Touching the Stars Read online

  “But you won’t enjoy not being married and never having a life of your own. You know Mama is always worrying that you never seem to encourage any of the young men we meet. She says it is so important that we all make suitable marriages and do not remain on her hands.”

  Justina said nothing.

  “It is you who must go to India,” announced Victoria. “That is what I came to tell you.”

  Justina stared at her, her heart beating fast. This was the most exciting suggestion she had ever heard.

  “Do you really think so?” She took a deep breath, “I would so love to go.”

  “And you must.”

  “But he asked you.”

  “Only because he thought I was the senior unmarried daughter. If he knew I was about to be engaged, he wouldn’t have suggested I went. You know how fond of you he is.”

  Victoria rose gracefully and held out a hand to Justina.

  “Come, Mama will soon be home and we can tell her that you are off to India.”

  *

  When Lady Mansell was told of the projected trip, her first thought was that it would be too expensive for them to afford. Lord Mansell had recently suffered financial setbacks that meant they had to make economies.

  Justina was devastated.

  “But it should not cost a lot of money,” she pleaded. “I need not travel First Class and staying with friends means I don’t have to spend too much.”

  Lady Mansell smiled.

  “Your brother talks of lots of parties and outings. You will need a large wardrobe. I have heard that people dress up much more in India than here. There will be other expenses as well, such as a personal maid.”

  “You know I do not care much about clothes,” Justina protested, glancing down at the faded cotton dress underneath her painting smock.

  Lady Mansell looked at her and fingered the large diamond brooch she always wore at her throat.

  “My darling,” she said. “If you really don’t mind not travelling First Class and you don’t need too many evening dresses, I am sure we can find some way to send you there.”

  Justina’s face was transformed.

  “Do you really mean that, Mama?”

  She hugged Lady Mansell so hard that her mother protested she had no breath left. Then Justina whirled Victoria round and round, chanting,

  “I can’t wait, I can’t wait to go to India!”

  It was decided that Justina would travel out in the early autumn, arriving in the Subcontinent when the weather was cooler.

  Lord Mansell was delighted to hear of the plan.

  “And I hope you will fall in love with an eligible man who will return your affection,” Lady Mansell added. Then she sighed. “We would not want to lose you and I would hate it if you stayed forever so very far away, but it would be such a relief to know you were settled.”

  Justina thought that falling in love was a dangerous business, but she would like to please her Mama, who seemed to think it was very important she found a husband.

  Maybe, just maybe, there would be someone in India she could feel about the way Victoria felt about Edward.

  Soon Lady Mansell had turned out her wardrobe and produced a number of dresses she felt could be altered to suit Justina.

  *

  The following weekend the Mansell family had an unexpected visitor.

  Victoria was sitting in the window sewing yet another of her mother’s refashioned evening dresses for Justina to take to India.

  “Good Heavens,” she said. “I think it is Aunt Theodora’s carriage.”

  “Really?” said Lord Mansell and putting down his copy of The Times.

  Justina dashed to the window, in time to see the Viscountess descend and advance up the front steps.

  She felt her heart drop.

  Stifling the urge to run away and hide, she stood with a straight back and swore to herself that she would not allow herself to be intimidated.

  The Viscountess swept into the room. She was a commanding figure.

  “My dear,” greeted Lady Mansell, but there was nothing affectionate in her tone.

  Lady Mansell offered her cheek to be kissed and then returned the gesture. “

  George, good to see you,” the Viscountess said to her brother.

  “You’re looking well, Theo,” Lord Mansell said. “Come and sit down.”

  Lady Mansell attempted a little light conversation. She was never at ease with her sister-in-law.

  “You have heard of Victoria’s engagement?”

  Another regal nod of the head.

  “I met the young man when she came out. The family is excellent – and I gather his Army career is promising.”

  Victoria flushed with pleasure.

  “George, what’s this I hear about Justina not travelling First Class to India?”

  Lord Mansell looked unhappy.

  “The cost,” he said in an embarrassed murmur.

  “I will not have a niece of mine lumped with the proletariat,” announced Lady Elder. I am happy to present her myself with a First Class return ticket.”

  Justina tried to protest that she not want to be indebted to her aunt, but her parents were thanking the Viscountess and sounding so grateful there was little she could say.

  “It is nothing,” Lady Elder said graciously. “Also, she must be accompanied by a maid rather than wait to take one on in India. There is Dorcas Spencer who has recently joined my household. She is currently acting as a downstairs maid but has ambitions to become a personal attendant.

  “I gather,” her aunt continued, looking pointedly at the tangle of Justina’s hair, “that maintaining a soignée appearance over the four weeks of the journey to India is difficult in the extreme.”

  She paused for a moment.

  “I recommend you collect items that can be discarded after wear. They can be thrown from the porthole. Also I intend to discover a married woman travelling by the same ship who can act as a chaperone – you never know what ambitious nouveaux-riches travel First Class these days, Justina may well require protection.”

  Justina stared at her aunt. She was making the voyage to India sound both exciting and extraordinary. It was going to be very different from life in Surrey.

  The Viscountess turned to her niece.

