Miss Victoria, though, queen, ’cos she’ll have it in for yer now. It must have killed her to have to apologise to yer, and she’ll be looking for ways to get her own back. So yer’ll need to have eyes in yer backside from now on, mark my words.’
Agnes’s body shook with laughter. ‘So every time I see Miss Victoria, are yer suggesting I turn me back on her, bend down and drop me bloomers? You haven’t seen my backside, sunshine. If yer had, yer wouldn’t wish it on anyone – even Miss Hoity-Toity.’
‘If it was me, she wouldn’t even notice ’cos she never looks at me. Never by a word or a nod does she acknowledge my existence. If I didn’t move out of her way, she’d walk through me . Now I know I’m thin, and if I stand sideways yer can’t see me, but she makes me feel like an invisible woman.’
Agnes glanced at the large round clock on the wall and pushed her chair back. ‘I think yer’d better make yerself visible now, sunshine, and start on the fire in the drawing room. If anyone notices ye’re running a bit late, tell them I needed yer to help me out in the kitchen. If I’m asked I’ll say I didn’t sleep very well last night ’cos I was too upset.’ She watched the cleaner pick up the heavy bucket which contained all the articles needed for raking the ashes out, and washing and polishing the large fireplace in the drawing room. And as she often did, Agnes wondered how someone who didn’t have a pick on her, could cope with the heavy work she was required to do in this big house. ‘I’m going to start on their breakfast now ’cos they’ll be down any minute. So you get a move on in the drawing room so it’s ready for them to retire to. And when they ring for their eleven o’clock tea and biscuits, I’ll give yer the aye-aye and we’ll join them. Not in the same room, mind, but I don’t see why they should have all the fun.’
The little woman turned at the door. ‘Fun did yer say, queen? They don’t know what fun is. I’ve been working here for five years now, and I’ve never once heard a good belly laugh.’
‘Kitty, don’t you know that only people as common as muck enjoy a belly laugh?’ The housekeeper adopted a haughty stance and looked down her nose. ‘Really, Mrs Higgins, you must have been brought up in the gutter.’
‘And that’s where me and my Alf will end up if I get the sack from this job, Agnes Weatherby. It’s all right for them what are on friendly terms with the boss. But what I’d like to know is, what have you got that I haven’t?’
‘A big bosom, tummy and backside. That’s without taking into account me legs which are as big as tree trunks, arms that would put a navvy to shame, and hands like ham shanks. Does that answer yer question, sunshine?’
Kitty lowered the bucket. She’d have to work like the clappers to make up the time she was wasting, but the devil in her couldn’t resist. Lounging against the back of the door she crossed her feet at the ankles like she’d seen Miss Victoria do. Then she lifted a thin hand to within six inches of her face and opened two fingers as though holding a cigarette holder. ‘I say, old girl, you don’t have a very high opinion of yourself, what ho!’
Her lazy drawl in a posh voice, so in contrast to the raggedy clothes she had on, had Agnes doubled up with laughter. ‘Get going, yer silly cow, or we’ll both end up being given the bleedin’ sack.’
‘Has Father gone completely mad?’ Victoria’s eyes were giving out sparks as she crossed a shapely leg. ‘I have no intention of doing as he asks, and I’m quite sure I speak for Nigel, when I say that.’
‘Steady on, Victoria, I think we should discuss the matter at some length before dismissing it out of hand.’ It was so rare for Nigel to disagree with anyone, both mother and sister looked taken aback. ‘After all, Father has always been more than generous with us, and I think we should try to please him.’
‘I have no
Agnes’s body shook with laughter. ‘So every time I see Miss Victoria, are yer suggesting I turn me back on her, bend down and drop me bloomers? You haven’t seen my backside, sunshine. If yer had, yer wouldn’t wish it on anyone – even Miss Hoity-Toity.’
‘If it was me, she wouldn’t even notice ’cos she never looks at me. Never by a word or a nod does she acknowledge my existence. If I didn’t move out of her way, she’d walk through me . Now I know I’m thin, and if I stand sideways yer can’t see me, but she makes me feel like an invisible woman.’
Agnes glanced at the large round clock on the wall and pushed her chair back. ‘I think yer’d better make yerself visible now, sunshine, and start on the fire in the drawing room. If anyone notices ye’re running a bit late, tell them I needed yer to help me out in the kitchen. If I’m asked I’ll say I didn’t sleep very well last night ’cos I was too upset.’ She watched the cleaner pick up the heavy bucket which contained all the articles needed for raking the ashes out, and washing and polishing the large fireplace in the drawing room. And as she often did, Agnes wondered how someone who didn’t have a pick on her, could cope with the heavy work she was required to do in this big house. ‘I’m going to start on their breakfast now ’cos they’ll be down any minute. So you get a move on in the drawing room so it’s ready for them to retire to. And when they ring for their eleven o’clock tea and biscuits, I’ll give yer the aye-aye and we’ll join them. Not in the same room, mind, but I don’t see why they should have all the fun.’
The little woman turned at the door. ‘Fun did yer say, queen? They don’t know what fun is. I’ve been working here for five years now, and I’ve never once heard a good belly laugh.’
‘Kitty, don’t you know that only people as common as muck enjoy a belly laugh?’ The housekeeper adopted a haughty stance and looked down her nose. ‘Really, Mrs Higgins, you must have been brought up in the gutter.’
‘And that’s where me and my Alf will end up if I get the sack from this job, Agnes Weatherby. It’s all right for them what are on friendly terms with the boss. But what I’d like to know is, what have you got that I haven’t?’
‘A big bosom, tummy and backside. That’s without taking into account me legs which are as big as tree trunks, arms that would put a navvy to shame, and hands like ham shanks. Does that answer yer question, sunshine?’
Kitty lowered the bucket. She’d have to work like the clappers to make up the time she was wasting, but the devil in her couldn’t resist. Lounging against the back of the door she crossed her feet at the ankles like she’d seen Miss Victoria do. Then she lifted a thin hand to within six inches of her face and opened two fingers as though holding a cigarette holder. ‘I say, old girl, you don’t have a very high opinion of yourself, what ho!’
Her lazy drawl in a posh voice, so in contrast to the raggedy clothes she had on, had Agnes doubled up with laughter. ‘Get going, yer silly cow, or we’ll both end up being given the bleedin’ sack.’
‘Has Father gone completely mad?’ Victoria’s eyes were giving out sparks as she crossed a shapely leg. ‘I have no intention of doing as he asks, and I’m quite sure I speak for Nigel, when I say that.’
‘Steady on, Victoria, I think we should discuss the matter at some length before dismissing it out of hand.’ It was so rare for Nigel to disagree with anyone, both mother and sister looked taken aback. ‘After all, Father has always been more than generous with us, and I think we should try to please him.’
‘I have no
Similar Books
