Jane Ashford Read Online Free Page A

and proceeded to ignore his mistress as he explored the boundaries of his new home. Satisfied that he had thus shown his disapproval of his treatment so far, he then returned to the girl and began to bite at her ankles playfully.
    Aggie laughed. At that moment, she was very glad that she and her sisters had decided to take their aunt’s bequest of kittens, in spite of their resentment over the rest of the will. “Stop that, sir,” she said. “You will ruin my only pair of silk stockings. Go and sit down, and after I unpack my things, I will take you to the kitchen and see about some milk.”
    Brutus stared up at her briefly, then went back to his pursuit of her ankles. And it was only when she began to walk about the room, putting away her things, that Aggie was able to discourage this pastime. Then, disgusted, Brutus went to lie in the window, watching the movements of a family of sparrows with considerable interest.
    At six o’clock Aggie was summoned to the drawing room to meet her employer and her charges. In the interval, she had arranged her small possessions to her satisfaction, successfully introduced Brutus in the kitchens, and taken a turn around the garden. She was very glad to be called downstairs; she was eager to see what sort of people the Wellfleets were.
    But when she entered the drawing room, it at first appeared to be empty. Aggie looked from one side of the well-proportioned chamber to the other, but saw no one. Then, a charming giggle from the direction of the long front windows caused her to look more carefully and notice a pair of very small boots protruding from under the blue velvet hangings. “Hello,” she said then. “Is anyone here?”
    This produced a gasp from farther down the room, and suddenly a slender blond woman burst from another window embrasure, looking embarrassed. “Oh, how silly you will think me,” she said in a soft breathless voice. “We were playing hide-and-seek, you see, and I quite forgot the time.”
    Aggie surveyed her with interest. Mrs. Wellfleet, for this must be she, was a small and very pretty woman with pale golden hair and large blue eyes. Her clothes were in the first style of fashion, of a wispy green material that became her extremely.
    Mrs. Wellfleet pushed at her profusion of curls and called, “George, Alice, come out. The game is over. Come and meet Miss Hartington.”
    There was a pause; then a tiny girl emerged from behind the sofa before the fireplace. She was dressed exquisitely in pink and was the image of her mother.
    “George,” repeated Mrs. Wellfleet.
    There was no reaction.
    Aggie smiled and cocked her head in the direction of the small boots visible under the curtain. Mrs. Wellfleet did not seem to understand at first; then she followed Aggie’s gaze, dimpled, and nodded. Aggie walked quietly across the carpet and pulled back the hanging. “Found!” she called out.
    A small boy of about five started, then gazed up at her indignantly. “You weren’t even playing,” he said. “Mummy and Alice would never have found me.” George was also fair, like his mother and sister. But his eyes were a sparkling blue, and his chin had a much more decided set to it.
    “It doesn’t matter now, George,” said Mrs. Wellfleet. “Come out. The game is over.”
    George put his hands on his hips. “It’s not fair ! She wasn’t playing, and you didn’t find me.”
    He looked so outraged that Aggie had to smile. “Perhaps we must count it that you won, then,” she said. “Indeed, I did not mean to spoil your game.”
    The boy focused his bright blue eyes on her, considered a moment, then smiled angelically. “It doesn’t matter. I always beat Mummy and Alice anyway.” He came out of the window and stood eyeing her. “I am George Wellfleet,” he said. “And you are our new governess. I know that. Pleased to make your acquaintance.” He bowed carefully.
    Aggie choked back a laugh. “Thank you.”
    Mrs. Wellfleet did laugh. “Oh, how well