him, she pondered, why didn’t he make himself known to her, why hide his handsome visage behind a hat?
Her reverie was interrupted when Debbi had ridden up. Quickly, Aleece turned to her, “Do you see than man there? The one in the white shirt and broad brimmed hat?”
She’d watched as Debbi scanned the area.
Aleece frowned when her maid indicted her inability at searching out the person her ladyship had described.
The heavenly fragrance of coddled eggs dripping with Hollandaise sauce, ham, toast and tea brought Aleece back to the present.
“Yes, that man, m’ lady,” Mrs. Linna said, as Aleece watched her cap the ointment then wipe her hands on a towel.
This time Aleece could feel not only her face but neck heat from the embarrassment of being caught thinking about a man, her Mr. Thomas she was sure.
With help from Debbi, she started to right her nightrail and robe, then turned to Mrs. Linna.
“Did I talk in my sleep?”
“Yes, my dear. Several times, but your secret is safe with us. Plus, we both know all about your Mr. Thomas. It’s a shame you won’t be able to marry the gentleman.”
“What?” Aleece all but screamed, as it wasn’t in her nature to show such displays of emotion even toward the staff.
“Aye, tis the reason for the ball on Christmas Eve. To introduce you to your future husband.”
Aleece slumped down in the chair in front of her breakfast. “He must know or shortly will learn that I can never love him for I have given,” she glanced at the two shocked staff, “my heart to only Mr. Thomas.”
Tears started streaming down her cheeks, blinding her.
“Cheer up, dear. I’m sure everything will work out for the best. Now, eat up, and Debbi will get you ready for the day.”
A very unladylike grumble from her stomach announced to all that she was indeed hungry. Easily she tucked into her breakfast all the while trying to decide how she’d spend her day. Then, the thought came to her, and with a bright smile, she stopped Mrs. Linna as she was about to exit her bedroom.
Briefly Lady Aleece outlined her plan to the housekeeper and Debbi.
“I’ll have Cook package up some food and get two of the upstairs maids to help me collect some of the lesser quality sheets and the like. If you can give me about an hour, I’m sure we can get everything set and delivered out to the stable for you,” Mrs. Linna said.
Chapter Twenty
“Good morning, Eleanor,” Simon said as he stood at the entrance to the duchess’s private sitting room.
“Don’t just stand there, come and sit,” she replied, patting the seat next to her while setting aside her mail that had been brought to her moments ago. “I knew you would be stopping by, so I ordered tea and a light snack for both of us. It should be here momentarily.”
Simon glanced around the room as he strolled over to sit beside his wife on the loveseat. Even after over twenty-five years of marriage, he was as much in love with her as the day he’d gotten caught in the parson’s mousetrap.
No sooner had he taken his seat than Mrs. Linna arrived with tea and an assortment of delicacies to satisfy their hunger. They sat in a comfortable silence as she set the tray to the right side of the duchess, her preferred, then with a curtsey started to back out of the room.
“Mrs. Linna, has Lady Aleece stirred yet,” Simon enquired before she stepped out.
“Yes, Your Grace. Her injuries, fortunately minor, will be healed in a few days. And,” she paused turning her attention to the duchess, “as you suspected, Your Grace, she’s requested to take a few items to help the Smyth’s. I informed her everything would be ready for the trip in about an hour.”
Eleanor nodded her approval then said, “Very good. Do not you think we should have Jackson have her gig ready to take the items out?” The last she directed to her husband.
“Yes, I agree.”
“If you’ll excuse me, Your Graces, I’ll start collecting everything.” The
Her reverie was interrupted when Debbi had ridden up. Quickly, Aleece turned to her, “Do you see than man there? The one in the white shirt and broad brimmed hat?”
She’d watched as Debbi scanned the area.
Aleece frowned when her maid indicted her inability at searching out the person her ladyship had described.
The heavenly fragrance of coddled eggs dripping with Hollandaise sauce, ham, toast and tea brought Aleece back to the present.
“Yes, that man, m’ lady,” Mrs. Linna said, as Aleece watched her cap the ointment then wipe her hands on a towel.
This time Aleece could feel not only her face but neck heat from the embarrassment of being caught thinking about a man, her Mr. Thomas she was sure.
With help from Debbi, she started to right her nightrail and robe, then turned to Mrs. Linna.
“Did I talk in my sleep?”
“Yes, my dear. Several times, but your secret is safe with us. Plus, we both know all about your Mr. Thomas. It’s a shame you won’t be able to marry the gentleman.”
“What?” Aleece all but screamed, as it wasn’t in her nature to show such displays of emotion even toward the staff.
“Aye, tis the reason for the ball on Christmas Eve. To introduce you to your future husband.”
Aleece slumped down in the chair in front of her breakfast. “He must know or shortly will learn that I can never love him for I have given,” she glanced at the two shocked staff, “my heart to only Mr. Thomas.”
Tears started streaming down her cheeks, blinding her.
“Cheer up, dear. I’m sure everything will work out for the best. Now, eat up, and Debbi will get you ready for the day.”
A very unladylike grumble from her stomach announced to all that she was indeed hungry. Easily she tucked into her breakfast all the while trying to decide how she’d spend her day. Then, the thought came to her, and with a bright smile, she stopped Mrs. Linna as she was about to exit her bedroom.
Briefly Lady Aleece outlined her plan to the housekeeper and Debbi.
“I’ll have Cook package up some food and get two of the upstairs maids to help me collect some of the lesser quality sheets and the like. If you can give me about an hour, I’m sure we can get everything set and delivered out to the stable for you,” Mrs. Linna said.
Chapter Twenty
“Good morning, Eleanor,” Simon said as he stood at the entrance to the duchess’s private sitting room.
“Don’t just stand there, come and sit,” she replied, patting the seat next to her while setting aside her mail that had been brought to her moments ago. “I knew you would be stopping by, so I ordered tea and a light snack for both of us. It should be here momentarily.”
Simon glanced around the room as he strolled over to sit beside his wife on the loveseat. Even after over twenty-five years of marriage, he was as much in love with her as the day he’d gotten caught in the parson’s mousetrap.
No sooner had he taken his seat than Mrs. Linna arrived with tea and an assortment of delicacies to satisfy their hunger. They sat in a comfortable silence as she set the tray to the right side of the duchess, her preferred, then with a curtsey started to back out of the room.
“Mrs. Linna, has Lady Aleece stirred yet,” Simon enquired before she stepped out.
“Yes, Your Grace. Her injuries, fortunately minor, will be healed in a few days. And,” she paused turning her attention to the duchess, “as you suspected, Your Grace, she’s requested to take a few items to help the Smyth’s. I informed her everything would be ready for the trip in about an hour.”
Eleanor nodded her approval then said, “Very good. Do not you think we should have Jackson have her gig ready to take the items out?” The last she directed to her husband.
“Yes, I agree.”
“If you’ll excuse me, Your Graces, I’ll start collecting everything.” The
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