Page 10 of The Duke's Bride in Disguise
It's almost as if she doesn't think of herself as a lady, Ava thought, trying to pinpoint exactly what it was about her twin that was so charming.
Any more dissection of her sibling's personality, was brought to a halt by a creaking noise from the floor above.
"Boris," Ava said, explaining in a whisper that Boris was the proprietor of Mr Hobbs' Library. "We'll need to leave soon, or he'll come down complaining that I'm wasting good candle wicks in an empty shop."
"And you need to be home, my Lady," Mary added, "Lest your father sends out a search party. You know what he's like."
The twins both looked at each other for a moment as they realised that they were to separate again.
"It won't be for long," Emily reassured her sister, "Just a month. Then we shall be together forever."
Ava wondered at the way her twin had seemingly read her mind, but another loud creak from upstairs urged her into action; there was no time for marvelling about their connection at present.
"Come," she whispered, beckoning the pair to follow her, "If we take the backstairs, Boris will not see us. We can swap clothes in my bedroom and I can show you the letter from Mr Hobbs, which gives instructions on where you are to go tomorrow and what coach to take."
"Swap clothes?"
For the first time since she had voiced the plan to swap places, Emily looked dubious. Her green eyes hastily assessed Ava's worn dress and sturdy boots and obviously found them lacking.
"We shall swap for tonight," she said firmly, with a smile that seemed forced, "Then tomorrow Mary will have a messenger meet me at the coach with a few of my own dresses."
"I will, will I?" Mary huffed, but Emily was resolute.
"You will," she echoed her firmly, before beckoning her lady's maid to follow Ava, who was patiently waiting for them to finish their bickering.
Upstairs, in Ava's small, attic bedroom, the girls quickly changed—well, as quickly as they could. As Mary assisted Ava in dressing into the many layers of clothes her twin wore, she realised just why a lady's maid was an essential requirement for the belles of thebon ton.
Over her chemise, which was far greyer than the sparkling white one her twin wore, Ava was assisted into short stays, petticoats and a pair of white, silk stockings with elaborately embroidered lace clocks at their heels. Over all these layers, Ava then wore her sister's white walking dress, and overthata green spencer jacket, which came to her waist and was trimmed with gold braid at the cuffs. After waiting patiently for Mary to button her into her gloves, they finally got to thepièce de résistance,the beautiful half boots, with low heel.
"Divindy," Ava breathed, as she twirled a little in the boots; in all her life she had never worn anything so beautiful.
"These are rather sturdy," Emily replied, her nose wrinkled in confusion as she attempted to walk in Ava's boots. She lumbered heavily across the wooden floors, her gait like that of a very heavy man deep in his cups.
"Hush," Ava whispered, as in response to her twin's stomping, Boris banged on the ceiling—presumably with the sweeping brush.
"We'd best be away, child," Mary said, casting a fearful glance at the door, as though she expected Boris to burst in at any second. "Now, don't forget to take your ticket with you to the coaching inn tomorrow. I'll have a boy meet you outside at ten bells, with some nice, warm clothes to see you through. And, if at any stage you feel homesick, just leave and come home. You're always welcome back in the nest, my little bird."
"Thank you, Mary," Emily said, giving her lady's maid a hug, before turning to Ava and doing the same. "I beg you, don't worry about me; how difficult can being a governess be?"
Mary opened her mouth, as though she wanted to educate her mistress on just how difficult the life of a servant was, but she closed it again with a snap. Perhaps she thinks it best that Emily learn that for herself, Ava thought. Once their goodbyes were finished, and Emily had assured them that she would have no trouble waking up early the next morning, Ava and Mary made for the door.
"I shall write," Emily whispered, giving Ava's hand a squeeze, "To let you know how things go in—in—"
"Kent."
"Yes, Kent!" Emily gave her a winning smile, "Don't fret about me, dear. I fear it is you who have the harder task."
With those rather ominous parting words, Emily closed the door, leaving Ava to lead Mary down the rickety back-stairs of number thirteen Cecil Court.
"Well," the lady's maid said with a smile, once they were outside, "Follow me; your carriage awaits,my Lady."
Ava almost laughed out loud at being addressed so formally, but, as Mary led her toward a gleaming Landau, complete with liveried footmen and driver, she suspected she would have to get used to it rather quickly.
Oh my goodness, she thought, as she held out a gloved hand to the footman who sprang forward to assist her, I'm not me anymore.
