by Karen Cogan
“You knew Lady Katharine? Cook said you were her personal maid.”
“Yes. Her death has been a great loss for me.”
“Was she as bad as Mrs. Parker imagined?”
“Bad?”
“Mrs. Parker said she was most likely a spoiled simpleton who would make endless and unreasonable demands and we would all have to put up with them, though it would be so very hard.”
Katharine felt anger warm her cheeks. Mrs. Parker dared have an opinion of her? To her knowledge they had never met. The woman’s audacity heated the blood in her veins. She wished that for only a few moments she could be mistress of this estate, with the authority to send the disagreeable woman packing.
She studied Mrs. Parker, seated near the head of the table with the stiff-mannered butler and wished the woman would get indigestion from the bit of muffin she was eating. Mrs. Parker glanced up and Katharine looked away. No matter how ill she thought of her or how much the effort cost her, she must not let on. But someday, when her true position could be safely revealed, she hoped to give the woman the tart reprimand she deserved.
She turned to the young maid who went by Lizzy. “Why do you suppose Mrs. Parker formed such a low opinion of Lady Katharine?”
Lizzy’s brown curls bounced under her hat as she said, “I do not truly think it was Lady Katharine who was at fault. I believe Mrs. Parker has her own favorites she wishes the young Lord Charlesworth to wed. She particularly favors a Miss Buckley who has been here to visit from London. She seemed a bit cold to me, but she was very elegant.”
Katharine fell silent, musing upon Lizzy’s candid information, while the other servants drifted off to their duties. It was disconcerting to know how unwelcome she would have been to this household, even by the housekeeper. She was so deeply in thought that Mrs. Parker startled her when she strode past her chair.
“You may dawdle if you wish this morning. The lady does not wish to see you until ten o’clock. You are to present yourself at her chambers at that time. Ask one of the maids to show you the way. Until then, stay out from underfoot.”
Katharine nodded mutely, determined not to let the brusque tone upset her. She welcomed the free time. It would give her the chance to explore the estate that might have been her domain.
She let herself out the back door of the downstairs servants’ quarters and into the cloudy cold of early January. It was early still and fog hung around her like a damp and suffocating blanket.
She spied the row of hedges that enclosed a small greenhouse garden. Drawn by the promise of flowers, she made her way across the cobbled path to admire the delicate beauties. She pushed open the door, and then paused with delight at the sight and scent of huge pots of roses in various shades of pink, red and yellow that lined the greenhouse. Rows of narrow tables in the center held pots of poinsettias. She rounded the side of a table and stumbled upon a young man who was kneeling in front of a yellow rose bush that appeared a bit faded.
He glanced up at her, grimacing as the surprise of her sudden appearance caused him to jab his thumb into a thorn. For a moment, Katharine could only stand and stare. She had come upon him so unexpectedly that she felt frozen in place. As he stared at his injury, she noted that he very dark hair and a straight and handsome nose. Though he was crouched, she could tell that he was a man of solid build.
She did not remember seeing him among the gathering of servants this morning and his spotless white shirt and dark trousers seemed out of place for a gardener. Most likely he was a man-servant to the young lord.
She stepped back ready to flee. His greeting caused her to pause in her flight. “I do not believe that I have seen you before. Are you a sprite come to startle me and draw my blood? If not, give me the privilege of discovering who has caused me this pain.”
“I am sorry.” Katharine turned back to face him. “I do not mean to make you prick your finger.”
He glanced up from his injured thumb, from which he had succeeded in pulling out the thorn. This time, she could see straight into eyes that were as blue as the royal robe of a king. They set off his inky hair and chiseled skin, reminding her of Roman statutes she had seen in Bath.
He rose and dusted the dirt from his trousers. “I confess to a weakness for flowers. It relaxes me to come into the garden and tend them.”
From his superior height, he took in the red of her hair and the pink flush on her creamy cheeks. Indeed, if he had ever seen her before, he would have remembered her, for the striking combination of her coloring would not escape the attention of any man.
“I take it that you are the maid who was traveling with Lady Katharine.”
“That is true. I was invited to complete the journey and seek my employment here. I am to see Lady Charlesworth this very morning.”
“Well, I cannot help but think that you shall make a favorable impression. The late Lady Katharine must have thought you satisfactory. I am sorry for what happened to her. It was a great disappointment for the manor.”
Katharine caught her lip. She did not reply, yet the young man caught the tiny frown that furrowed her silky brow.
“You do not think it disappointing?”
“I do not believe that the young lord was disappointed at all. He did not even come to see to her removal here. I hear there are other young ladies being favored by the young master.”
A half-smile played on the man’s lips. “You hear and suppose a great deal for a maid who has just arrived. I have it on good authority that Lord Charlesworth was quite indisposed with a stomach ailment that precluded him making the trip. He has only been up and about again today.”
