LITMIR.BIZ

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in Lady Mortimer’s chamber,’ Mrs Boyd snapped at Audrey. ‘The upstairs cleaning was all finished hours ago. And I believe it’s not two weeks since you were reprimanded for shirking outside instead of working.’ She looked from one downcast face to the other. ‘I’ll speak to Mrs Venner later and you can each explain to her your disgraceful conduct. Now get about your duties.’

      As Lucy proceeded along the corridor she was aware of many pairs of eyes following her and a hush descending where moments before had been heard lively chatter. She pursed her lips and inched up her chin. Of course, the other servants had been gossiping over the brouhaha upstairs concerning her and Audrey Stubbs, and the likely punishments they would receive.

      At the Grange, if Lucy had been given a ticking-off for some misdemeanour – and she’d certainly had some from her sister and brother-in-law – she’d have got sympathetic smiles from her colleagues. Not here. Cold glances and turned shoulders met her lonely progress towards the kitchens. Once she’d passed by she heard a few sniggers and her fingers curled at her sides.

      She’d just had her dressing-down from Mrs Venner and had been told her punishment was the loss of her afternoon off next week. It had come as a bitter blow because she’d planned on persuading her mother to take a trip round to her sister Beth’s house. But she hadn’t felt it prudent to argue or even offer to have her pay docked instead. She’d simply bitten her lip and waited to be dismissed by the housekeeper.

      She was the newest member of staff and had not yet made any friends amongst her colleagues. Prue Bates, who was the other girl sharing the dormitory in which she and Audrey slept, had been standoffish from the start and had marked her territory very clearly in the cramped attic room. Lucy considered most of them quite snooty for hired help. But it didn’t worry her; she liked her work, learning to care for her ladyship and her daughters’ swish clothes and accessories. She’d also fetched bits and pieces from the haberdashers and milliners. Lucy didn’t mind at all being an errand girl for it got her out of the house for a while. After the sedate pace of life at Lockley Grange the crowds and the bustle in London fascinated her. She’d walk along looking about and jumping out of her skin when hooting vehicles chugged past. Mostly the fellows were just impatient to get going in traffic but she’d noticed a delivery driver had done it to get her attention and give her a saucy signal.

      So far she’d had little contact with the mistress or her two young daughters. Mrs Boyd kept her in the background as much as possible and took all the praise for jobs well done. But Lucy knew there was time enough to make her mark; she was being trained to be the Mortimer girls’ personal maid when they were older.

      On the whole she’d found Mrs Boyd a fair boss and wasn’t resentful about being disciplined. But Lucy felt dejected that camaraderie, so much in evidence at the Grange when the mistress had been alive, seemed to be lacking here. Rory Jackson seemed friendly but his harmless attention to her had got her into trouble. Reflecting on him seemed to have conjured him up. Her sideways glance through the open door of the servants’ hall landed on his lean figure. He saw her too and strolled up to her.

      ‘You didn’t hang about in getting yourself into trouble, did you?’

      Lucy kept on walking without replying to his amused statement. He followed her as she carried on towards the kitchens.

      ‘What started it off?’

      ‘As if you didn’t know,’ Lucy muttered.

      ‘What you on about? Why would I know anything?’

      Lucy halted and planted her hands on her hips. ‘Don’t tell me it ain’t gone round like wildfire. No doubt Audrey’s got her side in first. As I’m the new girl I’m the culprit, right?’

      ‘Touchy, ain’t you? Carry on like that and everybody will think you’re at fault.’

      ‘They can think what they bloody well like!’ Lucy gritted out through set teeth. ‘I know what went on, and that’s enough for me.’

      ‘It’s enough for me too. You say it’s her fault, I believe you.’

      ‘Why’s that, then?’ Lucy started off again at a slower pace, slanting him a look.

      ‘Ain’t the first time Audrey’s got caught out. Don’t suppose it’ll be the last. Only next time she’ll get the boot. Everybody’s allowed a few warnings here at Mortimer House, and she’s had hers.’

      Lucy recalled that Mrs Boyd had snapped at Audrey because she’d recently been in trouble.

      ‘What started it off?’ he again asked.

      As it concerned him, and was a bit embarrassing, Lucy considered telling Rory to mind his own business, but instead she blurted out the truth. ‘Audrey thinks I’ve got me eye on you and she don’t like it. If you and her have a thing, you’ve got my sympathy, ’cos she’s a right nasty cow, as far as I can see.’ She eyed him frostily. ‘On the other hand, if you’ve been winding her up on purpose, saying I’m after you, when I ain’t, then the two of you deserve each other, ’cos you’re no better than she is.’ Lucy made to walk quickly on but Rory grabbed her elbow and tugged her back.

      ‘I don’t know her much better’n I know you. As I said, she’s only been here a short while. Neither of you takes my fancy ... no offence.’

      ‘None taken ... and likewise,’ Lucy rattled off. But she felt miffed by his clipped words and amused air, and ripped her elbow free of his grip.

      Rory followed a few paces behind her marching figure. ‘Is that all you were fighting about? Audrey thinking we’d been flirting?’ he asked lightly.

      ‘We didn’t fight over you so don’t go getting conceited ideas. If anything, I reckon she’s more narked she didn’t get my job.’

      ‘She did want it. Everybody knew that. That’s why you shouldn’t be surprised that a lot of people aren’t jumping to any conclusions over what happened today.’

      Lucy turned and gazed up at his lean profile.

      ‘Where was you when she started on you?’

      ‘In the mistress’s bedroom.’ Lucy took the last few steps to the kitchen and stopped outside the door. She was going to ask for a sandwich and eat it in her room rather than sit with her colleagues glaring at her at teatime.

      ‘Ain’t the first time she’s been caught dawdling in a place she shouldn’t be. She’s workshy, that one.’ Rory plunged his hands into his pockets.

      ‘She had a set-to with anybody else?’

      He nodded. ‘Couple of times since she’s been here. Millie ...’ He saw Lucy’s frown and explained, ‘Housemaid who comes in twice a week, you’ve probably not yet met her ... she gave Audrey a smack when she found out she’d been canoodling with her sweetheart. Jack helps out in the garden and, officially, him and Audrey were just sharing a crafty smoke, nothing more to it.’

      ‘And unofficially?’ Lucy suggested drily.

      ‘Jack couldn’t help boasting to a few of us men that he’d been on the verge of getting a roll in the hay.’ He chuckled softly. ‘Right puffed up, he were, the little tyke, ’cos he reckoned Audrey wouldn’t take no for an answer.’

      Lucy blushed, feeling indignant that the brazen trollop had had the cheek to accuse her of being the sort to drop her drawers out in the open! ‘Who else has she been in trouble with?’ Lucy’s question tumbled out.

      ‘Susan Reeves; your predecessor came across Audrey in her ladyship’s room just after she’d laid out some of her clothes for a fancy evening do. By all accounts she gave Audrey a right piece of her mind.’ Rory propped an elbow against the wall, casually supporting a cheek on an open palm. ‘Audrey had only been here a few days and got away with saying she was confused and didn’t know it was the personal maids’ job to bring up the mistress’s clean linen.’

      Lucy gave a little nod to let him know she’d appreciate knowing more.

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