Dangerous Decisions by Margaret Kaine

her.’
    â€˜Thank you, Miss.’
    As Beatrice gave a dismissive nod, Molly turned and went out of the room, her heart singing. She may not be a lady’s maid – not yet – but this was the next best thing. Full of excitement, she raced back to the kitchen to announce her news.
    Henry Bostock took off his rimless spectacles and gestured with them. ‘I’m pleased for you, Molly. It will be good for Miss Helena to have you at Graylings with her.’
    â€˜Of course, she was always Miss Helena’s favourite.’ Ida sniffed.
    â€˜Now then, Ida,’ Cook said. ‘You’ve got your own good fortune. But bless us, that will mean two new parlourmaids once you’ve got wed. Change doesn’t sit well with me at my time of life.’
    â€˜I’ve been thinking, Mrs Kemp,’ the butler said, ‘that perhaps you could do with an extra hand in the kitchen. If another girl took Annie’s place in the scullery … ’
    Cook beamed. ‘Now that is a change I’d welcome, and so would Annie. She’ll be glad to see the back of scouring pots and pans in that scullery, not to mention scrubbing dirt off the veg.’
    â€˜Yes, well don’t go saying anything to her yet. I shall need to talk to Miss Beatrice first – it is an extra member of staff, after all.’
    â€˜Explain it’s me varicose veins, they don’t half give me some gip. I could do with being off me legs more.’
    Molly was only half listening. She was glad that Annie had the chance of promotion to kitchen maid, but her brain was already running ahead to her new life.
    During Christmas at Broadway Manor, the festivities were naturally overshadowed by the arrangements for Helena’s forthcoming marriage. Oliver spent his own Christmas divided between Graylings and his London house, where he intended to remain until the day of the ceremony at St Margaret’s Church. The Standish family were to travel to London after the New Year.
    And as Helena had wished, on the day after Boxing Day the servants gathered in the spacious hall before the huge festooned Christmas tree to see her in her wedding finery. The outdoor staff, the grooms and gardeners were ill at ease, clutching their caps and standing slightly aside, while the indoor servants stood in a cluster to watch with pride as Helena descended the wide oak-panelled staircase in her ivory silk gown with its long train flowing behind. Mary Standish’s fine veil edged with embroidery was held in place by a glistening pearl tiara, and as Annie, already overcome at actually being upstairs, said later – their Miss Helena ‘looked like an angel’.
    Helena gazed down at the sea of faces knowing that she would never forget the scene before her, and the affection and admiration in their eyes was unbearably moving. Despite her exhilaration at actually wearing the bridal outfit, the thought of leaving them all tightened her throat. Cook, her broad face wreathed in a smile, had often welcomed her as a child in the kitchen, giving her a glass of buttermilk, warm little cakes from the oven and letting her lick the pudding spoon. The loyal Bostock, whose silver hair was now becoming sparse – he had always been there; a part of her life as much as Broadway Manor itself.
    â€˜Ooh, Miss Helena, you look a picture,’ Cook took up a corner of her apron to wipe a tear from her eye.
    Bostock stepped forward. ‘May I say, Miss Helena, how much we all appreciate this kind gesture. And on behalf of the staff may I express our good wishes for your future happiness.’
    Helena’s smile was warm and happy, and briefly her eyes met those of Molly. ‘Thank you all so very much and also for helping to take care of me all these years. I know I shall miss you dreadfully.’
    Jacob with Beatrice beside him was standing before the drawing room door and despite his pride and emotion, it was only then he finally