by
Jackie J
Two
days since the funeral for Agnes Burtonshaw and the mourners who came and
stayed at Sycamores have all departed including my housekeeper, Janice. Having
revealed all to my housekeeper, the night of the funeral, she left the following
morning without a word. Promising to help me, she was to find away and make the
necessary arrangements to get me back to Crestley House. Sweeping out the rear
yard of the hostel I smile to myself. “Making necessary arrangements”, no doubt
Janice will have made good use of Crestley House in my absence, especially if
she thought it doubtful that I would be returning, thinking me married and
settled in some foreign land. Arrangements yes, she will no doubt be returning
things back to how they were before my return.
Janice made haste back to Crestley House the morning after the funeral what she had found out about her Mistress, Miss Millicent Williams, could change everything. What would she tell Richard, her husband of only three months. Richard Williams had moved to the area taking over as bank manager at the bank used by her mistress, and which Janice, following Miss Millicent’s departure, was obliged to visit. Richard took a shine to Janice having helped her in resolving the anomalies left by the instructions from her travelling mistress. Flattered by the attention, not long into their relationship Janice suggested that Richard leave his cramped rented accommodation and move into Crestley House, which he did. Their love blossomed, and they eventually tied the knot, Crestley House had become the home of Mr and Mrs Williams. How could she explain that her absent mistress had not married and settled overseas but had quite willingly taken the apron to become a common maid, had become a common maid, with a new identity and, with her own collusion, disenfranchised herself from her wealth. By the time Janice was on the last leg of her journey home, she was wishing she had not attended Agnes funeral and never met up with her once Mistress.
