Chapter Nine
L ouisa clipped a few more dead leaves before turning her gaze in the direction where the men had ridden off. She didn’t expect them to return anytime soon, but still…it was nice to watch nonetheless. Lord Hawthorne seemed very friendly, but not at all familiar. He thought he knew her, but she doubted he did. Although handsome, he didn’t spark her memory at all. It surprised her to think he actually flirted with her, yet it was still Kenbridge who held her attention.
Trevor .
His brother had called him by his given name, a name she hadn’t heard until today. Now she couldn’t stop repeating it in her mind. What a glorious, masculine name. Dreamily, she sighed. If only she were a true lady, he might look at her as a woman. Instead, all he saw was a servant—or the vagabond he’d rescued.
When she caught herself not focusing, she snapped her attention back to the rose bush. Dawdling is not tolerated . Yet, the raspy voice from the dark recesses of her mind that disturbed her from time to time slowly diminished and peace settled over her. Although she received the impression she hadn’t been allowed leisure time in her past, she was given more freedom to do so now. Her work still had to be done, but at least her mind could create another world for her dreams.
Still, it didn’t stop her from wishing she were someone else. The vision she’d had about being at a ball as a young girl—or at least witnessing it—seemed so real. She’d love to have that kind of life, even if she were the personal maid for the lady of the house.
So lost in her dreams, she didn’t realize what she was doing until Mrs. Fitzwilliam gasped. Louisa jerked alert and glanced at the woman whose wide eyes were directed on the flower bush in front of Louisa. She swung her attention to what she’d been cutting. A sob gushed from her throat. All around her feet littered the beautiful flowers she’d cut to shreds.
“What have you done?” the other woman shrieked as she yanked the clippers out of Louisa’s hands.
She groaned. “Please, forgive me. I—I—I wasn’t watching. I didn’t pay attention—”
“Obviously.” Mrs. Fitzwilliam rolled her eyes. “I’m relieved you only destroyed one bush instead of the others in his lordship’s garden.”
“As am I.”
“What in heaven’s name were you thinking?”
“I was not thinking, which is clearly my problem. I daydream so often.”
“Daydream?”
“Yes, and I’m sorry. I shan’t do it again.”
Mrs. Fitzwilliam placed hands on her beefy hips. “Woolgathering should not be done while we are working. This is probably why you ruined his lordship’s meal last night.”
“Actually, it was because I confused the herbs.”
“If you are ever going to prove yourself to us and his lordship, you have to focus.”
Louisa nodded. “I understand. Again, please forgive me.”
The other woman handed the clippers back to Louisa and nodded at the next bush. “See if you can trim that without cutting every last flower.”
“Thank you.” She walked around the shredded rose bush to find another one. Against her legs rubbed something soft and furry. Startled, she jumped away and looked down, thinking she’d see a rodent. Instead, a gray kitten mewed and gazed up at her.
“Oh, look what I found.” She scooped the kitten in her arms. The animal purred and rubbed its face against her arm. She turned to the other woman. “I didn’t know his lordship had cats.”
Mrs. Fitzwilliam narrowed her gaze on the kitten. “They are all kept in the stable, to keep the mice away from the grain. This animal is probably one of those.”
Louisa petted the soft fur. “The kitten does not look as if he’s been fed properly.”
“Well then, perhaps he isn’t one that’s kept in the stables. I will have Murray take it away.”
“Oh, no.” Louisa stopped her. “Why can we not keep it?”
The other servant crinkled her nose. “Keep it? You cannot be serious. You are a servant, Louisa, not a child.”
How she wanted to snap at the obtuse woman for that comment. Of course Louisa wasn’t a child. Just because she wanted a kitten didn’t make her youthful. She continued to pet the animal, the soft fur soothing her temperament. “Adults have had pets before, have they not?”
“Yes, but you have no place to keep it, and Murray is not going to want another varmint in his stables. He cleans after horses all day; he’s not going to take care of a pet for you as well.”
Shrugging, Louisa turned her back on the other lady and slowly strolled along the stone path toward the lawn. Kittens were such helpless creatures, needing someone to take care of them. They were perfect for children.
Just then a stern voice boomed through the silence coming from over by the house. Mrs. Jacobs marched with the children toward the lawn. Louisa gasped. Marched? Both Adam and Amanda’s faces were drawn into frowns as their stiff bodies marched in time with Mrs. Jacob’s calls. Two-year olds don’t march.
“I shall return momentarily,” Louisa called over her shoulder as she hurried toward the twins. When she neared, they looked at her and slowed their pace. When their eyes rested on the kitten in her arms, they stopped and turned toward Louisa. She smiled. “Would you like to pet him?”
