Straw in the Wind Read Online Free PDF Page A

when I’ve saved enough money. It needn’t be big, but it must have two bedrooms at least. It’s for my old age, you see, in case I don’t marry and have children, but become an old spinster. The spare room is so I can take in a respectable, paying lady boarder. I wouldn’t want to end up back in the workhouse. I’m going to be called by my proper name then, too.’
    â€˜Which is?’
    â€˜Serafina.’
    He gave a faint smile. ‘After a famous Italian abbess. You’re surprisingly sensible for one so young, you know.’
    â€˜You have to be when you’re poor.’ She ate a second piece of cake. It was delicious, and she sighed. ‘Maggie’s a good cook.’
    â€˜She is that. Might there be any of that cake left?’
    She placed it on his plate, then said, ‘Another cup of tea, sir?’
    â€˜Yes please, Serafina Finn. So tell me, where did you get that unusual name from?’
    â€˜It was on a piece of paper that said who I was. I was named after an aunt, though people usually called me Sara because they couldn’t spell Serafina. I’m used to Sara.’
    â€˜Then that’s what I’ll call you, and we’ll use Serafina for special occasions. Do you still have the paper?’
    â€˜No, sir. I think it was burned.’
    â€˜Then you can’t prove who you are. Can you remember your aunt?’
    She poised for a moment with the teapot held in mid-air, then poured the liquid into the cup. ‘Sometimes I can remember an elderly woman with wrinkles around her mouth and eyes, and with a loud voice. I think that might have been her.’ She thought for a moment then said, ‘I have a feeling that she was kind.’
    â€˜In what way?’
    â€˜I don’t know, because when I remember her I don’t have any bad thoughts, and I missed her when she left, I recall.’
    â€˜You forgot to put the milk in first.’
    â€˜Sorry . . . how did you know?’
    â€˜My hearing is acute, as is my sense of smell.’
    â€˜Does it make any difference to the taste?’
    â€˜Damned if I know. I’m a creature of habit, and that’s the way I’ve always done it.’
    Adding the milk in she stirred it with a silver spoon, hoping that Maggie had washed it after she’d polished it. It seemed to be satisfactory to his taste.
    There was a knock at the door and her employer’s valet came in. He winked at her. ‘Sir?’
    â€˜What is it, Oscar?’
    â€˜I’ve checked the house and all is satisfactory.’
    â€˜Good, then I’ll go up to my room and change. Thank you for your company, Sara. I’ll leave you to get on with your tasks.’
    She didn’t know whether to be relieved or not after he left, unaided, except for his stick. He must have counted the steps, she thought, because as he neared the stair he extended the stick he carried to locate the first one.
    Carrying the tray back to the kitchen she complimented Maggie on her cake then called to Fanny to bring a bucket of warm water.
    Later, she went past the small sitting room. The door was open and she saw Finch Leighton sitting in his chair, his face turned towards the sun coming in the window. How boring to be without sight, she thought. She must try and think of something that would keep him occupied.
    There was very little left to do in the house now, just the day-to-day upkeep to keep it clean. When she knocked at the door he turned his head her way and smiled. ‘Sara?’
    â€˜Yes . . . would you like me to read to you, sir?’
    â€˜Not at the moment, I’m quite happy with my thoughts. But thank you.’
    She wondered what those thoughts were as she backed away.
    Finch was thinking about Sara.
    His new housekeeper was certainly efficient, if a little pert. Still, she was youthful and had answered his questions with honesty, but sometimes with an air of defensiveness. She would not be a