Arabella’s gaze dropped expediently to her food where her spoon toyed with her porridge for several moments.
“I found it rather far-fetched myself,” Lord Dederick said, handing the small book back to her.
“You’ve read it?” she asked, looking up at him in surprise.
“Oh yes,” he said going back to his meal. “A few years back.”
“Why did you find it far-fetched?”
“Well, I suppose as a gentleman I took offense to how the ladies in the story were treated and in effect, how the nobility treated one other. So callous and cruel. Giving friends the cut like that is not unheard of, but not done so publicly either, and for good reason.”
Arabella stared at him for a moment, taken aback by his words.
“I have seen some things people in your circles have done and I can say cruelty seems to come naturally to many,” she said as she tucked the book back into her pocket and straightened her spine.
“I do not know who it was that gave you that impression, but I am sorry for it,” Lord Dederick offered as he took a spoonful of soup and swallowed. “I have known none of my friends to do so.”
“Perhaps that is because you are all in the same circles with them, my lord,” she offered a bit haughtily. “Being a gentleman’s daughter, I have seen it often, the disregard and disrespect.”
“For that I am sorry,” Lord Dederick said. “And if I am one of those who has offended you, I offer my sincerest apologies.”
“No, I have to say you have always been courteous to me and my family,” she said, then her voice trailed off and she went back to her meal.
“But,” he prompted, looking to her, waiting for her to lift her eyes to him. When she did not respond, he set down his spoon and dabbed at his mouth with his napkin. “I must assume since you are silent that someone in my family has not been so kind.”
“You are correct,” she said, then finally looked back to him.
“If I may be so bold to ask…” he prompted again.
“Your eldest brother and your mother, if I am being honest.”
Hearing that his brother had done something untoward did not surprise him. Charles could be an utter prick when he wanted to be, but hearing his mother mentioned surprised him.
“What did my mother do?” he asked, his tone sounding more than a little offended. His mother, like his brother, had her moments, but he’d never seen her act like anything but the Countess she was.
“I should not say, it is not my place to do so,” she said, going back to her meal.
“Perhaps not, but I would like to know.”
“I was not witness to any of it, but I have to believe the things my sister tells me.”
Lord Dederick glared at her, not out of anger, but to prompt her to tell him what had her sister so upset. After a few moments she understood his silence and shook her head.
“She’s terrified of your mother,” Arabella said plainly.
“Terrified? Of my mother? Why on earth…”
“She’s very demanding from what Carolina tells me. Very demanding. And given her station, she is more than a bit intimidating. I have not spoken more than two words with Lady Harrington, but I know she is stern.”
“Your sister is in her employ,” Lord Dederick offered as a reason for his mother’s curtness. “My mother cannot treat her like a daughter.”
“Carolina does not expect to be treated like a daughter,” Arabella said, then let out a sigh. “But she expects to be treated with respect. The reason we were stranded here is that Carolina was trying to finish some sewing for Lady Harrington to make sure it was ready for her when she returned. Your mother is not even here, and my sister felt the need to finish the work before she left.”
“That is just good work ethic, not any threat of my mother.”
Arabella sent a glare in his direction.
“My sister could have easily taken the work home to finish, yet she felt uneasy removing your mother’s clothing from the house. She did not want to be deemed a thief. That is not like my sister to feel such a way.”
“Has my mother called her a thief?”
“Not that I am aware of, but she has alluded to the fact that her things were of high quality and were to be handled thusly. That, to me, has some connotation of accusation.”
“Well, they are her things.”
“And my sister would have no need to steal them. All I am saying is that Carolina has felt uneasy in your mother’s company. Often.”
Lord Dederick blew out a breath and shook his head.
“I am sorry she feels that way. I can honestly say that my mother is not a monster, and she truly appreciates Carolina’s skill in her work. She has mentioned that to me more than once in passing. What I cannot do is tell my mother to treat her any differently than she already does. It is not my place to direct her how to handle her staff.”
“I understand, and I don’t expect you to get involved. I know it is not your place as it is not mine,” Arabella said. “I just hate to hear that it upsets my sister.”
“It does not please me either,” Lord Dederick said going back to his meal. “Perhaps I could speak with Miss Carolina, see if there is any way to help.”
“No!” Arabella said with a jerk. “No, she cannot know that we spoke of this. She did not speak in confidence, but I am sure it would embarrass her to know I told you.”
“Fine. I will not mention it.”
“Thank you,” she said, pushing her porridge aside.
“Now what did my brother do, and which brother was it?” he asked with a chuckle.
Arabella rolled her eyes and shook her head.
“Your eldest brother. He’s never been the most discreet young man,” she said. “To say he treats women flippantly is an understatement.”
“I must apologize if he has done so to you,” Lord Dederick said, pushing his own bowl aside. “I have never condoned his manner.”
“I am sure it has something to do with who he is,” she said, sitting back in her seat. “I have found people of a higher rank discount those below them. You may not see it, but being one of those below you, I do.”
