The Christmas Rose: The most heart-warming novel of 2018, from the Sunday Times bestseller

Adele entered the room followed by Festus, who gazed at her soulfully. ‘I understand you are in a sorry predicament, Rose,’ he said in sepulchral tones. ‘Rash actions often end in disaster.’

‘It’s not exactly a disaster, my dear.’ Adele laid her hand on his sleeve. ‘As I just told you, Rose has come to ask our advice.’

Festus went to stand with his back to the fire. ‘You are a well-educated young lady, Rose.’

‘I think so, sir.’

‘Living on your own in a big city is not to be recommended.’ Festus stroked his chin, something he did when he was thinking deeply, which was a habit that Rose had noticed during their time at sea. ‘If you want my honest opinion,’ he said at length, ‘I think you ought to go home and wait there for your young man.’

Rose knew that this was good advice and probably the most logical thing to do, but somehow logic and common sense seemed to have flown out of the window, and a stubborn streak that she had not known she possessed had taken hold of her.

‘Thank you both, but it isn’t as easy as that. As I explained to your wife, I haven’t enough money to pay for a passage home.’

Adele glanced anxiously at her husband. ‘We would lend it to you if it were possible.’

‘Which I’m afraid it is not,’ Festus added quickly. ‘Our means are limited, Rose. But your young man is related to the owners of the largest shipping line in the country, isn’t that so?’

‘It is, but Mr and Mrs Colville are away on a business trip. There is no one in London who could help me, and, if I’m honest, I don’t want to return home, not yet anyway. What I need is a job so that I can support myself until Max returns from Egypt.’

‘Young ladies do not go out to work.’ Adele’s eyes widened and she pursed her lips. ‘What would your sainted papa say if he knew?’

‘My pa was a practical man, Mrs Parker. He worked hard for his living and he would expect me to do the same.’

Adele raised a hanky to her eyes. ‘Oh dear, this is very distressing. I wish we could help.’

‘You must get away from that place of ill repute,’ Festus said firmly. ‘We would offer you sanctuary here, but this house is quite small and it belongs to my mother. We have to respect her wants and needs.’

Rose jumped to her feet. ‘Thank you, but all I wanted was some advice as to what sort of work I might do. I didn’t mean to put you in a difficult position. I think it best if I go now.’

‘Festus, we can’t allow Rose to leave without at least trying to help her.’ Adele clutched her husband’s arm, gazing up at him with imploring eyes.

‘My dear, we’ve been out of the country for five years. I expect things have changed significantly since we left.’

‘I really should leave now,’ Rose said hastily. ‘It’s a long walk back to Black Raven Court and I left my things there.’

‘Oh dear.’ Adele’s eyes filled with tears and she pulled a crumpled handkerchief from her sleeve. ‘Don’t let her go like this, Festus. There must be something we can do to help poor Rose.’

‘I was planning to visit the office of the London Leader today. It’s owned by a friend of mine, and he might be in a position to give you advice. They used to run a Situations Vacant column, unless things have changed greatly.’ Festus fixed Rose with a meaningful stare. ‘Will you come with me?’

Rose nodded emphatically. ‘Yes, gladly.’

Adele clapped her hands. ‘Splendid. Do have some more cake before you go, Rose. I made it myself.’

‘There’s no time for that.’ Festus opened the door. ‘Come along, Rose, best foot forward. We’ll see if Cosmo has anything helpful to say.’

The cab dropped them off outside the London Leader offices in Fleet Street and Rose alighted to the pavement while Festus paid the cabby. This was a part of the city that Rose barely knew, but immediately it felt like the beating heart of London. The traffic was so dense that it hardly seemed to be moving and the coachmen, cabbies, draymen and carters shouted and bellowed at each other, flicking their whips in seemingly useless displays of bad temper and impatience. The pavements were equally crowded, and people pushed and jostled as if reaching their destinations was a matter of life and death. Festus hurried Rose into the building, stopping at the desk where a harassed-looking man was dealing with an irate person who was complaining bitterly about the size and positioning of his advertisement. Eventually the bald, bespectacled clerk held up his hand.

‘If you will give me a moment, sir, I’ll see if I can find someone to deal with your query.’

‘Query? It ain’t a query, my good man. I want my money back. I paid in good faith for—’

Festus cleared his throat noisily. ‘If you will excuse me for interrupting, might I suggest that you allow this man to do his job, sir?’

