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“We do, indeed,” she muttered.

And that was how Anna secured her position.

* * *

It was very different being a housemaid to the richest banker’s family in London than at Miss Hilversham’s Seminary for Young Ladies in Bath. True, the chores remained the same, and Anna still rose long before dawn and collapsed in bed long past midnight. Yet the Marchmont household was immense, the domestics numerous, and she did not have to work on her own. The lady of the house, Mrs Marchmont, was a beautiful but proud woman, the other maids told her. Anna had not met her yet, as she had received strict instructions to remain out of their way.

“You are to turn to the wall whenever you encounter Mr or Mrs Marchmont, or any of their family. You are meant to be invisible,” Mrs Billings drilled into them every morning.

Hetty was the head housemaid. She was cheerful and hard-working, and Anna found herself lucky to have met her when she did. Hetty supervised the housemaids. The maids were younger, hardly older than Phoebe. Because of her age, Anna was treated with respect; however, because she was a newcomer, she was also regarded with some mistrust.

Otherwise, Anna’s tasks were the same as at the seminary: she was to make the fires in the bedrooms, clear out the slops, make the beds, sweep the floors, and bring fresh water to the rooms.

It was hard work, and her fingers grew red and chapped again within a fortnight. She thought wistfully of the jar of rose cream in her room at Hungersford Hall.

At night, she lay in her cot in a small room in the attic, which she shared with Mary and Jane. Jules, too, would have to share his quarters. It was either that, or moving out of the Albany to cheaper accommodation.

He believed her to have obtained a genteel position as a governess somewhere. The last thing he told her before they parted was that he would look for a position as a clerk in a solicitor’s office.

She hoped and prayed that he did, indeed, do so.

When the lights were out and she was supposed to sleep, her thoughts drifted back. Back to the golden summer days that had passed so quickly.

Back to an ancient family hall overgrown with roses, where an earl lived, reputed to be mad.

It was as if those days had never happened.

She rubbed her aching hands and tried to ignore the dull pain in her heart that had taken up residence there ever since she’d left Hungersford Hall.

What was he doing now?

Was he eating properly?

Was he resting when he should?

What if he was ignoring the signs and overworking?

What if he had another attack again, and he fell out of his bed in the middle of the night, and Marks didn’t know it and would only find him in the morning on the cold floor? What if he hit his head when he fell?

Anguish seared through her.

A tear slid down her cheek, and she licked it up with her tongue.

Through the little attic window, the moonlight pooled and drew pale circles on her pillow.

Chapter 20

There was hardly any evening when the Marchmonts did not entertain in their grand townhouse in Grosvenor Square. Whether it be an afternoon tea, a soiree with a supper, a card party, or a more crowded rout. Now and then, the footmen were instructed to roll aside the carpets in the red saloon to ready it for dancing. Chandeliers had to be cleaned until they sparkled, the silver polished, napkins folded, lamps and candles had to be checked, wicks trimmed, furniture polished, flowers arranged. The list was endless.

Anna spent the entire morning folding the napkins into elaborate swans. It was one of the less unpleasant activities, especially since she did so together with Hetty, who was in a talkative mood.

“I’ve seen the guest list,” Hetty said as she folded a napkin. “Mrs Marchmont has outdone herself this time. We have one duke, two marquesses, one earl, one viscount and one count coming tonight.”She set a finished swan on the table. “There. Isn’t it pretty?”

“Very. I can’t get them to turn out as pretty as yours.”

“It’s practice. I’ve had to do this so many times, I vow I can do it in my sleep. Oh, and Anna, on account of so many people of Quality coming tonight, Mrs Marchmont insists on the maids being in attendance as well.”

“In attendance, how so?” Maids were required to remain behind the scenes and stay out of sight at all times.