Katie’s Hero Read Online Free Page A

sleep.

Chapter Two
    Katie woke early, too jittery to sleep any longer. She dressed in a plain skirt and a hand-knitted twin set. She considered putting on the little string of artificial pearls that Tom had bought for her, but she decided that was too showy for today. She wanted to look capable and efficient. She wanted to look like the type of young woman who could cope with anything this war flung at her. She brushed out her hair, and clipped it up at the sides. She reached for her lipstick. Red — the red badge of courage, people called it — and if ever there were a day when she needed some of that, it was today. She practiced her smile.
    “Good morning, your lordship,” she repeated aloud until she could say it without faltering or sounding fake. She squared her shoulders and went downstairs.
    She headed for the kitchen, where there was no sign of anyone, to her great relief. She made herself a quick breakfast and washed it down with weak tea.
    Mrs. Jessop arrived in a headscarf and a large, old-fashioned overcoat. She spent ages taking off her outer garments, placing them on the coat stand and finally donning her floral housecoat.
    “How long has his lordship been in a wheelchair?” Katie asked.
    “Five months, nearly six.” Mrs. Jessop went over to the enormous butler’s sink and began washing up Katie’s cup and saucer, tutting in disapproval. “He bailed out of his plane. Landed on somebody’s roof. Broke his back.”
    It was brutal sounding, when put like that. Katie shivered. “Poor man,” she murmured, though Lord Farrenden was so proud and haughty it hardly seemed right to feel sorry for him.
    “That’s what everyone calls him these days,” Mrs. Jessop observed, in an acid tone of voice. “ Poor man — as if it was part of his title! You have no idea how he was before. Such a charmer. Loads of girlfriends. The parties he used to hold here — champagne on ice, streamers in the hallway, dancing until four in the morning. He loved dancing. He was good at it, too — along with everything else he did. Flying, shooting, skiing in Switzerland. He could ride a horse better than anyone in the county. Nobody would have called him poor man then.”
    Katie gulped. “No.”
    Mrs. Jessop shook her head. “Now look at him. Sits in his study. Doesn’t want to go anywhere. Doesn’t want to see anyone. Doesn’t want to be disturbed.”
    “Perhaps when the children arrive … ” Katie began.
    “He’s not used to youngsters. He was an only child.”
    Katie’s heart sank.
    Mrs. Jessop began preparing a breakfast tray for Michael. A boiled egg, some rounds of toast, kept warm under a shiny metal lid. The cutlery was real silver, buffed up on a polishing cloth. Jessop arranged the butter knife reverentially and laid a clean white napkin beside it. She put a tiny quantity of marmalade in a cut glass dish and placed a camellia flower beside it.
    “Is there something I can help with?” Katie asked.
    “No. I doubt you would have any idea how a gentleman likes things done. Amuse yourself while I take this to his lordship and help him dress. Lunch will be at twelve, and this afternoon we’ll make the necessary preparations for the children.” Mrs. Jessop pursed her lips.
    Clearly, Mrs. Jessop wasn’t looking forward to the evacuees’ arrival.
    Katie gave a mute, obedient nod.
    Then Mrs. Jessop picked up the tray and disappeared in the direction of his lordship’s rooms.
    A whole morning of freedom , thought Katie, and she was on her feet the instant the old woman was out of the way.
    She hurried upstairs and dashed off a dutiful, distant letter to her parents, telling them she was well looked after and settling in — just to salve her conscience. It was only fair to let them know she had a new place to stay. She grabbed her hat and coat and decided to walk down to the village to put it in the post straight away. But she’d longed for a chance to explore the house, and knowing that Mrs. Jessop and his