Dangerous Rhapsody

Christopher grimaced at her. ‘And what were you doing at the time? Polishing your nails?'

‘That remark was uncalled-for!’ exclaimed Louisa angrily. Although she was only in her thirties she seemed much older, and Emma thought glumly that she had indeed made an inauspicious start to her duties.

‘Well, anyway,’ said Christopher, shrugging, ‘Emma wouldn't have arrived much before tea-time if we had come yesterday, so you can hardly consider her to blame.'

‘Did I say I was blaming Miss Harding?'

‘You implied it. Oh, well, shut up about it. Where is the kid? I may as well see her before I leave.’ He walked towards the stairs. ‘Come on, Emma, I'll introduce you. Leave your cases. Louisa, get someone to take the cases to Emma's room. If you tell me where she's sleeping, I'll show her that too.'

‘I'm not the housekeeper here,’ retorted Louisa, turning away.

Christopher compressed his lips. ‘No, ma'am, you're not. But either you do as I say, or I'll personally make it my business to report you to Mr. Thorne.'

Louisa did not look disturbed. In fact, if anything, her face assumed a rather smug expression. ‘That may not be as difficult as you may think,’ she remarked slyly. ‘Naturally, I had to wire Mr. Thorne of Annabel's accident. I sent the cable this morning, and of course I had to tell him that Miss Harding had not yet arrived.'

‘You …’ Christopher bit off an epithet. ‘Emma, come along. I can't stand any more of this.'