Read Online Fenella Miller by To Love Again - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: To Love Again
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the other bolts of cloth. The second made her gasp with happiness. "Look at this, girls. It is perfect." She ran the lightweight blue material through her fingers. "It is cotton of some sort, light but strongly woven. There's more be enough here to make me two gowns and still have enough over to make Mary and Jack something as well."
The third parcel was equally acceptable. This was by far the largest, double the weight of the other two, there must be dozens of yards rolled up here. "This is perfect for making dresses for the rest of you. The dark grey is ideal, it will not show the marks. It is more like a cotton twill, much heavier than the other."
She picked up the heavy parcel and handed it to Tilly. "I hope more than one of you are expert with the needle."
The girl nodded, her cap slid askew on her soft brown hair. "I reckon between us we can make the gowns, ma'am. We have discovered sufficient caps and pinafores, but none of us have a change of raiment or anything smart for Sunday."
"Then hopefully there will be enough material here to make something for everyone. I do not believe that Mrs Turner requires a new gown, she told me she has more than one already."
How she wished that Mr Foster had given her these gifts immediately. Mr Bucknall must think her both ungrateful and impolite not to have come personally to thank him. To purchase items of this quality would cost far more than she, or her staff , could afford. However, the gold silk must be returned forthwith.
She had not seen her employer since that ill-fated night. William had informed her his master was now happily returned to his apartment upstairs. He had accepted all the changes in the house with equanimity, ate all his meals without demure in the breakfast parlour and had not seem to notice the shrouded appearance of the main reception rooms. She had forbidden Mary to use the pianoforte until she had asked permission, as she hadn't yet spoken to Mr Bucknall, her daughter had been growing impatient. That was until she discovered an enormous black tomcat lurking in the undergrowth behind the barn.
It took the girl a day and a half to coax him out, and now the cat was earning his keep catching the vermin. The animal, which Mary had named Sooty, had not even objected when she'd bathed him in the copper in the laundry. Emma hoped this had removed the worst of the fleas from the animal's fur. The fact that Mr Bucknall could not abide cats was neither here nor there. Better to brave his wrath than be overrun with rats and mice.
The children were outside with Jethro, they appeared to have adopted each other, they had never had grandparents, and the old man seemed happy to fulfil that role. Indeed, the entire staff were ready to step in when needed with advice or help for Jack and Mary when she was occupied elsewhere.
Jack, who up until now had been a truthful child, insisted that he'd spent several hours in the company of Mr Bucknall and had even been taken up in front of him when he gone out on his fierce stallion. She was sure this was a fabrication; John had never been interested in his children, had played little part in their lives, it was possible her son was beginning to see Mr Bucknall as the father he had never had. This would be a catastrophe, she must ask her employer not to encourage her son. It would make matters so much worse when eventually they moved on, as they surely would. Good things did not last forever, in her experience.
Checking her cap was straight, no errant strands of hair protruding on either side, that her apron was crisp and clean, she felt ready to go forth and find him. It had occurred to her several times that as housekeeper she should not need to wear protective covering, all menial tasks would be accomplished by those under her control. However, until she had made up a fresh gown from the pretty material she had been given, she must appear as she was.
She paused in the grand entrance hall, already it both smelt and looked
The third parcel was equally acceptable. This was by far the largest, double the weight of the other two, there must be dozens of yards rolled up here. "This is perfect for making dresses for the rest of you. The dark grey is ideal, it will not show the marks. It is more like a cotton twill, much heavier than the other."
She picked up the heavy parcel and handed it to Tilly. "I hope more than one of you are expert with the needle."
The girl nodded, her cap slid askew on her soft brown hair. "I reckon between us we can make the gowns, ma'am. We have discovered sufficient caps and pinafores, but none of us have a change of raiment or anything smart for Sunday."
"Then hopefully there will be enough material here to make something for everyone. I do not believe that Mrs Turner requires a new gown, she told me she has more than one already."
How she wished that Mr Foster had given her these gifts immediately. Mr Bucknall must think her both ungrateful and impolite not to have come personally to thank him. To purchase items of this quality would cost far more than she, or her staff , could afford. However, the gold silk must be returned forthwith.
She had not seen her employer since that ill-fated night. William had informed her his master was now happily returned to his apartment upstairs. He had accepted all the changes in the house with equanimity, ate all his meals without demure in the breakfast parlour and had not seem to notice the shrouded appearance of the main reception rooms. She had forbidden Mary to use the pianoforte until she had asked permission, as she hadn't yet spoken to Mr Bucknall, her daughter had been growing impatient. That was until she discovered an enormous black tomcat lurking in the undergrowth behind the barn.
It took the girl a day and a half to coax him out, and now the cat was earning his keep catching the vermin. The animal, which Mary had named Sooty, had not even objected when she'd bathed him in the copper in the laundry. Emma hoped this had removed the worst of the fleas from the animal's fur. The fact that Mr Bucknall could not abide cats was neither here nor there. Better to brave his wrath than be overrun with rats and mice.
The children were outside with Jethro, they appeared to have adopted each other, they had never had grandparents, and the old man seemed happy to fulfil that role. Indeed, the entire staff were ready to step in when needed with advice or help for Jack and Mary when she was occupied elsewhere.
Jack, who up until now had been a truthful child, insisted that he'd spent several hours in the company of Mr Bucknall and had even been taken up in front of him when he gone out on his fierce stallion. She was sure this was a fabrication; John had never been interested in his children, had played little part in their lives, it was possible her son was beginning to see Mr Bucknall as the father he had never had. This would be a catastrophe, she must ask her employer not to encourage her son. It would make matters so much worse when eventually they moved on, as they surely would. Good things did not last forever, in her experience.
Checking her cap was straight, no errant strands of hair protruding on either side, that her apron was crisp and clean, she felt ready to go forth and find him. It had occurred to her several times that as housekeeper she should not need to wear protective covering, all menial tasks would be accomplished by those under her control. However, until she had made up a fresh gown from the pretty material she had been given, she must appear as she was.
She paused in the grand entrance hall, already it both smelt and looked
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