“I hope so, Your Grace.”
Arabella stuck her blonde head through the open door. “Are you coming, Lucy? They put you right next to my room, which is fabulous! The party’s returning and we need to get ready.”
“I don’t suppose I should meet them in this outfit.” Lucy looked down at her wrinkled and stained housemaid’s dress.
“You can have all the dresses you want, Lucy. I’ve so many I don’t know what to do with them.”
“Yes, yes, go play dress up. I need a nap.” The Dowager Duchess leaned back and closed her eyes.
“Good afternoon, Your Grace.” Lucy curtsied and left the room calmly, but inside she was in turmoil from her exchange with the dowager. Corrupt influence, she’d said. Lucy’s heart cramped. Why did everyone believe the worst of her?
She sighed as she followed Arabella down the corridor.
Chapter 6
Lucy’s room was a generous corner room with velvet sky-blue curtains, a canopy bed with matching drapes and a mahogany dressing commode by Chippendale. Two sash windows faced the sweeping park.
“How pretty this room is!” She ran from window to window and looked out. Alas, there was no gardener in sight.
“Oh, Lucy, it is so wonderful to have you here! I can’t tell you how boring it’s been.” Arabella pulled her to the middle of the room. “The house is full of people, but there isn’t anyone with whom I share memories of the Seminary. I don’t have anyone to talk to, except for Grandmamma, who’s as approachable as a hedgehog. And, oh, Ash, of course.” Her face fell. “But he never has time for me.”
Lucy’s heart squeezed at the loneliness in her voice. “Do you remember those summer days when Miss Dempsey let us go to Sydney Garden for drawing lessons because it was too hot in the classrooms? And we sat under the cool shades of the trees sketching flowers.”
Arabella laughed. “And Pen absolutely loathed that, because she thought flowers were boring. She always tried to get away with drawing monstrous beetles and ants, but so realistically done she frightened Miss Dempsey. Remember how she screeched and dropped the drawing?”
The girls laughed.
“And how we used to get up at midnight and meet in Birdie’s and Pen’s room for a midnight snack. We’d bring our stack of rock candy and biscuits and eat them as we told each other scary ghost stories.” Lucy grinned.
“And then we’d be so tired the next day, we’d fall asleep in Mr Horatio’s history class.”
“But he never noticed because he was always so engrossed in his own storytelling.”
Arabella’s chuckle was low and pleasant. “Ah, Lucy, how I’ve missed those days.”
Lucy hesitated, then confessed. “That’s why I’m here. I want to go back. To teach.”
“I thought there was more behind your story. Tell me.” Arabella sat down on the bed and pulled her down next to her.
Lucy avoided her eyes. “I was a—governess for a while but it didn’t turn out the way I imagined.”
“What happened?”
“At first it wasn’t so bad. The Grenville children were lovely. They seemed to like me, and I enjoyed teaching them. Can you imagine me as a governess?” Lucy chuckled. “So respectful and serious. I can be quite strict, you know. But I never had to punish them because they were good children and they learned fast.”
“And then?”
Lucy’s face darkened. “Then the oldest son returned from University and he decided he liked the way I looked.”
“Oh no, Lucy! Did he assault you?” Arabella blanched.
“He tried, but I know how to defend myself.” Lucy shook her fist. “I gave him a black eye.” Arabella covered her mouth. “They wouldn’t believe I didn’t encourage him. Everything was my fault. So, I packed up and left. Without references. I didn’t even say goodbye to the children.”
“Never mind the references,” Arabella said. “But oh, what you must’ve suffered!” Her eyes brimmed with concern.
Lucy smiled bitterly. “I can take care of myself when I have to.”
“I’ve always admired that about you, Lucy. Your strength and independence.”