She crouched as they ran up to her. Grins lit up their cherubic faces, and the sun glinted off their golden hair, almost giving it a strawberry tint. Adorable children.
“What is the meaning of this?”
Inwardly, Louisa groaned. How did she forget about Mrs. Jacobs? She met the old nurse’s glare and smiled politely. “I’m letting the twins pet the kitten.”
“How dare you interrupt us? Could you not see we were marching?”
“Indeed, I did see it, but I thought you were playing a game.”
“A game?” Mrs. Jacobs shrieked. “Marching is not a game.”
Louisa shrugged. “Well, it should be if you ask me, since marching is not for children. So I thought the twins would enjoy petting a kitten instead.”
“Oh.” The older woman huffed. “You dare to go against my activities for the children?”
Louisa tilted her head. “Actually, that thought did not cross my mind, but now that it has, I must say how appalled I am that you are making these children march .”
Red blotches colored the woman’s face as she opened and closed her mouth as if trying to catch flies. “I am their nurse, not you .”
“That you are, but I would think you could find something better for them to do besides march. They are only two years old, for heaven’s sake. They are not in training for His Majesty’s Forces.”
Mrs. Jacobs lifted her chin in a challenge. “This is the age to start shaping them to walk like ladies and gentlemen.”
Louisa snorted a laugh. “Pray, Mrs. Jacobs, how many ladies have you seen marching down the street in Town? For that matter, how many gentlemen? Although I have only been in this house a little over a week, I cannot say I have seen his lordship march at all.”
The twins giggled.
“Oh, this is utter…nonsense.” The nurse threw up her hands as she glanced around the yard. “Where is His Grace? He shall know of this at once.”
Louisa handed the kitten to Adam before standing. “Splendid idea. We shall wait for him to return from his ride with his brother and Lord Hawthorne, then you can explain why you made his children march—for no reason at all, mind you—when they really wanted to play with a kitten.”
Mrs. Jacobs stepped in front of Louisa, with a glare that pierced right through her. “I really do not like you.”
Louisa shrugged. “And I do not approve of the way you treat the twins. They are not…” She glanced at the two, trying to think of what she wanted to say. “They’re not miniature adults.” She threw Mrs. Jacobs a scowl. “They are small children, you imbecile. They should not march all day long and be forced to do things they do not wish to do. They are young and should enjoy life before it gets snatched away.”
An ache grew in Louisa’s heart, and with it came pressure in her head, making it throb. Tears gathered in her eyes. “Children are not slaves, and should not be treated as such.” She stepped closer to the old hag, staring her down. “Know this, Mrs. Jacobs, what you teach these children now will stay with them until they are grown. They need space to play and be free, instead of the toy soldiers you want them to become.”
“Forgive me for intruding, but what is going on?”
Trevor’s deep voice caught her off guard and she spun around. He didn’t appear angry, just curious. She quickly wiped her eyes, but she suspected he already noticed she’d been crying. She curtsied, as did the nurse.
“Well, your lordship,” Mrs. Jacobs started, “Miss Louisa and I were just discussing…”
“Papa.” Adam stepped closer to Trevor and held up the animal. “See? Kitty.”
Trevor’s face softened as he knelt to his son’s level and petted the cat’s fur. He lifted his gaze to Louisa. “It did not sound like you were talking about an animal.”
“At first we were, sir,” Louisa muttered.
The duke’s gaze switched between his son and daughter. “Where did you get the kitten?”
Amanda pointed to Louisa. “Her, Papa.”
He looked back at Louisa and she blushed. “If it’s all right with you, of course.”
He smiled and nodded. “I cannot see a reason why not.”
Beside her, Adam and Amanda cheered and jumped up and down. Louisa’s grin stretched wide. She also noticed the duke’s face brightened a bit more.
“Thank you, Your Grace.” Louisa curtsied then turned to her duties in the garden.
“Louisa?”
She stopped and looked at him over her shoulder. “Yes?”
“I would like to have a talk with you. In my study, if you please.”
Dread washed over her and she gulped. “Yes, sir.”
She dragged herself back to Mrs. Fitzwilliam’s side and pulled off her gloves. “His lordship needs to see me.”
“I think we may know why…”
Louisa didn’t meet the other woman’s gaze when the other servant made that comment. Yes, Louisa knew why. She couldn’t follow instructions, and she argued with most everyone she worked with. What was wrong with her? Had she been like this before she lost her memory? Perhaps that’s why she’d been whipped…for not following orders.
By the time she entered the house and walked to the duke’s study, he was waiting inside. She moistened her lips with her tongue then knocked on the open door.
“Come in, Louisa, and close the door behind you.”