Free Tall Poppies by Janet Woods Page A

Florence, ‘Connie doesn’t mean that seriously, so don’t you go repeating it to anyone, else we might end up in court for slander.’
    â€˜What’s slander?’
    â€˜Making a malicious statement about someone that isn’t true and can’t be proved. I was there when she died. The doctor told me that Mrs Sangster died because of that fall. It damaged a vein inside her head, and it ruptured.’
    Connie embroidered Livia’s explanation with: ‘Perhaps she tripped over the cat.’
    â€˜Since when have we had a cat? Mrs Mortimer doesn’t like them, they make her sneeze.’
    â€˜Then I might gather a few strays up and let them run around her room for a while, before she comes back.’
    It was hard not to laugh at Florence, but Livia knew she shouldn’t encourage her. Mrs Mortimer must have a good side to her, and she held a position of trust in the household. If Connie were to be believed, she might end up being mistress of the house. Florence’s gossip would only make matters worse.
    â€˜We’d better stop this gossiping. Whether we like it or not, Mrs Mortimer is in charge of us, and we must respect that. She might have come back and be outside the door listening. And before you pack that suitcase, Florence, you can set the table for lunch if you would.’
    Connie sighed. ‘Livia’s right, Florence. After you’ve done that, tell Mr Bugg that I’ve cooked his favourite steak and kidney pie, and he’s to come in for it at one o’clock sharp.’
    When Florence’s stomach rattled noisily, Livia grinned. Florence liked her food, but she was a good worker. She hoped Mrs Mortimer didn’t dismiss her when she returned from London.
    â€˜After lunch, we’ll clean Mrs Sangster’s room. With the bathroom next door, and the nurse’s room the other side, they might need to use it for Captain Richard Sangster.’ Livia looked down at the letter again. ‘Perhaps Mr Stone is coming with instructions to do with his care  . . . after all, I was put in charge of the household.’
    Connie said reflectively, ‘Poor lad. That will be it then. I just hope the solicitor brings my legacy with him. I’m of a mind to have a good day out. I thought I might go on the church outing in June. We could all go together and bathe in the sea and have fish and chips for dinner. We’d have to book a seat in the charabanc though.’
    Chad and Esmé would enjoy doing that, Livia thought. But she didn’t have any money to spare for pleasure. ‘You two go. Someone will have to stay to mind the house. Besides, I’m saving up to go to visit my sister and brother in London again. I promised them I’d try and get there more often.’
    Livia had built up a picture of Simon Stone in her mind, in which he was tall and thin with a long, serious face. In fact, he was middle-aged, rather rotund, and gave her a jolly smile as he took her hand between his.
    She’d tossed up whether to use the drawing room, but he might think it a little pretentious. Instead, she took him to the smaller morning room – the one Margaret Sangster had used before the accident had confined her to her bedchamber, she’d been given to understand.
    â€˜Would you like some refreshment, Mr Stone?’
    â€˜That would be very kind of you, my dear.’
    With that ordered, they settled down to business.
    â€˜Is this to do with Mr Richard Sangster?’
    He gazed at her. ‘Why should you think that?’
    â€˜Well  . . . I’d heard that he’d been injured, and thought that he might be coming home soon, and you were here to give me instructions.’
    â€˜Dear me, no. Captain Sangster will be in hospital for some time to come, I imagine.’
    â€˜Oh  . . . I’m so sorry  . . . I hadn’t realized his condition was so bad. His mother would have been upset had she