The Ribbon Weaver

Chapter Thirty-Three



On a bitterly cold November day in the corner of the churchyard in Caldecote, a magnificent tombstone was erected to mark Jessica’s grave. It had been commissioned by Mr Forrester and carved in the shape of an angel from finest Italian marble, and was a fitting tribute to the young woman over whom she would now watch for all eternity. The sweet-faced angel appeared to hover, her marble arms held out protectively over the body of the soul that she guarded. Behind her, her wings stretched high towards the sun, making it seem as if she was about to take flight. At her feet was a plaque with an inscription carved into it, which read:

Jessica Amelia Forrester 1810–1830

Beloved daughter, sister and mother

Always remembered

Forever in our hearts

As the small group assembled there stared down at the snow-white lilies that had been heaped upon the grave, each of them was silent, locked in their own thoughts.

For Amy, who was leaning heavily on her crutch, there were deep regrets for the fact that she had never been privileged to know her mother. For Molly, sorrow that she had not been able to save the poor soul that she had found in the church doorway on that long-ago Christmas Eve. The master and mistress had their own feelings to deal with. But the one who was hurting most of all was Adam. He knew only too well that, had it not been for him, things might have turned out very differently. It was a truth that he would have to try and live with for the rest of his life.

Still, at least there was one feeling that they all had in common – and that was relief. Jessica could now rest in peace.

Behind them, the stonemasons who had erected the monument were busily loading their tools on to an open-backed cart, keeping the noise they made to a respectful minimum. Mr Forrester broke away from the little group to congratulate the men on their craftsmanship, giving them a hefty bonus. The men tipped their caps and mumbled their thanks as the gentleman turned and made his way back to the graveside.

It was then that a spasm of coughing wracked Molly’s old frame and Amy placed an arm about her shoulders, waiting for the bout to pass.

‘I think I ought to be getting Gran home now,’ she said, unable to keep the worry from her voice. ‘I did tell her not to come out today. The cold air always sets her cough off.’

Molly’s eyes were streaming from the violence of the attack she had just endured, and now Josephine stepped forward and asked her, ‘Why don’t you and Amy come and stay up at The Folly with us, Mrs Ernshaw, just until your cough has eased? I could get our doctor to take a look at you.’

‘That’s very good o’ yer, ma’am,’ Molly answered, thumping her chest, ‘but I’ll not take yer up on the offer, if yer don’t mind. Soon as ever I get back to me own fireside I’ll be fine.’ Even so, she allowed Josephine to take her elbow and lead her back to the carriage. The two women were completely at ease in each other’s company now and had been ever since Molly had stayed at The Folly following Amy’s tragic fall.

Amy cast a last look at the grave before limping after them. The doctor that Mr Forrester had sent for from London had been to see her earlier in the month to measure her up for her new leg. He had returned two weeks later with the finished article, and ever since then Amy had practised on it every spare minute she had, determined that she would walk down the aisle on Mr Forrester’s am when she married François. Her leg had thankfully healed well, but since trying the wooden replacement she had been in extreme pain. The wood had rubbed against the tender skin to the point that Molly had begged her to leave it off, but Amy was determined to walk again without the use of her crutch.

The scar on her face had also healed well, but she would never again be the unblemished beauty she had once been, as she knew only too well each time she looked in the mirror. Still, she supposed that things could have been worse; at least she had survived. But how would François feel when he saw her? Her fiancé was so handsome and could have had any woman he chose. Would he still want her when he saw that her face was now permanently scarred? She could only wait and see. He had still not seen her since his last visit, and it looked suspiciously as if he would not do so now until he and the Laroque family arrived for the wedding in the spring.

She tried to turn her thoughts to happier things once they were all seated in the carriage, but still she worried about how François would react, the first time he saw her. She was no longer the girl he had fallen in love with, and there was nothing she could do about it.

She had been to London twice since the terrible day of her fall, accompanied everywhere she went by Mr Forrester, who watched over her like a hawk as she moved around on her crutch. On the first visit, Nancy had been heartbroken when she saw what Eugenie had done to her.

‘Didn’t I always tell yer she was a bloody little minx?’ she raved indignantly. ‘Why the hell didn’t yer let the peelers deal wi’ her? They’d’ve locked ’er up an’ thrown away the key, or better still they’d’ve strung the cow up!’

Amy just shrugged. ‘She is locked up,’ she reminded Nancy gently.

