I’m delighted to welcome Nancy Jardine and her new book, Novice Threads from the Silver Sampler Series, to the blog with Growing Up Brings More Questions Than Answers.

Growing Up Brings More Questions Than Answers

September 1850

“What do you need help with, Father?” Margaret asked on her return from assisting Granny Maggie to bake a batch of fruit pies, the apple harvest having been plentiful as had the plums in the little strip of garden behind her granny’s house.

“I’m not sure you’ll be so keen in a minute, lass.” Her father’s expression was a little bit whimsical and lit up his unusually bright grey eyes. It was a sight to see replacing the usual serious and sombre. “However, you can help me tidy some shelves later on.”

She had been expecting to spend the rest of the day doing shop chores, since it was still September and her new school session was not due to restart before mid-October. She’d attended a smattering of classes during July and August, though the bulk of of Mister Anderson’s summer teaching time was being spent with his most senior pupils who were learning Latin and Greek.

The smile she sent her father’s way was a puzzled one.

“I’m not sure I understand you.”

William leant closer, still teasing her with a whisper. “You have another letter.”

She flew along the passage and opened the kitchen door so quickly it startled her mother who was placing a pot of soup to heat on the range.

“I’ve another letter from Jessie?”

“That you have. It’s here on the table.”

Snatching it into her eager fingers, Margaret first savoured the writing on the front.

“Look, at how carefully she’s written my name,” she cried.

Her mother glanced at the letter. “She’s still making mistakes, though. Our shop name has been written twice.”

Margaret was undaunted. “I couldn’t have written an address if I had never had writing lessons from Mister Anderson. Would you have had the courage to try if you were in Jessie’s shoes?”

To her relief, Peggy didn’t take offence. “No, I suppose not. Your father needed me to compose and address our shop correspondence so I learned quickly to produce a good standard.”

Opening the seal, Margaret wandered around the room as she read.

“Jessie’s handwriting is much less scratchy, this time. I can read it more easily.”

“That’s good,” Peggy said. “I wonder how she’s managing to practise?”

Margaret agreed that was a very good question. It looked as though someone might be helping Jessie.

“Oh, my!” she declared, her tone making her mother lay down her sharp knife.

“What’s wrong?”

“Not wrong exactly. Jessie says the family she’s been sent to are related to the minister of the Free Kirk here in Milnathort.”

“That’s interesting,” Peggy declared, something odd lighting up her expression.

“I think Jessie means that it’s the Reverend Leslie Duncan’s brother, a man named Stewart, that she’s working for?” She handed the letter over to Peggy to help her understand it.

“Yes, that seems to be what she’s writing. And that it’s a very big house.” Peggy looked as puzzled as Margaret felt. “Now, I wonder why Jessie was sent there?”

Her grin was an excited one. “Isn’t she lucky to have got the work there?”

Peggy lifted the bread knife to slice a fresh loaf for their mid-day meal. “Well, until Jessie is able to tell you more, you’ll just have to assume that she’s found her feet.”

“What?” She questioned the now doubtful look on her mother’s face.

“Jessie doesn’t yet say if there are a lot of servants. If it’s a very big house then I hope she’s one of many servants, and not being expected to do too much on her own.”

“Oh!” Margaret hadn’t thought of that, just imagining that it must be fun to work in the big city of Edinburgh. She’d been thinking that it was a privilege for Jessie to work there, in the same way that it had been a privilege for Jessie to get some basic schooling in Milnathort paid for by her mystery benefactor – though now she wasn’t so sure. It was a pity to be so undecided, because having a benefactor had sounded special.

“Have you ever heard of the Reverend Duncan organising anything like this for other girls in Milnathort?” she asked Peggy.

Her mother shook her head. “Not until now, but who knows what that man’s likely to do?”

“What do you mean?” Margaret was puzzled.

“Never you mind. There’s always gossip enough in Milnathort, and I for one will not be adding to it. You just be careful who you tell about Jessie’s good fortune.”

Margaret realised her mother had grown quite serious, though she was happy to keep her knowledge of Jessie’s plight a secret. Apart from herself, Jessie hadn’t made other proper friends in Milnathort.

“And if Mistress Byers asks if you’ve heard anything from Jessie, you just tell her that all you know is that she arrived safely and is working. Nothing about where her job is. Mind my words! Since your father moved us all to the United Presbyterian Church, I never hear anything about the Free Kirk anyway, and that’s how I want it to stay!”

Margaret knew there was never a time to share any of her memories of Mistress Morison’s gripes. She could almost hear the old woman mouthing the words ‘That Free Kirk Reverend ought to have known better. The man should have left Ruth’s skirts well alone. That one mistake was bad enough but more were unforgiveable.’ Margaret couldn’t stop those memories from surfacing every now and then, but she’d vowed to keep them secret forever– for Jessie’s sake.

Now that she was older, she’d a better inkling of what Mistress Morison’s grumbles might have meant. Men chasing skirts she now knew often led to surprise babies being born, but exactly how they were produced was for her to learn another day.

It was confusing. Many of her conclusions were very disheartening.

Blurb

A thirst for education.  Shattered dreams. Fragile relations.

1840s Scotland

Being sent to school is the most exhilarating thing that’s ever happened to young Margaret Law. She sharpens her newly-acquired education on her best friend, Jessie Morison, till Jessie is spirited away to become a scullery maid. But how can Margaret fulfil her visions of becoming a schoolteacher when her parents’ tailoring and drapery business suddenly collapses and she must find a job?

Salvation from domestic drudgery – or never-ending seamstress work – comes via Jessie whose employer seeks a tutor for his daughter. Free time exploring Edinburgh with Jessie is great fun, but increasing tension in the household claws at Margaret’s nerves.

Margaret also worries about her parents’ estrangement, and the mystery of Jessie’s unknown father.

When tragedy befalls the household in Edinburgh, Margaret must forge a new pathway for the future – though where will that be?

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Meet the Author

Nancy writes historical and contemporary fiction. 1^st Century Roman Britain is the setting of her Celtic Fervour Series. Victorian and Edwardian history has sneaked into two of her ancestry-based contemporary mysteries, and her current Silver Sampler Series is set in Victorian Scotland.

Her novels have achieved Finalist status in UK book competitions (People’s Book Prize; Scottish Association of Writers) and have received prestigious Online Book Awards.

Published with Ocelot Press, writing memberships include – Historical Novel Society; Romantic Novelists Association; Scottish Association of Writers; Federation of Writers Scotland; Alliance of Independent Authors.

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