Downstairs, a lot of ruckuses were going on. Boxes were getting trolleyed past the corridor.
Somebody who'd slept easily until then, jolted awake, alerted by the noise.
"Hello?" Samantha stretched her neck to see if she could catch a glimpse of anyone. There was no way they were having a guest at the house already. So who was it?
Just then the figure of a tall slender woman brushed past her view. "Mother?"
Samantha picked up her feet and scurried from the warmth of the sitting room out to the adjoining passage.
She was shocked to find Eloise properly dressed.
Through sleep-leaden eyes, Samantha spoke, "What is going on? The noise…"
"Could not be avoided," said Eloise, sternly.
The strength of her voice forced Samantha to shake the sleep out of her eyes. "You are serious."
Eloise did a one-shoulder shrug, curtly, and returned her eyes to the ones carrying the boxes. "Be careful not to drop any one of them, or risk a slash in your wages, all of you! Do you hear me?"
