“You’re very kind.” She favored him with a smile. After Jimmy, Mr. Henderson was the member of the household she felt closest to. If she’d had an uncle, perhaps he would have been like Mr. Henderson.
Lenora left the dining room and made her way back toward the stairs, hoping to reach the second floor of the manor unseen and unquestioned, but again, her hopes proved to be in vain.
“Lenora!”
It was the Duchess again. She came sweeping down the stairs looking very put out of countenance. “My chamber hasn’t been tended to!”
“Yes, Your Grace, I apologize.” Lenora bowed her head. “I’m on my way there now.”
“I can’t wait all day, you know,” the Duchess said. “I need you in the ballroom all afternoon. When the flowers arrive, we’ll be making arrangements, and the floor needs to be scrubbed. And then I’ll want you in the kitchen, assisting the cook.”
The kitchen. She could finally get something to eat, something more substantial than a few bites of bread and a carrot. “I’ll hurry,” she pledged.
“It’s very disappointing not to have one’s bedchamber in good condition,” the Duchess said. “I expect better of you, Lenora.”
“Yes, Your Grace.”
“I wouldn’t want you to get carried away with the idea that your position here is guaranteed,” the Duchess said warningly. “We can find you a new situation, if you don’t feel able to keep up with the work that is required in a manor such as this. The Duke deserves to be surrounded by none but the finest servants. I would hate to think that number no longer includes you.” She raised an eyebrow.
“I’ll do better, Your Grace.”
“See that you do.” The Duchess marched past Lenora and into the ballroom.
Lenora scurried up the stairs before the Duchess could return to scold her again. It was utterly unjust, she thought. She had been delayed in her work by the Duchess herself. When was she meant to have set the bedchamber to rights? She could only be in one place at a time.
At least she felt secure in her position. The Duchess might like Lenora to think that she could be dismissed from the manor but, much like Mr. Henderson, Lenora felt confident that the Duke wanted to keep her in his employ. As Lord of the Manor, his decision was what counted. His wife had no power to overrule him.
She entered the Duchess’ chamber and set about straightening things up. This room was always tidier, and therefore less work, than Lady Katherine’s. The breakfast tray was on the bedside table instead of on the floor, and the bedclothes were already lying neatly on the bed. Lenora had only to straighten and tuck them and to shake the pillows back into their proper shape.
When she was finished, she allowed herself a moment to sit at the Duchess’ vanity table and run her fingers over the fine things there. Hair combs, powders, a lacy fan... Lenora closed her eyes and imagined preparing for a ball. What would it be like to have her very own lady’s maid to pin up her hair in the fashionable style, to powder her cheeks, to lace her into a corset and help her into a dress? To be escorted on the arm of a gentleman, someone who would look at her as if she were the most beautiful star in the sky?
Lenora knew that such dreams were impossible for her. What she had said to Jimmy was true. She did not want to dwell in fantasies.
But oh, they're such lovely fantasies!
She rested her fingers on her Lady’s possessions for a few moments longer, wondering whether the Duchess ever stopped to appreciate how fortunate she was to own such beautiful things. Then she stood up, brushed the dust from her dress, and left the room, pulling the door closed behind her. If she was very quiet, perhaps she would be able to stop in the kitchen now and find something hot to eat.
Chapter 2
The front doors of the manor had been flung open wide. Lords and ladies from all over the realm made their way up the stairs, through the foyer, and into the ballroom. Lady Katherine, already on her third turn about the dance floor, glowed in a pale-ivory gown and sparkled up into the rapt gaze of one of her guests.
“He would dance with her all night if he could,” Lenora murmured.
No one responded, of course. Lenora had secreted herself away in the kitchen so she might have a front row seat to the evening’s events. Being in the kitchen meant being able to watch all the guests arriving in their finery, but it also meant she was surrounded by the kitchen staff, none of whom were bold enough to actually dare speaking to Lady Katherine’s barely-tolerated chambermaid.
