When Fate Steps In Read online

  “Just mind your own business Elana, and do not tell Mother I was talking with Mr. Birmingham. I really do not know what she has against him. He is so charming and handsome.”

  Elana rolled her eyes at her sister and went to wash up. She really didn’t understand what women saw in men. To her they were all boorish, cursing louts.

  Elana worked the earth with men and women, but the farmhands were leaving to work in the cities. Wages in the factories and warehouses were better and slowly the fields were being left to the women. Now that cotton factories were springing up, even the women were leaving the rural areas. She loved her job on the Birmingham’s estate and happily, she did not have to deal with Lady Birmingham. Her mother told her horror stories of how her ladyship treated the servants. Elana was happy working for the farm foreman, Max Schiller.

  Max sat in his living quarters in the stables thinking about all of the men and women that were leaving Chatsworth and the surrounding area. The industrial revolution was calling men to the cities with the promise of better wages, but Max had seen the results. The cities were overcrowded. People lived in horrifying slums and cramped row housing. Work hours were long and the work was hard and unhealthy. Dusty, dirty factories filled with air that was not fit to breathe did not appeal to him. Max was happy working the earth and breathing the clean country air.

  Max rubbed his calloused hands together. He pushed a lock of gray hair from his forehead and stroked his mustache. Perhaps he should speak to Lord Birmingham about the new steam farm machinery that many of the wealthier estates were purchasing. The work would be done much faster and fewer workers would be needed. He picked up his spoon and let the steamy aroma of his cabbage soup drift upward, before placing the spoon in his mouth. The sour taste tingled on his tongue. He remembered his childhood in Germany, when his mother would make this soup for his dinner. Max had lived on a farm his entire life, first as a child in Germany and then in England as a laborer. His job as foreman was well earned after thirty years of service to the Birminghams. When his soup was finished, he made a decision. He was going to have to speak with her ladyship. Lord Birmingham was not well, and the thought of dealing with her ladyship made his skin crawl. How could one woman be so evil? He would have to find farm workers outside of the tiny village of Chatsworth. Tomorrow he would go and visit a few pubs and town squares in search of laborers. But first he would need her permission. He finished his hearty soup and picked up his book. He would not think about tomorrow.

  The sun was slowly rising above the horizon. “Good morning Max. What time are we going to market today?” Elana perched on the fence rail precariously.

  “I hope to leave early, Elana. I have to find more farm workers and I want to spend some time in town. You will have to unload the cart by yourself today.” Max smiled at the impish girl. She was a good worker and one of his favorites.

  “That’s not a problem. I’ll be ready whenever you want to go. I just have to feed the livestock. I’ll meet you at the stable.” She jumped down from the fence and ran off toward the barns.

  Max pushed his hat back off his forehead and took a deep breath. Might as well get it over with. He headed for the house for a meeting with her ladyship and he was not looking forward to it. Birmingham Manor stood like a huge, gray fortress, against the bright blue sky. It was a foreboding structure, with two wings extending at a forty-five degree angle from the main house. The servants lived in the east wing. Max walked to the main entrance and climbed the five steps to the double doors. He knocked twice. Thomas, the butler, opened the door and gestured toward the study. Hat in hand, Max tread lightly across the shiny floor of the foyer.

  Lady Evelyn Birmingham sat behind the large mahogany desk. She read through the account ledgers, making notes as she did. Evelyn was a perfectionist. Nothing was left to chance and every penny was accounted for. Her husband Robert, was rather haphazard in his dealings with the estate and since his illness, Evelyn had taken over the day-to-day running of the property. It was a job she enjoyed. Power and control were like a drug to Evelyn; she craved more and more.

  Max knocked before entering. “Enter.” Evelyn looked up over the rim of her glasses at the man standing before her. His large calloused hands held a worn hat. His overalls were dirty and his hair unkempt. She snorted in disgust. Evelyn enjoyed wielding her power over the servants, but she found them distasteful. He was looking around the room, not giving her his attention. This did not sit well with Evelyn. She snapped at him. “Mr. Schiller, you wanted to see me.”

