“No.” Lucy chuckled. “I just believe servants are regular people like you and me.”
“Bah. I see what you are up to, Miss Bell. You’re here to subvert the social order and send us all to Hades. It will be amusing to see whether you succeed.” The dowager glowered at Lucy, but there was a twinkle of amusement lurking at the back of her eyes.
“Lucy is as much of a revolutionary as I am, Grandmamma.” Turning to Lucy, Arabella said, “Oh, what fun that you are finally here! We’re having a house party. It’s quite the thing of the season. Ash has invited all the important families. They’re all out now visiting the Abbey, even though the grounds are still soggy from yesterday’s storm. I had a headache, so I returned early to havetea with Grandmamma.” Arabella bent forward and murmured, “Ash expects me to get engaged. I am to accept Lord Finbar’s proposal. He’s here, too.”
“Lord Finbar. I don’t think I’ve heard of him.” Lucy frowned.
“The man is an idiot.” The dowager didn’t mince her words.
Lucy turned to Arabella. “Is he?”
Arabella smiled,but it didn’t reach her eyes. “Never mind, Grandmamma. She thinks most of the human population consists of idiots.”
“And so they are.”
“Ash says Finbar is of excellent family. He’ll be an earl one day. Ash says a union would benefit all of us. Oh, and he is unbelievably handsome! Easily the best-looking man of the party. Ash says he is perfect for me.”
“Ash says, Ash says. And you? Do you think he’s perfect for you?”
Arabella hesitated a moment too long, which was all the answer Lucy needed. She refrained from saying more because the door opened and Mrs Blake entered with a pot of fresh tea.
“Ah. Finally. Set it here.” The dowager pointed her cane at the table. “And have a good look at this girl next to me. She no doubt looks familiar.”
Mrs Blake stared at Lucy. “You! Your Grace—”
“Miss Lucy Bell is a guest here and a friend of Lady Arabella. Memorise her face so you don’t mistake her again for a servant.”
Mrs Blake blanched. “I apologise, ma’am. This is inexcusable. I shall offer my resignation.”
“Fiddlesticks! The girl is to blame as much as you since she didn’t bother to reveal her identity. You’ll stay in this employment and never again judge people by their appearance. You’ll organise a room, proper clothes, and a personal maid for Miss Lucy Bell. This other girl will do. What’s her name? I was instructed that their kind has names. Sue. Peg.”
“Meg,” Lucy interjected.
“Peg, Reg, Meg, same thing.” The dowager gave a dismissive wave. “This Meg will be her abigail. That’s all.”
Mrs Blake looked so crushed when she left that Lucy felt sorry for her.
“Now pour me my tea and don’t bother me any more.”
Lucy poured her a cup of tea. “I really meant that about the cucumber sandwiches and the chilli, ma’am. You ought to try it.”
“You are a saucy, meddlesome minx, Lucy Bell,” the dowager said gruffly.
“That means she likes you,” Arabella whispered to Lucy.
“I heard that.”
“You always hear what you are not supposed to, Grandmamma.”
“Yes, and I don’t hear what I don’t want to, which is most of the conversation bythose fools that are currentlyresiding in this house. It’s truly a blessing to be deafat times.”
Arabella gave her a kiss and went ahead to check whether Lucy’s room was ready. Lucy wanted to follow her, but the dowager held her back.
“One thing, Lucy Bell. You are an unconventional thing. You seem to bring anarchy along wherever you go. That is not necessarily bad. I detest conformity because it is boring and you, for all I can say, are anything but boring. Let me tell you one thing, though.” She stamped her cane on the floor for emphasis and leaned forward. Her eyes flashed. “I love my granddaughter to pieces. Her happiness is central to my heart. If you corrupt her, I will throw you out on the street without mercy.”
Stung, Lucy straightened her shoulders. “Your Grace,” she looked into the older woman’s iron eyes, “I, too, love Arabella to pieces. Her happiness is central to my heartas well. I would shoot myself rather than ‘corrupt’ her. Rest assured, I will leave immediately if I should ever be in the danger of hurting my dearest friend.”
“I see we shall get along famously, Lucy Bell.”
