Read Online Marrying Miss Martha by Anna Jacobs - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Anna Jacobs
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far.”
“I’d prefer to go with you.”
He barely said a word as they walked briskly back and at the inn he tipped his hat before striding off into the darkness.
“He’s very abrupt,” Penelope said, pausing to watch him go.
“He’s downright rude most of the time,” Martha said, chin jutting dangerously. “And I mean to treat him in exactly the same way from now on and speak my mind when I’m with him.”
“Was it my imagination or did he look surprised to see you?”
“We’d already met, but not in such a way as to exchange names. I didn’t have time to tell you but I bumped into him when I went for a stroll and we—um—disagreed about something.”
“Oh.” Penelope didn’t comment further because she had never seen her sister get flustered for so little reason and was intrigued by this reaction. “Georgie is going to be difficult to deal with, don’t you think? We shall probably earn every penny of what he’s offering.”
“Yes. In fact—I’m not at all sure about this venture now, what with the classes for men from the mill as well. What do you think about that? Really.”
Penelope looked at her in surprise. “You know I’ve always believed in universal literacy. I’d love to help the workers from the mill. And I think the Wright children are sweet. I’m sure I’ll enjoy teaching them and playing with them. Did you see how careful they were not to bump their mother’s sofa? Her illness must be very hard for them all.”
“Especially her.” But Martha was still thinking about Ben Seaton, not at all sure she wanted to work for him. She found him very—she fumbled mentally for a word and could only come up with unsettling . “Well, we can’t stand here all evening. Let’s go inside and beard the lion in his den.”
“Lion? Edward? He’s more a rabbit, wouldn’t you say?” They both chuckled.
Their cousin darted out of the sitting-room as soon as he heard their voices in the stair well. “There you are at last. What kept you so long? It’s almost time for dinner.”
“We’d better go and change, then.”
“No, no! Come and tell me what happened first. I’m sure there’s no need to change, given the circumstances.” He led the way back into the sitting room. “I think it was extremely rude of Mr Wright not to invite me to accompany you. After all, I am the head of the family. But I didn’t make a fuss, not when your livelihood might depend upon the fellow’s goodwill.” He looked expectantly from one to the other. “Well?”
“The Wright children seem delightful,” Martha said, “but their poor mother is very twisted with rheumatism. She must be in great pain.”
“Yes, yes! But I do hope you convinced her that you would be able to keep them in order. No one is going to hire a governess who can’t control her charges. I meant to have warned you of that point before you met her, but you left so quickly.”
Penelope stepped in hastily as she saw her sister begin to bristle with indignation. “We—um—satisfied Mrs Wright that we could offer her the sort of service she required and she sent us to meet Mr Seaton and his sister.”
Martha joined in. “They would definitely like to employ us but we said we wished to inspect the house they’re offering tomorrow morning before making our decision.”
“Very sensible. I shall come with you for that. As the landlord of several properties I can give you the benefit of my experience.”
“Mr Seaton’s housekeeper will be collecting us at nine o’clock,” Martha warned him. “Won’t that be a little early for you?”
Edward gave an aggrieved sigh. “I grudge you no exertion in this venture, though I still cannot like it. But—a mere housekeeper? Mr Seaton isn’t conducting you over the residence himself?”
“No. He’ll be busy at the mill.”
“And if the house is all right—?” He looked at them expectantly.
“We shall probably accept the positions,” Martha said.
“Hmm. I still
“I’d prefer to go with you.”
He barely said a word as they walked briskly back and at the inn he tipped his hat before striding off into the darkness.
“He’s very abrupt,” Penelope said, pausing to watch him go.
“He’s downright rude most of the time,” Martha said, chin jutting dangerously. “And I mean to treat him in exactly the same way from now on and speak my mind when I’m with him.”
“Was it my imagination or did he look surprised to see you?”
“We’d already met, but not in such a way as to exchange names. I didn’t have time to tell you but I bumped into him when I went for a stroll and we—um—disagreed about something.”
“Oh.” Penelope didn’t comment further because she had never seen her sister get flustered for so little reason and was intrigued by this reaction. “Georgie is going to be difficult to deal with, don’t you think? We shall probably earn every penny of what he’s offering.”
“Yes. In fact—I’m not at all sure about this venture now, what with the classes for men from the mill as well. What do you think about that? Really.”
Penelope looked at her in surprise. “You know I’ve always believed in universal literacy. I’d love to help the workers from the mill. And I think the Wright children are sweet. I’m sure I’ll enjoy teaching them and playing with them. Did you see how careful they were not to bump their mother’s sofa? Her illness must be very hard for them all.”
“Especially her.” But Martha was still thinking about Ben Seaton, not at all sure she wanted to work for him. She found him very—she fumbled mentally for a word and could only come up with unsettling . “Well, we can’t stand here all evening. Let’s go inside and beard the lion in his den.”
“Lion? Edward? He’s more a rabbit, wouldn’t you say?” They both chuckled.
Their cousin darted out of the sitting-room as soon as he heard their voices in the stair well. “There you are at last. What kept you so long? It’s almost time for dinner.”
“We’d better go and change, then.”
“No, no! Come and tell me what happened first. I’m sure there’s no need to change, given the circumstances.” He led the way back into the sitting room. “I think it was extremely rude of Mr Wright not to invite me to accompany you. After all, I am the head of the family. But I didn’t make a fuss, not when your livelihood might depend upon the fellow’s goodwill.” He looked expectantly from one to the other. “Well?”
“The Wright children seem delightful,” Martha said, “but their poor mother is very twisted with rheumatism. She must be in great pain.”
“Yes, yes! But I do hope you convinced her that you would be able to keep them in order. No one is going to hire a governess who can’t control her charges. I meant to have warned you of that point before you met her, but you left so quickly.”
Penelope stepped in hastily as she saw her sister begin to bristle with indignation. “We—um—satisfied Mrs Wright that we could offer her the sort of service she required and she sent us to meet Mr Seaton and his sister.”
Martha joined in. “They would definitely like to employ us but we said we wished to inspect the house they’re offering tomorrow morning before making our decision.”
“Very sensible. I shall come with you for that. As the landlord of several properties I can give you the benefit of my experience.”
“Mr Seaton’s housekeeper will be collecting us at nine o’clock,” Martha warned him. “Won’t that be a little early for you?”
Edward gave an aggrieved sigh. “I grudge you no exertion in this venture, though I still cannot like it. But—a mere housekeeper? Mr Seaton isn’t conducting you over the residence himself?”
“No. He’ll be busy at the mill.”
“And if the house is all right—?” He looked at them expectantly.
“We shall probably accept the positions,” Martha said.
“Hmm. I still
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