Lenora did not blame them a bit. If tonight went well, Lady Katherine’s disposition might be pleasant enough tomorrow. But if things went poorly, she would no doubt be in a terrible temper. None of the staff would give her any reason to single them out as targets for her anger.
For now, at least, it was clear that Lady Katherine was having a lovely time. The dance ended and almost immediately another young man appeared at her elbow, holding his hand out to her. Lenora ached to leave the kitchen so that she would be able to see more of the ballroom than just the doorway, but she dared not.
A moment later, Lady Katherine was swept out of sight by her new dance partner.
Lenora, who had been crouched low to peek through the keyhole in the kitchen door, stood up straight and almost backed into the cook.
“Mind your step!” The cook was carrying a large platter of boiled chicken and had to perform a little dance to evade Lenora. “If you knock over the chicken, girl, you’ll answer to Her Grace! I’ll not take the blame for your oafishness.”
Lenora apologized, wishing as she did so that there was somewhere—anywhere—unobtrusive and out of the way in the manor where she could have enjoyed the sights and sounds of the ball. Returning to her own room wasn’t an option, to be sure. Not only would she miss all the excitement, she would also be too far from the rest of the house to hear a summons if her service was needed.
She was, in truth, glad to have the excuse to remain in the main part of the manor rather than retreating to her chamber. It would have been natural for her to do so. She was predisposed to want to be out of the way—or perhaps years of being barely tolerated by the Ladies of the house and the rest of the staff had made her that way. Now, with the manor filled with members of the ton, the last thing Lenora wanted was to be seen.
But she did want to do a bit of watching.
After all, for as much as she loved the finery enjoyed by the Duchess and Lady Katherine, she rarely saw fashions chosen by ladies outside her own home. But tonight was different. She lowered herself to the keyhole again in time to see two ladies in bright gowns, each on the arm of a gentleman, making their way through the foyer.
“Personally, I would never have hydrangeas at my daughter’s ball,” one of the ladies was saying. “I feel they’re a very low-class flower. Very common.”
“Oh? And what would you have chosen, pray?” the other lady asked.
“Something exotic,” the first lady responded. “Something my guests would never have seen before. Something to catch their notice and set them talking.”
The second lady shook her head. “You’ve much to learn about making an impression on the peerage, Madam. You may have married into a title, but your thoughts are those of a commoner. Flowers like the ones you describe would steal attention away from the Lady of the ball. Lady Katherine should be the true flower at this party. The hydrangeas will set off her beauty without distracting from it.”
Lenora heartily agreed with the second lady. Although she and Lady Katherine had never been and would never be close, it was impossible not to notice how lovely she looked tonight. Every time she whirled in front of the open door to the ballroom, passing within Lenora’s line of sight, she caught Lenora’s notice.
Her blonde hair had been pinned elaborately up on top of her head and decorated with a pearl inlaid comb that Lenora had never seen before. It must have been acquired specifically for this ball. The hairstyle showed off Lady Katherine’s long, slender neck and seemed to add a few inches to her height. Her gown
was somehow both girlish and alluring, flowing simply and smoothly from her waist to the floor like falling water. It fanned ever so slightly when she moved.
And she had been given a necklace to wear for the occasion. The ruby at her throat was the only color she wore, but it was a large gemstone and was sure to draw the eye of everyone who saw her tonight. Lenora knew for certain that this gem had not been in the manor before tonight. The Duke must have given it to his daughter.
It all came together to make a lovely picture, and the lords in attendance were definitely noticing. Dozens of eligible men had come tonight, in the company of their mothers and sisters or else on their own.
Some of them didn’t have a chance, though, Lenora thought. The Duchess would never accept a match for her daughter unless he was high ranking. The Lord and Lady Harreton had brought along their son, who Lenora knew would someday inherit the rank of Baron from his father. She was surprised they had even been allowed in the front door. Mr. Harreton had no hope of wedding Lady Katherine.
