Page 5 of Defying the Earl
“What are you wool gathering about, dear?” Lady Charlotte called to her. “You ought to find yourself a chair rather than standing like an attendant over there, Bea.”
But I am an attendant, Bea thought before offering Lottie a grin. “It’s easier this way, my lady.”
Lady Frampton sniffed but nodded in reluctant agreement. “It’s going to get crowded tonight, isn’t it?”
“Oh, look, there’s Lady Downes. Do run over and fetch her for me, Bea dear.”
Beatrice almost laughed out loud. She didn’t think Lady Downes would appreciate being “fetched” but Bea would do her best. It took a deep breath to steel her nerves in addition to a stern lecture to herself in order to make her feet leave the safe confines of the Ladies’ presence. Knowing Braxton wassomewhere on the premises added a sense of unease to the evening that had not been present before.
“My lady,” Bea greeted with a curtsy when she reached Lady Downes’ side. “Lady Charlotte is in one of the antechambers and would love to exchange greetings with you. Would you be so kind as to come with me to have a little visit with her?”
Lady Downes stared down her nose at Bea for a moment. “Why should I leave the main event in order to visit with an old lady who could call on me any other time?”
Bea had to stifle both the urge to laugh at the woman’s question as well as anger that rose up over her unreceptive response. Lady Downes couldn’t be much younger than Bea’s Ladies, but she refused to accept that fact. Suddenly the woman at Lady Downes’ side stepped into the conversation.
“Don’t be up in your crotchets, Mother. You know you were just saying you hoped you’d be able to speak with Lady Charlotte and her dear sister. You’re just being silly to insist on staying in the main ballroom. Go along with this sweet young lady, and you can return after you’ve had your chat. You know it will be easier to converse further away from the orchestra.”
It was Lady Downes’ daughter who had spoken, and Bea quickly dipped her a polite curtsy. The younger noblewoman barely acknowledged it but Bea was so used to being dismissed it didn’t really bother her. She was just glad that Lady Downes was seeing reason.
“Very well, lead on,” she agreed grudgingly.
Bea thought the older woman ought to take her arm, but after it was rejected, she didn’t offer again, nor would she ever insist. With her Ladies she could sometimes get away with insisting on things that were for their own good, but she would never think to do so with someone with whom she was not a householdmember. Older people, women especially, had their sensitive points that could turn them from sweet, smiling, comfortable creatures, to gargoyles within the blink of an eye. Bea had no intention of finding out what Lady Downes’ issues were. Or rather, it was already clearly evident that the older woman resented her aging. Bea couldn’t really blame her. It seemed so unfair, even to her youthful eyes. Why should you have to fade into the background just as you’ve gained the pinnacle of your wisdom and experience?
She was wool-gathering once more. Lottie would surely scold her if she were to find out. Bea had to get her wits back in order. Just because she ran into Lord Braxton was no excuse to lose her mind. She had done that once over the man; she wasn’t about to do it again. Surely she had gained enough wisdom to protect herself in the future.
It didn’t seem likely, unfortunately.
She was still just as silly as a debutante despite her life’s experiences. It was a lowering thought that struck her when she had to once more drag her thoughts back to the matters at hand while the Ladies visited with Lady Downes.
“Bea, dear, do run and fetch us all some punch, would you, please?” Lady Charlotte was always so pleasant when she was issuing her orders, it had never previously crossed her mind to refuse. But the thought of encountering Nathan again gave her pause. If only she could refuse the request. But it wasn’t really a request. Lottie was a dear, but she expected her companion to obey her.
Bea’s feet felt as though they were encased in stone as she re-entered the ballroom, so great was her reluctance. She urged herself to hurry so she could get the threat over with, but the increasingly crowded room made her intentions difficult,especially once she had her hands full with the requested glasses of punch.
A sigh of relief escaped her when she was able to return to the Ladies’ side without incident. At least not an incident of either spilling the punch or running into Lord Braxton. Unfortunately, she had encountered several older gentlemen who seemed uncomfortably interested in her direction.
“Where is your chaperone?” one gentleman asked with a leer. Bea was able to ignore him. They had not been introduced, so she had no obligation to speak with him.
She wasn’t quite so fortunate when Lord Hillsdale approached her. “There you are, my dear, Lady Beatrice. I was so hoping you would be present this evening.”
“Good evening, my lord,” Bea replied, polite, but trying not to offer him any encouragement to pursue her.
“Would it be permissible for me to escort you to the park tomorrow, my dear lady?”
Bea stifled her groan. How does one answer a question like that? She didn’t need anyone’s permission. But she had no desire to stroll with the man. From all accounts, he had five children, all under the age of ten. It was no wonder his wife died. Bea had never had the courage to ask if they were all female children. But why else would he be so determined to remarry? He could hire nurserymaids and governesses otherwise. Or he could actually take care of his children himself.
That thought helped her find the amusement in the situation but also bolstered her determination to resist his pursuit of her. Why were these the only type of gentleman who showed any interest in her?
“I’m afraid I will be far too busy with my duties to take such a stroll, my lord, but I do thank you for your kindness.” She finally managed to find a balanced answer to the unanswerable question. Before the man was able to respond, she made good her escape, collecting the glasses and slipping down a side hallway to return to the Ladies’ side.
It was a calculated risk. Bea had been in that large house before and was familiar with the various passageways. But so had others present that evening. If she were to be discovered in a less travelled area of the house, she risked her reputation or even her safety, depending upon who was to discover her.
Thankfully she returned to the antechamber where the Ladies were holding court without incident and heaved a sigh of relief as the women’s conversation slowed while they each refreshed themselves with the cool beverage Bea had brought.
“You are a dear, Bea,” Lady Charlotte complimented as Beatrice collected their glasses and handed them over to a footman who had finally appeared to serve the guests. If only he had shown himself before Bea had been sent forth.
But she couldn’t really lament. It was her role to fetch and run for the Ladies. And for the most part she enjoyed her position. What else was she to do with her life? Until she could start building a life for herself once she received her trust, she would have to remain in an employment of some sort. From what Bea had been able to discern, being a companion was safer than being a governess. The risk to one’s position was similar, in some ways. Children grew up. Older people didn’t live forever, but Bea was reasonably certain her Ladies had far more than two years left in them.
She occasionally suffered qualms wondering what would happen to them when she left their employ, but it didn’t causeher an excess of concern. They were well to do and had families who would ensure they were looked after, Bea was certain of it. No doubt Lord Braxton already had several candidates in mind lest she became unsuitable.
