Langdown Manor by Sue Reid Page A

pudding Maddie had made for us. It was delicious. Sarah didn’t know what she was missing. At the head of the table, Ivy was now pretending to be Mrs Smithson. I felt a bit sorry that she’d picked her. I liked Mrs S, but Ivy couldn’t, judging from the performance she was giving. Maybe she had had a proper wigging the day she’d arrived. Or maybe she just hated authority. She rolled her eyes and clasped her hands together. ‘Oh Mr Barrett, sir, you are so ’andsome… You make me skin go all goosey.’
    Robert guffawed.
    â€˜Can’t think what they find so funny,’ muttered Maddie, pushing back her chair. By they I knew she meant Robert. She reached for Sarah’s plate, which was barely touched. ‘Didn’t you like it?’ she asked. She sounded hurt but Sarah didn’t answer. She was gazing at the door – all smiles. I didn’t need to look at it to know that Fred had come in. He was leaning against the doorjamb, arms folded. Sarah got up and slipped round the table to join him. She looked up at him and he looked down at her. They were looking at each other as if they were the only people in the room. I was relieved, but it made me feel lonely too. If I dropped down dead in front of them now they wouldn’t notice.
    Maddie and Maisie were making their way down the table, stacking plates and glasses. ‘I’ll have your plate, Robert,’ Maddie said, leaning in close to him in a desperate bid to draw his attention away from Ivy. ‘Robert,’ she said again, loudly when he didn’t respond. I felt myself cringe. Couldn’t she see that she was wasting her time? Even if she had got up and danced on the table, Robert wouldn’t notice. If only she would find someone else. Jim now, the second footman, was blushing as Maddie leaned across the table. But Jim blushed if a girl even looked at him.
    Robert pushed the plate over to her, but his eyes never left Ivy. A flush crept up Maddie’s face. She slammed down the plates, and turned to Ivy, who was still prancing up and down at the end of the table. ‘Ivy!’ she exploded. ‘How about mimicking a scullery maid and helping us clear the table.’
    â€˜Yes, ’m, right away, ’m,’ Ivy said, casting her eyes down, and bobbing a curtsy.
    It had been a mistake for Maddie to show her temper. Robert got up and so did all the other lads. As they strolled out, Maddie’s face went redder still. Ivy had mocked her in front of everyone and she wouldn’t forget that. ‘And I want those pots scoured proper today, then you’re to help Maisie with the vegetables and there’s the floor to clean. It wasn’t cleaned proper this morning. Chop chop.’ Maddie was practically shoving Ivy towards the scullery now.
    I got up too, and made my way along the passage to the maids’ sitting room. I could hear from the clatter in the scullery as I passed it that Ivy was hard at work. She was singing, loudly, a little ditty that made me smile. ‘Upstairs and downstairs and all the in-betweeny stairs.’
    I made myself comfortable in a corner of the sofa. I had work of my own to do; a bit of sewing to finish on one of Miss Penelope’s gowns. I picked up the needle, but even though it was only early afternoon I felt my eyelids droop. What with all the extra work on top of my usual chores I never got enough sleep. I laid the needle down and shut my eyes.
    â€˜Jess!’ It was Sarah’s voice. She shook my shoulder. ‘What are you doing, sleeping in the afternoon?’
    So it was all right to wake me then?
    I rubbed my eyes and peered sleepily at her. ‘What is it?’ I said. ‘Has Miss Penelope rung for me?’
    Sarah looked guilty. ‘N-o,’ she said.
    â€˜Wish you’d left me to sleep then,’ I muttered. I picked up the needle again.
    Sarah had curled up in the other corner of the sofa. ‘Oh, Jess.’ She