  “Justina,” she said commandingly. “I have come to talk to you.”

  She looked at Lady Mansell.

  “Perhaps we may walk a little in the garden.”

  It was not a question.

  The September day was sunny with all the warmth of summer even though the leaves on the trees had just begun to turn.

  Justina walked beside her aunt down the long lawn.

  “I want to ensure,” said Lady Elder, sounding full of the authority that always made Justina feel like a member of the lower classes, “that you realise exactly what is your duty to your dear parents.”

  Justina swallowed hard.

  “My duty? Aunt, you know I always try to do what Mama and Papa want.”

  Lady Elder sniffed.

  “You did not try very hard during your Season.”

  “I did!” protested Justina. “But it was so difficult, I had nothing in common with any of the other girls and none of the young men were at all interested in me.”

  “As I told you more than once during your Season, you are far too forthright in your views. You need to temper your comments, seek to discover what your companion, whether a male or a female, is interested in. Do not expect them to draw you out, it is up to you to oil the wheels of conversation. I am sure your dear Mama has told you this time after time.”

  Lady Elder stopped walking, turned to her niece and sighed deeply.

  “My dear girl, I am not the ogre you seem to think me. I truly want your happiness. But you must realise that, without a good marriage, you have no future. Thanks to his recent setbacks, your father is unable to provide you with a sufficient income to enjoy life as a spinster, a difficult business at the best of times.”


  Justina tried to say that it would make her content, but her aunt continued without pause,

  “No, the only way for you to have any sort of independence and pursue the interests your intelligence would enjoy is to find a husband of means. Your Mama and Papa realise this and will not be happy until you are married to a suitable husband. I am sure that, with a little thought, you will appreciate this to be the case.”

  “But what if my husband turned out as unsatisfactory as Elizabeth’s?” she blurted out.

  The Viscountess drew her breath in sharply.

  “That is the most unfortunate matter. There is a certain – ” she paused, seemingly seeking the right word, before adding, “let us call it instability in the Masson family. Had we known of it earlier, your father would not have permitted the match.”

  It made no sense to Justina.

  She left the subject of Elizabeth and concentrated on the main issue.

  “You are saying, Aunt Theodora, that unless I get married, Mama and Papa will be very unhappy?”

  “Exactly! I knew that you would realise your duty when it was properly explained to you.”

  “And you think I will find a suitable husband in India?”

  “If you comport yourself properly and present the right background, yes, you will. There are very many more men than women in India. Often women who have failed to find a match in this country travel there for the express purpose of engaging the interest of a man. Even those lacking in looks, family or education can find someone to offer for them.”

  Lady Elder put her head on one side and looked assessingly at her niece.

  “When properly turned out, you have an attraction all your own. If you mind your tongue and your manners, even without the sort of settlement your father was able to make when Elizabeth married, you will be looked on as a very worthwhile catch indeed.”

  Justina instantly hated the phrase.

  Worthwhile catch indeed!

  If she did have to get married and her aunt had shown her that the alternative was not attractive, then it would only be to someone who loved her for herself.

  So far no young man had shown the least interest in her. The future looked dark.

  The thought of travelling to India to find a husband removed much of the joy that had surrounded the prospect for Justina, but there was no use in telling her aunt.

  The thought of disappointing her parents was dreadful. How could she both satisfy them and retain her independence?

  “And remember that news will always come back to me of any poor behaviour on your part,” the Viscountess admonished her sternly.

  Then she smiled at Justina.

  “Cheer up, life aboard ship can be entertaining in the extreme. You will meet so many new people and even you will find a few who are interesting.”

  Until that moment, Justina had not given the actual journey to India much thought.

  Now Lady Elder had made her wonder if life aboard ship might not be as exciting as visiting India itself.

  After all, the four weeks it took to sail to Bombay was quite a time to spend in the company of strangers. Her fellow passengers would not be naïve debutantes and crass young men – they would be people of experience.

  “Now, let me give you some advice on comporting yourself,” her aunt interrupted her thoughts in commanding mode. “To start with, I should tell you that on the first night out – ”

  But Justina did not want any more advice.

  “Aunt Theodora, I am most grateful to you,” she said swiftly. “I know what a disappointment I was to you in London and I will try very hard to be a success in India. And don’t worry about the voyage, I have been told all about life on board ship by one of our neighbours.”

  The advice had been limited to the recommendation to take ginger with her as it was a well-known palliative in case of seasickness and Justina could not imagine she needed to know anything more.

  For the rest of the day, Justina bubbled with excitement and forgave the Viscountess for interfering in her plans.

  What an adventure the voyage was going to be!

  CHAPTER TWO

  Justina was amazed at the size of the ship that was to take her to India. As she and her family walked down the quay-side, it seemed to tower over them.

  “My word,” exclaimed Lord Mansell. “I remember the ship I sailed in when I first travelled to Bombay was a minnow compared to this one. It was a steamship, of course, but it carried sails as well.”

  “Let us go aboard quickly,” suggested Lady Mansell. “I cannot wait to see what your accommodation is like.”

  “Fancy it being a maiden voyage,” said Victoria. “Oh, Justina, I almost envy you.”

