“I was, but... a certain man was becoming a bit forward.”
“A footman, was it?” The woman tsked. “Always a footman.”
Margaret stepped near. “May I please take it up? The sitting room is it?”
“Yes, but... Oh, very well. If yer set on it. Any man comes lookin’ fer ya, I’ll send him on his way sharp-like, all right?”
“Thank you.”
Hands trembling, Margaret carried the tray upstairs and along the corridor to the sitting room. This way, she told herself, Nathaniel would see her and know she was not still with Lewis. Would not imagine the two of them alone together somewhere and believe the worst. Using her elbow, she hooked the door and pulled it open, letting herself in. Carrying the tray inside, she kept her head down to mask her anxiety.
“Ah, Nora,” Helen said. “Why are you not at the ball? The hired servers were to relieve you all tonight.”
“I don’t mind. They were busy, so I offered.”
Helen nodded, but Nathaniel watched her through narrowed eyes as she set down the tray on the table before them.
“Shall I pour, or...?”
She hoped to delay her departure, though she was sure her hands would shake if she tried to pour under his scrutiny.
But Helen excused her. “Never mind, I shall pour. You go back downstairs and enjoy yourself.”
“Thank you, miss.” Margaret curtsied and stepped to the door, just as Lewis sailed through it.
He hesitated at seeing her. “There you are. Wondered where you’d goneto.”
“Lewis!” Helen called warmly.
He turned to his sister, “Hello, Helen old girl.” He walked over to kiss her upturned cheek, and Margaret made her escape.
———
Nathaniel wasn’t sure what to think. Would “Nora” and Lewis still be dancing, or lingering alone in the dim passage, had she not been asked to bring up the tray? Or had she really offered, and if so why? She clearly had not taken advantage of a private moment to reveal her identity to Lewis, for he obviously had no idea who she was.
“A ball at Fairbourne Hall, at long last.” Lewis smirked. “I take it the economizing is over?”
Nathaniel shook his head. “No. But we thought it wise to do something good for our people here, after recent... misunderstandings. But we still must tighten our belts or we may yet need to take more radical steps. Perhaps even sell the London house.”
“Never say so.” Lewis’s face puckered. “Promise me you will not do... In fact, you cannot, without my consent, my being the eldest and all.”
Nathaniel willed himself not to grow angry. “Lewis, you are perfectly welcome to stay and manage the estate if you like, but you cannot manage it from your London club.”
Lewis stared at him, shaking his head. “I still don’t understand why you didn’t remain in Barbados. We were managing fine here on our own. Weren’t we, Helen?”
Helen sipped her tea but made no answer.
Nathaniel said, “Even if that were true, it was time for me to come home.”
One of Lewis’s eyebrows rose. “Barbados didn’t suit you?”
“It wasn’t Barbados I objected to. It was slavery, as you know.”
Lewis pressed, “You think we have problems now? Force Father to give up slave labor and you’ll learn the meaning of financial straits.”
“Money isn’t everything, Lewis.”
Lewis frowned. “Then why do you always ride me about it? Your lofty morals don’t put you in charge, Nate. Nor do they give you the right to sit there and play potentate.”
