The Companion of Lady Holmeshire (3 page)

Anne curtsied again, and Emma blushed, but knew better than to decline.

“
Acquaint yourself with Emma’s needs and preferences as soon as possible, Anne. Make sure her room is warmed in the winter at the right times of day; the housemaids should know, but do make sure of it. You will need to develop an air of confidence, as you will be over them in matters relating to Emma’s room and personal effects. Do you see where the excellent education from your hardworking Mama has placed you? Be certain to listen carefully to directions from the Housekeeper, and learn well from your sister. The two of you will then be able to enjoy the comforts of your quarters, send money home to your parents and save a bit. I am sure you will be very happy here. You see, I instruct your superiors to be compassionate.”

“
Thank you, Milady.” Anne curtsied.

Elizabeth nudged her, frowned and whispered in a severe tone, “Too many curtsies, and do not fidget!” Anne’s eyes opened widely, and she held her breath.

“
Provided you earn your keep,” Winnie continued.

“
I will, ma’am!” she exhaled.

“
Emma, do you have questions for either of the girls?”

“
Yes. Anne, it is good to see you so fully blossomed!” Emma seemed proud of little Anne. “And how is your family?”

“
Oh, thank you, ma’am. We are happy to be well, all of us, and so grateful that both Elizabeth and I are in service and can help our parents. Mama stitches on her dresses late into the night, you know, and Papa wishes to pay for an apprenticeship for little Fredrick some day. The rest of the girls are learning stitchery and doing hems for Mama. I’m grateful to be here.” She could speak when it was required, as long as the listener was familiar and friendly.

“
Yes, we all have things to thank God for, myself, I am sure, more than most!” Emma nodded. “It is good to hear of your family’s well being. I do hope that Freddy shall have his apprenticeship. It is admirable and commendable that you will help with that.”

“
Thank you, ma’am.”

“
Be off, then. Elizabeth, please teach Anne privately. It will spare her chagrin. And Anne, be ready for Emma this evening,” Winnie ordered.

“
Aye... Yes, ma’am.” Anne watched her sister and followed her manner, a bit too carefully, until they were out of sight. Winnie chuckled, and Emma covered her mouth to hide her amusement.

“
She will grow into this with me, ma’am! Perhaps faster than I!”

“
You will both do very well. Now, let’s hear you on the pianoforte!”

They whiled away their morning, happy to be settling in together. Emma was very comfortable with her Mistress and displayed some of the artistic improvements that Miss Wathem had made in her. They talked about the former days, before she had gone to London, when Winnie had asked Emma to take breaks from her housekeeping to sit and converse; of all the servants, only Emma had ever dined with her. At lunch, they began considering further tutoring, to begin in September, and discussed thoughts about how her world would be changing in so many ways.

Days drifted by as Emma learned to be waited on and fussed over by her former fellows. She tried to be over Anne, showing her where to place things, how to part her hair, where to lay out her clothes, but inadvertently curtsied to her on one occasion when Anne was about to depart. Anne fled from the room aghast, not knowing quite what to do, and Emma called her back in to try again. “We are both just learning, aren’t we?” she giggled.

One evening she kissed Nora on the cheek when surprised with her beloved jam and scones. “We just could not eat one without you, Emma...ma’am...and so I sneaked up the stairs!” Nothing could go too amiss, for though Winnie ran a good house, she often did so with a wink and a look away. Happily, the Housekeeper knew when to frown, and when there were guests in the house, there was no excuse for trouble or neglect in the least.

~
Chapter 2~

A Pleasant Reception by the Lord Himself

Every afternoon at two o’clock, Nicky would be brought down the stairs to visit the two adoring women. The bouncy little gentleman had been brought home, along with a nanny, and installed in the nursery by Lord Wilfred when he returned once from his travels. The dear boy could not be raised by his father, Wills told people, and Wills had sworn to raise the child as his own.

