The adulteress

She laid her hand on my arm, familiarly, almost as a friend might do—certainly not as a housekeeper would; but it was beginning to dawn on me that she was implying she was no ordinary housekeeper.

"Now don't say that," she said almost archly. "I'll tell you what. I'll get a bed aired for you and I daresay you would like something to eat."

"Yes," I said, "I would indeed. And so would the grooms. There are six of them, no, seven including one with the saddlebags."

"My word. Quite a retinue, eh?"

She had relaxed. She gave the impression of one who has come face to face with a difficult situation and has decided how to deal with it.

"Well, I'll give orders, eh? ... and we'll get you settled and in the morning you can see his lordship."

"But shouldn't he be told that I have arrived?"

"I reckon he's sleeping like a baby now. I'll tell you what. I'll go and see ... I'll peep in, shall I? ... and if he's awake I'll tell him. If he's sleeping, you wouldn't want me to wake him, I'm sure. He takes a bit of time to get off sometimes."

Her manner had completely changed; shocked surprise had been replaced by a familiar air which was almost patronizing. She was behaving as though she were mistress of the house but at the same time as no well-bred mistress would dream of behaving. I was aware of a slight sound, and turning sharply, thought I saw something move at the top of the staircase. It was not easy to see, for the candles gave only the dimmest of lights. We were being watched. I wondered by whom. Since I had stepped into this house I was prepared for anything.

"Now first of all it's food, eh," said the woman. "They'll be clearing away in the kitchens. You should have been here when supper was served. We could have treated you proud then. Well, they'll find something and I'll have them get a room ready for you. Now you come in here and give me just a minute or two and I'll have you and them grooms of yours all fed and bedded down in next to no time. How's that?"

I said: "Thank you. I'll go out and tell the grooms to go to the stables, shall I?"

"No, you'd better stay here. I'll see to it." She started to shout: "Jenny! Moll! Where are you? Come here at once, you lazy young sluts."

She smiled at me. "I have to keep my eyes on 'em," she explained. "There'd be nothing done if I don't. Place would be going to rack and ruin like it was when I come here."

She was speaking easily, naturally, now, in the manner, I expected, to which she was accustomed.

Two girls came running in.

"Now, you two," she said, "... I want a room got ready for this lady here. She's come visiting his lordship ... who didn't see fit to tell us ... doubtless he forgot it, poor old pet. Now, Moll, out to the stables... . Call Jethro ... tell him to take in the horses and arrange for the men to be given somewhere to sleep and a bite to eat. We can sort all this out in the morning. Now, Mistress ... what did you say your name was?"

"Mistress Ransome," I said.

"Now, Mistress Ransome, if you'll step into this winter parlor I'll have something sent in for you to eat while they get your room ready. Dear, dear, what a to-do, and all he had to do was tell me."

I was taken into a room which I remembered we used for meals when there were a few of us. Yes, they had called it the winter parlor.

I sat down uneasily. It was all so different from what I had expected.

Of course, I told myself, it would all have been so different if that horse had not cast a shoe and we had arrived at a reasonable time. Then Lord Eversleigh would not have gone to bed. He would have given me the welcome I was expecting. After all, it had been his idea that I should come. Delays on the road were frequent—any little mishap could mean delay. I guessed he had thought we would arrive tomorrow. It was odd, though, that he had had no preparations made for our stay.

I sat down and one of the maids came in to light the candelabrum.

I said to her: "Have you been here long?"

"About two years, my lady."

"The same as Mistress ... Stirling."

"Yes, soon after her. We were most of us new then."

She looked at me apologetically and hurried out. All new when Mistress Stirling came. This was becoming a rather strange situation.

A maid, accompanied by Mistress Stirling, came in bringing a tray on which were cold venison and a piece of pie.

Mistress Stirling, whom I had begun to think of as Jessie, laid the tray on the table; I was very hungry but ever more curious. When the maid had gone Jessie sat opposite me and, leaning her arms on the table, stared at me while I ate.

"When did his lordship write to you?" she asked.

"Some weeks ago. It was to my mother that he wrote, as a matter of fact."

"To your mother ... asking for you to visit." She gave rather a nervous giggle. "Did he say what for?"

"Oh well ... we are of the same family. I suppose he felt it was a pity we did not meet more often."

A man put his head round the door.

"You'm wanting me, Mistress Jessie."