Touching the Stars

CHAPTER ONE - 1894

CHAPTER ONE

-

1894Justina Mansell arranged her small stool on the edge of the wood. Carefully, she unpacked her watercolours and painting implements.

She sighed with pleasure as she sat down and gazed at the scene laid out before her.

The bluebells had never looked better. They spread from her feet out into the distance, their blue set off by the fresh green of the undergrowth and the trees.

In fact, as she studied the bluebells, she thought that they reflected the sadness that lay below her appreciation of their beauty.

Justina had wanted to accompany her mother to her favourite charity, the local hospital. Lady Mansell spent a good amount of time visiting and raising money for it.

She had smiled and placed her hand on Justina’s cheek.

“No, my darling, you go and enjoy yourself.”

Justina knew it was hopeless to try and persuade her mother. Lady Mansell always did exactly what she wanted.

The fact that what she wanted was usually to help others rather than to enjoy herself with her family did not make it any easier for her youngest daughter to accept.

It made Justina feel useless and that there was no purpose to her life.

Justina felt a failure.

She had failed as a debutante.

The previous year she had come out with a Season sponsored by her aunt, the Viscountess Elder of Bannockburn, her father’s sister. The whole purpose behind the Season, she knew, had been to find a husband.

It had not been a success.

Justina had been bored with the company of the other debutantes, none of whom seemed to have a thought in their heads beyond their appearance and the necessity of making a suitable marriage.

And none of the young men had shown the slightest interest in her.

It was useless to recall that she had not been interested in any of them either.

A second failure was Justina’s inability to make a life for herself in Surrey.

Croquet parties, picnics and supper parties with their neighbours she found boring. Nothing new ever happened and nobody seemed able to talk about anything interesting.

And too often both Lady and Lord Mansell said something that betrayed they were waiting for Justina to find a husband.

Were all young men as dull as those she had so far met? Why could not they be like her father?

When Lord Mansell was home, he would regale her with stories of life at the Foreign Office and what was happening in the outside world. Talking to him was fascinating.

Then there was Justina’s brother, Peter, a soldier and now serving with his Regiment in India. She used to enjoy talking to him.

Her latest failure seemed to be as a companion to her mother, a role that Justina had assumed herself. But whenever Justina suggested she accompanied or helped her, Lady Mansell said she should go and enjoy herself with friends of her own age.

There were only two activities that Justina felt she was successful at – playing the piano and painting.

Both could carry her away into another world.

She tried to concentrate on colours in the vegetation all around her.

Painting was an occupation that never disappointed Justina. Trying to capture a flower in all its incredible beauty was something that could make her forget all the frustrations of everyday life.

Her mother would laugh and say,

“If an earthquake should happen while Justina is painting, she would not notice!”

Justina certainly did not now hear her sister, Victoria, calling her name or see her running across the field that led to the wood, waving a letter.

Only when Victoria arrived at her side and put a hand on her shoulder, trying to catch her breath, did Justina realise that she was there.

Victoria looked at the painting.

“That’s beautiful,” she said when she could speak. “I wish I could paint like you. But I wouldn’t wear such a paint-spattered smock. Really, you should throw it away.”

Victoria plumped herself down on the ground next to the stool.

“Look, a letter from Peter!” She waved it at her sister.

Justina dropped her paint brush.

“Really? What does he say?”

She loved Peter’s letters. There were always descriptions of some aspect of his life that sounded so different from the mundane world of Surrey.

“He wants me to go and visit him.”

Victoria handed over the sheets of paper and Justina scanned them eagerly.

“Fancy his Commanding Officer’s wife inviting you to stay with them,” Justina exclaimed. “Did you note his comment that you will get on very well with Mary, their daughter? Hasn’t he written about her before? Do you think he wishes to make an offer for her?”

Victoria shrugged.

“How can one tell?”

She arranged the folds of her muslin skirt neatly around her legs.

“When are you going?”

“Oh, Justina, I don’t want to go.”

“Not want to visit India?” Justina could hardly believe her ears. “But think of everything we have heard about from Peter – the elephants, the strange flowers and trees, the mountains and rivers, the incredible palaces, the glorious landscape. And the spices!”

“Think of the insects, the snakes, the heat!”

