Heirs of Ravenscar. Barbara Taylor Bradford

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СКАЧАТЬ don’t know what we’ll do without family and friends here, they usually act as a buffer between them.’ She had shrunk back from the door, hoping Nanny hadn’t seen her. And she knew exactly what Nanny had meant, and agreed with her, although she could never say so. Nanny would think she had been eavesdropping.

      Jumping up off the stool, Bess ran across the bedroom floor and opened the door to the corridor. In the distance she could hear Nanny’s voice coming from the direction of Mary’s bedroom, which she shared with little Cecily, because Cecily was afraid of the dark. Wondering if there was some sort of problem, she flew down the corridor and pushed open the door of Mary’s room.

      Nanny turned around swiftly and exclaimed, ‘Now, now, Bess! Please don’t run down the corridors. It’s simply not ladylike. And how many times have I told you that?’

      ‘Every day, Nanny. Sorry. But I thought you might be in need of me. To help you.’

      Nanny, a trifle spherical in shape, with apple-rosy cheeks and twinkling brown eyes, compressed her mouth to hide her smile of amusement. ‘I think I can manage,’ she answered and turned her attention to Cecily. The six-year-old looked on the verge of tears.

      ‘Why are you crying, Cecily?’ Bess asked, going closer to her younger sister, staring at her. ‘It’s Christmas Day and we’re going to have a wonderful lunch.’

      ‘I’m not hungry,’ Cecily answered, her lip quivering. ‘I don’t like this fwock.’

      ‘Let’s not have baby talk, missy, it isn’t suitable,’ Nanny murmured, and finished tying the pale blue taffeta bow on top of Cecily’s blonde head.

      ‘Your dress is beautiful, and it’s the same colour as mine,’ Bess said. ‘Look at me.’

      Cecily did as she was asked, and nodded. ‘It’s the same colour. But I don’t like this fwock.’

      ‘Yes, you do, Cecily. And say frock. Just look at Mary, she’s wearing blue too and not complaining. We match. Now isn’t that nice. And we are sisters, you know. I think Nanny’s been very clever, choosing blue dresses for the two of you. We blend.’

      Mary said, ‘But you chose your own, 'cos Nanny told us.’

      ‘Now, now, Mary, speak correctly. Say because, not ’cos. Rather common, that way of speaking,’ Nanny pronounced, frowning.

      ‘Not suitable,’ Bess added, using one of Nanny’s favourite expressions.

      Nanny turned to look at her, peering over the top of her glasses. ‘We’re not being cheeky are we, Bess?’

      ‘Oh no, Nanny, I’m never cheeky to you.’

      ‘That’s all right then. At least I’ve taught you something.’

      ‘What’s suitable and what’s not suitable,’ Mary cried, and began to laugh. The eight-year-old had a very happy nature, and she began to prance around, singing, ‘The Blue sisters. We’re the Blue sisters. Look at us. Blue like Boadicea. Blue, blue, blue!’

      Bess said, ‘Now stop this, Mary, we must hurry, and we must help Nanny.’

      ‘Everything is in hand, missy.’ Glancing around, Nanny realized suddenly that Richard was missing. ‘Oh my Heavens, where’s little Ritchie? Oh dear, where has that child gone?’

      ‘I’m here,’ a small voice said, and Nanny was more horrified than ever when she saw a blond head peeping out from under the bed.

      ‘Ritchie, please come out at once!’

      He did so and scrambled to his feet. Nanny looked him over, her eyes seeking out the merest speck of dust. But there was nothing on him. Straightening his black velvet jacket, Nanny muttered, ‘Well, at least we know the maids here are thorough.’

      Cecily said, ‘I want my red fwock.’

      ‘Stop saying fwock!’ Mary cried, echoing Bess.

      ‘Nanny,’ Bess said, ‘what about Young Edward? Is he coming down for Christmas lunch? Or is he too ill?’

      Nanny beamed. Young Edward was undoubtedly special to her, and she exclaimed, ‘Oh yes, indeed, your father helped him to get dressed and he took him downstairs a short while ago.’

      ‘Then we’d better go at once,’ Bess announced. ‘Father must be waiting for me.’

      ‘He’s waiting for all of you,’ Nanny replied, giving her a pointed look.

      ‘I want the baby,’ Cecily muttered. ‘Where’s Anne?’

      ‘The nursemaid has her, she’ll be taking her downstairs in a moment.’

      ‘Is she wearing blue velvet too?’ Mary asked, eyeing Nanny solemnly.

      ‘Don’t be silly, child. Of course the baby’s not wearing blue velvet. She’s wrapped in a bundle of frothy white lace right now.’

      Bess said, ‘Where’s Grandmother?’

      ‘Mrs Deravenel is downstairs also.’

      ‘You like her, don’t you, Nanny?’

      ‘Yes, I do.’

      ‘But not Mother. You don’t like her.’

      ‘What a dreadful thing to say, Bess,’ Nanny said reprovingly. ‘Of course I like your mother. She’s a beautiful lady, and very kind and considerate to me.’

      ‘But not to my father,’ Bess mumbled.

      Nanny threw her a cautionary look. ‘This conversation is not suitable, not suitable at all, and I won’t have it,’ Nanny said. There was a warning note in her voice.

      Picking up on this, Bess said softly, ‘I’m sorry, Nanny. I won’t do it again.’ Edging closer to the nanny she whispered, ‘The little ones, they don’t understand.’

      ‘You’d be surprised what they understand,’ Nanny shot back pithily. ‘Very well, let us go downstairs to join your parents and your grandmother. Stand up straight, Ritchie, you’re looking like a rag doll.’

      Richard looked up at her, and yawned. Then he said, ‘I’m hungry, Nanny.’

      ‘I am too,’ Mary announced. ‘I could eat a horse.’

      ‘That’s a vulgar expression, Mary. Please refrain from using it.’

      ‘A pony then … I could eat a pony.’

      Richard laughed with Mary and Cecily, and they giggled all the way down the corridor.

      Bess threw Nanny a sympathetic look as they followed behind. ‘What can you do with them?’ Shaking her head, Bess added, ‘But then they’re so young.’

      Nanny averted her face so that Bess wouldn’t notice the mirth bubbling to the surface. They were priceless, these children, СКАЧАТЬ