Hands on hips, Nancy frowned. ‘Yer too soft by ’alf, so you are,’ she declared, but thankfully she then let the subject drop and loving Amy as she did, she was careful to never mention it again.

Now, as the carriage bowled away from the church, Amy thought of her friend as she peeped at her grandfather out of the corner of her eye. There was something she was longing to ask him, but how would he react to her request? Deciding that there was only one way to find out she began,

‘Grandfather, I have something to ask you.’

‘Then ask away, my dear.’

Amy glanced at Molly before going on, ‘The thing is, during the time I have been staying at the house in Sloane Street, Nancy, your maid there, and I have become good friends.’

Samuel nodded, well aware of the fact.

‘So I was wondering – and I know that this is very irregular – but I was wondering if you would object to her coming to the wedding to be a bridesmaid? Of course, I am having Beatrice as my matron of honour. We have grown up together, but—’

‘Stop right there.’ Samuel held his hand up and grinned. ‘You really do not have to explain your relationship to Nancy with me. Be she a servant or a queen, if you want her at the wedding then it shall be as you wish.’

‘Oh, thank you!’ Amy sat back in the seat with a wide smile on her face as she thought of how thrilled Nancy would be when she asked her, and the rest of the journey was passed in silence, apart from Molly’s occasional rattling cough.

The following week, Samuel and Amy set off for London. She had not expected to go so soon, but her grandfather had insisted that there was urgent business there that needed to be attended to and so she went without question, trusting him explicitly.

Amy wore her new leg for the journey and by the time they reached London she was in terrible pain, but even so she was determined to persevere with it. It was only six months to the wedding now and she so wanted to walk down the aisle without the aid of her crutch.

She was tired by the time they reached the house and finally removed the offending leg and resorted to her crutch as Nancy fussed over her. Her friend seemed unusually excited as she settled Amy into the chair in the drawing room and Amy noticed that she kept glancing towards the window.

‘Are you expecting someone?’ she asked.

Nancy flushed. ‘Er … no, I ain’t, but I reckon the master’s expectin’ some visitors.’

‘Oh, is he? He never mentioned it to me. Who is it? Do you know?’

Nancy breathed a sigh of relief when Mr Forrester suddenly entered the room and she was saved from having to answer. Flashing a nervous smile at Amy, she scuttled away as if she couldn’t get out of the room quickly enough.

‘Grandfather, Nancy just mentioned that you are expecting some visitors. Who …’ Her voice trailed away as the doorbell suddenly clanged and she looked towards it.

She could hear Nancy admitting the mysterious visitors and wondered why her grandfather hadn’t mentioned to her that he was expecting guests. And then the door opened and François stood there, looking devastatingly handsome.

Her grandfather smiled at her guiltily as he headed towards the door. ‘I didn’t tell you who our visitors were because I wanted to surprise you,’ he told Amy. ‘And now I will leave you two together whilst I go and welcome Monsieur Laroque. When he mentioned that he would be coming to London I could see no reason whatsoever why we should not all combine business with pleasure. But listen to me, you two have a lot of catching up to do, so I shall leave you alone now. Do excuse me.’ With that he quickly stepped past François, closing the door behind him as Amy felt the colour drain from her face. She had only just arrived and had not even had time to tidy her hair.

But it was not her hair that François was staring at but the ugly scar on her face, and Amy lowered her eyes as she saw the look of horror that flashed across his handsome features. It was gone in an instant and then he was striding towards her, his hands held out to her.

‘Ma petite, how are you now?’ he asked solicitously. ‘What a terrible time you have had, and what a dreadful woman she was, to do such a thing to you.’

‘It’s over now.’ She was trying desperately hard to shut out the image of the look on his face when he had first seen her. Grasping her crutch, she tucked it under her arm and rose to face him as he planted a gentle kiss on her unmarred cheek.

‘Yes, of course it is, and we should rejoice in the fact that you are still alive. And also, of course, the fact that you still have an outstanding talent.’

Amy found this quite a strange thing to say, but did not comment on it. She should have realised that it would be a shock for François, the first time he saw her. Even so, she could not help but feel disappointed. She had hoped that François would react as Toby had and look beyond the scar. He now took a seat on the chair some distance away as he eyed her crutch.

‘Did your grandfather not tell me in his letter that you would be able to walk without that?’

Amy nodded. ‘Yes, he did, and I can. I have had a prosthesis made, but as yet it is too painful for me to wear all the time.’

‘I see.’ He eyed her full skirt as if he was trying to imagine what lay concealed beneath it, and Amy felt tears start to her eyes. This was not the way she had expected their first reunion to be at all. But then she supposed that she should give him a little time to get used to how she looked now.

