Page 11 of The Gentlewoman Companion

Chapter Three

With a basket of lavender and de-thorned roses clutched to her chest, Louisa darted inside the manor through the kitchen door. She dropped the flowers into the corner, threw off her apron, and cursed herself for volunteering to bring Lady Halverton breakfast. A maid would have done just as well. Better, in fact. Yet, Louisa had offered, wanting to impress her employer and be the first person to greet her mistress each morning. Louisa aimed to secure her position by performing her duties flawlessly, yet she’d already failed.

“She’s waiting on you, miss. Hasn’t called for anyone else to bring up her breakfast. Our mistress is more patient than a frog waiting for a fly,” Cook told her. “I remade the tea fresh. Take it up and be quick.”

Louisa grasped the tray’s handles.

Cook tsked. “Wash up.” She waved Louisa to a bucket of water.

Louisa glanced at her green-stained hands and flushed. In the garden, creeping buttercup had been encroaching upon the lavender, so she’d spent the better part of an hour yanking out the pernicious weed. Again, not her duty, but like scratching an itch, the work released some of the tension that had tightened her chest upon waking that morning.

“Will you put the flowers in water?” Louisa asked, massaging tallow soap into her emerald palm. “Please?”

Cook sighed but abandoned her rolling pin to drop the flowers into a pail.

“Thank you.” Louisa tried to smile, but Cook’s expression did not invite reconciliation.

Louisa took a rose and placed it across the tray before mounting the stairs to the countess. She knocked and entered Lady Halverton’s room. Draped in flowery brocades and covered in silk, the majesty of the room halted her step. She wanted to abandon the tray and test the soft mound of Lady Halverton’s bed.

Wrapped in a ruby dressing gown, the lady reclined on a settee with A Treatise of Human Nature resting between her knees. Without looking up, she raised a finger to Louisa, signaling her not to interrupt.

Louisa arranged the tray on a small, round table near the window and began to retreat.

“There.” Lady Halverton snapped the book shut. “What a way to begin the day. I believe I shall make a habit of reading before breakfast.”

Louisa was unsure whether to call attention to her tardiness with an apology. “A lovely idea, Lady Halverton.”

“Although I must say, I prefer my breakfast at seven, not…” Lady Halverton glanced at the clock, “a quarter past eight.” She softened the reprimand with smile and moved to the table. “Join me? I’ll ring for another cup.”

Before Louisa could recuse herself due to the grass stains on her skirt, the bell resounded. She sat across from her mistress.

“My lady, you are too kind. Please let me explain. I took to the gardens early and, oh, the morning air and the sunrise! The beautiful grounds! I lost track of time. But that is no excuse. Please, accept my apologies. I will heed the hour tomorrow.”

“You are a daybreak devotee, like myself.”

Lady Halverton seemed to have nothing else to say on the matter. Was her tardiness to be so easily forgiven? Louisa did not know how to respond to Lady Halverton’s patience. Unaccustomed to such unflappability, she could not be certain whether the generosity was truly as it appeared…or what she deserved.

A maid brought more dishes, which Louisa stared at for a moment until she realized she was meant to pour tea.

“There, my lady.” Louisa delivered a cup, complete with sugar.

Lady Halverton accepted the tea and took a sip. “By the by, James told me you took Daisy over a fence yesterday.”

Louisa’s heart slid upwards and pounded against her throat. “I will not do it again.” She could not look up for fear of seeing Lady Halverton’s disappointment.

“I should hope not. Too many are injured or killed on horseback for you to be unaware of the danger.”

The sharp edge to her voice was more concern than outrage, but it wrenched Louisa’s heart. How had she not considered Lady Halverton when she’d decided to jump that fence? “Yes, my lady.”

She heard Lady Halverton swallow her tea. “Which fence did you jump?” The sharpness was gone, replaced by genuine curiosity.

Louisa glanced up. “The barrier around the paddock.”

“Not easy for a beginner.”

She shrugged a shoulder. “Daisy knew what to do.”

“How ever did you keep your seat?” Lady Halverton leaned forward.