LITMIR.BIZ

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her stepmother moved in. Celia’s attitude to the staff from the start had been utter disdain, but Sophy and Danny Lovat, older and more mature than their colleagues, had tried to adopt a pragmatic outlook. They had a great deal to lose since they’d been promoted to the top jobs.

      After eleven years working at Lockley Grange, and after a year of being man and wife, Danny and Sophy had been summoned to Mr Lockley’s study one afternoon. They’d turned up in trepidation, wondering what they’d done wrong, only to learn they’d been doing everything right. Sophy had been promoted to a new position of housekeeper and Danny to that of house steward. With hindsight they’d realised their employers had wanted to free themselves from running the Grange because they’d known their time together was limited. None of the servants had been aware of the mistress’s grave illness until near the end.

      ‘How about if I have a quiet word with the master?’ Sophy offered unconvincingly.

      ‘Oh, yeah,’ Lucy muttered sarcastically, ‘’cos that’s bound to work. We all know she’s got him wrapped right around her little finger. And we all know how she keeps him there,’ she added sourly. Lucy had previously held Mr Lockley in high estimation but her opinion of him had plummeted when she’d realised what a sucker he was.

      Ever since the newlyweds had returned from honeymoon, guttural noises could be heard issuing from the master suite at any hour of the day or night, prompting salacious gossip in the servants’ hall. It had not gone unnoticed that the young madam engineered those passionate trysts, and that they invariably coincided with her getting her own way on something.

      Sophy felt annoyed at having this bombshell dropped on her by Lucy. It was barely four months since Celia’s personal maid had abruptly quit and Sophy had been put in the same awkward spot, having tactfully to find excuses for a colleague who’d had enough. Through threat and bribery, Sophy had managed to persuade Edna Jones to work out two months’ notice despite the woman insisting she’d sooner give up her wages and scoot than stay and be bullied and belittled. Now Lucy, who had been Edna’s apprentice, was jacking in the same job and Sophy knew the master would question her over why her sister was leaving hot on Edna’s heels.

      ‘It’s time you learned to take a bit of discipline and curb your tongue, miss,’ Sophy snapped.

      ‘I’m not putting up with it!’ Lucy exclaimed. ‘I don’t mind doing me duties and a bit more besides, but I’m beggared if I’ll let her look at me like I’m something she’s just stepped in in the stables.’

      Sophy cast an assessing look on her younger sister. She had an inkling why the madam constantly clashed with Lucy. Little Luce, as her youngest sister was affectionately known by her family, was too pretty by half.

      Lucy had started in the kitchens at the Grange at fourteen. She’d recently turned eighteen and had blossomed from a gawky teenager into quite a beauty. Her hair was thick and had the colour and shine of ripe chestnuts; her large eyes were lushly fringed with sooty lashes, and an unusual shade of greenish blue. But Lucy also had their mother’s pride and fiery temper to balance her sweet looks. For the past year or so, during her transformation from girl to woman, Sophy had noticed her sister turning a few of their male colleagues’ heads. But Lucy could give as good as she got. She was neither shrinking violet nor prude, and always met the boys’ lusty impertinence with a few salty quips of her own.

      ‘We’ve all had a bellyful of her, but on the whole it’s a good place to live and work.’ Sophy gripped Lucy’s hands to emphasise what she was about to say. ‘Mr Lockley might be a silly old fool but deep down he is a decent man. She’s the master’s wife so we’ve all got to accept it and knuckle down—’

      ‘You knuckle down if you want to,’ Lucy spiritedly interrupted. ‘I’m getting out before there’s a right royal dingdong.’ She gave Sophy a significant nod. ‘’S’all right for you’n Danny, you report to the master, but now Edna’s scarpered I’m the one at her beck and call.’

      ‘Can’t believe you’re really going.’ Sophy sighed. ‘You might not get this position you’ve applied for. With unemployment like it is there could be dozens of women after it. What you going to do then? Move back in with Mum in that poxy hole?’

      ‘Gonna keep applying for jobs in London,’ Lucy answered briskly. ‘To tell you the truth, it’s not just about Mrs Lockley.’ She avoided Sophy’s eye and stared out at rolling, verdant countryside. ‘I’m bored stiff here.’ She gestured with a hand at the quiet scenery. ‘What is there to do on me day off ’cept go and stare at cows or the sea, or window-shop old-fashioned frocks I couldn’t afford even if I wanted one.’ She shrugged in frustration. ‘I want to go in some of the big London stores and wander around just looking at all the lovely clothes ... and Yardley compacts and lipsticks and perfumes ...’ She broke off and giggled. ‘Then I’d go down the market with Alice and Beth and buy a dress that looks the same but costs a few bob instead of a few pounds.’

      ‘We’ve got a market here!’ Sophy stated huffily.

      ‘Yeah,’Lucy agreed wryly. ‘When I want fresh fruit ’n’ veg I’ll know where to come. But a cheap costume or a fancy silk blouse that don’t take me for ever to save for is gonna be hanging up down Chapel Street or Petticoat Lane.’

      Lucy knew her sister was confused and alarmed by what she’d said. Sophy and Danny had been sweethearts since school age. The only ambitions Sophy had ever had were marrying Danny and securing regular work. Lucy knew it was all very sensible and admirable but she wasn’t yet ready to settle for just that.

      ‘I’m too young to get stuck in a rut out in the sticks. I want a job in town.’ She gazed earnestly at Sophy. ‘I never knew what it was to work in London. This was me first job, and I’m grateful to you for getting it for me, but perhaps I’m a city girl at heart. I’m going back there, Sophe, to find out ... and that’s that.’

      After a short silence, Sophy put out a hand. ‘Let’s have a look then.’

      ‘Won’t be leaving fer a while yet, anyhow, so can work out me notice and a bit more if you want. Interviews are being held next month ’cos the girl who’s leaving is going off to get married, so no rush as such.’ She handed over the paper for Sophy to read.

      ‘You can work out yer notice ’n’ all,’ Sophy said grumpily, frowning at the letter.

      ‘Probably be stuck on a pallet in an attic with a few others,’ Lucy admitted with a wry chuckle. But even if her quarters were just a shared top-floor dormitory, Lucy would jump at the chance of it. Without a glance at the place, she knew it would knock living in a dirty room in a tenement house in Campbell Road into a cocked hat. But at least she’d be closer to her poor, ailing mum and would be able to visit her on her days off.

      ‘Put your notice in then, if you want to,’ Sophy said, thrusting the paper back at her sister. ‘Go and see if smog suits you better’n fresh air. But mark my words: I reckon you might just find you’ve jumped out of the frying pan straight into the fire.’

      The crunch of feet on gravel brought the two young women to atttention. Tim Lovat, Danny’s brother, who worked as the master’s valet, suddenly appeared around the side of the house and waved to them as he sprinted closer. ‘Mistress is after you, Lucy. Stomping round with her chops on her boots.’ He grinned. ‘Rather you than me.’

       Chapter One

       September 1930

      ‘If ... if ... if! I’m fooking sick of hearing about if!’

      Reg Donovan shoved over two battered chairs as he strode towards the door. He’d hoped to escape further hostility between himself and the irate redheaded woman confronting him, arms akimbo. But Matilda Keiver was having none of that. Today she was prepared for him trying to take the coward’s way out. In a trice she was between him and the exit, though the exertion left her wincing and gasping.

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