worried. Would Clara endure the long journey?

‘I leave all I own in your hands. Don’t fail me.’ Lucas’s words ran through her mind uncomfortably. She had always been confident when he was with her. But now she was quite alone.

Chapter 19

On Monday morning, Ettie put on her new salon uniform, made for her by Mrs Buckle. A delicate white frill lay at her throat. Two small pearls decorated her fitted bodice. The colour of the wool was not quite the deep brown of her eyes.

With her hair drawn to the back of her head and coiled at the nape of her neck, she hoped she looked older than her years.

‘I wish to speak to the proprietor,’ said the first customer, a silver-haired gentleman who fixed her with a disdainful frown.

‘Mr and Mrs Benjamin are holidaying in Europe.’ Ettie repeated the mantra that Lucas had taught her. ‘How may I