Chapter TwoValessa emptied away the dirty water and put the basin down on the floor beside the sink.
Then she suddenly felt exhausted and sat down on the only chair that was left in the kitchen.
Beside it was a small deal table that had a broken leg and was therefore propped up on a brick.
She put her elbows on the table and her hands over her closed eyes.
Because she had hurried up and down the stairs to collect the sheet for Lady Barton everything seemed to be swimming around her.
She knew that it was just weakness and it flashed through her mind that she might not be able to reach the river.
She sat there for some time trying to breathe deeply, thinking as she did so that Lady Barton would soon be leaving.
She expected to hear them laughing and talking in the hall and thought tha
