A Fragile Chain of Daisies: Flowers of the Aristocracy (Untamed Regency Book 4)

by Jackie Williams

“The bread was an excellent idea, Jane. I thank you for thinking of it.” The woman’s eyes returned to her own plate and she began grumbling again.

  ‘Well I never, talking to her as if he was of the same social standing. But it is her own fault. I can’t say that I am surprised. No backbone. Confess that I always thought the girl was touched in the head.” Her voice became louder. ‘Was she dropped as an infant, Elizabeth? I hope you sacked the nanny.’

  Daisy refused to listen to any more. She spoke quietly to Pierce again.

  “My mother is more likely to tell your own mother and regale all her friends with the news of your being here.”

  Pierce shook his head.

  “I am told the brown rolls are quite delicious. And still warm from the oven.” His voice carried before quietening again. “I am a footman remember. I can vet any letters that she might send alerting either my mother, her friends, or the authorities that I am here.”

  Daisy stopped fumbling with the bread.

  “You would look at my mother’s mail? And you would draw me further into this mad scheme?”

  Pierce nodded.

  “An excellent choice, your Grace, you won’t regret it. Butter?” He said loudly as he snatched up the butter dish from the further along the table. He placed it beside Daisy and whispered again. “When it’s my neck at stake, I think I’m entitled to look. Besides, you asked me to come to you in those letters you sent. And you agreed to this charade. None of the staff have any clue as to who I am, and your mother in law can now barely stand to look at me. I think I will be safe enough while discovering who the real culprit is.”

  Daisy glanced up as he straightened.

  “I feel your anger and frustration at the situation, but I would sleep easier if you left well alone. My mother in law is unlikely to remain silent if she should discover your true identity. I am more than a little worried that if you play with fire, you are bound to be burned.”

  Pierce gave her a short nod and a small smile.

  “Ah! A crumb of pity, but don’t worry about any flames. I’ll remember to carry a pitcher of water about with me whilst I try to clear my name.” He bowed low once again. “I’ll send Armstrong in with pudding as I appear to be unable to remain on my feet while carrying anything. I’ll see you tomorrow. Sweet dreams my dearest Daisy.” And he bowed his way out of the room.

  Chapter Nine

  A Light in the Darkness

  Daisy’s rattled nerves had her rushing towards her bedroom as soon as they finished and the pudding plates were cleared. Weary, frustrated, and more than a little nervous of what her mother might say or do, Daisy breathed a sigh of relief as she closed the door behind her and fell onto her bed.

  Something toppled from her pillow and rolled against her thigh. A smile lit her face and a cry of joy left her lips as she held her ragged bear. She brought it up to her face and her troubles fled as she drew in Pierce’s scent.

  “Oh Pierce,” she sighed. “I don’t know what I am going to do with you, but thank you.” Whispering into the candle light, she relaxed for what felt like the first time that day, but had barely taken a relieved breath when a knock at her door made her sit bolt upright. Already dreading the coming confrontation, she remained silent, but a more forceful knock followed the first, and realizing that she hadn’t locked her door, she answered.

  “Who is it? I am fatigued. I cannot see anyone this evening.” She couldn’t face her mother’s questions tonight.

  “It’s Mary.” The door opened and Daisy’s maid stepped inside. “Armstrong said that you didn’t linger in the dining room. I’ve come to help you with your night clothes.” She closed the door behind her and held up a hand as Daisy went to protest. “I won’t take a refusal, my Lady. If you don’t let me help you, then I might as well go and find myself another position.”

  Daisy slumped in resignation, but knew Mary only meant well. The poor woman must have been feeling quite useless. She beckoned her maid closer.

  “Thank you, Mary. I apologise for leaving you with so little to do. Perhaps you could help with my hair tonight. It has been impossible the whole of the day.” She stood, walked to her dressing table, and sat down with a grudging thump.

  Mary came up behind her and began searching for hairpins amongst the curls.

  “If you had waited for me to dress it this morning then it might not be in this state now. Your hair is the wildest, most beautiful I have ever seen. But not when treated like this. Now hold still while I untangle this mess.” She admonished her charge as a pin caught and pulled.

