‘I believe it’s salmon, salad and new potatoes, ma’am. And there’s rice pudding to follow.’
Imogen sighed and waved the girl away, telling Emmy, ‘Cook isn’t the most adventurous of souls when it comes to menus. She tends to be a very plain cook. It was different when Marcel was alive though. Oh, you wouldn’t believe the things he introduced me to.’ She chuckled. ‘One day he persuaded me to eat snails. Ugh! But of course, they were a great delicacy where he came from. Anyway, take your bonnet off if you’re staying for a while. You look like someone who has come calling.’
Once again Emmy managed to stifle a smile as she fiddled with the ribbons on her bonnet and laid it aside before patting her hair into place. Then they settled down to finish their tea while the cook put the finishing touches to their meal.
While they talked, her aunt watched Emmy closely.She’s not a bad-looking girl, she thought.Not quite beautiful, she’s too tall and slim for that, but she’ll do!
Just as her aunt had predicted, lunch when it was served was plain but tasty, although Emmy noticed that her aunt only pecked at hers like a bird. It was no wonder she was so tiny, she thought.
‘So if you take the job, when would you be able to start?’
Emmy quickly swallowed the food she was chewing and dabbed at her lips with her napkin. ‘I could start whenever you like, Aunt.’
‘Hm .?.?. very well, but it’s only for a month’s trial, mind! You might not suit.’
Emmy nodded.
‘So shall we say next Monday?’
Another nod.
‘Good, that’s settled then. Now tell me all about your sister and then you’d best be off to catch your train. It’s time for my lie-down.’
Knowing that she was being dismissed Emmy hurriedly told her a little about her younger sister then quickly rose and went to fetch her bonnet, asking Aggie to thank the cook for her meal.
Her aunt was making her way along the hallway, leaning heavily on her stick, when Emmy left the drawing room, and when she leant towards her to give her a goodbye kiss the woman scowled at her.
‘There’s no need for any o’ that sloppy stuff,’ she scolded. ‘And don’t think that just because you’re my niece you’ll get special treatment because you won’t, girl. You’ll be treated just the same as any other member of staff, do you understand?’
‘Perfectly,’ Emmy answered primly. A little shock coursed through her as she glanced again at one of the portraits of the woman hanging in the hall and realised that it was of her aunt when she was younger. She certainly hadn’t been lying when she’d told her that she used to be beautiful.
‘Goodbye.’
‘Goodbye, Aunt.’ Emmy watched the woman climb the stairs painfully slowly before slipping out into the street again and heading for Euston. It had certainly been an interesting day!
Chapter Thirteen
It was early evening when the train drew into Trent Valley Railway Station and Emmy was shocked to find Jasper waiting outside in his father’s carriage for her.
‘Ah, here you are.’ He leapt down from the carriage and gave her a warm smile.
Emmy raised an eyebrow. ‘What are you doing here?’
‘Abi told me you’d gone to London to visit your aunt and as I was in Nuneaton anyway, I popped into the ticket office to find out what time the train was due in and thought I’d hang on to see if you were on it so I could give you a lift home.’ He omitted to tell her that he had kept the poor horses and the driver standing outside the station for the last three hours.
‘That was very kind of you,’ Emmy told him as he took her hand and helped her into the carriage, although she found it strange that he was suddenly going out of his way to be helpful now when he hadn’t lifted a finger to help them move into the cottage.Still, she thought, feeling slightly guilty for being so uncharitable,better late than never.
As she settled back against the luxurious leather squabs, she told him, ‘I was just debating whether to walk home or get a cab.’
Jasper clambered up beside her and smiled. ‘There you are then. You don’t have to do either now. How did your visit go?’
She guessed Abi would have told him why she had gone to London and gave a wry smile. ‘It went very well, as it happens. I’m going to do a month’s trial to see if we suit each other.’
‘And do you think you will?’
She shrugged. ‘Time will tell, I suppose. Our aunt is a little eccentric to say the least, and I have the feeling she won’t be the easiest person to please, but needs must. My mother’s small inheritance won’t keep us all going indefinitely.’
Jasper scowled as he took her hand, which made her feel rather uncomfortable. ‘I just wish my father would do more to help you,’ he said angrily. ‘We are family after all.’
