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“Then stay. I’d not mind some help on the rent and the housekeeping, nor a housemate. Stay until you’re in a better position. Or until after the babe is born, if you like.” Scarlett smiled.
Nora stared at her. “But, surely you have better things to do...”
Scarlett shook her head. “And how so? I haven’t children or a suitor. But I do like caring for children. Helped raise three of my siblings. And if you’re willing, despite the fact we’ve barely just met, then I’d like to make your ‘two of us’ the ‘three of us’.” Scarlett smiled. “I’ll not say anything if you’d prefer other arrangements, but in truth, I miss somewhat of the noise of others in my living space. And I rather think both of us could use a friend. Or, perhaps, all three of us.”
Relief like a draft of the best mulled wine soaked through her. “Oh, I would. I would like that very much.”
“Well then, Nora, welcome to London. And now, let’s be off home.” Scarlett took one of her bags, and together they moved off into the rain-soaked night.
And for the first time in days, Nora felt that things might be all right after all.
CHAPTERONE
Four years later…
The plants needed watering. Nora frowned at the delicate crystal vase and its carefully arranged blooms. It was a part of her duties as a maid in the household of the Duke and Dowager of Bedford, to see that the flowers were kept healthy and bright, or at least changed out if they’d reached the end of their lifespans.
These, she thought, weren’t quite to the point of needing to be replaced with fresh flowers. Carefully, she edged the stems aside and tipped a little water from her pitcher into the vase.
Three years ago, she probably would have spilled the water and had to clean it up. Unused to working, much less as a maid, she’d been clumsy and shy. If the Dowager—though she’d then been the Duchess—hadn’t taken a liking to her, she might have been dismissed.
Now though, she was a practiced and deft hand at any task she could be set to. Cleaning, laundry, setting tables, clearing tables... she did her work quickly, and even if it was immodest, she rather thought she did it well.
There was a certain irony in the situation, given that she’d once wished idly for the freedom of a working-class girl. And now she had it; she had no desire to pursue the amorous relationships she’d dreamed of at the time.
She’d very little interest in amorous relationships at all, in truth. After how the last one had turned out, she was wary of any man who might approach her.
The chiming of a very familiar bell pulled her from her thoughts just as she finished with the water. She set down the pitcher and looked around.
The bell was for the Duke’s study, generally the domain of the man’s valet or the butler. But the butler was attending the Dowager, and the valet, given the hour, was most likely laying out his master’s clothing and drawing his bath. Everyone else was already about their assigned tasks for the day.
With a grumbling sigh, she set the pitcher down and wiped the condensation off her hands and onto her apron. There was no point in letting the man get irritable and insufferable by waiting until one of his assigned manservants could come take care of the matter.
She strode down the hall to the correct door and rapped lightly with her knuckles.
“Enter.” She turned the knob and stepped inside.
The study, the private workplace of the Duke of Bedford, was a spacious, airy room, divided partially by bookcases filled with various tomes. There was a low couch behind one, on which the Duke could rest if he felt the need or sit to entertain business discussions.
Not that he was making use of it now. The Duke of Bedford was, at that moment, standing at his desk, trying to put himself to rights.
Nora watched him for a moment, waiting for him to acknowledge her presence and give her his orders.
The Duke of Bedford. Arthur Russell, until two years ago had been the Heir of Bedford. The only son of the previous Duke, who had passed away suddenly and unexpectedly. Tall, lean, with blond hair and hazel eyes that went green in just the right light, he was a handsome enough man, with a teasing manner and a flirtatious smile. However, he was, like most men of his station—arrogant.
She worked primarily for the Dowager, and her duties meant she’d had few encounters with the Duke, none of them requiring more than a quick curtsy and a ‘Your Grace.’ Still, she could admit that he was good-looking, precisely the type of man she’d be attracted to…
Before. The type of man I might have been attracted to before. But I know his kind, and he cannot be trusted.She gave herself a quick mental shake just as the Duke happened to look up and see her.
Confusion crossed his face. “What the... oh! It’s you.” He blinked, swallowed, and smoothed back a stray lock of hair as he tried to adjust his cravat into a more proper position. “Where is my valet, then? Or one of my other manservants?”
Nora swallowed back a sigh of frustration and concentrated on keeping her eyes properly lowered and her voice calm and level, quiet as befitted a servant addressing her lord. “I fear they’re busy, Your Grace, seeing to the tasks of the morning. I do not think they heard the bell, my lord.”
“Oh gads, of course, they would be…” he trailed off, running his hands through his hair again. It only served to undo his previous efforts, though she was not about to point that out to him. “Well, I suppose if it has to be a maidservant who answers the bell…” He glanced over her, clearly wondering what her name was, then shrugged. “...at least you’re quiet. My mother’s little mouse. It could be worse, I suppose.”
Nora bit her lip to stop the retort that wanted to escape and kept her hands folded meekly in front of her. After a moment, the Duke cleared his throat. “All right then... I need you to do something for me. A favor, you might say, as it’s a bit outside your usual duties.”
“Your wish is my command.” Though she’d rather be tending the flowers still.
