Tilly True Read Free Page A

plucky as you.’ Placing his top hat on his head at a precise angle, he left the room.
    There was a moment’s embarrassed silence as they listened to his retreating footsteps on the stairs. Harriet was the first to recover. ‘We get along very well really,’ she said, blushing. ‘It’s just that things have been difficult lately.’
    â€˜Maybe I’d better go.’ Tilly glanced longingly at the door; she felt uncomfortable here with these toffs. They seemed nice enough but there was obviously something wrong and Tilly had enough problems of her own.
    â€˜We haven’t always lived like this,’ Harriet said, seeming to pick up on Tilly’s thoughts. ‘Things have been difficult since our father died. Our eldest brother inherited the estate, and Francis was granted a living in the East End, that is while we are waiting to go to India.’
    â€˜India, miss?’
    â€˜My brother hopes one day soon to teach in a missionary school. This is just a temporary lodging until the present incumbent moves out of the vicarage.’
    â€˜Yes, miss. I’m sorry.’
    â€˜But here am I going on about my own troubles when you’ve obviously had a dreadful experience. We must get you fixed up. I’m afraid we’ll have to go down to the basement and beg our landlady, Mrs Henge, for some hot water. She’s a frightful dragon and I hate to admit it, but she scares me to death. Come along, Tilly.’
    Half an hour later, Tilly was back in the Palgraves’ sitting room, seated by the fire, drinking a cup of hot cocoa laced with sugar. Her injuries had been cleaned and treated with salve and Harriet had insisted on lending her a clean blouse and skirt, both of which were much washed and darned in places, but were of considerably better quality than the cheap clothes provided by Mrs Blessed. Tilly had just finished answering Harriet’s inevitable questions about how she had come to be in this sorry state.
    â€˜That’s truly terrible,’ Harriet said, shaking her head. ‘We had dozens of servants when I lived at home in Palgrave Manor, but they were treated like human beings.’
    â€˜So, if you don’t mind me asking, why couldn’t you stay in your old home?’
    Harriet pulled a face. ‘My sister-in-law, Letitia, is not the easiest person to get on with, and with her ever increasing brood of daughters I suppose the house was getting a little crowded.’
    â€˜How many?’
    Harriet opened her eyes wide. ‘I’m sorry?’
    â€˜How many nippers? I mean we only got a two-up and two-down house, and I’m one of ten, though two little ones didn’t last long, poor little beggars, and Molly went and married Artie when she was fifteen. She’s gone to live in Poplar now, so that give us a bit more room.’
    â€˜Oh, my goodness, Tilly, you make me feel ashamed of myself. Francis is always saying that I should think before I speak. I am so sorry.’
    â€˜Don’t be,’ Tilly said, setting the empty mug down on the hearth. ‘There’s always someone better off than you and someone worse off too. I ain’t always going to be poor, I made me mind up to that.’
    â€˜I admire your spirit, I really do and you must keep the clothes.’
    â€˜Ta, but I don’t need charity,’ Tilly said, getting to her feet. ‘I said I’d bring ’em back and I will.’
    â€˜Very well, then I insist on lending you a coat and a hat and an umbrella too. You’ll be no good to anyone if you catch your death of cold on the way home.’
    For a moment, Tilly was going to refuse, but recognising a will as strong as her own and hearing the rain slashing against the windowpanes she decided not to waste time arguing.
    Harriet hurried into the adjoining room, returning with a navy merino coat, a velour hat and a large black umbrella. ‘Have you got the cab fare,