A Loving Family by Dilly Court Read Free Book Online Page B

words had upset her greatly. ‘I should make you walk home,’ she said as he scrambled onto the driver’s seat, panting and holding his chest.
    â€˜You could have killed me.’
    â€˜You shouldn’t have said those things about my mother. She is a kind and lovely lady and she adored my pa. For all I know she’s dead and so are Freddie and Belinda.’ Her voice broke on a sob and she turned her head away. ‘Drive on, Jacob. I’ve got to get back to Portgone Place before one o’clock.’
    He flicked the whip and clicked his tongue against his teeth. ‘You’re a bit of a wild cat when you get angry,’ he said with a sly grin. ‘I like a woman with spirit.’
    â€˜Get me home or you’ll have Mrs Hawthorne to deal with. She’s got more spirit than the rest of us put together.’
    Stella was in the kitchen attempting to persuade a particularly reluctant jelly to leave its mould when Annie came flying down the back stairs and landed in an undignified heap on the flagstone floor. Stella’s hands shook and the orange jelly slid out onto the plate, wobbling dangerously and filling the kitchen with its citrus scent. ‘Annie, what a fright you gave me.’ She wiped her sticky hands on a cloth and threw it at her. ‘Why are you in such a state?’
    Annie picked herself up and shook out her skirts. ‘Master Tommy has arrived and it looks as though he’s come to stay. I’d just finished polishing the brass door furnishings when the carriage arrived laden with trunks and cases. Master Tommy leapt out and gave me a hug and a kiss and said he was starving and asked if he’d missed luncheon.’ Annie pressed her hands to her pink cheeks. ‘Mr Mason was there and I was so embarrassed I didn’t know where to put myself.’
    Stella threw back her head and laughed. ‘That sounds like Master Tommy. He’s never going to change.’
    Annie stared at her wide-eyed. ‘But he kissed me, Stella. He’s never done that before.’
    Jane looked up from whipping a bowl of cream. ‘You’d best look out for him, Annie. You know what happens when young gents start taking advantage of poor servant girls.’
    â€˜Well, you’re safe then, plain Jane,’ Ida called out from the scullery where she had been washing dishes. ‘You’ve got nothing to fear from Master Tommy.’
    Stella shook her head. ‘That’s unkind, Ida. Say you’re sorry to poor Jane.’
    â€˜I was only joking.’
    â€˜It wasn’t funny,’ Stella insisted. ‘Apologise.’
    â€˜Sorry, Jane.’ Ida’s voice held a hint of rebellion but Stella did not press the point. She finished decorating the silver serving dish with slices of orange and handed it to Annie. ‘Take this to the dining room and don’t drop it. I haven’t had time to prepare another dessert so they’ll have to make do with fruit and nuts if they don’t want the jelly.’
    Annie placed the dish carefully on a tray and snatched the cream from Jane. ‘Mr Mason is very put out. He doesn’t like happenings that disturb the smooth running of the household. He sent for Mrs Dunkley and she was in the middle of luncheon so she’s in a bad mood. She snapped at poor Lizzie for not having the young master’s room ready in time and now she’s rampaging around the linen room looking for things to complain about.’
    â€˜And you’ll be in trouble if you don’t get that jelly to the dining room before it starts to melt,’ Stella said, sighing. ‘If Master Tommy is hungry I can make up a plate for him.’
    â€˜All right,’ Annie said, heading for the stairs. ‘But sometimes I wish I’d never been promoted to parlour maid. It’s much easier working in the kitchen. You don’t have to remember so many things.’ She disappeared from view and the green