Read Online A Change of Fortune by Beryl Matthews - Free Book Online

Was she doing the right thing? Would she fit in as a servant without being discovered? She sat with her small case on her lap, her knuckles white as they gripped the handle.
    She arrived at the Bruton Street house and was taken straight to the housekeeper.
    ‘Just in time,’ Mrs Douglas said, heading for the kitchen.
    The staff obviously had their dinner after serving the upstairs meal. I certainly won’t go hungry, Jenny thought as she saw the quality and quantity of the food they were enjoying.
    The housekeeper then introduced her to everyone. She tried to force their names into her mind. There was the butler, Mr Green, the cook, Mrs Peters, the footman, Ron Stokes, the scullery maid, Milly, and of course Edna Jenks, the housemaid. She was so agitated at that moment that it would have been difficult to remember even her own name – her new name!
    ‘Sit yourself down,’ the cook said.
    Although she’d already dined she hadn’t eaten much, and, as her plate was piled with succulent roast beef and the lightest Yorkshire pudding she’d ever seen, she realized just how hungry she was. There was laughter and friendly banter around the table, making her relax a little. This seemed like a happy household. However, she must remain alert. No one must guess at her background.
    When they’d finished eating, Edna picked up Jenny’s suitcase. ‘Come on, I’ll show you where we sleep.’
    It was right at the top of the house, under the eaves. The room was small with a sloping ceiling; there were two beds, a cupboard – and it was freezing cold. After the warmth of the kitchen it came as a shock. Edna didn’t seem to notice it, though. On one bed were her uniform and other garments, including underclothes. Quite a lot for four pounds, Jenny thought.
    ‘Pack your things in the cupboard and shove your case under the bed,’ Edna said.
    When that was done they got ready for bed. It was so cold that Jenny gasped as she dived into the icy sheets.
    Her roommate laughed. ‘Bloody perishing, ain’t it? You’ll soon get used to it.’
    As she curled into a tight ball with her teeth chattering, Jenny wasn’t sure about that.
    ‘Cook will start making the Christmas puds and cakes soon. The house will be crammed to the ceiling then.’ Edna chatted happily. ‘All the family will be home, so I’d better warn you. Madam’s got three sons. John’s the eldest at twenty-four. He’s right snooty and won’t lower himself to talk to the likes of us. The next is Luke and he’s twenty. Watch him. He’s always after the girls and don’t care who they are. A servant is fair game to him. The youngest is Matthew. He’s eighteen and a real gent; always got a ready smile for everyone. Don’t be fooled, though; they might all have names from the Holy Book, but they ain’t no angels.’
    ‘What are Mr and Mrs Stannard like?’ Jenny asked.
    ‘Not bad. They’re a rich banking family. We don’t see much of them. They leave the running of the household to Mrs Douglas. Don’t get on the wrong side of her or you’ll know it. The last girl was chucked out for being lazy and not doing her cleaning properly.’
    ‘Oh, dear.’ Jenny shivered even more. This all sounded very frightening.
    ‘Don’t worry.’ Edna laughed. ‘Do your job and it’s not a bad place to be. I knows a lot worse. Get somesleep and I’ll make sure to wake you at five. Mustn’t be late on your first day.’
    When she’d been sitting in the warm kitchen she’d felt quite hopeful; that disappeared as she listened to Edna. She prayed she was going to be able to do this.
    Burying her head in the pillow to muffle the sound, Jenny Baker, the new under housemaid, cried herself to sleep.
    ‘Jenny! Wake up.’
    Someone was shaking her roughly. She opened one eye. It was dark, very cold and for a moment she couldn’t think where she was. Then Edna whipped the covers off her and she leapt to her feet as she remembered. She was now the under housemaid in the Stannard