Bound to Serve Read Free Page A

opened in shock, but rather than respond to Elspeth, she instead addressed her employer.
    “Really, Mr. Harker,” she gasped. “Is this the sort of churlishness the community can expect from those in your service?”
    “Indeed not.” Clifford Harker’s voice was so icy that it sent a chill down Elspeth’s back, and she turned to look at him, the chill deepening upon taking note of his dark expression.
    “My servant is overtired,” he said, his voice straining with irritation. “I am sure after she’s cleaned up and rested she will be more than eager to make her apologies to you Mrs. Habersham.” He nodded to the older woman, who smiled in smug satisfaction.
    “I shall be looking forward to that,” she said, and turned to leave. “Good day.”
    The door clicked behind her and Elspeth gulped as she found herself alone with Harker, who continued to glower with disapproval. Elspeth suddenly felt ashamed. Why had she let her temper get the best of her? Why had she not simply held her tongue?
    “Sir, I –“ she began by way of explanation, but he cut her off.
    “Don’t.” It was one word, delivered in a barking order that made her and the two little boys both jump.
    For a moment all was silent as master and servant regarded one another, and then Harker’s attention turned to his sons.
    “Colin, Harry – this is Elspeth. She is our new servant and will care for you. You will treat her with respect.”
    Elspeth nodded towards them and managed a smile. “Hello, wee sirs,” she said.
    “Is she our new mum then?” The smallest boy looked up at his father, obviously confused. Beside him, his brother nudged him in an obvious gesture of disapproval at the innocent query.
    But the sibling’s disapproval was nothing to match the father’s.
    “No!” The word thundered from Clifford Harker’s mouth. “This woman is a mere servant, little more than a slave to meet our needs until the end of seven years. She is not family. She is not significant. She is not to be share a thought that your sainted mother occupies! As I said, you will treat her with respect, but not because she is worthy of it but because I demand it!”
    Elspeth felt her heart pound. The order was delivered with a venom, a viciousness she’d never encountered in another human being.
    “Is that understood!”
    The boys nodded and Harry, the smaller of the two, began to cry. Elspeth could not help herself. She rushed to comfort him, the gesture instinctive. “Ssh, ssh, there there,” she said. “It’s quite all right.”
    “Indeed it is not. Step back at once, girl!”
    Elspeth rose, reluctantly but did as she was ordered.
    “There is no need to cry.” Clifford Harker made an attempt to restrain his anger, his voice tense. “Nothing can be done to bring your mother back, but it would be wise for both of you to remember that we all have our place, and to remember what a servant’s place is. Now both of you, up to the nursery. After Elspeth has cleaned up and settled she’ll see to you.”
    The boys turned wordlessly and made their way up the staircase to disappear into the darkness on the landing.
    Elspeth turned back to her employer and thought of appealing to him for gentleness and thought the better of it.
    “You’ll need a bath before you touch my children,” he said. “I’ve put an oak tub in your room upstairs. It’s the last door on the right, across from the nursery. There’s a well in the yard and a stove in the kitchen. I insist you heat some water, have James help fill your tub and avail yourself of a proper bath, for you offend me with your odor. After you have bathed and changed you will find some food on the sideboard – cheese, bread and salted pork. Take some but don’t make a glutton of yourself. And then report to me in my study for a short talk before you tend to the boys.”
    He did not give her time to question or respond. He had not even told her where the kitchen was and Elspeth watched him disappear into a