Anonymous: A Stately English Mansion

'And get rid of her as soon as possible, what?'

'With care, with care. I have already primed Annette, and will have Maude and Adelaide on their best behaviour. As to yourself, you may put it about to them-Mr. and Mrs. Sherwood, I mean-that you yourself are a visitor enquiring as to my methods. Your questions and my replies will match perfectly, of course'.

'A dangerous game, eh? Careful tactics and all that- yes', replied he, putting on a great air of seriousness and evidently looking forward to enjoying the role.

One of the subjects of that conversation, Letitia, had by such means as women can, delayed the visit for several days, and for her own good purposes.

'Oh Mama, Mama, when shall we go?' Ethel asked several times.

'Where to? Oh, to Miss Martin's you mean? Goodness, I had almost forgotten. Monday, if you wish. There is no need for her to be expecting us. I would rather view such scholastic activities as we may find. Would you not, dearest?' she asked Easton who was a slightly anxious listener to the conversation, for though he had forewarned Miss Martin he had not been able to place a date on it, and now had cause to send another message posthaste via a servant.

Being absolutely certain that the fellow would neither spy nor hear anything to his advantage, Easton had no qualms in the matter. What he did not know, however, was mat Letitia secretly intervened and caught the young man before he left, saying that she had other duties for him and that Johnson would go instead.

Thus it passed that when she made her afternoon visit to the latter, he had already been and returned.

'Well, you were going to tell me what it is like', Letitia invited at which Johnson-wishing to grumble that he had not seen Bella yet-decided to hold his tongue on that score lest Letitia withheld the favours of both.

'Well, I done what you said, m'am, and made as 'ow I were took sick upon gitting there and so I got h'entrance into the 'ouse fer a brief while. I 'card some funny noises from upstairs, I did, but they was soon quelched, and that were all. I didn't see Miss Martin. T'were another young lady as let me in. Give me a glass of water she did and 'ad a kindly aspect, though I took note of something, I did', Johnson said, giving Letitia an unseemly wink.

'And what was that, Johnson?' Letitia asked, casually laying a sovereign on the table.

'Buttons, m'am. On the front of her dress. One was undone and the other slipping out, like she'd come down in an 'urry and were unprepared. Rare that is to see in a proper 'ouse. I ain't never seen Miss Bella even like that'.

Letitia frowned a little at the word 'even', but kept her expression otherwise placid. She looked down towards the coin she had produced, so that for a moment Johnson feared she might be going to pick it up again. Running her tongue speculatively across her upper lip, however, Letitia produced three more to his great astonishment and arranged them neatly with the other in a square.

'There is something I want you to do for me, Johnson. Something of great import the which will earn you more favours than you have so far received. It occurs to me that Miss Bella's buttons do come undone sometimes, though of course only in-er-private surroundings'.

So speaking, Letitia gazed all around the room, let her eyes settle meaningfully upon the couch and then returned her gaze to Johnson whose expression showed great eagerness.

'Whatever you say, m'am. Miss Bella now, she-er- gits into private surroundings often, do she?'

'I intend to see that she does so, and fully ready to unbutton, Johnson, upon your successful completion of your task. You will see to it that the coachman is indisposed on Monday and will take his place. There are certain things you will need and with which I will supply you on the morning of that day. Fail me and I will have you taken up for theft, you understand?”

'Eh, m'am, what-me?' the fellow asked a-gaping.

'But of course that will not be necessary, for you will not. There is a good bargain to be struck between us here, Johnson, and Miss Bella can be MOST discreet', Letitia said more placatingly, having had her eyes and ears at their very busiest in the past few days.

“That I don't doubt, m'am', said Johnson, showing much relief, and his fingers itching to pick up the sovereigns, which he did the moment Letitia had concluded a much longer discourse that had both amazed and pleased his roguish soul, for he could see naught but satisfaction all around while the visions of Bella bouncing beneath him brought warmth to his lusty frame.

Satisfaction coloured all of Letitia's thoughts as well, and with much greater foundation even than those of her husband who-knowing all the skills of Miss Martin in putting on such faces as she wished to do-had concluded that their visit would be of brief duration. Thereafter, Letitia-who appeared to be the very soul of compliance to his wishes now-would return comforted and ready to enjoy her own future prospects in freedom.

A seemingly expectant and happy quartet thus arrived at Miss Martin's, for Bella had been permitted to go as well. Johnson remained the invisible fifth party, as servants are wont to be, and gave all appearance of retaining his seat above the horses when his superiors were welcomed within.

Being satisfied that he was unobserved, he then climbed down and made his way close to the entrance where he lurked for a while in the portico.

Formal introductions within being at first unnecessary- save in respect of the Colonel, who suitably wore his outdoor attire-Letitia was enabled to make a lightning study of the meetings of various pairs of eyes, and in particular those of Bella's with Miss Martin's. Her niece she regarded as me key to her intuitions, and therein she was not disappointed. Not being a party to the plots at work, Bella not only failed to veil certain emanations of pleasure in her eyes as regards Miss Martin, but signally did so in respect of the Colonel-the which Letitia caught rather by accident than design.

Upon Adelaide and Maude being called down and brought toward as 'My very first dear pupils' by Miss Martin, Letitia did not merely incline her head towards them as a lady might, but rose to greet them.

'How nice it must be for you here, as I am sure it will be for Ethel', cooed Letitia to the great pleasure of both Easton and Miss Martin who were able to quickly convey to one another the most satisfied exchange of looks.

In so doing, they failed to see the glance that Letitia bestowed upon Adelaide and the manner in which her eyes scoured the girl's. Therein Letitia read all that she wished to, and by such means as only other females and the most sensitive of males would comprehend.

'May we see the classroom, Miss Martin? Are they upstairs?' she then asked, adding carefully, 'And of course the Colonel may wish to view them also.'

'Why, of course you may', cooed Miss Martin, 'Permit me to lead the way. Colonel, are you yourself satisfied with all that I have told you of my educational methods?'

'Hurrrumph, indeed, Madam. Gentleness is all, what? I have no doubt that my two girls will be safe in your hands', replied he.

'Oh, I am sure, I am sure', put in Easton, taking a rapid look at Letitia (the which she did not fail to miss) and finding her expression happily placid.

'I shall like it here, Papa!' exclaimed Ethel who, having placed herself last with him on the exclusion up the stairs, had had her bottom fondly if briefly patted by him.

'Of that I have no doubt, my love', came his rejoinder and therewith another hasty if promising scouting of his fingers under her derriere which caused the naughty girl's face to glow with pleasure. Entering the classroom in the wake of the others, they found themselves in what once had been a sitting room of fair size containing half a dozen desks and a blackboard.