Growing Good (8)

All admirably in hand

Sure this was a very excellent well-laid out room to become a library! Vicky – Miss Victoria Jupp, youngest daughter of Sam and Sophy – looked around and nodded her head. Thought had been took – ample shelving – an excellent set of steps upon castors so that one might reach the higher shelves – one large table and several smaller – chairs –

Though at present was quite a clutter of crates only partly unpacked, and books piled somewhat willy-nilly upon the tables.

And, she could see, very prepossessing, matters of ledgers, and writing implements, and paper. And a little pile of bookplates and a pot of paste.

Would not need to go to find who was the person to ask, and then to ask 'em, and then no doubt wait upon the things being sent out for –

All admirably in hand! Had been desired to begin on the task as soon as maybe – the clerk to whom she had spoken had said that Mr Grigson and Lady Lucretia would be making visits over the Christmas and New Year seasons, could Miss Jupp find it convenable to start at once and continue while they were away would be greatly appreciated. And when the rate of pay was mentioned, Vicky found it convenable indeed!

She had by no means anticipated such employment, but now it had come to her, why, was just the thing while she considered over what she should do now. Did not entirely despair of continuing her education, for surely it must come about that the young ladies at the College became more advanced in their understanding of classics, and there would be classes more suited to Vicky’s own state of achievement? Or mayhap – did not Her Ladyship have a vast acquaintance – there might be some very antiquated clergyman or such that she might read Greek and Latin with, that there could be not the least objection to?

But indeed, she was not in the station of life where a young woman would sit idle at home, mayhap doing a little to assist her mama, while waiting for a husband. No, she was in that rank where she should make sure she had the means to make her own living, for even did she catch a husband – Vicky sneered as she picked up the bill lying next to a pile of books and began checking them off to see was they all accounted for – might turn out prudent.

Oh, Pa was in a fine way of business – Jupp’s Livery Stables and Carriage Hire now had three establishments, the original one in Mayfair, the second in Kensington, and the one established in Bayswater when that area began to come up – but they still lived as 'twere over the shop in the mews. Pa would say that you saw these fellows, wished to set up as gentlemen and go live on a country property, or at least a fine house in Chiswick or so, and travel in mayhap not even every day to mind the business – shaking his head.

Then, of course, there was Ma, that could go to and fro to Her Ladyship’s with no trouble at all, t’other end of the mews. For there was Ma, that was the famed Sophy, Lady Bexbury’s lady’s maid, an entire artist in her profession, her abilities in dressing hair considered quite the nicest, her advice eagerly sought –

Came peeping round the door and then entering a youngish woman, that Vicky deduced from the style of her dress must be Lady Lucretia’s personal maid. She stood up, and made a small dip, in the gratifying consciousness of the excellence of her own dress – entire suitable for her position, but well-made in good stuff, her sister 'Sina would die of mortification did they leave the house in anything less.

The woman gave a civil nod and said, Grainger, am Lady Lucretia’s maid, 'tis said you are the daughter of Lady Bexbury’s Sophy and sister of Miss Thomasine at Mamzelle Bridgette?

Vicky suppressed a grin and agreed that that was so, and moreover they was cousins to Mr Maurice himself.

Grainger, that was now quite properly awestruck, said that she hoped Miss Jupp would come take tea this afternoon?

Delighted, said Vicky.

Grainger looked about the library and shook her head and remarked that there was sure a task ahead of Miss Jupp here, and left.

But, thought Vicky, a very enjoyable one. Sure whoever had been about the booksellers had had a very nice taste and very deep credit. Was no matter of fill up the shelves with elegantly bound dreary old sermons!

She had been about this agreeable occupation for a couple of hours when one of the footmen came in to say that Mrs Miriam would be pleased did Miss Jupp come join her for some nuncheon.

Prime! Vicky had wondered whether 'twould be some matter of sending up a tray of bread and cheese – your midday meal will be provided – but had had some expectation that Miriam would very like wish to exchange family gossip.

So she was conducted below-stairs, and into the kitchen itself, that she could tell was quite up to the nines in kitchen matters, and her cousin Miriam Roberts was taking a tray of biscuits out of the oven, humming to herself, though not actually singing My chains fell off, my heart was free – for she must be entire ecstatic to have her own kitchen and be away from Seraphine constantly overlooking her at Raxdell House.

Miriam grinned as the footman sneaked a still very hot biscuit, and embraced Vicky, and said, let 'em go eat, she had had it set in her sitting-room for today though usually she dined at the housekeeper’s table.

Going it! said Vicky.

O, entirely! – look at this kitchen – no expense spared – anything I desire, no bother made – having an ice-house put in the cellar –

The sitting-room was also quite the crack – Vicky nodded – everything handsome about you!

