Read Online Matters of the Heart by Rosemary Smith - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Rosemary Smith
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that? Now run off and wash your hands and face.’
So saying, Cook gave her a little push with the rolling-pin and Agnes scuttled off.
‘Sorry, miss, this is what I have to put up with. Now, what can I do for you? A nice cup of tea, perhaps? I take it you are the mistress’ granddaughter, Miss Jane?’
She paused for breath and I spoke quickly.
‘Yes, I am indeed Jane Merriock. I’m sorry to intrude but was wondering if you could tell me where I may find Mrs Dobbs, please.’
Cook had gone back to rolling her pastry. She stopped long enough to indicate with her rolling-pin a door to her left. As I stepped into the large kitchen I took in the huge black range over which hung pots and pans of various shapes and sizes. The wooden table on which Cook was baking was immense and took up a third of the kitchen. Various dishes were scattered on the top of it and flour was everywhere. As I stood taking in my surroundings, Agnes returned looking much tidier and ready to immerse her arms once more into the large mixing bowl.
‘I’m Nelly, miss,’ Cook said, stopping her rolling-pin once more in mid-air. ‘It’s pleased we are to have you here. Your mother was very much loved by all. I won’t say more, miss, it’s not my place, except to say as how I don’t agree with what happened. Would’ve given me notice in but I loves the mistress and nothing will change that.’
I was lost for words but as Nelly resumed her rolling I uttered, ‘Thank you, Nelly, I understand.’
I walked to the door she had indicated, and stepped into a small corridor. I guessed it was the door opposite me which I needed for the one on the right was marked pantry. I knocked gently on the door and Mrs Dobbs’ voice called, ‘Who is it?’
Opening the door a fraction, I saw Mrs Dobbs get up from her chair and smooth her skirts.
‘Oh, it’s you, miss, come in, please.’
The room was small but comfortable and very warm. I felt quite stifled and was pleased when Mrs Dobbs asked if I would partake of a glass of lemonade. Seating myself on a high chair stood against the wall, I looked around me at the many ornaments placed on small tables scattered around the room. There was hardly a space left on the walls as they were covered in pictures, mainly of the sea and coastline. On a table beneath the window were small, stuffed animals which I found quite distasteful and looked quickly away at the small fire burning in the grate, listening to the rain as it splattered against the window pane.
I gratefully accepted the glass Mrs Dobbs gave to me and sipping the cool drink slowly I asked her where I could find my grandmother. As I spoke, a bell tinkled above my head. Looking up I could see three rows of bells, thirty-six in all, which I hadn’t observed before.
‘That’s the mistress now, miss. She is still in bed as she suffered one of her bad heads today and has taken a powder. She will be wanting a cup of tea, so if you would like to come with me, miss.’
‘Will that be all right?’ I asked between gulps of lemonade.
‘Of course, my dear. The mistress will be pleased to see you.’
I was glad to escape the stuffy atmosphere as I watched Mrs Dobbs place a guard in front of her small fire. In no time at all, Nelly had prepared a tray of tea for two and sandwiches and I found myself following Mrs Dobbs up the now-familiar staircase. Instead of turning right as I did to my room, we turned left and stopped outside the third door on the right. Mrs Dobbs tapped lightly on the door and entered, balancing the tray on one hand.
‘You have a visitor, madam.’
I followed Mrs Dobbs into the room and could see my grandmother sat up amongst many pillows in a huge, carved, four-poster bed which dominated the room. She was dressed in a white cotton nightdress, a white lace bed jacket covered her shoulders and arms. Her grey wavy hair fell loose around her shoulders and it was covered in a white lace cap. It seemed strange not to see her in black,
So saying, Cook gave her a little push with the rolling-pin and Agnes scuttled off.
‘Sorry, miss, this is what I have to put up with. Now, what can I do for you? A nice cup of tea, perhaps? I take it you are the mistress’ granddaughter, Miss Jane?’
She paused for breath and I spoke quickly.
‘Yes, I am indeed Jane Merriock. I’m sorry to intrude but was wondering if you could tell me where I may find Mrs Dobbs, please.’
Cook had gone back to rolling her pastry. She stopped long enough to indicate with her rolling-pin a door to her left. As I stepped into the large kitchen I took in the huge black range over which hung pots and pans of various shapes and sizes. The wooden table on which Cook was baking was immense and took up a third of the kitchen. Various dishes were scattered on the top of it and flour was everywhere. As I stood taking in my surroundings, Agnes returned looking much tidier and ready to immerse her arms once more into the large mixing bowl.
‘I’m Nelly, miss,’ Cook said, stopping her rolling-pin once more in mid-air. ‘It’s pleased we are to have you here. Your mother was very much loved by all. I won’t say more, miss, it’s not my place, except to say as how I don’t agree with what happened. Would’ve given me notice in but I loves the mistress and nothing will change that.’
I was lost for words but as Nelly resumed her rolling I uttered, ‘Thank you, Nelly, I understand.’
I walked to the door she had indicated, and stepped into a small corridor. I guessed it was the door opposite me which I needed for the one on the right was marked pantry. I knocked gently on the door and Mrs Dobbs’ voice called, ‘Who is it?’
Opening the door a fraction, I saw Mrs Dobbs get up from her chair and smooth her skirts.
‘Oh, it’s you, miss, come in, please.’
The room was small but comfortable and very warm. I felt quite stifled and was pleased when Mrs Dobbs asked if I would partake of a glass of lemonade. Seating myself on a high chair stood against the wall, I looked around me at the many ornaments placed on small tables scattered around the room. There was hardly a space left on the walls as they were covered in pictures, mainly of the sea and coastline. On a table beneath the window were small, stuffed animals which I found quite distasteful and looked quickly away at the small fire burning in the grate, listening to the rain as it splattered against the window pane.
I gratefully accepted the glass Mrs Dobbs gave to me and sipping the cool drink slowly I asked her where I could find my grandmother. As I spoke, a bell tinkled above my head. Looking up I could see three rows of bells, thirty-six in all, which I hadn’t observed before.
‘That’s the mistress now, miss. She is still in bed as she suffered one of her bad heads today and has taken a powder. She will be wanting a cup of tea, so if you would like to come with me, miss.’
‘Will that be all right?’ I asked between gulps of lemonade.
‘Of course, my dear. The mistress will be pleased to see you.’
I was glad to escape the stuffy atmosphere as I watched Mrs Dobbs place a guard in front of her small fire. In no time at all, Nelly had prepared a tray of tea for two and sandwiches and I found myself following Mrs Dobbs up the now-familiar staircase. Instead of turning right as I did to my room, we turned left and stopped outside the third door on the right. Mrs Dobbs tapped lightly on the door and entered, balancing the tray on one hand.
‘You have a visitor, madam.’
I followed Mrs Dobbs into the room and could see my grandmother sat up amongst many pillows in a huge, carved, four-poster bed which dominated the room. She was dressed in a white cotton nightdress, a white lace bed jacket covered her shoulders and arms. Her grey wavy hair fell loose around her shoulders and it was covered in a white lace cap. It seemed strange not to see her in black,
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