“I’m determining if we need another servant.”
“A lady’s maid?”
June laughed. “And what do we need one of those for?”
“To do our hair, help us dress…”
“We have each other.”
“But a maid could do the modern styles, help us look our very best. His Grace said we’d be having a Season.”
“The others will. You are still too young to be out.”
She groaned in frustration. “Really, am I too young for everything?”
“No, you are just the right age to help me get some water boiling.”
“A cook. We should hire another assistant for cook.”
June had thought of it. “I think the castle has its own staff as well, so when we blend there, we can work out different responsibilities among the staff. It’s just one more month.”
Grace grinned. “I can’t wait. I love the castle. And then no one can forbid me to enter or explore, because we will all live there.”
“That is true. There will be areas blocked off for safety reasons while the renovations continue, but we shall have a rather large area that is our own living space.”
“Do you think this is what Uncle wanted for us?”
“Perhaps.” June toyed with her quill. They had all loved their uncle, the Earl of Beaufort, as old and confused as he sometimes became. He had swept in and picked up the pieces of their broken lives, hugged the loneliness out of them, and helped them feel centered and loved. His loss was one of their greatest, almost to the intensity of losing their parents. “Regardless of his intent, we are making the best of it, are we not?”
“Yes. I’m just grateful we have each other.” She curled closer and rested her head on June’s shoulder.
“I feel the same, sweet.” She tipped her head so it rested on the top of Grace’s. They sat thus for a moment more. Then June knew it was time to begin the day. “We have our studies this morning. And our dancing instruction this afternoon.”
“Will we ever have a man to practice with?”
“Someday, when we dance the real thing.” June laughed. “Am I not a good enough dance partner?”
“You’re excellent.” Grace’s tone and expression said just the opposite.
“I hope one day to see you all happily wed. You know that. Perhaps with the duke’s help, we can secure good matches for each one of you.”
“And you.” Grace’s large and caring eyes made June’s heart clench.
“You are a dear, but I might feel happiest just to see each one of you settled.”
“And perhaps one of us will marry gobs of money, enough to care for us until our dying days.”
“That would be wonderful, but the only thing I ask is you also marry for happiness.”
Grace nodded. “But don’t you think all manner of happiness could be found, if the living is comfortable?”
“I suppose.” June didn’t wish to fill her sister’s head with romantic fancies. For a woman in the Standish sisters’ financial state could not afford to be romantic in her choice of marriage partner. But they could insist on happiness, on comfort or security. She hoped they could at least strive for that.
After a modest breakfast, all five sisters met in the music and school room. June smiled at them all. Every now and then, she had to relax about their many worries and just appreciate the good that surrounded them. Grace, Lucy, Kate, and Charity were the best of women, the very best she knew, at any rate, and she was intensely proud of every one.
They’d converted an additional sitting room to their place of projects. On one end, the easels were set, with large, billowing fabric covering the floor to catch the paint. They had a pianoforte, a smaller harp, needlepoint, and on the other end of the room, a large blackboard and a bookshelf full of books. Their library might be small compared to some, but it was full of June’s most prized possessions.
As the only Standish daughter who’d had a governess, and she for only a short amount of time, June spent an hour every day working on their deportment, the rules of society, their manners, and their general instruction in the ways of a gently bred lady.
“And what if I do not wish for a gently bred man?” Charity’s stubborn streak grew the longer they lived in Sussex. June wasn’t sure what drove her stronger sensibilities.
“I just want you happy, and in most cases, that means with enough food on the table, an established place to live, and a good man. If that can be found in the working classes, then all the happier I will be, since you profess to prefer such a life.”
“‘Such a life.’ What a snob you are, June.”
“Tsk. She’s not a snob.” Kate shifted her skirts. “She does well by us to show us how to present ourselves. I, for one, do not wish to be embarrassed when next the Duchess of York stops in.”
“Oh, she is the utmost. That woman’s nose is so far in the air, I’m surprised she can walk.” Charity shook her head.
“We are grateful for their goodness to us. All our fine dresses come from her and the others.”
“Yes.” Kate slumped in her seat. “Last year’s fashions.”
“And still plenty ostentatious.” Charity lifted her skirts. “Who needs embroidery on the hem? Lace I can see, but embroidery? It just gets dirty on these roads and is impossible to wash out.”
“Then don’t be wearing the embroidery while out exploring the dirty roads.” Kate poked her needle into the handkerchief she was sewing.
“What are you making?” June leaned closer.
“I’m hoping to have a stack of these for when we go to dinners and balls in Brighton. Then a man could know where to return it.” She’d sewn pretty flowers on the edges, as well as her initials and Northumber Castle.
“That’s lovely.” June lifted her book. “Now, allow me to finish.” She read to them from Shakespeare, and had more interest than in her previous descriptions of the early royal lineage. They would follow up the literature lesson with French, and then lunch.
In a break in her reading, Grace piped up, “We’ll have dancing this afternoon.”
“Do we have Jacques to come instruct us?” Charity’s hopeful expression gave June pause.
“No, not today. We will be working on the country dances. And those are simple enough to memorize without Jacques. He will come next week for the waltz.”
