The Watercress Girls Read Online Free Page B

expression, as Hilda brushed and combed her long hair, twisting it into a simple knot in the nape of her neck. It was certainly more becoming than the tight plaits she’d wound round her head first thing today.
    ‘Well, I’ll have to leave you to it, and get back to the kitchen! I left everything throbbing on the stove. Cook flounced off last week,’ Hilda said wryly.
    ‘If the brandy snaps are anything to go by, I look forward to my dinner! Thank you Hilda, you’ve made me look presentable.’
    When Mattie entered the dining room, she mentally braced herself for the encounter with the formidable Mr Fullilove. He stood with his back to the fireplace, holding a glass of wine, which he deposited on the mantelpiece, when he saw her.
    Like his wife, he was unlike the picture she had conjured up. Mr Fullilove was very tall, broad-shouldered with an aquiline nose and a piercing gaze. He wore a scarlet-silk smoking-jacket, embroidered with Chinese dragons. He was perhaps ten years older than Sybil, dark jowled, with thick iron-grey hair. She tried not to flinch as he gripped her hand. She was aware, as she had been with Sybil, of a lavish use of perfume.
    ‘Good evening, Mattie. I gather you prefer to be called that? Be seated next to Griffith. He is adept at light conversation, I am not. The sarcasm was lightly veiled. ‘Would you care for a drink?’
    Mattie found her voice. ‘No, thank you, Mr Fullilove’
    ‘I should say, you will naturally be treated as one of the family in my home, where you may call me Rufus. However, you will appreciate that at work you will address me formally. Is that understood?’
    ‘It is indeed.’ Mattie turned to Griff as he pulled out a chair for her at the oval table. ‘Thank you, Griff.’ She couldn’t help thinking that being treated as one of the family in Mr Fullilove’s case was not exactly to be recommended.
    Sybil, on her right, leaned forward, whispering as her husband topped up his glass, before taking his seat. ‘You look very pretty, Mattie. I’m sure Rufus approves.’
    I don’t want him to approve of me ! Mattie wished she could say.
    ‘Didn’t have no time to make a first course,’ Hilda announced grimly, as she wheeled in the trolley once more.
    Mr Fullilove rose to the challenge in her tone. ‘Not good enough,’ he said curtly.
    Hilda slammed his dinner plate on the table before him. The condiments rattled in their silver holder. Mr Fullilove, lips tightly compressed, grabbed his glass.
    ‘Veal cutlet.’ Hilda looked defiant. ‘Bloomin’ palaver – cook’s book said to dip ’em in melted butter, egg yolk, then breadcrumbs, grated lemon peel and chopped parsley.’ She brandished a finger tied around with a strip of bandage. ‘Chopped me bleedin’ finger, too. Comes of having to rush around doing two jobs, as you’re well aware – Sir . I nearly forgot to mash the potato, and stick a roll of fried bacon on top of each cutlet. Serve with a good tomato sauce, it said in the recipe – I never had time for that, so I admit it come out of a bottle. Here, Mr Griff, pass the rest of the plates for me, will yer?’
    Griff cheerfully obliged. Sybil picked up her cutlery. ‘This looks delicious , Hilda. Eat up, all of you! Thank you Hilda, what would we do without you?’
    ‘Starve, I reckon,’ Hilda muttered as she went back to the kitchen.
    Mattie glanced covertly at Mr Fullilove. He was slicing into his tender cutlet, but his expression was thunderous.
    She became aware that Griff was addressing her. ‘Sunday tomorrow. Time for you to recover from your journeying, and a day off for me. If it’s fine, I like to take a stroll along the Hoe. Perhaps you would like to join me? We could take a packed lunch.’
    Before Mattie could answer, Mr Fullilove said dourly, ‘I shall require your attention for an hour from ten in the morning, Mattie, to discuss your duties at the emporium. You will then be able to take them up with a minimum of fuss on Monday at