Read Online A Place Called Home by Dilly Court - Free Book Online Page B

it could have been made for you,’ she said happily. ‘What do you think, Mrs Hodges?’
    â€˜Very fine, indeed.’
    Lucy could tell by Mrs Hodges’ tone that she considered the outfit far too good for a girl from the streets, but Miss Appleby was beaming with pride as she tied the scarlet silk sash around Lucy’s waist. ‘I’ve got your measurements now, Miss Lucy, and I’ll work on the order as soon as I get home. Mrs Hodges has supplied me with a list of your needs.’
    â€˜Sir William wants only the best for his granddaughter,’ Mrs Hodges said with barely disguised disapproval in her clipped tones.
    â€˜Yes, of course. I do understand.’ Miss Appleby closed her bag with a snap of the lock. ‘Nothing but the finest will do.’
    Lucy waited until she was alone again, and when their footsteps died away she held out the skirts of her new frock and did a twirl. If only Granny could see her now. She tried to imagine her grandmother’s expression when she walked into the attic room dressed like a young lady. The only problem now was to find her boots. They had been spirited away together with her clothes, and she would have to wait to put her plan in action. But she would walk barefoot back to Hairbrine Court if she could not find them. She glanced out of the window at the darkening skies, wishing that night would come quickly.
    Supper was brought to her by Susan, who thumped the tray down on the table in the window and left without saying a word. Lucy did not bother to thank her this time. If Susan wanted her to behave like one of the toffs then that’s what she would do. She ate ravenously. The food was delicious and like nothing she had ever tasted in her life. Feeling full and rather sleepy she settled in a chair by the fire, biding her time.
    Martha sidled into the room to collect the tray. She glanced nervously at Lucy. ‘Is it all right to take it, miss?’
    Lucy nodded her head. ‘What’s going on downstairs?’
    â€˜I dunno what you mean, miss.’
    â€˜What are the servants doing now?’
    â€˜They’re having their supper in the servants’ hall as usual, miss.’
    â€˜And the master?’
    â€˜Lawks, I dunno, miss. How should I know what he’s doing? I’m just a slavey sent to pick up your tray, and I’ll get it in the neck if I don’t hurry back.’
    â€˜I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to hinder you.’ Lucy eyed her warily. ‘Do you know where they got me dog? He’ll be scared without me.’
    Martha hesitated in the doorway. ‘He’s with the master’s animals. They got a big kennel in the back yard. I daresay they’ll eat your one for their supper.’ She left the room, and Lucy could hear her giggling as she made her way towards the back stairs.
    â€˜That settles it,’ Lucy muttered, jumping up from the chair. ‘I’m leaving this drum and taking me dog. We’re going home.’ She hurried after Martha, following the sound of her as the slavey chattered to herself all the way down several flights of uncarpeted stairs to the servants’ domain. Martha disappeared into the kitchen and Lucy dodged past the open doorway, heading towards the back of the house where she hoped to find Peckham. There were doors on either side of the long passageway and she became disorientated. She blundered by mistake into a room with a pungent smell that she recognised as boot polish, and sure enough there were shoes lined up in pairs awaiting the attention of the hall boy, but hers were not amongst them. She hesitated for a moment, peering out of the door to see if anyone was coming, and having satisfied herself that the servants were all fully occupied she snatched a pair of boots that must have belonged to one of the younger maidservants, but were now hers. She put them on and they fitted, more or less, but equally as well as the ones she had been