And Nedwouldhave married Clarissa if she had insisted. He was an honorable man. He’d made a promise and he would have honored it. She was the one who had cried off.
In fact, once Clarissa realized she was clinging to Ned as her only hope, she had been rather excited to go out in the world. With Mrs. Warbler’s help, she had accepted a position as companion to the wealthy Mrs. Emsdale.
But that had all been back in the spring.
Clarissa took a moment at the foot of Mrs. Warbler’s step to swipe at her eyes with her dirty gloves. “She’ll be disappointed in me.”
“Nonsense. Elizabeth will be as happy to see you as I. Isn’t that right, Landon?”
“Everyone will be happy to see you, Miss Taylor,” the boy said dutifully, although his side glances indicated he was ready to discharge his duties.
Though she feared Mrs. Summerall was only being polite, her kind words caused Clarissa to release the breath she’d been holding.
It turned out Mrs. Summerall had been right.
Mrs. Warbler swept Clarissa into the house. She was silver haired, energetic, and, in the past, had worn purple in memory of her husband, the colonel, but that had changed over the summer as well. Today, she wore a dress in a lovely shade of rose. Matching ribbons decorated her lace cap and her hands sported ivory lace fingerless mittens.
“Clarissa,” she said as if delighted. “I’m happy to see you. Do you need a moment to yourself?Jane,” she called to her maid, “prepare a basin of warm water for our guest.” To Clarissa, she directed, “Now, you take as long as you like to freshen up. Jane! We shall need cheese and some of the bread you baked this morning. Clarissa appears as if she hasn’t eaten in days.”
“I haven’t,” Clarissa admitted.
“Is there chicken left from last night?” Mrs. Warbler asked Jane.
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Excellent. We will prepare quite a late breakfast for you, Clarissa. Now, you run up the stairs and see to your needs. You know where to go. Dierdre, please join us,” Mrs. Warbler said to Mrs. Summerall. “I shall grab the sherry bottle.”
And that is exactly what she did.
When Clarissa returned feeling much better for warm water and a lovely-scented soap, she found the table was set and her friends waited for her. Mrs. Warbler poured a too-generous glass of sherry for Clarissa. The bread was still warm.
“Eat, eat. We don’t stand on ceremony here. You know that,” Mrs. Warbler said.
The food tasted delicious, even the cold chicken. However, once her appetite was not the first thing on her mind, Clarissa knew she had to be honest.
“I was sacked,” she announced bluntly, wanting them to understand they should not be so happy to see her. She had shamed them.
Mrs. Warbler pressed the sherry glass intoClarissa’s hand, wrapping her fingers around it. “Emerald Emsdale is known for the abrupt departures of her employees. You are not the first. You will not be the last. Drink.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?” Clarissa asked.
“And jinx you? No, I wouldn’t do that. Besides, you didn’t have any references. You had to start somewhere. And now, not another word until you have finished that sherry.”
Clarissa would have preferred a cup of tea. Still, she did as ordered and gave the sherry a sip. It tasted good. Before she knew it, she’d drained the glass.
Mrs. Warbler refilled it.
Clarissa drained the second glass as well.
“Elizabeth,” Mrs. Summerall said, “perhaps a good cup of tea is in order.”
“Except sherry has edifying properties,” Mrs. Warbler countered, sipping her own third drink. She did adore her sherry.
“Perhaps,” Mrs. Summerall answered. “Except you do want to hear her story, don’t you?”
“Jane, brew tea.” Mrs. Warbler twisted in her chair to face Clarissa. “Now, what happened? Because I know you, my dear. There is no way you didn’t try your best.”
“I did and yet it was never good enough.”
