Moorcroft - the Possession: Book One of the Moorcroft Trilogy Read Online Free PDF

beside her.
    “Are you going in?”
    Sarah looked at the girl and nodded.
    “Me too, it’s a bit nerve racking don’t you think, shall we go in together?”
    Relief spread across Sarah’s face. “Yes please, my names Sarah, by the way.”
    “And I’m, Victoria. Right shoulders back, chin up and a deep breath and in we go.”
    They enjoyed their first class and chatted away to each other and soon found they had similar backgrounds. They laughed and enjoyed each others company and become great friends. Victoria was an only child and lived with an aunt when her parents travelled the world. Her life had been boring until she made friends with Sarah, now she looked forward to their meetings and was overjoyed when Sarah asked her to her home.
    Emily took to Victoria at their first meeting and soon began to look upon her as another daughter. Victoria often came to stay at Moorcroft; her aunt was getting on in years and was happy that her niece had someone of her own age to befriend her. Emily would hear the girls’ laughter as she passed their bedrooms and once more relaxed knowing that Sarah was happy again.
    Charlotte watched the two girls chatting and looking through magazines. Each time she tried to get near, Sarah would turn her back on her, keeping her out and ignoring her. Charlotte became more and more angry with Sarah, she would have to teach that girl some manners meanwhile she needed a distraction.
     
    Each Monday morning Emily would sit in the drawing room with Mrs Shaw and discuss the week’s menus, she was sat at her bureau when she heard raised voices coming from the hall, she opened the door and the noise stopped. Before her stood Mr Howard, Mrs Shaw and the two house maids, young Polly was crying and Mrs Shaw reached out to try and console her.
    Emily frowned. “What’s the matter here?”
    Mr Howard looked at the girls and back to Emily. “I am sorry to have to mention this Mrs Gardener, but several items of silver are missing from the dining room. I was just asking the girls if they may have misplaced them.”
    Mrs Shaw always outspoken and unable to hold her temper butted in. “Oh no you weren’t, you were accusing these poor mites of stealing. Just look at them Mrs Gardener, do they look like thieves to you?”
    “I am sorry Mrs Shaw but this matter must be taken up with my husband.” Emily looked at the butler. “Mr Howard I would suggest you do that now. As for you girls I think you had better stay with Mrs Shaw until Mr Gardener sends for you. Mrs Shaw we will discuss the menus later this afternoon.”
    In the drawing room she could hear John’s angry voice coming from his study.
    “I pay good wages, Mr Howard, why would they steal from me? Bring them here at once and let us see what they have to say for themselves.”
    John to be fair gave the girls every opportunity to explain, but they both insisted they were innocent. He ordered the house to be searched, when nothing was found he gave the girls a day to put the silver back, after that they would be dismissed without references. Emily groaned at the thought of interviewing more girls. The silver did not return. Mrs Shaw saw the girls off from her kitchen, making sure that both their baskets were full of leftovers. She knew in her heart that those poor girls were not thieves.
    Charlotte had watched the snivelling pair as they stood before John Gardener in his study. Only she knew where the silver had been hidden. She was lonely and angry that Richard had been sent away, she just wanted to have some fun. She had tried to approach the girl, Sarah, but each time she had, the silly girl rushed off and had gone in search of the kitchen help. Fancy anyone preferring the company of a working girl to herself, well, she would get her own back, one day she would teach this young woman some manners.
     
    Richard wrote often to Sarah telling her of all his exploits. How she envied him, he had made so many friends and he was having so much fun. He