AllFreeNovel
Share Us
"I think she'll be thrilled." With the greatest of efforts, Julian raised his head, enjoying the dazed look in his wife's eyes—and the disappointment on her face. "I also think we'd best leave this room right now, before my resolve completely shatters and I take you right here, right now, and Barnes be damned."
With that, he inhaled sharply, and having regained a modicum of composure, he opened the door. "No one's about," he muttered, peeking into the hallway. He glanced back at Aurora. "Are you ready?"
"My knees are still shaking. Other than that, I'm ready."
Julian grinned. "Then I see but one solution." He swept Aurora into his arms, then strode out of the sitting room and toward the stairway. "So far, so good," he announced cheerfully, assessing the deserted hallway before taking the steps two at a time. "Perhaps we'll make it undetected, after all."
"Perhaps." Aurora was laughing so hard she could barely speak. "On the other hand, perhaps the servants are purposely avoiding us."
"Don't bet on it. My staff is anything but shy." Julian rounded the second floor landing, headed purposefully for his chambers.
"Safe," Aurora proclaimed as they crossed the threshold. "I never thought we'd actually succeed in getting past…" She broke off, her jaw dropping.
"As you can see, we didn't." Julian deposited her on the bed, then began unbuttoning his shirt, nodding at Gin, who squatted in the center of the room pouring pots of steaming water into a large copper tub. "Is that bath for me or the duchess?" Julian inquired nonchalantly.
"This one's yers." Gin rose, dragging his forearm across his forehead. "I prepared Mrs. Merlin's first. It's waitin' in 'er chambers. By the way—" He gave Aurora a questioning look. "It's all right if I call ye Mrs. Merlin, ain't it? I 'eard ye give it to Stone as one of 'is choices, and I like the sound of it a lot better than I do Lady Aurora. I also 'eard Merlin mention somethin' about goin' to Fowey. I figured he meant tonight—Merlin ain't much on waitin'. Then I guess ye already found that out. Anyway, yer clothes were in no condition to go visitin', so I assumed ye'd be wantin' a bath. Course, I did mean to ask, but the sittin' room door was locked when I tried it, alertin' me to the fact that the two of ye wouldn't be wantin' company. So, I just went ahead and prepared the baths. All I need to know is, who ye'd like to assist ye?"
Sprawled in the center of the bed, Aurora gaped, utterly speechless.
"Now we're even, ain't we Mrs. Merlin?" A broad grin split Gin's bearded face. "Looks like we're both real good at surprises."
"Yes," she conceded, her eyes beginning to twinkle. "It appears we are."
"You're a bit much, even for my wife," Julian advised his valet. "Therefore, until she recovers from the shock of your actions—not to mention your eavesdropping, I'll answer for her." He tossed aside his shirt, sitting on the edge of the bed to remove his boots. "Aurora's decided she'd like Emma as her maid. Isn't that right, soleil?"
Aurora nodded, her shoulders beginning to shake with laughter. "Yes. Although I'm sure that comes as no surprise to your valet. Doubtless he's already heard that bit of news."
Gin emitted a whoop of pleasure. "No. That one I missed. I'll be a son of a…"
"Gin." Julian's reprimand sliced the air.
"'Cuse me, ma'am." The valet cleared his throat. "Emma's gonna be thrilled. I'll get 'er."
"By all means. And Gin—" Aurora held up her hand to delay his exit. "Thank you for your thoughtfulness and your attention to detail. To answer your questions, Mrs. Merlin is a perfect form of address and Emma, as you just heard, is indeed my choice for lady's maid. I have but one request: now that we're even, would it be possible for you to refrain from making any surprise appearances in my bedchamber—or Julian's for that matter—just in case I happen to be in a state of undress?"
Gin's dark eyes sparkled with humor. "It'd be more than possible. And I'd better stop those surprise appearances in more than just yer bedchambers, if my visit to the sittin' room this afternoon is any indication. Yup, I think I'll start knockin' on all the doors from now on, just to be safe. Ye see? Ye got nothin' to worry about. I might be rough around the edges, but I'm a gentleman through and through—and that alone will keep me honest." He cast a sidelong look at Julian, chuckling at the warning look in his employer's eyes. "That, plus the fact that if I walked in on ye Merlin would kill me."
* * *
"You look lovely, ma'am." For the fifth time Emma curtsied, this time as she slipped the final pin i
n Aurora's hair. "Can I do anything else? Get you gloves? A fan?"
Aurora rose from her dressing table and smiled. "No, thank you, Emma. You've done a wonderful job of arranging my hair and helping me dress—no one would ever know this was your first day as a lady's maid. As for gloves and a fan, they're too formal for where I'm going this evening."
"Very good, m'lady. Thank you." Another curtsy.
"Emma." Aurora lay a gentle hand on her shoulder. "'Tis I who should be thanking you. I'm as new at—" A twinkle. "—Merlin Manor as you are to the duties you just performed. I'm delighted to have a young woman to talk to, and one who can arrange hair so beautifully. I'm grateful you accepted the position as my lady's maid. But, given what I've told you about my propensity for getting into trouble, please—save your energy for extricating me, not for curtsying."
The young girl nodded vigorously. "Thank you, ma'am. I will." She smoothed the skirts of Aurora's beige muslin gown. "Would you like to wear a necklace? Some jewels would brighten up this dress."
"No, I think not." Aurora glanced down at herself and shook her head. "Given my destination, looking drab is appropriate—and inconspicuous. Jewels would only hinder things. But I do need my reticule." She walked over and scooped up the small satin bag. "This is a necessary adornment."
"Of course. You never know when you'll need a handkerchief or some hair pins."
"True." Aurora ran her fingers over the reticule's smooth, cool surface, then pulled the cords tightly closed, tucking the bag securely against her side. "A handkerchief, hairpins … or some other crucial item." Raising her chin, she assessed herself in the looking glass. "You just never know what you might need."
* * *
