Free Rogue's Home by Hilari Bell Page A

us.”
    â€œI didn’t know we had company staying. I suppose you’ll want me to ready a bedchamber, fetching out sheets, hauling a mattress about, clean—”
    â€œThank you, that would be splendid,” said Anna gently.
    Mrs. Trimmer’s mouth shut with a snap and then opened, but before she could speak, Maxwell cut in. “I’d like a word with you, my dear. If you don’t mind.”
    Anna, who hadn’t paused for my question or Mrs. Trimmer’s hectoring, hesitated in the doorway. “But we’ve a guest for dinner. If I don’t—”
    â€œI still want—”
    â€œI’ll take care of dinner.” Lissy darted in and untiedAnna’s apron, whisking it over her own head.
    â€œThanks, Liss. Add the onions to the cream as soon as you get them chopped. And stir—”
    â€œI want—”
    â€œI’ll be fine.” Lissy smiled and swept out, and Anna followed Maxwell into the study.
    Mrs. Trimmer turned beady eyes on me. “Humph. I’ve heard of you. I suppose you’ve gotten clever and come home to batten on the leavings. Serve you right there aren’t any. I hope you’re prepared to work.”
    If Mrs. Trimmer had been wearing an apron, I might have taken that more kindly.
    â€œI never work.” I smiled blandly. “If you’re clever you don’t have to. Are you a hard worker, Mrs. Trimmer?”
    â€œThat I am,” she announced. “And an honest woman to boot.” Then the insult caught up with her and she glared. I smiled back, and she turned and stumped up the stairs muttering, not quite under her breath, about gallows bait.
    I made a mental note to check my bed tonight and turned to Judith, who was the only one left in the hallway.
    â€œNot bad,” she said judiciously. “A little heavy-handed, but if you’d been subtle, she’d have missed it.”
    â€œWhy in the world do you keep that harridan?”
    â€œBecause she and her husband are the only servants who didn’t quit when we stopped paying them.” Judith’s eyes glinted. “Lissy considered it an act of betrayal when they all decamped, but I found it reassuring to learn we hadn’t hired idiots.” She went through an open door as she spoke, and I followed her into what turned out to be the dining room. “I think Trimmer would have quit, too, but no one in their right mind would hire Mrs. Trimmer, so he’s stuck here. And she does work. Just don’t let her bully you.”
    â€œDon’t worry.” The dining room had paneling halfway up the walls, and plaster leaves and flowers around the ceiling. The blank white upper walls were designed to hold pictures, but there were none. Looking closely, I could see the holes where candle sconces had been taken down.
    Judith, who’d followed my gaze, gestured to the heap of flatware gleaming on the long table. “This will be the next to go, so we decided to have one last dinner party before it’s sold. At least that’s the excuse. I think Max may have broken down and decided to ask for a loan.” She went to the buffet, dug inside for a moment, and tossed me an apron.
    â€œJudith, what happened ?” I laid the apron aside but sat and picked up a rag. You don’t need an apron topolish silver unless you’re careless, which I’m not.
    â€œI thought Anna wrote you. She said she was going to try. You took your time getting here.” She rubbed a fork briskly.
    â€œI got the letter only a month ago. I came as fast as I could. And if you don’t tell me what’s going on right now, you’ll be washing silver polish out of your hair!”
    â€œDidn’t Anna explain—”
    â€œYou know what Annie’s letters are like. She didn’t say anything except that some hideous disaster had befallen you and I had to come at once.”
    â€œBut she’s gotten much better