Chapter 8

The day had begun much like any other in the big kitchen at Squires Lodge, with Mrs Toon trying to do six things at once, while Violet panicked over putting Lady Lydia’s breakfast tray together yelling, “ I’ll swing for that bitch; I swear!”

Ella had come down the service stairs, just managing to avoid colliding with Violet before a wonderfully warm smell of breakfast enveloped her.

“Oh it’s you now is it Miss Ella! Well it’s a bloody madhouse here I can tell you!”

Unobtrusively Ella put together her breakfast of shredded- wheat; scrabbled eggs with fried mushroom and coffee from the sideboard and perched with her tray in her usual corner.

While the radio was quietly burbling music in the background Ella ate her breakfast without her usual enthusiasm.

It was not long before she had walked across the cobbled yard and entered the stables.

“Morning Miss Ella! Juno’s a bit sore on his front right after the farrier yesterday; he just needs a little nursing with it, that’s all.”

“Thanks Jock, I’ll take it steady with him; I won’t take him far,” she said with a smile.

Jock had watched her walking Juno off up the lane towards Scratchface Lane thinking how controlled her riding was; a natural feel for the animal in spite of coming from the city; and wondered if having jungle blood running through her veins gave her that ability?

Three hours later though, Jock sought out Rufus to say how worried he was that Ella had not returned from her ride; and that something must be very wrong! Rufus felt the blood in his veins freeze. Ella meant so much to him now.

Both Rufus and Jock saddled-up and rode out in an extensive search for her. The further afield they went the more anguish they felt for Ella’s safety. Eventually they succeeded only in finding Juno grazing lazily near Petersfield.

There was no sign that Ella had encountered any trouble or harm. It was all a mystery. All they could do was lead Juno back to the stables.

Rufus’s mind was in turmoil.

However as they rode back into the yard, Jack Sparrow hurried up to them with some vital news.

Ella was safe!

She had ‘phoned; explaining she’d caught the ten-forty five train from Petersfield to London’s Waterloo! - That she’d needed to get away for a while and would be staying with an old friend.

Everyone was dumbfounded; and there was an undercurrent of speculation throughout the estate.

Rufus had been anxiously delving into her recent activities, to find what caused her to take flight; and it was Lydia he confronted.

Rufus knew to well his mother had mystical and satanic beliefs; she had fledged himself and Amber into her coven; their marriage ordained by Satan; their incestuous child destined for the priesthood.

Ella becoming Rupert’s au-pair had also become part of Lydia’s salacious appetite for sex.

During their talks together Ella had shared with Rufus the dilemma she faced. She loved the Estate and Rufus and Juno but didn’t like having to participate in Lydia’s orgies. But it was simply a part of being here.