Justina looked down at the letter she held.

“Peter says it will be very exciting, lots of parties and junketings.”

She smiled at her sister.

“I cannot possibly leave England now,” Victoria said with a catch in her breath.

She glanced demurely up at her sister through her eyelashes.

“You do understand?”

“No,” Justina replied bluntly.

She had a very deep voice. Her father loved it and said it was very soothing to listen to, but one or two of the young men she had been met had seemed a little taken aback when they first heard her.

“Teddy!” exclaimed Victoria.

“You mean, he’s going to propose?” Justina asked, her voice rising in excitement.

Edward Bathurst was a dashing young officer Victoria had met during her Season. Nearly two years older than Justina, she had come out a year before her.

Victoria was very pretty and she had a number of young men paying her attention, but Edward was the most persistent.

Victoria flushed, looked down at her skirt and made a few pleats in the material.

“He, – well – he said he was going to approach Papa.”

Justina gazed at her sister, her expression doubtful.

“Vicky, are you certain Teddy is what you want?”

Edward was very pleasant, but Justina did not find him at all exciting.

“What do you mean?” Victoria bridled. “He is – he is the most fantastic man.”

“That’s what Elizabeth thought about Philip.”

“Justina! How can you compare Teddy with Philip?”

Justina picked up her sketch book and looked at the half-finished painting.

“Vicky, is love really as wonderful as they say?”

“Oh,” Victoria sighed and lay back amongst the bluebells. “I cannot tell you how thrilling it is.”

Justina looked at the blonde curls that tangled with the blue of the flowers. People said to her that she must envy her sister’s hair. Her own was copper-coloured and curled far too strongly to be wound into ringlets.

“Tell me all about love,” Justina demanded. “Did your heart beat faster the moment you met Edward?”

“Not at first. I thought he was very good-looking, but so were lots of the other men I met. But gradually he seemed to – well, I realised that it was him I wanted to call on me, him I wanted to talk to, him who, yes, made my heart beat faster.”

Victoria turned over onto her stomach, picked a bluebell and started removing the little bells.

“You cannot describe love,” she murmured dreamily. “You just know when it comes along.”

“How do you know?”

“You can only think of the one person and when your eyes meet you get this funny, wonderful feeling in the bottom of your stomach.” She blushed. “It is so exciting and also a little frightening.”

“Frightening?”

“It is almost as if something in you is going to erupt.”

“Like a volcano?”

Justina was astonished, it all sounded very strange to her.

“Something like that. And when you are with the one you love, everything seems perfect. It’s as though the sun is always shining.”

“And that’s what it is like when you are with Teddy?”

“Yes, yes, yes!” Victoria cried.

She drew up her knees and hugged them, a dreamy expression on her face.

“And you think that your love is going to last for ever?” Justina’s deep voice sounded very doubtful.

“Of course!”

“And do you think Elizabeth felt like that when she married Philip?”

“That is what she said.”

“In that case, I don’t think you can trust such feelings.”

“It’s not Elizabeth’s fault, it’s that Philip is such a swine.”

“Vicky! Elizabeth surely didn’t ‘t say that!”

“Of course not, it is something I overheard Papa say to Mama.”

Elizabeth, the eldest Mansell daughter, had been married for five years. A most striking girl, she had been the debutante of her Season. Sir Philip Masson was tall, dark and very handsome.

Lord and Lady Mansell were delighted when Philip had proposed to Elizabeth. Their daughter was deeply in love with him and the elaborate wedding that took place seemed to promise a fairy-tale life for the happy couple.

Alas, by the end of the first year, Justina could see that her sister was far from happy.

The family saw nothing of her husband. He appeared to live most of the time in London and Justina realised that her sister was deeply miserable, but the situation was not one that was ever discussed.

“You are sure Teddy couldn’t change the way Philip has?” Justina asked anxiously. “

He couldn’t possibly,” retorted Victoria indignantly.

“I don’t see how you can be so confident. I don’t think you can trust men and I am definitely not going to get married.”

“When you fall in love, you will feel different.”

“I cannot imagine falling in love. I shall be an old maid,” Justina asserted cheerfully. “I’ll come and look after your children and help Mama with her hospital and write letters for Papa.”

“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!