Her words burned in his mind for a moment. He did not consider her below him. He saw her as an equal. Though a woman, she was intelligent and spoke clearly of her mind as other women in his circles did. She had so convinced him of this that he’d forgotten she was below him in rank. His was a noble family, his father an esteemed Earl. Her father was a physician. There was no comparison.
“I hate that there has to be a divide,” he said as he went back to his meal. “I understand the difference between the classes, that there has to be some formal line drawn, but we’re all intelligent beings and I believe we can make do without disgracing one another.”
“That’s a very brave thing to say,” she said with a chuckle. “Especially given your own station. It is easy to pass someone over if you need not acknowledge them. But being on the bottom as I am, I must acknowledge everyone. I don’t have the luxury of acting above my class. It would be foolish for me to do so, else I am deemed a mushroom. No, it is much easier when you can overlook people as you can.”
“You feel I overlook people?” he asked with a quirk of his head.
“Of course, though again, being who you are, I don’t believe you can know it. Just as I am taught to bow and curtsy to those above me, I am sure they teach you to look down your nose at those doing the bowing.”
Lord Dederick set down his spoon, dabbed his mouth with his napkin and sat back in his seat. What she said struck him as if she lobbed a boulder into his chest.
“You believe I am taught to look down on people?”
“Aren’t you?”
He glared at her, then looked away. If he could walk, he’d be out of his chair pacing about the room. Her words infuriated him to the core.
“Why on earth do you think that would be something we’re taught?”
“Perhaps it’s inherent then?”
> His mouth dropped open, and he gasped.
“I cannot believe you think so ill of me and my family.”
“I don’t think ill of you at all. I just believe they teach us a separate set of manners depending on what our station is. Where I am told to genuflect to those above me, I am sure they teach you to address certain people differently. You certainly don’t bow to your parents.”
“My father isn’t the King,” Lord Dederick said angrily. “Why would I bow to him?”
“You know what I am trying to say. Don’t act as though you don’t. Your family is titled. Mine is not. There is a certain etiquette that is required.”
“There is etiquette required no matter who you are. I don’t bow to my father, but if another Earl were to visit, I would have to bow to him. And if the King were to visit, I would have to be obsequious all the same.”
“Though if we were standing together, I would need to be more obsequious than you if the King were to show up here.”
Lord Dederick stared at her for a long moment. She was highly intelligent and obviously very well book learned, but the novels she read definitely marred her idea of manners and etiquette.
“You are misinformed, I must say,” Lord Dederick offered, his brows furrowed. “You may be below my family in rank, but there are many people above me I must show respect to, and often. While you spend your days in the company of those in town, many in your own circles who you need not address aside from daily greetings, I have an entire protocol of gestures and addresses that must be followed no matter where I go. I am often attending banquets and dinner parties where there are masses of titled people whose names and ranks, I must remember to address properly, otherwise I look the fool, especially being an Earl’s son. I am always expected to cut a fine figure, know all the latest dances, and speak French or German at a moment's notice. I am thankful that I need not learn to draw, paint, sew, or play an instrument like the women need to as I can barely keep up appearances as it is.”
Arabella sat silent for a long moment, her eyes darting to him and back to the fire as she thought on what he’d said.
“I must apologize,” her words were soft. “I can see we each have our own issues to deal with. I never thought about how many events they force you to attend, and how they are filled with people of rank. I suppose my life must seem parochial to you.”
“No, I am sure it is not. As you said, we all have our own issues to deal with. You may not have to deal with etiquette as strictly as I do, but I am also sure you have your own rules of manner in dealing with people in your circles.”
“Yes, of course,” she said with a nod, then went silent again.
“Perhaps we should just accept that we are who we are and move on.”
Chapter Six
Arabella stood in the manor's foyer, a handful of missives in hand as the stable boy stood before her covered in snow.
“Go into the kitchen and ask Mrs. Gendy to make you some hot tea and sit by the fire to warm yourself before you catch a chill,” she said, ushering him down the hall. When she was sure he was in Mrs. Gendy’s care, she made her way up the large staircase to the main rooms.
Lord Dederick had been asking about the post since the day before and it took an extra two days for the weather to subside enough for Ernest, the young stable boy, to make it to the village without freezing to death. Now with a handful of letters, she made her way to Lord Dederick’s quarters to finally cheer him with the news he required.
“I have the post,” she said as she entered his room, but did not find him there. She went into the room to look for him but did not see him. “My Lord?”
“I am here,” he called out and Arabella rushed around the corner to find him sitting on an ottoman in his dressing room.
“How did you get here?” she asked. “Did Carolina help you?”
“No, I managed this far on my own, but had to sit. Why is it taking so long for my ankle to heal?” he asked, reaching down to soothe the sore appendage with his fingers.
“It is possible you had a small fracture. They are very hard to detect, but given the amount and length of your pain, I would say that was probably the case.”
