“Well, I won’t say I’m sorry to be leaving,” she said. “I like my family all right, but they’ve run me off me bloody feet. It will be good to get back to a bit of peace and quiet with you.”

“I’ve come to retrieve you because I need help packing all my things. We’re moving out of the mews cottage.”

Her moon face looked at me expectantly. “So are we off somewhere nice again? The Continent? America? You should have seen my neighbors’ faces down our street when I told them I’d been to Hollywood. They wouldn’t believe me, but I told them, ‘You can ask Lady Georgiana, what’s my mistress, then. And see her in the picture papers in Hollywood with her famous mum what’s a film star.’”

“We’re not going far this time. We’ll be staying at Rannoch House for the next few weeks.”

“By ourselves?”

“No. My brother and his family will be there with us.”

“Bloody ’ell,” she said. “We’re moving in with your toffee-nosed sister-in-law?”

Whatever I thought of my sister-in-law it was not up to servants to criticize her. I had tried to impress this fact upon Queenie before, but like most things it went right over her head. “Queenie, remember I told you it wasn’t your place to criticize your betters. I agree my sister-in-law is not the easiest person but if you did your job perfectly, she’d have nothing to criticize, would she?”

“She don’t like me because I’m dead common,” Queenie said.

“If you’d rather stay on here and keep looking after your mother, I’m sure I could do without a maid a little longer,” I said.

“Oh no, your ladyship,” Mrs. Huggins said before Queenie could reply. And she shoved Queenie in my direction. “She has to do her duty. Her place is looking after you. Ain’t it, Queenie.”

Queenie nodded. “That’s right. So why are we kipping over at your brother’s house, then? What was wrong with the mews place? I quite liked that. Cozy, it was.”

“We’re moving because Miss Belinda has returned unexpectedly.”

“That’s bloody annoying of ’er, ain’t it? I thought for sure she’d like it in America. Find herself a rich American bloke.”

“I thought so too, but she’s home now and I have to move out. So go and get your things and meet me back at Miss Belinda’s ready to pack up my trunk.”

“Bob’s yer uncle, miss,” she said.

Chapter 5

OCTOBER 29

RANNOCH HOUSE

Golly, I was right! Fig’s face was positively puce when she saw Queenie. Loved it!