Sinful Seduction Read Online Free Page A

Mrs Hardcastle’s title was strictly honorary, and she had every intention of keeping it that way.
    â€˜Where was I?’ she asked. ‘Ah yes. If I move young Mary up to kitchen maid, then your Maggie can take her place. Nine pound a year all in.’ She sat back with the smug smile of one who has manage to do a good turn at absolutely no inconvenience to themselves. ‘How’s that suit yer, love?’
    â€˜God bless yer, Moll,’ gasped Maggie’s mother, sagging with relief. ‘How soon can she start?’
    â€˜No time like the present,’ beamed Moll, subjecting Maggie to another looking over. ‘Course, we’ll ‘ave to clean her up a bit. Can’t ‘ave her working here looking like that.’ She clapped her hands again. ‘Mary! Leave them veg just now and go and get the bath out. Ellen, put some water on to boil.’ She fumbled a key off the huge ring at her waist and handed it to Emily. ‘Go to the store cupboard and look out a couple of uniforms and aprons from the bottom shelf - one for work and one for best. Oh, and see if you can’t find a pair of old boots somewhere till we can buy new. Them ones she’s wearing ain’t fit for nothing.’ She sniffed in disapproval. ‘They can go in the fire along with them rags she’s wearing.’
    â€˜Oh no, please, you can’t do that!’ exclaimed her mother in dismay. ‘They ain’t mine.’ Her cheeks turned a dull red with shame. ‘I had to borrow them.’
    Mrs Hardcastle’s face softened with pity. Poor Kate. To be reduced to this. ‘Righto, love,’ she said with forced cheerfulness. ‘You sit there while we get the young ‘un spruced up and we’ll wrap her stuff up in a nice bit o’ brown paper to take home with yer.’ Her shrewd eyes noted Kate’s trembling hands. ‘And how about a little drop o’ something while you’re waiting? To celebrate, like?’
    Maggie’s mother nodded in dumb gratitude.
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    Half an hour later Maggie found herself sitting in a galvanised iron tub in front of the range. Her initial shock at having to take off all her clothes and submerge herself had melted as the hot water seeped into every pore of her body. Her hair, turpentined, scrubbed and sluiced within an inch of its life was pinned up in a wild tangle on the top of her head. ‘We’ll take the lice comb to that little lot, once you’re out,’ Mrs Hardcastle said grimly.
    Wrapped in a warm towel, she sat on a high stool as Mrs Hardcastle set to with a vengeance. ‘Oww! Stoppit, that hurts!’ she protested, pulling away.
    â€˜None of your nonsense, miss,’ snapped Mrs H, yanking her back. ‘It’s got to be done. You ain’t scratching like a monkey in my kitchen. T’ain’t healthy.’
    By the time she’d finished, Maggie felt as if her scalp was red raw - but her hair fell in a smooth cascade down her back, gleaming red-gold in the light from the range fire. Mrs H stepped back and admired her handiwork. ‘Lovely,’ she decided. ‘Who’d ‘ave thought it?’ She smiled at Maggie’s mother. ‘Wouldn’t surprise me one bit if she’s a beauty once she’s put a little weight on. Just like ‘er mum.’
    Maggie’s mouth fell open in surprise. Mum, a beauty? Well, there was a turn up for the books. Then she sighed; living with Bert would wipe out any woman’s looks pretty sharpish. You couldn’t exactly be ‘a beauty’ with your teeth knocked out and your face a mass of bruises. And the gin didn’t help either.
    â€˜Come on, girl, don’t sit there dreaming,’ Mrs H said briskly. ‘Let’s get you dressed. Let your mum ‘ave a look at yer before she goes.’
    The brown frock hung on her skinny frame like a sack and the boots were cracked and worn and at least two sizes too big, but