‘How long will you be staying?’ Amy asked, hoping to fill the silence that had fallen between them.

The young man spread his hands vaguely. ‘I am not sure. Papa will decide, I have no doubt. Oh, and Mama and Adeline send you their love.’

‘That is very kind of them.’ Amy felt as if she was talking to a stranger rather than the man she loved, and stifled a sigh of relief when Samuel and Monsieur Laroque suddenly joined them. Monsieur Laroque was his usual kind and urbane self, which made Amy feel a little better.

She rang for tea, and when a suitable time had elapsed she excused herself to go to her room to change for dinner, feeling strangely deflated.

Nancy was waiting for her and she pounced on her immediately. ‘So that’s the ’andsome Frenchman, is it?’ she giggled, helping her up the stairs, but then seeing Amy’s solemn expression she settled her into her chair in her room and after taking her crutch off her, asked, ‘You are pleased to see ’im, ain’t yer? I mean, when Mr Forrester said how ’e was comin’ an’ that ’e wanted ter surprise yer, I thought yer’d be tickled pink.’

‘Oh, I am pleased to see him,’ Amy assured her, a little too quickly for Nancy’s liking. ‘But I think it was a bit of a shock for him … seeing this for the first time, I mean.’ Her hand rose self-consciously to her face and Nancy’s tender heart went out to her.

‘Well, all I can say is, if he loves yer that shouldn’t matter. Just give ’im time to get used to it, eh?’

‘Yes, I’m sure you’re right.’ Amy suddenly felt very tired. ‘I think I might have a little rest before I come down to dinner,’ she decided. ‘And then I have something to ask you.’

‘In that case I’m glad I agreed to work late.’ Nancy’s ready smile was firmly back in place, and after snatching a cover from the bed, she tucked it around Amy’s lap and left the room with a cheeky wink.

Amy lay back in the chair, staring up at the ceiling. She knew she should be elated at seeing François again, but all she felt was embarrassment. There was no use trying to pretend that she was still the same girl that he had fallen in love with – at least, not to look at. Part of her leg was missing and her face was badly scarred. Perhaps when the right moment arose she should ask him straight out if he still wished to go ahead with their marriage? She certainly did not wish him to marry her out of pity. That would be more than she could bear, and she would live the rest of her life as an old maid rather than that. Sighing, she closed her eyes.

Dinner that evening was a trial for Amy. Monsieur Laroque was his usual ebullient self and talked endlessly between courses about how well her designs were doing in Paris.

‘Once our families are merged there will be no stopping us,’ he told Mr Forrester, slapping him firmly on the back. ‘Why, with Aimée’s talents, our name will become known all over the world. There will be no other milliners to touch us.’

Amy let the chatter pass over her head. François was unusually quiet, and every once in a while she caught him looking at her from the corner of his eye, which caused colour to flood into her cheeks. He was still charming whenever he addressed her, but she began to get the distinct feeling that his father was far keener for their marriage to go ahead than he was.

The chance to speak to him alone finally came when Monsieur Laroque and Mr Forrester retired to the study after dinner.

‘Would you care for a brandy?’ François crossed to the cut-glass decanter on the small table in the drawing room.

‘No, thank you.’ Amy’s hands were folded sedately in her lap as she watched him pour out one for himself. Once he was seated she swallowed nervously and began, ‘François, there is something I must speak to you about.’

Raising an eyebrow he remained silent as she went on, ‘I realise that seeing me like this must have come as a shock to you.’ She held up her hand to stop him when he opened his mouth to deny it. ‘Of course it must have been a shock. I know I told you of my leg and the scar in my letters, but nothing could have prepared you for the reality. And the thing is … well, you are a very attractive man and I would quite understand if you wished to end our engagement.’

‘I would never do that,’ he blustered. ‘How heartless would I appear if I did such a thing? And you know we have fine surgeons in Paris, ma petite. People who may be able to improve the scar with surgery.’

‘I do not wish to have further surgery.’ Amy’s chin lifted stubbornly. ‘I have already spent many months being attended by doctors. I almost died, and am just grateful to be alive. I am assured that the scar will fade in time but I repeat, if you do not wish to go ahead with the marriage, I would quite understand. There would be no reason whatsoever why we could not still work together.’

‘That is quite enough of this talk,’ François told her sharply. ‘Our wedding is set for the sixteenth of May and unless you wish to cancel it, it will go ahead as planned.’

