Page 18 of The Wise Daughter
“Oh, my.” Nora made a note to herself to learn the history of the family. “Does the duke have any siblings?”
“I don’t believe so.”
“What can you tell me about his father?”
Janie shrugged. “Not much. I was told he had been suffering a variety of complaints and headaches for nearly a month, but no one thought it would be fatal.”
Nora imagined how difficult that must have been for the duke. If his father’s death truly had been unexpected, he might not have received word until after it happened. Nora instinctively reached for her mother’s miniature around her neck and clasped it in a fist.
“What about cousins, Janie? What do you know of the duke’s extended family?”
“Not much. If he does have any cousins, I’ve never heard mention of them, but I am still fairly new here. I come from Broad Oak.”
Nora liked Janie’s easy, open manner. “I see. What drew you to Ravenglass?”
“Mrs. Bloom, the head cook, is my mum’s cousin. She wrote to us and told us they were searching for new staff, so here I am.”
“And how long ago was that?”
Janie looked into the air in thought. “About two months now, I reckon.”
She shook out the fabric in her arms to reveal a simple but elegant cream-colored gown with long sleeves and a forest green ribbon at the waist. “The former duchess’s gowns are a bit old fashioned, but I thought this one was nice.” Janie must have detected Nora’s hesitancy to agree because she quickly added, “I’m probably not a very good judge, so If you don’t like it, I can get another.”
“I like it very well, but I’d prefer something more somber, perhaps a lavender or grey gown if such is available.”
“Oh. I don’t know. Are you in mourning?”
Nora looked off to the side and nodded, unequal to the task of talking about her mother.
“I’ll go and see, miss.”
While Janie was gone, Nora took the opportunity to brush her own hair and splash her face with water in the basin, which she usually found refreshing, but the events from the previous night still felt like a dream.
Janie returned with a lovely lavender gown with white flowers covering the skirts. It wasn’t what Nora would have chosen for mourning, but she was in no position to be too particular.
“Will this do, Miss Lacy?”
“Yes. Thank you.”
Nora tried to reach back and help Janie tie her stays and button the back until Janie asked her to please sit still and not worry. Nora fidgeted with a ribbon the entire time. It didn’t feel right being waited on when she had begged to be a servant just last night.
While Janie worked on Nora’s hair, she hummed a cheerful melody, a change from Nora’s former maid, who always scowled or tugged a little too much and always managed to pull on Nora’s hair. That was before Nora’s father had dismissed their staff in his inability to pay them. Nora decided she liked Janie’s humming.
“Janie, what can you tell me about the duke himself?”
She stopped humming and spoke with hairpins held between her lips. “It’s not my place to say anything about the duke, miss.”
“But surely you can tell me something of his habits.”
“Not really.”
So Janie would need a little encouragement in this area. “I understand, Janie, but I promise, you may speak openly to me. I only ask so I may learn something of his character. Is he kind to his servants? Is he fair?”
Janie’s brows pinched together. “I’m sure I’m treated well enough.”
“Come, Janie. You must have more to say than that.”
“I honestly don’t know, miss.”
