This Way to Heaven Read Online Free PDF

when Mrs. Rush hurried in with a large bowl of hot water and George hastily left the room as the women began to strip off the girl’s soaking wet clothes.
    â€œWhy put her in this room?” Mrs. Rush enquired, anxiously. “It hasn’t been used since – ”
    â€œIt’s the only one with the bed made up and furthest away from the North Turret and his Lordship’s room.”
    â€œYou’ll lose your place here if he ever finds out!”
    Mary hesitated for just a second and then shrugged as they wrapped the warm towels around the girl.
    A small moan escaped her lips – that was indeed marvellous! It proved she was still alive.
    â€œShall I fetch one of my nightgowns?” asked Mrs. Rush. “Although it would go round her several times, I’m thinking!”
    Mary blotted the girl’s hair again with a thin linen towel. Under her hands the water was vanishing and a riot of blonde curls was appearing.
    â€œNo – wait – in that dresser, Mrs. Rush. Yes, that big one over there in the corner. In the top drawer, you’ll find a nightgown.”
    Mrs. Rush looked startled, but obediently pulled a fine white silk nightdress from the drawer. It was beautiful with exquisite lace frills sewn at the neck and cuffs of the long sleeves.
    The cook fingered the soft material before looking across questioningly at the housekeeper, her face creased and worried.
    â€œMary! Surely this is – ”
    â€œYes, it belonged to the Mistress. But there is no one here to worry about that now. This poor girl needs it.”
    Once the stranger was warm and dry she lay on the pillows and the two women stood back and stared down at her.
    â€œShe looks like one of those angels you see in some of them art books the Master keeps down in his library,” whispered Mrs. Rush. “Do you reckon she’ll recover?”
    Mary put out a hand to feel the girl’s forehead. The cut was close to her hairline and hardly noticeable now, but there was a dark bruise forming.
    â€œShe’s very hot. I do hope she hasn’t taken a chill, but Heavens knows it will be a real miracle if she has come through all this unscathed.”
    â€œShe seems to be sleepin’.”
    Mary nodded.
    â€œYes, and that’s a good thing. Hopefully she will waken in the morning with only a bad headache to remind her of her adventure.”
    â€œAnd then she can tell us just who she is,” the cook said, busily tidying the towels and basin away. “How she got into Bridgend Woods is anyone’s guess. There must be her people out there worried sick that she hasn’t returned home. And with Christmas nearly on us, too.”
    â€œI’ll sit with her,” said Mary quietly. “Tell George, if he’s still here, that I’ll try and speak to him tomorrow.”
    Mrs. Rush sniffed.
    â€œHe’ll be lucky to get back to his farm through the snow tonight. Reckon he’ll bed down in the stables. Still, that’ll be warmer than that damp old farm house of his!”
    Mary did not reply. Cook knew how she felt about George Radford. Talking did not help. She loved him so much and would have been proud to be his wife.
    But George just refused to marry her. He was as stubborn as his old Dad had been. Completely stuck in the past, refusing to move with the times.
    She turned down the oil lamp to a small glimmer and sat quietly by the side of the bed.
    The minutes ticked past and the girl was breathing a little easier now, but her forehead still felt very hot.
    Suddenly as Mary was applying a cool strip of linen soaked in lavender water to her patient’s head, there came the sound of a commotion and dogs barking downstairs in the Great Hall.
    She spun round and pulled the bedroom door open.
    That voice – calling for Mr. Pardew!
    It was the Earl .
    He had come back. Obviously he had not been able to get through the pass to the main road.
    Mary closed the door and