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Authors: Hayley Ann Solomon

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BOOK: Seeking Celeste
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“You shall remain at Carmichael Crescent?”
“As long as the children need me and you stay as far away in London as possible.”
“What if I can't stay away?”
Anne smiled regretfully. Then, my lord, I shall resign my post as governess.”
Robert stared at her hard. “You'd do that?”
“I'd do that.”
For an instant, their eyes met, and Anne felt his stare burning into hers like charcoal embers from a blazing fire. He touched her lute string sleeve lightly, but it was as if she had been burned. Robert must have felt the same, for he recoiled almost instantly and retrieved his gloves from the table.
“Go, then. It is nearly light.”
Anne nodded and opened the door. The vast corridors loomed ahead. It was a long way to traverse in flimsy slippers of Oriental satin. She was, she knew, lamentably and most indecorously clad.
For a moment, the twinkle reappeared in the earl's lazy, hazel eyes.
“I should have bought you the half boots as I promised!”
“And have me tramp thunderously along your elegant parquet flooring? Another time, I thank you.”
“I shall deem that as a promise!”
Anne made no comment, though her humour was somewhat restored. His voice softened gently.
“Shall you manage, sweet Celeste?”
She bit back a sudden, troublesome tear and nodded. It was the least she could do.
Ten
Lord Carmichael left early that morning, too early, in fact, to properly greet the guests that had so unexpectedly arrived the previous day. Anne had no time to feel the pangs she anticipated, for the house was buzzing with activity and several of the men had already cantered off in the direction of Lord Anchorford's. Mrs. Tibbet, to Anne's complete astonishment, was in her element.
“Oh, Miss Anne,” she said, eyes shining, “I do so
love
to have regular menus to plan and the fine china taken out and the silver to shine...”
It seemed that Lord Edgemere had not exaggerated when he had stated that the land agent had orders to finance such impromptu parties. No expense was spared in hiring extra milk, parlour and scullery maids. Even the stables were not forgotten, with additional grooms, coachmen and ostlers being rustled up for the occasion.
An inspection of the larder revealed an interesting array of brandied fruits, jellied custards, fresh-picked strawberries and clotted cream in large containers. Hanging from the tiled ceiling were various meats—Anne thought she detected a venison, a selection of pheasant, several sides of beef and some cured ham and bacon. On the slate shelves stood cheeses of varying descriptions. Double Gloucester, Port du Salut, York cream, Cheshire, Stilton and what looked like an enormous cheddar loaf. She was much struck by the mingling of aromas—all pleasant—that whet her appetite and fixed her interest in the large breads that were baking in the kitchens.
Two scullery maids were up to their elbows in flour whilst several of the lower housemaids had been seconded to strain the liquor of oysters for the buttered lobster sauce. A few unfortunates were tammying endlessly for anything from gravy for the gravy boat to a delicate negus composed of water, orange juice and sugar, into which was skillfully added perfumed cakes and several drops of rose water.
Anne felt both slothful and aghast. “It is a miracle, Mrs. Tibbet! How in the heavens have you managed so quickly?”
“Got the gardeners up at the crack of dawn, I did! Been picking strawberries and grapes and what have you from the hothouses. The rest of us ... we been workin' all night, we have.”
“All night?” Anne could not help colouring, for if all the staff had been up at that hour, she had had a lucky escape, indeed.
Mrs. Tibbet looked at her keenly. “Don't like to criticise, me luv, but you have those nasty dark circles under yer eyes this morning. How ‘bout you be givin' those wee rascals a break and takin' a nap?”
It was a mark of the exceptional accord that had sprung up between the two women that the housekeeper felt she could talk so comfortably with a “lady of quality.” For, as she told her intimates, “If that there Miss Derringer ain't a lady born and bred,” she would “eat me best cotton shift and to hang with the consequences.”
Anne laughed. “Good gracious, no! Desert the ranks before the first battle? Never! The children shall have a valuable lesson in household husbandry this morning. Kitty can air the sheets, and Tom can help remove the holland covers from all the furniture in the north wing.”
“Miss Anne!” Mrs. Tibbet was shocked. “That be no work for gentry folk! The master ...”
“Will approve heartily, I am certain!”