The irate advertiser turned on Festus with an angry snarl. ‘And who are you, mate? Did I ask you to interfere?’

Rose had had enough of this senseless arguing and she stepped forward. ‘I suggest you sit down, mister. We’ve all got business here and you’re not helping anyone, least of all yourself.’

The man stared at her, shocked into silence.

‘Precisely,’ Festus said firmly. ‘And I wish to see Mr Cosmo Radley.’

‘I’m sorry to say that Mr Radley senior passed away four years ago, and his son, Mr Arthur Radley, took over the editorship.’

‘That’s all very fine.’ The angry man spoke up again. ‘I want to see Mr Radley and put my complaint in person.’

‘Even if he’s in the office I can’t guarantee that he’ll see you, sir. Mr Radley is a very busy man.’ The clerk edged out from behind the desk and scuttled across the tiled floor.

‘I’m not leaving until I’ve had words with him,’ the man said huffily. ‘I’ve got a genuine case.’

Rose had to curb the sudden desire to laugh. There was a childishness about him that made him look like an overgrown schoolboy, but he was still grumbling when one of the office doors opened and a tall man emerged into the foyer. At first sight, with his dark hair and neatly trimmed beard and moustache, he reminded Rose of a pirate or a dashing musketeer, and there was certainly a hint of a swagger in the way he strolled over to the desk.

‘May I be of any assistance?’

‘This man is being attended to,’ Festus said quickly. ‘I came to see Mr Cosmo Radley, but I’ve been told he’s no longer with us.’

‘Yes, sadly that is the case, but I’m his nephew, Eugene Sheldon. How may I be of service?’

‘Festus Parker, and this is Miss Rose Munday. Might we talk in private?’

Eugene’s gaze rested on Rose for the briefest of moments and she noticed that his eyes were the colour of amber rimmed with jet. ‘Of course,’ he said smiling. ‘Come this way.’

Rose followed them into a small office where a large desk dominated the room. Piles of newspapers were scattered in seemingly random heaps on the floor, and the walls were lined with shelves crammed with files.

Festus claimed the most comfortable chair. ‘Your uncle was a close friend of mine, but I never saw Arthur as being suitable to run the newspaper. He was always a rather dull boy.’

Rose held her breath, waiting to see if Eugene had taken umbrage at this tactless remark, but if he thought that Festus was being a little too frank, his genial expression did not falter. He pulled up a chair for Rose before taking his seat behind the desk. ‘I was only twenty and still at university when Uncle Cosmo died. Arthur had been subeditor for years and it was only right that he should step into his father’s shoes. I joined the staff when I left Cambridge.’

‘People can change, I suppose.’ Festus sighed heavily. ‘I’m sorry that I didn’t have a chance to say goodbye to my old friend.’

‘I understand, of course, but you are here now so how may I be of assistance?’

Festus steepled his fingers, eyeing Eugene thoughtfully. ‘I came, as I said, with the intention of renewing my acquaintance with Cosmo, and I brought Miss Munday with me because she finds herself in a difficult situation.’

Eugene turned his attention to Rose. ‘I’m sorry to hear that.’

She felt her cheeks redden. ‘I need a job, Mr Sheldon. It’s as simple as that. I arrived in London recently to find my situation had changed, leaving me stranded with very little money and in desperate need of finding cheap lodgings.’

‘Might I ask how a young lady like yourself came to be in such a plight?’

‘You’re not going to write about me in your paper, are you?’

Eugene’s lips twitched. ‘I promise that this is strictly between ourselves.’

Rose met his amused gaze with a frown. Her situation might seem funny to someone who led a comfortable existence, but it was no laughing matter. ‘My fiancé, Max Manning, sent for me,’ she said coldly. ‘However, when I arrived in England I discovered that his regiment has been sent to Egypt.’

‘Dashed bad luck, but surely he has family here in London?’

Festus leaned forward. ‘Suffice to say that we’ve been through all this, and Miss Munday is in a bit of a pickle. We met on the boat travelling back from Australia and we only landed yesterday, so you can see that Rose hasn’t had time to look around. You, however, must run a Situations Vacant column.’

‘And you were hoping that my uncle might put the lady in touch with a prospective employer. Capital idea, but too late, I’m afraid.’

