5
Sofia left Annabel with Mary to help her unpack her many trunks and arrange her gowns, petticoats, bonnets, shawls and boots to her satisfaction.
'As I only have a few things to put away, I suggest that you remain with Annabel who's not used to looking after herself.'
'Yes, miss, but I'll come back to you when I'm done.'
Annabel looked somewhat put out by this announcement. 'I can't possibly manage on my own. I wonder if you'd be so kind as to ask our benefactor if he intends to employ the necessary staff to make our lives comfortable?'
'I'd be happy to if I knew exactly what you think we require. Having Mary to myself these past two days has been a luxury I'm not used to.'
'We need chambermaids, someone has to empty our commodes every morning and it should be girls that we know. I also think that having the same maids take care of the four of us would be ideal. We'd get to know them and they'd become loyal to us.'
'Right, how many of these chambermaids do we need?' Sofia asked.
'Two should be sufficient. However, your sister and I will require our own dresser as will your middle sister. You already have Mary to take care of you.'
'Let me get this straight, Annabel. You wish me to go downstairs and ask politely for us to have two ladies' maids. He's also said he's going to arrange for a team of modistes to come here to take our measurements and then make us whatever we need to be respectable.'
Annabel laughed. 'I don't need anything, but you and your sisters require half a dozen day dresses, three for the evening, something to travel in, a riding habit as well as bonnets, gloves and footwear to match. Goodness me, we're going to have such fun. I hope you'll allow me to help you choose as I believe I've more knowledge of what's fashionable.'
'I'm relying on you to do exactly that, my friend, but I think I'll ask James if he'd be kind enough to obtain for us a copy of La Belle Assemblée and Ackerman's Repository so my sisters and I can see for ourselves what might suit us.'
'I haven't seen either of those magazines for an age, they didn't have them in Switzerland. I imagine that whoever's employed to dress the three of you will bring copies of what's current,' Annabel said.
Something quite extraordinary occurred to Sofia. 'Do you think that having the Earl of Avon as our guardian will elevate our own status, so we too are part of the ton?'
'I should think so indeed. However, as I am illegitimate, rejected by my family, I shall remain always on the outside of society.' She ran to Sofia and hugged her. 'Don't look so upset, dearest, I care not for such things. I'm alive, surrounded by friends, and safe from that monster. It matters not that I can't participate in the same things that you and your sisters will be able to.'
'I can assure you that none of us will take part in anything that you can't be included in. If that means no assemblies, no soirées, not coming out, then so be it.'
Sofia didn't remain to hear the protests at this announcement but skipped through to the adjoining bedroom, then the sitting room. This was as big as the drawing room at Hilltop House and her own domain was equally impressive.
Something was bothering her about their arrival. So far, they'd seen no staff at all apart from the grooms and coachmen. Was this deliberate or did the earl, she found it difficult to think of him by his first name, run his house differently?
She barely glanced around the beautiful room she'd been allocated, scarcely noticed the stunning view, she was determined to get answers to her questions. As she turned to go there was a knock on the door.
'Come in,' she called and the door opened.
'His lordship has sent me to give you these, Miss Brotherton,' a nervous footman told her. He was holding a neatly folded parcel of what looked like men's breeches, shirt, waistcoat, jacket and cap.
'Thank you, I didn't expect to get these so soon. Exactly where will I find Lord Brotherton now?'
'He'll be in his study, Miss Brotherton.'
'And where might that be?'
'Would you like me to take you there?'
She smiled and the young man blushed. 'Yes, that would be extremely kind and much appreciated. To whom am I speaking? I like to know the names of everyone I come in contact with.'
'I'm Billy, miss, but I doubt you'll learn everybody's name. I reckon there's over a hundred working here if you count those working outside as well.'
'I intend to learn them all when I meet them. Now, if you'd be so kind as to hand me those items we can go and find my guardian.'
She took them from him and tossed them on the bed to be dealt with later. She was smiling as she made her way downstairs eagerly anticipating the pleasure of taking out one of the horses that her guardian kept in his stables.
Billy led her down the long passageway but instead of descending on the magnificent wooden staircase he turned left and they went down by a smaller one.