There was a moment's hesitation as Mrs. Tibbet fleetingly wondered whether the governess had run mad. Then, as if some new thought had occurred to her, she looked sharply at the deluded Miss Derringer. The scrutiny lasted some half minute, so Anne was singularly inclined to either laugh or protest, but she did neither. At last, shrewd grey eyes met fine green ones.
“Aye.” Mrs. Tibbet nodded. “So
that's
the way the wind blows. Reckon as not you know the master's mind better than all of us.
Let
the children dust and sweep.”
Anne did not know whether to be relieved or distinctly nervous. Since there was now a quite definite commotion above stairs and the bells seemed incessantly to be ringing, she decided not to waste further time on the matter. She afforded the housekeeper a gentle, if somewhat harassed, smile, then proceeded upstairs to face whatever might await.
The breakfast room was abuzz with faces. For the most part, Anne did not recognize the guests, though one or two stood out in her memory from the seasons she had suffered through in London. Her hand quivered a little on the doorjamb; then remembering both her breeding and her newly acquired demotion to the ranks of upper. servant, she held her head aloft and curtsied quietly but politely to the room in general.
She was met with several curt nods, one or two quizzing glasses and a general atmosphere of disinterest. Since she cared not a rap for such a reception—why should she?—she moved to take her place up with her charges. Kitty was already tucking heartily into a breakfast of kippers, eggs and anchovies, whilst Tom seemed to be playing with his boiled brains, rather than consuming them, as was, perhaps, the idea.
Anne chuckled. “Good morning, my angels! I wonder if it is at all the thing for us to be eating down here?”
Kitty swallowed with relish. “Why shouldn't it be?”
“You are far from out, Katherine, and these young men...”
“... are old and disgusting enough to be my grandfathers!”
“Kitty!” It was hard to admonish the outrageous creature when the gist of her words was horribly true.
Tom pushed his plate away and declared that brains were not all they were cracked up to be. Anne had to concur gravely.
“I hope that woman does not come in to dine; my appetite is quite ruined as it is.” Tom scowled fiercely and buried his head in his bowl. Anne was not left to wonder about whom he meant, though she did wonder if she would be forced to suffer Lady Caroline's condescension. She was not left wondering long, for with an air for the dramatic, Lady Caroline sailed in and took her place up at the head of the table. She was wearing a daring ankle-length morning dress of white sarcenet with a crimson sash and a demitrain to match. Her feet, of course, were daintily encased in a pair of Grecian sandals, the very epitome of elegant perfection. Anne wondered how long it had taken her dresser to achieve the perfect golden ringlets that framed her pretty oval face.
“Cat!” she admonished herself. It was hateful of her to be jealous, but just thinking that she and Lord Edgemere had enjoyed an intimate ... but no! It would not do to reflect upon such a subject.
The gentlemen rose at once to greet her, and the high, tinkling laughter grated on Anne's sensitive ears. She had just identified a waft of Lady Caroline's exotic perfume—a pungent confection of orchid and tea roses, she conjectured—when there was a loud scream.
“Good heavens, what is the matter?” Anne wondered.
Kitty started to giggle, and Tom, suspiciously straight-faced, stared out of the window.
“There is a mouse in my reticule! Oh, my God, I shall swoon!” And swoon she did, neatly into the arms of Lord Dell, who was most conveniently situated to her right. The offending creature looked more startled, if possible, than the injured party. It scuttled across the table at breakneck speed, never once stopping to nibble on some of the finer examples of Mrs. Tibbet's repast.
Anne glared at the youngsters, for the culprits did not leave much to the imagination. Then she marched up to Lady Dashford, inquired whether anyone had smelling salts—none had—and so, as a precautionary measure, poured a jug of deliciously cold water over the dramatically unconscious countenance. This instantly revived the golden-headed beauty, but did nothing for the state of her temper.
“What in tarnation...” She opened her eyes and wiped the drenched ringlets off her face. Then, catching sight of a rival beauty—for, though Anne had ceased seeing it, a beauty she undeniably was—she gave a little gasp and sat bolt upright in her seat.
“Who the devil are
you?”
Anne would not normally have answered. She did not care to be addressed in that particular tone. She did, however, remember her station, so swallowed a vast quantity of her pride and made a suitable bob. “I am Anne Derringer, madam ...”
“And who invited you?” Lady Caroline took a sweeping glance at the rather worn blue dimity with its outmoded petticoat front and the simple, unadorned mobcap that Lord Edgemere abhorred and Anne alone deemed appropriate.
