Part 20

Two months later, fate brought two letters in the mail. One was from Tony to apologise and to tell her that, although he had been married at the time, his wife had now left him and he was inviting her to another meet. Darcy threw the letter away, disgusted.    

The other letter was from Simon Judd. His mother had passed away and his aunt would be taking the dogs to live with her. He asked that Darcy inform the gardener that he would not be needed again and he also regretted to say that Darcy’s services would no longer be required either, since the house would soon be cleared and then it was to be sold.

Darcy sat motionless, with the letter in her lap and stared out of the window. She was terribly upset that her employer would not be returning, and that she would have to leave her lovely home, but now of course, she would have to part with Fortnum and Mason too.

Such sorrow falls and casts a spell

A shadow over fragile light

The inner fire dims and fades

Removing colour from our sight

Why do such endings land in sync

Whilst iron roses turn to zinc?

For what befalls a jaded heart

Will also taint perspective’s slant

No matter how the grit prevails

It’s hard to find ‘good’ to implant

To add what wretched fate intends

Now say goodbye to furry friends

Darcy could not contain her tears when Fortnum and Mason were led away. She knew she would never see them again.

That night, alone in the apartment, she couldn’t bear the silence. She called Chris for their customary chat, but he was away, playing a concert in Birmingham. She would have to talk to him tomorrow. Darcy looked around and wondered what she should do now. Her meagre wages from the Cavendish and the meat plant were not enough to sustain her. She had already lost her home, her job and her boyfriend, now her little companions had gone too.

Darcy spent most of that night staring up at the ceiling, and by morning she had made a decision. 

First light sees frantic burst of bustle

Born of midnight’s frigid stare

Swiftly pack all worldly goods

See keys assigned to trusted care

With tilted chin and firm-set mouth

This little bird is flying south

Darcy loaded the car, did her last run for the meat plant, saying goodbye to her friends as she went, then she dropped into the Cavendish to explain her situation and say goodbye to them too.

By late afternoon, a young and impulsive Darcy had hit the road. 

It was time to move on.