Violet lifted her chin. “I have no intention of returning.”
Bess pulled back. “What will you do?”
That was the question that had plagued Violet since she was unceremoniously dismissed from the Harley home.
Doing a slow turn, she took in the tap room of the inn. It wasn’t large, and the limited tables were filled with servants from Forester Hall, a few from a neighboring estate, and a maid from the Harley household, who was likely exposed to the illness before she ever arrived at the Servants’ Assembly and might very well spread the illness amongst those within the inn.
Violet glanced to the stairs leading to the upper levels of the inn. No doubt all the rooms above were already occupied by those within this room.
“Are all inns equally filled?” she asked.
“I believe so,” Bess answered.
“Are any cots still available?”
Her maid’s eye widened. “You couldn’t stay here, Lady Violet. Not with us. It would be unseemly.”
“Nor can I return to Forester Hall.”
“Maybe it won’t be so bad,” Bess cajoled. “You don’t even know who His Grace has invited.”
It mattered not who was there. It matteredwhythey were there. “I have no intention of being an unwilling participant in any of Father’s plans.”
“But Lady Violet, he’d be most displeased if you spent these next ten days in an inn.”
In that, Bess was correct, but these were extenuating circumstances. “If I cannot remain here, I will simply find somewhere else,” she decided with determination though she could think of no family who would offer her a chamber and the one boarding house in Laswell only lent rooms to gentlemen.
Bess looked to Maggie and then the other female servants. Did they not wish for her to remain with them? Was she truly so difficult?
“I promise not to be an inconvenience,” she insisted.
“Oh, it isn’t that Lady Violet,” Maggie quickly assured her. “You shouldn’t be sleeping in an inn. If His Grace doesn’t sack us for not returning, he’d certainly sack us for allowing you to remain with us.”
That was their concern? And with that, a new irritation settled within. Her father’s servants often believed that they knew better of what Violet shouldn’t and couldn’t do, which was often quite maddening. Especially when their reasons were simply because of the hierarchy of living in England and her being the daughter of a duke and nothing more.
“It just isn’t right, Lady Violet,” Maggie claimed.
“Shouldn’t I decide what is right and what is not?”
“She may have our bed,” the young maid from the Harley household proposed. “Miss Silvia would have my head if I didn’t find a place for you.”
Violet doubted Silvia would resort to such punishment but appreciated the sentiment.
“You may put a cot in our room, Mary,” another woman said.
Violet did not know her but welcomed the offer.
“Margaret may have my space and I will have a cot placed in Lady Violet’s chamber.” Bess turned to Violet. “You will not sleep alone in this inn and I will be there to protect you.”
It truly wasn’t necessary, as there were no guests other than the female servants, but she also knew that arguing with Bess would be an unnecessary waste of time. And really, all that mattered was that she’d not be required to return home before Father’s guests departed. “Very well,” Violet agreed then looked to the maids who were making room for her. “I thank you for your sacrifice.” Pleased with the outcome, Violet blew out a sigh and relaxed. “Now that the matter is settled, would someone please help me retrieve my trunk from Dr. Talbot’s curricle.”
Two maids stepped forward.
“Also, when Dr. Talbot returns, please inform him that I am no longer in need of his assistance.”
Emory Talbot,Viscount Ferrard, knew that when he accepted the invitation for the house party being hosted by the Duke of Arscott that he might very well be betrothed before the Season even began.
The intention of the gathering was to court his daughter, Lady Lucinda, and while Emory had met Lady Lucinda two years prior, and he’d called on her, his interest hadn’t lasted beyond a few visits. She was lovely, but he hadn’t experienced any stirrings within to indicate that she might one day be his wife or even a friendly companion. After all, if one were going to spend their life with another, share a household, and beget heirs, wouldn’t it be far more pleasant if that person were at least a friend? It had been his hope to marry someone he might even love one day, not just a woman of good disposition that he found attractive, as such a union would quickly grow tedious. He lost interest in bedpartners after a sennight, and he didn’t wish to suffer such misfortune after marriage. Not that it would keep him from his duty of begetting an heir, but the act was much more enjoyable when passion was shared instead of obligation.
