Jilted Read Online Free PDF Page A

pleasure in mentioning it in Miss Niblett’s hearing. Had she ever mentioned Lady Hope’s previous career, then her presence would not have beentolerated; she never did so. Nor did she ever attempt to flirt with Sir Wilfred, which would have obtained her instant dismissal.
    She might still have been dismissed despite her heritage, for in addition to her insolence towards Miss Niblett, she had an irrepressible tendency to flirt with all the male servants. Her saving grace was that she had inherited her mother’s clever fingers and eye for colour. Be Eustacia’s curls never so recalcitrant – and sometimes they were very recalcitrant indeed – Trixie could always coax them into order. An odd piece of ribbon which did not match anything else, in Trixie’s hands became a cleverly contrasting piece of trim that gave a cachet to a whole new outfit. A gown that had been spoilt by the flat iron could be altered and pleated so that the finished result looked better than the garment had done when it was new.
    Decidedly, then, Trixie must go with her mistress, although she could not be depended upon as a chaperon. Her escort could only be considered sufficient because the journey could be accomplished in one day, with no overnight stops.
    ‘Give Agatha my fondest love,’ Lady Hope said, as she and Sir Wilfred stood outside the house ready to wave off their daughter and her companion.
    ‘Of course, Mama,’ Eustacia replied.
    ‘Trixie, see that you behave yourself,’ Lady Hope added in minatory tones.
    ‘Oh yes, my lady,’ answered Trixie respectfully. Like the rest of the household, she looked up to her ladyship as to a being on a higher plane.
    ‘And should Ashbourne appear, keep out of his way, both of you. Remember, once a rake, always a rake.’
    ‘Yes, Mama,’ replied Eustacia, her heart sinking into her shoes, for she knew what the reaction from Trixie would be as soon as they were out of earshot.
    ‘A rake?’ exclaimed the maid, her eyes gleaming for all the world as if she had been promised an outing to Astley’s Amphitheatre.
    ‘Yes, but he is years older than we are and no doubt has lost allhis looks with over-indulgence,’ said Eustacia firmly. ‘He probably will not come anywhere near where we are staying. What’s more, if he does and if you misbehave in any way, I will box your ears and tell Mama, and you will not have that pink gown from my trousseau which I did not like from the very first but which you adored.’
    Trixie had indeed had her heart set on the pink gown and Eustacia had caught her holding it in front of herself and admiring its effects with her blonde prettiness in the mirror on more than one occasion. ‘Oh, all right, Miss Stacia,’ replied the girl sulkily. ‘You’re mean, you are. I only wanted a little sport.’
    The trouble was, what seemed like sport to such as Trixie could mean heartache to others. It had not been very long since a new groom had come to work in the stables at Woodfield Park. For a week after his arrival, Trixie had been in bed with a nasty chill. During that week, one of the housemaids had become enamoured of the lad and had been trying, in a modest way, to attract his attention. Once Trixie was on her feet, however, she had flirted outrageously with the young man, and little Miriam had not had a chance. Eustacia had noticed the girl’s downcast looks. She hoped that now that Trixie was away, the housemaid might be able to reanimate Trevor’s affections.
    Contemplation of Trixie’s previous triumphs brought a very unwelcome notion into Eustacia’s mind. ‘Did you ever flirt with Morrison?’ she asked suspiciously.
    ‘Not I,’ replied the girl virtuously. ‘Her ladyship’d’ve had a stick across my back if I had. Besides,’ she went on, spoiling the effect, ‘I tried, but he wasn’t interested.’
    ‘You tried?’ demanded Eustacia indignantly.
    ‘He wasn’t interested,’ Trixie repeated in a tone that was so close to insolence that Eustacia