We moved out of the gates onto a winding road with trees either side. This soon made way for a plethora of buildings, all different shapes and sizes. Many had a similar style to that of Waywood house. Though at some point they became smaller, closer together and looked newer.
I became increasingly more uncomfortable as the buildings passed by. It felt like my breakfast had begun its own journey much sooner than a breakfast is supposed to.
‘Are you alright, Jane’?
Elenor looked rather concerned as I felt the color slowly begin to drain from my face.
‘I don’t remember ever traveling in a car’. I managed to squeeze out between my tightly pursed lips.
Elenor hastily tipped the tangled sewing projects onto the floor and handed me the bag they had snugly sat in. Perfectly on time as my breakfast decided on its final destination. ‘’Paper-Bag-Palace’’. I hoped it would be happy in its new surroundings.
‘Oh Jane, I’m truly sorry’. Elenor returned ‘’Paper-Bag-Palace’’ and its new resident back to the floor next to ‘’Mount Sew-More’’. ‘I would have done well to consider this and suggest a lighter breakfast’.
I jolted my eyes open as Elenor sounded cross. For a moment I thought me giving my breakfast a room at ‘’Paper-Bag-Palace’’ was the cause of her frustration. Upon opening my eyes and noticing her rosey cheeks full of embarrassment, I realized she was cross with herself.
While I was busy assisting my breakfast in finding a new place to stay, the large clusters of small contemporary buildings had been replaced with fields full of corn. Now and then we would pass trees of different shapes and sizes, then they would make way for a small house, or more corn fields.
Not only was I wondering if this was farm land that I overheard Chef Tina talk about on many occasions, a jumble of other questions had begun to assemble themselves in my mind.
Mrs Platt never allowed us to ask questions. There were serious consiquences for anyone who dared to speak up without being spoken to, even if it was only out of curiosity. After what seemed like an hour in the car I wasn’t only afraid for where we were going and who I would be calling my new family, I also had no idea how to behave. Whether or not I was allowed to speak and I was hungry.
I tried to close my eyes again. My hope was to fall asleep and make this journey pass more quickly. After spending some time examining the inside of my eyelids and making sure that every blood vessel I could see was still in the same place, my tummy began to make sounds that I have never heard before.
My eyes jolted open for a second time and I raised my hand to my mouth.
‘I’m sorry’! I looked at Elenor with wide eyes.
‘What ever for, Jane’? Elenor greeted my eyes with a friendly smile and I began to relax.
‘At Waywood House, we aren’t allowed to speak until spoken to and now my tummy is speaking out of turn’. I looked down as I felt my cheeks become warm.
‘Oh good heavens’! Elenor looked surprised. ‘I did wonder why you were so quiet. I thought perhaps you were shy’.
‘Shy and a little afraid’. I felt my cheeks become even warmer and my eyes began to prick.
‘There is no need to be afraid, of that I can assure you and you are free to speak. There are no consequences, neither here or at home. I believe your tummy is trying to make its wishes clear. Would you like a sandwich’? Elenor reached for a small basket located underneath Alan’s driving seat.
‘Oh yes please! I do promise to try not to allow it out once it’s in’. I felt a smile slowly make its way across my face and Elenor let out a small giggle.
‘I do apologize’. Elenor looked a little sheepish. ‘It’s not every day I get to travel with a young lady who has never taken a ride in a car before. Usually the furthest I go is the shops. I will learn to use my logic a little better. Would you like a ham or a cheese sandwich’?
‘Cheese please’. I replied. Elenor handed me a soft cheese sandwich which I promptly took a bite of. ‘Elenor’?
‘Yes Jane’?
‘You said speaking has no consequence, but what about questions’?
‘Questions? What do you mean’? Elenor looked confused.
‘Mrs Platt didn’t wish for us to ask questions. She said if we were to listen and observe well, there would be no need’.
‘Surely it’s difficult to learn if one can’t ask questions’? Elenor replied. ‘I am not sure I will be able to answer every question you have but I will do my best. Even we as staff at Wellington House are encouraged to ask questions’.
‘Staff? Wellington House? Is that where we are going’?
‘Yes. How so? Mrs Platt would have told you’. The confusion on Elenor’s face began to grow.
‘This morning when you and Alan greeted me is the first time I knew of anything’. I began to feel nerves again. I felt like I had not paid attention to something important.
