A Maxwell Maligned (Laird of Lochandee)
“She was young, she was innocent of the ways of the world, but she was intelligent. She sensed that Mistress Maxwell bore her a grievance, though they had never met until now.
She had not come to Windlebrae expecting charity. She was used to work. Minnie Ferguson had taken her under her wing from the day her mother died when she was eight years old. She had been a stern tutor.
‘It’s for your ain good, my lassie,’ she wagged her white head, whenever she made Rachel repeat a task. She had a wealth... of experience gleaned in her long years of service in the household of Lord and Lady Danbury. She had started as an under-maid at twelve years old and finished as housekeeper. In return for her labour and loyalty she had been granted the use of her tiny cottage for the remainder of her life.
Rachel was grateful for her training now but nothing had prepared her for a house so lacking in warmth and laughter as Windlebrae.
On that first dark February morning Gertrude Maxwell marched her across to the byre as though she was a prisoner.MoreLess
She had not come to Windlebrae expecting charity. She was used to work. Minnie Ferguson had taken her under her wing from the day her mother died when she was eight years old. She had been a stern tutor.
‘It’s for your ain good, my lassie,’ she wagged her white head, whenever she made Rachel repeat a task. She had a wealth... of experience gleaned in her long years of service in the household of Lord and Lady Danbury. She had started as an under-maid at twelve years old and finished as housekeeper. In return for her labour and loyalty she had been granted the use of her tiny cottage for the remainder of her life.
Rachel was grateful for her training now but nothing had prepared her for a house so lacking in warmth and laughter as Windlebrae.
On that first dark February morning Gertrude Maxwell marched her across to the byre as though she was a prisoner.MoreLess
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