Chapter 16
Several hours later in the early afternoon, Sophia went back to the rose garden with Lady Cynthia.
The guests for the tea party she had arranged were due to arrive within the hour, but she wanted to see the roses first. She said that the gardeners had planted several bushes in one of the borders last year.
It was an old variety which the head gardener had told her was now in full bloom.
Sophia had been surprised when her ladyship had taken her arm since she hadn't been in her employment for very long she didn't expect this familiarity quite so soon.
Nevertheless she was surprised by how comfortable it felt, walking alongside the Duchess in the sunshine.
Listening to her talking quietly about the guests she had invited, and at times confidentially, when she wished to mention something more discreet and would lower her voice.
She also occasionally asked Sophia for her opinion about this and that, which she only managed to answer vaguely despite trying her best to concentrate.
The truth of the matter was she barely heard a word Cynthia had said once they reached the bench where she sat earlier, and Edward had spoken to her.
Her thoughts were too full of him being convinced now that they both felt a connection between them.
Meanwhile the Duchess had realised that Sophia's thoughts were elsewhere when she spoke to her, and assumed incorrectly that her companion was worrying about the tea party, because she didn't have enough of the right clothes to wear.
Although she obviously didn't know her background or anything about Lucas' frugality, as far as she was concerned this was a reasonable assumption to make about a young woman's concerns.
"I hope that you are feeling more settled, my dear," she said, quietly.
"You must treat this house and the gardens as if they are your home.
Both Ned and I want you to be very happy here, with us," she said, pausing to use her hand to wave the objection away which Sophia was about to make, albeit very politely.
As a result Sophia was obliged to remain silent and not say what she had intended to.
That she thought both the Duke and Lady Cynthia had already shown her every kindness, and there really wasn't any need for more.
Nevertheless Cynthia was determined to finish what she had started.
"There is however the small matter of your clothes, of which you will need a lot more than you probably have with you," she said, quickly putting her hand on Sophia's.
While she insisted that she was not to object, since this was in actual fact a part of her salary.
A small stretch of the truth which the Duchess felt was justified in the circumstances.
"We shall begin by getting Florence and Effie to alter some of the gowns which I no longer wear, and for the more difficult tasks which will be beyond them, seek help from my seamstress.
Also get her to make you several of your own, so that you have some new ones.
We are of a similar size so it shouldn't be difficult for the maids to do some simple alterations very quickly.
As you know I already have a number of social events coming up, which I arranged before we left for London at the start of the season.
You shall want for nothing, my dear, while you are under Ned's roof. He and I will make sure of that!"
She paused, to catch her breath before continuing. "I am sure that you will not wish to take this opportunity from Effie, to learn more of the skills she will need as a ladies' maid. Whilst she has Florence to help her.
Between you and me, Sophia, she was forever talking about the ladies' beautiful gowns whenever we had visitors.
Until it was apparent that becoming a ladies' maid was clearly her vocation.
I will also ask Florence to show her how to use some of the ornaments I can let you have for your hair," she said, firmly.
Sophia appeared to be on the verge of tears.
Not having experienced kindness like this in the past, and thought that a mother might well have done something similar for her.
Quite forgetting that she had also been kind to Amy, when she had given a gown to her which she couldn't really spare from her meagre wardrobe.
Knowing that Lady Cynthia was right in her assumption that she didn't have enough different clothes to wear, Sophia said that she was very grateful, and would gladly accept her kindness.
Adding that she hadn't expected to have a ladies' maid of her own.
So once again, she was very grateful for Effie whom she liked enormously.
Not wishing Cynthia to think that she didn't know any better, she also made a passing comment then about her brother's frugality, and how she had struggled during the season to cope with the endless changing of dresses.
When she didn't have the number of day dresses, gowns, or bonnets which had been recommended at her finishing school.
Fortunately she didn't get the opportunity to say any more on the subject, or be questioned by the Duchess about Lucas despite not mentioning him by name, since both of them had noticed Ned.
He was walking along the path towards them, accompanied by a tall gentleman and two ladies wearing the finest of gowns, adorned with ribbons and intricate embroidery.
One pink, and the other lilac so that they complemented each other beautifully.
Even their tinkling laughter and the tone in their voices sounded the same, so that it was difficult to differentiate which one of them had spoken unless you were looking directly at her.
Cynthia smiled, turning her attention to them immediately. Welcoming them as her guests, and saying how delighted she was to see them again. She introduced Miss Sophia Barlow then to the Earl and Countess of Duxbury, with their daughter, Lady Lucy Exley.
Sophia dipped an elegant curtsy, and was immediately ignored by the two ladies.
Whilst the Earl stared at her appraisingly for a moment too long before he looked away, but it was long enough to make her feel extremely uneasy.
However she quickly reminded herself not to be too upset by this.
Irrespective of how well the Duchess treated her, she was only a servant in the eyes of the ton.
She also had to remember her lucky escape from Lord Dilley, the reason why she was there now, and that she no longer had the right to object to suffering such a small indignity.
Nevertheless Sophia couldn't help staring at Lady Lucy who had her arm linked through Edward’s, as if this was the most natural thing in the world.
It also clearly wasn't the first time that it had happened, if their easy companionship was the measure of it.
Sophia could feel the rush of blood to her cheeks the longer she watched them, and the sharp sting of jealousy erupting within her.
Until Lucy caught her eye, and smiled knowingly at her making Sophia look away quickly.
Her heart sank. It was impossible to deny that Lady Lucy Exley was extremely beautiful, and clearly attracted to the Duke.
Even if she had been of a similar social rank to her, which Sophia obviously wasn't, it would have been foolish to contemplate competing with someone like her for Ned's affections when she was obviously interested in him.
Moreover he was by this time smiling politely at what she was saying, and didn't look in the least perturbed by her proximity.
What Sophia didn't realise was that he was simply trying to fulfil his earlier promise to his mother, and make it appear as if he was searching for a wife.
Even though his heart wasn't in it. Especially so far as Lady Lucy Exley was concerned.
After the guests had exchanged a few pleasantries with Lady Cynthia about a variety of inconsequential matters, all of them made their way back to the main lawn where a long table had been set up by the footmen, which they had carried outside from the conservatory.
The maids had filled it with fine china and cutlery from the house, then added vases of flowers to make it even more inviting.
Edward and Cynthia greeted the other guests who had arrived introducing Sophia so many times that she couldn't possibly remember all of their names.
As if she realised how her companion was feeling, Lady Cynthia smiled at her and patted her hand, saying that she would soon learn who everyone was, so shouldn't worry about it for the time being.
Nevertheless a forlorn Sophia couldn't stop her eyes from following Ned at every opportunity, and her heart was filled with dismay when she saw Lady Lucy standing next to him, seemingly as often as she possibly could.
Smiling, and gazing up into his eyes. As he looked down at her, and replied whenever she spoke to him but without Sophia knowing how he really felt in his heart.