Never a Mistress, No Longer a Maid Read Online Free PDF

him and she couldn’t afford to hire a
solicitor to see to her interests.  She barely had enough funds to keep her
housekeeper and butler, Mr. and Mrs. Heldt, and Farrell, her groom.  The three
had been with her family since before Jane was born, but she couldn’t very well
ask them to continue on unpaid.
    As the only affordable source of medical care, Jane was
called on by the poorer residents of Marston Vale on an almost daily basis. 
Everyone tried to pay her what they could, but it was rarely in currency.  She
was more likely to carry home eggs or butter than shillings.   When a tenant
farmer who was having a particularly bad year had tried to give her his one
remaining chicken, she insisted instead that she be paid in song from his three
children.  Even though the incident had been four years ago, the children still
serenaded her when she saw them. 
    Today, the blacksmith had a baby, a beautiful son.  Which
was great news for the Birch family and excellent news for the two horses Jane
still had in her stable.  They’d get new shoes next week.
    She smiled as she thought about the new babe being held by
his proud parents.  Then a lump came into her throat as she recalled the love
in Joseph’s eyes as he looked at his beloved Sue.  It was a look Jane longed to
receive from a man, but one she knew she’d never get.
    But before she could become too maudlin, a blonde sprite ran
into her at a six-year-old’s top speed, wrapping her arms tightly around her
waist.  Jane returned the squeeze.
    “Mama!  I lost a tooth!  See!”
    Jane bent down to look at the gap in her smile.
    “You did!  You’re such a brave girl.”
    “I was!  I didn’t cry at all.  I was surprised a little. 
But I didn’t cry.  Do you want to see it?” 
    Violet, with blonde hair and emerald green eyes, carefully
pulled a handkerchief out of her pocket.  She unwrapped it, then presented her
mother with a small, slightly bloody tooth.  Jane picked it up.
    “I believe you deserve a special treat for being such a
brave little girl.”
    “Mrs. Heldt is making me a tart!”
    “That’s very kind of Mrs. Heldt.  I hope you can eat it with
one fewer tooth.”
    The fact that she might be missing tart-eating capabilities
hadn’t yet dawned on Vi.  Her eyes grew wide at the very thought.
    Jane looked at her daughter’s emerald eyes.  Eyes that
brought back so many memories.
    “I’m only teasing.  I’m sure you shall be quite capable of
eating anything Mrs. Heldt cooks.”
    “Let’s go see her!  Perhaps it’s ready!” 
    And with that, Vi grabbed her mother’s hand and the two of
them ran toward the rundown house and the apple tarts which would be there for
both of them.
     
    London
    Ned Kellington’s head hurt.  It certainly wasn’t the worst
headache he’d ever had.  He had surprisingly fond memories of that headache. 
However, it was irritating enough that all he wanted to do was return home and
go to bed.  But since the night was still young, a good three hours before dawn,
he knew neither of his companions would permit him to attend to his wishes.
    During the six months since returning home from his last
mission for the Foreign Office, it had become somewhat of a routine.  He and
his two younger brothers, Arthur and Hal, would dine at one of their clubs,
catch up on the latest gossip, then attend whichever ball was considered
necessary to stave off a visit from their Aunt Agatha who meant to see them all
married as soon as possible.  Then they’d head out in search of more satisfying
entertainment some time after midnight.
    At nine and twenty, Ned was two years older than Arthur and
four years older than Hal.    They’d always been close as boys, but hadn’t seen
much of each other in the years since Ned had finished university and gone off
on his great adventure.  First the war, then missions for the Foreign Office. 
They always joked that, given his historical namesake, it should’ve been