‘Very well.’ Amy longed for him to come and take her in his arms and tell her that he still loved her, but François stayed sitting where he was and she felt the divide between them. They turned their conversation to other things and Amy was thankful of an excuse to escape to her room when the two gentlemen joined them a short while later.

‘Good night, my dear.’ Her grandfather kissed her cheek as he saw her to the door and after inclining her head towards the other two men, Amy slowly climbed the stairs to her room. She was already in bed, exhausted, when Nancy joined her after helping with the mountain of dirty pots in the kitchen.

‘Right.’ She bustled cheerfully into the room without knocking. ‘I’m dead on me feet an’ my Billy’ll think I’ve got lost if I don’t get ’ome soon. So what was it yer wanted to ask me?’

Amy grinned. At least Nancy never changed. ‘Actually, I was going to ask you if you would be my bridesmaid.’

Nancy was in the process of folding the clothes Amy had laid across the back of the chair, but now her mouth dropped open and she swung around to stare at Amy incredulously. ‘But I thought yer were gettin’ wed in the Midlands? ’Ow am I goin’ to be a bridesmaid from ’ere?’

‘You would come and stay with us until after the wedding is over.’ Amy chuckled. ‘Billy would come with you too, of course, if he can get the time off work. I have already asked my grandfather about it and he is all in favour of the idea, so what do you say?’

‘Would it mean me ’aving to go on a train?’

‘I’m afraid it would,’ Amy admitted. ‘But I’m sure you’d enjoy it. They are not nearly so frightening as they look, I assure you. In fact, they’re very comfortable to travel in and I would pay all of your travelling expenses. It would be like a little holiday for you. You certainly deserve one.’

Nancy dropped on to the end of the bed as she scratched her head. The Midlands sounded like the other side of the world to her. ‘Yer’ve taken the wind out of me sails good an’ proper,’ she said. ‘It’s just about the last thing I ever expected.’

‘I dare say it is, but please say yes,’ Amy implored. ‘It would mean the world to me, to have you standing behind me at my wedding.’

‘In that case, ’ow can I refuse?’ Nancy was beaming from ear to ear. ‘An’ just wait till I tell my Billy. ’E’ll be like a dog after a rabbit.’ She threw her arms around Amy, but something didn’t feel right. Amy didn’t seem as excited about the wedding as she should have been. But then, Nancy told herself, the poor gel had gone through the mill over the last few months, so that was probably why.

‘Wild ’orses wouldn’t keep me away,’ she promised Amy now, and after saying their good nights she floated home to tell Billy the good news.

The next few days passed in a blur of visiting Mr Forrester’s shops and talking to the seamstresses for Amy. François accompanied her on many occasions and as always showed great interest.

Eventually it came to the eve of the Laroques’ departure, and as they all sat at breakfast, Mr Forrester suggested, ‘Why don’t you and Amy go to the theatre this evening, François? You have both worked so hard this week and it is your last evening in London. I am sure I could get you a box if you tell me which play you would like to see.’

‘That is most kind of you, monsieur,’ Francois told him with his most charming smile, ‘but forgive me for declining your most generous offer. I have actually arranged to visit some friends this evening.’ He now turned to Amy and said apologetically, ‘I do hope you do not mind, ma petite? I have only just recalled that I had made these arrangements and meant to tell you before.’

Amy was actually feeling very peeved but she bestowed her warmest smile on him as she assured him, ‘Of course I do not mind.’ She’d had no idea that François had any friends in London. But then she decided that she was probably just being unreasonable. She could not expect him to spend every minute with her, after all.

Once the meal was over, Amy planned to ask Nancy to pop upstairs to fetch her coat and bonnet. She and her grandfather had yet another appointment with the seamstresses today, who were putting the finishing touches to a very elaborate wedding gown before the bride-to-be came in with her mama for her final fitting later that afternoon. It was easily the most expensive gown that they had ever made, and Amy wanted it to be absolutely perfect. The bride-to-be was the daughter of a lord, and her father had also commissioned Amy to design the bridesmaids’ dresses, all eight of them. The bridesmaids would be each coming for their final fittings too, so it looked set to be a very busy day.

It was as they were all about to leave the table that Mr Forrester wiped his mouth on his napkin and told them, ‘I have a little surprise for you both.’

