Hope in the Heart of Winter by Rebecca S. Buck

Author:Rebecca S. Buck [Buck, Rebecca S.]
Language: eng
Format: epub, azw3, mobi
ISBN: 9781626396159
Publisher: Bold Strokes Books
Published: 2014-11-30T16:00:00+00:00

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May Shipley left the Common Parlour, with its lively gramophone music and bright light, made her way to the back staircase, and went downstairs, in the direction of the kitchen. Cook was seated at the big table, drinking a cup of tea, and Mr. Hodges was opposite her, flicking through the pages of a newspaper. Mr. Hodges looked up when she entered.

“More drinks, May?”

“Yes, Mr. Hodges,” May replied, and repeated the list of required drinks to him, as he rose to his feet to prepare them. It irritated May that he did not trust her to manage the task competently.

“What are they doing up there?” Cook asked with interest.

“Just talking and listening to music, I think,” May replied. The refrain of the gramophone tune was still echoing in her head, and it made her want to tap her foot in time.

“Even the one who thinks she’s a fella?”

“All of them,” May replied, thinking of the extraordinary gathering of women in the Common Parlour. Her mistress had never appeared to live an especially remarkable life, and yet one look at her friends hinted there was something more to Miss Evadne Burns than she had suspected. Part of May wished she could join the ladies in the room upstairs, with their music and drinks and lively conversation. And part of her was both terrified and bewildered by such women. Not just the one in her absurd man’s suit, but her American companion in her sparkling dress, like the night sky, who seemed to admire the one in the suit as if she really were a man. May was a little nervous to speak to either of them. She was frankly rather intimidated by all of the women, even the plain, brown-haired one who looked at her with sharp eyes and spoke rather too abruptly.

The door which led into the back of the house from the kitchen garden, up a short flight of stone stairs from the kitchen, opened, and a gust of the warm, flower-scented summer air swept into the room. “Evening all,” called a young man’s voice. Moments later, he came jauntily down the stairs. May blushed before his eyes even made contact with hers.

“Evening, John,” Cook said to the newcomer.

“Mr. Potter,” May said shyly, “it’s lovely to see you.”

“Please call me John, I’ve told you before, May.” He looked at her in a way that made her blush more. He had an earnest face, if not perfectly handsome, with very attractive curls in his brown hair, and strong shoulders.

“John,” May repeated, enjoying the way the syllable felt in her mouth. He smiled at her, clearly pleased.

“I’ve come to see if you’ll be wanting any extra milk this week, with Miss Burns having guests here.” He directed his words to Mr. Hodges, though he quickly turned his attention back to May. She smiled at him again and felt her heart beat harder. Was this how falling in love felt? If it was, then it was even better than she’d expected it to be.

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