Heir to Greyladies Read Online Free Page A

her best teapot, stroking it lovingly. Royal Doulton, it was. The tea set had been a leaving present from her last mistress. She only used it when she needed cheering up or felt lonely, and for some reason it usually did the trick.
    She took a tray into the front parlour and poured herself a cup of best lapsang souchong. Not many people liked the smoky tea, which she drank without milk or sugar, but she loved it. It was such a beautiful dark colour, almost red, glowing against the blue and white of the willow pattern.
    As she was pouring a second cup, the door knocker sounded. She smiled as she went to answer it. Not often someone came to see her in the evening. You’d swear that tea could work magic.
    Her niece was on the doorstep. Winifred wasn’t Doris’s favourite relative, but she was family, and family had to stick together, so she held the door wider. ‘Come in.’
    It wasn’t till Winifred moved forward that Doris saw the girl standing behind her, a tall, thin lass with lovely hair, red but of a soft russet colour, definitely not ginger. The girl had obviously been in trouble, because she had bruises on herface and her eyes were swollen with crying. ‘Who are you, then?’ Doris asked her gently.
    Winifred turned round. ‘Oh, sorry. You haven’t met, have you? This is Harriet, James’s daughter. Harriet, this is Mrs Miller, my aunt.’
    The old woman nodded, then led the way inside. ‘I was sorry to hear about your husband. I’d have come to the funeral but I had a bad cold.’
    ‘At least he went quickly, but he didn’t make old bones, did he?’ Winifred said. ‘Not many are lucky to live as long as you, Auntie.’
    Which bit of flattery meant her niece wanted something. Hmm. Doris said nothing, watching in amusement as Winifred stopped to stare into the front room, studying its contents as if assessing them. If Winifred thought she was going to inherit all this, she could think again.
    ‘It isn’t all pleasure being seventy-two years old, I promise you.’
    ‘You have enough money to live on comfortably, Auntie. You’ve done well.’
    ‘Not many folk are as careful with their money as I’ve been. And not all employers pay you a pension like the Daltons do.’ Doris turned back to the girl who was still standing in the hallway. ‘Come into the kitchen, Harriet. You can leave your suitcase in the hall.’
    ‘Yes, Mrs Miller.’
    ‘It’s “Miss”, really. They called me “Mrs” when I was a housekeeper, and I’ve got used to it now. I was never stupid enough to marry or I’d probably be in the workhouse now.’
    She led the way into the back room. She didn’t allow many people into her front room, didn’t want them knocking over her little tables or breaking her ornaments.
    When they were all seated, Doris waited, but unusually for her Winifred didn’t speak until prompted, just sat chewing her lip and frowning.
    ‘What can I do for you, then? You’d not come here at this hour of the night if you didn’t need my help.’
    Winifred nodded towards the girl. ‘It’s my stepdaughter. Norris is after her. She doesn’t encourage him, I’ll grant her that, but I can’t trust him to leave her alone if we keep living in the same house. He’s as bad as his father.’
    ‘Is that how she got the bruises?’
    ‘Yes.’
    ‘He’s rough with it, then.’
    She shrugged. ‘He’s a Harding. But he’s got my blood in him too, so I’m hoping to teach him some self-control.’
    ‘Hmm. Why did you bring her to me?’
    ‘I can’t keep her at home but I can’t just turn her out on the street. I thought … I
hoped
you might help her get a place in service. She’s done well at school, won a scholarship to St Mary’s, but of course
I
can’t afford to send her there.’
    ‘Oh? I’d heard you were left comfortably off.’
    ‘And I’ll need that money for my old age, won’t I? You’re not the only one who thinks ahead. I’m definitely not getting married again. That’s two good