“Am I?” Audrey asked at her sister and then her mother.
“Father said so. Didn’t he, Mama?”
Augusta put her napkin away. “Come. Let’s get to your studies,” she said to Frances.
She left the dining room with Frances trailing behind her. She came up to her sister and hugged her around the neck. “You really can do anything. I believe in you.”
She was gone a moment later, and Audrey felt a lump i
n her throat. Her sister’s words meant a great deal to her. She must not let them down.
The train ride from the village to London took a little longer than an hour. Audrey traveled it often when she attended Queen’s College. Though she had lodgings at the college, she went home to see her family every month.
She settled back into the seat and looked out the window at the passing countryside. The green grass and lushness of Kent receded as the metropolitan bustle that made up the great city of London came into view.
Her mother had wanted to accompany her, but last night Frances had come down with a fever and she did not want to leave her side. Audrey agreed and set out to meet Dr. Thomson by herself.
She felt comfortable in the metropolitan city and enjoyed seeing the familiar sights so she had not been anxious to travel alone. She had wanted her mother to come with her for different reasons. She wanted to show her mother that she was capable and she would make certain their family would not struggle but prosper.
She fussed with her black gloves and smoothed down the skirt of her dress. She wore a sheer black veil. She could see out, but she worried she might trip or stumble about when she entered the hustle and bustle of London traffic.
The train guard came down the aisle and announced, “Bromley,” and nodded at her respectfully.
She looked out the window and clasped her hands in her lap. Her small purse contained a little bit of coin and her train ticket, and she held it tightly in her grasp. She wondered what Dr. Thomson had discovered for her. Maybe there was a family that needed a governess and they would let her bring along her mother and sister.
Maybe he found her a position in a department store that suited her. She wasn’t sure if a store would provide her enough income to survive unless she rented rooms for the three of them. But department stores usually had their unmarried women employees live in dormitories above the store.
Audrey smiled to herself. Why was she coming up with idea after idea of a possible job opportunity when she hadn’t even spoken to Dr. Thomson yet? She settled back and listened to the sound of the train moving along the tracks. Soon she would be in London, and Dr. Thomson would be there to greet her at Victoria Station.
She shook her skirt out a little from the dust that often collected on the train and looked about for Dr. Thomson. She was sure he would spot her easily, as she looked like a drab little blackbird amongst so many gay colors in the train station.
She had only taken a few steps when she heard her name being called. She turned to see the middle-aged doctor striding towards her.
“Audrey,” he said in greeting. “It’s good to see you. Forgive me if I kept you waiting. Traffic is—”
“You haven’t kept me waiting, Dr. Thomson. I’ve only just arrived,” she assured him.
“Excellent. How is your family?” He took her by the arm and escorted her out of the active train station.
“Mother is well. She meant to be here with me, but Frances came down with a fever. She didn’t want to leave her alone,” she explained.
The doctor frowned. “Not a serious fever?”
Audrey shook her head. “No. Just enough for Mother to stay behind to tend her.”
“I understand.” He hailed them a hansom cab. “I thought you might be hungry and thirsty after your journey. So, what do you say to tea?”
“You read my mind,” she told him.
Audrey glanced about appreciatively at the décor of Brown’s Hotel in Mayfair. The dark wood paneling was handsome, and the white linen tablecloth and china bespoke elegance. She removed her hat and veil and placed it to the side as she surveyed the room.
“I don’t think I ever came here for tea when I was at college. It was beyond my means.” She told him. “It’s impressive.”
“Would you like me to order for you, or do you care to do so?” he asked her.
“I’m sure whatever you order will be fine. Thank you,” she said.
He ordered them a pot of tea and sandwiches, and the teapot and cups soon appeared at the table.