Read Online Dangerous Decisions by Margaret Kaine - Free Book Online Page B

turns on the charm when Miss Helena’s around, that’s for sure. Mind you, he must have genuine feelings for her. After all, he hardly needs to marry her for her money. And he’s her choice, so we should be glad for her.’
    â€˜Yes, well I won’t be sorry when he’s left,’ Enid said. ‘It’s not him I mind as much as that manservant of his. He’s always nosying about Miss Helena.’
    Molly stared at her. ‘How do you mean?’
    â€˜Well, it’s not direct questions as such, but – oh I don’t know, he just gives me the creeps. “It must be nice to work for a mistress who is so perfect,” he said, and then went on to tell me that his sister was born with an ugly birthmark on her hip. I don’t know what he was insinuating.’
    â€˜What did you say?’
    â€˜Nothing – I always treat him with the contempt he deserves.’
    Molly nudged Ida. ‘Go on then, if a man as handsome as Mr Faraday proposed to you, would
you
turn him down?’
    â€˜My Charlie wasn’t at the back of the class when good looks were given out, even if he does have a gammy leg. Mind you, if he hadn’t got that in the Boer War he wouldn’t have been left behind when his regiment left last year.’ Ida’s tone was defensive. ‘Anyway, he likes being a clerk at the Depot. And he may not be rich but he’ll do for me. And one of these days …’ The others glanced at each other. As they often said, two years was quite long enough for a courtship to drag on.
    â€˜I’m seeing him on Sunday afternoon,’ Ida said, her voice tense. ‘I shall tell him then that I might have the opportunity of another post.’
    â€˜Don’t you go counting your chickens, Ida.’ Cook’s voice was sharp.
    â€˜Maybe she sees it as a way of forcing him to make a declaration,’ Molly said. ‘That’s the trouble with soldiers – they get all their meals provided so they don’t need a woman to cook for them. At least that’s what my mum used to say.’
    â€˜Molly, I do think men get married for other reasons than to have a full belly!’ Annie spluttered with laughter.
    â€˜Well, we shall see, won’t we?’ Ida said. ‘When I see him on Sunday, I mean.’
    â€˜Just don’t go burning your bridges, remember what Mr Bostock said,’ Cook told her. ‘There might be no chance of either you or Molly being promoted. Mr Faraday might want some sort of fancy French maid to attend to his wife.’
    â€˜Miss Helena won’t want someone speaking a different lingo. She’ll want a familiar face from home. I can tell you that for nothing!’ Molly was indignant at the thought. A foreigner indeed!
    Jacob was in an expansive mood that evening during dinner, while Beatrice sat with two high spots of colour on her sallow cheeks, and Helena suspected that the earlier champagne had gone to her aunt’s head. A headache would follow, no doubt.
    Oliver was enjoying his oyster patties. Marriage to Helena was now something he contemplated with keen anticipation. He not only had the tantalising prospect of having a young virgin in his bed, he was confidently expecting to have an heir within twelve months of the honeymoon. He was also impressed by the subtle yet efficient way in which Broadway Manor was managed; he had no doubt that Beatrice Standish would have ensured that her niece was well trained in all aspects of running a large household. Graylings deserved a capable mistress, and despite her youth, Helena had intelligence and imagination. He was confident that she would rise to the challenge and it was with complacence that he put down his cutlery. ‘Tomorrow I expect to receive a package that I would like to share with you – it will contain a painting of Graylings.’
    Helena’s eyes lit up. ‘But that would be wonderful. I’m dying to see it,