  Daisy bit back a wince and let the woman make sense of her hair, eventually sighing as Mary slid a brush through the curls and released the last of the tangles.

  “A mess it was. It is a wonder I don’t cut it off and give good riddance to it.”

  Mary let out a shocked gasp, holding up the length to see the shine in the candle light.

  “You will do no such thing! ‘tis lovely hair you have, my Lady. It just needs taming once in a while.” She set the brush aside and began turning the long tresses, braiding it loosely down Daisy’s back. She tied the end with a ribbon and lay it over Daisy’s shoulder. “There, that will keep the knots out of it until morning.”

  Daisy breathed a sigh.

  “Thank you Mary. And I am sorry that I didn’t wait for you to help with it this morning.” She pressed her fingertip to her temples. “I am just so restless but tired these days.”

  Mary pulled a nightgown from the drawer.

  “It is no wonder with his Grace’s death and all. I am still shocked at the constable’s questions. The very presumption of the man! With you in your condition too. And what can the Dowager Duchess have been thinking, coming here without notice? She has had the house in uproar all afternoon. Armstrong was raving, Cook was ranting, and the few maids we have, have been in a frenzy of cleaning and airing instead of attending to their usual chores. And who knows what that new footman was thinking of. He seemed to be everywhere except anywhere that he should have been. Armstrong has been beside himself with fury.”

  Daisy let out a low laugh, the tension leaving her body again.

  “I will have to find out how long the Duchess intends staying. I had intimated that she was only welcome for one night, but I suspect that she will want to remain longer. And with the state of the place, I had no idea she would make such a fuss about which room she took. It’s not as if there was a lot of choice. From the outside of the building and the rooms on the ground floor, no one would guess Robert’s hobbies had grown so out of hand. At least we have her installed somewhere now. And it doesn’t catch the morning light on that side of the house so with luck she will sleep late in tomorrow.”

  Mary shook her head.

  “We can only hope. You’ll have to ask the housekeeper, but I did hear that the Duchess was furious that her son’s room had been cleared of all personal items apart from his collections. And even more furious that Musgrave was still here. I believe she will be glad when he leaves in the morning. Apparently he intends travelling on the early stage. He wants to be in London as soon as possible.”

  A groan left Daisy’s lips.

  “Musgrave. Blast! I completely forgot to write his reference. I’ll have to do it now or he’ll be pestering me in the morning, and I know he wants to leave at first light.” She stood and moved towards her writing table.

  “I’ll take it to him when I leave you.” Mary offered.

  Daisy dipped her pen in the ink and began writing.

  “Thank you, but I will ask Everard to take it before he retires for the night. It is his job after all.”

  Mary walked across the room and turned down the bed.

  “He’s not here, your Grace.” She continued quickly after seeing Daisy’s startled expression. “I don’t mean that he is gone for good. Just until tomorrow morning. He said that he wanted to check on your mare, and I believe he will remain at the stables to sleep as he hadn’t been given a bedroom here. Bess had menti
oned him being housed above the stables for several nights already. Apparently he had been helping Andrews out before his change of position.”

  Guilt filled Daisy. How could she have forgotten to allocate Pierce a room. She glanced out of the window. Not that there was much to see in the darkness. She heard Mary breathing quietly and lowered her head again.

  “Yes, Andrews was quite happy with his work. And it appears that he can handle Bernadette perfectly well, which is more than most can do.” Daisy continued writing while Mary plumped the pillows.

  “Well, I hope he copes with the horses better than he does being a footman. All over the place he was today. I thought Armstrong was going to explode at one point. He couldn’t find Mr. Everard all afternoon, and when he did eventually show his face below stairs, he was helping one the maids instead of tending to his own duties.”

  Daisy’s hand faltered as her clock struck ten. She glanced out of her window again. The stables weren’t easily visible unless she craned her neck and she wasn’t about to do that with Mary looking on, but after listening to her maid’s words, shame swamped her again.

