Page 64 of A Housekeeper for the Earl of Drinkwater
Serena smiled.
“Thank you, dear,” she said. Then, she turned and went back into the hallway, heading for Mrs. Chantry’s apartments.
She received another shock when she reached the elderly housekeeper’s room. The woman was packing her things, and Serena could see she had been crying.
“Mrs. Chantry?” she asked, a lump forming in her throat. “Are you leaving so soon?”
The housekeeper started, wiping at her eyes before looking at Serena.
“Not just yet,” she said. “But I thought it best to pack away the things I will not need for my remaining time here.” She paused, seeing Serena’s concerned expression. “Pay me no mind, dear. I am simply a little sad, thinking about how much I shall miss this place.”
Serena nodded, putting the cookies down on the table and embracing the housekeeper.
“I do not know what I shall do without you,” she said tearfully. “I know we all will miss you dearly, as well.”
Mrs. Chantry sniffled, patting Serena on the back.
“I know the earl and countess will be in the best of hands,” she said, smiling fondly at Serena.
Serena frowned.
“Where is the countess?” she asked.
Mrs. Chantry looked surprised and shrugged.
“I have not seen her this morning,” she said. “Why?”
Serena told her about finding her the countess’s room empty. Mrs. Chantry’s face lit up, and she squeezed Serena again.
“Oh, my,” she said, gleefully. “It sounds like Lady Drinkwater might have been feeling well enough to have breakfast with the earl and. . .” she paused again and winced, “thosewomen.”
Serena giggled.
“I would bet they dare not treat her the way they treat everyone else,” she said.
Mrs. Chantry nodded firmly.
“Darling, you have no idea,” she said. “Lady Drinkwater is the sweetest soul you will ever meet, apart from her son. But when she is displeased, the very foundations quake.”
Serena laughed again.
“I would give anything to see that,” she said.
Mrs. Chantry smiled slyly.
“If she is up and about, you can count on seeing it very soon,” she said.
The two women laughed joyfully. Then, Serena fetched the cookies off the table and held them up to the housekeeper.
“I brought these to thank you for everything you have done to help me,” she said. “But now, I believe we have something to celebrate, as well.”
The housekeeper grinned, taking a cookie.
“I believe you are absolutely right,” she said.
She sat at the table with Mrs. Chantry, her thoughts returning to the earl. She bit her lip, gathering up her courage. If the housekeeper laughed at her, so be it. But she felt the woman would offer her kind advice rather than tease her for being foolish.
Briefly, she told the elderly woman about the previous night. She also mentioned the earl’s strange apology that morning. It came out in a rush, as though a dam had broken. When she had finished, Mrs. Chantry gave her a slow, broad smile.