Nicholas had now been at the castle for well over half of his two years of life and had no recollection of any other home. His happiness was manifested by peals of laughter that rang through the halls. He was amply hugged and kissed by the Holmeshires, and now Emma. Aristocratic constraint was, to some degree, happily lacking in this home.

Ems would peek in on Nanny Gwyndolyn Bowen and little Nicholas on the sly. She thought Nanny Bowen to be quite stern and would steal a treat away to Nick from the tea table, once handing something off as the three passed in the hall. Nicky nearly gave it away with a laugh.

Days and activities passed happily for the ladies. Messages went out to other lords and ladies; replies came in and arrangements were made. From time to time someone paid a call, or Winnie and perhaps Emma would go out to visit. Dismal winter was dragging on, but this afternoon was different.

“
How can it be so lovely in February?” Winnie looked toward the windows. “What shall we do with the warmth and sunshine? It is such a treat. We could take Nicholas out to play. Shall we?”

“
That would be nice. The ground will be muddy, but we can stay on the tiles. I’ll send for him and have a few toys brought down.” Emma rang the bell; a footman arrived, and the message was delivered. They sent for wraps and waited by the western door. Finally the little gentleman appeared, his excitement barely contained.

Nanny admonished, “Now, Nicholas, slow yourself down before you take a fall!” She pulled a cap over his crop of hair.

Winnie added, “We are eager to go outside too, young man, but we do wish to keep our noses in place on the front of our faces!” She allowed her anxious and hopeful dog to join in the outing.

Properly bundled, Nick peered out between hat and scarf; he would surely retain his health. He clapped his hands, jumped a bit and pulled the women toward the door. “It sunny, Lady, so we goes outside!”

The door was opened; they stepped into the welcoming sunlight, onto a terrace enclosed by meter-high stone walls. Wisteria hugged the walls from below and drooped inward over the tops. Emma and Nicky began to play nursery games. He ran, throwing his Australian boomerang, laughing heartily and delighting Emma. They ran down the stairs and set up targets to shoot from childish bows. The dog retrieved the stray arrows, having failed at her arduous searching, far and wide, for a bird to carry in. Nicholas ran and played with the dog, while Emma, laughing the entire time, cheered them on.

Time passed quickly, Winnie watching from a bench, till they all began to tire.

“
Look dere!” Nicky cried, pointing a little hand toward the road, “Who dere coming?” A coach, drawn by two black horses, had created a swirling cloud of dust.

“
Oh my,” cried Winnie, taken aback, “Could it be Wills?” She suddenly came to life and began to rush past the mossy stone walls, down to the walk leading to the front of the house. She stopped quickly at the edge of the grass and waved eagerly, then burst into a petticoat-hampered run, forgetting entirely to set the example! Emma and Nicky followed her around the building, toward the main entrance, where the fatigued horses had slowed to a halt. Wilfred stepped out of the coach, onto the cobblestone passage, and excitedly waved back to them with his irrepressible smile.

Wills, always the gentleman, if a tease, was a whirlwind of goodness, class and changeable moods. He was generosity, impetuosity and brilliance all in one. “Look at you, Mama,” he shouted, “I knew you would be outside waiting for me in the cold! I forgot to inform you that I was back in the country, did I not, but you would have been all blubbery about that. And there’s my favorite bit of a chap, grown so very much! And look, Emma has at last returned! What a fine day!”

The servants had begun to assemble themselves on the sheltered front stairs to properly welcome their master home, and the women finally reached the approach. Winifred could not contain herself after ten months apart from her son, and Emma rejoiced, watching their reunion. Little Nick did not remember his benefactor, but knew this was a special occasion, and he extended a hand for shaking like a very big man.

Emma explained, since Nicky could not remember, “This is His Lordship, Nick, and you will be like a son to him. He is caring for you, and you must always obey him. He is Wilfred Bradley, Earl of Holmeshire, and you have been named Nicholas Bradley. You may call him sir.”

