good for anyone, but they can shrug it off. Look at me. I can’t get a job anywhere else now I’ve been arrested for murder. Even that policeman was looking at me strange. I bet Stapleford’s seen to it that the local nick has heard about my past association with the communists.’
‘But you were cleared,’ I protested.
‘That’s what I’m trying to tell you. Mud might slide off their groomed, greasy backs, but it sticks to ours.’
‘I don’t understand why he would do that.’
‘Because he doesn’t want to lose me.’
‘Back-handed compliment?’
‘And he doesn’t want to pay me what I’m worth.’
‘Oh,’ I said, casting my eyes down. ‘I’m sorry about all the stuff I got you involved with last time.’
‘Nay, lassie. I wasn’t for scolding you. If it hadn’t been for your help I’d have ended my days swinging from a noose. I’ll always be grateful for that.’ 5 He took a breath. ‘Now, don’t go biting my head off. It’s just that I don’t want to see that stuff happening to you. Leave ’em to it. Don’t get involved this time. Mrs Wilson has been no friend to either of us and, while I’d not withhold information on what happened to her if I knew, I’m not going to be sticking my neck out to help. And I’d suggest you follow my lead.’
‘Yes,’ I said.
‘Yes?’ said Rory. ‘Are you sure you’re not feeling worse, Euphemia? You’ve never given in without a fight before.’
‘Mr Bertram appears to have all the help he needs from Miss Wilton.’
Rory finally removed his hand from my head and sat down beside me. ‘Och, lass, it was only time before he found someone of his own standing to help him with his mysterying.’
‘That’s not even a word.’
‘You’re jealous,’ said Rory.
I blinked. ‘I am not jealous,’ I spluttered. ‘Besides, he helped me.’
Rory shook his head. ‘Green as the grass in the park.’
I ignored this. ‘Much help she’ll be. She practically offered me money to make up lies. She’ll do anything to fill that column of hers.’
‘It’s not uncommon for the toffs to tip servants,’ said Rory. ‘Though it’s uncommon for it to be an adequate tip.’
‘You don’t understand,’ I said. ‘She’s evil. Nothing matters to her but the column. Mr Bertram is under her spell. She told me he had been telling her all the old family secrets – and the things he and I know, Rory, you’d not believe it! And she said that if I didn’t help her with what was happening now, if I didn’t give her some current dirt, she’d dig up all the old stuff about the late Lord Stapleford. Mr Bertram doesn’t understand – he’s a lamb to the slaughter.’
‘Now, Euphemia …’
‘I am not making this up, Rory!’
‘I never thought you were, lass. All I’m saying is stay out of it. It’s as clear as the nose on your face that Beatrice Wilton is up to no good. My advice is: keep your mouth shut.’
‘But Mr Bertram! He has no idea.’
‘You’re his housekeeper, not his guardian angel.’
‘But I can’t let him fall prey to this menace!’
‘Euphemia, even if you have the audacity to tell him his new lady friend is a scheming hussy he’ll never believe you.’
‘Yes, he will! We’ve been through a lot together.’
‘No, he won’t,’ said Rory gently. ‘No matter how much this man favours you, you will always be a servant in his eyes and the word of a servant against a toff is never accepted. Especially when the toff in question is a very attractive young woman.’
‘Is she?’ I asked. ‘I didn’t notice.’
Rory grinned. ‘You’re no a male. Fine figure of a woman that. Pity, she’s a scheming bitch from hell, but your Mr Bertram will have to find out in his own time.’
‘But …’
‘Has she dropped hints about having you fired yet?’
‘Yes,’ I said with fury. ‘She has. She said if we didn’t reach agreement she could make things … well, she didn’t say, but she implied.’
‘And if you
‘But you were cleared,’ I protested.
‘That’s what I’m trying to tell you. Mud might slide off their groomed, greasy backs, but it sticks to ours.’
‘I don’t understand why he would do that.’
‘Because he doesn’t want to lose me.’
‘Back-handed compliment?’
‘And he doesn’t want to pay me what I’m worth.’
‘Oh,’ I said, casting my eyes down. ‘I’m sorry about all the stuff I got you involved with last time.’
‘Nay, lassie. I wasn’t for scolding you. If it hadn’t been for your help I’d have ended my days swinging from a noose. I’ll always be grateful for that.’ 5 He took a breath. ‘Now, don’t go biting my head off. It’s just that I don’t want to see that stuff happening to you. Leave ’em to it. Don’t get involved this time. Mrs Wilson has been no friend to either of us and, while I’d not withhold information on what happened to her if I knew, I’m not going to be sticking my neck out to help. And I’d suggest you follow my lead.’
‘Yes,’ I said.
‘Yes?’ said Rory. ‘Are you sure you’re not feeling worse, Euphemia? You’ve never given in without a fight before.’
‘Mr Bertram appears to have all the help he needs from Miss Wilton.’
Rory finally removed his hand from my head and sat down beside me. ‘Och, lass, it was only time before he found someone of his own standing to help him with his mysterying.’
‘That’s not even a word.’
‘You’re jealous,’ said Rory.
I blinked. ‘I am not jealous,’ I spluttered. ‘Besides, he helped me.’
Rory shook his head. ‘Green as the grass in the park.’
I ignored this. ‘Much help she’ll be. She practically offered me money to make up lies. She’ll do anything to fill that column of hers.’
‘It’s not uncommon for the toffs to tip servants,’ said Rory. ‘Though it’s uncommon for it to be an adequate tip.’
‘You don’t understand,’ I said. ‘She’s evil. Nothing matters to her but the column. Mr Bertram is under her spell. She told me he had been telling her all the old family secrets – and the things he and I know, Rory, you’d not believe it! And she said that if I didn’t help her with what was happening now, if I didn’t give her some current dirt, she’d dig up all the old stuff about the late Lord Stapleford. Mr Bertram doesn’t understand – he’s a lamb to the slaughter.’
‘Now, Euphemia …’
‘I am not making this up, Rory!’
‘I never thought you were, lass. All I’m saying is stay out of it. It’s as clear as the nose on your face that Beatrice Wilton is up to no good. My advice is: keep your mouth shut.’
‘But Mr Bertram! He has no idea.’
‘You’re his housekeeper, not his guardian angel.’
‘But I can’t let him fall prey to this menace!’
‘Euphemia, even if you have the audacity to tell him his new lady friend is a scheming hussy he’ll never believe you.’
‘Yes, he will! We’ve been through a lot together.’
‘No, he won’t,’ said Rory gently. ‘No matter how much this man favours you, you will always be a servant in his eyes and the word of a servant against a toff is never accepted. Especially when the toff in question is a very attractive young woman.’
‘Is she?’ I asked. ‘I didn’t notice.’
Rory grinned. ‘You’re no a male. Fine figure of a woman that. Pity, she’s a scheming bitch from hell, but your Mr Bertram will have to find out in his own time.’
‘But …’
‘Has she dropped hints about having you fired yet?’
‘Yes,’ I said with fury. ‘She has. She said if we didn’t reach agreement she could make things … well, she didn’t say, but she implied.’
‘And if you
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