The Love Child

“As long as they don’t start fighting,” said my mother, “I don’t care what King we have.”

“Then you should care,” retorted my father. “James will try to turn us all Catholic … gentle persuasion at first and then … not so gentle. I know the methods.

Englishmen will not endure it. James has had every opportunity to reign in peace, but he is obsessed not only by practising his religion but imposing it on the whole country.”

There came the day in the summer of 1688 when a party of men led by Lords Danby, Shrewsbury and Devonshire, and including the Bishop of London, sent an invitation to William inviting him to prepare to come to England. William arrived at Torbay, whither he had been driven by storms at sea, and his ship bore a flag on which were the words: “The Protestant Religion and the Liberties of England”; and beneath this was the motto of the House of Orange: “I will maintain.”

In the September of the year 1689 I gave birth to a daughter. I called her Damaris for no other reason than that I liked the name.

Edwin’s wife, Jane, had a child-a boy whom she called Carleton after my father. He took quite a fancy to the boy and was far more interested in him than in my Damaris.

Sally Nullens was in a fine state about the births because she did not like the thought of new nurses being brought in, although she was now with Carlotta at Eyot Abbas.

She reckoned that young Carleton and Damaris were really her babies.

“And what’s to be?” she moaned. “I can’t split myself in two, can I?”

Harriet brought Carlotta over to stay when the babies were born so Sally took over the nursery-temporarily, as my mother said.

Emily Philpots was busy giving lessons to Carlotta and embroidering for the babies.

Harriet was greatly amused. She waylaid me in the garden one day and laughingly said: “I think this is the time to bring our little scheme into motion.”

“How?” I asked.

She put her hands on her hips and gave a good imitation of Sally. ” ‘I can’t split myself in two, can I?’ Sad, but true,” she went on. “Well, then since such division is impossible, and Sally can’t be in two places at once, all the children must be in one place.”

I laughed with her, my spirits soaring. “You mean Carlotta will come here?”

“That’s what I was thinking.”

“It’s an excellent idea.”

“Of course she will have to come visiting her supposed mamma quite frequently. Do you know, I should miss her if she didn’t.”

“Oh, Harriet, isn’t she the most adorable child you ever saw?”

“She is one of the most scheming, selfish little brats I ever saw. She is full of wiles, already aware of her attractions, which I admit are considerable. She has the art of attracting the opposite sex already at her fingertips. You see how she is throwing her web around Robert Frinton, who is becoming quite besotted … naming bis cupboard after her! All this is going to her head.”

“But she is unusual. You must admit that, Harriet.”

“She will have to be guarded carefully; otherwise we shall have trouble there. She will mature early. You know, she is amazingly like me. Sometimes I think fate is having a little joke. She might be my daughter more easily than yours.”

“I suppose it is living so near you.”

“She lives nearer to Sally but I see no resemblance between them thank God. But is this not a heaven sent opportunity?”

“You mean she shall come over to our nurseries and be looked after by Sally who, with Emily, will move back to us?”

“A very sensible arrangement. Then, my dear Priscilla, you can glory in your offspring to your heart’s content.”

“Oh, Harriet, you are so good.”

“For heaven’s sake, child, you must be blind. I am only good when it is no trouble to be. I’m a little tired of the role of mother. I never thought I played it very well. Though I was very good as the expectant mother. But expectancy is always so interesting. It is the reality which can pall. I’ll speak to your mother about it.

Then I’ll tell Sally. She will be filled with bliss. Greedy old thing! She wouldn’t give up one of her babies to some poor deserving nurse. Emily Philpots is such another.”

She kept her word and did speak to my mother.

My mother gravely came to me at once to tell me what had been arranged.

I said: “It is really an excellent idea. Sally will be delighted and so will Emily.

“It saves having two nurseries where one will do. And I am sure Sally would have been unbearably critical about everything that happened in the nursery. You’re delighted, I can see. You can have your Carlotta under your eyes every day.”

I laughed. “She is an adorable child,” I said.

“Handsome, yes, but quite spoiled. She needs more discipline. I shall speak to Sally.

You know, Sally is as bad as everyone else where that child is concerned.”

“Sally loves her.”

“Sally loves all babies. But I must say I think Harriet is rather an unnatural mother.

She always was. When I think of her leaving Leigh as she did… when he was only a few months old…”

“Harriet is a good friend, though.”