Page 193 of The Seven Rings
A man—no suit jacket—sat across the room polishing boots. He sent the girls a cheeky grin, then quickly lowered his head when the suited man looked his way.
“The master had enough mud on these boots to build a dam.” His voice sounded British, but without the round tones of the older man. “But he’ll be able to see his face to shave in them when I’m done. I can promise you that.”
“See that’s a promise kept.”
A woman dressed in black came in, her hair in a tight, no-nonsense bun. She brought in a girl in a simple straw hat, a dark blue coat over a brown dress. Her brown boots looked well-worn but shining clean.
Under the hat, her deep red hair was held back and up in a thick roll. She had bright blue eyes, a scatter of freckles over a pretty face.
She carried a single small suitcase.
“Miss Molly O’Brian has joined the staff of Poole Manor as an undermaid. She’s just arrived from Ireland. Molly, Grimes is head butler.”
“Molly,” Sonya murmured as the girl—sixteen at a guess—gave a little curtsy.
“Welcome to Poole Manor. We have the highest standards, and trust you’ll meet them.”
“Sir. Sure and it’s a grand house, and I’m privileged to work in it. My best it will have, I promise you.”
The woman introduced the others. Mrs. Steele, Rory Bates, Gracie, and Frances.
“I’m pleased to meet all of you.”
“Grimes, I’ll take Molly up to her room, then bring her down to show her the kitchen and the rest.”
“As you say, Hobson.”
“Come, Molly, we’ll get you settled.” There was a kindness in her gesture. “Then you’ll meet more of the staff, and have a bite to eat. You’ve had a long journey.”
“Aye, ma’am, that I have, and an exciting one.”
“Molly,” Sonya said again as Hobson led her away.
Sonya heard her say, with awe in her voice, “Never have I seen such a grand and beautiful house as this. I’ll be doing my work with great pride, my word on it.”
Mrs. Steele went back to her darning as Grimes followed them out. “Another clucking chicken, I wager.”
“A pretty one,” Rory said with a grin.
“Just off the boat, from the sound of her,” Gracie commented.
“Her hat looked new,” Frances noted. “But that dress. A terrible color, and you could see where it had been let down.”
“And you’re the fashionable one?” Mrs. Steele snapped.
Gracie stifled a giggle. “That coat won’t keep out the cold once winter comes around. But she looked nice enough, and we can use another pair of hands, especially since Alice ran off.”
“Alice wasn’t any better than she had to be, and not often that. We’ll see how this one fares.”
Mrs. Steele set the darned sock aside, picked up another.
Wanting to see more, Sonya started forward. And the mirror, instead of standing behind her, blocked her way.
Now she felt a pull, this one drawing her back.
“All right, that’s all I get. But it’s a lot.”
She moved to the glass.
