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“And Stitch?” Betts had a flirtatious relationship with the driver.
Betts turned pink. “He enjoyed the stew.”
Theo’s fingers thumped the mattress. Now that she was sitting and not in motion, or arguing with Haven, the enormity of the situation was starting to form itself into a large ball of dread in her stomach. “I should have just fled to America. Better to be a pariah than to have to deal with Greenbriar. We could be eating oysters and drinking champagne with Leo.”
Betts snorted. “You don’t care for either. And I’ve never known you to run from anything, my lady.”
Theo laughed. “I believe you’re thinking of my sisters. I am in no way suited for this. I paint miniatures, Betts. I barely have the courage to branch out onto a larger canvas let alone make repairs to a country estate. You know as well as I do, I’m merely the flighty, artistic Barrington. The strange one who hides on the third floor and paints. I wear hideous spectacles.” She gestured to her face. “I threw myself at the first man who paid me the least amount of attention.” Theo sucked in her breath as the words came out in a rush. “Which resulted in me being compromised byaccident. By a destitute marquess who brought me to,” her voice raised an octave, “this.”
Betts gave her a patient look.
“I’m not Romy who can take charge of everything and have it come out perfectly, or Olivia who would know exactly what to do. God forbid, I’m not even Phaedra who would just blaze in here and demand attention, I’m—
“Lady Haven,” Betts said firmly. “Youare Lady Haven. And mess or not,preparedor not, this is now your home. At least until you decide to take His Grace’s coach back to London. If you do not think you can do a thing, you must prove yourself wrong. Not once, my lady, have you fainted, fallen to the floor weeping, or otherwise become morose over your circumstances. Don’t forget it was you who assisted your mother when she made the renovations to Cherry Hill. Not Lady Andromeda.”
“Yes, but I was barely Phaedra’s age. All I did was pick some colors. You helped me.”
“I recall a young lady who, in finding out the painters your mother hired had taken advantage of her good nature, demanded a better price.”
She had done that. Papa had endured his first of many declines, and her mother had been sick with worry, preoccupied with caring for him.
“It was you who chose the color for the guestrooms. The proper light to display those statues and paintings Her Grace so loves. And your painting is glorious.”
“Useless talents, I’m afraid. I never paid much attention to running a household.”
“You’ve Mrs. Henderson for that. And me. Your ‘useless’ talents, as you call them, are in dire need here, my lady.” Her arms swept out in what Theo imagined was meant to encompass all of Greenbriar.
Theo steadied herself. What would she do without Betts? “I’m done with my tirade of self-pity.” She took her maid’s hand. “Thank you.”
“Very good, my lady. I find such things as exhausting as cleaning your paintbrushes.” Her maid winked.
Betts had cleaned exactly onepaintbrush in all the time she’d been Theo’s maid. “It wasonebrush, but I take your point.”
The maid stood, nodding at the bed. “A new mattress should be at the top of your list, my lady. I’ll pop downstairs and heat some water so you can wash and be back in a moment. I’ve a small packet of herbs for the water. You can soak a wet cloth.” She looked pointedly at Theo. “To ease any pain.”
“Thank you, Betts.” Theo hadn’t paid much attention to anything but Greenbriar today. There was a tiny bit of soreness from last night, but she wasn’t in any pain. “I don’t think I require any special attention.”
Betts just raised a brow at her before bustling out the door. Once she was gone, Theo flopped back on the bed, mind whirling with the list of things required to bring Greenbriar back to life. Possibly, she shouldn’t even care. She could just ignore the crumbling estate for a few weeks and return to London. The idea had merit.
And where was Haven?
Theo had anticipated abitof groveling from him after their argument this morning. Maybe some teasing. At the very least, he could have joined her for dinner. Instead, he’d taken off without a word for the remainder of the day, allowing her to be shown around by Jacinda.
I dismissed him.
True, but she hadn’t thought Haven could be dismissed.
She rolled her head over and sat up, looking out the window at a lone rose bush struggling to survive among the weeds along the side of the house. “I suppose I need a bloody gardener too.” This might be the only time in recent memory she actually missed Granby. He’d have the withering plants outside blooming again in no time.
Betts bustled into the room again with warm water, soap, and a towel. “You must add linens to the list, my lady. Most of what I could find are,” she held up the towel which Theo could see through, “not in the finest shape.”
“Nothing at all is in fine shape here, Betts. Whatever would I do without you? I’m so grateful you are here, as well as Ronald and Coates.” She named the two Averell footmen.
“And Stitch,” Betts reminded her.
“Of course. And Stitch.”
Betts held up the towel for Theo, casting a glance out the window as she did so. “Lord Haven has just returned with his uncle, my lady. The terrible sot.”