  He turned fully towards the mistress. He didn’t like the woman. He usually dealt with the master of Birmingham Manor. He got on all right with him, an altogether different person from his wife. But everyone knew she was the power behind the throne in this household.

  She looked at him. In her opinion he was a coarse creature that did not know his place. He showed no respect towards her and this she could not abide. “Get on with it man, I don’t have all day.”

  “Lady Birmingham, I am afraid several of the lads have left for the factories. We need more help.” Max shuffled uncomfortably. She did not ask him to sit. “Of course, if we were to purchase some of the new steam farm equipment, we could manage without the workforce.”

  “Steam equipment? Are you daft man? We are managing very well with manual workers and that is how we will continue. Now how many men do you need to replace?” She picked up the pen on the desk and tapped in on the writing pad. Max found it very irritating.

  “Four will do for now, but when the harvest season comes we will need ten more at least.” Max looked at her. She was a plain-faced woman. Tall, thin and straight, but it was her eyes that were the most disturbing, dark, evil eyes that seemed to cut right through you. She stared at him, challenging his stare. He shuddered. A cold chill ran down his back. How he disliked this woman.

  “Fine, you can hire three men now. I am sure you will make do. You may go.”

  “But your Ladyship…..”

  “I said you may go. We are finished here.” With a flick of her wrist, she dismissed him.

  Max walked back to the stables mumbling under his breath and Elana watched him approach with interest.

  “Looks like her ladyship took a chunk out of you, Max.” She waited for him to climb into the wagon. It was piled high with produce, which she had loaded while she waited.

  “Let’s not talk about the old dragon; it looks like you have been busy. Elana, you do the work of two men and it is a good thing too, because we have just been given three to replace four.” Elana giggled at the nickname Max used for her ladyship. She would have to share it with her mother, who wasn’t fond of Lady Birmingham either. Max flipped the reins and the two were off to market day in Chatsworth.

  The streets were filled with costermongers selling every imaginable product from turnips to pots and pans. Elana loved the market. She unloaded the wagon at the various vendors that Birmingham Estates supplied and then she took her usual walk through the market. At the bottom of the street, she saw Max talking to some men outside a pub. Thinking she would leave him to his business, she turned the corner and inspected the clothing stalls. Elana had no money of her own. Every penny went into the household budget and her mother took care of all of her needs. She stopped to admire a lovely blue shawl. Her mother’s birthday was coming up and she would love to get something so beautiful for her. But it was impossible. The young man seated in the stall was sketching and barely looked up. She watched him for several minutes. “That’s very good.”

  He snapped to attention at the sound of her voice. “Sorry Miss. I’m afraid I was miles away.” He stood up. “Can I help you?” Elana was surprised at how tall the young man was when he stood in front of her. His hair was chestnut brown and his eyes were soft, gentle and mesmerizing. “Miss?”

  “Oh dear, sorry. I was looking at this shawl. My mother would love it, but I am afraid I don’t have any money.” She put her head down shyly, but her eyes wandered back to his as if drawn
like a moth to a flame. “That is a very good sketch. Where did you learn to draw like that?”

  He looked at his drawing pad with a bashful grin. “Did it on my own hook, taught myself. I love to draw and write stories. But Uncle says it’s a waste of time.” He wondered why he was telling a perfect stranger about himself. Daniel was usually very reserved.

  “It looks like the lady in the opposite stall. You captured her round, jolly face perfectly.” Elana held out her hand. “May I look at the others?” Daniel handed her the sketchbook.

  He waited as she began to flip the pages. All of the characters of the market jumped off the page like a Punch and Judy show. She was impressed, appreciating that he had a unique talent. She smiled at him, handing back the drawings. “I am Elana Madison. I work on the Birmingham Estate.”

  “The Birmingham Estate? Are you one of the maids?”

  “No, I work the land. I love to watch things grow.” She put her calloused hands behind her back, not wanting him to see her dirty fingernails. Strange, I didn’t think about them until now, she thought to herself.