She heard the music change and knew that Lady Katherine’s dance partner must have changed as well. Who would claim her hand for this dance? It was a spirited number and would not afford much opportunity for conversation, but Lenora did not think that would deter many, if any, of her suitors.
Or would she have remained in the arms of the same man? That seemed unlikely. Lady Katherine would want to be seen—to be desired—by as many men as possible. The more men she danced with, the more men who would think they had the chance to be chosen as her husband when the season came to an end. And that would mean that Lady Katherine would have many options.
Though it would be the Duke who would make the final decision as to who should have her hand, Lenora knew that he would deny his daughter, and her mother, nothing. Whatever the women decided would be permitted.
Lenora stared hard across the now-empty foyer toward the ballroom, trying not to blink. There were so many people here! How many of them harbored hopes of winning Lady Katherine, she wondered, and how many were in attendance merely to take in the spectacle, to enjoy the wonderful food and ensure that they had all the gossip?
The lady who had been criticizing the hydrangeas surely belonged to this second group. Lenora had noticed what her companion had said about her having been a commoner until she married a titled man. As a new member of the peerage, she would be on the outskirts of a party like this. Lenora wondered if she realized that simply by being here, she opened herself up to being gossiped about just as much as the ladies of the manor had by inviting people in. She felt for the poor lady, who mightn’t yet understand what it meant to be a member of the social elite.
“If you’re going to stand there, at least help,” the cook snapped at Lenora. “Don’t just block the door. This is my kitchen.”
She was right, Lenora knew. “How can I help?” She didn’t want to be banished from the kitchen, sent up to her room, unable to see any more of the ball. She wanted to know what was happening. Some ladies, she thought, would have confided things in their maids. Some ladies would have told their maids who they’d danced with, who had worn what, how the food had tasted. But Lady Katherine was not that kind. She would sooner don Lenora’s muslin dress and clean her own chamber pot than actually start a conversation with her.
The cook shoved a cloth into Lenora’s hand and pointed to the sink. “Wash,” she instructed.
Lenora took her place before the sink full of soapy water and dishes and began to scrub. It was an unusual chore for her, and not one she minded at all, although she knew that the kitchen staff who spent hours every day with their hands in the water developed dry skin and aching cracks on their knuckles. For a one-time chore, though, it was nice. The water was warm and soothing, and Lenora quickly established a rhythm. Scrub a dish, dip it, scrub it again, hand it along to be dried. The task allowed her mind to wander.
What would happen when Lady Katherine was married?
Well, presumably she would be leaving the manor, taking up residence in the home of her new husband. But what about Lenora? Although she helped with chores throughout the manor, she had always been Lady Katherine’s chambermaid first and foremost. Would she accompany her Lady to her new home?
Doing so would mean leaving the manor. Leaving the Duke and Duchess behind.
She would have no qualms about bidding the Duchess farewell. Her Grace had always hated Lenora, after all, and had made no secret of it. Everything that went wrong in the manor could be blamed on Lenora, in the Duchess’ opinion. Even the fact that there were no white roses to be had for tonight’s ball had somehow caused her ire to be directed toward Lenora.
But the Duke had always been kind to her, if distant. Lenora liked serving him. To leave his household with Lady Katherine would be a definite disappointment.
And then there was the fact that she would be losing the only home she had ever known. How would she say goodbye to her little chamber, the only place that she had ever felt belonged to her? She had spent so many hours tucked away beneath the vaulted roof sewing new dresses and staring out the window. What if she was forced to say goodbye to the manor? She would never see her room again.
And she would never see Jimmy again, or Mr. Henderson the butler. The only people, Lenora thought, who truly cared for her. She couldn’t possibly do without them.
She felt sure the Duke would never dismiss her from his employ. But what if he decided she could be of more use as a lady’s maid to his daughter?
