The Orphan's Dream

The Orphan's Dream by Dilly Court Read Free Book Online Page A

Book: The Orphan's Dream by Dilly Court Read Free Book Online
Authors: Dilly Court
a heavy tread outside her door was followed by Wiley’s booming voice.
    â€˜Miss Mirabel, I have a request from Mrs Cutler.’
    â€˜The answer is still no, Wiley.’
    â€˜Your father will be informed of your behaviour.’
    Mirabel laid a soothing hand on Gertie’s forehead. ‘Do what you like. I don’t care.’
    â€˜You’ve been warned, miss.’
    She leapt to her feet and ran to the door. ‘Don’t threaten me, Wiley. You’re little better than a thief. I’ll tell Pa that you’re still stealing his wine, and if he doesn’t believe me I’ll go to the police.’
    â€˜You can’t prove anything against me.’
    â€˜Maybe not, but I suspect you have a shady past. Would it stand up to scrutiny by an officer of the law?’
    â€˜I could ruin your father, and make your life unbearable. Don’t meddle with things you don’t understand.’
    Gertie uttered a wild cry and Mirabel hurried back to her side, murmuring softly in an attempt to quieten her.
    â€˜Who’s in there with you?’ Wiley banged on the door. ‘Open up at once, Miss Mirabel.’
    â€˜There’s no one here but me. I banged my head on a rafter. Go away, Wiley. Leave me alone.’ She could hear him swearing as he retreated, but with the danger past even for a short while she heaved a sigh of relief. ‘You nearly gave the game away then, Gertie. What am I going to do with you?’
    She sat on the floor beside the bed, hoping that Ernestine would give up her efforts to flush her out of her room, but now their mutual animus was out in the open and she realised that nothing would be the same. Ernestine had been looking for an opportunity to rid herself of her stepdaughter and Mirabel knew she had given her the perfect excuse. With Wiley on her side Ernestine had an even greater advantage; Jacob would crumble beneath their combined pressure.
    Time seemed to have stood still in the stuffy attic room. Mirabel bathed Gertie with cold water in an attempt to bring down the fever, but there was little else she could do. The ewer was almost empty and the slop bucket had to be taken downstairs to be emptied in the privy. Mirabel had grown used to seeing to her own needs since being consigned to the top floor, but now she was trapped until such time as her stepmother decided to leave the house. With Gertie sleeping fitfully, she took up her position at the window and eventually her patience was rewarded by the sight of Ernestine and her daughters emerging from the porch, making their way towards Seething Lane. She waited for a while longer, giving Wiley time to settle down with the brandy bottle, and then she seized her chance.
    Mrs James was up to her elbows in flour but she stopped rolling out the pastry to stare at Mirabel. ‘What a commotion you caused, miss. We thought that the mistress was going to have a seizure she carried on so, and those girls of hers were shouting and screaming fit to bust.’
    â€˜Is Wiley in his room, Cook?’
    â€˜Where else would he be when the master and mistress are out? That man is a drunken sot, but he gets away with it.’
    â€˜I know he does, and I don’t understand it any more than you do.’ Mirabel moved to the range and lifted the lid on a large saucepan. ‘That smells delicious. I’ll take a bowl up to my room, and some bread and butter.’ She took a dish from the dresser and filled it with soup. ‘And I need some laudanum. Do you know where Mrs Cutler keeps it?’
    â€˜Are you poorly, Miss Mirabel?’
    â€˜It’s nothing more than a headache. A couple of drops of laudanum will make it go away.’
    â€˜Yes, miss, of course. I don’t know if the mistress has any in her room. You could ask Flossie, she does the cleaning upstairs.’
    â€˜I’ll do that. Where is she now?’
    â€˜I sent her out to get some onions from the market, but she should be

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