Page 35 of The Bastard's Iberian Bride
“Bink has had a shock, my dear.”
She looked at Bink quizzically. “I ran into Mrs. Bradley and she told me about your guest. And I believeherchaise has just arrived. And Mrs. Bradley and I have decided to moveherinto the yellow chamber near my rooms. I’m afraid there were too many male guests near the room you selected for her.Though I know you didn’t know about our visitors. Steven has brought along some possible votes.”
His face heated up again. “You will know best, your Ladyship.”
She looked a question to her husband, and he shrugged.
“Bink says he has no wish to marry. I believe he may wish to stay in my employment as steward, rather than run his own estate and stand for the Commons as my political ally.”
Standing for Commons?That was a wrinkle. They’d never discussed any such thing.
He cursed—inwardly this time, in deference to Lady Hackwell. Hackwell’s mention of the Commons was just a ploy. Just more aristocratic managing.
Hackwell blocked the way to Bink’s inner chamber, and her Ladyship, her dinner gown flowing over the new heir growing inside her, made an imposing barrier to the corridor door.
A bead of sweat chose that moment to slide down his neck, and he took a step to the window and opened it.
He’d had enough. He’d served enough. “This is as good a time as any to mention, I’m taking a post in India. I’ve already put up the money. With Maharashtra destroyed last year—”
Hackwell made a noise low in the back of his throat.
His wife laid a hand on her husband’s arm. “Oh, Bink. Dear, Bink. You are free to go to India, or China or the Americas, if that is what you wish. You are free, but you are also part of our family, and like a brother to Steven, and an uncle to the boys and our daughter, and your leaving will never be what any of us wish.” She beamed him a smile, radiating the calm she’d applied to the houseful of misbegotten urchins she’d taken in before her marriage. “To have you take your place in a great house with a wife and children, and to ally with Steven in helping the poor, oh…well, we must find our happiness where we will.”
She patted Hackwell’s arm, and he laid a hand over hers, the affection between them unmistakable. Hackwell had come to embrace his new life only because he’d found happiness with her. It was not something Bink ever expected to find for himself, not while he was too poor to be naught but a hired man.
A memory of his mother flashed through his mind.
No. ‘T’was not only the money at issue. A wife needed care, protection.
She smiled and rubbed her stomach. “I believe I shall tell the cook dinner will be delayed. As I said, Steven has brought some important guests home with us. You will join us at dinner, Mr. Gibson.” She dropped a kiss on her husband’s cheek. “And I’m going right now to make your Miss Heardwyn welcome.”
Paulette was unpreparedfor the phalanx of staff that practically levitated her into the great house, up the stairs and across the threshold of a glowing, golden room. Someone had opened a window, and the breeze blowing in carried with it the fragrance of grass and a hint of the rain that had followed them for part of their journey.
A bathing tub had been set up, and a team of young housemaids were already filling it.
While Mabel helped her with her spencer and bonnet, the grey-haired housekeeper directed the footmen and grooms. They settled her trunks onto the carpet, and a tea tray on the table in front of the windows.
A tall, dark-haired woman in an elegant, wine-colored gown was the last to sweep in. All the staff curtsied or bowed, and she smiled, her gaze landing on Paulette.
Who curtsied also.
“Miss Heardwyn.” The tall lady advanced on Paulette, bringing with her the essence of lavender, her dress rustling over a swollen belly.
No wonder she seemed to glow.
She inclined her head and her smile warmed more. “I’m Lady Hackwell. You are most welcome here. And this is your maid?” She looked at Mabel and smiled. Mabel dropped in another awkward curtsy, tongue-tied.
“This is Mabel, er, Brown, my lady.”
Mabel flushed. In this great house, she must transform from maid-of-all-work to lady’s maid and go by her surname.
“Well, Mabel Brown, Mrs. Bradley will see to your dinner and lodging. No doubt you will want to help Miss Heardwyn settle in first and prepare for dinner.”
“I—”
“Oh please, you must join us, Miss Heardwyn. Mrs. Bradley, see that she has what she needs to get ready.”
Paulette let out a breath. “I’m afraid I may not have an appropriate dinner dress.”
