The gentleman bowed. “Mrs. Bloomington? Welcome to Autumn House. I am Mr. Carrington, your butler, and this is Mrs. Smith, the housekeeper.” As he introduced each servant, they stepped forward and bowed or curtsied in her direction.
Aubrey swallowed hard. She’d sent word that she would be coming but had not given any particular day that she would arrive. She managed to smile and nod. And then she introduced them to Mr. Dog. It was as though they knew, even, that she would be arriving with a pet—as though one of them had been waiting by the window, watching for her.
As the housekeeper led Aubrey inside, Mr. Daniels and the two manservants began unloading her trunks. She could never have predicted she’d be met with such a warm welcome and for the first time in two days did not feel so very alone in the world.
Fresh flowers had been placed on pedestals inside the foyer, and an elegant staircase wound up and around to where a balcony encircled the foyer from above.
The wood gleamed and along with the fresh scent of the flowers, a faint hint of lemon oil hung in the air.
“Your suite has been prepared.”
Aubrey shook her head in disbelief. Milton had mentioned that the town house had been sitting empty—that she would have to have it aired out, refurnished, and that she’d have to hire help. But that was not the case at all!
“If you wouldn’t mind showing me around a little?” She asked Mrs. Smith tentatively.
“But of course, Missus. I’m only just learning the layout of where everything is, myself.”
“So, you have not been working here long?” Aubrey had planned on contacting an employment agency. Was it possible that Milton and Winifred’s hearts had softened, and they’d wanted to assist her in setting up her new home?”
“No, Missus. The agency sent all of us over just yesterday. Dust everywhere, there was. But we were told to have it in tip top shape for you. Required an army, for certain. New furniture was brought in, linen, dishes. Right this way.” They’d ascended the stairs and turned down a gleaming corridor. Mrs. Smith then opened one of the doors and held it wide for Aubrey to enter. “The mistress’s suite.”
Aubrey stepped inside, turned in a circle and blinked, unable to accept that all of this was real.
A massive canopied bed made up in blues and golds took up the center of the room and sunlight slanted through the windows onto an ornate looking rug. All of the furniture did, in fact, appear brand new. And more flowers had been set out making the room cheerful and welcoming.
One of the younger looking maids appeared in the doorway.
“Chrissy will act as your lady’s maid and a modiste will arrive whenever you are settled in, in order to take your measurements.”
“Oh, but…” Aubrey would need to speak with her solicitor. She wasn’t certain that her annuity was going to be able to pay for all of these expenses.
“Simply inform me, when you are ready, and we’ll send for her immediately.”
Aubrey blinked again, tears pricking at the back of her eyes. It seemed that her brother and sister in law hadn’t hated her so very much after all.
“Thank you,” she finally managed.
* * *
Feeling refreshed from a warm bath,a good meal, and a surprisingly satisfying night’s sleep, early the next morning, Aubrey explored her new home, unable still, to overcome her feelings of awe. Everything from the kitchen, to the library, to the two connected drawing rooms were perfect for what she had in mind. She pictured a poetry reading going on in one while discussions could be carried on in the other. A piano forte had even been placed in the corner of one of them and the furniture looked comfortable and welcoming.
As she stood in the largest of the two drawing rooms, Mr. Carrington appeared.
“Mrs. Smith informed me that you had a few questions for me, Madam. How may I be of service to you?”
Aubrey nodded. In all her life, she had never imagined that she’d come to have her very own butler. And Mr. Carrington was no slouch of a butler either, it seemed. Mrs. Smith said he’d formerly worked at a duke’s residence. She placed him in age to be somewhere between his late forties and his early sixties. He retained a full head of hair, was sturdy looking and fit, and might very well be considered handsome even. Overall, he encompassed an air of dependability.
“I—” she began. “I did not expect—“ She gestured all around. “Everything to have been prepared so exquisitely for my arrival. I cannot help but wonder… how?” She really was not explaining her question very well.
But her butler had no difficulty in knowing what she asked. “My understanding, madam, is that your solicitor, a Mr. Burleson, is managing everything according to the terms of your late husband’s will. Mr. Daniels will be more than happy to take you to meet with him. Mr. Burleson works out of an office on Bond Street. Mr. Daniels can take you today, if you wish.”
“Is not Mr. Daniels returning to Rockford Beech?”
“He has been informed that he is to remain in service to you. That is my understanding.”
Aubrey nodded thoughtfully but even more confused. “Yes, yes. I do believe I ought to meet with this Mr. Burleson.”
Less than an hour later, she sat in a comfortable leather chair across from the man who had taken over for the solicitor who had originally handled her estate. The law offices had been bought out and she, along with all of his other clients, were now represented by the gentleman sitting across from her. This was an apparently recent turn of events.
