‘Alice, I want you to meet my cousin, Horace Hubble.’
The resemblance between Jane and the gentleman who stepped forward was striking. He was taller than his cousin, and his dark hair was greying, as were his mutton chop whiskers and drooping walrus moustache. He held out his hand but the smile on his lips did not reach his eyes. ‘I’m delighted to meet you at last, Miss Radcliffe. I’ve heard so much about you.’
‘Really? I’m afraid I don’t know anything about you, sir.’ His handshake was limp and his palm moist. Alice withdrew hers quickly, hoping that he did not notice the shudder that ran through her at his touch.
‘Cousin Jane,’ he said, stretching his wide lips into a rictus grin, ‘I thought better of you. You leave me at a disadvantage.’
‘Stuff and nonsense.’ Jane strode to the head of the table. ‘Take your seats, everyone. We are very late dining.’ She shot a reproachful glance in Alice’s direction.
Horace moved swiftly to pull out Jane’s chair. ‘You really ought to employ more servants, Cousin.’
Jane sat down and rang the bell. ‘Snippet does well enough. I don’t approve of wasting money on underlings to eat my food and cost me money.’
Alice helped her mother to take her seat at the table. ‘How are you feeling this evening, Mama?’
‘Quite well, thank you, my darling. Jane has kept me fully employed today, which took my mind off my ailments, and the sorry position in which we find ourselves.’
‘Self-pity is a waste of time,’ Jane said severely. ‘There’s nothing wrong with you, Beth. It’s all in your silly head.’
‘Really, Aunt,’ Alice protested. ‘That’s not fair. Mama has always been delicate.’
‘Sit down, Alice. You too, Horace. I can’t do with people hovering.’ Jane rang the bell again. ‘Where is that idle child?’
‘Perhaps I ought to go and help?’ Alice suggested tentatively. ‘She’s quite small to carry heavy dishes up from the kitchen.’
‘People from her walk of life are born with the strength of oxen,’ Jane said dismissively. ‘That’s why they dig roads and plough the soil. We were put on earth to guide them and to help them control their base instincts. The child has to learn.’
The crash of breaking china was followed by a loud howl. Alice hurried to the door and opened it to find Clara on her knees amidst shards of broken crockery. She raised her to her feet. ‘There, there, don’t cry, Clara. It was an accident.’
‘I’ve broke the best plates. I’ll get a beating when Mrs Jugg finds out what I done.’
‘No one will harm you; I’ll see to that.’ Alice patted her on the shoulder. ‘Go and fetch a shovel and a brush and clear up the mess.’
‘But the dinner, miss. I’m supposed to fetch it.’
‘Leave that to me.’ Alice stepped back into the dining room. ‘Mr Hubble, would you care to assist me?’
His look of surprise was quickly replaced by a smug smile and he rose swiftly to his feet. ‘Of course, Miss Radcliffe. Anything you say.’ He was at her side in seconds, smiling down at her and exposing long, yellow teeth that put her in mind of a pony she had ridden as a child. It had not been a gentle animal and had taken every opportunity to give her a savage nip; it was not a pleasant memory.
‘There has been a mishap,’ she said, closing the door so that her aunt could not hear. ‘I’m going below stairs to fetch the food and it would help to have someone like you to assist me.’ She could see that he was shocked by such a suggestion. ‘You did say that Aunt Jane ought to employ more staff. Perhaps this will convince her.’
He fingered his cravat, clearing his throat nervously. ‘This is highly irregular, Miss Radcliffe. Below stairs is the servants’ domain.’
‘And at present there is only the cook, and a young girl who is terrified that she will be beaten for her clumsiness. I think dinner will be delayed a lot longer if we simply sit and wait for it to arrive.’ She walked off without waiting for his answer, and had just reached the baize door when he caught up with her.
‘You’re right, of course. You are a very wise young lady.’ He held the door for her. ‘And I look forward to furthering our acquaintance.’
‘Yes, indeed,’ she said vaguely as she hurried down the narrow staircase.
Cook stared at them in amazement. ‘Oh my Lord, whatever next? The silly girl told me that she’s dropped the plates, and she’ll be punished severely.’
‘It’s all right, Mrs Jugg,’ Alice said calmly. ‘It was an accident and no one blames Clara. She is going to clear up the broken china and we will take the food upstairs.’
‘Oh, no, miss. That’s not right at all. And you, sir, what must you think of us?’ Mrs Jugg glanced anxiously at Horace as if expecting the worst.
Alice picked up the soup tureen and passed it to Horace. ‘Mr Hubble is in complete agreement with me.’
His sickly smile was unconvincing, but he nodded his head. ‘Just this once.’
Alice went to the dresser and selected four soup bowls. She picked up a basket of bread rolls. ‘Tell Clara not to worry, Mrs Jugg. It could have happened to anyone.’
Cook’s lips worked soundlessly as Clara rushed in from the scullery armed with a brush and coal shovel. ‘I’m so sorry,’ she breathed. ‘Ever so sorry.’
Alice stood back to allow her to race on ahead. ‘She’s a good girl,’ she said firmly. ‘Nothing more will be said, Mrs Jugg. And the soup smells delicious.’
‘There’s roast beef to follow. The mistress always puts on a show for her cousin. He’s her only living relative, apart from you, of course, Miss Alice.’
Alice knew that, but it did not explain the extravagance of the hospitality, or her aunt’s desire for them to meet. She hurried after Horace and arrived in the dining room as he was about to place the tureen on the table.
Jane stared at them both, aghast. ‘Horace, what do you think you’re doing? And you, Alice, you should know better.’
‘There was a slight mishap due to that clumsy young maidservant, but I could not bear to think of you waiting a moment longer for such an excellent repast,’ Horace said, taking the credit for the idea even though he had been against it at the start. ‘Miss Radcliffe was kind enough to assist me.’
‘I’ve a good mind to send Snippet back to the workhouse. One takes these people in for the most Christian reasons and they invariably fail in their duties.’
Horace lifted the lid and was about to begin serving the soup when Jane held up her hand.
‘We haven’t yet said grace.’ She launched into a much shortened version of the prayer. ‘I don’t know why I burden myself with these charity cases. They always let one down,’ she added at the end.
‘Your acts of generosity to the poor are well known, Cousin,’ Horace said, ladling soup into a bowl and placing it in front of her. ‘The world would be a happier place were there more people like you.’
Jane smile modestly. ‘You’re too kind, Horace. Do sit down and enjoy your meal.’ She clicked her fingers at Alice. ‘You may finish serving the soup, and after dinner you will go down to the kitchen and tell Snippet that unless she pulls herself together she will spend Christmas in the workhouse.’
‘That seems a little harsh, sister-in-law,’ Beth said timidly. ‘The child is very young and she will learn.’
Alice