“Looking even better than yesterday.” Reese jumped from the wagon. The footman had raised his hand to help her and heaved out a wounded breath before he began unloading the tools instead.
Ellen gave Reese’s appearance a quick glance and then looked at Lulu. “I will send my dresser to assist Miss Clarisse since you must see to your own toilette first.” Lulu looked about to protest, but Ellen shot her one glance, and the words died on the maid’s lips.
“Come. We must make haste.” Ellen took Reese’s arm and firmly guided her into the kitchen entrance. “We will use the servant’s stairs.”
“Why the rush?” Reese was tired, physically and emotionally, and didn’t feel in a hurry.
“My brother has noticed how often I speak of you and has expressed curiosity about my new friend.” Ellen shifted uncomfortably. “I am anxious for you to meet him.”
And appear at her best before him? Reese stopped, pulling her arm free.
“Promise me you won’t play matchmaker, Ellen.” She crossed her arms and put on her sternest expression, one she had perfected when dealing with difficult kids at the health clinic. “Nothing good will come of it.”
“How can you know that?” Ellen stepped closer, wearing her own stern expression. “You are here to find a husband with a title. Who better than my brother?”
“I never said I was looking for a title,” Reese said.Or a husband.
Ellen’s expression softened and turned almost pleading. “I wouldlovefor you to be my sister in more than spirit.”
Reese was touched more than she could say, but she shook her head. She had a job, apurpose, in the future. A little voice whispered that she could do a lot of good in this time too. She shook her head more forcefully.
“Do not turn against him before you have met him,” Ellen said. “Please.”
“How do you know he won’t hate me on sight? I’m not like you. I could never be a gracious hostess, and I doubt if I’d ever want to be. I think all that is a waste of time. Your brother is part of the Ton, and they represent the kind of people I most despise.” At the girl’s hurt expression, Reese added, “Not you. For sure, not you. You’re different. You’re not full of yourself and arrogant. You’re teachable.”
Her ladyship seemed to consider that. “Do you think yourself above me?”
“What?” Reese blinked in surprise. “No. Why would you think that?”
“Ofttimes, when you speak to me, you remind me of some of those—” Ellen looked disturbed. “No. I do not wish to offend.”
“I think I’m the one who has been doing any offending.” Reese forced the girl to meet her gaze. “It’s my bossy nature. I prance around acting like I know what’s best for everyone. I’m sorry. Believe me. I donotthink myself above you.” Her time was above Ellen’s but not Reese’s character, but that wasn’t something they could discuss.
“Thank you.” Her ladyship sighed. “About my brother, I will not presume anything, but I must cling to my hopes. Two people who have learned to love each other can overcome many things. Come, we truly must make haste.”
They had to respect each other too, but Reese kept that thought to herself. She didn’t want to hurt the girl’s feelings more. Her love of her brother was strong, but what had he done to earn it? Was it Ellen’s loneliness that kept her from seeing his bad traits? He sure didn’t sound like Mr. Darcy.
Ellen talked about all she had been busy with during the day, and Reese couldn’t help being impressed. Not only had the girl overseen what the housekeeper and the cook were planning, Ellen had checked on the condition of the rooms to make sure the airing and change of bedding met her high standards. Fires had to be lit in each to take out the chill.
It wasn’t until Reese reached her room that she wondered why Ellen had given her such a rundown of her responsibilities. Because she wanted Reese to know what being the hostess of a great house entailed? That sly girl, doing her own educating. Reese’s respect for her went up even more.
“I’m scared to death to meet these people,” Reese said when Ellen was about to leave.
“You? Frightened of people?” Ellen wore a disbelieving smile. “You are the most fearless person I have ever met, male or female.”
“Then you haven’t met many people.” Reese stepped forward. “What if they mock me? I can’t always keep my tongue between my teeth.”
“Cannoteverkeep your tongue between your teeth, you mean.” Ellen gave a soft laugh. “That is what I love about you. I have never met such an honest person. I can always trust that what you say is what you mean. You shall do fine.” She swept from the room, and her dresser entered.
The woman said nothing but immediately went to work. Reese had learned not to fight the whole dressing thing, so the woman finished in short order. Another maid had entered the room while the dresser finished buttoning up the dress.
“Sit.” The woman pointed to the vanity table chair.
When Reese was in place, the dresser and maid each began to work on her hair. They must have done that kind of thing together before because they worked fast, and in the end Reese’s hair had a balanced appearance.
She stared at her reflection, surprised at how much she looked the part of a gently-bred woman. As soon as she opened her mouth—or tromped into a room in her unladylike stride—everyone would know she was a fraud.
But that was okay, wasn’t it? She couldn’t care less about these people or what they thought of her. They were all dead anyway, in her time. The thought that Ellen was too sent a wave of grief through Reese. It would be wonderful if Ellen could come to the future with them and have a chance to live up to her potential. She could go to college or pursue some other invigorating career. Maybe even politics since that kind of thing interested her.
