Almost at the same time Esther approached the door, a rattled and wrinkled looking woman, one whom she was not familiar with, ran out following the two girls who had seemingly escaped. The old woman passed Esther, and then turned quickly towards her. She looked at her briefly and a sense of recognition crossed her face.
“You must be Lady Esther Nott?” the old woman asked.
Esther nodded. “Yes, I am here to see Miss Sophia.” Sophia was the administrator with whom Esther had always worked with at this orphanage.
“She’s not here,” replied the frazzled woman in a raspy voice, her mob-cap crooked on the top of her head. “She has been reassigned to a different district.”
“What?” asked Ester with surprise. “But why?”
“Don’t know,” said the woman, and it didn’t seem as if she cared, either. “I was just told to tell you when you arrived.” She seems a bit rough.
“Who will be my contact here?” asked Esther, still shocked that Sophia was gone without a trace.
“Don’t know that, either,” replied the woman.
“What did you say your name was, Miss?” asked Esther.
“I didn’t,” responded the woman. “But since you asked, it’s Anne. Miss Anne, of course. I’m sorry, I don’t know how to speak with a Lady such as yourself. I was raised on a farm and didn’t have interaction with your type of people.”
“My type of…people?” asked Esther, a bit confused.
“Yes, you know, rich people. Titled people,” said Anne with annoyance in her voice.
“Oh,” said Esther. “I assure you that I am the same type of person as you are.”
Anne laughed heartedly. “Sure. Yes, I’m sure you are. No disrespect, but I know your type.”
Esther looked at Anne with furrowed brows. “My type?”
“Yes,” replied Anne. “The type of person who spends a couple of hours with the children, and then goes back to their estates in the countryside. No disrespect, My Lady, but I have seen it all before.”
Suddenly, another woman came through the open door to the courtyard, and Esther recognized her immediately. It was Grace, a staff member she was very familiar with.
“Miss Anne!” Grace said in shock. “As your superior, I demand that you treat Lady Esther with the respect she deserves.”
Anne chuckled, shook her head, and sauntered in the direction the girls had run, not paying a bit of attention to Grace’s words. She adjusted her dress as she walked.
“I am so very sorry for her behavior, My Lady,” said Grace. “She is not the best representation of our staff. She’s old, and it seems she just doesn’t care.”
“It’s perfectly fine,” replied Esther with a smile.
“No, it’s not.” Grace responded. “She had no right to say those things to you. You have always been a wonderful asset to our asylum.”
“I appreciate that,” said Esther. “I thoroughly enjoy working with the children.”
“And we appreciate you, Lady Esther,” Grace replied. “Please, follow me, and I can show you to the reading room.”
Esther often would read to the children when she spent time at the orphanage. She suspected that listening to her read might be the only pleasure that some of the children had, living in this place.
Grace entered into the doorway and Esther followed. The hallways were dark and dank, and there was a strange odor that seemed to get more pronounced the deeper the women got into the building. Esther still heard the sound of crying and yelling, though it was muffled through the walls. I hate that these children have to live like this.
As they walked through the winding hallways of the orphanage, occasionally, they would pass a child or another woman caring for the children. It was a sad sight to see. Most of the children were dirty, though Esther did feel some comfort knowing that they were in an orphanage and not living on the cold, wet streets.
Grace led Esther into a room and lit the lamp. There was a chair in the center and Grace motioned to it.
“Is that chair acceptable, Lady Esther? Grace asked.
“Yes, thank you,” Esther replied.
“I will go collect the children,” said Grace.
“Before you go,” said Esther. “What happened to Miss Sophia?”
“Miss Anne was correct. She was transferred to a different district,” said Grace. “To be honest, My Lady, all of us will be transferred.”
“What?” said Esther, surprised.
“The district is closing the orphanage, so all of us will be reassigned to different areas,” explained Grace.
“What about the children?” asked Esther. Especially Julia.
“They will be sent away,” said Grace with marked sadness in her voice.
Chapter 3
Allan was sitting alone in the carriage as it moved swiftly down the road. He was on his way to his cousin’s wedding. He had left approximately an hour ago, and he had been watching the world pass in silence. He had brought a book along to read, but he hadn’t yet opened it. His valet, Samuel Harley, was sitting with the coachman.
The time passed slowly, and Allan still had approximately an hour in the trip. His cousins were close enough to where they could see each other regularly, but it was still a bit of a distance to travel.
After seeing Oliver, Allan had almost constantly been thinking about the war, the fighting, and of course, his injuries. Sometimes he really dwelled on it, and though he knew he shouldn’t, the thoughts tended to come into his mind.
As always, his flashbacks brought him back to his recovery, and he once again began to think about Bridget. When he was deep in thought, he could see her dark eyes staring into his, and her long dark blonde hair pulled back to frame her face. She was beautiful.
When it came to Bridget, things were always a little cloudy, but sometimes, when he concentrated really hard, he could remember new details. He was hoping that would happen again.
