“Oh,milady” she said. “Would you like me to go tell your parents that you have taken ill?”
Martha considered the offer for a moment. It would do her nerves a world of good to lie in bed for a few more hours. But she knew that her father would think it had something to do with her betrothal to Lord Billington. Perhaps, it did, to some degree, as she had never been so stressed in her life. But her nerves alone wouldn’t keep her bound to her bed. She felt sick, plain and simple. But that excuse would never go over well with her parents.
“No,” she said at last. “I should at least try to join Mother and Father for breakfast.”
But as she uncovered her eyes, her stomach flipped again. She immediately covered her eyes again and whimpered softly once more.
Lily patted her shoulder softly, and Martha could feel her rise from the bed.
“All right,” she relented. “But let me bring you some tea to help with your sickness first. It won’t take long, and it will surely relieve some of your discomfort.”
Martha nodded, happy to lie in bed at least a little longer. Lily left the room, and Martha was once again alone with her thoughts. The maid had not been misinformed about the viscount’s appearance. It was clear that something very traumatic had happened to his face. He certainly looked akin to a monster, and only then did Martha realize how much she had hoped that wasn’t true.
And yet, the unmarred side of his face hadn’t been wholly unattractive. She saw very little of it throughout the evening, as he barely spared her three glances. His cold indifference had made him seem every bit like the beast he appeared to be. She didn’t think there would ever be a way for the two of them to have a peaceful coexistence. Why would her father have matched her with someone who was clearly so antisocial, and so distant to everyone, especially his own future bride?
Lily returned a few minutes later, rushing to Martha’s bedside with a tinkling tray. Martha waited until Lily brought a steaming cup of herbal tea up to her face to open her eyes. Lily helped her take the first sip, and the warm liquid was soothing to Martha’s mind and soul. Her stomach, however, was going to be a tougher critic. It quivered as the tea reached it, and she didn’t dare take another sip until it settled. She took the cup from her maid, however, and gave her a silent nod of thanks.
Lily patted her back and returned the nod.
“So, tell me, how did your meeting with the viscount go last night?” she asked.
Martha looked at her maid for a moment. That was typically inappropriate of servants. The masters and mistresses they served could divulge private life information to them in confidence, if they so chose. But for a servant to prompt their master or mistress to speak about private affairs was an offence punishable by job termination. But Lily was much more than her lady’s maid. Lily was her closest friend and had been since she was budding into her teenage years. And right then, she was also the only one taking Martha’s feelings into consideration.
Finally, she sighed.
“Well, I did notice a bit of scarring on his face,” she began.
Lily gasped.
“Is he monstrous?” she asked. “Does he look positively ghastly?”
Martha clicked her tongue and shook her head.
“Now that is considered gossip, Lily,” she gently admonished.
The maid blushed and nodded sheepishly.
“Oh, do forgive me,” she said. “That was terrible of me. It will not happen again.”
Martha nodded, but she also patted the maid’s hand.
“I did not think him to be exceedingly horrific looking,” she said. “In fact, the unmarred side of his face is very handsome. But he is extremely cold. He looked at me like I was nothing.”
Lily looked surprised by what her mistress had said. But she was no longer looking horrified by the idea of talking about the viscount. Rather, she looked thoughtful, as though searching for advice or comforting words.
“Did he speak pleasantly to anyone?” she asked.
Martha thought back, trying to recall. He had made a sarcastic remark at dinner to something his father said. All the gentlemen had chuckled, and Lord Billington had smirked, but she couldn’t remember what he said. That was the only time she could even recall hearing his voice, apart from when he coldly bade her a good night.
“Not that I recall,” she said with another sigh.
Lily bade her to drink more of her tea while she smiled brightly at Martha.
“That might be the biggest favour he could do you, then,” she said. “If he continues to be cold and harsh toward you, perhaps, you can convince your father to call off the arrangement. He wants to see you married, of course. But surely, he wouldn’t wish to see you treated badly or made to feel uncomfortable, especially in the presence of the man you are going to spend your life with.”
Martha thought about it for a moment before shaking her head.
“Father is nothing if not a man of his word,” she said. “He has to be, to keep his business partners and connections. He prides himself on it, and I doubt very much that he would go back on his word. Even about something like this.”