‘Oh Jane, are you certain? Did you hear anything Mrs Platt said to you in your conversation with her last week’? Elenor raised her eyebrows.
‘A conversation with Mrs Platt’? Elenor began to sound absurd. ‘Elenor, us children do not have conversations with Mrs Platt. She gives instructions before or after school if there are chores to be done. Other than that, we don’t see her’.
‘Oh goodness’! I feared Elenor’s eyes would disappear into the back of her head. I lowered the cheese sandwich and held it carefully, afraid that what I had eaten would try to make an exit. I looked at Elenor with concern and confusion.
‘Alan’? Elenor leaned forward a little so that Alan would hear clearly. ‘Do you think we could stop somewhere in order for us to finish our sandwiches and drink some water? Perhaps you should also eat. You’ve driven almost three quarters of the journey. You can take a break’. I was relieved at Elenor’s request. The sandwich was delicious, I would like to finish it.
‘Five more minutes and we be by Farmer Williams’. Alan replied. ‘We can use the picnic area by there’.
Alan skillfully parked the car into a gravel filled parking space. I saw a beautiful wooden picnic bench and table a few meters away. Relieved that Alan opened my door first, I stepped out and slowly made my way across a field to the seating area. Elenor followed behind me as Alan brought the basket of sandwiches, a flask of water and some cups.
‘Will I pour you some water Miss’? I nodded.
‘Please Alan, call me Jane’.
‘Oh, never ‘ad permission to call a young Miss or Master by first name before. Jane is it then’!
As I finished the cheese sandwich I was holding, Elenor laid out some paper plates and placed two sandwiches on each. One cheese and one ham.
‘Thank you’. I said politely. ‘I am quite hungry and the sandwich is delicious’.
‘These are made by Mrs Hughes’. Elenor took a bite into her sandwich.
‘Best cook at Wellington ‘Ouse’! Alan added enthusiastically before taking a sip of water.
‘Wellington House. It sounds better than Waywood…. Is it pleasant’? Now that I knew questions were permitted, I was determined to find out what I could about my destination.
‘It’s a small and somewhat old house in Glamorgan, in North Wales. That’s why the journey is so long. It’s quite a way from Essex.’
‘What of the people who I will call my…’ I hesitated, ‘…my parents? All the other adopted girls were collected by their new family. This feels different’.
‘Did Mrs Platt really not explain anything’? Elenor’s eyes began to roll again.
‘No, nothing. There has been no change in my routine at all’. I took the ham sandwich from my plate and took a bite.
‘Excuse me if I speak out of turn’, Elenor took a sip of water. ‘I really despise people who do not uphold their promises. I’m sorry Jane, I’m not permitted to tell more about the situation than Mrs Platt should have already informed you. Your new parents are from a wealthy family. It’s better if they don’t travel long distances. Alan and I work for them. As you can probably guess, Alan is employed as a chauffeur. I am employed as a maid. Well… kind of. My role is a little more important than that. However, today I have the privilege of meeting you and bringing you home’.
I looked at Elenor half open-mouthed while taking a moment to process everything she said.
‘Well, that explains why I felt like I should be taking the lead while packing. In my new home, you are used to receiving instruction’.
‘Yes’. Elenor replied. ‘From you too, Jane’.
‘Gosh’. I finished the last bite of sandwich and emptied my cup of water. ‘I’m not sure how to react. I was a little bit scared before. Now I’m nervous. What should a wealthy family want with a poor orphan’?
‘That’s something you will learn from your new parents when the time is right. But please don’t worry. I can assure you they know a lot about you and can’t wait to welcome you into your home. You are special, Jane’.
Elenor spoke so kindly that I instantly felt a little better. Alan helped Elenor pack away the plates and cups and we walked back to the car.
‘Jane’?
‘Yes, Elenor’?
‘If Mrs Platt told you nothing of what would happen today, am I to assume she didn’t hand you a letter’?
‘A letter? We were not taught literacy skills at school. Only sewing and a little counting. If I were to receive a letter, Mrs Platt would be required to read it to me’. Alan opened the door for me to step into the car.
‘I think I understand’. Elenor said as she stepped in on the other side. ‘Mrs Platt doesn’t spend any more time with her children than she must’.
I nodded as Alan started the car to drive away.
CRS Life 