‘Do you treat everything as a joke, Mr Sheldon?’ Rose asked angrily. ‘I lost my pa a year ago and I don’t find it as hilarious as you do.’

Eugene’s smile faded and he shook his head. ‘Of course not. Some of us disguise our feelings with humour, finding it the only way to deal with the difficulties that beset us. I am really sorry about your father and the predicament in which you find yourself.’

‘So can you help?’ Festus demanded. ‘I really can’t spare much more time on this. Rose needs to find lodgings and she has to have work so that she can pay for her bed and board.’

‘Have you considered returning home, Miss Munday?’ Eugene chose to ignore Festus, focusing his attention on Rose. ‘The war in Egypt might be at an end, but the unrest could go on for years.’

‘I don’t care,’ Rose said stoutly. ‘I’ll wait here for Max to return regardless. I’ll wash clothes or work in a kitchen. I’ll do anything legal to earn my own living.’

‘Rose has received a good education.’ Festus glanced at the grandfather clock standing in the corner. ‘Oh dear, I had no idea it was so late. I have other business to attend to this morning. You may remain here, Rose, or you can accompany me, but I will be going about my own affairs.’

She realised that this was his way of saying that she was on her own, and yet she could not blame him. The Parkers were shipboard acquaintances, nothing more, and it would be unreasonable to expect them to go out of their way for a relative stranger. She managed a weak smile. ‘Thank you for everything, Mr Parker. I’ll be quite all right.’

He stood up abruptly. ‘Well, if you’re sure, I’d better be on my way.’

Eugene was already on his feet, as if anticipating Festus’ sudden departure, and he went to open the door. ‘Goodbye, sir. It’s always a pleasure to meet my late uncle’s friends.’ They shook hands and Festus nodded to Rose as he left the office.

Eugene closed the door. ‘Well then, Miss Munday. It seems as though you’ve been left in the lurch, yet again. Does this mean you have nowhere to sleep tonight?’

‘It would have been so, but I met a lady who helped me last evening. She didn’t have to go out of her way to assist a stranger, but she allowed me to share her lodgings and bought me breakfast. There are some generous people, if you’re lucky enough to meet them.’

‘Will you be able to stay with this person until you find work and a place of your own?’

‘I expect so.’ Rose raised herself from the chair. She was still stiff after spending an uncomfortable night in Cora’s room, although she was not going to admit that to Eugene, who, despite his claim to be sympathetic, still appeared to find her situation amusing.

‘If you would like to give me your address I’ll contact you should anything come up.’

‘The house is in Black Raven Court – I didn’t notice the number – but I think most people there know Cora Smith.’

He frowned. ‘I know the name from somewhere. It will come back to me. As to Black Raven Court – it’s not the most salubrious neighbourhood, especially for a young lady like yourself.’

‘I’m hardly a lady, sir. I spent my first nine years living in a hut in my father’s boatyard in Chelsea, and then we went to Australia and I grew up in a mining town. I think I know how to look after myself. Anyway, I’m sorry to have wasted your time. It really wasn’t my idea to come here.’ Rose walked to the door and reached out to clasp the handle, but Eugene moved swiftly and laid his hand on hers.

‘I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to offend you, and of course I’ll do anything I can to help. It’s time for luncheon, by my reckoning, and I’d be honoured if you would join me for a meal at the Cheshire Cheese where they do excellent chops and steaks.’

Rose was going to refuse, but her stomach rumbled – it was a long time since breakfast and the slice of cake at the Parkers’ had been very small. It would be foolish to turn down the offer of a free meal, and the cab fare to Elder Street had depleted her dwindling supply of cash yet further.

‘Thank you,’ she said stiffly. ‘That would be nice.’

Outside the cold air hit her like a slap in the face. She had left Bendigo on a warm spring day and, even though she had known that it would be late autumn when she arrived in London, she had not been prepared for such a stark contrast. The clothes she had packed were not really suitable for a spell of wet and chilly weather, but Max had promised to buy her a whole new wardrobe, one befitting the wife of an army officer. She had imagined elegant gowns and smart riding outfits, although at this moment she would have given anything for a waxed drover’s coat and a pair of woollen gloves.

‘It’s not far,’ Eugene said cheerfully.

‘I should have brought some warmer clothes with me. But I left in rather a hurry.’

‘You’re a very plucky young woman.’ He shot a sideways glance at her. ‘I look forward to hearing about your travels, and the man who inspired you to come halfway round the world on your own.’

