The Lady's Maid by Dilly Court

Author:Dilly Court
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
ISBN: 9781446456170
Publisher: Random House

Chapter Fifteen

THERE WAS NO alternative other than to return to Hackney Terrace, but with dwindling resources they had to resort to public transport and a series of horse-drawn omnibus rides. Tired, hungry and emotionally drained, Kate settled Josie in a chair by the fire in Nanny Barnes’ living room.

‘This is so exciting,’ Nanny Barnes said, clapping her hands. ‘To have both of you staying here is more than I could have wished for. I do hope the order from Fortnum’s arrives in time for tea. I’m so looking forward to cucumber sandwiches and walnut cake.’

Josie frowned. ‘Nanny, you know that’s just wishful thinking, don’t you?’

‘No, dear. They will come. I wait for them every day, but sometimes I’m afraid they must deliver to the wrong house.’ Her bottom lip trembled and she sank down on the nearest chair. ‘I do so love walnut cake.’

Kate patted her on the shoulder. ‘Perhaps I’d better go out and see if I can find the delivery van, Miss Barnes. Then we can have tea by the fire.’

‘That would be nice, dear. Ring for the tweeny, Josie. We need more coal, and tell her to fetch another candle. It will be dark soon.’

Josie met Kate’s worried glance with a wry smile. ‘Yes, Nanny. I’ll do that in a minute.’

Nanny Barnes shook her finger at her. ‘What have I told you about procrastination, Josephine?’

‘It’s the thief of time, Nanny.’

‘Quite so. Now where was I?’

Kate picked up Josie’s purse. She knew to the last farthing how much was left and it would not stretch to walnut cake and cucumber sandwiches. A quick glance out of the window made her reluctant to go out again. The wind was whipping up eddies of straw, dead leaves and bits of detritus that had drifted into the gutters. Raindrops trickled down the windowpanes, leaving sooty marks like tearstains on the grimy glass. With a sigh of resignation, she slipped her cloak around her shoulders and reached for her bonnet. ‘I’ll go out and get something for supper, Josie.’

‘Yes, please do; I’m starving. And fetch a bag of coal too.’

‘Yes, miss.’ Kate pulled a face, receiving an apologetic smile from Josie.

‘It’s Miss Josephine to you, Kate,’ Nanny said severely. ‘We mustn’t forget our place, must we?’

‘No, Miss Barnes.’ Kate made her escape. Outside it was bitterly cold and the rain had turned to sleet. They were in desperate need of coal and kindling, and a foray into Nanny’s cupboard had revealed a distinct lack of candles and vestas. Quite how the old lady had managed to survive all this time on her own was beyond Kate, but now the responsibility of looking after Nanny Barnes and Josie had fallen on her shoulders. She quickened her pace. It would be dark in an hour or so and she did not want to risk another mugging. They were in enough trouble without losing the small sum of money in her purse, and with Josie’s plan of enlisting Harry’s help dashed they were in a pretty pickle, as Pa would say.

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