Page 35 of Lady for a Season
“Tres bien,” said Celine with satisfaction.
“Thank you,” said Maggie.
Celine followed her down the stairs but stopped at the dining room door. “Watch what Her Grace does and do likewise,” she whispered.
Maggie had been so engrossed in the novelty of her clothes that she had not thought that this was the first time she would eat with the Duchess. Suddenly cold, her bare arms turned to gooseflesh, her stomach heavy.
A footman bowed and opened the door to her.
The room was huge and the table at its centre vast, it would easily have seated twenty people around it, but at present there was only the Duchess and Edward, seated one at either end of it, with a third place laid for Maggie by the Duchess’ left hand. The room shimmered with dozens of candles and the table was laid with a bewildering array of dishes, as well as elegant tableware and glasses. Two more footmen stood stiffly by one wall, awaiting orders.
Edward rose to his feet as Maggie entered the room. She hovered for a moment, unsure of herself.
“You are late, Margaret,” said the Duchess. “We expect punctuality in this house.”
“I am very sorry,” said Maggie, throat dry. “… Aunt Caroline,” she remembered to add after a too-long pause.
“Take your place,” said the Duchess, indicating the setting by her.
Maggie reluctantly sat, wishing she were closer to Edward, who was absurdly far away.
“You may serve the soup, Barnaby,” said the Duchess to one of the footmen.
The soup was asparagus, a delicate creamy concoction. As soon as the footman had finished serving it, he removed the tureen in which it had been presented and the other footman replaced it on the table with a beef steak pie, which joined the platters of mutton and stewed celery, roast pigeon, a fricassee of rabbits and one of mushrooms, Spanish peas, almond cheesecakes and an elderflower jelly. Maggie watched carefully to see how the Duchess ate and tried to imitate her, taking absurdly small mouthfuls.
“You have been out today,” began the Duchess, in a stiff attempt at conversation when the silence had grown unbearable.
Maggie looked at Edward, who said nothing.
“Yes, Aunt Caroline,” she said. “We walked in the gardens.”
“The rose garden will be in full bloom by late May, it was laid out by Edward’s grandmother.”
Maggie privately doubted whether a previous Duchess of Buckingham had done anything so close to manual labour as to lay out a rose garden, but she nodded as though this was interesting information.
“You may wish to ride while you are with us,” said the Duchess in an even stiffer voice after another endless silence. “The head groom will find you a suitable horse.”
Maggie had never ridden a horse and the idea of learning was frightening; the horses pulling the carriages had been so large. “Thank you, Aunt Caroline,” she said meekly.
The rest of the meal continued in silence. Maggie ate what she could reach but did not dare ask for dishes to be passed to her.
“We will proceed to the drawing room,” decreed the Duchess at the end of the meal and there followed another uncomfortable hour of silence in the drawing room, where Edward disappeared behind a book again and Maggie stared into the fire and hoped to be set free as soon as possible.
“You may leave us,” said the Duchess to the footman in the end. He left the room and she turned to Maggie and Edward. “Now that you are dressed appropriately, we can begin your education,” she said. “Neither of you are fit to partake in society at present, since you have been lacking in education these past…” She trailed off, then stood. “We will begin tomorrow.” She swept out of the room.
Chapter 4:
A Lady’s Education
Maggie was woken in the Wisteria Room by the curtains being opened. A maid she had never seen before was busy tying them back, before laying out the green muslin dress ready to be worn along with clean undergarments.
“Morning, Miss Seton,” she said when she saw Maggie’s eyes were open. “I’m Jane. I’ve brought up your water and Duval says she’ll be in to do your hair shortly. Duval says I’m to look after you as she must see to Her Grace first thing. I’m to learn how to look after a lady,” she added, sounding excited.
Maggie nodded without replying, fearful of saying the wrong thing. Evidently, Jane saw Maggie as a junior member of the family and a wonderful opportunity to better herself by progressing to the giddy heights of lady’s maid.
With Jane’s keen attentions, she was quickly washed and dressed, remembering to use the toothbrush and tooth powder as though she had always done so. The green muslin floated about her. She had to touch it to make sure it was real, it felt so light on her.
“It’s a sunny day,” said Jane anxiously, perhaps fearing that Maggie’s silence indicated displeasure. “I thought it would bewarm enough for the muslin, seeing as it’s almost May. But I’ll fetch your shawl.”
