“Stop looking so smug, Jenkins,” the earl warned. “I can clearly see your fine hand in all of this. And I intend to hold you personally responsible if this little arrangement blows up in my face.”
Jenkins appeared unimpressed by the threat. “You worry too much. I predict the entire household will benefit from Miss Browning’s presence, not just the children.”
“Hmmmm.” The earl was not convinced. “And speaking of my children, Jenkins, I require your assistance in tracking them down. It will be necessary for me to have a long talk with Ian and Catherine before they are introduced to Miss Browning tomorrow morning and I have no inkling as to their whereabouts.”
“They are most likely down at the stables with Fred,” Jenkins said. “I’ll tell them you want to speak with them.”
Giving the earl an exaggerated bow, Jenkins left the study with a smug grin of satisfaction on his face.
Isabella dutifully followed Mrs. Amberly up the long, winding staircase, attempting several times to engage the housekeeper in conversation. Her friendly overtures were met with unintelligible grunts and Isabella quickly abandoned her efforts. A less than warm welcome to a household was not an unfamiliar experience for her.
After taking numerous twists and turns down the long, narrow corridors, they finally reached their destination. Isabella glanced suspiciously at the housekeeper. The route they had taken seemed deliberately designed to disorient her, making it difficult, if not impossible, for Isabella to find the way back on her own.
The bedchamber was shrouded in darkness as they entered. Mrs. Amberly walked gingerly across the room, flinging back the heavy draperies and opening the leaded glass windows. Brilliant sunlight flooded the room, and the crisp, fresh air was a welcome relief from the musty odor. Isabella wondered if it would be necessary to sleep with her window wide open to dissipate the unpleasant smell.
Looking beyond the dust and grime, Isabella could clearly see that this had been an impressive room at one time. The heavy brocade draperies were a deep rose color and matched the delicate silk hangings around the canopied four-poster bed. The furnishings were of a style popular fifty years ago, but they were rich and elegant. The chairs and chaise were obviously designed for a woman; they were daintily proportioned and covered in silk patterned with blue, pink, and cream roses. The carpets echoed the same colors.
“There appears to have been a misunderstanding, Mrs. Amberly,” Isabella said, waving her hand at the misty particles of dust floating in the late afternoon sunlight.
“I should be occupying a bedchamber next to the children’s sleeping quarters. I am their new governess.”
“There is no mistake, miss,” Mrs. Amberly insisted briskly. Pointing diagonally across the hall, the housekeeper announced, “The children sleep in that bedchamber. The majority of the rooms on the upper floors are closed off. They haven’t been used in years.”
“If you’re certain the earl has no objections,” Isabella said slowly, “this room will do nicely once it has been properly cleaned.”
Mrs. Amberly stiffened noticeably. “There is no time for cleaning today, miss,” the housekeeper responded in a voice that brooked no argument. “I’ll send one of the housemaids up with bed linens when I get a chance. That’s the best I can do. If you have a complaint, I suggest you speak directly to Lord Saunders. His bedchamber is next to the children’s.” With a mocking smile on her thin lips, Mrs. Amberly left the room, leaving Isabella no opportunity to marshal a response.
The earl’s bedchamber was across from her own! Isabella felt a moment of unbridled panic, but soon convinced herself she was overreacting. Mrs. Amberly had already explained that most of the upper floors of the house were closed up. And it was important that she sleep near the children. It was merely a coincidence the children happened to sleep next to their attractive, imposing father.
Wasn’t it?
By the time the maid arrived with her bed linens, Isabella had restored her sense equilibrium. She was annoyed with herself for allowing her strange feelings about the earl and the vicious gossiping of Lady Edson to influence her common sense.
“I’ve also brought some rags with me, miss,” the pretty young maid said shyly. “After I’ve fixed the bed, I’ll try to clean away some of the dirt and dust. As soon as I can spare the time, I’ll come back with one of the other girls and give the room a thorough going over.”
Isabella was relieved to hear the friendliness in the maid’s voice. Thank goodness all of the household staff did not share Mrs. Amberly’s surly attitude. “Thank you. I very much appreciate your help . . . ?”
“Maggie.” The young maid made an awkward, off balance curtsy, her arms piled high with linens.
“Here, let me take those,” Isabella volunteered, reaching out for the stack of linens. The large pile of bedding reached her chin, and Isabella gratefully breathed in the sweet fragrance of dried lavender that emanated from the sheets. At least she wouldn’t have to worry about smelling mildew all night.
“I’ve never been in here before,” Maggie remarked while pulling back the dusty bed coverlet. “ ’Tis a pretty room.”
Isabella nodded in agreement. She smiled shyly at the young maid, but her smile quickly faded when Maggie stepped out from behind the bed into the center of the room to tug on the edge of the coverlet. The pile of linens in Isabella’s arms fell soundlessly to the dusty carpet. Isabella caught her breath in a stinging gasp and staggered slightly as she got her first unobstructed frontal view of Maggie.
The sweet-faced maid was tiny and very slender, except for her rounded and distended stomach. Though her experience in these matters was limited, Isabella estimated that it would probably be only a few short weeks before Maggie gave birth.
Chapter Seven
Isabella woke at sunrise the following morning. She dressed hurriedly, her ears tuned to the slightest sound outside her bedchamber door. Hoping for an opportunity to have a private conversation with the earl before being introduced to her new charges, Isabella listened eagerly for his footsteps. She was exceedingly curious about the earl’s children and felt at a definite disadvantage since she knew almost nothing about them except for their sex and ages. She did not even know their names.
Isabella had first thought to question the servants about the children, but she had been so embarrassed and tongue-tied after seeing the maid in her very pregnant condition that all thoughts of the children had been promptly forgotten. The attractive young footman who brought her dinner tray last evening did not stay to chat, and Isabella had no contact with any other members of the household.
Although she had been expecting a summons, the knock at the door startled Isabella. She opened her bedchamber door expectantly, hoping to find the earl on the other side, but instead found the same footman from last evening waiting to escort her to the dining room for breakfast. Masking her disappointment admirably, she bade the man a pleasant good morning and followed him down the hall.
As Isabella and the young footman swiftly walked the complex route to the main dinning room, her apprehension mounted. Distractedly, she wondered how long it would take her to master the complicated maze of halls in the house, given her dismal sense of direction.
The dining room was already occupied when Isabella arrived, despite the unfashionable early hour. The earl was seated at the head of the table, his nose buried in a newspaper. Two young children were seated to his right; Jenkins was on his left. The sideboard was covered with a small array of tarnished silver platters that held the morning meal.
