The Adultress by Philippa Carr Read Free Book Online Page A

someone always at his elbow. That’s where I come in. Is that pie good? It should be eaten straight from the oven, you know.”
    I said it was very good.
    “I always like my victuals,” confided Jessie. “And when you’ve finished … I’ll have some hot water sent up and you can snuggle down, eh. You must be just about worn out.”
    I admitted that I should be pleased to have a night’s rest.
    “So you shall.” She was smiling at me benignly and somehow such benignity sat ill on her features, for there was a sharp glint in her eyes which I found rather disconcerting. I should be glad when morning came, for I thought then I should be able to throw some light on the meaning of this strange reception.
    Jessie herself took me up to my room. Memories of the house came back to me. I could vaguely remember the days of its grandeur. I had a feeling that it was rather different now.
    Jessie threw open a door.
    “Oh, here we are. They’ve made up the bed.” She went to it and drew back the coverlet. “The warming pan’s in. I have to watch them girls. My goodness me, they’d lead us a nice dance if I didn’t. I’ve got an eye like a hawk. His lordship says to me: ‘I don’t know what we’d do without you, Jess.’ I will say he’s not a man to take things for granted. He knows what I do and he wants me to know he does … if you get my meaning.” She was growing more and more familiar and was developing a habit of putting out a hand and giving me a gentle little push as she spoke. I found it repulsive and wanted to tell her to get out, while on the other hand I wanted to keep her there for more unusual revelations which I felt sure were to come.
    The room was well furnished with a four-poster bed, court cupboard, a dressing table on which was a looking glass.
    “There’s the hot water. No need to send it down when you’ve finished. They’ll take it in the morning.”
    “Thank you.”
    “Right you are. See you in the morning. Sleep well.”
    “Thank you.”
    She gave me another of those gentle little pushes and was gone.
    Alone in the room, the strangeness of everything occupied my thoughts. I went to the door at once and the fact that there was no key in the lock dismayed me. I wondered how I should sleep in this strange atmosphere. I had come to the conclusion that I must be prepared for anything, however unusual.
    Why did Lord Eversleigh employ such a woman as Jessie? Moreover, she seemed to have such power. The manner in which she behaved suggested that she might be the mistress of the house. And surely he should have given instructions that I was to arrive.
    I was physically exhausted but my mind was so ill at ease that I knew I should find it difficult to sleep.
    I went to the window. I could see nothing. It was so dark outside. I longed for sunrise. Whatever was happening would surely seem more reasonable then.
    I saw that my bags had been brought up, and I hoped the grooms were feeling more comfortable than I was.
    I unpacked one of the bags and took out my night things. What I must do was get to bed and to sleep, for there was nothing more I could do till morning.
    I washed and undressed. I removed the warming pan and got into bed. I sunk into the luxury of feathers and felt almost drowsy in spite of everything, but just as I was dozing I would wake startled and sit up in bed listening. I realized that I was going to have a bad night. Well, I was prepared for that.
    It must have been about an hour later when I heard a light footstep outside my room. I turned my eyes toward the door. I was sure someone was standing outside. It was a little lighter in the room now. The clouds had cleared and my eyes had accustomed to the darkness and as they turned to the door I saw the handle slowly turning.
    “Come in,” I called.
    The handle no longer moved. There was silence. I sat up in bed, my heart beating so fast that I could hear it. Then I thought I detected the sound of retreating footsteps. I opened the