Winter Is Past by Ruth Axtell Morren Read Free Book Online Page A

distracted to remind her to eat her food. Her own throat had tightened so that not even a swallow of water would go down.
    A dinner party in Mayfair in a fortnight… the event had all the allure of a cholera epidemic in the East End.
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    Althea’s faint hope that Simon had forgotten his impulsive request of the previous evening proved in vain. The next afternoon she was summoned to the library.
    Althea had not been in that room since the day she was interviewed there. Now, once again she stood before his desk, this time with a silent Mrs. Coates standing beside her.
    â€œHere is a list of the guests I wish to be invited. Mrs. Coates, you will consult with Miss Breton and defer to her on all matters pertaining to this dinner party. Is that understood?”
    â€œYes, sir,” answered the stout, gray-haired housekeeper, her hands folded in front of her.
    â€œMiss Breton has mentioned something about a thorough housecleaning. Isn’t that right?” He turned to Althea.
    Althea cleared her throat, uncomfortable with the notion that she was the instigator of a major household upheaval. “That is correct, sir—at least of all the rooms that will entertain guests that evening.”
    â€œYou will see to that immediately, then, Mrs. Coates?”
    The housekeeper gave a short sniff, accompanied by a nod. “Very well, sir.”
    â€œThat will be all. Keep me informed as things progress.”
    Feeling dismissed, Althea followed Mrs. Coates out of the room. In the hallway, she turned to the housekeeper. “Would you like to go over the guest list now? I have a few moments before I have to be with Rebecca.”
    Mrs. Coates, who had taken immediate possession of the scrawled sheet of paper, gave another sniff. “I can perfectly well see to it.” She turned and walked off toward her sitting room, muttering “…Methodite do-gooder….”
    So, that was the cause of the servants’ unfriendliness, Althea thought. She stood for a few seconds before ascending the stairs to Rebecca’s room.
    â€œMay we go down now?” Rebecca sat in her chair, just the way Althea had left her when she’d been summoned into the library.
    â€œYes, we shall go down forthwith. Do you feel up to walking if you take my arm?”
    â€œOh, yes!” Rebecca stood promptly.
    Althea offered her arm and the two walked toward the door. The girl managed the stairs slowly, but once in the yellow salon, she was chatting away happily. Althea pointed out the signs of spring in the otherwise drab garden.
    â€œSee there, those little green shoots pointing through the dirt?”
    â€œYes, yes, I see them. What are they going to be?”
    â€œCrocus. There! There are some coming through that patch of grass where the snow has melted. Now, look over there. Do you see the white flowers?”
    Rebecca pressed her face to the glass doors. “Yes. Ohh, what are those?”
    â€œSnowdrops. The very first sign of spring.”
    â€œThey are so pretty. So tiny against the black dirt.”
    Althea straightened. “Are you ready for some music now?”
    â€œYes.”
    â€œThen, let us get you comfortably settled and tucked in.”Althea led her to a brocaded armchair and turned it so the girl could either watch her at the pianoforte or continue gazing out the window.
    On her way to the instrument, Althea paused at the fireplace. Upon the mantel stood a brass candelabra. She ran her fingers over it curiously. “How unusual.” She counted the holders. “Nine,” she commented, turning to Rebecca.
    â€œThat’s for Hanukkah,” the girl said promptly.
    â€œHanukkah? What’s that?”
    â€œA holiday in December. Each night for eight nights we light a new candle and wait until it burns down completely.” After a moment, she added, “We don’t celebrate Christmas.”
    â€œI see. What is Hanukkah in celebration