Read Online Back in Service by Rosanna Challis - Free Book Online

ease, the way it was first intended. We shall purge the place of its shameful history, Hetty, my dear. Wait and see.’
    ‘I wish you could do the same to my memory.’ She linked her arm affectionately through his. ‘I would like it swept clean of all dark cobwebs and refurbished with pure, innocent thoughts.’
    He kissed her cheek. ‘Are you pleased to be back?’
    ‘Yes and no. I love the house and gardens, and Lady Alice is being kind to me.’
    ‘She wants to keep us here.’
    ‘The other servants are respectful, too, and I like Jane a great deal, I think she and I could be friends, but—’
    ‘Good! You need a companion, Hetty. I am sure you already miss the few friends you had in Paris.’
    ‘Yes, but… tell me about Nanny Baines, Leo. I understand she had charge of you when you were a child?’
    His face darkened. ‘I only hope she is being as cruel to my detestable father as she was to me,’ he muttered in a voice so laden with venom she was astounded.
    ‘Why?’ she breathed. ‘What did she do to you that was so terrible?’
    ‘Another time,’ he said curtly. ‘But mind you, do not get on the wrong side of her, that is all. Now let us extinguish these sconces, I have seen enough here, and return to the house.’
    They entered by the side door and made their way to the front hall, where Hetty was surprised to be met by Jane.
    ‘Excuse me, Miss Hetty, but you said to tell you when a certain order was given…’
    Leo took leave of his wife with an absent kiss and strode off in the direction of the library.
    ‘What is it, Jane?’
    ‘The stillroom, I have been asked to go there and fetch lavender water for her ladyship, and you said—’
    ‘I know what I said and I shall keep my word,’ she replied with a smile. ‘Come, let us go together now.’
    The pair of them ventured into the long dark corridor at the back of the house, leading to the old dairy and stillroom and from there to the stables. Hetty knew the latter used to be a favourite haunt of Sir Victor in the days when he could still ride, but she hardly expected to find him lurking there now. Everything seemed quiet as they entered the stillroom, and she sat gazing out of the small window at the park outside while Jane measured out the required amount of toilet water, pouring it into the fancy glass bottle belonging to Lady Alice. Witnessing the operation, she found herself possessed by a nostalgic mood. How many times she had performed that same task, always with one ear and one eye open for the evil intruder. ‘Stopper it up well,’ she advised her successor. ‘You know to keep it in the dark, Jane? All perfumes lose their potency if exposed to light and air.’
    ‘Yes, Miss Hetty,’ she replied dutifully, but suddenly the cork flew from her fingers and rolled into a dark corner beneath the bench. ‘Oh dear!’ She put the bottle on a shelf and went down on her hands and knees to search for it while Hetty drew back, afraid her interference was making the girl nervous and clumsy. Then she heard a strange sound, a rhythmic squeaking that seemed to be coming closer, and before she had quite worked out what it was, the door was pushed wide open and the chair-bound figure of Sir Victor filled the threshold. He did not see Hetty, for his beady eyes were fixed intently on Jane’s upturned bottom.
    ‘What have we here?’ he gloated hoarsely. ‘Young Jane upon her knees? Oh happy hour.’
    Hetty held her breath, not daring to make her presence known, as Jane glanced over her shoulder with an expression on her face reminiscent of a frightened rabbit. ‘Oh sir, you startled me.’
    Sir Victor pushed on the wheels with his palms and slid further into the room, his eyes still glued to her bottom.
    Jane scrambled to her feet and made an awkward curtsey.
    ‘You make a pretty sight, my dear, a sight for sore eyes. You know of my penchant for a pretty arse, Miss Jane.’
    ‘Y-yes, sir,’ she stammered, and glanced at Hetty, who up until