Milly

By Phyl Haynes

Milly looked out of her bedroom window at the beautiful Garden, it was hard to believe this was London. Such a contrast to the view from her bedroom at home. She still felt a little homesick for the fields and trees and life in the village, and of course, her family, especially Polly, her beautiful, headstrong young sister, it was because of her that Milly had made the move to London, although Polly wouldn’t ever know, she adored her big sister.

Milly enjoyed her new life, as a companion to Carol and she adored helping with the twins, she was so lucky to be so happy, and treated as one of the family.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris UK
• Release date: Sep 15, 2020
• ISBN: 9781984594310

Book preview

Copyright © 2020 by Phyl Haynes.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

Rev. date: 09/11/2020

Xlibris

UK TFN: 0800 0148620 (Toll Free inside the UK)

UK Local: 02036 956328 ([phone] from outside the UK)

www.Xlibrispublishing.co.uk

805229

In memory

of our Mum

Acknowledgment

To Katie Collins for her contribution in producing this book and to Grace Watts for the artwork.

Foreword

I was born in a small East Anglian village where I lived with my family until my marriage when I was twenty four.

I was the seventh child of nine, money was always tight, but there was plenty of love to go around, we were, and still are, very close.

When I was quite young my mother told me tales of when she was young. She told me that she had gone to live in London to become nursemaid to three children, two boys and one little girl. I was intrigued by the story and always had it to mind to one day writing it all down. Strangely I was the only one that mum told it to, anyway I have finished it at last (at aged 89). I hope you will enjoy reading Milly.

Phyl

39251.png

I t was a scorching hot day in late August in the little village of Stonely, in the Isle of Ely, the harvest was in full swing. Everyone was expected to lend a hand, even six year old Milly Brown, her job was to keep her Dad and brothers Rupert and John supplied with cold tea.

Milly hated it here, it was so noisy, boys running around armed with stout sticks chasing the rats, the sounds of the steam engine chugging away and the barking of the dogs, she felt like running away, just then her Dad, Harry spotted her and called out this way Milly love, she handed the basket to her Dad. He was stripped to the waist and enjoying every moment, he loved working on the steam engine. He called the boys over, John threw down his stick and took the bottle of cold tea, it was very refreshing. John hated it here, he was a gentle boy and hated the thought of killing anything, he was two years older than Milly, and had dreams of becoming an artist, he was often teased by Rupert, whose only ambition was to follow his father and work on the farm.

Just then he came up to Milly and dangled a dead rat in her face, she screamed in terror and ran away to hide behind the barn, the stubble scratched her legs, and then to her horror their Jack Russell terrier Trixie came running out of the barn with a large rat in her mouth, the rat screamed in terror, Trixie was shaking it so hard then she threw it down close to Milly’s feet.

Milly moved to the side of the barn, tears running down her face. She heard a horse in the lane and peeped out of the barn.

A man on a big black horse had a three-legged stand with a box on top.

Milly peeped out further, What are you doing Sir?

She knew he was a Sir by his shiny brown leather boots, like the ones the Squire always wore.

Hullo my dear, I am taking photographs, would you like me to take one of you?

Milly nodded shyly, the picture being taken the man asked Why are you so upset my dear?

I’m so scared of the noise of rats and the dogs. and she burst into tears. I want my Mummy, but she’s at home looking after my little sister, Polly.

What is your name darling? How old are you? I’m Milly Brown and I am six.

He took out a hanky and wiped away her tears, I will take you home if you show me the way, would you like a ride on my horse? He lifted her up and they were soon on their way.

The child captured his imagination, with her big grey eyes and her fair wispy hair, curly tendrils on either sides of her cheeks, she had such a sweet whimsical little face, he gently took her hand and knocked at the door of a small cottage.

The door was opened by a pretty woman wiping her hands on her apron, clasping Milly in her arms she said, Milly love, whatever is the matter?

Madam, may I introduce myself? I am Johnathan Black, a photographer from London, I am visiting the Squire. Gilbert and I are old friends from way back. I hope you don’t mind, I took the liberty of taking a picture of Milly, such a pretty little girl, I must give you a copy.

That is quite alright sir, and thank you for bringing her home.

I’ll say goodbye ma’am, and goodbye Milly, I hope we meet again someday. and with a bow, he mounted his horse and galloped away up the lane.

Johnathan arrived at Stonely House as the door was flung open by Gilbert.

Johnathan old boy, we expected you an hour ago!

Sorry Gilbert, but I was delayed, I’ll tell you all about it, but first a drink please, I’m absolutely parched.

Esme got up from her chair, Johnathan, how lovely to see you. with a hug Johnathan said, Esme my dear, you look more lovely each time I see you.