O, I will not dispraise Raxdell House, 'tis an excellent fine place, but –

Indeed, even is she took up with the manufacturing of jams, Seraphine must still have been hovering a great deal I daresay.

O, entirely! Even with this new matter of a fruit-farm and orchards in Kent – and going bother Hannah about a-publishing of her accumulated wisdom in kitchen matters – could not leave me be.annH

Hah, Sophy is not of the like –

Miriam sighed.

So was all exceeding comfortable – was several times invited to dine at the housekeeper’s table, but mostly had a nice tray sent up – had not so far seen her employers, that would be departing shortly for Anclewer –

Vicky was carefully pasting in bookplates to volumes that were ready to be placed on shelves, when came in the very stylish dressed Lady Lucretia, that was, she estimated, not a deal older than herself. She stood up and curtseyed.

O – Miss Jupp – perchance you can guide me – my friends have give me a list of novels they declare everybody has read – do we have 'em? –

She handed the list to Vicky, that observed Bella and Chloe’s handwriting, and was that Thea’s? – Thea, reading novels? – and others she did not know.

Indeed we do, apart from Abbeychurch and Scenes and Characters, but I may order those –

O, might you? and might you look me out two or three to take to beguile the time at Anclewer? – I think Grinnie – my brother, Lord Peregrine – also commended this one –

Vicky went over to the section of shelves where she had placed novels, retrieved Lady Anonyma’s Lady of the Vespers, a thrilling tale of Sicily in the Middle Ages, Jane Eyre, and Pride and Prejudice.

O, thank you so much! – I hope you are liking this place?

Vicky allowed that she was finding it entirely congenial.

The next morn Sophy said over breakfast that Her Ladyship was going to call on Lady Lucretia the afternoon, afore she left Town, and desired to take up Vicky on her departure for another call. No, she waxed very mysterious and would not say what 'twas about.

So Vicky was in somewhat of an agitation by the time that Lady Lucretia conducted Lady Bexbury into the library, and she praised the way that the work was coming on, and remarked on the very fine books that were there, sure she was quite in envy –

And in due course Vicky put on her coat and bonnet and followed Her Ladyship to where her uncle Nick was ensuring that the horses were not getting chilled with standing, and got up into the carriage.

Very good work, said Her Ladyship, considering that young Lord Peregrine went entire wild with what I fancy must have been unlimited credit with booksellers. Has a very pretty taste.

Vicky nodded. Though, she said, I might make a few suggestions – Lady Lucretia has had some recommendations from her friends –

Quite proper.

Vicky looked about out of the window and tried to ascertain where they were going. She did not recognize the building they entered.

However, she certainly recognized the lady seated in the parlour they were ushered into by a maidservant, and swallowed, as she made a deep curtsey. Lady Jane Knighton. 'Sina’s beloved Janey’s exceedingly daunting mother. Widow of Admiral Knighton. Loving friend of Amelia Addington, the second Siddons.

My dear Jane, cried Lady Bexbury, going across the room to clasp Lady Jane’s hands and kiss her cheek, sure she had the privileges of a very old friend! I collected that you said lately that you were finding time lying a little heavy –

O, I am sometimes a sad grumping creature!

– And I minded of a great favour you might do. Here is Vicky – Miss Victoria Jupp – Sophy’s youngest – quite passionate about the classics – studied 'em at the Miss Barnards’ and finds herself a deal more advanced than the other young ladies at the college in Bloomsbury –

Dear Janey has remarked to me that alas, they are oft ill-prepared – sure the education of girls is very poor – I was fortunate with my great-uncle – She sighed, and said, but have let my studies sadly lapse of late, grown idle.

She looked at Vicky and said, minded on seeing her riding in the Park with her sisters – Vicky felt a little embarrassed at this, for they had been wont to do so, three pretty little girls on the well-kept nags of Jupp’s stables, with saddle-cloths announcing that fact, to advance the interest of the enterprize – and had been impressed by her and her sisters’ equestrian skills.

Vicky quite stammered that praise from such a noted horsewoman as Lady Jane was praise indeed!

Lady Jane gave Lady Bexbury a sharp look, and said, well, dared say 'twould be advantageous to the both of 'em did Miss Vicky come one or twice of a se’ennight to read a little Latin and Greek with her.

'Twould have been entirely ostentatious to go down on her knees and kiss her hand, for Vicky had heard how fine a scholar Lady Jane was give out. But later quite babbled her thanks to Lady Bexbury.

Poo-poo. Here is Lady Jane, left a little melancholic while Amelia Addington is so took up with affairs at the theatre, this distraction must be entire beneficial.