The Lady Astronomer by Katy O'Dowd Read Free Book Online Page A

replied, voice rising in panic more than anything else. She
did like things to be neat and ordered. Which was virtually impossible with her
two brothers around, but still.
    “I have an idea!” Freddie beamed.
Lucretia buried her face in her hands and groaned.
    “It’s a really good idea, cross my
heart.”
    “Yes?”
    “Let’s advertise for staff! Honestly,
I really need your help. There’s the telescope and the king and the charting
and mapping once it’s built. I can’t wait to see it in action!”
    “Advertise?”
    “Of course, my sweet. We could ask
Mrs. V for some pointers about where to look. Oh, maybe scratch that or we’ll
have to suffer her proddings and pokings and bad confectionaries. There must be
a local newspaper. Or you could put signs in The Inn and The Shoppe. It may be
a two-horse town, but there is a lot of traffic from London and Bath amongst
other places. You never know who may be passing through.”
     
    *
     
    Employment Offered
    For a Cook, a Housekeeper and a
Man-Of-All-Trades in a Busy Household.
    Recompense, reasonable. References,
requested.
    Must like animals.
    Apply to Ms. H at The Old House, Slough.
     
    *
     
    Lucretia was pulling some monster-like
weeds that held a death grip on a pretty climbing rose when Mr. Trotters came
belching and bellowing steam in her direction.
    She sat back on her heels and regarded the
steampig.
    The steampig regarded her back.
    “Lost your pipe again, Mr. Trotters?”
    The steampig burped smoke and she sighed. “Come
along then, we had better find it before you blow up.”
    The pipe was not in the house. It was not
in Al’s work room. It was not in Lucretia’s lodgings, by now a clean white,
with a table, chair, and bed. It was not in the garden front or back. In short,
Lucretia was perplexed. As was Mr. Trotters, who was rumbling ominously.
    “Honestly, whoever made you didn’t
install an outlet valve, did they? We should get Al to have a look at you,
though you do seem rather attached to your pipe.”
    The steampig regarded her once more, then
lifted his shiny snout and trotted away.
    “Coo-ee! Coo-ee! I say!”
    Lucretia turned her head at the sound of
the feminine voice. And saw a woman a little older than herself, decked out in
the fashion of the day. That is to say, covered in a flurry of lace, under
which her bosom wobbled like a large dish of jelly. Lucretia averted her eyes
from the woman in pink and stared at the ground.
    “Oh, my dear!” The woman panted
and wobbled. “Would this happen to be yours? My Miss Porky seems to have
met a new friend and I think he left it behind in my gardens when he came to
woo her. If you get my drift.” She winked saucily at Lucretia, who took
Mr. Trotters’ pipe from the plump, bejewelled hand.
    “Thank you, yes. Mr. Trotters seems to
have adopted us.”
    “You must be the H family come from
Bath to work for the king? Yes, we are well informed in these parts, especially
when there is little to do but walk, sew and read. Do you sew?” She eyed
Lucretia intently.
    “I am in the employ of my brother, but
yes, I have been known to hold a needle. I used to make hats.”
    “How delightful! I must get you to
fashion one for me. I have some darling striped pink watered silk, and a
matching hat and parasol would just lift the whole ensemble, don’t you agree?
Especially with some lace trim.”
    Lucretia was saved from answering by
Freddie ambling over, question obviously on his lips, which died when he saw
the fine figure of a woman standing chatting to his sister.
    “Madam.” Freddie bowed low. “I
don’t believe we have met?”
    “Charmed, I am sure.” She held
out her hand for the requisite near-lip-touch which would only have been
polite. “I am Mrs. P, though my own poor husband sadly passed some years
ago. I am your nearest neighbour, and delighted to see that the Old House is
being occupied again.”
    “Mr. H at your service.” Freddie
brushed his lips over her hand in true gentlemanly