Go on Johnathan, you always did like to flatter me, but let’s get you that drink, tea, coffee, or something stronger? Tea will be fine, thanks Esme.

Esme rang the bell, a maid appeared, Esme asked for tea and scones. When they were settled with their tea and delicious scones Johnathan asked Well, how are you both, and how are the twins?

We are all fine, the children are growing up so fast, I can’t believe they will soon be eight, they both go to the village school, Daniel will soon be going to boarding school, he wants to be a doctor, Maud is never satisfied, all she thinks about is dressing up and riding her pony, but I suppose that will change in time.

How are Carol and young Jack?

Carol gets tired, Jack’s quite a handful, especially now she is pregnant, Jack wants a boy, we are hoping for a girl. Gilbert said. You said you were delayed, what kept you? We expected you over an hour ago.

I stopped to take pictures of the harvest, what a hive of activity, especially the chap on the engine, stripped to the waist, a very muscular man; he looked like he was enjoying himself! That would be Harry Brown a splendid chap, one of my best workers, he is my head horse keeper, but loves to get on the steam engine, the joy of his life. Oh, I think I met his daughter, Milly, she was in such distress, the noise and the rats scared her and she scratched her legs on the stubble, she was peeping round the barn, such a pretty little thing, I took her picture, I can’t forget her whimsical little face, I took her home. So you met her mother? Mary a lovely woman devoted to her husband and children. said Esme.

I told her I’d taken the liberty of photographing Milly and said I would send her a copy; she said that it was alright, she was so grateful to get Milly home safe and sound.

The talk turned to the good old days, as it always did when Gilbert and Johnathan got together, the drinks flowed and they both got a little merry.

After dinner was over, Johnathan went to check on his horse, Ebony; although he knew she was in good hands with one of Gilbert’s grooms.

What are your plans? asked Gilbert. I will take a few more pictures in the morning I’ve an exhibition soon, then I must get home to Carol, I don’t like to leave her for too long.

It was tea time at the Brown’s house, Mary had made a nourishing stew, in spite of the weather, and the family needed a hearty meal after working so hard all day. Mary said, By the way Rupert, you upset Milly today you should not tease her, she’s only a little girl, she arrived home on horseback with a friend of the Squire’s, a photographer from London. He was very kind, he had taken a picture of Milly, and he said he would send us a copy. I was so grateful to him.

Harry looked at Rupert with a frown, Don’t let me hear you have bullied Milly or John again my lad, or you will feel my belt across your back, you should be looking after them. You think you are grown up, act like it.

Rupert looked down at the table and, with a scowl pushed away his plate, Milly stuck out her tongue.

Thank goodness the harvest was over; everyone was so relieved, and the weather had stayed fine.

Tomorrow was harvest thanksgiving; they were all going, along with most of the villagers to the service in St Marks. The Reverend Robert Frost was pleased; besides weddings, funerals, or baptism, it was the only time the church was full.

The church was decorated with sheaves of corn, fruit and vegetables, Milly loved harvest festival, and joined in the singing. We plough the fields and scatter was one of her favourites, she looked around to the Squire’s family pews, and spotted Daniel who gave her a cheeky grin, Milly smiled back at him, she loved Daniel, and hoped one day to marry him!!

The vicar was reading a very long sermon, Milly’s thoughts wandered off, she was watching the antics of a fly, buzzing around the shiny bald head of Claude Barnes, the landlord of the Royal Oak, his wife Betty and his daughter Grace, Grace was Milly’s best friend, the fly landed, Milly gave a giggle, and could see Grace’s shoulders shaking, she was giggling too, Milly got a stern look from her Dad. Dad shook hands with the vicar as they left the church, and said how much he enjoyed the sermon, Mum was chatting with Grace’s Mum. As well as being friends, they were sisters in law.

The children were all excited as tomorrow there was to be a harvest supper and barn dance, Polly jumped up and down saying dance, dance! she loved to sing and dance. Milly gave her a hug and said you must be a good girl and stay close to me. Milly and Grace were so looking forward to the barn dance, there was never much going on in the village, so everyone went to the supper and the dancing, an event each year after harvest was all safely gathered in.

Grace said, I suppose the supper will be sausage and mash same as always, I’m not going to enjoy that very much. it’ll be alright, there will be fruit and cheese, and maybe one of Mrs Green’s apple pies, she makes lovely pies. said Milly.

I hope Daniel will be there, he’s home from school this weekend. Grace teased Milly. Perhaps you will get to dance with him. Milly turned quite pink; she was secretly hoping this would happen.

The men of the village had formed a small band, Harry was drummer, Milly was so proud of him, he looked so handsome when he was dressed up, and the big barn had been decorated by the wives and sweethearts of the band members. Balloons and streamers