“Good morning, miss. Merry Christmas. I’ve brought you chocolate, unless you prefer tea.”
“That’s wonderful,” Julia exclaimed. “Chocolate is so much more filling when you awaken hungry.”
“Oh dear, miss.” The girl said, hurrying to set the tray down beside the bed, but only so she could free her hands to wring them. “I should have brought you some porridge or toast. Her ladyship will be in a right state if she thinks we’ve let you go hungry.”
Julia blinked at the maid’s distress.
“Don’t be silly. How could you know I was hungry?” Then she had a worrisome thought. “Is the dowager countess fierce?” If the maid was afraid of her, it didn’t bode well.
The girl took a step back before lowering her gaze to her shoes, saying nothing.
Julia realized at once herfaux pas. The maid couldn’t talk with a guest about her employer, or she would find herself very soon without employment.
“That’s all right,” Julia said into the awkward silence. “I’m sorry I asked, only I don’t know anything about Lady Marshfield, and I didn’t want to step in the wrong puddle. It’s bad enough I came uninvited.”
“I understand, miss,” the maid said, taking the cup off the tray and handing it to Julia. “I’m happy to say her ladyship is usually in good spirits. We all like to keep her happy, though, and that’s the truth. So, if you need anything, please just let me know. My name’s Emily, miss.”
“Thank you, Emily. I’m afraid I do need a few things because I came here unexpectedly. I don’t have even another dress to wear save what I came in.”
The girl looked over to the wardrobe.
“You can look if you like,” Julia said, happy to be sipping chocolate in a warm bed.
Emily crossed the room and opened the right-hand side of a large armoire. Looking rather sad, her cream-colored wool dress hung there beside her gray coat.
Yet when the maid turned, she had a thoughtful expression. “I know we have dresses in the house that are a donkey’s age old. They were here when I came to work two years ago. Trunks full of them, miss.”
“I cannot simply help myself to someone else’s gowns.”
“No, miss, but I’ll ask Mrs. Bowman. She’s the housekeeper. Meanwhile, shall I help you dress?”
Julia wrinkled her nose. “Could I have a quick wash first?”
“Yes, miss. If you’ll come with me, just through here,” she trailed off as Julia got out of bed in her chemise, wishing she had slippers when her feet hit the cold floor, even with its carpet. Dutifully, she followed Emily through a doorway into the next room.
There was a porcelain tub standing cold and empty, and Julia longed to see it filled with steaming water. However, it seemed an extravagance to ask on the morning of her first day.
“There’s clean water for washing, miss.” Emily gestured to the washstand where a pitcher and bowl stood with a towel hanging beside it.
Julia went over to examine it, dipping her finger in.Frigid. She’d always heard of the drafty, cold, and uncomfortable conditions of the nobility’s large country homes. But at least there was a bar of Pears’ soap.
“I can bring up some hot water, miss.”
“No, it’s fine,” Julia assured her. The experience would build character and prove how dreadfully spoiled she’d become since living in Sarah’s comfortable home where the maid brought in hot water every morning, and they had a bath thrice a week.
“Do you need assistance?” Emily asked, standing in the doorway, clearly ready to go.
Julia supposed the girl had to ask, but since it was going to be a quick flick of cold water on her face and around her neck, she doubted there was much Emily could help her with.
Yet she had one more concern. Her mouth felt like she’d tried to chew wool.
“Any mouth fresheners?” she asked, hoping at least for a comfit.
“In the cabinet will be a toothbrush, miss, and some cleaning powders, and the fresheningeau de boucheher ladyship raves about.”
Julia looked to where the maid indicated. A small cupboard stood directly beside the washstand. She’d never heard of the latter, but freshening mouth-water sounded like something worth trying.
“And a comb?” she asked.
