“Yes, my lady,” Mr. Ayers replied breathlessly.
Lady Daphne turned to face him. “You look a bit flushed, Mr. Ayers. Are you quite all right?”
“I think I may need a drink of water, my lady,” the poor man admitted.
Danielle hurried toward them. “By all means, go to the kitchens and Cook will get you some. I’ll take over here. I’m more than happy to be of use.”
“Thank you kindly, Miss LaCrosse.” Mr. Ayers handed Danielle his ledger and quill and scurried from the room before Lady Daphne could stop him.
Danielle crossed over to the small table the man had set up and dunked the quill in the ink pot. The planning and executing of a ball was absolutely fascinating to her and she was interested in learning more. This was something she had been born to do. Something her mother would have shown her, something she might have had to do regularly if her life had been different. If Lafayette Baptiste hadn’t stolen her childhood. Someday, she would make him pay. But today she had a ball to plan. She turned back to Lady Daphne. “Where were we?”
“I daresay I’ve lost my train of thought,” Lady Daphne replied, blinking.
Danielle read from the bottom of the list. “The musicians will be located on the far left and the dancing will be concentrated here.”
“Oh, yes, that’s right,” Lady Daphne replied with a wide smile, clapping her hands. “We must get the extra napkins out of storage and be sure Cook has everything she needs and—”
“And we mustn’t forget to have the front steps scrubbed,” Danielle added.
“Yes, of course.”
“I’ve already asked Mrs. Huckleberry to see to the flower arrangements,” Danielle said.
Lady Daphne smiled at her. “Have you helped plan balls before? In your other positions?”
“Not… precisely,” Danielle replied. It would have been so easy to say yes. Why hadn’t she just said yes?
“Then how do you know so much about it?”
“I… Oh, I shouldn’t bother you with such unimportant nonsense, my lady.”
“Nonsense? I hardly think it’s nonsense, especially if you’re able to help me.”
Danielle hesitated. Did she dare to tell Lady Daphne? The truth was she desperately wanted to tell this secret, had been dying to since the moment she’d begun working with Lady Daphne on the arrangements for the ball. It was so rare that a spy was able to safely tell a secret. The temptation was overwhelming. “Well,” she began, stepping closer to Lady Daphne and lowering her voice. “The truth is that my mother was part of the aristocracy. She taught me… a few things. Before she fell ill.”
Any fears Danielle had about Lady Daphne’s reaction were quickly put to rest when the lady smiled brightly and said, “The English aristocracy?”
Danielle nodded. “Yes.”
“I had no idea. What is your mother’s name?”
“It doesn’t matter now,” Danielle replied. “My mother was disowned by her family for marrying my father, who was a poor French professor.”
Lady Daphne’s face softened and she reached out to gingerly pat Danielle’s shoulder. “I’m sorry, dear. I understand completely. My family wasn’t particularly fond of Rafe until he quite unexpectedly became a viscount. We married, er, planned to marry regardless. Your mother had the right of it. One should only ever marry for love.”
“I never had a coming-out party,” Danielle replied, trying to dispel the sad tone in her voice. She’d never been one to feel sorry for herself. Her life was the way it was and she had accepted it long ago. However, the unfairness of it all washed over her from time to time. It was irresistible to admit she might have been a part of this world had things not happened the way they had.
“When did your mother get sick, dear?”
“Many years ago.”
“Did you live with your father after that?”
“No, Father was… dead.”
Lady Daphne’s hand flew to her throat. “I’m so sorry.”
“It’s all right. It’s been… a lifetime.” She forced a smile to her lips.
