She had me face to face with the stove, kindling in my hand, when Lucy sauntered down the stairs.“Preparing another beauty treatment, Ella?” She looked around and raised an eyebrow. “And who’s that? Making friends with the servants next door?”“This is Lottie Perkins, Henry’s sister. Now go away!”“Don’t take that tone with me, Miss Ashes. I came to tell you that Mama would like some tea. Without the leaves.””“Fine. I’ll get her some tea. Now get out of the kitchen!”“Temper, temper.” Lucy shook a finger at me and strolled back up the stairs. I wished I had kicked her. Or the stove. Or something.“Using the stove’s not difficult, miss,” Lottie said patiently. “Only you got to—you have to build the fire properly first and give it air and all. Now you try.”Kindling, logs, and a little straw. A coal from the fireplace set it alight. Had I really done it? In a matter of minutes the kettle was boiling on the stove.“So much easier to work on than fireplaces, miss, really,”
