Spoiled by Ann Barker Page A

will soon find that she is mistaken, that is all.’

Chapter Five

    I t was not until Friday that it occurred to Michael that he had still not found anyone to iron his vestments. Necessity had ensured that he was quite capable of ironing them himself, but he had no flat iron. He was quite certain that Janet would willingly do them for him, but so much was already being done for him by the staff of Illingham Hall that he rather shied away from asking for more. Had there been a laundry day that week, then he might have sent them with the washing, but as he had only just moved in, there was no need for anything to be washed.
    After a little thought, he waited until he knew that school was over, and walked down the village street in search of Miss Leicester.
    â€˜Bring them down here,’ she said, when he had explained his dilemma. ‘I’ll do them for you.’
    â€˜I am quite happy to do them myself,’ he said. ‘I am very capable and do not want to give anyone extra work.’
    Miss Leicester thought for a moment. ‘I have a suggestion to make,’ she said. ‘Two of the window frames in the schoolroom are not very secure. If you would be so good as to fasten them for me with hammer and nails, then I will iron your vestments. It will be a fair exchange.’
    â€˜An excellent idea,’ Michael replied. ‘I’ll go and get them.’
    â€˜And I will have hammer and nails at the ready.’
    In the event, Michael’s task did not take as long as Miss Leicester’s, so he remained in the cottage talking to her whilst she finished the ironing. ‘Thank you very much, Miss Leicester,’ he said, when she had finished. ‘I shall be the image of the perfectly dressed clergyman.’
    â€˜Please, call me Juliana,’ said the schoolmistress. ‘We are very much
in the same boat, are we not? Both educated people in a country village where education is a rarity; both incomers; very much the same age, if my guess is correct.’
    â€˜Very well, then; you must call me Michael,’ he answered.
    He had been so pleased to find friendship that it was not until he lay in bed that night that he wondered whether he had been entirely wise to encourage a spinster to call him by his Christian name so early in their acquaintance. However, the deed was done, and it would be dreadfully insulting to tell her now that she must call him Mr Buckleigh. He decided that since she was a sensible woman, she would probably be prepared to accept that they should only use Christian names in private. But then, that suggestion would imply an intimacy between them that did not exist. Really, life could be very complicated.
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    It was with a feeling of anticipation that was part excitement and part anxiety that Michael collected his crisply ironed vestments and his service books and set off for church on Sunday morning. Fortunately, the day was fine and bright, but the walk did give him pause for thought. Come a wet morning with muddy roads, he could easily end up looking like a drowned rat. He might keep his robes in the vestry, as long as the church was not damp. He would have to ask Samuel’s advice. If there was any danger that they might become mouldy, no doubt the verger would be delighted to say so!
    So well prepared was he that it was with a sense of shock that he opened the door to find Henry Lusty already there. ‘Ah, Buckleigh, I’m glad you’re in good time,’ he said. ‘You will assist me.’
    Of course, Mr Lusty was the vicar and he was perfectly entitled to come and conduct the service. It seemed a little unfair, however, that he should have allowed his curate to make all the preparations without informing him that his work would be unnecessary. Michael must have looked completely taken aback, for Lusty spoke again, this time with a touch of impatience. ‘I do trust that you have not forgotten that I am the vicar of this church and you