Allan also knew that it wouldn’t be proper for him to begin a relationship with Bridget, but there was something about her that greatly intrigued him. He was fixated on the thought of her body, too, and it was almost as if he had fully explored it at some point, but he really couldn’t remember much. Most of his memories of her were lost in an opium haze.
Allan shook his head to bring himself back to reality. He took a deep breath and looked out of the window again. The green fields stretched out before him, and he could see groups of sheep dotting the landscape.
The only sounds Allan could hear were the cadence of the horses’ hoofs and the crunching of the dirt road under the wheels of the carriage. It was calming to him. When he sat in silence, it opened his mind to thoughts that he didn’t want to have.
The sun was low in the sky, though there would still be light when they arrived at his cousin’s estate. He was looking forward to seeing Edward and meeting his bride. He also was looking forward to seeing Harry, even though they were not as close as he was with Edward.
With all of their parents gone, it was important to Allan that he remained close with his cousins. They were, after all, his only family, though he would certainly count Oliver as part of that group, too. He was like a brother.
The carriage came around a corner of the road and Allan could finally see the massive estate ahead of him. It was grand and beautiful, much larger than his own. Memories of his childhood flashed back to him as he remembered the times he had spent as a lad with Edward and Harry, and he felt a bit choked up. Marriage was certainly the last step into adulthood for these men, and he was certainly honored to be part of Edward’s wedding.
A few minutes passed, and Allan watched as the estate grew larger. As they got closer, he could see people waiting outside and assumed that it would be members of the staff to greet them, though he was hoping that Edward and Harry were among that group, too.
Although the sun was fading, there was still enough light in the sky to make out the ornate details that decorated the main house, and now he could see the grand stables
in the distance. His cousins were well-known breeders of the finest horses in England, and Allan was hoping to have a chance to ride while he was visiting.
The carriage turned right, towards the house, and now he was unable to see the people standing at the entrance. Allan could, however, see the beginnings of what would be a beautiful sunset. He knew that his cousin, who was a bit superstitious, would find this a good omen for the night before his wedding.
Allan could feel the carriage turn again, and this time, the west wing of the house was in his sights, and in only a moment, he would be seeing his cousins. The carriage slowed, and then came to a stop, and he could clearly see several members of staff waiting to greet him.
Standing at the top of the stairs leading into the home was his cousin Edward, looking as regal as ever. Next to him stood a lovely lady, whom Allan assumed was Lady Mary Nott, his future bride. She had flowing brown hair and was curvy in all of the right places. My cousin has done well for himself.
On the step below Edward, Allan could see his cousin Harry, the permanent brooding look that he recognized from their childhood, still on his face.
The door to the carriage opened, and the coachmen pulled down the steps under the door so that Allan could step out. The air was warm and pleasant, and he smiled as he looked up at his only remaining family members.
He began walking towards the men and lady, his valet following behind him. He nodded to the staff who were waiting to greet him and moved directly towards Edward.
As he approached the Duke, he smiled at his cousin. Edward smiled back at him, extended his hand, which Allan took, and then pulled him into an embrace.
“It is good to see you, Cousin,” Edward said as he hugged Allan.
“It is wonderful to see you, too,” Allan responded.
The men pulled apart, and Edward pulled the lady over to him.
“Allan, I would like to introduce you to your new cousin, Lady Mary Nott,” said Edward.
Lady Mary was even more lovely up close, and he could see that she had rosy cheeks and stunning green eyes.
“It is lovely to meet you,” Allan said, as he took Lady Mary’s hand and kissed the top in greeting. “Edward didn’t tell me that you were so exquisite.”
The redness of her cheeks got brighter, and she said “It is a pleasure to meet you, My Lord. Edward has told me many wonderful things about you.”
Suddenly Allan heard someone clear their throat behind him. He turned and came face to face with his cousin, Harry.
Allan smiled at him and reached his hand out to shake Harry’s. Harry took it and said, “I thought you would be too enamored with the great beauty of my future sister-in-law to notice me.”
Allan laughed heartedly. “She is certainly a lovely lady.”
Harry let go of Allan’s hand and said, “Her older sister is a fine lady, too.”
This time it was Edward who laughed. “Yes, Allan,” he said to his cousin. “Harry has his eyes on Mary’s sister, but she only has eyes for her charity work, it seems.”
Harry’s brooding demeanor came back quickly, but then he smiled. “She will come around.” He winked at Allan.
“Cousin,” said Edward to Allan, “I hope to allow you some time to settle in, and then we would love for you to join us for dinner tonight. My butler, Bolt, will show you to your quarters.”
“That sounds wonderful,” replied Allan, “and I will surely be looking forward to dinner. We have a lot to catch up on.”
“Yes, indeed,” said Edward, as he motioned for Allan to walk through the door behind Bolt. “Please let me know if you need anything, and if not, I will see you at dinner.”
“Thank you,” said Allan, as he followed Bolt into the entry hallway.
The hallway was spacious. It had elaborate pillars which ran from the floor to the high ceilings. The sound of their feet as they walked echoed off of the stone floor, and the ceilings were covered with paintings and tapestries.
“I will show you and your valet to your sleeping quarters,” Bolt said. “And then you may join His Grace and the other guests in the drawing room before dinner. We will serve dinner at six.”
