A Change of Fortune by Beryl Matthews Page A

heading for a flight of stairs, drawing Jenny along in her wake. At least she hadn’t been sent away as soon as she’d arrived, so perhaps there was hope. She had to get this job or she didn’t know what she was going to do. If she went to anyone she knew, they would only go straight to her mother. Anything like that was doomed to failure and would bring the wrath of her aunt down on her. She gave an involuntary shudder; that was too awful to think about.
    The door at the top of the stairs opened to another world. There was a long passage, and the walls werecovered with delicate gold and pale lemon wallpaper. Portraits and paintings by famous artists lined the long hall. Most of the furniture was the work of famous designers and very expensive. One of the aims of the Templeton School had been to teach them to identify and appreciate things of quality. The floor was highly polished wood with the most beautiful carpet runner she had ever seen, in the same colours as the wallpaper. Add to that breathtaking Venetian chandeliers and you had a house furnished to the highest standard. Her mother would be impressed and very jealous if she could see this.
    The housekeeper stopped outside a door, knocked and waited. As soon as a female voice called to enter, she disappeared inside, leaving Jenny to gaze around her in appreciation.
    It was only a couple of minutes before the door opened again.
    ‘Madam will see you. And watch your manners,’ the housekeeper said, her voice stern.
    The woman sitting by the window with a book open on her lap was around forty-five and beautifully groomed, her blonde hair cut short in the latest bob. Jenny dipped a good curtsy in front of her. Her first emotion was one of profound relief that she had never met the lady at some social function her mother had dragged her to during the school holidays. Though it was doubtful if anyone would recognize the shabby Jenny Baker as being Eugenie Winford. She kept her eyes lowered as Mrs Stannard read the letter.
    Mrs Stannard looked up after a few moments. ‘You are in urgent need of employment?’
    ‘Yes, madam.’ She was trying hard not to speak any more than was necessary, knowing how difficult she found it to stick to a working-class accent.
    ‘What do you think, Mrs Douglas? I do prefer to have someone with good references.’
    ‘Mrs Dearing always sends us good staff, madam. And we are in great need of an under housemaid, so perhaps a three-month trial?’
    The mistress turned her attention back to Jenny. ‘We are prepared to take you on and see how you work out. The uniform will cost you four pounds, but for that you will be outfitted with a complete wardrobe of working clothes.’
    Jenny pulled the pound notes out of her pocket and held them out. ‘I’ve got enough for that.’
    Mrs Stannard nodded and glanced at the letter again. ‘Very well, Jenny, give the money to Mrs Douglas.’
    The housekeeper took the money and tucked it in her dress pocket, then caught hold of her arm and ushered her from the room.
    Once back in the kitchen Mrs Douglas called a young girl over. ‘Edna, this is Jenny; she’s to be the new under housemaid. You will be sharing a room with her.’
    The two girls gave each other a hesitant smile. The housekeeper continued speaking, not giving the girls a chance to say anything to one another. ‘You will start at six o’clock tomorrow morning. You had better movein this evening. Be here by ten o’clock and Edna will show you your room.’
    After issuing those crisp instructions, she sailed out of the kitchen.
    ‘Don’t be late.’ Edna smiled. ‘She can be fierce if you don’t do as she says, but if you don’t give her no trouble, then she’s not bad. I hopes you don’t snore.’
    ‘I don’t.’ After sleeping in a dorm with lots of other girls Jenny knew that was true because they’d have soon told her if she did.
    ‘Good. It’ll be nice to ’ave someone to gossip with.’
    Feeling buoyant with hope, Jenny