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‘Then it’s slave labour and slavery was abolished years ago. Let her come looking for you if she needs anything.’
‘I doubt if she’ll see it your way, Freddie, but I will go and change.’
‘Meet me here in half an hour and we’ll decorate the tree, if you’ve still a mind to help me.’
‘Of course. There’s nothing I’d like better.’
It took Nancy less than half an hour to change into an afternoon gown. It was a simple, grey woollen dress with little embellishment apart from mother-of-pearl buttons on the bodice and a modest trim of braid around the cuffs. It was a style that Felicia had decided was suitable for someone in Nancy’s lowly position, but it was well cut and the style flattered Nancy’s slender figure and small waist. Molly was still red-eyed, as if she had cried herself to sleep the previous evening, but she said little as she fashioned Nancy’s hair into a neat chignon.
Nancy studied Molly’s sad face reflected in the dressing-table mirror. ‘Does Reuben know where you are spending Christmas?’
‘Yes, I told him we would be at Dorrington Place. I don’t suppose he knows where it is.’
‘I’m sure he could find out if he tried.’
Molly’s eyes filled with tears. ‘That’s the trouble, miss. I don’t think he wants to marry me. We talked about it, but he never proposed.’
‘I’m so sorry, but there will be others, Molly. You are a lovely girl. You need someone who really appreciates you.’
‘Yes, miss.’ Molly stood back, admiring her handiwork. ‘Your hair looks nice, if I say so myself.’
‘I’m going to help decorate the Christmas trees. Why don’t you come with me?’
‘They wouldn’t approve of that below stairs, miss. They are very particular here, not like at Rockwood.’
‘If you are unhappy here I could still send you home to Rockwood Castle, Molly. Would you like me to do that?’
Molly sniffed. ‘I am your maid, miss. I’ll stay with you.’
‘Well, if you change your mind you must let me know.’ Nancy rose from the stool. ‘Don’t suffer on my account, Molly.’
Nancy left Molly to tidy up and she was about to descend the wide staircase when she saw Letitia hurrying towards her.
‘Miss – I’m sorry, I don’t know your name. We weren’t introduced.’
‘I’m Nancy Sunday, my lady.’
‘I could see that you and Freddie are friends. Please call me Letitia. I don’t get on very well in company.’
‘But you must know most of the other guests, surely?’
‘It doesn’t make them my friends. I am not a sociable sort of person. To be honest I prefer horses and dogs to people.’
Nancy laughed. ‘I can understand that, to a point.’
‘I’ve only visited Dorrington Place once before. I know I will get confused by the maze of corridors downstairs.’
‘I’m not expert myself. I was completely lost last evening when I tried to find the dining room. If Freddie hadn’t come to find me, I might still be wandering. Come with me – we’ll find the way together.’
They made their way downstairs to the great hall, where the Christmas tree had been set up. It was a truly magnificent specimen and it towered above everything, almost reaching the ceiling. The scent of pine filled the air, reminding Nancy of past Christmases at Rockwood Castle. A wave of homesickness made her want to cry, but the sight of Freddie garlanded with tinsel drove away the sad thoughts and she smiled.
He unhooked a glass bauble from one ear. ‘I think I would make a good pirate, don’t you?’
‘You might have to take off the tinsel,’ Nancy said, laughing.
‘I’ll go and look for Mama.’ Letitia’s lips trembled.
Not for the first time, Nancy felt sorry for her. She realised that Letitia was not a mere replica of her mother, she was a young woman with feelings akin to her own, who was being pushed into a marriage of convenience in order to please his family. Letitia and Freddie had that in common.
