Audrey frowned, not quite understanding. “Rotate?”
“Yes,” she said slowly, as if she were explaining a difficult concept to a child. “One group is reading, while another group is working on arithmetic. That sort of thing.”
Audrey bit back her annoyance at the Matron’s tone. “I see.”
“And I’ll assign you an inmate to help assist you.”
Shock ran through Audrey, and for a moment, she was sure she’d heard incorrectly. “An inmate?”
The Matron sighed in frustration. “Ms. Wakefield, please give me the benefit of the doubt to accept that I know much more about what goes on in this workhouse and that I will make certain you have the tools at your disposal to do your job.”
“I wasn’t suggesting—” Audrey began.
The Matron cut her off sharply. “Your voice indicated concern at an inmate helping you.”
“Yes,” she admitted. Why wouldn’t she be concerned? Truthfully, she’d never been around someone like an inmate before.
The Matron rolled her eyes in exasperation. “Ms. Wakefield, this isn’t a prison. Though they are called inmates, they are free to leave at any time. Most of the people here have a trade of some sort. A seamstress, a blacksmith, a domestic servant. But they have fallen on hard times and must enter the workhouse for help.”
Audrey relaxed a little. That didn’t sound quite as intimidating when the older woman put it that way. “I see.”
“Once they can get on their feet, they will leave us and hopefully not return. But all is in God’s hands,” the Matron said firmly.
“I understand. I will work on the teaching plan that you asked me to do,” Audrey said, ideas already running through her head. That would be simple enough. “When would you like that returned to you?”
“Tomorrow.” She looked across at Audrey, watching her face, and then added, “Afternoon. As you’ve only just arrived.” The Matron looked out the glass window down into the quiet courtyard. “I have several rules of my own. They aren’t written down but I expect you to keep to them nonetheless. As schoolmistress, you are in a different position than some of the other staff. You are an educated woman, yet you are unmarried. I understand the job can be lonely, and if you make friends with the other staff here, that is fine. But I will not accept any fraternizing with the men either on staff or inmates that goes beyond the bounds of friendship. Is that understood?”
Audrey felt herself go warm at the words. “I certainly would not. I’m a respectable young woman.”
Matron pierced her with her gaze before speaking. “You may venture into town on your days off, but during the week when you are in the classroom, I expect you to be either in the classroom or the grounds.”
“Yes.”
“I understand from Mr. Ryland’s letter that you will be with us for a month on a trial basis. It’s very odd. I’ve never received a staff member before with that request,” she said, looking down at the letter and then back at Audrey.
Audrey said nothing. She wanted to be obliging and agreeable, but the Matron was making it difficult. She felt that the Matron didn’t like her for some reason.
“Be wary of the older boys in your class. They can be scheming. With a young woman, they might try and push the boundaries,” Matron told her. “I am trying to make you understand the way things might be here. I certainly don’t want to drive away good staff, but time will tell if this is a good fit for both you and the workhouse.”
Audrey bit back any comments she might have had and kept her voice polite. “Thank you, Matron.”
The Matron eyed Audrey coldly and then stood. “I’ll show you to your room.”
She followed the Matron down a series of hallways, again turning right and then left. After walking down a long hallway, the Matron turned just before it ended, and taking a large circle of keys from her waist, she unlocked the door.
“This is to be your room. Good afternoon, Ms. Wakefield.”
Without another word, the Matron turned and left.
Chapter Seven
Audrey looked about the room. It was a drab room with a small iron-framed bed, a dresser with a pitcher and a bowl, a desk, and a chair. There was a small window that looked out to a brick wall, and the walls were stark white, looking to be recently whitewashed. She placed the valise down beside her as she sat upon the bed.
A weight settled on her shoulders. The Matron didn’t approve of her, that much was apparent. She didn’t want her to succeed, and she probably wanted someone with more experience. Audrey couldn’t blame the woman. She felt a slight headache coming on, but she wasn’t surprised, what with the train ride and the conversation with Matron.
Sixty-seven children! That was quite a bit more than she had expected.
Even with the help of an inmate and rotations, that was a lot to deal with. She removed her gloves and hat and placed them upon the dresser, a sense of determination filling her. It didn’t matter how many children she was given, she must make a start.