What Once Was True (Robinswood #1)

by Jean Grainger

shriek. ‘Arthur! Please behave yourself!’ Elena sounded exasperated, and the boy scowled, sticking his tongue out at Isabella and Dermot. The woman looked embarrassed but said nothing further to reprimand the child. ‘Now, please tell me you’re here to stay and that you are a housekeeper and a nanny and a zoo-keeper all rolled into one?’ Elena smiled apologetically. ‘Well, I am a very experienced housekeeper, and I’ve reared our three girls and took care of the Kenefick children, so I’m no stranger to little ones.’ Isabella smiled, wanting to put the other woman at ease. ‘Well, Violet has spoken so highly of you, you two are like a pair of miracle workers by all accounts, and that’s exactly what you’ll need to be to manage this house and these children. Our housekeeper has left, in rather unpleasant circumstances, and Nancy here is finding it all rather too much. Arthur and Georgina, our children, are... Well, you can see.’ A little girl appeared, and she was completely covered in lipstick. Both children gazed at Isabella and Dermot, fascinated. ‘I am very busy as secretary of the Protestant Orphan Society,’ Elena went on, ‘and therefore am out much of the time. They will have a governess just as soon as I get around to hiring one, but in the interim, things have rather been let slide.’ She glanced in Nancy’s direction. The girl was dramatically nursing her foot. ‘So, please come in, sit down, tell me about yourselves.’ She led them into a lovely sitting room that was badly...