The mysterious Miss Collins

I remember the first time I met Mrs. Melling. I don’t think I could ever forget it. It was a night like no other—dark, storm-lashed, and fraught with danger. The rain poured down in sheets, and the world beyond the carriage windows was reduced to a blurry chaos. It was a night that had no mercy.

Anyone rational would have pulled off the road and taken shelter, but we could not afford that luxury. If we had stopped our pursuers would have caught up with us, so we pressed on. Miss Hayes was determined that we were to reach her sister’s house before the night ended.

We had set off from the small town of Fulsome just as the sun had been breaking over the horizon. The first five miles we had covered on foot, keeping to the back roads of the county and avoiding everyone, till we arrived at a non-descript inn from where Miss Hayes had rented a weathered carriage. The horses were old and bony but it was faster than travelling on foot so we rode on for hours stopping only once or twice to let the horses’ rest. At some point I lost track of time. It felt like we had been driving forever.

“Try to sleep child”, Miss Hayes had said, “It will make the way seem faster”

Concern and determination were etched her face. She had risked everything by helping me flee my aunt’s household. Wanting to put her at ease, I forced a smile I didn’t feel and closed my eyes, pretending to rest.

Hunger gnawed at my very bones; in our haste we had forgotten to pack any provisions and stopping at an inn was far too dangerous. Overtaken by exhaustion, I must have eventually fallen asleep for when I woke it was to the thunderous drumming of the rain on the carriage roof.

I slid open the small wooden pane at the front of the carriage.

“Miss Hayes? Shouldn’t we seek shelter? You must be drenched”

“We have but two more miles, child” Miss Hayes had replied, her voice barely audible over the din of the rain. “The horses are still good, and we should be there soon”

So, we pressed on. By the time we reached her sister’s house we were both drenched to the bone. The carriage roof had leaks that let in a steady stream of water and before long, everything inside was sodden, including the threadbare rug I clung to in a futile attempt to keep warm. I was huddled in a corner, shivering, when the carriage finally lurched to a stop and Miss Hayes swung the door open.

“Hurry now, Amelia” she urged, hustling me out of the vehicle, “before anyone notices a strange carriage”

We hurried to the door of what appeared to be the servants’ entrance of a large establishment. The house loomed large but, in the rain and the darkness, I could discern nothing more. All that caught my attention was a light flickering in the window. Thoughts of food and warmth consumed my mind as Miss Hayes rapped sharply on the door.

The door swung open almost instantly, revealing a woman so strikingly similar to Miss Hayes that could be no doubt that they were sisters.

“Frances!” Mrs. Melling exclaimed, her voice tinged with shock.

“Hello Meg” Miss Hayes replied calmly. “May we come in?”

As I stepped inside, a wave of warmth and light embraced me. The kitchen was expansive yet cozy with a roaring fire at one end whose heat cut through the outdoor chill. In the flickering light of the flames, I noticed the remnants of a modest supper on the table- the last of a loaf of bread, some mutton and cheese and a decanter half filled with a dark red sherry. My stomach growled-a sharp reminder that I had had nothing to eat all day. Shivering, I stepped away from the tempting food and drink and retreated to a corner, listening anxiously as the two sisters conversed.

“You are my only hope, Meg” Miss Hayes implored her sister “If you turn us down, I might as well ask the poor girl to throw herself in the sea for that would be kinder that returning her to her aunt’s”.

“Steady now, Frances. Start from the beginning if you please”. Mrs. Melling’s said in a calm and controlled voice. “Would you like some sherry? I have a feeling your tale could do with a sip”. It was easy to envision her as the headmistress of her own school; authority seemed to flow from her effortlessly.

Miss Hayes drew a deep breath before delving into the story of my brief and unfortunate life.

“I was Amelia’s governess once” she began, turning towards Mrs. Melling. “From the time she was nine till she turned fourteen. That was when her parents were tragically taken away from her. She passed into the guardianship of her aunt, and I was dismissed from service. Her aunt’s household was grand, and I had hoped she would find a good life there. Unfortunately, that wasn’t the case. Amelia’s aunt despised her mother and, upon her death, transferred the hatred towards her. On the very first day she was told that she was not family, but rather an orphan who had to earn her keep. They put her to menial tasks in the house, treating her as nothing but a lowly maid- sweeping floors, cleaning garrets and mopping the kitchen- all in return for a hunk of bread and a small corner to sleep in at night. The servants were given instructions to treat her harshly so sometimes even the hunk of bread was denied”.

Miss Hayes passed a weary hand over her forehead; the exhaustion of the day and my revelations had taken a heavy toll on her. “I loved the child as if she were my own” she said, her voice thick with emotion. “I had hoped that her aunt would provide a loving home or, at least, a safe environment for her to grow. But it was not to be. If they had even trained her for a trade- a cook or a seamstress or governess- perhaps it would have felt more bearable, but she was nothing but free labour to them, to be used and abused as they saw fit”.

I shivered in the corner, trying to remain unnoticed. Miss Hayes’ voice was strained, but her words hit me like a storm. The memories she stirred were fresh, like wounds barely healed. I had lived those years—the hunger, the cold, the humiliation—but hearing them from her lips, knowing that I had been so easily dismissed and discarded by my own blood, cut deeper than I had expected.