Of course, Lady Katherine will never want me for her lady’s maid, Lenora thought. That was certainly the truth. Lady Katherine despised Lenora. She would be almost as distraught as Lenora herself if the Duke suggested Lenora as a lady’s maid for her.
There was probably nothing to fear.
Lenora finished washing the dishes in the sink. She stepped back toward the door and the keyhole, moving quietly, hoping not to attract attention and be assigned another chore. She wanted to peek out again, to see who was arriving now and whether she could catch a glimpse of Lady Katherine.
There!
Her Lady spun past the ballroom door, held in the embrace of a lord Lenora did not recognize. She saw that he was tall, strong looking, with soft mahogany hair. He was incredibly handsome. Would this gentleman be the one to claim Lady Katherine’s hand? Lenora only saw them for a moment, but that was long enough to register the way Lady Katherine was looking up into her partner’s eyes. She was captivated, Lenora realized. Whether by his looks or his conversation, Lady Katherine was completely mesmerized.
Lenora had never seen her Lady look like that before.
She’s chosen, Lenora thought, watching her sail out of view. She’s made her choice. She will ask her father for a marriage contract with that gentleman, whoever he is. And the Duke would acquiesce. He would never deny his beloved daughter. The rest of the balls might as well be cancelled. The rest of the suitors might as well go home now. The decision was as good as made.
And, Lenora had to admit, Lady Katherine had chosen well. The gentleman really was astonishingly good looking. She would admit to wondering whether Lady Katherine would have taken anyone—no matter how unattractive, ill mannered, or dull he might have been—as long as his wealth and station were pleasing to her. But she seemed to have found a good match.
Suddenly wanting no further part of the ball, Lenora retreated from the knot in the wood, thinking to retire upstairs to her room. She had seen what she had come to see—the guests in their beautiful attire, the dancing, the decor. She had enough memories of the ball tonight that she would be able to reconstruct it in her head for weeks to come. She would be able to dwell comfortably in daydreams of balls, balls that she had been invited to attend. She would be able to imagine dancing across the floor in the arms of a gentleman like the one Lady Katherine was with right now.
It was enough. She didn’t want to watch the ball end. She didn’t want to see all the lords and ladies leave. She didn’t want to see how much time Lady Katheri
ne spent with the gentleman she’d chosen.
Why did she suddenly feel so sad?
“Lenora,” the cook snapped, “take this platter out to the dining room.”
She blinked. “What?”
“You heard what I said. Dinner will be served shortly, and it’s time to prepare the table. Take the soup. And mind you don’t spill any, Her Grace won’t like that a bit.”
“But—” Lenora shook her head. “I can’t take the soup to the dining room.”
“And why not, may I ask?”
“They’ll see me.” Her fingers flew automatically to her eyepatch. “The guests will see me.”
“The guests know there are servants in the house,” the cook said. “Someone has to take the food out.”
“You know Her Grace won’t like to know I’ve been down here.”
“A thing you perhaps should have considered before spending all evening down here.” The cook thrust the soup into Lenora’s arms. “Take it out now. If you go quickly, you may avoid being seen. If you tarry, the guests will begin making their way into the dining room and you’ll be sure to be noticed.”
There was nothing to be done. Lenora edged her way out into the foyer, hoping desperately that she would not be seen. Fortunately, it seemed that no more guests were arriving, at least for the moment. The stream of lords and ladies that had been flowing from the manor’s entrance through the foyer and into the ballroom had slowed to a trickle. Lenora hurried across the foyer and into the dining room, hugging the soup to her chest.
Although the doors between the dining room and the ballroom stood wide open, affording the people in each room a perfectly good view of the other, Lenora knew that if she stayed close to the walls she wouldn’t be seen. It was a difficult decision. She longed to stand in the center of the dining room, where the view would be best, and take in the sight of the ball. The urge to retreat to her room had not left her, but the ball was right there before her. Surely a little peek couldn’t hurt anything?
Perfectly Mismatched With The Duke (Historical Regency Romance) Page 28