“The maid ruined a tablecloth, and I’m told she broke a plate. The costs were taken out of her pay.”
Olivia frowned. “She has no one to care about her. Does that not concern you?”
Lady Lowry bristled. She stabbed at her embroidery with the needle and put it aside to glare up at Olivia. “You are impertinent. I don’t know why I should put up with a housekeeper who talks so rudely to me. You force me to reprimand you.”
“You won’t need to, my lady.”
Her ladyship stared at her. “What do you mean?”
“I am giving my notice. I’ve been hired as housekeeper at Redcliffe Hall.”
Lady Lowry sat up straight. “You would leave me? Ungrateful girl! After I took you off the street without a reference.”
Olivia swelled with indignation and anger for herself and for Emily. “Yes, you did take me in without references, Lady Lowry, and I am indebted to you for that. But a day hasn’t passed when you failed to mention it. You forever reminded me that I have come down in the world. That my home is no longer my own and my family, disgraced. And although I have given you excellent service, you treated me like the lowliest servant.”
Lady Lowry choked. “If you think you can get your hooks into Lord Redcliffe, you’ll be disappointed. He holds no interest in a poor squire’s daughter beyond his need for a housekeeper. He’s an earl and will seek a well-bred lady.” She gave Olivia a sly look. “Although he would be happy to bed you, should you offer yourself to him. And afterward, discard you without a second look.”
Olivia wondered if Lady Lowry was jealous, or had hopes herself in that direction. She was certainly vain enough to believe it.
When Harold came, she pointed a trembling finger at Olivia. “Show Miss Jenner out. Send a housemaid to pack her bags. And don’t admit her to this house ever again.”
The footman gaped at Olivia.
“Did you hear what I said, Harold?”
He turned back hastily to his mistress. “Yes, milady.”
Harold silently escorted Olivia to the front door and hastened to open it. He stood aside for her, his face crumped with distress. “I’m very sorry this has happened, Miss Jenner,” he said in an undertone, after a quick glance back at the empty hall. “I doubt we’ll get a fairer and more pleasant housekeeper than you in the future.”
She forced a smile, her heart pounding, and her breath tight in her throat. “I pray you do, Harold. Give my best wishes to those belowstairs. I shall miss you all.”
She doubted she’d get the wages due to her, either. Lady Lowry held her purse strings tight. She would look for any reason to withhold their money. On the porch, Emily waited, her parcel beside her. Olivia forced herself to smile reassuringly at the hopeful girl.
Her dreadful temper! After Olivia had no option but to work at Lady Lowry’s establishment, the vicar warned her to consider her position and be humble. “Pride leads to disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom,” he would sometimes remind her when she came to church in a desperate mood after something Lady Lowry said.
Well, she couldn’t be humble! And she admitted to being gravely at fault.
She put an arm around Emily. “I’m afraid I failed to get our wages, Emily.”
Emily smiled, her eyes filled with tears. “Oh, that’s not your fault, Miss Jenner. You did your very best for me. And I’m that grateful.”
After a wait, the front door finally opened. Harold, with a look of apology, placed Olivia’s baggage on the porch, and after wishing them well in a hushed voice, retreated inside again.
Olivia ran to gather up her pelisse and spare bonnet, the carpet bag, and the portmanteau crammed with her underthings, stockings, and the gowns she had kept, the rest having been sold because she needed the money. She’d have no occasion to wear them, and they would only remind her of her past life.
How crushed her clothes would be and no competent laundry maid employed at Redcliffe Hall. “We have nowhere to stay tonight, and little money between us, Emily. We shall have to go straight to the hall.
Emily gasped. “But they aren’t expecting us until tomorrow.”
“We are a day early, but I’m sure they’ll take us in.”
She smiled, wishing Emily weren’t so timid. A timid woman got nowhere in life. “It will be an adventure. I shan’t miss working for Lady Lowry, will you?”
Emily gave a faint smile. “No, miss.”
As they set out to walk to Redcliffe Hall again, Olivia wondered what Lord Redcliffe would make of it. But while her anger at the injustice of life ran hot in her veins, she hoped he wouldn’t ask her.
Chapter Six
