The Last Killiney
Page 87
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It was early when the baby woke up the wet nurse where she slept in the adjoining room. Having been sent out beyond the footman barricade to fetch Ravenna’s breakfast, the girl soon came back with the food and a frightened face: She’d seen Christian in the passageway. He’d yelled at her, Megan said. He’d demanded the countess be ready for the opera by eight that night, and should Megan fail to dress her mistress on time and in the appropriate manner, the girl would be fired, wet nurse or no.
Ravenna spent the rest of the day reassuring Megan she’d never be dismissed, no matter what Christian said. Megan loved the baby to pieces, Ravenna knew that, and what would she do without the girl’s help?
It wasn’t until five o’clock when they both finally calmed and Ravenna began to brace herself for Christian’s presence. She put on the Emma Hamilton dress. She styled her hair in the Emma Hamilton fashion, and making sure the baby was well and settled in the kitchen with Megan, she went down to the carriage at five minutes to eight. She had Paul’s watch in her hand, and damned if she cared what Christian thought about it. If he wanted her ready by eight, she’d be ready—and ready to do battle, if necessary.