Page 49 of A Housekeeper for the Earl of Drinkwater
Chapter Twenty
Serena walked out of the countess’s room with her head held high, and without making a fuss. She would do nothing to upset the countess, especially while her condition was still so delicate. But once she reached her little bedroom, she slammed the door and threw herself down onto the bed. Who did those women think they were to order her around in the earl’s home?
There was a gentle knocking on the door to her room. She walked to the door, hesitating with her hand on the knob.
“Who is it?” she asked, more sharply than she intended.
“Emily,” came a timid voice from the other side of the door.
Serena flushed, quickly opening the door and giving the maid an apologetic smile.
“Forgive me,” she said. “I feared you might be—” she paused, choosing her words carefully. “—someone else.”
Emily nodded, her eyes growing wide.
“You thought I was those horrid women who’ve just arrived,” she said. “They were nasty to me, as well. I suppose they think that since they are aunts to Lord Drinkwater, they can speak to people however they like.”
Serena nodded.
“They were rude, indeed,” she said, skipping the part where they’d scolded her out of the countess’s room. “Are they the countess’s sisters?”
Emily shook her head.
“No,” she said. “Clarke told me they are sisters of the late earl.”
Serena’s eyes widened.
“Did they know of their brother’s death before they arrived?” she asked.
Emily shrugged.
“They know now,” she said. “And I do not think they were too distraught.” She moved closer, dropping her voice to a whisper, as though the women might be just outside the door, listening. “They only went on nagging Lord Drinkwater about the condition of the mansion and his working on repairs like a common worker.”
Serena rolled her eyes.
“What loving aunts,” she muttered.
Just then, the women heard the earl calling for Emily. The young maid winced, giving Serena a look of horror.
“I hope they will not be here long,” she whispered as she slipped out of Serena’s door.
“Me, too,” Serena whispered to herself.
***
The following morning, Serena dressed, excited as usual about attending to her duties. The memory of the previous evening and her bitter run-in with the earl’s mean aunts nagged at her mind. She shoved the thought away, however.
She expected they would likely only stay for a couple of days. She could try to sneak in a visit or two with the countess while they were dining, and they would be gone before she knew it.
But as she was gathering her supplies for the morning, she heard their sharp heels tapping on the marble floor. She ducked into the closet, where she’d been fetching her cleaning things, praying she wouldn’t be seen.
“How fortunate we will be staying for quite some time,” she heard one of them say. She did not know their names, so she did not know which one had spoken. “Edward clearly needs advice on how to better take care of this place.”
The other one laughed. It was piercing and shrill, and Serena pictured the sound coming from a banshee of legend rather than a living woman.
“What he needs most is a new housekeeper,” the woman said, causing her sister to laugh, too.
More painful to Serena’s ears than the terrible laughter were those words.What do they mean, he needs a new housekeeper!?She was indignant. Lord Drinkwater had never said anything but kind things about her work. Who were they to barge in saying such cruel things?
