“You.” The Duchess’s gaze swept critically over Charles. “Tell me where I may find the housekeeper. I’ve no idea where she’s put us and my son is behaving like a, well, like a disobedientchild.”
Charles dipped into a low curtsy, her heart racing, for the strikingly tall, slim woman before her was altogether severe and imposing. Most disconcerting of all, however, was the fact she shared her son’s eyes: the same intense slate grey.
“Your Grace, I am housekeeper here and beg your pardon for the delay regarding rooms. Yours shall be ready momentarily.”
“Youare Almsdale’s housekeeper?” The Duchess’s brow rose a fraction as she literally looked down her patrician nose at Charles from her impressive height.
“Yes, Your Grace.” Charles straightened her spine. “I apologize again for the delay, but as you have surely surmised, we did not anticipate your visit.” She met the Duchess’s eyes without wavering.
Her grace narrowed her gaze. “A housekeeper is always prepared,alwaysanticipates, girl, but then, you look barely old enough to run a stand at market, let alone the Duke’s Abbey.” Charles winced at her tone. “And where is your chatelaine? You look like a maid. Was there no onein Cumberland more qualified for the position of housekeeper?”
“Your Grace, I take great pride in what my staff have accomplished thus far. Perhaps you failed to notice Almsdale Abbey remains ingreatdisrepair.” She knew she bordered on impertinent but inwardly Charles fumed. “So I apologize again that we are as yet ill-equipped to entertain guests.”
Her grace blinked. “Quite the mouth on you too.” Her eyes bored deeper into Charles. “What is your name, Housekeeper?”
“Merrinan, Your Grace,” Charles spoke with pride. “Charles Merrinan.”
“Charles Merrinan?” The Duchess looked appalled. “Squire Merrinan’s daughter?” She shook her head, as if disbelieving. “Why, let me look at you, girl.” She suddenly beamed at Charles, reaching out to physically turn her about, in a manner so familiar she made Charles flinch. And then the Duchess pulled a lock of hair loose from Charles’s head kerchief to twirl about her fingers.
“By God!” she exclaimed. “Same hair, like spun gold. Nearly drove my husband mad.” Her eyes held a faraway cast.
“Your Grace.” Charles took a step back. “I am sure I do not understand.”
“But my dear girl”—she gave her another brilliant smile—“I knew your parents. Knew your mother well indeed. Adelaide Enright came out but a year after my own debut and caused quite the stir back then. Only had eyes for your father, of course, determined to have only him . . .” Her voice trailed off. “But tell me how he is, dear. I am sure it was very hard on you all when your mother passed.”
“You knew my parents?” Charles simply stood there, rooted to the spot.
“Yes, why do you stare at me so, Miss Merrinan? It is unnerving. And your sister, Eleanor, she is well too, I hope? I imagine she is all grown up, goodness.” She peered more closely at Charles. “But why are youhere,Miss Merrinan, housekeeper to my son? I daresay your father should never have agreed to such a position were he still . . .” She stopped herself.
Charles inhaled, overwhelmed by the onslaught of information she’d just received. “Your Grace, my sister is well, thank you, and my father fares as well as possible. Difficult times, however, necessitated my need for employment, making your son’s arrival here in Cumberland fortuitous. I have endeavored to do my best to aid in the revival of Almsdale Abbey, Your Grace, and have made some progress considering how few we are in staff. It pains me that we are not better prepared for guests, but without warning, Your Grace, there was only so much I or anyone else employed here could have done to anticipate your arrival.”
The Duchess looked Charles over again, this time more approvingly. “Eloquently said, Miss Merrinan. You’ve not only your mother’s fine looks but her breeding too, though it would upset her, no doubt, to see you relegated to service.” Her lips pinched.
Charles took offense. “My mother would be proud to see me gainfully employed, Your Grace; there is no dishonor in honest labor.”
The Duchess broke into a grin. “And you’ve her spirit too. Goodness, what a surprise to encounter you here, my dear. Well, I am glad Roland hired you, if it has helped your dear papa. I shall have to pay him a call,” she added. “We will have much to discuss, of times past.” Her smile deepened.
“Oh no, Your Grace, you mustn’t!” Charles bit her tongue. “That is, my father is no longer well, Your Grace. He is easily confused, forgetting at times even that his wife . . .” She swallowed the rest of her sentence. “I fear he may not recognize you, Your Grace, for he has not been the same since our mother’s death.”
“Which is why you left London, yes. I know all about Adelaide’s atrocious family. There is no excusing the Earl of Denbigh’s behavior, none. To leave two young girls with only their unsound . . .” She again stopped herself, frowning. “Tell me you at least had a female companion until you came of age, Miss Merrinan.”
Charles felt her gut twist, though she’d not reveal the truth of how desperate their situation had been. “It is all in the past, Your Grace. Please, if you’ll excuse me, I must ready your room before nightfall. Might I enquire how long you intend to stay at Almsdale?”
“Oh that depends.” Her eyes sparked.
“On what, Your Grace?” Charles dared ask.
“On how long it takes my son to propose to Miss Mowry.” Her eyes now positively shimmered. “I’d appreciate it greatly, Miss Merrinan, if you helped facilitate matters some. You know, endeavor to arrange that Miss Mowry and Lord Wellesley be left alone together, as often as is seemly?” She smiled conspiratorially at Charles.
“Your Grace.” She looked the Duchess dead on. “That is decidedly outside the purview of my duties here, and as I answer only to his lordship, my employer, I cannot and will not assist you in such matter.”
And with that she marched off, leaving the Duchess looking flummoxed. Charles hoped her grace would realize the late Lady Adelaide Merrinan shared more than just a physical resemblance to her eldest daughter. She wanted her mother proud of her just then, for God knew there was muchnotto be proud of. If her mother truly had known this haughty woman, Charles felt sure Mama had stood up to her, Duchess or not. As would she.
“Charles,” a voice hissed. “Fox!” it hissed louder.
Charles put down her pail and mopped her brow, pushing back her kerchief from her sweat-drenched brow. She’d been cleaning like a madwoman for the past two hours, and it showed.
“In here!” the voice hissed once more.
