Chapter 25

Gwen looked up at the workman on the ladder and resisted the intense urge to supervise him. The removal of the old hangings was not her job. Or the cleaning of the chandeliers, for that matter. But it had been so long since some of the household chores had been attended to that the process had been difficult and after the damage done to the dining-room silk she’d felt the need to take an active part in most of the major jobs.

It was only eleven o’clock and she was already exhausted. And itchy, as though a thin layer of grime covered her body. The staff had been cleaning for a week and she noted with satisfaction, the improvement was beginning to show. When and if her errant husband chose to return home, he would be well pleased.

‘Not still working in here, are you?’ Archie had come up from behind her, spinning her around to face him.

‘It needs to be done,’ she said and stepped out of his grasp. ‘The house was really neglected.’ She complained

‘It needs cleaning, certainly, but not b