Drake Hall by Christina Baehr

Author:Christina Baehr [Christina Baehr]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Christina Baehr
Published: 2024-01-02T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter eleven

I hadn’t gone very far when I heard someone whistling not far from me in the darkness. I stopped in alarm. Would Simon hear me if I shouted for help? Would Francis defend me this time?

But wait, could the someone be whistling ‘God Save the Queen’? This reassured me somehow.

“Who’s there?” I called out.

“It’s me. Janushek.” He came a little closer.

“Why on earth were you whistling ‘God Save the Queen?’”

“So as not to alarm you, Rusalka.”

We had come now within the kitchen yard and I could just make him out in the light from the scullery. I could hear the dishes being cleaned there.

Janushek had his hands in his pockets and a slight smile on his face. He leaned against the wall of the kitchen yard.

“I thought to myself that any good Englishwoman would be relieved to hear that, when meeting a stranger in the dark.”

I stared at him. “How thoughtful of you. And what were you doing, wandering about in the dark?”

“Alfred sent me to get some milk from the kitchen for the drink you call tea.”

“The drink we call tea? Oh, I suppose you have it from a samovar, do you? And what on earth did you call me just now?”

“Rusalka.”

“What does it mean?”

“It’s a creature from our folk tales.”

I felt a little unflattered and must have looked it.

“It lives in the rivers and when it goes on land it takes on the form of a beautiful maiden.”

“Oh,” I said, thoroughly mollified. “But why call me that?”

“It’s what I thought you were, when first I saw you,” he answered simply.

“You thought I was a naiad?” I said, in disbelief.

He shrugged. “I had just been chased by a dragon and knocked out from behind. The first thing I saw when I woke was a fierce young woman, towering over me and shouting at me, with hair like flames, standing between me and the eggs I had stolen. What should I think?”

I burst out laughing. “Well, then. Shall we go in and get the milk for the drink we call tea?”

He smiled and let me go first.

We walked through the scullery where Pip was scouring pots. I felt a twinge of guilt. Why hadn’t I made time to speak with Gwendolyn about this yet?

“Hello, Pip,” I said.

Just then Lily came into the scullery. She jerked back when she saw Janushek behind me. I decided then and there to take the bull by the horns.

“Lily, would you come and see me tomorrow in my study?” I said. She dipped her head. Now I’d really have to talk to Gwendolyn about Pip right away.

We continued to the kitchen. Francis jumped down to warm himself by the range. Cook and Thomas were sitting at the table. Thomas started to get up when he saw me.

“No, don’t stand up, Thomas, I don’t want to disturb you. Martha, Mr Janushek would like some milk to take to the Lodge.”

No one moved. I blinked in surprise.

“Martha?”

Janushek made a move to go to the dairy. “I can get it myself.

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