‘I see.’ Selina began to feel suspicious about this unexpected visit. ‘You know that Sebastian’s widow passed away this summer, I take it?’
‘Yes, I’m ever so sorry for your loss,’ Nancy told herearnestly, sitting up straight. ‘In fact, that’s why I’m here. My parents live in Truro, and that’s where we saw her obituary in the newspaper. Of course, Mother is such a stickler, she refused to come to the funeral. She promised Grandpapa, you see. But I didn’t make any such promise. I barely knew my grandfather.’ She lifted her chin, the look in her blue eyes almost mutinous. ‘So I decided to come and pay my poor orphaned cousins a visit. Dear little souls, they’re all alone in the world now.’ She flushed, seeing Selina’s face harden, and stuttered, ‘Oh no … Please don’t think I’ve come here looking for a handout.’
‘Haven’t you?’ Selina asked bluntly.
Maybe she was being rude, but she refused to see her nieces taken advantage of by this young woman, for she suspected Nancy of being a poor relation, or at least someone short of money. Her cream blouse and knee-length brown skirt were decidedly shabby, and there was a run in her nylons. Yes, maybe she herself had looked just as shabby on her arrival at Thornton Hall, but Bella had invited her there to look after the children. She hadn’t turned up in the hope of financial support.
‘Goodness, no!’ Nancy chewed on her lip. ‘Though I must admit … I am somewhat down on my luck. During the war, I volunteered as soon as I was old enough, making bandages for wounded soldiers. But now … Well, I worked in Truro Hospital for a short while, training as a nurse. Only that fell through.’ She looked away awkwardly.
There was something the girl wasn’t telling her, Selina guessed, but decided not to probe her explanation further. She didn’t want more tears.
‘And now you’re here.’
‘But not for money,’ Nancy said quickly, and that seemed truthful at least. ‘Though I did see an advertisement in the newspaper last week … That’s what prompted me to come, you see.’ Her gaze searched Selina’s face. ‘Nanny required at Thornton Hall, Bodmin?’
‘I’m sorry, I have no idea what—’ With a shock, Selina stopped. She blinked, and then took a deep breath. ‘Who placed the advertisement? Not a Mr William MacGregor, Solicitor, by any chance?’
‘That’s right.’ Nancy produced a folded scrap of newspaper from her bag and handed it over. ‘I went to his offices in Bodmin, as instructed by the advertisement. But it was closed. So I managed to find a bus that stopped five miles from the house, and walked the rest of the way.’
‘No wonder you look so tired!’ Selina exclaimed, and shook her head. ‘Mr MacGregor means well, but he had no right to advertise for the post of nanny. We don’t need one, I’m afraid. So if you were hoping to find employment here, you’ve had a wasted trip.’
Nancy said nothing, but tears welled up in her eyes again, and she groped for her handkerchief.
‘But,’ Selina carried on quickly, ‘I’m sure the girls will be thrilled to spend some time with you tomorrow. They have so little family left.’ Mrs Hawley had come into the room and was waiting for her orders, her distrustful gaze fixed on the young woman’s face. ‘Mrs Hawley, this is Cousin Nancy. She’ll be staying for a day or two. Could you possibly prepare a guest room for her and set an extra place at the dinner table?’
‘Very good, ma’am,’ the housekeeper said, but as she turned to go, her eyes met Selina’s with a look of disapproval.
‘Thank you, that’s so kind of you,’ Nancy gushed, getting to her feet.
‘Nonsense,’ Selina said briskly. ‘If you were Sebastian’s cousin, that makes us cousins-in-law, doesn’t it? So, please, sit down again and let’s get to know each other.’ Selina smiled and patted the sofa, determined to find out more about this mysterious newcomer. ‘You can start by telling me all about yourself.’
CHAPTER SEVEN
Violet turned to stare as Sheila came into the kitchen, smoothing down her best frock and stepping cautiously in posh shoes she hadn’t worn in months. The heels were quite low, but having been clad in wellies since summer’s end, she was still finding it hard to balance.
‘Mum, what on earth’s that you’re wearing? Is that your Sunday best?’ Her daughter was clutching a stewpot straight out of the range and cursed as the heat burned through the oven cloth she was using. ‘Ouch … Hang on a tick.’ She turned to place the pot on a trivet. ‘I thought you didn’t have a council meeting tonight. You’re not going outagain, are you?’
Deciding it was wiser not to answer that, Sheila tried to make good her escape before Violet could interrogate her further. But the slate kitchen floor had just been mopped and was shining with soapy water, so she had to take baby steps to avoid slipping over.
‘Oh blimey,’ she muttered, exhaling in exasperation when car lights swept the farmyard. She’d hoped to find the kitchenempty, knowing that her daughter would no doubt have something to say about her and Bernie seeing each other again. And nothing complimentary.
‘Who’s that?’ Violet peered out of the window.
‘Erm, Bernard Bailey,’ Sheila admitted, hurriedly pulling on her winter coat and hat. ‘It’s his birthday, so he suggested we have dinner together to celebrate.’
Violet’s mouth compressed. ‘You’re going to his house for dinner? Just the two of you alone?’
‘Oh, for Gawd’s sake …’ Sheila had trouble containing her temper. ‘I’m your mother, Violet, not your daughter. Not to mention I’ve been widowed twice. At my age, if I want to go to a man’s house, I certainly won’t be asking your permission.’
The door opened with a brusque knock and Bernie stood on the threshold in a double-breasted pinstriped suit and raincoat, looking smart and handsome. ‘Ready, Sheila?’
‘Ready, Bernie.’
And with that, she strode boldly from the farmhouse, head high. Or would have done, if one of her heels hadn’t caught on a loose slate in the porch and sent her flying.
Thankfully, Bernie caught her, grinning as he set her upright again. ‘Falling into my arms before you’ve even left the house?’ He gave her a wink. ‘That bodes well for the rest of my evening.’
‘Don’t count your chickens, my lad,’ she snapped back, flustered, and set her hat straight again.
