Mrs. Collard, the housekeeper, motioned her inside. “Well, Athey, was he there?”
Being called Athey, just as if she were someone important, was only one of the reasons Sally liked working at the dower house. “Yes, ma’am. I pretended to be interested in him, just like the other times, and told him her ladyship was going to Bath, just like you asked me to do.”
“You didn’t give him the tale too easily?”
She shook her head. “No, ma’am. I made him repeat all the promises.” She wiped her hand on her pinafore. “He kissed my hand and got it wet.”
Mrs. Collard harrumphed. “You’re lucky he didn’t try to kiss anything else.” She narrowed her eyes. “He didn’t, did he?”
“No, ma’am. I would never have allowed that. Not to mention his lips look flabby. It’s no wonder Lady Mary don’t wish to marry him.”
“Bad business this is,” Mrs. Collard said in a fierce tone. “Come along now. You must pack. Her ladyship said you could go to Bath with her and begin your training.”
Sally almost couldn’t speak.Bath!She’d never in her life been more than five miles from Market Harborough. Now she was to be taught how to be a lady’s maid too, and all for helping poor Lady Mary escape that nasty Mr. Tolliver, which Sally would have done for nothing. “Yes, ma’am. I’ll be ready!”
After dinner, Mary, her grandmother, and her aunt repaired to the drawing room for tea.
“There you are,” Eunice proclaimed, handing Mary a cup.
It was time to beard the lion, take the bull by its horns, and any number of other things.
“Just how is it you know about this house you wish me to go to?” Mary asked.
Grandmamma sipped her drink, which look suspiciously like brandy. “The current steward of the estate is cousin to the”—she paused for a moment—“Bridgewater steward. I had a discussion with him during my twice yearly visit.”
Mary had the distinct impression that her grandmother wasn’t being truthful. “Go on.”
“It seems the man’s cousin has been in poor health and could use some help.”
“I am to act as the estate manager then?”
“No.” Grandmamma pounded that infernal cane on the floor. “You are to act as its mistress. This is the perfect solution to all of your troubles.”
Her scheme had all the makings of a disaster.
After a restless night planning and rejecting ideas to stop her grandmother, Mary awoke to blackbirds bickering outside her window. Sitting up, she watched as the lady bird threw out the bit of moss her husband tried to place in the nest. It did not appear as if he was having any more luck in his task than she was having in hers. She hoped the poor male bird would win at least one argument. Before too long, the sounds of Mathers in the dressing room reminded Mary she must rise.
A few minutes later, slowly drinking the tea that had been placed on her night table, as if she could delay the inevitable, she continued to cast around for an alternative arrangement to the one proposed by her grandmother and aunt. Yet nothing came to her. If only she had some other place or person to go to where she’d be safe. Unfortunately all her friends were in Town for the Season, and it wasn’t fair to burden them with her presence for a year, not to mention placing them in possible danger as well.
Mathers walked in from the dressing room. “I’ll send for your wash water. I have just been informed that Her Grace wishes to depart within the hour. We will travel with her until she thinks it’s safe for us to go north.”
Flopping back against her pillows, Mary groaned. “Bring me some toast and an egg as well, please. Once she starts a trip, she doesn’t like to stop.”
“I’ll ask Cook to make a basket.” The maid turned to go, then stopped. “For all of us.”
The twelfth of September 1816
My dear Lucinda,
Our plan has finally been set in motion. I sent E and M north to-day. They should arrive in no more than four or five days. With any luck at all, by this time next year our two dear grandchildren will be wed.
Yr faithful friend,
C.
Dowager Duchess of Bridgewater
The fifteenth of September 1816
