you did not struggle or tell of it the next day? Please, you think me a fool with such a story.’
‘No one broke in. And no one would have believed me, if I had told them the next day. I could barely believe it myself, though it happened to me.’
‘Are you claiming one of the servants attacked you?’ demanded the enraged woman, puffing out like a furious rooster.
‘Not a servant, Madam. It was the Master.’
The deathly silence that filled the room for a few long minutes was suffocating. Then, after several deep, calming breaths, Mrs Peabody drew herself to her full height and said, ‘How dare you!’
The words were as effective as a slap in the face, and Lizzie jerked back, trembling. However, her resolve, now that she had finally voiced her complaint, began to harden.
‘I dare because I have no alternative but to dare. And I know that it is not the first time such has happened to a young woman in this house. Two maids have been sent away because of their condition, in the last few years. And I never believed the rumours circulating below stairs concerning the Master, until it happened to me.’ Lizzie was proud to hear her voice was louder now, even if it was also tinged with hysteria.
‘If this were true, why did you remain in our employ? Surely, you would fear that it would happen again. I am assuming it was only once you claim this attack occurred?’
‘He… he sat on my bed after… after it happened and cried. He said I had tempted him, and he had been unable to withstand my siren’s call. But he swore it would not happen again, if I did not tell you. He said he would take care of me if I was to… ‘
‘Enough! I will hear no more. You girls come to me with your unfounded claims, and expect me to believe my loyal and faithful husband, who has no interest in such unseemly activities except for the procreation of children, would force himself on you and then cry? No, I say.’ Her voice rose in pitch and volume to override her victim’s.
‘Because one girl made that claim, you all think you can make it? No, I will not have it! Pack your belongings, Miss Faulkner, and leave this house immediately.’ Mrs Peabody drew in several deep breaths in an attempt to calm herself. It must have succeeded because, when she went on a long minute later, her voice was cold and calm once more.
‘Out of the kindness of my heart, I will pay you one month’s wages in lieu of notice, but that is only if you promise to keep your filthy lies to yourself, and make no further claim on this family. If you do not so promise, I will pay you nothing, nor provide you with a reference.’
Lizzie felt a fatalistic calm come over her. This was how she had expected this encounter to end. After more than a year in the Peabody’s household she knew the woman before her very well. For all her seeming strength of will, her employer hid her head in the sand about every matter that concerned her husband or her daughters.
Those two girls were rude, ignorant and unwilling to take guidance. They had been the cause of the resignations of two governesses before Lizzie. However, for all the evidence to the contrary, Mrs Peabody continued to claim it was never her girls’ fault. They were simply high spirited, or unjustly blamed for other’s actions. Her daughters were angels.
Nor was her husband’s drunkenness, gambling, or philandering, it now transpires, his fault. Someone else was always to blame. Such denial was so deeply entrenched; Lizzie doubted the woman would believe it, even if she walked into a room where her husband was holding down a screaming girl, and having his violent way with her.
So Lizzie would take her reference and her month’s wages in advance because there was no other choice. Even if she had the strength, she could not hope to wage the kind of war required to right this wrong. She must make the best of it, which was all that was left for her to do.
‘I make such a promise, and will leave immediately,’ she said in defeat.
The harsh features softened slightly; now that Mrs Peabody had been reassured her world was safe once more. ‘See that you do then. I will have your reference sent on to you. And Manning will have