Chapter 10 #2
Mr. Kinsle tapped his chin. “We’ve tried dinners, outings, and shared interests in the dogs. We’ve left them alone on any number of occasions. Perhaps we should have them meet each other’s family. That usually moves a courtship along.”
“One way or the other,” Morrigan murmured to Bailey. Aloud she said, “Mr. Caddington once mentioned he was an orphan.”
“Her Grace the Second’s father is still alive,” Maisy volunteered. “He visited for some time, but he writes to her on occasion.”
Mrs. Carmichael nodded. “I’ll mention the matter to Her Grace the Third. She’ll know how to contact him. You may return to your duties. Bailey and Morrigan, a word.”
Morrigan swallowed as she rose. She’d tried so hard not to do anything that might make the housekeeper think less of her.
She’d learned the hard way how important it was to please not only their employer, but her superior.
Besides, she liked Mrs. Carmichael. Though the woman was only a few years older than Morrigan, she had a confidence about her, a surety that Morrigan envied.
The housekeeper led them to her parlor and sat in the chintz-covered chair closest to the window, which gave a view out over a corner of the gardens. Then she nodded Morrigan and Bailey into the other chairs before spearing Bailey with a look.
“Something you’d like to tell me, sir?” she asked.
He kept his gaze on the wall. “Not yet, ma’am.”
She regarded him a moment more, frown gathering. “I do not tolerate mistreatment of the women under my supervision. State your intentions.”
Morrigan blinked. Bailey’s eyes widened.
“I’d not hurt one hair on Miss Turner’s head,” he assured the housekeeper. “I think quite highly of her. In fact, I was planning on inviting her to meet my mother on our half-day off Sunday.”
“What?” Morrigan yelped.
Mrs. Carmichael’s lips tightened, as if she were fighting a smile. “That is acceptable. However, I want to be certain you are both aware that only the housekeeper and butler have their own rooms at the manor.”
Bailey heaved a sigh. “We know, ma’am.”
Morrigan didn’t answer, her mind whirling. Meet his mother? She’d walked out with a footman in London, but no one had ever mentioned more. Surely, a fellow didn’t bring a woman home to meet his mother unless he contemplated much more indeed.
“There is a provision for day staff,” Mrs. Carmichael continued. “We are close enough to the village that it would be possible for a footman and a maid-of-all-work to live out and come in to fulfill their duties. But that arrangement would not work for a ladies’ maid.”
The housekeeper was giving her a choice.
Better pay, bigger bedchamber, and considerations like being given cast-off clothing from the mistress and gifts from visiting ladies Morrigan helped.
Greater chance at advancement too. A good ladies’ maid was in high demand, especially in London.
She could see her mother and sisters again.
Or stay the lowliest of maids and have Bailey at her side through life.
“In the meantime,” the housekeeper said, sharp gaze moving between them as if she could sense the turmoil inside Morrigan, “I expect complete attention to your work and absolutely no demonstrations of affection where any of the family or their guests might notice. Is that clear?”
Bailey snapped a nod. “Yes, ma’am. You’ll have no trouble from us.”
Morrigan nodded too.
Mrs. Carmichael inclined her head. “Then return to your duties. And if the situation should change, I would appreciate notification.”
“You’ll be the first,” Morrigan promised, rising. She didn’t dare reach for Bailey’s hand. Keeping her gaze forward, she hurried from the room.
He caught up with her in the corridor. “Why are you rushing off? Is Anastasia late for a walk?”
Morrigan blew out a breath as she stopped just short of the kitchen. “Likely not. I think she watered every stone in those ruins. But I can’t like coming to the housekeeper’s attention in this way, and she certainly put you in a difficult position. You don’t have to bring me to meet your mum.”
He took Morrigan’s hand and pressed it. “I was planning to ask you. I’d like you to meet Mum.”
He seemed certain. Morrigan swallowed. “Very well. Thank you for the invitation. I’ll come.”
He ducked his head as if trying to see up under her gaze. “You don’t feel pressured?”
“No,” she said. “I’m willing to see where this might lead.”
Even if that meant she’d have to make hard choices about her future.
* * *
They were all colluding against her. Georgie could feel it.
She’d known Max was determined to play matchmaker.
He seemed to have the idea that too many dowagers meant he would have a difficult time finding a lady to accept him.
In her experience, very few women refused a duke!
However, she could understand him wanting to give his wife a house all to herself, not shared with women who had once been its mistresses.
She was just glad that the three women she, Claudia, and Sophia had invited to the house party in August had agreed to come, along with some of the members of their families.
That should have settled the matter of remarrying, but here was Sophia, urging Georgie to risk her heart again.
Of course, Sophia didn’t know of Georgie’s shame.
Her friend had heard that Freddie had drowned, but even Claudia didn’t know about Georgie’s part in it.
If she was to keep that hidden, she would have to harden her heart against Hugh.
She’d never been good at hardening her heart.
Perhaps that was why, when Oliver came to see her on Saturday in the sitting room and requested that she accompany him to the vicarage, she struggled to refuse.
“I want to show Pip my sketchbook,” he said, clutching the bound book to his chest as if his fingers hadn’t quite agreed to the scheme.
“That is very brave of you,” Georgie said. “I know you don’t show it to everyone. But we could stay here instead. Anastasia could always do with another portrait.”
He dropped his gaze and shuffled his feet. “Grandmother and Grandfather think I should put my charcoals away. Boys are supposed to ride horses, fence, and shoot guns.”
Georgie couldn’t help her shudder. “I wouldn’t want to disagree with your grandparents, but I would think there is plenty of time to learn to do all those things when you’re a little older and know better what you prefer.”
The look he gave her was filled with relief. “Then we can go to the vicarage?”
Not until she absolutely had to. “Claudia cannot take you?”
He made a face. “She and Father are looking into each other’s eyes in that way again.”
Oh. She hid a smile. “Well, affianced couples tend to do that. What about studying history? You and I had only reached the second volume of Mr. Smollett’s History of England.”
He regarded her solemnly. “History will not change. We can read about it any time. Couldn’t we go see Pip?”
Tyneham had few boys his own age and station. How could she stand in the way of his friendship with Pip?
“Very well,” Georgie said. “We’ll go down, but we’ll only stay if Pip isn’t busy at lessons or chores.”
Because between the two boys, she would have an ample buffer between her and Hugh.