cook’s day off, so I did the breakfast today, sir.’
He’d learned that a servant travelled a long way on a word of praise for fuel. ‘Well, good for you, Anna.’
‘Thank you, sir. I’ll try not to disturb you. Will you be in for lunch?’
‘Not today. I’m going to mess around on my boat; the brass needs polishing. I dare say you’ll be glad when I’m out from underfoot.’
Anna tittered. ‘Oh no, sir. You’re such a pleasant gentleman, and no trouble at all.’
‘Glad to hear it.’ Taking a pencil from his waistcoat pocket he slid into a leather wing-backed chair, there to be fully absorbed for the fifteen minutes he’d allowed himself to ponder on the harder of the clues. The time limit proved quite a challenge, but he beat his own record with seconds to spare.
When the long clock in the hall chimed nine he swallowed his lukewarm coffee and rose. Time to get on, he supposed, and wondered what James Bethuen had in mind for him.
One thing he was sure of, although the man wasn’t the fool his father had made him out to be, he wasn’t far off.
Five
They had forgotten to set the alarm clock.
Not that it mattered to Meggie, but her aunt and uncle were scrambling around in panic, snatching gulps of tea and tearing bites from the bread she’d toasted under the grill and spread with butter and marmalade. An apple was placed in each hand as they headed for the door. It was more nutritious than what they’d eaten so far.
‘Eat them in the car,’ she said.
‘I’ll drop you off at the station,’ Leo told Es, because from there they’d be travelling in different directions. He kissed Meggie on the cheek as he went past and grinned. ‘Thanks, Mum.’
Her aunt grabbed up the handbag Meggie held out for her and did likewise.
‘Don’t forget to comb your hair, Aunt Es,’ Meggie called after her, and make sure you both eat a good lunch.
‘No . . . we won’t forget. What are you going to do today?’
‘I’ll do the immediate chores first then go to the markets to do some food shopping. This afternoon I’ll do the ironing.’
‘I feel guilty leaving all this work.’
‘Don’t feel guilty, since I’m responsible for some of it. Off you go now else you’ll be late.’
The pair gazed at each other and laughed.
The Morris engine was a bit reluctant to wake up, too. After it offered him a couple of sluggish dry coughs Leo stuck his head out of the window and called out, ‘Wake up you cantank-erous old cow else I’ll heave your rusting arse into the scrap yard.’ The engine spluttered with indignation then fired.
‘Leo’s got a wonderful way with engines,’ Es told her from the passenger seat, and they both giggled when he snorted.
Giving a last wave when the car reached the corner she went back indoors.
Silence descended when she closed the door. She could smell smoke.
‘Holy Moses . . . my toast!’
She made a dash for the kitchen, pulled it out from under the grill and threw the charred, smoking mess out of the back door, flapping as much smoke as she could out after it with the tea towel. Mostly though, it had risen to the high ceiling, where it hovered like a drifting grey cloud of bad breath. From experience she knew the smell would linger for several days.
It had been the last of the bread, and the carter hadn’t been yet. Neither had the milkman. She sighed and ate a cracker spread with marmite, washing it down with the lukewarm remainder of her aunt’s leftover tea, to which some hot water was added to weaken the strong brown brew.
After dressing, she went into a flurry of housework. There came the hum of the milk float and the chink of milk bottles on the doorstep. She got there before the blue-tits pecked through the top to help themselves to the cream, placing the two bottles on the larder shelf.
Not long afterwards a horse plodded down the road, and she bought a couple of loaves from the cart to place in the bread bin, and a bun with a sprinkling of shredded
He’d learned that a servant travelled a long way on a word of praise for fuel. ‘Well, good for you, Anna.’
‘Thank you, sir. I’ll try not to disturb you. Will you be in for lunch?’
‘Not today. I’m going to mess around on my boat; the brass needs polishing. I dare say you’ll be glad when I’m out from underfoot.’
Anna tittered. ‘Oh no, sir. You’re such a pleasant gentleman, and no trouble at all.’
‘Glad to hear it.’ Taking a pencil from his waistcoat pocket he slid into a leather wing-backed chair, there to be fully absorbed for the fifteen minutes he’d allowed himself to ponder on the harder of the clues. The time limit proved quite a challenge, but he beat his own record with seconds to spare.
When the long clock in the hall chimed nine he swallowed his lukewarm coffee and rose. Time to get on, he supposed, and wondered what James Bethuen had in mind for him.
One thing he was sure of, although the man wasn’t the fool his father had made him out to be, he wasn’t far off.
Five
They had forgotten to set the alarm clock.
Not that it mattered to Meggie, but her aunt and uncle were scrambling around in panic, snatching gulps of tea and tearing bites from the bread she’d toasted under the grill and spread with butter and marmalade. An apple was placed in each hand as they headed for the door. It was more nutritious than what they’d eaten so far.
‘Eat them in the car,’ she said.
‘I’ll drop you off at the station,’ Leo told Es, because from there they’d be travelling in different directions. He kissed Meggie on the cheek as he went past and grinned. ‘Thanks, Mum.’
Her aunt grabbed up the handbag Meggie held out for her and did likewise.
‘Don’t forget to comb your hair, Aunt Es,’ Meggie called after her, and make sure you both eat a good lunch.
‘No . . . we won’t forget. What are you going to do today?’
‘I’ll do the immediate chores first then go to the markets to do some food shopping. This afternoon I’ll do the ironing.’
‘I feel guilty leaving all this work.’
‘Don’t feel guilty, since I’m responsible for some of it. Off you go now else you’ll be late.’
The pair gazed at each other and laughed.
The Morris engine was a bit reluctant to wake up, too. After it offered him a couple of sluggish dry coughs Leo stuck his head out of the window and called out, ‘Wake up you cantank-erous old cow else I’ll heave your rusting arse into the scrap yard.’ The engine spluttered with indignation then fired.
‘Leo’s got a wonderful way with engines,’ Es told her from the passenger seat, and they both giggled when he snorted.
Giving a last wave when the car reached the corner she went back indoors.
Silence descended when she closed the door. She could smell smoke.
‘Holy Moses . . . my toast!’
She made a dash for the kitchen, pulled it out from under the grill and threw the charred, smoking mess out of the back door, flapping as much smoke as she could out after it with the tea towel. Mostly though, it had risen to the high ceiling, where it hovered like a drifting grey cloud of bad breath. From experience she knew the smell would linger for several days.
It had been the last of the bread, and the carter hadn’t been yet. Neither had the milkman. She sighed and ate a cracker spread with marmite, washing it down with the lukewarm remainder of her aunt’s leftover tea, to which some hot water was added to weaken the strong brown brew.
After dressing, she went into a flurry of housework. There came the hum of the milk float and the chink of milk bottles on the doorstep. She got there before the blue-tits pecked through the top to help themselves to the cream, placing the two bottles on the larder shelf.
Not long afterwards a horse plodded down the road, and she bought a couple of loaves from the cart to place in the bread bin, and a bun with a sprinkling of shredded
Similar Books