Rose’s teeth were chattering and she needed all her breath simply to keep up with him. She nodded and managed a smile, but it was the thought of a hot meal that kept her placing one foot in front of the other, and fortunately it was not far to Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese. The pub was situated in Wine Office Court, a narrow alleyway off Fleet Street, and the interior, as Eugene had said, was warm and welcoming, with whitewashed walls, beamed ceilings and a roaring log fire. The enticing aroma of roast meat mingled with the fragrance of wine and the sturdy smell of ale and tobacco smoke. But the main thing as far as Rose was concerned was the warmth, and the flickering firelight was both comforting and homely.

The waiters greeted Eugene like an old friend, and they were shown to a secluded table behind a pillar. ‘I can recommend the steaks they do here.’ Eugene waited until Rose was settled before taking a seat. ‘Or perhaps you would prefer chops or pie – everything is well cooked and tasty.’ He turned to the waiter. ‘A bottle of claret, if you please, and I’ll have my usual. What about you, Rose? I may call you Rose, mayn’t I?’

She nodded. ‘I’ll have what you’re having.’

‘A good choice.’ Eugene dismissed the waiter with a wave of his hand and a friendly smile. ‘You’ll feel better when you’ve eaten.’ He sat back in his seat as another waiter hurried over to pour the wine. ‘Now tell me about yourself, Rose. I’ve never met a young lady adventurer before.’

Rose eyed him suspiciously, but the twinkle in his eyes was irresistible and she began to relax. Sipping the warming red wine she found herself telling him everything from the time when she had first met Max at her father’s boatyard on the Thames, through her childhood to the moment when her relationship with Max had changed for ever. Then, of course, there was the pressing matter of the Captain’s House and the men who were living there with, or without, Mrs Colville’s permission.

‘So, you think these people are squatters,’ Eugene said slowly. ‘There must be someone at Colville Shipping who handles the family’s private affairs. It shouldn’t be too difficult to track him down, and persuade him to evict the trespassers. You would certainly be better off living there than in one of Regan’s brothels.’

‘You know him?’ Rose could hardly believe her ears.

‘He’s notorious,’ Eugene said calmly. ‘The authorities close him down and take him into custody, but somehow he gets away with a fine and he just starts up again at a different address. There are plenty of men like Regan in London.’

‘Oh!’ Rose was at a loss for words, but by this time the food had arrived and she ate hungrily, earning praise from Eugene, who said that he liked to see a girl enjoying a good meal, instead of young ladies who picked at their food like birds. He questioned her further but managed to do so without seeming to interrogate, and she found it surprisingly easy to tell him how she had come to be in such a difficult situation.

‘But,’ she said, replacing her knife and fork on the plate, ‘I want to prove myself and not just to impress Max. I realise now that I want to be someone in my own right. I didn’t choose to go to Australia; it was decided for me. I didn’t ask to be raised by Sadie and her husband, that just happened, and I didn’t expect to fall in love with Max. It was always Jimmy, his younger brother, who is now in the navy, who was my special friend while we were growing up.’

Eugene drained the last of his wine. ‘And you haven’t seen Max for two years?’

She eyed him warily. ‘I know that sounds a very long time, but we’ve corresponded regularly. He writes the most beautiful letters.’

‘Hmm,’ Eugene said slowly. ‘A soldier and a poet.’

‘Now you’re laughing at me again. You seem to find my situation very comical.’

‘No, indeed I do not. In fact, I regard it as extremely serious.’ He nodded to the waiter, who appeared suddenly to clear the table. ‘Now, more importantly, Rose. Would you like to sample the treacle pudding? I can recommend it.’

‘Oh, yes, please. Sadie used to make lovely suet puddings with either jam or treacle.’ Rose hesitated. ‘I will, but only if you will, too. I don’t want to be a glutton.’

‘Excellent. That will be two treacle puddings, please, waiter. And a jug of custard, too.’

The pudding was so delicious that Rose could have licked the plate, and at one time she might have done so, but not, of course, if Sadie had been looking. Sadie was very particular about table manners, although Laurence was much more relaxed about such things. However much the temptation, Rose was not going to let herself down in front of Eugene, but she was glad that he seemed to enjoy his food as much as she did. She sat back in her chair, replete and feeling much more optimistic. However, Eugene seemed to have forgotten why she had come to see him in the first place and had been amusing her with descriptions of his life as a subeditor and sometime reporter. But all too soon it was time to think about leaving the cosy interior of the pub and to venture out once again into the cold unknown. Rose plucked up the courage to interrupt before Eugene embarked on another risqué tale.