Katharine dropped her eyes from his searching gaze. “If that is so, then I am sorry for my presumption. I only know that Lady Katharine had some doubt as to whether Lord Charlesworth would find her acceptable or send her home. The latter, I assure you, would not have pleased her uncle unless she agreed to marry his son.”
“Yes. I have heard about Lord Graynor’s expectations. And yet, I know of no agreement that can make marriage bearable when there is no love between the two parties. I am sure Lady Katharine would not have agreed to any union made solely to please Lord Graynor.”
He saw the color rise in her pink cheeks.
“Indeed not. I can assure you that Lady Katharine would never have wed one man in order to please another. Had she not found Lord Charlesworth any more to her taste than her cousin, which I believe she would not, you can be assured she would not have agreed to the marriage.”
“You are very plainspoken for a maid. I can see that you were very close to your mistress. Please tell me why you think Lady Katharine would not have liked Lord Charlesworth.”
Katharine bit her lip, realizing she had overstepped the bounds of what she should be saying. “I am sorry. I should not have said that. I believe they met only as children. I am sure he is much changed since then. You will not tell him what I have said, will you?”
His outburst of laughter brought sparks to her green eyes.
“I fail to see what is so amusing.”
He offered a slight bow. “Forgive me. Your mistress was quite right. By his own admission Lord Charlesworth was a most despicable youth. Nonetheless, your secret is safe with me. I shall say not a word.”
Katharine stared at him, wondering if it were mockery or amusement that she saw in his eyes. She had made a fool of herself and she hoped with every part of her being that she did not meet this young man again. She found him far too handsome. And his easy manner put her too much at ease for her own safety.
She glanced toward the house. “I must be going. I must present myself to Lady Charlesworth shortly.”
Without waiting for a reply, she sped back to the house, chastising herself with every step for being carelessly outspoken. She must remember to speak and act as a maid and not with the liberty she had enjoyed as a lady.
Her young acquaintance stared after her, thinking her the most unusual maid he had ever met and comely to look upo
n. Her lips reminded him of ripe strawberries. Her skin looked as soft as the petals of the roses. If only she were not a maid, he would look forward to pursuing her affections during the upcoming social season.
He shook himself from such thoughts. She was merely a maid. And he had never been such a blackheart as to dally with the young women in his parents’ employ. He had seen what happened to such women. He would keep his distance from the young miss…just as soon as he did one more thing.
Katharine found Lizzy collecting the candlesticks that were to be taken to the kitchen for cleaning. After receiving directions to Lady Charlesworth’s chambers, Katharine composed herself in her quarters until it was time to present herself to the lady.
At precisely ten o’clock, she smoothed her skirts and wrapped on the door. At a cheery invitation to enter, she slipped into the quarters of Lady Charlesworth’s sitting room and bedchamber. The lady sat abed, eating her breakfast, dwarfed in a mahogany four-poster. Katharine took in the rich sheen of the furniture and the dressing table draped in pale muslin and lace. Katharine own tiny garret paled in comparison.
A stocky man with graying locks sat at a desk in the sitting room. He turned to give Katharine a glance before returning his attention back to his papers. It was obvious he considered the decision about the new maid, to be a matter for his wife.
Her white nightcap bobbled on her head as she beckoned Katharine closer. “Let me have a look at you, girl.”
She studied her a moment and declared, “My, but she does have red hair. What do you think, Samuel?”
“Some might find it distasteful. I, however, have no opinion at all. It is more important if she can help you choose the gowns that please you, so that you do not ask me.”
Lady Charlesworth ignored his comment.
Katharine stared in mute shock to be spoken in front of as though she were a dumb beast. However, she knew that to protest would be to lose the only home she had at present.
Lady Charlesworth turned her attention from her breakfast back to Katharine. “I suppose you are experienced as a lady’s maid. How long were you with Lady Katharine?”
“All my life, my lady.”
“And did you care for her wardrobe and assist with her social plans?”
“I did.”
“Since you were coming here anyway, I may as well give you a try. My own Bertha has married and left me and it has been most inconvenient.”
The elder lord spoke without turning about. “I do not believe you need another maid, Martha. There are plenty about the manor. You could do quite nicely by summoning a parlor maid when you had a need.”
Lady Charlesworth’sdark eyes grew wide with outrage. “Indeed you tease me, my lord. I could not do nicely with a parlor maid and you know that for a fact. My mind is quite made up. I shall have this girl and she shall begin this very morning when I am ready to dress.”
Since Lady Charlesworth had not yet spoken to her, Katharine remained silent. She hazarded a glance at Lord Charlesworth and caught a slight smile playing at the corner of his mouth. She decided that teasing his loquacious wife was a habit that he enjoyed.
