A Change of Fortune Read Online Free

possible, and the people who would know were the staff. They were, after all, about to lose their jobs and would have been told the reason.
    The talk stopped immediately when she walked into the kitchen, and the warmth and smell of freshly baked bread wrapped itself around her like a blanket. It was so comforting, so normal. Her bottom lip trembled as she came close to losing control again. She mustn’t do that. There was so little time.
    ‘Come in, miss,’ the cook, Mrs Dobson, urged. ‘We’re so sad to hear about your poor father.’
    Eugenie breathed in deeply, wiped a hand across her eyes and said, ‘Do you know what really happened? I didn’t understand what I was told.’
    ‘Ah, Gerry’s your man.’ Mrs Dobson sent the kitchen maid to fetch him. ‘He’s got a good head on him. Understands these things, he does.’
    Gerry, the footman, arrived almost immediately. He was a tall man, around twenty-two, quite good-looking, with large intelligent blue eyes.
    ‘Tell Miss Winford what’s happened in America.’ Thecook made a fresh pot of tea as all but the scullery maid sat around the large well-scrubbed table.
    Eugenie gazed at them with troubled eyes. Here were the butler, gardener, cook, chauffeur and footman. How must they be feeling at this moment? ‘I’m sorry you’ve all lost your jobs.’
    ‘Don’t you worry about us. There’re jobs around for good staff.’ The cook patted her hand and pushed a plate of freshly baked apple tarts towards her. ‘Now, you ask your questions and we’ll tell you what we know.’
    ‘What was so bad that my father’ – she gulped – ‘felt he couldn’t go on living?’
    ‘It’s like this, miss.’ Gerry pitched in with the explanation. ‘There’s a place in New York called the Wall Street stock exchange. It’s where shares in businesses are traded. On 29 October the prices on the stock market collapsed completely. Many people have lost fortunes, including Mr Winford.’ The footman gave her a sympathetic look. ‘Some have lost everything, and your father is not the only one to have committed suicide.’
    ‘But if that’s happening in America, why are we losing our house?’ Eugenie was confused; she didn’t understand this talk about shares. Her father had tried so hard to explain it to her, but to her mind it just didn’t seem to make sense. All they seemed to do was deal with numbers on bits of paper. Tickertape, her father had explained.
    ‘The effects of such a disaster will be felt everywhere. Mr Winford must have had great debts. Everyone’s panicking and the banks will take what’s owed them any way they can.’
    She gazed at the young man in wonder. ‘You’re very knowledgeable – why are you working as a footman?’
    Gerry shrugged. ‘It was the only job I could get. I don’t intend to stay a servant all my life, though.’
    ‘I suppose you’ll be living with Mrs Osborne when the house goes.’ Mrs Dobson’s look was inquiring.
    ‘I expect so.’ Eugenie didn’t know why she’d lied. They obviously didn’t know about the plan to eventually marry her off to Albert Greaves, so she’d keep that bit of news to herself. Gossip was rife among servants, and she didn’t want them talking about this when they took up new places. She stood up. ‘Thank you for explaining. I hope you all soon find employment.’
    ‘All the best for the future, miss.’ The butler smiled and held the door open for her.
    By the time she had reached her bedroom and closed the door behind her, Eugenie had made up her mind. There really was only one thing she could do, and that was to find a job. It would have to be something with accommodation, and she had only three days.
    The panic sweeping through her was so overwhelming that she leant against the wall and sank down until she was sitting on the red Persian carpet. Even if she could find something in such a short time, what could she do that would put a roof over her head and food in her stomach? What