Page 44 of The Consolation Prize

“I see,” Una replied. “How do you think he will manage without you at the mill, Janet? Did you tell him you were coming along today?”

Janet snorted. “Not likely!

Otho coughed, “How old are you, Janet?” he interrupted loudly.

“Twenty,” she answered promptly. “And not the smallest push has my father made to find me a husband!” she added, a light kindling in her eye. “An unpaid drudge, that’s what I am,” she said darkly. “Taken for granted and expected to pick up after those three oafs who call themselves my brothers!”

“I expect it’s far too convenient for your father to keep you at home,” Una commented sympathetically.

“That’s what I says! And what does my Aunt Matthews say, but that I must be patient and do my duty by my family,” she pressed her lips together. “And I says, what have I been doing this past twenty years, that’s what I should like to know! If I don’t look sharp, I shall be in the same place in another twenty years and end up an old maid!”

“A young woman does need to plan for her future,” Una agreed, as Otho looked increasingly annoyed that the formal interview he had planned, was turning into an exchange of female confidences.

“Now, what I wants to know is this,” said Janet, leaning forward in her seat. “Is bed and board included, as there’s sure to be a ruckus when Pa finds I’m jumping ship.”

Otho opened his mouth, a disagreeable expression on his face.

“Certainly, there is,” Una responded, forestalling her brother smoothly. “Though there is the likelihood you may need to share a bedchamber with another maid.”

“Lord, I won’t fret about that,” Janet said, settling back in her seat, looking vastly contented.

“How soon can you join us here at Lynwode?” Una asked.

“Lord bless you, milady, I only needs to throw a few things in a sack, and I can be with you this very evening!”

Otho collapsed back in his seat, looking defeated.

*

She did not see Armand until before supper, when they met in their bedchamber. Una, who had just changed her dress, looked back over her shoulder to see him looking dusty and cobweb strewn, and guessed he had only just emerged from the attics. “There’s clean water on the side,” she told him, and he headed for it immediately to wash. “It must be dirty in those attics.”

He grunted in agreement. “Extremely.”

“Shall I lay out a clean suit of clothes for you?” she asked, turning to look at him critically.

He looked down at himself in surprise. “I’ll just dust myself off,” he said, then looked at her with dawning suspicion. “Are we expecting guests for supper?”

“No, no,” she hastened to assure him. “’Tis only …” Her words trailed off.

“What?” he asked. “Tell me.”

“Well,”—Una, fussed with the pleats at her beaded waistband—“’tis only that tonight will be the first night that we take supper with our whole household in the great chamber.”

“Whole household?” Armand asked, with a lift of his eyebrows.

“Otho hired Peter, Mr. Beverley, Mrs. Brickenden, and Janet today.”

“I have met Peter,” Armand said, “but who are the others?”

“Mr. Beverley is the cook.”

“Ah yes, I have heard of him,” Armand said dryly, turning back to the basin of water and scrubbing his neck with a cloth. “His reputation precedes him. Or should I say ill fame?”

“He is cooking for us tonight in any case,” Una informed him. “Mrs. Brickenden apparently will not be joining us until the end of the week, but Janet our new maid will be there.”

“Oh yes?” Armand did not sound particularly interested. “So, I am expected to put on a clean outfit to impress our servants, am I?” Una did not answer, and after a moment he turned to survey her. “Una?”

“No, of course not,” she said quietly and started to walk toward the door. She wasn’t sure how it happened, but somehow, suddenly Armand was stood in front of her, blocking her way. She blinked at him with surprise, for he moved with surprising rapidity for such a large male. He caught her wrist and held her arm out, surveying her dress of rich gold brocade.