“I believe Lord Edgemere did, ma'am. I am the governess.”
“And do you think it is quite proper to be dining below stairs? I am sure his lordship will think it most strange in you! I shall tell him at the first opportunity!”
Anne's eyes flashed, but she lowered her gaze and was silent. This action infuriated Lady Caroline all the more, for it afforded her the lowering opportunity of viewing the darkest, longest and altogether most sultry lashes she had ever seen. That they adorned Miss Derringer's and not her own sweet face seemed heinously unfair. This crime, coupled with the fact that it was obviously the Edgemere brats who had disturbed her peace, made her more wrathful than ever.
“Are they in your charge?” She pointed at the pair of mirthful siblings who found the sight of Lady Caroline, drenched to the bone, too amusing not to laugh.
Anne nodded, gesturing to them slightly.
“I trust you will see to it that they are well punished for their antics.”
“Indeed, I shall, your ladyship. As a penance both Kitty and Thomas shall offer you their profoundest apologies.”
The double meaning—that apologizing to her was a penance—was not lost to the sharp-witted Caroline.
She frowned, but concentrated on the now scowling children.
“My dear Miss... Derringer, was it? I hope you mean to do more than simply make them apologize! If you prefer, I shall attend to their punishment myself.”
Anne forced her eyes upward. They met Caroline's coldly. “What would you have them do? Scrub the floors?”
“Don't be ridiculous, woman! Peers of the realm do not undertake menial tasks!”
“What, then? A spell in the corner?” Anne just managed to keep the scorn from her tone. The gentlemen with quizzing glasses were eyeing her avidly, and a third, she noticed, was leaning interestedly upon a door frame. He seemed vaguely familiar, but faced with the situation before her, Miss Derringer could be forgiven for not quite placing him.
“They shall each receive a well-deserved thrashing. I assure you, Miss Derringer, it will be a week at least before either can take their place at a table, never mind try any more ridiculous tricks.”
Kitty gasped, and Tom stopped smiling. Two pairs of beseeching eyes were turned on Anne. Lady Caroline shot each of them a satisfied glance, then smiled at her audience.
“I am perfectly certain that if my
dear
Robert were here, he would agree entirely. A little painful discipline is essential to the moral fortitude of young ones. Indeed, I have heard him threaten the whip on several instances during my little visits to this estate. I speak the truth, Thomas, do I not?”
“Yes, but he is only teasing. He never
means
it!”
“Tush, child! You are merely being cowardly to avoid a well-deserved whipping. You may both repair to your chambers until—”
“Excuse me, ma'am, the children are in my charge. They shall do as I say.” Interested eyes focused, for the first time, almost entirely on the unspeakably forward governess. If the situation had been any different, Anne, naturally retiring, would have wished to sink through the floor. Now, however, her demeanor was rigid with controlled fury.
There was a faint titter and a curl of the lips from Lady Caroline. “And what do you say?”
Anne ignored her coldly. “Tom and Kitty, make your apologies. We have wasted too much time on this nonsense already. In the future, we shall dine in the nursery. The company, I feel, is less offensive.”
There was an outraged gasp from the crowd. The golden-haired sylph looked daggers at the beleaguered Miss Derringer.
“I shall ensure your dismissal without a character for that! ”
Anne nodded. “So be it, ma'am: I take my orders from Lord Edgemere. If that is his will, I shall leave upon the instant.”
“I shall write to him, then. He shall be home this evening, for he is engaged today on a most
interesting
enterprise.” Anne thought of the diamonds and was uncomfortable. She doubted whether the eighth earl would wish his parting gift to be made public knowledge.
Caroline, however, seemed set on baiting her. She was threatened, perhaps, by the trim, statuesque figure that comported herself with such careless grace. Governesses were meant to be colourless creatures that faded, at all times, into the background. They did not challenge their betters or selfishly turn all the heads in the room.
Lord Willoughby Rothbart—Anne recalled one of the gentlemen from her debacle in London—was regarding her with the interest of a seasoned connoisseur. No doubt Lady Caroline resented his defection as much as she did. But enough of this appalling scene! She must stand on her dignity and escort her charges from the room. Eating below stairs had been, as she feared, a dreadful mistake.
BOOK: Seeking Celeste
6.94Mb size Format: txt, pdf, ePub
ads

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