Free Ruined by Ann Barker

damage this new, if fragile accord. ‘You will find that I am very well capable of occupying myself.’

Chapter Six
    J essie had spoken the truth when she had told Mrs Machin that she did not mind being left to her own devices. Although she was Lady Agatha Rayner’s companion, her ladyship needed her presence for propriety, and not because she expected to be entertained. In fact, Lady Agatha was often busy with her own correspondence and Jessie was quite accustomed to taking herself off to do a little parish visiting, or simply to take a walk around the village, sometimes carrying her sketch-pad with her. She had not inherited her father’s artistic gifts, but several people had found her drawings pleasing and the activity gave her pleasure. In addition, she often went into the village school to read with some of the children, and give drawing lessons to those pupils who showed aptitude. She was also accustomed to lending a hand with the housekeeping, usually dealing with the linen cupboard, which duty interested Lady Agatha not at all.
    Here in London, however, she found herself in some difficulty. There were no duties for her to perform as she was a guest in Mrs Machin’s little house. Her assistance in organizing the linen cupboard might have been welcomed, but she did not feel that she knew her hostess well enough to offer such help. From that lady’s reaction to her presence in the book-room, she feared that such a suggestion might be looked upon as interference.
    As a resident of the vicarage in Illingham, she could visit people there in the name of the church. Here, she had no such standing in the community. Furthermore, her tentative offers to help her hostess with her husband’s memoirs had been firmly refused. Mr Hinder’s frequent presence in the house and in the book-room in particular made it very plain that the clergyman’s widow had all the help that she needed. Consequently, when Mrs Machin continued to remain in her room for most of the morning, and disappear at other times in order to write, Jessie found herself with rather a lot of time on her hands.
    As the days went by, if she was honest with herself, she would be bound to say that she did not think very much of her future sister-in -law’s notions of being a hostess. She herself had never had a home of her own in adulthood, but Lady Agatha occasionally had people to stay. Although her ladyship often had many concerns, she would never have dreamed of neglecting a visitor in the way that Mrs Machin was doing.
    There was one thing to be said for the current state of affairs, she decided, after leaving the dining-room after breakfast in order to sit in an empty parlour. She was very up-to-date with her correspondence . She had written to Lady Agatha, Henry, Lady Ilam, Lady Ilam’s mother Lady Hope, and a married friend who lived in Scotland. To whom else could she write? She had lived a retired life in Illingham for the past eight years. Her parents had both been only children and were now dead. She really knew very few people. There was always Lord Ashbourne, of course.
    After a few moments, she came to with a start, realizing that she had been remembering how handsome he had looked on the occasion of Lord and Lady Ilam’s wedding. She must think of something else. She had no address for him, and anyway, he was dancing attendance on Lady Gilchrist. She, Jessie, was to be married to Henry Lusty and had no business thinking about other men. A bird in the hand was worth two in the bush. That was a proverb that she had learned as a child. Indeed, she could remember copying it out on a slate in her best writing.
    Of course! She could write to Miss August, the village schoolmistress in Illingham. Then with a cry of vexation, she realized that if she wanted more paper she would have to interrupt Mrs Machin. After a moment’s thought, she straightened her shoulders and came to a decision. If there was no writing paper within easy reach, she would go