“The trouble began when their son took notice of my precious child” Miss Hayes said, her voice tight with emotion. “Amelia was just shy of seventeen then. She had the same beauty and elegance her mother had, and the same warmth and charisma. No amount of sweeping the garrets or mopping the floors could diminish her beauty. And that’s when their son started to take an interest”.

At that, I could no longer hold back my sobs. The horror and shame of the previous night were still painfully fresh in my mind. Both sisters halted their conversation to look at me. My sodden clothes clung to my body, and icy cold water pooled at my feet. I trembled from the chill.

“Stand closer to the fire, Amelia” Miss Hayes said “You will be warmer there.”

“Please, feel free to help yourself to anything on the table till I can attend to you” Mrs. Melling added.

I moved to the other end of the room, letting the warmth of the fire seep in through my sodden clothes. I glanced at the food, but it no longer looked appetizing. I quickly turned away, feeling nauseous.

“He tried to attack her” Miss Hayes continued, her voice shaking with a mix of rage and emotion. “My poor sweet innocent girl. Thankfully, she fought back, hitting him on the head and escaping the house while he was unconscious. She knew I was nearby in Aunt Beatrice’s old cottage. I had tried to visit her for days but her aunt had lied and turned me away. Finally, I bribed a maid to deliver the message that I was close. But I never heard back. I had no way of knowing if the missive reached her. Thank God it did, for she ran five miles in the darkness to reach me”.

“We set off for you as soon as we could, once it was safe. I don’t think anyone knows she came to me for help, but they’re likely scouring the countryside for her. Meg, please—she has nowhere else to turn. If you don’t help her, they’ll catch up with us, and they’ll send her back to that nightmare, or worse. You are my only hope, Meg. You have to help us!”

Miss Hayes stepped forward and clasped Mrs. Melling’s hand, but Mrs. Melling looked annoyed and snatched her hand away.

“This is insanity Frances” she said, her voice sharp with anger. “You bring me a fugitive. A child on the run from her own family? What kind of trouble have you brought into my house? This school is all I have; one mistake could ruin everything. What parent would send their daughter to a house that shelters murderers?”

“He isn’t dead Meg” Miss Hayes replied anxiously “That child is far too starved and weak to harm even a fly. I didn’t bring her here to put you in danger. In fact, your school is the perfect place for her to hide. I spent five years as her governess, and she is one of the brightest pupils I have ever had. I have taught her everything I know. She’s fluent in Italian and French, well versed in history, the arts, deportment- she would be a tremendous asset to you as a teacher. Yes, she is young but with a bit of training, you could turn her into a valuable resource for the school”.

Mrs. Melling still looked unconvinced.

Miss Hayes pressed on, her voice urgent. “You have the power to save a soul. In your school, you can give her a new name, a new identity- no one would ever know. We may not be able to give her the life she would have had if her parents were still alive, but at least we can offer her safety and dignity, a chance to earn her living in peace. We can’t ignore a child in need. Not when we know all too well what it feels like. Remember how Aunt Olivia took us in when Mama and Papa died? Where would we be if she hadn’t saved us? Now it’s our time to pay the kindness forward. We have to save this child, Meg. We have to!”

The argument continued for a while longer but eventually, Mrs. Melling relented- though with obvious reluctance. The two sisters spoke in hushed tones and, after a few moments, turned to face me.

“Amelia” Miss Hayes said gently, “from now on you will be staying with Mrs. Melling as an apprentice teacher”.

My face must have betrayed my shock and horror. In my fragile world, Miss Hayes had been my only source of safety; the thought of parting from her terrified me. I clung to her as she embraced me.

“Hush, child” she soothed, “it is all for the best. You will like it here. Margaret runs a school for young ladies. You will train with her to be a teacher. Isn’t that lovely? Remember when you were little, and we used to pretend you were the governess, and your mama and I were your pupils?”

A small laugh escaped me as I recalled those make-believe games we used to play. It seemed like a lifetime ago. Miss Hayes laughed along with me.

“Now, you can be a schoolmistress for real” she continued. “You’ll teach these young ladies and I am sure you will quickly become their favourite, just like you were mine. You’ll have room and board, and some money of your own. Most importantly, you’ll be far away from your aunt and her family. She will never find you here, and you will be safe. It’s what your mother would have wanted, my dear.”

“Can I not stay with you” I had asked through my tears. “We could go somewhere far from here...”

A wistful look crossed Miss Hayes’ face. “No, child. You wouldn’t be safe with me. Too many people know of us, and it would never be safe for you. Perhaps, someday- when the world has forgotten about us- we can find a small cottage by the sea, and you can come and live with me. But for now, this is the safest place for you.”

With a final kiss on my head and a fierce embrace, Miss Hayes left. Mrs. Melling had pressed her to stay and rest for a day, but she insisted on leaving.

“I must be back at Aunt Beatrice’s before my absence is noticed” she said softly. “She is a good soul and will cover for me, but it is best I return as soon as I can.”