‘You’ve been very kind,’ she said earnestly. ‘But I have to get back to reality. Do you think you could help me to find paid work? I have to earn my living, and, as I told you, I’ve very little money left and nowhere to go other than Cora’s room in Black Raven Court.’

‘Yes, of course. I was enjoying your company so much that I almost forgot.’ Eugene eyed her thoughtfully. ‘You’ve never worked in an office, have you, Rose?’

‘Not really. Unless you count helping to sort Laurence’s papers and keeping accounts. I did help with all that, especially when Sadie was too busy to do the books.’

‘Do you know what a typewriter is?’

Rose shook her head. ‘No, I’ve never heard of such a thing.’

‘It’s fairly new in this country, although gaining popularity in America. It’s the modern way of writing letters and documents. I purchased such a machine on a recent visit to New York, but I haven’t found anyone who is willing to learn to use it, as our clerks prefer writing documents by hand.’

‘Are you offering me a job, sir?’

He leaned back, giving her a calculating look. ‘Would you consider working for me? It would mean learning how to use the typewriter, keeping files and doing general office work.’

‘And you’d pay me?’

He threw back his head and laughed. ‘Of course I would. It wouldn’t be a fortune, but it would be enough to live on.’

‘I’m in no position to refuse – not that I would, anyway. It sounds really interesting. When do I start?’

‘Tomorrow morning at half-past eight. I like to get in early, although, of course, the printers are working most of the night to get the paper out first thing in the morning, and sometimes you might be required to work late, if there’s a particular rush on.’

‘I wouldn’t mind that at all.’ Rose stood up, swaying slightly as the effects of the wine made the floor seem even more uneven than it was. ‘I’ll start looking for a room somewhere nearer.’

Eugene was already standing and he proffered his arm. ‘A breath of fresh air will blow away the cobwebs. I think you’d best come back to the office with me and I’ll show you round. Then I’ll get one of the boys to see you to Black Raven Court.’

The fresh air had a sobering effect and by the time they reached the offices of the London Leader Rose was back to her old self, or very nearly. She decided that drinking wine in the middle of the day was not a good idea, and it had left her with a slight headache, but she was buoyed up by the fact that she had found employment.

She was not quite so confident, however, when faced with the brand-new Sholes and Glidden typewriter, and she was uncomfortably aware that her presence in the office was provoking furtive glances from the rest of the staff. Eugene did not seem to notice anything untoward and he sat her in front of the strange machine, inserted a sheet of paper and struck a few keys.

‘There,’ he said triumphantly. ‘That’s not so difficult, is it? I saw women in New York who could use both hands, as if they were playing the piano, but they were actually typing documents.’ He picked up a file and pulled out a typewritten letter. ‘This is how it should look. What do you think? Could you work this machine?’

‘I don’t see why not.’ Rose perched on a chair and studied the keyboard. Tentatively at first, but with growing confidence, she tapped out a series of words.

‘You’ll soon get used to it,’ Eugene said confidently. ‘What do you think, Rose?’

Chapter Four

The mere fact that an important man like Eugene Sheldon was asking for her opinion and treating her as an equal sent a warm, fuzzy glow rushing through her veins, which had nothing to do with the glass or two of wine she had drunk with her meal. Suddenly, from feeling like a displaced person, an alien in her own homeland, Rose felt wanted and needed.

‘I think it’s a marvellous invention,’ she said enthusiastically. ‘I’ve spent hours and hours writing letters for Laurence to sign, but if I’d had a typewriting machine I’m sure it would have saved time and a lot of effort.’

‘It’s good that you’re open to change, Rose.’ Eugene turned away as one of the clerks rushed over to him waving a piece of paper.

‘Guvnor, this has just come in – an affray in Eastcheap. It could be the gangs are tearing each other apart yet again, but there’s no one here to send.’

‘I’ll go. I enjoy a good scrap.’ Eugene grabbed his hat. ‘Come on, Miss Munday. You can see what we do first-hand, and it’s not too far from Black Raven Court. I’ll see you safely home as soon as I’ve got a story.’