intention of going into poor houses to visit sick people! Heaven only knows what sorts of diseases we could pick up. No, it is out of the question.’
For the first time in years, a sense of unease entered Edwina’s head. Had Robert been right all along, in saying the children should have been made aware of their background from the time they could understand? Then she mentally shook her head, not allowing the idea to take root. She’d done a good job with the children, they were a credit to her. And she couldn’t understand why Robert wasn’t equally proud of them. Then she conjured up a picture of his face last night, full of determination. She had no doubt he meant every word he said, and if certain things didn’t change he would carry out his threat.
‘I have to tell you, Victoria, that your father made it quite clear that unless you and Nigel found a worthy cause where you could be usefully employed for one or two days a week, he would take over the running of the house himself. That would mean I’d no longer have control over the money; he would pay all the outgoing expenses. Any money we needed, we would have to ask him for.’
‘He’s bluffing, he wouldn’t do it.’ Victoria waved a hand as though dismissing the idea. ‘I will call his bluff.’
‘He was not bluffing, Victoria,’ Edwina said. ‘So if you refuse to do as he asks, then on your own head be it.’
Victoria was livid. She was so used to having all her requests for money granted without question, she had no intention of allowing the system to be changed without strong resistance. And when she spoke, her voice raised, her anger was evident. ‘And you, Mother? Did you just stand like a servant and let Father dictate to you? Really, you do surprise and disappoint me.’
A knock on the door had Edwina lifting both hands for silence. ‘Not one word,’ she hissed, ‘we don’t want the servants knowing our business.’ Then she called, ‘Come in, Agnes.’
The housekeeper carried the tray to a table at the side of Edwina. Her eyes appeared to be concentrating on the tray and its being deposited on the table without mishap. But she could feel the tension in the air and sly glances took in the stony expressions on the faces of the two women. ‘Shall I pour, Miss Edwina?’
‘No, thank you, Agnes, I’ll attend to it. You go about your business, I’m sure you have lots to do.’
With a nod, the housekeeper left the room. She closed the door behind her but didn’t move. She’d heard the raised voices before she’d knocked and knew Mr Robert was the target of their anger. This wasn’t fair, because he was the one who put the finest food on the table, silk sheets on the beds, and had provided furniture fit for a palace. And if it wasn’t for him they wouldn’t be sitting there now being waited on hand and foot.
Agnes sighed, and was about to walk away when she heard Miss Victoria speak. It was the venom and sarcasm in her voice that had the housekeeper rooted to the spot.
‘I don’t know why you kowtow to her, Mother – she’s only a servant, after all. She gets paid for the work she does, has a room to herself and eats the same food we do. Where else would she be so well off? She’s a good cook, I’ll grant you that, but she could easily be replaced. And don’t forget what happened yesterday. A silly little incident, brought about by herself, and she threatens to leave! I’d have let her go, and good riddance. But no, everyone is at great pains to coax her to stay. And as a result, Nigel and I are to be penalised. Well, I for one would be glad to see the back of her.’
Agnes moved away from the door, muttering, ‘Oh, yer would, would yer? Well, I won’t give yer the bleedin’ satisfaction, yer jumped-up little madam. I’ll go when Mr Robert asks me to go, and not one minute before. Now I know the way yer talk about yer father behind his back, and me, I’ll bloody well haunt yer.’ She climbed a flight of stairs to
For the first time in years, a sense of unease entered Edwina’s head. Had Robert been right all along, in saying the children should have been made aware of their background from the time they could understand? Then she mentally shook her head, not allowing the idea to take root. She’d done a good job with the children, they were a credit to her. And she couldn’t understand why Robert wasn’t equally proud of them. Then she conjured up a picture of his face last night, full of determination. She had no doubt he meant every word he said, and if certain things didn’t change he would carry out his threat.
‘I have to tell you, Victoria, that your father made it quite clear that unless you and Nigel found a worthy cause where you could be usefully employed for one or two days a week, he would take over the running of the house himself. That would mean I’d no longer have control over the money; he would pay all the outgoing expenses. Any money we needed, we would have to ask him for.’
‘He’s bluffing, he wouldn’t do it.’ Victoria waved a hand as though dismissing the idea. ‘I will call his bluff.’
‘He was not bluffing, Victoria,’ Edwina said. ‘So if you refuse to do as he asks, then on your own head be it.’
Victoria was livid. She was so used to having all her requests for money granted without question, she had no intention of allowing the system to be changed without strong resistance. And when she spoke, her voice raised, her anger was evident. ‘And you, Mother? Did you just stand like a servant and let Father dictate to you? Really, you do surprise and disappoint me.’
A knock on the door had Edwina lifting both hands for silence. ‘Not one word,’ she hissed, ‘we don’t want the servants knowing our business.’ Then she called, ‘Come in, Agnes.’
The housekeeper carried the tray to a table at the side of Edwina. Her eyes appeared to be concentrating on the tray and its being deposited on the table without mishap. But she could feel the tension in the air and sly glances took in the stony expressions on the faces of the two women. ‘Shall I pour, Miss Edwina?’
‘No, thank you, Agnes, I’ll attend to it. You go about your business, I’m sure you have lots to do.’
With a nod, the housekeeper left the room. She closed the door behind her but didn’t move. She’d heard the raised voices before she’d knocked and knew Mr Robert was the target of their anger. This wasn’t fair, because he was the one who put the finest food on the table, silk sheets on the beds, and had provided furniture fit for a palace. And if it wasn’t for him they wouldn’t be sitting there now being waited on hand and foot.
Agnes sighed, and was about to walk away when she heard Miss Victoria speak. It was the venom and sarcasm in her voice that had the housekeeper rooted to the spot.
‘I don’t know why you kowtow to her, Mother – she’s only a servant, after all. She gets paid for the work she does, has a room to herself and eats the same food we do. Where else would she be so well off? She’s a good cook, I’ll grant you that, but she could easily be replaced. And don’t forget what happened yesterday. A silly little incident, brought about by herself, and she threatens to leave! I’d have let her go, and good riddance. But no, everyone is at great pains to coax her to stay. And as a result, Nigel and I are to be penalised. Well, I for one would be glad to see the back of her.’
Agnes moved away from the door, muttering, ‘Oh, yer would, would yer? Well, I won’t give yer the bleedin’ satisfaction, yer jumped-up little madam. I’ll go when Mr Robert asks me to go, and not one minute before. Now I know the way yer talk about yer father behind his back, and me, I’ll bloody well haunt yer.’ She climbed a flight of stairs to
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