Free A Season of Secrets by Margaret Pemberton

an overwhelming success. Before her arrival Thea and Olivia
had often squabbled, and picked on Violet. Since her arrival they did so far less, for Carrie was a natural-born peacemaker.
    Blanche had been standing at the open door of Thea’s wardrobe selecting dresses, as well as school clothes that had to be packed. Now, despite having very little time in which to finish
organizing her daughters’ departure for Norfolk, she sat down.
    ‘What is it you wanted to ask me, Carrie?’ she said, happy to spare a little time for this child she liked so much.
    ‘I was twelve at the beginning of the month, Lady Fenton,’ Carrie said sunnily, ‘And I’d like to know, please, if I can begin working at Gorton Hall as a
tweeny?’
    Blanche stared at her, not knowing which aspect of Carrie’s request appalled her the most; that she was cherishing an ambition to become a tweeny – and at Gorton – or that she
thought she could leave school and become one now that she was twelve years old.
    ‘I had no idea you had ambitions to go into service, Carrie.’
    Even as she said the words she was shocked at how naive she had been where Carrie was concerned. What had she thought Carrie was going to do on leaving school? When Thea and Olivia left St
Ethelburga’s they would most probably, like other girls of their class, go to a finishing school in Europe. Then, when they were eighteen, they would be presented to Their Majesties at court
and, as debutantes, enjoy a London Season where, at countless parties, balls and high-society events, they would meet eligible young men of good family. After that, as night follows day, there
would be engagements and high-society weddings at St Margaret’s, Westminster.
    It wouldn’t be like that for Carrie.
    When Carrie left school she would have to find work and, unless she wanted to leave Outhwaite, her choice was limited to either farm work or domestic service. And domestic service, for Outhwaite
girls, meant Gorton Hall.
    Oblivious that there could be a problem with her request, Carrie said confidingly, ‘I’ve wanted to go into service for as long as I can remember, Lady Fenton. And as I love Gorton
Hall so much I wouldn’t want to do so anywhere else. Besides, if I was in service anywhere else, I wouldn’t be near to Granny – and I wouldn’t like that, and neither would
she.’
    Blanche took a deep steadying breath. ‘You can’t become a tweeny yet, Carrie. Not anywhere. A law was passed several months ago that has raised the school leaving age to
fourteen.’
    Carrie looked stricken.
    Blanche, knowing that she was now going to have to deal her an even worse blow, leaned towards her, taking Carrie’s hands in hers. ‘What I am going to say now, Carrie, is going to
seem very unfair, but I want you to try and understand and not be too unhappy about it.’
    She paused, searching for the right words. Not finding them, she said gently, ‘Because you have been an almost daily guest at Gorton for so long now, it isn’t going to be possible
for you ever to work here as a servant. The rest of the staff would feel far too uncomfortable about it – and it would drastically alter your relationship with Thea and Olivia. What I would
like to do is to speak to a friend of mine, Lady Markham. She has a country home at Richmond and I am certain that when you are fourteen, and if you still want to go into service, she would be
delighted to employ you as a tweeny. Richmond is a not-too-far bus ride away. You will be able to see your granny quite easily whenever you have time off. Lady Markham has a reputation for being
fair and generous with her household staff, and I think you would be happy at Monkswood.’
    Carrie stared at her, struggling desperately for understanding. How could she be a tweeny at a strange place called Monkswood, when all she had ever wanted was to be a tweeny at Gorton Hall? And
why should the other staff at Gorton feel uncomfortable with her, when she had always