Someone knocked at the door, leaving Katharine to wonder if she should answer. Before she could move to do so, a young man strolled boldly into the room. He smiled broadly at Katharine, noting with satisfaction how her sea green eyes widened with surprise. He had wanted to surprise her, to see her creamy cheeks flush.
“Good-morning, Philip,” Mrs. Charlesworth greeted him.
“Good-morning, Mother. I trust you slept well.”
“Oh…You know how it is, dear. The lumbago in my back pains me most dreadfully. I tell your father that it is most likely a serious condition, but I think he hardly listens.”
The older man sniffed. “Perhaps twenty-five years of listening has made me deaf.”
Katharine stood in stiff surprise. Her initial confusion had cleared, leaving her in no doubt as to the man’s identity. With painful clarity, she remembered everything she had said to him in the garden. Her cheeks heated, as much with ire as embarrassment at how he had deceived her in promising not to relate the conversation to Lord Charlesworth.
She looked away, staring out the window, pretending to be unaffected by his presence.
He told his father, “If you are not busy this morning, I covet your opinion regarding the new hunting dog I am going to see at Blakely’s estate.”
The elder lord nodded. “I could do with a ride this morning. Unlike your mother, I do not suffer from the lumbago.”
Lady Charlesworth relinquished her pouting to ask, “You will be back for dinner, will you not? It is so terribly quiet today. I wish we were to have company to stir things up a bit. Could we not have visitors, Samuel?”
Lord Charlesworth gave a wink to Philip. “There, there, my dear. You must rest up and save your strength. We shall go to London soon and I do not wish for your lumbago to keep you from amusing yourself.”
She sighed. “Very well. I shall spend a quiet day. Anyway, I shall be busy training this new girl. I do not like it that Bertha left. It is not easy to start all over with a new maid.”
Philip let his gaze sweep briefly over Katharine. “I wager you will find her to be a quick learner.”
He bid his mother good-bye and left with the elder lord, leaving Katharine alone with Lady Charlesworth. Her mind raced in circles, coming back each time to admit that the young lord was not at all as she had expected. In fact, it was precisely her expectations that had kept her from guessing that it was he whom she had spoken to in the garden.
For the first time, she was sorry for her hasty plan. If she had not concealed her identity, they would have met as equals. Would they have gotten on? Perhaps now, she would never know.
CHAPTER THREE
“I am finished with my breakfast. Ring for the downstairs maid and then fetch me my blue cotton day dress. I do hope that you are good with hair. My Bertha was wonderful with hair.”
As she crossed to the ornately carved mahogany wardrobe, Katharine forced herself to concentrate on one order at a time. She would have no problem finding the dress. The hair was another matter. While she could put her own locks into a decent enough chignon, she had never arranged another woman’s hair in her life. While she was an infant, a nanny had tamed her fiery mane. As she grew older, various maids had taken over the task.
She settled the gown upon Lady Charlesworth’s stout frame and fastened the buttons. She found her slippers and the sapphire pendant that she wished to wear. Then, to her dismay, she turned to find the lady settled at the dressing table, awaiting her ministrations.
Katharine hesitated, uncertain as to what to do. Lady Katharine glanced up at her reflection in the mirror. “Well, what are you waiting for?”
Katharine took a deep breath and said, “To be honest with you, my lady, I have never been good with hair. Lady Katharine and I were more companions than we were maid and mistress. That is why she did not mind having another maid to arrange her hair.”
Lady Charlesworth stared up at her in shock. “I must say, I have never heard of such a thing. I enjoyed my Bertha’s company but I quite insisted that she be able to perform all that her position required.”
Katharine studied Lady Charlesworth’s golden tresses that were showing streaks of silver. “I can do a quite passable chignon, if you like. I have often done that for Lady Katharine.”
“I prefer my hair caught up in the front with curls down the back. Perhaps you could give it a try.”
Reluctantly, Katharine brushed out the lady’s hair and attempted to smooth it into the desired coiffure. Lady Charlesworth watched intently, alternately offering instructions and clucking her tongue at the results.
As Katharine wound the last curl around her finger, Lady Charlesworth said, “It is not very satisfactory. I find it surprising that Lady Katharine did not insist that her lady’s maid be competent in such an important skill. It is fortunate that I shall not be going out today.”
“I am sorry. I am sure that I can learn.”
“I hope so, or I shall have to set Mrs. Parker upon finding me a new maid before we go to London. If that happens, you may stay on as a parlor maid. You can surely do that, I hope.”
Katharine clamped her teeth in determination. After her lie to young Lord Charlesworth, she doubted he would believe her if she should confess the truth. She would be dismissed from her position and have no funds to get to London. And her one chance out of her current situation lay in London, where she might claim her true title and marry a member of the peerage. For, a return to her uncle and a forced marriage to Cedric were unthinkable. Yet, if she did not please Lady Charlesworth, her only other choice was to spend her life as a parlor maid. And she did not wish to spend her life as a parlor maid.