Sons and Daughters Read Online Free PDF

– what are you doing here?’
    Charlotte pulled in a deep breath. ‘I’ve come to see Mr Thornton.’
    ‘Oh – right. Come away in, then. I’ll introduce you to Cook. Mr Thornton brought his own cook.’
    ‘What’s happened to Mrs Overton? Has she been dismissed?’
    Lily laughed. ‘No, no, nothing like that. When old Mr Davenport died, Mrs Overton left to go an’ live with her widowed sister in Bognor. She was getting on a bit anyway and her legs were bad. So it all worked out well.’
    ‘What about the rest of you?’
    ‘We’ve all been kept on, miss. ’Course, when the old man died it was a bit worrying, like. Not knowing who might buy the place and if we’d all still have jobs. But the master only brought Cook and his chauffeur with him and a tutor for the two younger boys. But of course we hadn’t got one of them anyway.’
    Charlotte was relieved. The manor had a large household of servants, some of whom would have been hard pressed to find new employment locally either because of their age or the scarcity of jobs available.
    ‘And the oldest son – ’ Lily went on. Did Charlotte fancy it, or did the girl’s tone of voice alter? She glanced at the housemaid to see a pink tinge in the girl’s cheeks. ‘Goes to boarding school, but he’s home for Easter just now.’
    Lily opened the kitchen door and ushered Charlotte inside. Cook was standing in front of the huge range but she turned at the sound of the door opening and smiled a welcome.
    ‘Cook, this is Miss Charlotte Crawford from Buckthorn Farm. This is Mrs Beddows, Miss Charlotte.’
    The cook wiped her hands on her apron and came forward. ‘I’m pleased to meet you, Miss Crawford.’
    Charlotte took the plump hand. ‘Please call me Miss Charlotte. Everybody does.’
    Mrs Beddows smiled, invited her to sit down at the table and take a cup of tea and a slice of her chocolate cake, but all the while Charlotte was uncomfortable under the woman’s scrutiny. Not that the cook was being impolite, just curious. Charlotte wondered what she’d been told. She could imagine what might have been said. ‘Miss Charlotte’s plain as a pikestaff. She’ll die an old maid at the beck and call of that miserable old devil of a father.’
    It was not how she would have chosen to be described, but Charlotte was honest enough to realize that it was the truth.
    ‘You go an’ get on with your work, Lily, whilst me an’ Miss Charlotte here have a nice little chat.’
    When the girl had left the room, Mrs Beddows said, ‘I didn’t know how they’d all accept me, to tell you the truth. But since the last cook left of her own accord, it’s been easy. They’re a nice bunch what works here.’ She leaned forward, confiding. ‘And they can’t get enough of my chocolate cake – it’s a speciality of mine.’ She nodded towards the half-eaten piece in Charlotte’s fingers. ‘All right, is it?’
    ‘All right? It’s delicious.’
    Mrs Beddows smiled and sat back. ‘So, what brings you to the manor?’
    ‘I’ve come to apologize to Mr Thornton.’
    ‘Apologize? Whatever for?’
    Charlotte sighed. ‘Georgie stayed on yesterday after Morning Service to attend my Sunday school. We were acting out the Good Samaritan and the three “robbers” got a little – well – shall we say over enthusiastic.’
    ‘Ah, so that’s how he got a cut lip?’
    ‘I’m afraid so.’ There was a moment’s pause before Charlotte asked, ‘He didn’t say?’
    ‘Little Georgie wouldn’t tell tales and his father wouldn’t encourage it, I assure you. In fact, my dear, if you’ll take my advice, you’ll not give the master any names either.’
    ‘I wasn’t going to. Georgie asked me not to and I admire him for that. I’m just here to apologize for not keeping better control of my class.’
    Mrs Beddows laughed. ‘Boys will be boys. It’s not the first time Master Georgie’s been in a scrape and it’ll not be the last.’
    Charlotte began to feel a little