Page 30 of Rivals at Ashmore Castle

‘Might I have a word with you?’ Hatto said.

‘Of course. What is it?’

Hatto paused as though assembling her words. ‘Don’t think me speaking out of turn, but I believe things have not been going smoothly for you.’

‘Did Kitty – Lady Stainton – send you?’ Dory asked sharply.

‘No, I’m here on my own account,’ Hatto said. Dory noticed she didn’t call her madam – there was an assumption of almost-equality here. ‘I think you ought to know that the troubles you’ve been having are likely caused by someone close to you.’

‘I don’t understand. If you’ve got something to tell me, then say it straight out. I won’t be angry.’

‘You may be, but not with me, I hope. To put it bluntly, I heard your maid Hatching gossiping with Mrs Hulcott’s maid. Telling her that you used to be a servant in this house. Laying it on thick, like it was a scandal – all round eyes and hushed whispers. And I don’t suppose it’s the first time.’

‘Ellen did that?’ Dory was shocked. She had thought Ellen was an ally.

‘I know my lady wanted you to have a comfortable stay this time. She deliberately chose guests who didn’t know—’

‘My secret?’

‘If you want to put it that way. So if you’re wondering how it always gets out, you know where to look.’

The housemaid Ellen had wanted to better herself and be a lady’s maid, and Dory had given her her chance. But instead of being grateful she was undermining her? Dory was stung by the betrayal and in her pain she attacked the wrong person. ‘I’m surprised at you, Miss Hatto, telling on her like this. I thought lady’s maids would stick together.’

Hatto’s expression didn’t change. If Dory’s words had affected her in any way, you would never know it. ‘We all know secrets about our mistresses, but we wouldn’t dream of telling them. That’s the first rule. Maybe she’ll learn one day, but she shouldn’t learn at your expense.’ She seemed to be turning away, having said all she wanted to say.

Dory said, ‘Do the other maids talk about me as well?’

Hatto turned back. ‘They did at first, when it was new. But you’re Upstairs now.’ She gave a brisk little concluding nod. ‘Get rid of her, and things will be a lot easier.’

And then she was gone, a neat, upright figure diminishing into the dusk.

Dory shivered, and went in – through the family entrance.

Ellen dissolved immediately into tears. ‘I’m sorry! I’m sorry!’ she wailed. ‘I didn’t mean any harm! It was just something interesting to talk about. I never said it was a bad thing, only— Oh, please don’t be angry!’

Dory was not angry, not any more, only hurt deep down below the surface. She saw how it was: Ellen was possessed of a delicious secret, and a secret was no fun unless you told it to someone. As a lady’s maid she would mix only with others on her level, and the personal maids of visiting ladies who did not know the history of Mr Sebastian and his wife would be the perfect audience. She probably hadn’t meant any harm, but she had probably found herself egging the story for the sheer thrill of it. Who knows what rumours she had started? Dory was only glad that no-one but Sebastian knew it all.

* * *

There were tears in Sebastian’s eyes as she told him. ‘Oh, my darling! I’m so sorry! It’s my fault.’

She had been feeling tearful herself, but this provoked a watery chuckle. ‘No, how is it your fault?’

‘I should have got you a real lady’s maid, a properly trained girl, not an upstart housemaid!’

‘But it was my choice,’ Dory pointed out. ‘She begged me so hard to be given the chance. I know what it means to be given a chance.’

‘So you took her on out of the kindness of your heart. That is so like you. You did dismiss her, though? You weren’t swayed into giving her another chance, not now you know?’

‘No, I dismissed her,’ Dory said quietly. She had never been in the position before of sacking someone, and she had not enjoyed it.

‘Without a character, I hope?’

‘That would be too harsh.’ She saw he was about to protest. ‘She’d never get another job. I can’t be the cause of ruining someone.’

‘She ruined herself,’ Sebastian grumbled. He saw how upset she was and took her into his arms, holding her close. He felt her gradually relax against him. ‘Have you told anyone?’

‘I had to tell Kitty, because she’ll have to tell Mrs Webster something. She was very sweet about it. Shocked, of course, and sorry that I’d been made uncomfortable in her house. She said Rose can look after me for the rest of our stay.’ She pulled her head away from his chest to look up at him. ‘I’m rather afraid of Rose, but at least she’s not a talker.’