“Oh, I love the waltz.” Grace clapped her hands together.
“As do I.” Kate put down her embroidery, her black, shiny curls bouncing at her neck. “Do you think we could have a new bonnet for the promenade on Tuesday?”
“What promenade?” June searched her memory for mention of a promenade.
“Oh, come, June. Pay attention. Prinny will be back in town, and everyone will begin walking up and down the green. Everyone who is here will attend. It is the prime location for us to be seen and make an impression.” She paused in a rather dramatic manner. “If we make a good impression.”
“I wish to make a good impression. Do you think we need new bonnets?” Grace looked from June to Kate and back.
“I think we will make the best impression, no matter what kind of bonnets are on our heads.” June set the book aside. But inside she worried about just such a thing. Would they be able to be seen as anything other than charity to the gentry? Perhaps a bonnet would help? She shook her head. Everything seemed so overwhelming at times. She’d never had a Season herself. Her parents had fallen ill, and were taken from them around the time she would have started to prepare. What did she really know about any such thing? “No matter what, we must be a Standish daughter, women with a heritage to be proud of.”
Stenson stepped into their small parlor. “The Duchess of Sussex here to see you.”
June sucked in her breath. The arrival of the Duchess was a mixed blessing. “You know how we must receive her.”
They all stood taller, painted blank expressions on their faces, and moved to the front sitting room, reserved almost solely for visits from the nobilit
y—and in this case, the royal family. As soon as they were situated, each with a different manner of amusement—embroidery, reading, drawing, and two opposite a chess board, though no one had moved a single piece in ages—Stenson opened their door. “The Duchess of Sussex.”
The Standish sisters stood and curtsied.
Their guest smiled, and her eyes twinkled. “Oh, my lovelies, my dears. Let me have a look at you.” She held out her hands. She kept such a youth and vigor about her, June had vowed to do the same. Kate admired her clothing. Lucy coveted her title, and Charity looked at her with great suspicion.
June curtseyed again. “It is good to see you, Your Grace. You do us honor by your visit.”
“I find so much happiness aiding in your situation, such as it is.” She studied them for a moment, and June wondered if she’d break out in tears right then. “Oh, and aren’t you the most deserving.” She placed hands on her heart. “To think, so reduced in situation, so noble in bearing. You are all to be commended for your fortitude.”
“Thank you, Your Grace.” June dipped her head. “Would you care for some tea? Coffee?”
“Oh, thank you, if you can spare some.”
“We have ample.” June nodded to their maid, who waited just outside the door.
As soon as Her Grace was seated, she adjusted her skirts. They flowed in an elegant manner to the floor. The delicate flowers that lined her hemline, the tiny sparkles of gems which glittered when the sun touched them, must have been fascinating to June’s most fashion-conscious sister, Kate.
“Has the Duchess of York been by?” The Duchess of Sussex asked, as though she didn’t care, but June knew their answer would pester and bother her for days.
And Charity did too. “She has, and she brought us the most exquisite gowns. They must have been her own, they were so lovely. To everyone who asks, we must positively gush about the Duchess of York and her deep generosity.”
“Oh, did she? That’s nice, isn’t it? Hmm.” She narrowed her eyes and waved her hand. A servant in the Sussex livery appeared in the doorway as if summoned from invisibility. “Please bring in the packages.”
He nodded.
“Well, I have brought some of my own.”
Kate gasped and placed hands at the side of her face. “Oh, thank you, Your Grace, for your sense of style is exquisite. I have been studying just now how perfectly you wear your clothing. Of all the ladies, you are my most favorite.”
The duchess beamed. “I appreciate a woman who understands the finer details of fashion. Which one are you?” She lifted a quizzing glass. “Come here.”
Kate almost tripped over herself to rush to Her Grace’s side.
“Ah, yes. Miss Kate, is it?”
“Yes, Your Grace. If it pleases you.”
“You shall have my brooch.”
Their sister Lucy gasped, but June waved her to hush.
“Thank you.” Kate’s curtsy was low and grateful.
“I have brought dishes as well, and some food from cook’s kitchen. We live near enough you should be recipients of our finest.”
“Thank you. You could not dote upon more grateful servants.”
“Now that we are here in Brighton for a smaller Season, I plan to visit often. Whenever we are here in our Sussex estate, we will be sure to pay you a call.”
“We will look forward to the honor.”
The tea service arrived. “How would you like your tea?”
They ate and sipped, and the duchess filled them in on the gossip of the ton and from London.
“Oh, you sisters would love London. Imagine a Season in Town. Wouldn’t that be so exciting! I cannot fathom how your forbearers could leave you with so little, so paltry your opportunities to attend such delights as a Season. I know a handsome earl. He would be perfect for one of you.” She clucked. “A pity you could not go even one Season.”
“Yes, pity.” Charity’s look of mock sorrow almost made June laugh, and she hoped the duchess would not see the duplicitous expression. Did the duchess not know the hurt her words could cause? Or did she really think the sisters didn’t feel their situation keenly enough without her comments?
