Read Online Burnt Norton by Caroline Sandon - Free Book Online Page A

couldn’t imagine, it was beyond her capabilities, and for a moment she felt unutterably sad. ‘I’m so sorry,’ she replied at last. She knelt in front of Elizabeth and took her hands in her own. ‘I didn’t see a boy, but if you did, then he must have been there. You are not losing your mind; you are saner than the rest of us put together. I cannot give you back your dreams, but I can give you this.’ She put Miss Byrne’s book into her lap. ‘Miss Byrne wrote these stories for us, and they have given me strength. Perhaps they can do the same for you.’ When Elizabeth didn’t answer she turned the pages. ‘Do you see, Lizzie? The rest of the book is empty. Will you fill the pages with our story? Will you write about everything, the past, the present, and the future, so that someone, some day, might read it and know about us?’ Elizabeth nodded, her eyes filling with tears.

12
    The coachman dropped her bag on the flagstone floor. ‘The housekeeper will come for you.’
    Molly looked at her face in the hall mirror. It was not the face she knew, the confident and pretty landlord’s daughter.
    ‘Morning, miss.’ A footman passed. He winked and smiled, a silver tray balanced in his hand. ‘Mrs Wright will be along shortly. No need to be afraid, she won’t bite.’
    ‘I’m not frightened, sir,’ she replied, but her words sounded false. She longed for her bedroom, her Will, her mother, anywhere but here.
    ‘Could have fooled me,’ he said cheerfully, pushing the swing door closed with his foot.
    Mrs Wright arrived, her grey hair scraped into a bun. She had small eyes in a mean face.
    ‘Miss Johnson, come this way. Don’t get any ideas in this house. Do as you are told or you’ll be out of here before you know it. You will answer to me and her ladyship.’
    Molly followed her under a stone archway and into a large inner hall. Portraits of long-dead Keyt ancestors stared from the walls; Molly hurried past to avoid their silent gaze.
    A footman opened a pair of double doors, and Mrs Wright swept through to the drawing room. Molly cautiously entered after her.
    ‘Excuse me, Lady Keyt, Miss Johnson has arrived.’ Three heads turned towards her, the same three heads she had glimpsed through the window. Lady Keyt remained with her face in profile.
    ‘Good morning, Miss Johnson.’ She got up slowly, graciously, and walked towards her, her green silk dress rustling as she moved.
    ‘Good morning, ma’am.’
    ‘Curtsy, miss,’ the housekeeper barked. Molly bobbed ineffectually.
    ‘Mrs Wright, you may go, thank you.’
    It was evident that Mrs Wright had no wish to leave. Her tongue clicked against her teeth as she left the room.
    ‘This is my daughter, Miss Elizabeth.’ Lady Keyt nodded at the girl in a high backed chair. ‘This is Master Thomas, and this is my younger daughter, Dorothy.’
    Molly smiled tentatively. Elizabeth was pretty, with her thick fair hair plaited around her head, but the poor legs hidden beneath a blanket saddened her.
    ‘I believe you are to be my lady’s maid,’ Elizabeth said in her gentle voice.
    ‘Yes, miss.’
    ‘I shall enjoy that, I know.’
    Before she had time to reply, the younger girl walked towards her. ‘I can’t imagine why Papa employed you; you’re hardly old enough to be a lady’s maid. And you won’t be my companion because I don’t need one.’ She rushed to her sister’s side.
    Molly stared at her shoes, covered with mud. She couldn’t believe that she had neglected to clean them.
    ‘Dorothy, be polite to poor Miss Johnson. We must make her welcome in our home.’ Molly looked up shyly. Despite her broken legs, Miss Elizabeth had the kindest manner.
    ‘Miss Johnson,’ Dorothy spoke grudgingly, ‘that was churlish. I apologize.’
    It was obvious to Molly that Miss Dorothy’s apology did not come from her heart.
    ‘Dotty, is that an admission of guilt? I cannot believe my ears.’ At the sound of Thomas’s voice, warm and teasing, Molly