Chapter Seven

Hannah paused outside the iron gates on King Street and shifted the weight of her bag from one hand to the other. She was looking forward to this job but the thought of the forged character letter was still hanging over her like a pall of smoke. She was terrified that she would be found out. Yet there was nothing else to do but open the gate and go in. She had no alternative.

The cheerful red-headed lass who opened the door to her introduced herself as Jane and almost pulled her into the kitchen in her enthusiasm, telling her to take off her coat and bonnet and make herself at home.

‘Don’t mind her,’ said Cook with a smile. ‘She’s that over-excited about getting wed that there’s nowt we can do with her.’

‘It’s not because I’m glad to be leaving,’ Jane told her. ‘Don’t think that. It’s a good place here and tha’ll like it, I’m sure.’

‘Aye, tha’ll be all right here,’ said Cook, putting down a cup of freshly brewed tea in front of her. ‘They’re good employers are the Feildens. Very fair.’

‘Come and see the bedroom,’ said Jane.

She carried Hannah’s bag up to the room in the attics. There was a good-sized bed that she would be sharing with Jane until she left, but after that it would be all hers and Hannah looked forward to the luxury of spreading out in it. Even at Woodfold she’d shared a bed with Mary. She pushed the guilty thoughts about her friend to the back of her mind. There was nothing more she could have done, she told herself. If she heard of another job she would let her know, but in the meantime, Mary would have to cope as best she could.

‘I’ve managed to make some space,’ Jane said. ‘But I’ve got that much tackle as I’ve collected for my bottom drawer I needs a dozen bottom drawers!’ She opened one to show Hannah what she had: two sets of white cotton sheets, three tablecloths, towels, tea towels and a fine embroidered nightie that she held up for inspection. ‘For the wedding night!’ she giggled.

‘It’s beautiful!’ said Hannah. ‘Did tha do the embroidery?’

‘Aye. It’s made my eyes and head ache for weeks, but it’s been worth it.’

‘Who’s the lucky chap?’

‘His name’s Eddie Cottam. Works at Eanam Mill as an overlooker. He’s not badly off either. We’re going to rent a house on Clayton Street and I’ve a mind to set up as a seamstress once I’m finished here. Anyway,’ she went on, ‘unpack thy things and then come down and I’ll show thee what thy jobs will be.’

Hannah lifted her clothes from her bag and laid them in the drawer that Jane had emptied for her. They didn’t fill it. Then she hung up her coat and put her best bonnet carefully on the shelf before slipping out of her best frock and putting on the blue and white striped one that was laid on the bed for her. It wasn’t new and was too big. She suspected that it had belonged to Jane. When she got a moment she would take in the seams. Meanwhile, the apron she tied around it pulled it into place. She peered into the little mirror as she fixed the cap over her hair and then went back down the stairs to the kitchen. Everyone seemed very kind and friendly. She thought she was going to be happy here.