Read Online Sons and Daughters by Margaret Dickinson - Free Book Online Page B

had a gift with animals, miss,’ Matty told her. ‘Healing hands, he said you’d got. And he was right.’
    Charlotte’s cheeks were pink with a quiet pleasure. She wasn’t used to compliments or praise.
    Peggy touched her arm and drew her a little aside. ‘Mebbe I shouldn’t say this so soon, miss, but – well – now poor old Harry’s gone and my boys are old enough to fend for themselves a bit . . . I mean, even young Tommy’s always out with his pals. What I’m trying to say, Miss Charlotte, is that if ever you need any help at the house, I’ll be only too glad.’
    ‘That’d be wonderful, Peggy. I must ask Mary, of course. I wouldn’t like her to think I felt she wasn’t coping.’
    ‘She’d not think that, miss, I promise you. Why, she said—’ Peggy stopped and bit her lip. Perhaps she was betraying a confidence by repeating what the older woman had said on the night of the dinner party.
    ‘It’s not fair,’ Mary had muttered to Peggy when she’d thought Charlotte was out of earshot. ‘That lass should be in there sitting in a pretty frock and playing the hostess. But no, he’s ordered that she’s here in the kitchen working like a scullery maid.’
    Charlotte smiled, patted Peggy’s hand and said softly, ‘I know exactly what Mary thinks. In fact, let’s go and ask her now.’
    ‘Shouldn’t you talk about it without me there? I mean . . .’
    Now Charlotte chuckled. ‘No, no, Mary Morgan has never been afraid to speak her mind. If she doesn’t want you there, she’ll say. Have no fear.’
    But Mary was delighted, as Charlotte had known she would be. ‘That’s a lovely idea, Peggy. And it’ll give you more time, Miss Charlotte, to keep up with the books and such.’
    Charlotte actually giggled and put her finger to her lips. ‘Shush, Mary, no one’s supposed to know.’ Until a few moments ago, Charlotte had presumed that Joe would have confided in his wife about the unusual setup at the farm. Obviously, he had not.
    Peggy blinked and glanced from one to another. ‘Know? Know what?’
    Charlotte and Mary exchanged a glance. ‘Well, if you’re coming to work at Buckthorn Farm, you’ll soon find out. But you’re sworn to secrecy. Isn’t she, Mary?’
    Mary shrugged as if she didn’t agree, but she murmured, ‘Aye well, if it keeps his lordship happy . . .’
    Peggy almost laughed aloud to hear that Mary Morgan had the very same nickname for Osbert Crawford as she did.
    What Peggy found out after working a few days at the farmhouse was that Osbert Crawford idled away his days reading and smoking in the sitting room.
    ‘I can’t believe it, Joe. Why did you never tell me that it’s Miss Charlotte who runs the farm?’
    ‘Not allowed, love. There’s only me an’ the Morgans know.’
    ‘What about John and Jackson?’
    Joe shook his head. ‘No, they haven’t guessed. An’ as far as I know, neither’s Matty, for all that he’s worked there for years. Me dad knew, ’cos he was the one who taught her the most when she was a young lass growing up and taking on more and more. She’s always asked his advice right up until he got so ill. When he was still foreman, of course, Miss Charlotte wasn’t old enough, but since I took over, Mr Crawford has left more and more to her and now she’s running the whole place.’
    ‘With your help, of course,’ Peggy said proudly.
    ‘Well, yes, that’s what his lordship tells everyone. He doesn’t give her an ounce of credit. Not for anything. But it’s her I go to now for advice. And when we go to market, although I do the bidding, it’s always been talked over between us afore the sale starts. She’s done the picking and choosing and she tells me what price I’m to go to.’
    ‘Really? Well, I never!’
    ‘And I’ll tell you summat else not many know. She’s a very good little artist.’
    ‘An artist?’
    Joe nodded. ‘Sometimes when she’s riding around the farm, she brings her sketchpad with her and her Brownie Box