Page 40 of A Housekeeper for the Earl of Drinkwater
Edward and Miss White had been looking directly at one another, yet now, they looked at each other with quizzical expressions. Understanding reached them both at the same time, and they turned their heads toward the countess, equally stunned.
“Mother,” Edward said, afraid to move or breathe, lest he shock his mother back into silence. “It is so good to hear your voice again.”
For the first time in weeks, the countess laughed, though it sounded harsh and tired.
“It is good to use it again, my darling,” she said.
Edward nodded, hiding his tears by picking through the remaining pastries and choosing the plumpest one for his mother, while the housekeeper poured more tea for them all. Once the countess had been served once more, he and Miss White exchanged looks. The young housekeeper’s eyes sparkled with glee, highlighted by tears of joy.
He gave her a smile as he understood something else in that moment:She did this,he thought, blinking back his own happy tears.I do not know how, but she did this. As if she was not already incredible enough.
Chapter Seventeen
“Mrs. Chantry!” Serena gushed later that day, following her thrilling visit with Lord Drinkwater and the countess, bursting into the old housekeeper’s room without knocking. She had hardly slept a wink the night before, too excited to tell her friend about what had happened.
The elderly woman, who was sitting in her chair across the room rather than in bed, was startled, spilling the tea she had just been pouring.
“Oh, dear,” Serena said, rushing over to help her. “I am very sorry.”
The older housekeeper laughed, fetching a nearby cloth, and cleaning up the spill.
“Nonsense, dear,” she said, setting aside the damp towel. “It was just a little tea. Besides, the expression on your face indicates that it might be well worth it.”
Serena, remembering why she had rushed into the room in the first place, grinned, and nodded.
“You will not believe what happened today,” she said.
Mrs. Chantry raised her eyebrows, intrigued.
“You might be surprised,” she said. “What happened?”
Serena clapped her hands together, bouncing on her toes from the excitement threatening to explode inside her.
“Lady Drinkwater spoke,” she declared, grinning.
Mrs. Chantry nearly dropped her tea again, and her mouth fell open.
“You are right,” she said, shaking her head. “If anyone else had told me that, I would have thought they were teasing me. What did she say?”
Serena squealed, unable to contain her joy.
“She asked for more tea, and another of those almond pastries you told me how to make,” she said.
Mrs. Chantry’s hand flew up to her mouth. She stared at Serena with wide eyes for a moment. Then, she rose from her chair, surprisingly quickly for a woman who had been so ill of late and waddled over to embrace Serena.
“Oh, my heavens,” she said, beaming at Serena. “She is eatingandspeaking?”
Serena nodded, taking her mentor’s hands, and squeezing them.
“Isn’t it wonderful?” she asked.
Mrs. Chantry laughed.
“Wonderful?” she asked. “My dear, it is outright miraculous. I would never have thought to see her recover before I retired.”
Serena clasped her hands together, sighing happily.
“It was truly an honor to be present when she spoke,” she said. “And you should have seen the look on the earl’s face. I have never seen him so happy.”