  “Really? I would rather work the land than sit in this stall or work for my uncle in the cotton factory.” The lovely young woman infatuated Daniel. She’s a real stunner, he thought as he looked at her appreciatively. Her hair was almost the color of burnished copper and her green eyes sparkled. He loved the animation in her face when she spoke.

  “If you mean that, Max is looking for men. Max Schiller, is the foreman at Birmingham and he is looking for farm workers right now, down at the pub.” Daniel looked tempted. Then the look of temptation turned to one of regret.

  “My uncle would never let me leave.” He looked resigned to working in the stall forever.

  “How old are you?” He was flabbergasted by the boldness of her question.

  “Seventeen.”

  “Well then, you’re old enough to make your own decisions. Of course, farm workers only get £25 pounds a year. Maybe you are making more than that now.” Again she surprised him with her bravado.

  “£25 pounds a year, you say?” She was having a strange effect on him. “I’m making much less than that at the cotton mill.” She gave him a new confidence in himself. “Where is this Max, chap? I think I’ll go and have a blether with him.” Elana pointed to the pub on the corner and Daniel set off running.

  “But what about your stall?” she shouted after him. Now she had done it. The stall sat empty and she really didn’t know this young man. Max would be angry with her. Hesitantly, she stepped behind the stall and took up the same chair he had vacated. After what seemed like hours to her, but was really only a few minutes, Daniel returned.

  “He hired me. How can I ever thank you. He actually hired me.” He grabbed her and twirled her around. She didn’t know what was happening.

  “Oh I am so glad. When will you start?” She put her hand on the stall table to steady herself after the dizzying twirl. This young man was very different from anyone she had ever met before. She stood in breathless wonder.

  “Saturday. I’ll have to tell Uncle tonight and then pack my things because Mr. Schiller said I could live on the estate in the bunkhouses. I never thought I would escape my uncle and his cotton factory. Thank you very much.” He smiled at her and she melted.

  “You’re very welcome. I better go. See you Saturday, Daniel.”

  “Elana, wait!” She turned back to face him. “Take this with you. It’s a thank you gift.”

  He took the shawl down from its hook and handed it to her. She shook her head.

  “I couldn’t, really it’s too much.”

  “Take it. You said your mother would love it. Let me do this, please.” He thrust the shawl into her hands. She caressed the soft wool with her fingers. Tears appeared in her eyes.

  “What’s the matter?”

  “You’re very kind. No one has ever given me anything so lovely. Thank you, Daniel. I shall never forget this. Mother’s birthday is on Sunday and she will be very surprised.” She gave him her biggest smile and skipped off down the street with the shawl carefully stowed under her arm. He stared at her until she was out of sight.

  That night, Daniel went to the cotton mill to pick up his uncle in the cart, as he did every night. He stood in the doorway of the mill, watching his uncle come along the long corridor between the machines. Terence Dryfess stopped every now and then to speak with a spinner, or to watch the smooth movement of the spindles. Some of the workers were children, ten and twelve years old. They stared straight ahead, never looking up at Mr. Dryfess; largely intimidated, because many had felt the sting of his whip when their quota was not met. Daniel called to his uncle. The man looked up, irritated and waved in a dismissing manner. Daniel waited patiently.

  When Terence Dryfess finally came to the door, Daniel asked if he might speak with him in the office. Terence scowled, turning into the large, cluttered room to the left. Daniel followed, with his hat in his sweating palms. He was intimidated by his uncle and knew what he was about to say would not be received well.

  “Uncle, I have been offered a job at the Birmingham Estate as a farmhand. I will be leaving on Saturday.” He held his breath, waiting for the reaction.

  Daniel’s uncle bellowed at the top of his voice. “You ungrateful lout! After I took you in when your parents were killed, and this is how you repay me. Ten years I have fed and clothed you and you, nothing, but a useless nothing. You can’t even work the threading machines properly.” He struck out and caught Daniel on the face. The young man recoiled, holding his hands over his head, waiting for the next blow to fall. “Pack your things and get out!”