“
Sir!” shouted the tot, and he ran around to hide behind Emma's skirts, but was quickly pulled out to stand at attention.

“
And there
you
all are,” cheery Wills nodded to his household, “I am sure that I missed every one of you! I have brought some miserable little gift for all! And it is a good job that I brought extra broken baubles, as I see a few new faces.”

He stretched back, in discomfort, with his hands on his hips. “Oh, I will be so grateful when the railways come this way. One can stand up as you roll along the countryside on the trains! And they roll so smoothly! Can you imagine? I’ve been on a few, you know.”

The family entered the house, Emma leading Nicky by the hand and then turning him over to his tigress of a nanny, who pulled him back outside to dust him off. Footmen with heavy wooden trunks came through from the carriage and struggled their way up the stairs. “Did you happily receive all my crates from Italy, Mum?” Wills queried. “I sent thirty-two to be exact.”

“
I’m afraid we did, Wills; it was happy work hauling them all up this hill, and we have hid them in the back wing so the menservants could forget what we have put them through. Now what do you require before you can sit down and tell us absolutely everything?”

“
Mother, I wrote you every detail of everything I did. You have had two or three particular letters a week, until I was in London, and then I had too many things to accomplish. I can elaborate, but I am most eager to show you all the things I sent home. I presume you were civilized and did not rip them all open? Now, will you have time for that after I have some rest and fill my stomach?”

He turned to the attentive, waiting butler. “I’ll want one, no, two of Cook’s roast lambs on my plate today; tell her she must change the menu just for me. I suppose I should have written ahead. But I wanted to make sure that everyone was pining away and just waiting for my return to throw everything into confusion.”

Barreby kept his countenance as serious as he could sustain. “Cook knows she must make double the amount when you are home, M’Lord.”

“
Barreby, have dinner served as early as possible. Whatever is
already
being prepared. We’ll sit over there in the bit of remaining sunshine and have some tea immediately.” Winnie threw a chastening glance at Wills. “Wills, I am sure that I had nothing planned today, but to tear through all your crates. But first we’ll hear all about your travels. Now, prepare yourself for tea and meet us there.”

The women went to the vast, curved and silk-cushioned seat under the one window of the Sitting Room. The room was pleasingly done in a mix of French Provincial, with its scenic prints, and the prevailing Fourteenth Century Stone of the architecture. Barreby had a round table brought to the area.

A footman, deftly carrying tea service and delicacies on a tray above his head, entered and presented his offering to the ladies at their table. He then rushed around adjusting the room to suit Wills’ preference. The servants loved and respected their Lord, and Holmeshire Hall was a happy home for all.

Emma asserted, after Winnie’s request, that she did not wish to play the pianoforte this day, “Oh no, ma’am, I could not possibly with His Lordship here!” She blushed at the suggestion, but when reminded that her position was changed, she promised to attempt to overcome her trepidation soon. She felt conspicuous for even being at tea when Wills came and sat down. She was charmed by his presence, but felt lowly and tried her best to be invisible. It did not work; she received immediate attention.

“
Emma!” Startled, she looked up.

“
Yes, M’Lord?”

“
You are back! It seemed so long!” He poured some water and drank thirstily, then poured a glass of burgundy to savor while they talked.

“
It was a long time, sir. But it had to be; my person was to be adjusted entirely. I had to study history and languages, you see, and learn something tolerable of the arts. It was a bit of overwhelming commitment for a scrub maid!”

“
And how did you put up with adorable old Miss Wathem for so long? She must have fussed about, polishing you to a bright shine! I’m sure you could not have even lifted your hand correctly and had to be trained in it. And did she teach you which words to choose in order to keep your little mouth looking pretty? A lady cannot pronounce the wrong words and have her cheeks puff out, can she? And I hope you know you cannot blow out a candle and must use a snuffer?” He blew into the air, puffing up excessively.

“
Oh... so many things I could not improve on! I’m a poorly chiseled bust, and nothing can be done to make it right!”