Page 3 of The Viscount's Daring Cinderella
“Certainly not, Lady Ellsworth. I will be above reproach.”
“Your belongings are being unpacked, and shortly you will be able to retire to your room.”
Lady Ellsworth sniffed as her eyes had traveled from Beryl’s head to her feet. “You will not live a life of luxury here. You have been saved from goodness knows what, so I expect you to show me your gratitude. Your cousins, Grace and Estelle have gone for a visit, and you will meet them when they return. Your cousin Lord Ellsworth is at Oxford.”
“I look forward to meeting them,” Beryl had said, beginning the stage of her polite façade in the face of such spite.
“You are here to be a companion for Grace and Estelle. You will assist with whatever it is that they need, including preparing their clothing and dressing them, if necessary. They have maids, but they may prefer you do it, and you will oblige. You will not have a maid, so I am sure you will be quite adept at dressing them in no time. You will be guided by your cousins regarding whatever activities they would like to pursue.”
Beryl’s breath had caught in her throat. She had never been without a maid and certainly never dressed herself, but she would learn. “I would be happy to assist in whatever way I can, Lady Ellsworth.”
Her voice had not betrayed the dejection she felt, but her heart slumped.
Lady Ellsworth’s smile had been tight and her eyes narrowed in censure. “I was not asking you if you were happy. I was merely stating what you are expected to do so we do not haveanymisunderstanding.”
“As you wish, Lady Ellsworth.”
There had been a knock on the door.
“Come in,” Lady Ellsworth said.
A maid entered and curtsied. “The room is prepared, Lady Ellsworth.”
“Thank you, Daisy.”
“I will show you to your room.”
Lady Ellsworth stood and walked from the room. Beryl had followed closely behind, observing the house was tastefully furnished but it lacked warmth. They ascended the stairs and walked down the hallway until they approached a room where the door stood open. Lady Ellsworth stepped inside and Beryl followed. Her trunks had been unpacked and her jewelry box sat atop the dressing table.
Lady Ellsworth’s eyes squinted and narrowed in on the box. “What do we have here?”
Lady Ellsworth opened the jewelry box and spread each piece on the dressing table.
“These are quite lovely pieces,” Lady Ellsworth remarked as she chose a ruby necklace and studied it with care.
Her chest tight, Beryl had said, “Thank you. They are all that I have remaining from my mother, and they hold great sentimental value.”
Lady Ellsworth spun around with such speed that Beryl had lurched back.
“Sentimental value?”
“Yes. I do not have anything else—”
“And what are you contributing to your stay here at Chalfont House?” Lady Ellsworth cut her off. “Sacrificing a necklace is the least that you can do. You ungrateful girl.”
Beryl had been stunned into silence, and the familiar feeling of shame returned, but this time it was tinged with sadness. Lady Ellsworth’s short and stubby fingers were wrapped tightly around the necklace. Beryl had to give it up. This was the only place she had to lay her head until she could make sense of her life.
“As you wish, Lady Ellsworth.”
“You will do to remember how fortunate you are to have a roof over your head,” Lady Ellsworth said as she left the room and closed the door behind her. Beryl had walked up to the dressing table and placed the rest of her jewelry back in its place. Tears streamed down her face and splashed into the box.
That day had been the beginning of her misery at Chalfont House.
Pushing aside those awful memories and squaring her shoulders, Beryl braced herself for another day of cruel taunts that unfortunately had the power to strike her heart. She knew living like this could not be sustained.
Oh, but I must endure until I’ve formed a plan.
CHAPTER 2
