Shay.

The orphanage was filthy. Shay had worked all day washing walls and rearranging the furniture so they could fit five more beds into the long dormitory style room. She stood back in the doorway and perused her work. If only there was some colour. The bare timber walls, even though they were now clean, had the dull look of a warehouse.

Curtains. That's what she would do. The windows had no coverings, and this was a room full of girls who needed a bit more privacy than clear glass windows could provide. Rugs. If she laid rugs on the bare timber floorboards it would give the room more warmth. She would ask her father for some money, and get Mary to sew the curtains. Shay wondered if there were any unused rugs in the attic at the townhouse. She would take a look in the morning.

Wiping her sweaty face with her apron, Shay grinned. The apron was smeared with dirt stains. She looked down at the rest of her clothing. Every square inch was covered in dust and grime. The girls who had helped her didn't look much better. "Come on you lot. Let's go and get washed, and then have some tea. I'm sure cook will have something for us to eat."

"It looks beautiful, Miss Shay." Helen Gambit, one of the older girls, took her hand. "I can't wait to come to bed tonight."

"Yes." Shay smiled down at the twelve-year-old. "It does look so much more inviting."

Tomorrow, Albert would put the new beds into the room, and the nuns could bring in ten more girls.

Shay washed her face and hands, took off the dirty apron, and headed to the dining room. She heard girls giggling and laughing, a stern nun's voice, the sound of someone wailing, and then more giggling. Shay smiled. These were the sounds of life, and she was so thrilled to be a part of it.

*

"Oh, my goodness, Miss."

Shay gave Mrs. Travers, the head house maid, an exhausted smile as she made her way in through the back entrance of the London house. "It's been a long day. There was so much more cleaning to do than I realised."

"I'll get Christina to fill the bath for you, Miss. You look a right mess."

"Yes, I'm so sorry. Michelle is going to have a hard time getting these clothes clean. Tell her not to worry too much. They'll be perfect for working at the orphanage. All those little girls and grubby hands." Shay laughed. "I'm so hungry. Could you ask cook to heat something up for Mary, Albert and me. We've worked like slaves today."

"I certainly will, Miss." Mrs. Travers headed to find Christina. She stopped mid-step and turned back. "There are some letters for you, Miss Shay. I've left them on the table in the drawing room."

Shay took the letters to bed with her. One was from Thomas telling her that his bank had been given instructs to set aside twenty pounds for her to spend as she saw fit. Shay beamed. It was as if he could read her mind. Tomorrow she would take Mary into the city to buy curtain material. Nothing expensive, though it had to be pretty. She yawned and lifted the second letter. It was from Hannah. The first few lines read:

Dearest Shay,

I have such exciting news. Edmond has asked for my hand in marriage. I can't tell you how happy I am. Papa has given his blessing.

Tears trickled down Shay's face. She had no idea why she was crying. She supposed it was because she missed Hannah, and everyone at Lytton House. Shay hadn't been back there for a year. When Hannah and she had finished school, Rebecca travelled to Paris to meet them so they could shop for dresses for the Season, and then they had returned to London to attend the celebrations. It was then, that Shay had decided to work at the orphanage. There had been no time to go home. She wiped her eyes and continued to read.

We are going to be married in August, and I would love you to be my bridesmaid.

Shay gushed. An August wedding, beautiful time of year.

Mama and I are coming to London next week, to buy fabric and go for fittings. Can you please be available?

This was so exciting. Of course, she would be available.

Papa says the wedding will be here at home. I have sent Julia a letter with the news, and Papa has written to tell the school she must return to England, so she can attend.

This was better than exciting. Everyone would be home. Hannah was fulfilling her dreams and Shay was fulfilling hers.

We love and miss you very much. I am so proud of what you are doing with your life.

All my love, Hannah.

Shay folded the letter, blew out her candle and snuggled under the covers. She was so tired, yet so happy.

*

"There's four, Miss Shay." Albert thought he probably shouldn't have disturbed her, while she was eating her breakfast, but knew she wouldn't mind. "Do you want me to bring them all down?"

"Yes." Shay's bright face dulled as she twisted her mouth in a grimace. "Perhaps we better ask Mrs. Travers in case Mama likes to change the rugs over with the different seasons." Shay lifted her spoon. "I won't be long. I'll finish this and clean my teeth. I'll be with you soon. I want to go into the haberdashery, before we head to the orphanage."

Albert tilted his head. "I've got the carriage ready. I'll go and tell Mary in case she wants to change, or take her bonnet. She thinks we're going straight to Blue Maids.

Shay took her course tooth cloth and covered it with the burnt spice and chalk paste. As she rubbed it over her teeth she thought about the girls at the orphanage. Most of them had no hygiene knowledge at all. While she was buying fabric for curtains, she would buy a bolt of the course cloth and cut them each a square, and then give cook the recipe to make the paste. Burnt spice wasn't a bad flavour. Shay preferred cinnamon or sage. It didn't matter either way, because the peppermint water that she rinsed with, took away any after taste.

Toileting was another thing she was going to improve for the girls. She would give them another square of fabric, and teach them to clean it after each use. Shay had been lucky enough to have grown up with hemp and wool squares, but they were too expensive to supply each girl with. Then there was the matter of menstruation. She wasn't going to be able to supply a girdle and woollen pads either. Shay thought about this some more, and decided to speak to Mary about designing fabric pads, with cords of some sort, so the cloth could be tied around a person's waist. Shay lifted her head and looked into the mirror. There were so many things to teach the girls. She smiled at her image, looking forward to the challenge of improving the children's lives. 

Shay is doing wonderful work. ♥♥

The way Shay cleans her teeth, the fabric for toilet use and menstruation are how people of this era coped with such things.  Taken from a book called, A Million Years In a Day by Greg Jenner.

Photo taken from Childrenshomes.org.uk is of the original Blue Maids Orphanage.