Lord Dederick grimaced at that and propped his knee up beside him, pulling the ailing foot up onto his knee.
“Do you think it is permanently damaged?”
“You could walk this far,” Arabella said with a smile. “I’m sure you are on the mend. I shall wrap it again for you and perhaps with a walking cane you can get around a bit better.”
Lord Dederick nodded absently, still rubbing his foot.
“Thank you, truly, for all that you have done. I am sure I would have suffered a great deal without you here.”
“I am glad I was at hand to help. And,” she said, her smile broadening. “I have the post, so the day has just become much brighter.”
“Wonderful!” Lord Dederick said.
Arabella set the stack on the seat next to him and he took them up immediately and sorted through them.
“These are yours,” he said and handed her three items. “Please, sit and read with me.” He shifted to make room, and she sat with her letters in her lap.
Breaking the seal on the first, she saw it was from her father. He was happy to hear from her and that Lord Dederick was in her capable hands. He suggested a tea mixture for further pain abatement and that he would stop in once the weather allowed. He sent his regards for the lot of them and was happy they were all safe.
The second letter was from her friend Margaret, who’d heard she was stranded from her father. She had little news to share since most were still housebound with the snowfall, but she was also happy she and Carolina were safe and well at the manor. She also alluded to the fact that she was jealous they were alone in the manor with Lord Dederick, who she thought was both handsome and intelligent. Though this did not surprise her, what surprised her was that she mentioned him at all, which meant her father had to have mentioned it to Margaret. Which meant it was something he felt was notable. Hopefully, his concern was for Lord Dederick’s health and nothing more. He had to know she had no way to avoid being alone with the man in this circumstance, and her father had mentioned no concern about it in his letter.
Just the fact that Margaret mentioned it troubled her though. Did they feel they planned this, that she’d scheduled her trip to the manor knowing she’d get stuck there with Lord Dederick? That was a preposterous idea, but she knew how Margaret thought. Not a month went by when she wasn’t suggesting one man or another for Arabella to be courted. Having been courting a young man from the village, Margaret was pining over the fact that they should wed at the same time so their children could become friends as they had over the years, but Arabella never considered it. The thought of marriage was never a priority for her. And even so, Lord Dederick? How could Margaret even think a man of his rank would consider a woman with no wealth or lineage? It was unheard of. He probably had some monied debutante lined up for him once the next season started. She had no chance with him, not that she thought she ever did.
“Good letter?” Lord Dederick asked, and she jerked at his words and held the letter against her bodice to cover the note Margaret had so blatantly penned. Had he seen what she’d written?
Blushing, she quickly folded the letter and tucked it in her lap.
“Yes. From my friend Margaret. She said most in town are still stranded as well.”
He gave her a coy smile and she could feel the heat in her cheeks rise. He must have read some of what Margaret had written.
“I am glad you have heard from friends who know you are safe.”
“My father also sends his regards and said he will attend you once he can come down.”
“I doubt there will be a need,” Lord Dederick said with a warm smile, nudging her familiarly with his elbow. “You have done a fine job and I should be well and fully healed by the time he visits.”
“It still would be a good idea for him to look at your fo
ot to make sure nothing else needs to be done.”
Lord Dederick gazed at her for a long moment, then turned his attention back to his own letters.
“My family sends their regards and thanks to you,” he said as he folded one of his letters. “They are happy you were here to aid me.”
Arabella nodded at that admission. Lord Dederick and his family may be grateful she was there to help, but she was more grateful they took her and her sister in and allowed them to stay while the weather was stranding the entire village. Things could have been much worse.
Going back to her letters, she tucked Margaret’s letter into a pocket to finish reading it at a later time, then took up the last of her letters. Her father had forwarded it on to her from home. She did not recognize the handwriting and quickly opened it and scanned the words inside.
“Oh my,” she said, pressing fingers to her lips as her eyes scanned the letter.
“Something wrong?” Lord Dederick asked, setting his own letter in his lap.
“I’ve been offered a position,” she said. “A good one.”
Lord Dederick’s brows rose as his eyes came to hers.
“A position?” he asked.
“To be a governess,” she said as her eyes continued scanning through the letter. “For a family in Cheltenham. They have three children. Two boys and a girl. They need assistance immediately.”
“Cheltenham is a good distance from here, nearly a days' travel. Do you mean to be so far from your family?”
“I must do as needs be,” she said, looking to him. “My father is getting on in years and he cannot support us forever. It is not as if we have wealthy relatives to fall back on or a fortune to tap into.”
“And that is why both you and your sister work?”
“Yes, of course. When my mother passed, we both took on the responsibility of the household to make sure my father was not overburdened. He has his patients to deal with and that’s more important for him. But we run a simple house, we don’t throw extravagant parties or live as if we have no debt. But again, as father ages, he has had to work less which means less money coming in to fill our larder and pay those debts. Carolina and I both feel it is our responsibility to offer support where we can.”
One Enchanted Winter Page 3