Fenella Miller by To Love Again Read Free Book Online

out with a bit of bread and bribe your pony."
    This friendly exchange had attracted a small circle of spectators. None of them looked in dire straits, the children smiling, the women also. Amongst the matrons she saw at least two girls who would be ideal as maids. Had she been brought here by a higher authority to find the staff she needed? Where better than amongst Mr Bucknall's own people?
    "I am looking to take on staff. I can promise things will be different there from now on. I need two kitchen maids, two parlour maids and two inside men. There will be further opportunities for employment later, I am sure."
    A ripple of excitement ran around the small group. William immediately came to stand beside her. "I am recently back from Belgium, Mrs Reed, where I served as a manservant to an officer until he died last month from wounds he received at Waterloo. I have excellent references."
    Emma tied the reins around the post and stepped down to face the eager crowd. "William, you are exactly the person I was hoping to find. Mr Bucknall requires a manservant, he doesn't know that is what he needs, but between us we will convince him. I need someone else who is young and fit." She scanned the group, there was no one immediately caught her eye. Then she saw an older man, his eyes pleading, but too proud to beg.
    "You, would you be prepared to do heavy work inside? I am not looking for a footman, but someone who can assist with cleaning windows and such tasks as that."
    The man stepped forward and tucked his forelock. "I'm happy to do anything, like Billy there, I was a soldier until paid-off. Jed Jones at your service, madam."
    As William turned the cart Emma selected four women plus one Betty Turner, who was an experienced cook, so everyone told her. Two were little more than girls, they would do in the kitchen, the others were of mature years, they would be ideal as maids of all work. All of them were eager to start immediately, promised they would gather their belongings and set off within the hour.
    One of the girls, Tilly, offered to accompany her to the village. "Jenna can bring my things, Mrs Reed, we don't have much between us. If I come with you I can help you with your purchases."
    The pony, she had discovered his name was Bruno, set off at a spanking pace. He'd achieved his aim of visiting his friend and was now ready to transport them to the village in the shortest possible time. None of the people she'd taken on had asked about conditions of service or their remuneration. But then neither had she asked for more than their word as a reference. Heaven knows what Mr Bucknall would say at her temerity. Her lips twitched, the good Lord moved in mysterious ways, very likely he had caused her employer to be incapacitated for just this very reason.
    Although nobody looked hungry, no doubt, like all the other country folk, they were finding times hard with corn prices being so high and the lack of employment now that so many landowners had enclosed their fields.
    With the cart laden to the brim with necessities she returned to Stansted Manor. The church clock struck mid-day, she had been gone for three hours. She had never left her children alone for so long. She prayed Jack had not got into mischief in her absence and that her employer never recalled how he came to injure himself.
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Chapter 5
    Outside the Manor the eight villagers she had taken on were waiting patiently for her arrival. Jack was dancing around firing questions at the group, Mary stood talking quietly to Betty. They immediately formed in two straight lines, as if she were the mistress of the house and not a servant like themselves.
    Jack hurled himself into her arms as she descended from the trap. "Mama, have all these people come to help you? Does that mean you will not be so busy now?"
    She kissed him and ruffled his hair. "I am never too busy for you and Mary, my love. However, I am hoping I will now have time in the afternoon to resume your schoolwork.