  Pierce been up at the crack of dawn and had been on his feet for the whole day. She thought of his antics with the tea trays and the bread basket. The man might have had a smile plastered on his face but it had been clear how awkward he felt. With rescuing her bear and any other duties he had performed, Pierce had to have been exhausted by now, but unasked, he had gone to assist Andrews with her horses. And she hadn’t even bothered to find him a decent bedroom.

  But there was nothing she could do about that now. She picked up the flow of words again, finished Musgrave’s reference, sealing and addressing it before handing it to Mary.

  “If you wouldn’t mind leaving this in Musgrave’s room. With my mother and mother in law arriving, it quite slipped my mind. That and finding Everard a suitable room.”

  Mary slid the letter into her pocket.

  “It’s no trouble. You’ve had enough to think about recently, and it’s well known that women become forgetful when they are...”

  Daisy stood up quickly, cutting off her maid’s observation.

  “You are right Mary. It has been a dreadful few weeks. The shock, and now the uncertainty...”

  “It’s a wonder you haven’t broken down, my Lady. Terrible strain. But things will get easier. And once Mr. Everard has settled in, I am sure he will be of great assistance.”

  Dasiy’s fingers fumbled with the buttons of her gown.

  “Mr. Everard’s position is only temporary. A mutual arrangement to help one another while young Tim recovers from his injury and while the Dowager Duchess is in residence.”

  Mary pulled the curtains across the windows.

  “However temporary his position, there’s no doubt he’s a bit of an odd one. His accent gives him away. And I’d swear he has never carried a tea tray in his life. You mark my words. I’d lay money that he has given us a false name. That man is one of the gentry in disguise.”

  The silk rustled as Daisy stepped out of her mourning gown.

  “Please do not concern yourself over who or what Mr. Everard might be. I know well what he is. And Andrews explained how he came to be in the stables. The gentleman gave some much needed assistance when Tim was thrown from my horse. It seems that Everard has been down on his luck and is trying to regain his standing in society, but as with everyone, he can do nothing without funds. I am helping him by giving him a position. Hopefully it won’t be for long.” She handed her dress to her maid.

  Relief softened Mary’s expression.

  “Well, that’s excellent news. The staff were worried that you were being taken advantage of and that he wasn’t who he seemed.”

  Daisy let out a gentle laugh as she continued to undress.

  “Thank you for your concern, but you really needn’t fear. Everard has explained all to me, and Andrews and the horses apparently like and trust him. As far as I am concerned, if Bernadette is willing to let him ride her, then he can’t be all that bad.”

  Mary nodded as she hung the mourning gown in the wardrobe.

  “That horse can be a madam, for sure. I spoke to young Tim’s mother just yesterday. She is furious with the lad for attempting to ride your mare. Everyone knows how difficult she can be. If Mr. Everard can control her then he must have something going for him. Apart from his looks.”

  Daisy frowned at her maid.

  “His looks. What do you mean?” Her heart began to race as she noted the flush in Mary’s cheeks. The normally sensible woman rolled her eyes as she flapped her hand in front of her face.

  “Well, I might be getting on in years, but my eyesight is as good as it ever was, and you cannot deny that he is a fine looking specimen. So tall, and broad, and with such brooding eyes. Dark as sin and just as tempting. He has all the maids in quite a flutter. Bess nearly dropped the basket of fish when he arrived in the kitchen this morning. She’s been sighing and batting her eyelashes over him since he arrived in the stables earlier in the week. I was quite sick of hearing about him until I saw exactly what she was talking about.” Mary lifted her hand to her mouth and gave a girlish giggle. “Oh my, even this old biddy can agree that he’s definitely easy on the eye.” The woman heaved a dramatic breath.

  Shocked beyond reason, Daisy pressed her lips together and fought to keep her temper. Knowing that she sighed over the man was one thing. Having her maids do it was quite another.

  “I shall have to keep an eye on the situation if that is the case. I cannot have him encouraging that sort of silly behaviour.” Jealousy ate at the pit of her stomach. How could he!

  Mary composed her features and shook her head quickly.