They chatted a few moments more and then bade the woman goodbye. She left piles of things in the entry. June should be grateful for the gifts, and she was. But unless the gowns fit, it was an expense to alter them, or a lot of work for the sisters. Kate was becoming quite proficient with a needle.
After lunch, and once the duchess departed, the sisters gathered back in the music room. Grace sat at the piano. “But I wish to dance this time. Someone give me a chance to practice the steps.”
“We will, but after the rest of us have a go. You’re the youngest.”
“I know.” Grace frowned. “So you all keep saying.”
“Well, there is less a need for you to learn, as you won’t even be dancing.”
“Thank you, Lucy.”
“We all know Lucy is going to marry money, and then the rest of us won’t have to worry about getting married.” Charity waved her hand in Lucy’s direction.
“I’d like to get married.” Kate pouted. “And so would everyone else, I imagine, including June.”
“Yes, even me. But we’ll worry about the rest of you first.” She hid her sadness. Even June. She was not a spinster, not even close to being on the shelf, but she just didn’t think she could spend the effort getting herself married when she had so many others to be concerned with.
Grace started in on a well-known country dance, and June called out the steps while she did them. “You see? I start, and then I must add my own flair here. You watch and repeat.”
The girls stepped together with imaginary partners, waited while their partners would have done the same, and then repeated. It was a bit confusing at times, but it worked well enough.
Then Stenson, their very young butler, stepped into the room. “A Lord Morley to see you.”
The girls froze. Kate whispered, “Who?”
June’s heart skipped, and the pause between beats thundered in her chest. “I—” Her voice cracked. “I do believe that is Morley?”
“The nice man who came with the duke? He’s an earl?”
“Yes, he was introduced as such, but His Grace called him Morley so often, the ‘earl’ part didn’t stick. I do hope we did not follow suit and omit his title.” Lucy clucked. “To neglect to use a man’s title without permission is an insult in the highest order.”
“Yes, thank you, Lucy.” June stood and straightened her dress, urging the girls to rise as well. They rolled the carpet back where it should be and patted down their hair. “Send him in, Stenson.”
He nodded. “Very good, miss.”
“Does anyone else think Stenson looks like a young boy playing a part?” Charity giggled.
“Hush.” June shook her head.
And in walked Lord Morley, the man she’d thought of constantly since their meeting, the most handsome man of her albeit limited acquaintance. He filled the room with his large stature, his strong shoulders, his brilliant jawline, with the crisp white of his cravat brushing against it. His gaze flitted through the sisters and rested on June. And then the corner of his mouth lifted in a soft smile. “Miss Standish.” He bowed. “Miss Charity, Miss Lucy, Miss Kate, and Miss Grace.”
Grace giggled from behind the piano.
They all curtsied.
Then June stepped forward. “We are so happy you have come. Please, take a seat. Would you like some tea?”
“Tea would be wonderful, thank you.”
Grace tripped off to the kitchen to inform their cook.
And June wasn’t sure she could form words. Why had he come? The idea he would arrive to pay a social call filled her with hope, a hope she tried to tamp out.
“Tell us the news of London.” Kate asked all their visitors to talk of London. Usually she was most seeking news of fashion, but as Lord Morley would likely know little of those kinds of details, June supposed Kate would be sat
isfied with whatever snippets she could glean.
“Things are warming up in London, just enough to almost be pleasant.” He laughed. “Not many families stayed on. I expect the Season to pick up in high form in a month or two. I hear that many of the families have come to Brighton.”
“We hear the same.” Kate fluffed her skirts. “In fact, we were just talking of doing a promenade on the green tomorrow. Will you be staying long?”
“I will be here for a few weeks or more, I believe.” His gaze flitted to June’s.
When June didn’t respond, for she wasn’t sure what to say at all to his statement. She was most desperately pleased, but so impatient with herself for thinking in such a way. Charity kicked her ankle. June started. “I’m happy to hear it. Would you care to join us tomorrow in our promenade? Like Miss Kate said, you are likely to see most everyone from Brighton at one point or another on the green.”
“I should very much enjoy the outing, thank you.”
The tea arrived, and June busied herself with the pouring. Why had he come? She couldn’t account for it. And even though his gaze rested on her more than anywhere else, nothing could make sense in her mind as to why that would be.
Chapter Three
Morley sipped his tea. “You have a lovely room here. What was I interrupting? From the looks of it, great reading, studies, and perhaps some music?”
“Yes, we were dancing. June teaches us when the instructor cannot come. It’s not as lovely as if we had partners, but it is fun, even though I’m on the pianoforte.” Grace, the youngest, talked a great deal.
Morley enjoyed her the last time he had come. “And have you had opportunity to explore the castle, as you most desired?”
“We have not.” June seemed to find the crumbling state of the building depressing.
Grace smiled and leaned forward in her seat. “Will you be doing any exploring of the castle while you are here?”
“Grace.” June’s smile warmed Morley’s heart.
“I would indeed like to do some exploring, and I welcome all Standish sisters who care to come.”
“Oh, I would love to come.” Grace clasped her hands. “It is absolutely my fondest desire to visit the castle.”
The Earl's Winning Wager Page 2