The Windfell Family Secrets by Diane Allen

Author:Diane Allen
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Pan Macmillan UK

14

Charlotte was in the kitchen of Windfell Manor, looking at the dinner menus for the week. She sat at the scrubbed-spotless, long pine table and was bathed in the kitchen’s warmth, as the Yorkshire range was throwing out heat from the coal that had just been added. The smell of home-made mincemeat pervaded the room, as Nancy filled jam jars to the brim, in preparation for the many pies to be made for Christmas.

‘Do you think Mr Atkinson will be back with us shortly?’ Ruby asked as she sat across from her mistress, twiddling her thumbs. She hated waiting for her mistress’s acceptance of her menu; it was rare that Mrs Atkinson did not like anything on it, but she always felt like a small child, waiting to be told that her work was full of mistakes and she must redo it, as her teacher used to.

‘I don’t know, Ruby. I’ve had no word from either Mr Atkinson or Danny since they went there. I presume they are still busy finding sheep and making sure they are cared for. The road was still blocked yesterday, but I noticed it had started to rain, so that should begin to clear some of the snow. I hope so. Another fortnight and it is nearly Christmas, and I’d like all my family to be with me by then.’ Charlotte looked up from her menu and sighed.

‘Are we not holding a ball, this year, ma’am? It’s just if we are, both Thomson and me are beginning to need to know. There’s quite a bit to organize and I’ll have to order some provisions in. I asked Mazy, but she seemed to know nothing. And what would you like for Christmas dinner this year – have I to put an order in with the gamekeeper for a few brace of pheasants, or is it to be goose this time?’ Ruby hadn’t seen her mistress down in the kitchen for a while, for she had seemed to be preoccupied with the mill while the menfolk were up at Crummock, and Miss Isabelle had been similarly occupied with her new dress shop.

‘The menu’s fine, Ruby. I’m sorry, I can’t say how many you are cooking for, as I don’t know myself who will be sitting down to dinner with me, so if you can bear with us and play it by ear.’ Charlotte brooded. ‘Tom Beresford from the Craven Lime Company will be joining us, along with his wife, on Tuesday evening – or should I say joining me, if Archie is not back in time. He’s invited me to look around the Hoffmann kiln to see how the lime is made that day, too. It’s to be hoped that the snow has cleared by then. I personally think I would be better looking around in spring, but Mr Beresford was quite insistent on me visiting next Tuesday, so the least I could do to thank him for his hospitality was invite him back for dinner. It’s

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