  “But Uncle, I don’t start until Saturday!” Daniel retreated a few steps back

  “I don’t care when you start, get out now.” He raised his hand and Daniel sprinted from the room.

  At the door, he stopped and called back. “Good bye, Uncle. I do appreciate all the care you have given me.” His uncle scowled at him from across the office. He ran to the cart and drove back to his uncle’s house as fast as the horse would take him. He felt a strange excitement at leaving, but he was fearful that his uncle would follow him. He wasted no time.

  Quickly, Daniel packed his belongings in a satchel, making sure to take all of his pencils, and paper from the small desk. He reached into the back of the wardrobe and lifted a small black bag, which contained his parents’ lowly possessions. One look around the tiny bedroom, and he headed for the door. Daniel opened the door and walked away from the only home he had known since he was seven years old. It was a cold night and the stars twinkled in the black sky. He pulled his collar up against the wind and buttoned his coat up to his neck. Hands in his pockets and his bag over his shoulder, he set out.

  “Might as well head for Birmingham Estates now; I should make it there by morning,” he said to no one in particular. With mixed emotions, he walked down the lane.

  It took him most of the night to walk from the town of Dingby, where his uncle’s cotton factory was, through Chatsworth and out into the country. As the sun came up over the moors, Daniel stopped to rest under a large willow tree. It wasn’t long before he dozed off.

  “Daniel? Is it really you?” He opened his eyes slowly, thinking he was dreaming. In front of him stood the very girl he had been dreaming about. He rubbed his sleepy eyes with his knuckles. “What are you doing here?” She stood over him.

  “Elana, this is a pleasant surprise.” Daniel rose from his hard wooden perch, dusting leaves from his clothes. “I am afraid my uncle didn’t take my leaving all that well.”

  “I’m just off to the farm, so you can walk with me. I am sure Max will let you start early.” She smiled, “Have you eaten?”

  “No, I left last night and had to walk here. I must have fallen asleep.” She reached into her pocket and produced a bright red apple.

  “Here eat this. When we get to the estate, I will find you some bread. Come on, we don’t want to be late.” The two youngsters headed across the moor
s, chatting and laughing as they went.

  Chapter Three

  Early Sunday morning, Doris, Mary Margaret and Elana walked the mile into town to attend church services. Elana found herself nodding off; the sermon seemed especially boring today. Her sister nudged her with her elbow. Mary Margaret stared across the small church to the other side where the aristocracy took up the front pews. The middle class sat in the pews behind them with the lower classes seated across the back. Some stood along the wall. She watched the back of Charles Birmingham’s head. He turned slightly as if he could feel her looking at him. Doris watched her. She gave Mary Margaret’s arm a shake, shooting a warning glance her daughter’s way. Embarrassed, Mary Margaret looked at her hands in her lap. Near the end of the service, the reverend nodded to Mary Margaret and she made her way to the front of the church. The organist began to play and Mary Margaret sang the newest hymn from the prayer book. She had everyone’s attention; even Elana sat up. Her beautiful voice filled the church. Charles watched her lovingly.

  After church, the Madisons walked back to their cottage. It was a cool, crisp autumn day and leaves blew across the path. The family enjoyed spending time together. Soon back in the cottage, Mary Margaret prepared lunch and sent Elana out to the shed to retrieve the cake she had baked earlier, as a surprise to her mother. Doris sat by the fire; the aroma of the stew filled the tiny cottage. The three sat down to a lovely meal of roast rabbit, potatoes and carrots. Fresh bread compliments of the cook at the manor finished off the meal. It was a magnificent feast compared to their usual dinner of bread and jam, or potatoes and milk. Doris was very happy. Mary Margaret excused herself, returning with the cake. Doris looked up. She was close to tears. Elana then took her turn to leave the table returning with a gift wrapped in brown paper and tied with a pink ribbon. Doris stared at her in surprise. The family barely paid the household expenses. There was no extra money for gifts. “Elana, what’s this?”