Free Penelope Goes to Portsmouth by M. C. Beaton Page B

veriest servant. One would think you had been one all your life.’
    Lord Augustus went out to find the landlord and returned to say that he had a horse and cart available for their use.
    Everyone was highly excited now that the adventure was underway, except Miss Trenton, who sat a little away from the others, looking strangely wistful.
    As the cart bearing Hannah and Mr Cato jogged off into the night, the others returned to the inn to wait.Penelope searched through her luggage until she found a plain dark dress she had worn for writing classes, dark so that ink-stains would not show. It had expensive lace at the collar and cuffs, which she carefully cut off. She found a cap, one of the frivolous kind meant to be worn under a bonnet, and took the lace edging off that before tying it on her head.
    Lord Augustus was not impressed. ‘If, by any mad folly, we do take you with us,’ he said, ‘that white cap will show in the darkness.’ Penelope took it off and threw it down on a chair. ‘Then I shall go without it,’ she said defiantly. ‘I do wonder what Miss Pym is doing. It’s a mercy Lady Carsey really saw only you, my lord.’ Then she reflected under what circumstances Lord Augustus had seen Lady Carsey and of how much he had probably seen of that lady, and she blushed fiery-red in the candlelight. Lord Augustus looked at that blush and reflected with a tinge of regret that Miss Trenton had made up that story about Penelope. The girl positively screamed Virgin.
    Hannah felt nervous and strung up as Mr Cato drove up the Manor drive. ‘To the kitchen door,’ whispered Hannah urgently, seeing the American was about to stop at the front. ‘It will be at the far side. No, leave me here and I will find it on foot.’
    ‘But what if they won’t have you?’ protested Mr Cato. ‘You don’t want to have to walk back.’
    ‘Then wait on the road outside the grounds. If I am not with you in half an hour, say, then go and fetch Lord Augustus.’
    Mr Cato watched Hannah’s spare figure as sheresolutely marched to the side of the building. She had her trunk in her hand. He found himself admiring her tremendously. Hannah Pym, he thought, would make a good American.
    Hannah found the servants’ entrance and raised her hand and knocked loudly at the door.
    While she waited, she thought herself into her role. She was desperately in need of work. She had been travelling through Esher to stay with relatives in Portsmouth and had learned that the Manor was in need of a housekeeper. She was once more Hannah Pym, servant.
    After some time had passed and she was just raising her hand to knock again, she heard the shuffle of footsteps. The door swung open. The butler she had seen before, holding a candle in a flat stick, surveyed her. He was a cadaverous-looking man in his shirt-sleeves and wearing a baize apron.
    ‘I heard there was a vacancy for a housekeeper, and I am come to apply for the post,’ said Hannah firmly.
    ‘At this time of night!’
    ‘What better time,’ said Hannah briskly. ‘Are you going to keep me on this doorstep, sir, or are you going to ask me inside?’
    The butler reluctantly stood aside. Hannah walked through a scullery into a large shadowy kitchen that smelt strongly of onions and grease. After the kitchen came the servants’ hall. The servants were just finishing their supper. Hannah thought that, apart from a few frightened girls, she had never seen such a villainous crew.
    ‘This here,’ announced the butler behind her, ‘is some female who wants the housekeeper’s job. What’s your name?’
    ‘Miss Hannah Pym,’ said Hannah firmly, seeing no reason to lie about her name. On that visit to the Manor, only Lord Augustus had presented his card.
    ‘Wait here and I’ll tell mistress.’ The butler shrugged himself into his coat after removing his apron and shambled out. Hannah sat down at the table with the others, who surveyed her in silence.
    ‘Are you not going to offer me some