“I wish I could be that sure.”
“Best thing to do now? Ask her.”
Mrs. Barnsley nodded. “Yer right.” She cleared her throat and called for her daughter.
“Ma? You need something?” Obviously Jane had heard the croak, since she peeked in around the door of the kitchen.
“I do, dear. Come in. Lady Adalyn has somethin’ to ask yer.”
Adalyn rose. She had to look up a little at Jane, since the girl was taller, and would have been a beauty if not for the scars that had stolen a portion of her face. But it was no longer a surprise or a shock, and Adalyn hoped she was doing the right thing.
Itfeltright, and she was learning to trust her instincts more each day that she spent in Wolfbridge Manor.
“I would like to ask you, Jane, if you would consider joining my household and becoming my personal maid.”
Jane’s eyes widened and her mouth fell open. She gazed at Adalyn as if she was the Second Coming.
“Well say somethin’, girl. Don’t stare like that or her Ladyship’ll think yer a ninny instead of a Barnsley,” admonished her mother.
“I will think no such thing,” laughed Adalyn. “But I would like your answer, Jane. As I told your Mama, I would ask that you come in the mornings and assist me with the basics, and then perhaps deal with my clothing. I’m not used to being a lady, believe me. And I know you’ve probably had more experience than I with such a position. So I would welcome your presence, and not ask you to live at the Manor, since you know the stipulations as to female residents.”
“Yes, Ma’am,” whispered Jane, her voice faint.
“We must discuss wages, of course, but I need Daniel for that, since he has a better sense of the financial end of Wolfbridge matters.”
“Good man, Daniel,” nodded Mrs. Barnsley. “He’ll do right and fair by you, Jane.”
“Yes, Ma,” whispered Jane once more.
“Well, then,” smiled Adalyn. “Would you have an answer for me?”
Jane burst into tears, sobbed her way to Lady Adalyn and staggered into a wobbly curtsey.
Adalyn looked at Mrs. Barnsley. “I will take that as a yes.”
“Good, otherwise dratted girl’s either going to tip tail over teakettle, or drown us all in tears.”
Walking home, Adalyn was still laughing to herself, but happy she’d done what she now knew was the right thing. All that remained was to alert the household.
It was a great pleasure to catch sight of Daniel heading her way.
“My Lady,” he waved his hand.
“Just the man I want to see,” she grinned as he hurried to her side.
“Do you have any idea how happy it makes me to hear that?” He closed the distance between them, lifted her hand to his lips and removed her glove, pressing his mouth to her palm, lingering there and bringing heat to her cheeks.
“Oh Daniel,” she sighed. “Don’t make me forget to tell you I just hired a maid for myself.”
“You did?” His tongue swept across her sensitive skin.
“Yes, I…Jane…Mrs. Barnsley…”
His tongue traced its way to her wrist and laved her pulse beneath the edge of gown. “That is good news, Adalyn.” He raised his head and gave her a look that travelled down to her toes, caressing her flesh along the way. “Let us walk a little.”
Tucking her hand beneath his arm, he turned to escort her back to the Manor, but instead of the lane, he took her through a break in the hedge and into the forest. “It’s a little quicker this way and the ground should be dry enough for us.”
Screened by the trees, Adalyn was struck by how quiet it was, and paused. “It’s lovely.” The boughs creaked a little as the wind stirred them, and the occasional cry of a bird was all she could hear.