Both Amy and François gazed at him curiously as he went on, ‘The thing is, I know that Amy has expressed a wish to spend the majority of her time in England once you are married. And so this got Mrs Forrester and me to thinking. A newly-wed couple should have their own place in which to begin their married life. And so, even as we speak, the grounds of Forrester’s Folly will be swarming with builders that I have appointed to build you your own home.’

‘Why, monsieur, that is most generous of you,’ François told his host.

‘Your residence will be built some way away from The Folly,’ Mr Forrester continued.

‘And I assure you, it will be built with your privacy in mind. It will have its own drive, and internally there will be all the usual downstairs rooms as well as five good-sized bedrooms on the first floor. The second floor will be the servants’ quarters, and, dare I say – the nursery, should you require one.’

‘Oh!’ Amy blushed and seemed momentarily lost for words. This latest kindness was just too much.

‘And I thought perhaps, seeing as how you get on so well, you might wish to ask Nancy if she would like to live there as one of your maids,’ he went on. ‘Billy could choose to work either in the gardens or in the stables. There will be adequate servants’ quarters for a married couple to live in, should they wish to, that is.’

Amy let out a deep breath as she tried to imagine what Nancy would say to this suggestion. She knew that Nancy was more than happy living with Billy’s mother for now, but this would be a wonderful opportunity for both her and Billy should they choose to take it. A chance for her to get away from the smoggy streets of London to good clean air. But how would Nancy feel about becoming her maid when they were friends? Amy herself would have no problem with the arrangement but she would have to ask Nancy what she thought of the idea. It was certainly worth considering.

‘Th … thank you, Grandfather,’ she stuttered. ‘I shall put your offer to her this evening.’ Mr Forrester then went into a lengthy description of the house he had ordered to be built until it was time for them to leave for their first appointment and Amy said a hasty goodbye to François before limping out to the waiting carriage on her crutch.

For the rest of the day she was so busy that she barely had time to think of anything but what she was doing, and when she finally arrived back at the house that evening she was tired – then disappointed too, when Nancy informed her that François had already left for his evening out. But then, she consoled herself, she would see him the next morning before he and his father left to return to Paris, so it wasn’t the end of the world.

When she put her grandfather’s proposition to Nancy later that night just before she set off for home, the girl just gawped at her.

‘Stone the crows!’ she choked. ‘Yer full o’ surprises, ain’t no doubt about it. But to live in the Midlands … I’ll ’ave to ’ave a serious talk to my Billy about that. I ain’t never set foot out of London before so it’d be a big wrench. An’ I don’t know how Billy’d feel about leavin’ his ma.’

‘Of course you would need to talk about it. I understand that,’ Amy said sympathetically. ‘I can remember how nervous I was before my first visit to London. I felt as if I was going to the other side of the world. But I do hope you will both at least consider it, Nancy. The way of life is so much more peaceful where I come from. And I’m sure you and Billy would be happy there, if you would only give it a chance. Think how nice it would be for your children when they come along – to live in clean fresh air with fields about them rather than the murky streets of London.’

‘Hm.’ Nancy frowned. She would have a lot to think about in the days ahead. Hoisting herself off the bed she walked towards the door where she paused with her hand on the door handle to ask, ‘It won’t stop us bein’ friends, will it? If me an’ my Billy decide not to accept yer offer, I mean.’

‘Of course it won’t.’ Amy shook her head. ‘Nothing would ever stop me thinking of you as my friend, ever.’

Nancy skipped back to give her young mistress a quick hug before leaving the room, her mind a whirl. She would certainly have somethin’ to tell Billy tonight, that was for sure.

‘So, this is it then. Au revoir, ma chère fiancée.’ François took Amy’s hands in his. ‘The next time I see you will be when I return to England for our wedding in May.’

She nodded numbly. It still seemed unbelievable that in a few short months’ time they would be married.

He had arrived back very late the evening before and when she had heard him on the landing outside her room she had gone out to bid him good night. He had started guiltily when he saw her and, as she had leaned towards him to kiss him, she had thought for a moment that she had caught the scent of a woman’s perfume on his coat. But then, tucked up in bed again, she had convinced herself that she must have been mistaken.

Now, he leaned to kiss her gently on her unmarked cheek and she realised then with a little shock that he had barely kissed her a handful of times during his entire stay. And then it had only been to peck her chastely on the cheek as he was doing now.

‘Goodbye, have a safe journey,’ she whispered, and then he was striding away to the carriage that was waiting outside and she waved until it was swallowed up by the smog.

Sighing, she hurried away to pack her own small valise. It would be time for her and her grandfather to leave in less than an hour if they were to catch their train home.