A Refuge at Highland Hall by Carrie Turansky Page B

finally Lydia.
    Julia opened her arms to them all. “Welcome to Highland.”
    “Thank you, m’lady.” Lydia nodded to her and bobbed a slight curtsy.
    Julia looked around the group. “Let’s go inside, and we’ll help everyone find their way to their rooms.” She took Kate’s arm, and they walked toward the front door. The children and Penny followed them.
    Mrs. Dalton greeted Mrs. Murdock, who set off around the side of the house.
    The housekeeper acknowledged Lydia with a nod. “It’s good to see you again, Lydia.”
    “Thank you, ma’am. This is my sister, Helen Chambers, and her daughter, Emily.” She glanced at Helen. “This is Mrs. Dalton, the housekeeper.”
    Helen straightened. “It’s good to meet you, ma’am.”
    Mrs. Dalton nodded, but a question flickered in her eyes as she looked from Helen to Emily. “This is your daughter?”
    “Yes, ma’am.” Helen shot a quick glance at Lydia and then looked back at the housekeeper.
    Mrs. Dalton’s mouth turned down as she looked at Emily. “No one told me you were bringing a child.”
    Helen’s face flushed. “Emily’s a good girl, no trouble at all. You’ll hardly know she’s here.”
    “But how will you do your work when you have a child to look after?”
    Helen’s eyes flashed. “We managed well enough in London. I’m sure we can do the same here.”
    “And where do you expect her to sleep?” Mrs. Dalton’s tone rose to match Helen’s.
    “Why, in my room, with me, of course.”
    Mr. Lawrence strode toward them. “Is there a problem?”
    Mrs. Dalton turned to him. “Did you know Helen was bringing her
daughter
with her?”
    His eyes widened. “Her daughter?”
    Helen lifted her chin. “Yes, sir. This is Emily Rose. She’s three years old, and she’s a sweet child. There’s no cause for you or anyone else to be looking down on her.”
    Mr. Lawrence lowered his dark eyebrows. “I do not appreciate your tone, young woman. This is highly irregular. I will have to discuss it with Sir William and Lady Julia.”
    “Mrs. Kate is the one you should be talkin’ to. She’s the one who hired me.”
    “All the staff in this house work for Sir William, and they are under my direct supervision.”
    Mrs. Dalton cleared her throat.
    Mr. Lawrence inclined his head toward her. “Mine and Mrs. Dalton’s.”
    Helen’s face turned a deeper shade of pink.
    Lydia bit her lip, praying her sister would hold her tongue and not cause any more trouble.
    Helen turned and snatched her bag from the pile Hardy, the chauffeur, and Patrick had stacked on the ground at the back of the wagon. She gripped Emily’s hand and started toward the front door.
    Lydia pulled in a sharp breath and reached for her sister’s arm, but she was too late to stop her.
    Mr. Lawrence stepped in front of Helen, his face set like granite. “The
lower
members of the staff enter the house through the doors in the rear courtyard.”
    Helen glared up at him, then swung around and marched off along the side of the house, tugging poor little Emily with her.
    Lydia turned to Mrs. Dalton. “Please, don’t think too poorly of Helen. She’s never worked in a big house like this. She doesn’t know what’s expected.”
    Mr. Lawrence lowered his eyebrows at Lydia, as though she were the one who had broken the rules. “Surely she knows maids do not bring their children along with them.”
    “Yes, but it’s a special arrangement Dr. and Mrs. Foster made for her. They’ve been very kind, and Helen has worked hard. I hope you’ll give her a chance.”
    Mr. Lawrence and Mrs. Dalton exchanged serious looks. The butler turned to Lydia. “As I said, we will discuss it with Sir William and Lady Julia.” Then he turned and walked in the front door.
    Mrs. Dalton lifted her chin and followed him inside.
    Lydia’s heart sank. Would Mrs. Kate speak up for Helen and convince Sir William and Lady Julia to keep her on? Since Mrs. Kate had been suffering with morning sickness, Miss Penny had