Miss Abigail's Room by Catherine Cavendish

Author:Catherine Cavendish [Cavendish, Catherine]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: supernatural, paranormal
Publisher: Crossroad Press
Published: 2018-07-08T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Five

“Becky, come on, get up. It’s six o’clock!” Becky woke with a start and sat up in bed, rubbing sleepy eyes. At the door, Sam’s knocking persisted.

“All right, Sam. I’m awake now. Must have overslept.”

“Yes, well, you get yourself downstairs in an instant or you’ll have Mr. Farnsworth after you.”

“I’ll be there in a minute.”

She yawned widely and tried to focus her thoughts. That had been some dream and so realistic. She had felt the breeze on her skin and had seen Miss Abigail’s door open. And then it had all gone black.

“Ah, well, that’s dreams for you,” she muttered.

If only she didn’t feel as if she hadn’t slept.

Still groggy, Becky reached for her dressing gown as she always did and then for her slippers, only to be caught sharp.

She was wearing them.

“Why on earth did I go to sleep in me slippers? Must be going senile.”

She poured cold water from the ewer into the bowl and splashed it on her face and under her arms.

Only time for a quick wash this morning. If she wasn’t down in that kitchen when Mrs. Beddows was ready to dish up their breakfast, there would be no living with her.

Becky quickly changed out of her nightgown and into her underclothes before buttoning up her dress and tying on a clean apron. Finally, she combed her hair and pinned it up as best she could before fitting her cap over it. Next she buttoned up her boots and pulled the covers over her bed. She would have to tend to that properly later. Mrs. Beddows had been known to check, and woe betide any servant who had failed to make up their bed to her standards.

She caught sight of the clock. Twenty past six.

Panting, Becky made it to her chair at the table just as Lily brought in the bacon and eggs. She caught the stern eye of Mrs. Beddows.

“Cutting it a bit fine this morning, Becky.”

“Yes, Mrs. Beddows. Sorry.”

“You’ll have to work that bit harder to catch up then, won’t you?”

“Yes, Mrs. Beddows.” Becky should have done the dining room fireplace before coming down for breakfast, and she would have to get up there straight afterward to make sure everything was ready for when Miss Abigail and his lordship came down.

“I assume his lordship will be having breakfast this morning, Mr. Farnsworth?” the cook asked.

“I have not been informed otherwise, so I think we can assume that both he and Miss Abigail will be coming down as usual.”

In the warm room, Becky struggled to keep her eyes open and failed.

Mrs. Beddows’ sharp voice cut into her stupor. “Becky, are we to have the pleasure of your company today or are you going to sleep your way through it?”

“I’m sorry, Mrs. Beddows. I didn’t sleep very well, that’s all.”

“What you need is a strong cup of tea, my girl. That’ll get you going.”

“Yes, Mrs. Beddows.” She accepted a cup from Lily, catching the maid’s eye as she did so. Lily looked odd, as if she were far away and not really part of what was going on around her.

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