Chapter 26
Chapter Twenty-Six
Emily was frustrated. The party was happening at the end of the week and nothing was ready.
Of course, she began planning weeks ago, but everything seemed to be only about eighty percent finished.
These ridiculous raids were keeping her husband busy, so he was no help—not that he was ever any help when it came to domestic matters.
The baby was sick, and her oldest was going through a very clingy phase, which made it difficult for her to get any work done.
The staff was preparing the household to shift into their country estate a few miles south, so they were very busy indeed.
Usually, the family and the staff would have already been settled in the estate for a few weeks before the Marquis’ birthday, and she had counted on that solace in order to prepare, but the problems in the region had kept them anchored in town.
This year, she would have people from Chevalerie, used to the most lavish and exquisite parties, as her guests.
She could not disappoint. And on top of everything else, she’d learned that her head housekeeper would need to depart due to a family illness, leaving Emily with no one to help her plan. She was at her wit’s end.
It was late morning as she sat in the parlor of her home with notes written on cards spread out around her.
She couldn’t believe how much she still had to get done.
A maid stood near her, fidgeting with stress because Emily had been snapping at her all morning.
Of course, it wasn’t the girl’s fault, but Emily had no one else to yell at.
Just then, the footman entered, announcing the arrival of a guest.
Emily waited for a moment, then turned to her maid, exasperated. “Well, go to receive the guest, then. Don’t stand there without a thought in your head.”
“Yes Madame!” The girl shrieked as she ran towards the door.
Emily shook her head. She needed competence in this moment. People who could think for themselves and not force her to make every little decision.
After a few minutes, the girl returned to the room. “Miss Alexandra de Foix to see you, Madame.”
Alexandra! She hadn’t realized she’d stayed behind.
“Yes, yes, let her in.” Emily stood up excited to greet the woman. When Alex appeared in the doorway to the parlor, Emily dragged her to the sitting area.
“Alexandra!” she said, pulling her friend down to the couch. “You cannot understand how happy I am to see you!”
“Oh, Emily,” said Alex, “I’m not worthy of such a greeting.”
“I need help. You can help me with the party while we wait for the boys to finish this silly fight and get back to normal life!” She was thrilled. It was as if God in Heaven had answered her prayers.
Her guest didn’t seem as excited as she was about the idea. “Actually, Emily,” Alex began. “I was coming here to thank you for your hospitality and bid you goodbye. I shall take my leave soon.”
Emily stared at her in disbelief. “But the ball is on Saturday.”
“I know. I’m so sorry. But I need to get moving,” she replied.
“Will you be returning for it?”
“That was not my plan, no.”
Emily stopped for a moment and stared hard at Alex. “Did something happen between you and Philippe?”
Alex opened her eyes wide. “No, I just, I need to get going—” she stammered.
“Mm hmm,” tsked Emily. Emily knew a woman scorned when she saw one. “What did he do?”
“Nothing!” Alex played with the tie on her shirt. “It’s that… I need to get back to Chevalerie. I, um, I have another job waiting for me there.”
“Really.” Emily watched her skeptically and Alex crumpled under her gaze. Emily paused and crossed her hands delicately in her lap. “Well, if you don’t plan to be here for the ball, the very least you can do is help me prepare.”
“Um,” said Alex, looking at her blankly. “What?”
“Whatever ‘job’ you have waiting can surely be put off for a few days. We’ll just send word that you were fighting some robber baron and got stuck in a swamp or something.”
“Stuck in a swamp?” Alex echoed.
“I don’t know. Whatever happens when you traipse off into the forest,” Emily waved her hands.
“Come now. You must help me. I have no one else, and I don’t know a woman in the world better at making decisions than you.
” She continued, a little more gently, “Besides, whatever has happened, helping me will help to take your mind off of it. You know, you may need someone to talk to more than you realize.”
“I am not made for these types of tasks, Emily,” Alex replied as she eyed the notes Emily had spread around her.
Emily felt a moment of triumph. She had begun to wear Alex down. She reached across and took the hand of her new friend. “Alexandra, you are capable of far more than you give yourself credit.”
Alex sighed. “Perhaps I can stay until the morning.”
Satisfied, Emily picked up a stack of papers and dumped them into Alex’s lap. “Step one,” she said. “Finalizing the menu.”