Page 35 of Georgiana
The furthest thing from her mind at this moment was changing her clothes. Why was Max behaving in so vile a manner? Her mind came up blank. When he discovered her in Slade’s room, he’d been so solicitous and their three-week courtship had been the most wonderful time of her life. Although he’d never said the word, she’d been assured she was loved.
As she followed the housekeeper up the stairs, she remembered she had no lady’s maid. She also didn’t even know the housekeeper’s name. They reached the second floor and turned left and stopped in front of a pale-yellow door. The housekeeper removed a key from her chatelain and unlocked the door. It opened to a lovely room with wide bright windows overlooking the back gardens.
“Thank you, Mrs…, I am sorry, I do not know your name.”
“Mrs. Howell, your Grace.”
“Thank you, Mrs. Howell.”
She glanced about the room, noting how elegantly it was furnished. She longed to know which of the doors led to the master’s chamber but was embarrassed to ask. Mrs. Howell cleared her throat and Georgiana brought her attention back to the most immediate concern she had.
“I am in need of a lady’s maid, Mrs. Howell.
“You had no lady’s maid travel with you?” Mrs. Howell sputtered, quickly masking her dismay behind an implacable façade of calmness. “I shall have someone attend you immediately.”
“That would be much appreciated.” Georgiana paused, unsure how to ask the next question. “Will Max… I mean, will his Grace be dining any time soon?”
“His Grace has asked for his meal to be sent to his rooms.”
Georgiana longed to ask more but Mrs. Howell’s manner left her in no doubt she would not be forthcoming with any information about her master.
“If that will be all, your Grace, I shall be about my business. The bell pull is by the window curtain. Please ring if you require anything else.”
Mrs. Howell gathered her skirts close and swished out into the hall. Georgiana wandered over to the window and gazed out over the rolling landscape. Under any other circumstance her heart would have sung with joy over starting her new life among such beauty, but as it stood, she felt adrift, like an abandoned child’s toy boat left to float upon a lake.
Tears flowed, unchecked, obscuring the verdant, pastoral scene. Dimly she heard the hall clock strike the hour. A sob tore from her throat. Truly she was alone. Horribly alone with nowhere to turn.
A tentative knock on the door had her scramble to gain control of her rising hysteria. She dashed her tears away with the back of her hand. It would not do for Max to find her sobbing.
“Enter,” she managed to call out.
A young girl, in the uniform of an upstairs maid entered and gave her a quick curtsy.
“I’m Molly, your Grace. I’ve come to put away your clothes.”
“I’m not sure where my trunks are.” Her brow creased in confusion. “Has Mrs. Howell assigned a lady’s maid, Molly?”
The girl stood, twisting her fingers together. “I’m not sure who that will be, Your Grace. I was told to come and unpack your trunks.” She indicated with her hand the small door near the window. “The footmen brought them to your dressing room.”
She bobbed a curtsy and hurried to the door, Georgiana following behind. Molly opened the door, revealing her traveling trunk situated in the middle of a good-sized room.
“Molly, do you know where the Duke is?”
“No, your Grace. Mrs. Howell said to tell you a light repast will be waiting for you in the family dining room.”
“And where is that?”
“I’ll take you. You might get lost if I try and give you directions.”
“I’ll need some assistance. I cannot reach the buttons in the back of my gown. Are you willing to lend me a hand until a lady’s maid arrives?”
“Oh yes, your Grace. I’ll have some hot water brought up immediately.”
As Georgiana gave herself a quick, but thorough wash, she worried about Max’s change in personality. Everything had been wonderful until the wedding breakfast, and then it was as if someone snuffed out a candle and all light left his body and mind.
Other than the few minutes he’d taken for personal needs before leaving Matlock House, they’d almost been tethered to each other. What happened during that time? Had someone spoken against her? She mentally shook her head. Impossible. Everyone at the wedding breakfast held nothing but good wishes for the both of them. If not that, then what?
Molly came out of the dressing room, a light muslin gown over her arm.
