Read Online Burnt Norton by Caroline Sandon - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Caroline Sandon
Ads: Link
found herself blushing.
‘Good morning, sir,’ she mumbled, aware of Dorothy’s scrutinizing eyes.
She was grateful for the arrival of Sir William, who came in with two spaniels at his heels.
‘Greetings, Miss Johnson. Welcome to our home. Letitia, Sophie, leave Miss Johnson alone. I do apologize for my unruly dogs.’
‘I love dogs,’ she replied, suddenly aware of her country vowels. ‘I always wanted one, but Ma said there were enough four-legged beasts at the Charter House, and a dog would be one too many.’
‘Well, you will have no shortage of dogs here.’ He smiled. ‘Mathews, I am expecting Mr Clarke; tell him I will be with him shortly.’
‘Yes, Sir William,’ the footman replied.
Sir William turned back towards her. ‘I hope you will forgive me, but I have business with my agent to attend to. I expect, however, that my wife will wish to go through the details of your employment. I hope you will be happy here, Miss Johnson.’
Molly nodded, reassured. His manner was polite. Perhaps her fears had no grounds.
‘Children, I will see you later,’ he said. ‘Ann, I will leave you in Miss Johnson’s capable hands.’
‘Thank you.’ Ann sat down and took up her embroidery. ‘Thomas,’ she said, putting on her glasses, ‘please will you show Miss Johnson the house? We would not want her to get lost.’
‘Yes, Mother,’ he replied.
‘Miss Johnson, after you have unpacked and refreshed yourself, I would be grateful if you would come to my room. I would like to go through the details of your duties.’
Molly followed Thomas from the room, keeping her eyes on the floor ahead of her.
‘Don’t worry about Dorothy,’ Thomas said, when they were out of earshot. ‘She’s had a difficult time recently; she’ll come round.’
Molly doubted that, but remained silent. In the first bedroom they came to, bright curtains hung at the windows, and a Turkish rug covered the floor. There were comfortable upholstered chairs beside the fire, and paintings of flowers and birds filled the yellow walls.
‘Elizabeth chose everything in here. She wanted the room to be light and cheerful. The paintings are her own. She’s talented, isn’t she?’
Looking at the delicately painted flowers, Molly thought of her pots at the Charter House. She nodded in admiration. ‘She has a gift. At home we have flowers everywhere. I’ve learnt a lot about them over the years.’
‘Then you can share your knowledge with me.’
Molly looked up, her confidence growing. She glimpsed his faultless profile, the finely moulded jaw. ‘Did you know,’ she began, pulling her eyes away, ‘most of the medicines in these bottles are made from plants? There are remedies for every kind of ailment.’
‘I didn’t,’ he replied, ‘but I can well believe it. My mother says that the medicines inside this cabinet keep Elizabeth alive. She had the whole world at her feet before the accident. Now she is reliant on these small bottles. What a waste, don’t you agree?’ Thomas turned towards her. ‘Perhaps you can give her a little happiness.’
‘I will try, sir,’ she said, knowing she would do anything to gain his affection. When their eyes met, he smiled a resigned, sad smile, and she fell in love in that instant.
That evening, Molly’s duties began. When she entered the delightful bedroom, it was possible to believe that her father was right, and that this would be a great opportunity for a simple landlord’s daughter.
‘Do you like pretty things, Miss Johnson? I believe from the look in your eyes that you have a taste for beauty.’ Lady Keyt was sitting at the dressing table. Her dark hair hung to her waist, and the firelight softened her fine oval face.
‘I do, milady,’ Molly replied. She turned to look at the ornate bed hung with embroidered silk and tassels, the heavy silk curtains at the windows, and the flounced valances. Paintings in gilt frames covered the panelled walls, and there was silver
‘Good morning, sir,’ she mumbled, aware of Dorothy’s scrutinizing eyes.
She was grateful for the arrival of Sir William, who came in with two spaniels at his heels.
‘Greetings, Miss Johnson. Welcome to our home. Letitia, Sophie, leave Miss Johnson alone. I do apologize for my unruly dogs.’
‘I love dogs,’ she replied, suddenly aware of her country vowels. ‘I always wanted one, but Ma said there were enough four-legged beasts at the Charter House, and a dog would be one too many.’
‘Well, you will have no shortage of dogs here.’ He smiled. ‘Mathews, I am expecting Mr Clarke; tell him I will be with him shortly.’
‘Yes, Sir William,’ the footman replied.
Sir William turned back towards her. ‘I hope you will forgive me, but I have business with my agent to attend to. I expect, however, that my wife will wish to go through the details of your employment. I hope you will be happy here, Miss Johnson.’
Molly nodded, reassured. His manner was polite. Perhaps her fears had no grounds.
‘Children, I will see you later,’ he said. ‘Ann, I will leave you in Miss Johnson’s capable hands.’
‘Thank you.’ Ann sat down and took up her embroidery. ‘Thomas,’ she said, putting on her glasses, ‘please will you show Miss Johnson the house? We would not want her to get lost.’
‘Yes, Mother,’ he replied.
‘Miss Johnson, after you have unpacked and refreshed yourself, I would be grateful if you would come to my room. I would like to go through the details of your duties.’
Molly followed Thomas from the room, keeping her eyes on the floor ahead of her.
‘Don’t worry about Dorothy,’ Thomas said, when they were out of earshot. ‘She’s had a difficult time recently; she’ll come round.’
Molly doubted that, but remained silent. In the first bedroom they came to, bright curtains hung at the windows, and a Turkish rug covered the floor. There were comfortable upholstered chairs beside the fire, and paintings of flowers and birds filled the yellow walls.
‘Elizabeth chose everything in here. She wanted the room to be light and cheerful. The paintings are her own. She’s talented, isn’t she?’
Looking at the delicately painted flowers, Molly thought of her pots at the Charter House. She nodded in admiration. ‘She has a gift. At home we have flowers everywhere. I’ve learnt a lot about them over the years.’
‘Then you can share your knowledge with me.’
Molly looked up, her confidence growing. She glimpsed his faultless profile, the finely moulded jaw. ‘Did you know,’ she began, pulling her eyes away, ‘most of the medicines in these bottles are made from plants? There are remedies for every kind of ailment.’
‘I didn’t,’ he replied, ‘but I can well believe it. My mother says that the medicines inside this cabinet keep Elizabeth alive. She had the whole world at her feet before the accident. Now she is reliant on these small bottles. What a waste, don’t you agree?’ Thomas turned towards her. ‘Perhaps you can give her a little happiness.’
‘I will try, sir,’ she said, knowing she would do anything to gain his affection. When their eyes met, he smiled a resigned, sad smile, and she fell in love in that instant.
That evening, Molly’s duties began. When she entered the delightful bedroom, it was possible to believe that her father was right, and that this would be a great opportunity for a simple landlord’s daughter.
‘Do you like pretty things, Miss Johnson? I believe from the look in your eyes that you have a taste for beauty.’ Lady Keyt was sitting at the dressing table. Her dark hair hung to her waist, and the firelight softened her fine oval face.
‘I do, milady,’ Molly replied. She turned to look at the ornate bed hung with embroidered silk and tassels, the heavy silk curtains at the windows, and the flounced valances. Paintings in gilt frames covered the panelled walls, and there was silver
Similar Books