“Thank you,” said Allan, as he followed Bolt up the stairs, which were covered in red carpeting. At the top of the staircase, the men turned towards the left. They walked past three doors, and then Bolt stopped.
“Your room, My Lord,” Bolt said, as he gestured towards the door. “I trust that it will be warm and comfortable for you. Please do not hesitate to let me know if something is amiss.”
“I’m sure it will be suitable,” replied Allan. “Thank you for showing me the way.”
Bolt opened the door for Allan, and Allan walked in. There was a large, lavish bed in the center of the room. There was a wardrobe in the corner furthest from the door, and a full-length mirror next to the wardrobe. The waning light from the sun reflected off of the surface of the mirror, and it created a light, which perfectly lit up the Daftwood Coat of Arms, which hung on the wall over the fireplace. There was also a dresser and sitting area in the room.
Allan turned to Bolt and said, “This will serve well, thank you.”
“You are very welcome, My Lord,” Bolt replied as he turned and walked out of the door, closing it behind him.
Allan then turned to Harley and said, “We don’t have much time before dinner. I would like to mingle with the other guests before the meal.”
“Yes, My Lord,” replied Harley. “I have your evening clothes ready.”
Allan turned back around, took off his coat, and Harley began to dress him.
* * *
Esther and Ruth were sitting side by side in the carriage as it approached Edward’s huge estate. Ester was looking out of the window as the considerable shape of the home caught her eye.
“I didn’t know it was this large,” she said to Ruth. “I can’t believe Mary will live here.”
The estate of the Duke of Daftwood was almost double the size of Esther’s father’s estate. Ruth leaned towards Esther to get a look at the home for herself. Unlike her sisters, Ruth’s hair was a honey blonde color. She was short, where they were tall, and she had bright blue eyes that always seemed to have a bit of mischief running through them.
“Where are the stables?” Ruth asked.
“I don’t know, Ruth,” said Esther with some annoyance in her tone. “I have never been here, you know.”
Ruth just sighed. They had been in the carriage for more than two hours together, and both of them were running thin on patience. However, Esther was also interested to know where the stables were. The Duke and his family were known for their well-bred horses. She would enjoy seeing the beasts, as she always had a love for them.
The sun was almost down, and as they approached the home, Esther could see light coming from the windows. Since it was early spring, the sun still went down early, even though it wasn’t extremely cold out. In fact, there was a bit of rain earlier, but otherwise, the weather was perfect for a wedding.
Esther felt the carriage lurch a bit, and then slow. She tried to see where the carriage in front of her was, which contained her parents, but she couldn’t tell. She assumed that they were close to the entrance of the home, but she was now facing the other way and Ruth’s head was blocking her view.
“Can you see anything?” Esther asked her youngest sister.
“Yes,” replied Ruth. “Mother and Father’s carriage stopped, and they are being greeted by Mary and Edward.”
“Is—?” asked Esther with hesitation.
“Lord Harry there?” said Ruth quickly. “Yes!” She laughed. “He must be waiting for you.”
All three sisters knew that Lord Harry, the younger brother of Mary’s soon-to-be-husband, Edward, was smitten with Esther. The feeling, however, was not mutual. In fact, Esther found him to be more of an annoyance than anything. He didn’t seem harmful, but she didn’t much enjoy his advances.
“I assumed he would be,” said Esther with a groan. “I
suppose I must be nice to him. It is Mary’s wedding, after all.”
“I’m sure he’s harmless,” said Ruth. “Perhaps you can meet someone here at the wedding who will sweep you off your feet. Then you would have an excuse to not speak with him.” She laughed again.
Esther just shook her head. The carriage had started moving again, so she assumed that her parents had already gone into the home. It only moved for a few feet, and then once again came to a stop. She and Ruth both straightened their hats and pulled on their gloves.
A footman opened the door and held out his hand for Ruth to take, and once she was safely out of the carriage, Esther followed close behind. As she finally found herself face to face with the massive home, she gasped quietly. It was much larger in person than she had imagined.
She looked up at the stairs and saw Mary, who had come to the home the day before, and standing next to her was Edward, who was looking as dashing as she remembered. Standing just one step below was his younger brother, Lord Harry Bishop.
Esther smiled as she and Ruth approached Mary and Edward, and she took great care as to not make eye contact with Lord Harry. It wasn’t that she wanted to be rude, but she didn’t want to give him the wrong idea.
“Welcome, my future sisters,” Edward said happily, as he took Esther’s hand. “I am so happy that you are here.”
“We are happy, too,” replied Esther. “Of course, we could never miss the wedding of our sister.”
“Of course not,” said Edward with a chuckle. “I’m sure she would never do me the honor without the presence of her sisters.”
Esther smiled at him. Edward was an excellent match for Mary. They were both very nice and caring people, and they made a very handsome couple. She then turned to Mary.
“I’m so happy for you,” Esther said, as the two embraced. “Your new home is lovely, too, and so is your future husband.”
The Marquess In Her Bed (Steamy Historical Regency) Page 29