  “Do you want to change places?” grinned Justina. “Leave your beloved Edward behind for India?”

  Victoria slipped her arm through Justina’s.

  “Never! I cannot wait for next summer – for our wedding.”

  Justina no longer worried about Victoria’s future happiness. Nobody witnessing her sister with her fiancé could doubt that they were truly in love.

  Could, Justina wondered, she achieve the same sort of relationship?

  She shivered as her aunt’s words came back to her.

  Since her talk with the Viscountess, Justina’s excitement at the prospect of exploring India had been spoilt.

  How could she enjoy discovering temples, painting new flora and meeting strange people if she was supposed to be finding someone to marry?

  Lady Elder had left Justina in no doubt that it was her duty to contract a suitable alliance. But she was determined not to marry someone without being as much in love with him as Victoria was with Edward.

  At least she did not have to worry about anything for the next four weeks as she sailed on this splendid new ship to India.

  Justina turned to the maid her aunt had lent her.

  “Isn’t this exciting, Dorcas?”

  “Ooh, miss, it ain’t half big!” exclaimed Dorcas, clutching the brim of her hat firmly in her gloved hand.

  The maid was a plump girl with a round face. When Justina had first met her she thought Dorcas looked at her rather doubtfully, particularly at her springy mass of copper hair.

  “I do my best with it,” she had said cheerfully, pushing it back.

  “I am sure Dorcas will cope very well,” Lady Mansell put in gently.

  “My mother was a lady’s maid and she’s taught me everything,” Dorcas added with a note of pride. “I’m sure Miss Mansell will be a credit to me.”

  Justina thought she would like to be a credit to her family.

  Once they reached the main deck, an Officer checked Justina’s ticket and instructed a Steward to show them to her cabin.

  It was much larger than Justina had expected.

  “Well, how very comfortable,” said Lady Mansell as the maid placed Justina’s overnight bag on the berth.

  The Steward who had showed them to the cabin reappeared.

  “I’ll take you down to your quarters, miss,” he said to the maid. “Mrs. Grange, your Stewardess,” he said to Justina, “will soon be here to make your acquaintance. Call on us for anything you need, we are here to make your voyage as enjoyable as possible.”

  Justina smiled at him.

  “What is your name?”

  “Chappell, miss.”

  “You must be very proud of this beautiful ship. I hope you aren’t too anxious that all of us passengers will spoil the new paint.”

  “We all hope we arrive looking as good as now.”

  He was about to leave when Lady Mansell stopped him. “

  “My daughter is being chaperoned by a Mrs. Arbuthnot. Do you know where we can find her?”

  “Not at the moment, my Lady, but as soon as I have shown Miss Dorcas her cabin, I’ll find out.”

  He led the maid out of the cabin.

  “Don’t let’s worry about Mrs. Arbuthnot,” said Justina, bouncing on the bed.

  “I can find her
after we have sailed.”

  “My darling,” said Lady Mansell, caressing Justina’s cheek. “I will not be happy to leave you until I have met the lady who will have you in her care.” She looked at her husband. “What did Theodora tell you about her?”

  “She is travelling with two daughters,” replied Lord Mansell, ticking points off on his fingers. “They are twins and have finished their schooling. Mrs. Arbuthnot’s husband is Colonel of his Regiment and she has spent the summer in England with the girls, preparing them to return to India.”

  He paused a moment then gave a shrug to his shoulders.

  “That is the total amount of information at our disposal.”

  “Does Theodora know her well?”

  “My dear, I wish you had quizzed my sister,” Lord Mansell said ruefully.

  So do I! But there was so little time. All I ascertained was that Mrs. Arbuthnot has been most helpful with one of Theodora’s committees.”

  At that moment there came a knock at the cabin door and a woman entered.

  “Lord and Lady Mansell? I am so pleased to meet you. I understand from dear Lady Elder that I am to take your daughter under my wing with my own precious girls.”

  “Mrs. Arbuthnot?” queried Lady Mansell.

  “Oh, how silly of me, I should have introduced myself. Yes, I am indeed Leticia Arbuthnot. And this is Faith and Charity. Come and say hallo, girls.”

  She was a small woman with soft features but unexpectedly sharp eyes. Her travelling costume was neat without being particularly stylish and was topped by a handsome Paisley shawl, now slipping down her arms.

  As Lord and Lady Mansell led the way out of the cabin, Mrs. Arbuthnot fluttered over to Justina and Victoria.

  “Now, which of you delightful girls is my charge?” she enquired archly.

  “I am Justina.”

  The sharp eyes inspected her.

  “So like your dear aunt. I know you will get on famously with my girls.”

  Mrs. Arbuthnot looked round, but her daughters had followed the Mansells.

  She gathered her shawl more closely around her shoulders and hurried after the others, continuing to talk over her shoulder.

  “There will be plenty of time, my dear, for many a cosy chat. The voyage to India is so delightful for getting to know one’s fellow passengers. You have, I hope, brought a deck chair? But of course, I need not have asked. Dear Lady Elder would see to that for you. So necessary to enjoy the restorative powers of sea air.”