Page 16 of Enslaved to the Seduction of a Lady
Chapter Seven
Jenny grabbed at all the empty bottles on the table, thrusting them onto her tray with a quick efficiency. Around her, guests bustled this way and that, and she smiled at their enjoyment. She liked being a maid. The Salsburys were a kind family and the work, though sometimes tiring, was easy enough.
Behind her, the party raged on, and she suspected it would carry on until early in the morning. She liked to see all the gowns and the jewels, so different from her own puce-colored smock uniform, and she reveled in a dream of one day getting the chance to dance in a ball gown like that, searching out her prince.
“I do worry about her, you know,” the Duchess of Salsbury said.
Jenny turned her head slightly to hear better. One of the best things about being a servant was that she got to hear the tales of the upper class. They spoke freely in front of her, and Jenny enjoyed the stories in the same way that the ladies might enjoy a novel—with a connection to the characters but a distance from the tale itself.
“You worry about whom?” the Duke of Salsbury asked.
She could hear a slight drunken slur to his drawl, and she smiled at it.
“Alison, of course.”
Jenny held her breath and slowed in her clearing, wanting to hear more of their conversation. She knew Lady Alison had caught her brother’s eye and she worried about both of them. It was courting danger for them to even be friends, let alone anything more.
“She is getting to be quite an age now,” the Duchess said. Her voice was high pitched and haughty as she spoke, as though she, too, had taken a little too much wine and was concentrating on each individual word.
“That she is,” the Duke said. “I understand your concerns. She always said she would not marry until her sister was found and, well—”
“Teresa has been back for a year now, and Alison is still hesitating.”
“We need to find her a wealthy gentleman to match her with,” the Duke said.
Jenny felt a twist of pain for her brother. She knew he would be devastated if Lady Alison married another, even though in reality it could never be any other way. A match between a lady and a groom was unheard of.
“The Earl of Belmont has shownsomeinterest,” the Duchess said, her voice faraway and musing.
“Yes, indeed, but will Alison be happy with him?” the Duke asked.
Jenny jumped when she heard the Duchess tut loudly, and her cheeks flushed, worried she had been caught listening to their conversation. She quickly busied herself again, but when no chastisement came, she slowed her movements once more.
“Given how long she has left it,” the Duchess said, clearly a little annoyed, “I doubt very much she will have the pick of the bunch. She will have to learn to be less picky if we are to see her married at all.”
“Yes, I agree, but—”
“But nothing, Charles. What kind of future could she possibly have if she is not married? I suspect not much of a future at all.”
“You are right, my darling,” the Duke said, taking hold of the Duchess’ hand and kissing it. “As you always are. We must protect her future at all costs, and if she is less than happy with the match we choose for her, it will be better that than a long and miserable life as a spinster.”
* * *
Luke sat on the grass at the top of the hill, legs splayed out in front of him and watching the party below. It looked magical with all the candlelight and the glint of jewels and crystals, the vibrant colors of the gowns and the waistcoats. Around him, the other servants danced and drank and sang.
It was not quite the ball that was happening in the gardens below, but as they waited for the guests to finish their evening, the servants had a party of their own, there at the top of the hill. The Duke had even given them some jugs of ale and mead, and a few platters of colds meats and cheese to mark the occasion. He was a good employer, Luke knew, and he was lucky to hold a position in such a house.
“C’mon, Luke,” James shouted over the din. “You haven’t taken a drop of ale this evening. What’s got into you?”
“I think you’ve had my share already,” Luke said, laughing as he did so.
The footman towered over Luke, trying to steady himself, while around them, the group danced with each other, teasing and laughing.
“I don’t know what you are talking about,” James said, turning his nose to the air, but unable to keep in the snort of laughter.
“Is it the slope that is causing you to lose your footing, then?” Luke said, eyebrow raised.
“Ah,” James said, waving the hand that held a bottle by the neck. “It’s a party? We’re here to celebrate the return of Lady Teresa!”
