Page 29 of The Quiet Wife
Speke Hall - Liverpool
“Butwewant to see the new London house?” Elinor wailed for the hundredth time. Her older siblings said nothing, yet sent Frances such pleading looks she knew they were not far off petitioning in the same way.
“It will be so lonely here without you all,” Fannie huffed.
“With Freddie at school, it will be just awful,” Elinor continued. Florence wrapped a comforting arm around her littlest sister. “Hecan’tleave just the three of us here.”
“I will speak to papa, but I can’t promise anything. It is very important that you do nothing to upset him.”
Frances’ heart and head were pounding. She’d already had an argument with Frederick about taking the children with them, and she really didn’t want another. That was guaranteed if he returned home and saw this scene. She headed for sanctuary in the library, wracking her brains for a solution as she went. She closed the door of the small room behind her and rubbed her face with her hands before throwing herself into the cosy armchair by the fire.
A tap on the door made her start.
“Are you quite well, my dear?” Anna Whistler peeped around the door. “You looked all of a flutter.”
“A little. Do come in. I’ll call for tea.”
“I’ve already asked your lovely maid for some to be brought. You looked in such sore need of it.”
Frances sighed at her poor effort to conceal her pains and massaged her temples with two fingers.
“Shall I be mother?” Anna asked when the tea tray complete with scones and jam arrived promptly.
“Please do.”
Frances really appreciated having Anna staying with them. She’d come to rely on her in the shortest time. There was something so solid, so dependable about her, and she was a marvel with the children.
“Now then. Tell me what’s troubling you. Is it the children?”
“In a manner of speaking,” she sipped her tea before placing the cup back in its saucer. “They are beside themselves because Freddie is going back to Harrow. The rest of us are to go to London with my husband so they will be alone with just Nanny Jenks and the governess who are perfectly lovely, but it’s not quite the same as being with the family.”
“Is there a reason they won’t be going?” Anna asked her.
Frances hesitated. She didn’t want to paint Frederick in a disagreeable light, but frankly, she was becoming tired of making up tales to cover his unpleasantness. That said, airing one’s dirty linen didn’t come easily to her.
“My husband doesn’t feel that they should go.” She conceded, rather glossing over the truth.
“Oh, my dear. No wonder you look so sad. To be parted from your babies is the hardest thing. Have you tried to persuade him?”
“Persuading doesn’t really work with Frederick. He needs to arrive at the decision himself.”
Anna’s eyes gleamed and she put a hand to her mouth for a moment before speaking. “You know your husband well,” she remarked.
Frances nodded.
Anna leaned forward and took hold of Frances’ hand, a conspiratorial glint in her eye. “I’m sure between us we can persuade him he’s had a splendid idea.”
***
Frances was taking a moment in her room, resting. Dinner that evening was to be a formal affair with some of her husband’s business colleagues, so she was enjoying a little peace when the door opened, and the girls flew in.
“How did you do it, mama? What did you say to him?”
“I beg your pardon?” She had no idea what they were referring to.
Fannie threw herself down beside her chair. “How did you persuade papa to let us all go to London with you? Anna and Jemie said how delighted they were that we would have the chance to visit with them in London and how we were most welcome at their house in Chelsea. Jemie said he’s thrilled that he can show us the galleries and told papa what a fantastic father he was to think of such an excellent trip for our education.” She paused in her excitement to draw breath. Florence clutched her hand and Elinor threw herself on Frances’ lap and hugged her.
Frances rubbed her back. “Well, I have no idea what changed papa’s mind. It wasn’t anything that I said, but I’m glad to hear that he has. We’d best pack for you, as we are leaving in only a few days.”
