Page 10

Chapter 10

January 1911

Ursula sat on the padded stool in front of her dressing table.

She pulled the hairpins out of her bun and shook her head to loosen her hair before running her fingers through it.

She was not a proud woman, but she was quietly pleased that despite being well into her forties, her hair was still the same colour as it had always been, with only a few sprinkles of white creeping in at the nape of her neck.

And since she couldn’t see the back of her head unless she was sitting with the dressing-table mirrors angled just so, it didn’t trouble her.

‘I know it’s still a way off, but we need to discuss Ann’s birthday present,’ she said to John, who was already sitting up in bed with his nose in a book.

‘Mmmm?’

‘Ann’s birthday?

’ She began to brush her hair from root to tip.

It was so long she could sit on it.

He lowered the book, resting it on his chest. ‘I thought maybe a set of encyclopaedias.’

‘I’m not sure.

I think we need to be treating her like the young woman she is about to become.

Someone who will marry one day.

’ Ursula’s brushing halted for a few seconds.

‘And anyway, doesn’t Finlay have encyclopaedias she can look at?

’

‘He’ll move away soon.

He’ll go to university and I’m sure the books will go with him.

’

She tried again.

‘There’s plenty of time for learning at school.

Ann needs to have a gift that is pretty.

I’m sure all her friends have nice things; in fact I’ve noticed a few of them starting to put their hair up.

’

‘She’s a child. Her brain needs to be fed.

’

Ursula unscrewed the lid from the jar of vanishing cream and applied small dots of it to her face.

Three on the forehead, two on each cheek, one on her chin.

She began to stroke the cream in.

‘I don’t think you realise, but she’s not a little girl any more.

Her shape is changing.

I’m not sure she has even noticed it herself yet.

’

He didn’t reply.

‘I was thinking that Finlay could give her something for the garden. From what I remember of last summer, she seems to like being outside.’ She leaned forward to examine her face in the mirror.

‘I ordered a few packets of seeds for the flower border; that’s what was in the parcel she was so interested in.

Maybe he could give her those.

There are snapdragons and cosmos and sweet peas.

All of them could be cut for the table.

’

John nodded, approving of this part of the plan, at least. ‘She’s been very interested in the garden ever since we planted the cherry tree together.

I will discuss your idea with Finlay.

’ He put his bookmark in between the pages.

‘I do have one suggestion, though. I saw in the newspaper a few days ago that The Great Lafayette is coming to perform in Edinburgh. They say he’s a personal friend of Mr Houdini.

’

Ursula finished smoothing in the cream and studied her reflection again to make sure she hadn’t missed anywhere.

John continued. ‘I’ve heard her talking about it with Finlay.

She is quite obsessed with the idea of lions and horses on the stage and is fascinated by all the illusions.

’

Ursula turned to face him.

‘This is an excellent idea. If you want her to learn things, what better way than to be actually in the theatre where it is happening, and watch it all unfold? Are the tickets on sale yet?’

‘I’m not sure.

I wonder if you two ladies might like to go?

Finlay puts up with all her chatter about it but I can see that he thinks it is rather beneath him.

’

‘I could go with her, and it certainly would be fun. But maybe she would prefer to go with you?’

‘With me? Why?’

Ursula spoke as one might to a small child.

‘Because you will be able to explain it all and reveal the mysteries.’

John laughed.

‘I don’t know if I’m up to that particular challenge.

I’m quite sure his secrets are extremely well hidden.

’

‘Nonetheless, I think it would be rather splendid for the two of you to go. You are away so much with the business, and I see her every day. It would be a special experience she can share with you, and you alone. We all need that sort of thing with our parents.’

‘I don’t think her mother would have agreed with you; she couldn’t wait to pack Ann off to be a weekly boarder when she was seven years old.

’

Ursula shuddered.

‘I’m very glad she’s at home with us now.

I cannot imagine doing such a thing.

’

‘What Louise wanted, Louise got. She was a force of nature, until she became unwell.’

Ursula, who disliked Louise more with every passing day, added this to the pile of grudges upon which she would never be able to act.

‘I will go, but only if you really don’t want to.

I do think the two of you should have the excitement.

’

‘Very well, though it will depend on the dates, of course. The performance will be at the Empire Palace Theatre. Perhaps you could see if the tickets are on sale next time you are in town. In fact, since it’s a special occasion, you might try for a box?

’

‘I’ll certainly find out what’s available.

It may be more fun to sit with the rest of the audience though.

’ Ursula stood up from the stool and began to braid her hair.

‘I think this birthday is important. My mother gave me a handbag for my thirteenth birthday. It was blue to match my eyes, and I’ve been thinking I would like to do the same for Ann.

A bag to match those green eyes of hers.

’

‘What does a girl of thirteen want with a handbag?’

Ursula sighed.

‘Where shall I start? To begin with, dresses don’t have proper pockets.

We put our handkerchiefs up our sleeves.

Without a bag, we have nowhere to put our coin purses, and nowhere to put a comb or .

.?.’ she paused ‘ .?.?. other necessaries.’

John stared at Ursula.

‘She hasn’t .?.?.?’

She twisted an elastic band around the end of her braid and walked across to the bed.

‘No, but it may not be long. Another year, perhaps.’

‘A handbag is an excellent suggestion.’ He closed his book and put it on his bedside table.

‘Would you like me to come with you to choose it?’ The tone of his voice clearly indicated that he could think of few chores that would be worse.

Ursula smiled. ‘Your presence will not be required. I think I can manage on my own. It’s the first birthday since I became part of the family and I would like to make it special for her.

’ She folded the eiderdown back and slipped between the sheets, snuggling down until her head was on his shoulder.

‘I know it isn’t until April, but I should like to know that I’ve managed to find just the right thing.

’

‘It seems like only yesterday that she was born in the Bruntsfield flat. We didn’t make it to the nursing home across the Meadows.

It was about twenty minutes from start to finish.

No time for a midwife or a doctor.

Louise wanted another boy, and was determined to call him Anthony, but we got Ann instead.

’ John pulled Ursula close.

‘Such a lot has happened since then. It hasn’t always been easy, but I am a very lucky man to have you as my wife. ’