*****
Miranda tried in vain to see Simon as a babe in arms as he paced the room, anger setting his chin at such a sharp angle that he resembled his ancestors' portraits. A vein at his temple visibly throbbed as he repeated, for the third time, "The woman is no lady's maid. I will not allow it."
"I hired her. I think I have that right. After all, you will not have to suffer any mistakes she might make in dressing my hair or tightening my laces." She truly could not fathom the reason for his upset. She had thought it was simple masculine dismay at not being consulted in the decision. But from his words, it was becoming increasingly clear that his objections were with Katherine herself.
He was adamant. "I could not bear it if she were to lay one finger on your hair, or even your clothing."
"How can you be so harsh. I realize she is not your typical maid, but with proper training ... " She felt slightly ridiculous, making a case for Katherine as a lady's maid when it was all a subterfuge to keep Simon from finding out that she would be trying to cure him.
"I would prefer to keep you sheltered. Please don't press me. Simply give the woman notice and send her home again."
"I know she made her living in a rather unorthodox manner — ',
"Unorthodox?" He paused and glared at her. "Just exactly what do you know of how she made her living? Surely you did not discuss it with her?"
"Of course I did! She has much to teach me — "
"What?" He found this preposterous conversation was giving him a headache. "I shall be the one to teach you about such things."
"Well, I don't see how. You won't even consult a doctor about your health. I cannot understand why you are being unreasonable. I should be able to choose my lady's maid for myself."
"She is a wholly unacceptable person!"
Miranda rounded on him. " I had no idea you were so intolerant or I would never have married you. Katherine may have had a hard life, but she is a good person — too good to be a lady's maid. It is simply the best I could offer her."
"Too good?" He could not believe his ears.
"She has been living with her father, doing her best to keep her daughter fed and clothed with her healing talents. But her village is poor and they had little to offer. I will have her, and you will not stop me."
"A healer? What nonsense has she filled your head with, Miranda? The woman has been lying with men for money."
Miranda blinked. For a moment she did not take in his meaning. And then she did. "How dare you say that about Katherine!"
He shook his head. "You sound as if she were your most trusted friend."
It was true. She did consider Katherine a trusted friend. Miranda reflected that perhaps such was her nature. After all, she had bonded with Simon more quickly and fully than she had imagined possible in a lifetime of days together. "Perhaps that is because she has become one — because I took the time to get to know her."
He stilled, the muscle that twitched when he was overwrought pulsed in an alarming fashion. "What do you mean, you took the time to get to know her? Have you spent time with this woman?"
She nodded, understanding his dismay now that she knew the misapprehension under which he labored. "And Betsy — in fact it was Betsy I went to see, but Katherine's plight tore at my heart."
"And so you offered her a position here?"
"Yes."
"It will never work."
"We will see." She did not really care if Katherine was the worst lady's maid ever known. She wanted her husband cured and for that she needed Katherine here to help.
"I want her out of my home. You do not know what you are about in this matter. You must trust my judgment."
His harsh, unfeeling words echoed in her ears. He trusted her no more than her own father had. Worse, he had taken her for wife and did not treat her as a wife. "No. You must trust mine."
He looked at her seriously, then sighed. "She must go."
She felt herself inexplicably blinded by tears as she stood. "Very well. If you cannot be reasonable, then Katherine, Betsy, and I will be out of your home within the hour."
***
The Fairy Tale Bride Page 22
