God's Country

Part Twenty-One

October 2019

'I try to speak in everyday language. I feel like God has gifted me to take Bible principles and make them practical.'

Joel Osteen

Mid October brought the first really cold weather of the winter and some much needed respite for the Christian Humanities students at the Christian Ladies College. Having started the term with ten girls, their number had risen to twenty four after six successful weeks. Four girls in the year below had turned sixteen during that period and their parents decided to put them straight into the programme, as there was no real need for a pious maiden to take formal examinations. Four more transferred from other institutions as Chloe Ford had effectively done, and six older girls who had been studying at home with their mothers were enrolled to finish their preparations for marriage under professional care. Half term was not a complete release, as each girl had an individual study program to follow during their week off, but they had all been worked hard and Mrs Burden had asked their parents to give them all enough time to rest and fully recuperate. However, Mrs Ford also had more good news from the headmistress, who had been as good as her word and had spoken to Miss Daphne Scott, of all people, about Chloe.

Mrs Ford was told that her daughter was highly thought of within the unit, having applied herself so diligently to her new lessons whilst, whenever appropriate, showing considerable interest in the subject of guardianship. There had also been several excellent reports from other parents, specifically Mrs Maynard, about the maiden's positive influence on the other girls. Miss Scott, who obviously knew Chloe better than most, believed that the girl had potential, and offered to take her under her wing at Broomwaters and give her some real life work experience. So Chloe did not get to rest, or recuperate. Instead, she exchanged her mittens for a pair of thin grey gloves, to match the spare grey gown Miss Scott had kindly provided for her, went without her diaper and reported to Broomwaters early on the Monday morning for work. She was so thrilled of course, but desperate not to show it, in case it was considered improper, and rather nervous of working for the guardian who had punished her on behalf of her parents only weeks before. She knew she was very young for such an opportunity and she needed to prove herself, because her mother already knew of three families from within the First Congregation who wanted to employ a guardian but could not find one of which the Church would approve. If she could prove herself, Chloe was already dreaming of leaving the Christian Ladies College far behind and earning a living, as well as God's love.

"As you can see, we have guests here today, Miss Ford...Miss Madeleine and Miss Alice Craig...but they are fully aware of your role here with us this week, and they will all treat you with due deference, I am sure." Miss Scott explained, showing Chloe into the drawing room where the five girls performed a deep obeisance of welcome.

"Good morning girls," Chloe said, trying to sound full of confidence. It felt very strange but wonderfully liberating to be able to speak so freely, and to use her fingers after three months in mittens. She felt quite grown up even if four of the girls she would be helping to look after were actually older than her, and the other only months younger.

"Our mornings are commonly spent in prayer, of course. Perhaps you could help me sit them down and arrange their gowns for them...then we can attach their drinking bottles to their feeding tubes. I always like them to have a drink available, and it will be good practise for you, Miss Ford...it can be a little fiddly in gloves."

"Of course Miss Scott," Chloe replied and turned to start with Alice. Miss Scott was quite right, it was quite awkward in gloves and she did struggle a little, dropping the feeding tube twice, but Alice behaved perfectly for her. Obviously she was used to being handled by a guardian, but only by Miss Ellis and the likes of Miss Scott when she was visiting away from home, and Chloe marvelled at how the young maiden instantly accepted her. Both the Craig girls and the Harrington's had been educated at home, first by a governess and then by their guardians. Miss Scott, who joined the family as soon as Henrietta was old enough to muzzle at the age of twelve, had them under perfect control, but Chloe had feared that she might find it harder to encourage such obedience. However, first Alice and then Henrietta showed her nothing but respect and she relaxed a little. She wanted to impress Miss Scott during her week at Broomwaters, because she realised what an opportunity she had and what a good reference from the best guardian in the village would mean to her future. In her heart of hearts, she hoped that the demand for guardians might quickly bring her further education at the College to an abrupt end, because it was a waste of time for someone like her. She was not a maiden and she never could be, but she could be something just as worthwhile. All she needed was a positive reference from Miss Scott and all her dreams could come true.