Kay Springsteen Read Online Free

her frustration out on the faded upholstery. She deserved to die alone in Rose Cottage for letting her pride get in the way and chasing her into hiding.
    A thud and a gasp from behind her brought Annabella ’ s head bouncing up, and she leapt to her feet. A young housemaid stood in the doorway leading to the kitchen. At her feet, a wooden bucket lay tipped on its side, water running like a river over the dusty oak floor.
    “ Lady Annabella, ” the girl screeched, eyes wide . “ I thought you was in London. ”
    “ Get out! ” Heat rushed to her face. Had the maid seen her outburst? Annabella narrowed her eyes and stalked toward the startled girl. “ I said, get out! I am not here. ”
    The maid ’ s jaw dropped. “ B-but, m-m ’ lady. Ye ’ re standing right in front o ’ me. ”
    Was the girl dense? Exasperated, Annabella blew out a breath. “ Well then, you don ’ t see me! ”
    The girl opened her mouth and looked like she would argue but then clamped her lips shut and cast her eyes downward. “ Yes, m ’ lady. ”
    Marvelous, she could add terrorizing a maid to her list of sins. Annabella sighed. She was never lost for words. Why couldn ’ t she figure out what to say? “ I, er, decided not to go to Town after all, ” she said, affecting a breezy tone. “ But I, er… my mother. Yes, I did not wish to distress the duchess with my change of plans as she ’ s been… fatigued of late. ”
    A sly gleam entered the maid ’ s eyes. “ Yes, m ’ lady. ” Her gaze roamed over Annabella, no doubt taking in the filthy state of the dull gray dress.
    Annabella drew herself up straight. “ My luggage was mistakenly sent on to London with Juliet, whilst hers remained with me. ”
    One side of the maid ’ s mouth tilted upward briefly before she schooled all expression from her features. “ Yes, m ’ lady. ”
    Should I return to the main house now that I ’ ve been discovered?
    No. If she went back to the main house, she ’ d look the spoiled chit who ’ d run off and hidden away in the dirty guesthouse. Far better to let the servants think she ’ d chosen to stay at the cottage.
    “ It ’ s good that you ’ ve come by, ” she said, keeping her voice even. “ I had no idea the place was in such disrepair. Does no one see to its cleaning and upkeep? ”
    “ Mr. Dawes gave orders over a year ago to leave off cleaning here. But I ’ m here to see to opening the cottage now, m ’ lady, ” explained the maid. “ Sorry to be so long. I had no idea t ’ was for you. ”
    “ Very well. It needs a good scrubbing. ” Annabella wiped at the soiled sleeve of her dress. “ I shall need fresh clothing from my rooms. T wo of the dresses from my wardrobe. ” She frowned. “ No, three dresses. My yellow day dress and the blue one. A nd my gray silk walking dress. And a Spencer. Oh, I’ve a new champagne and black gown from… ”
    The maid was staring at her wide-eyed. “ Would you like me to pack as though you were going away, m ’ lady? ”
    Relieved, Annabella sighed with the imaginings of her entire closet at her disposal. “ Yes, please. ” The maid wasn ’ t going to make trouble. “ I — what is your name? ”
    “ My name ’ s Abby, m ’ lady. ” Her head dipped in a slight curtsy as h er gaze slid around the stark room and then moved to the empty bucket. “ Shall I see to tidying up first? ”
    “ I shall wait here whilst you see to my fresh clothing, and you may clean up after that. ”
    Abby ’ s head bobbed. “ Yes, Lady Annabella. ” She snatched up the empty bucket and scampered off. The spilled water had long since been consumed by the dust coating the floor.
    A smile spread across Annabella ’ s lips as she stepped to the cottage door and gazed after the maid running up the path. She ’ d been saved from a horrible demise after all. The scent of flowers beckoned , and she couldn ’ t resist stepping into the warm sunshine for the first time in days.
    Humming softly,