  “Oh no my Lady. I didn’t mean to lay the blame at Mr. Everard’s feet. He is not the one at fault. Quite the opposite. He has not so much as looked at one of the maids however hard they tried to gain his attention today. He has been rushing about so much that I don’t think he had the time to notice their silly antics. Not that he would. He has already said what deep respect he has for you and what you have done for him.”

  “Really!” Daisy’s mood instantly lightened but she quashed the smile that came unbidden to her lips. “But it is only what anyone would do. Those that have the most should help when they can.”

  Mary huffed as she held out the nightgown.

  “The Dowager Duchess wouldn’t. Excuse me saying it, my Lady, but that woman has no heart. I know she is grieving but all she has done all day is moan. None of the rooms were to her liking. She must have turned down at least twenty. I swear she has only chosen the one she is in because she didn’t have the energy to search any further.” She gave the pure white cotton nightgown and encouraging shake.

  Daisy took the hint, slid the cool material over her head, and rearranged her braid over her shoulder again.

  “I thought it odd myself, but we might have known nothing would be good enough once she found the Duke’s room so unsuitable.”

  Mary laughed.

  “I think she was quite shocked to find it full of cases of insects and stuffed animals. They are not to everyone’s taste. Especially not in one’s bedroom.”

  Daisy shuddered as she climbed into her bed.

  “No, and she wondered why I didn’t sleep next door. Robert’s hobby made me most uncomfortable. I cannot say that I will be sorry to see the back of it all.”

  Mary pulled the covers back over her mistress and stood back.

  “No, indeed. And I am sure that the maids won’t miss dusting them. Well, if that will be all, I’ll say good night, my Lady, but please wait for me to at least dress your hair in the morning.”

  Daisy let out a low laugh.

  “Of course, but after today, please don’t bother to get up early on my account. And please tell the rest of the staff. They have all worked so hard today, they all deserve an extra hour in bed tomorrow morning.”

  Mary smiled brightly.

  “Thank you, my Lady. I know they will
appreciate your concern.” She gave a quick curtsey before leaving the room.

  Daisy breathed a sigh of relief as she lay staring up at the canopy above her. Exhausted but not yet sleepy she didn’t bother closing her eyes. She turned slightly and caught sight of her bear sitting back on the pillow next to her. The same place that he sat every night.

  Suddenly restless, she pushed back the covers and rose from the bed. She walked across the room, drew back the curtain, and pressed her cheek to the cool glass. She could just see the outline of the stable block in the distance. The soft glow of a lamp lit the stable door. Was Pierce still working? With the Duchess’ four greys and driver, the stable would be busy. And cramped. The loft wasn’t suitable for full grown men. Her eyes glanced up a fraction. The loft looked dark, but perhaps Pierce was already asleep in his bed.

  Images of what he would look like crowded her mind. Long legs, muscled arms, a wide chest. She had felt them all while they had hidden in the wardrobe. So real, so vital, so warm.

  She shivered and let the curtain fall, retracing her steps across the room. To sleep alone again in her bed.

  Bone weary, Pierce trudged up the narrow stairs to the stable loft. He should have been annoyed that no one had thought to provide him with a bed in the house, but after helping Andrews wipe down and settle the horses he forgot to feel disgruntled. Going back to the house would mean another ten minute walk, and he didn’t think he could take another step.

  The Dowager Duchess’ driver lay with his arms and legs at all angles, hanging from the small bed in the corner of the loft. His snoring, a constant drone, gave witness to how tired the man must have been. Pierce wasn’t surprised. After rising before dawn to bring the Duchess, Lady Caruthers, and their respective maids to Portland Hall, the man had apparently spent the rest of the day grooming the four greys until they shone like polished silver before cleaning every inch of the ostentatious carriage and horses tack.

  Keeping his lamp dimmed, Pierce crept past the driver’s bed, stripped beside his own, and folded his clothes as best he could. He rolled his shoulders, relieved to be out of the over tight jacket and able to move freely at last. Who knew such a thing could be so uncomfortable. He reminded himself to see if he couldn’t remove the padding before wearing it again tomorrow.