Bound to Serve by Sullivan Clarke Page B

Elspeth dropped into a polite curtsy. “So nice to see you.”
    The preacher’s wife tilted her head back and looked down her nose at Elspeth.
    “My word,” she said disgustedly. “Look at you, attempting to engage me in conversation as if you were the lady of this house.”
    She looked past Elspeth. “Where’s Mr. Harker?”
    “I’ll fetch him. Wait here.”
    Elspeth turned, saying no more lest she speak her mind. The boys, who had followed her to the door now trailed behind her like baby ducks to their father’s study.
    When they got there Elspeth quietly knocked on the door.
    “Yes?”
    “You have visitors,” she said.
    She heard him sigh and get up.
    “Who?” he asked, opening the door.
    “Mrs. Habersham. And a guest.”
    He took off his glasses and tucked them in his pocket.
    “Show them to the parlor and serve them some tea, Elspeth. I’ll be along directly. See that the boys keep to their room.”
    “As you wish, sir,” she said with a curtsy.
    She heard the study door click as she turned to go back down the hall. The boys were there waiting halfway down for her. Elspeth stopped and knelt before them with a smile.
    “Colin, Harry,” she said, looking serious. “Your father is receiving guests and wants you to stay in your nursery until they leave.”
    “Why?” Colin asked.
    “Because he wants it to be so. And it so it shall.” She made her tone especially firm, looking from one boy to the next to impress how seriously she took the matter. “Now upstairs with you both.”
    The boys obeyed and Elspeth went back to the front door.
    “Mr. Harker would like you to wait in the parlor. I’ll fetch some tea if you’d like.”
    “Yes, we would.” Mrs. Habersham said. Elspeth turned to lead the way.
    As they walked, the preacher’s wife addressed the woman at her side, talking as Elspeth couldn’t hear.
    “Mr. Harker was kind enough to take this girl in when she was nothing more than a filthy, uncouth beggar at the port. Why he keeps her I’ll never know; servants are scarce. Perhaps that is why.”
    Elspeth’s face reddened and she felt her Irish temper flare but said nothing as she opened the parlor door and directed the women to two chairs.
    After checking the fire she hurried off to get the tea. The water boiled far too fast for her and soon she was back in with the tray.
    Mrs. Habersham took hers without acknowledging Elspeth, but her guest smiled kindly.
    “Thank you,” she said.
    Elspeth smiled back. “You are welcome.”
    The parlor door opened then and Clifford Harker entered. Walking over to the women he took the preacher’s wife’s hand.
    “Mrs. Habersham.”
    “Mr. Harker.” Her thin lips spread in an unattractive smile. “Do you remember Prudence Alder, my niece?”
    He smiled and took her hand. “Yes, I do. You were here summer before last, correct?”
    “Yes.” Prudence stood, and Elspeth noticed that she was just half a head shorter than he. Next to the both of them she felt very small.
    “I was sorry to hear of your wife’s passing, Mr. Harker. And your young son’s passing as well. How are your other boys, - Colin and Harry I believe?”
    “Yes,” he said. “They are adapting.”
    “He is a good father,” Mrs. Habersham said. “It’s indeed divine inspiration that guides him to be such a good father, raising these boys as he does with no mother figure in the house.”
    Elspeth poured the tea and waited for Clifford to correct her, but he did not.
    “Indeed it can be difficult,” he said. “But they are smart lads. They make it easier than it looks.”
    “Will that be all?” Elspeth spoke the words over the lump in her throat, looking away as she addressed Clifford. But he seemed not to notice.
    “Yes, you are excused,” he said. “But stay within earshot in case our guests need anything else.”
    She walked from the room, and once outside the door could not stop the hot tears that coursed down her face.
    “Stop it,” she told herself. But she