“Yes, well, however many.”
“Mrs. Colthrust, were you aware that my uncle not only left the duke in charge over our inheritance but made him our guardian as well?”
Her eyebrows shot up. “No, I didn’t know that, but I must say, now that I think about it, I’m not surprised. That was a very clever thing for him to have done.”
“Clever?” Louisa asked. “I thought it inconceivable that he would leave us to the responsibility of a total stranger.”
“Why? It’s what Lord Wayebury wanted. He wanted the duke to marry you, thereby making you and all your sisters the duke’s responsibility. Obviously since the duke failed to do that, Lord Wayebury took matters into his own hands and settled the duke’s debt to your brother.” Mrs. Colthrust laughed and then stifled a yawn. “I really must wash and rest before dinner. My journey has left me drained. Send the maid up to my room with hot water as soon as you can.”
“I’m afraid we don’t have a scullery maid.”
“Fine. Louisa,” she said testily. “At this point, I really don’t care what the maid’s title is. Just send one up.”
“There is no one here but the cook, Mrs. Trumpington. She’s older, and I don’t think she is capable of carrying water up the stairs.”
Mrs. Colthrust harrumphed. “Where are the other servants?”
“Whoever was here, my uncle took them all with him.”
“All of them?” she asked, clearly exasperated.
Louisa nodded confidently.
“That’s unforgivable!”
Mrs. Colthrust was unbelievable. It was perfectly fine for Lord Wayebury to turn his charges over to a reckless stranger, but she was shocked and offended that he didn’t leave any servants to help care for them.
“What about your servants from Wayebury? How many did you bring with you?”
“None. Most of them left within a year of my brother’s death. Other than our governess, we had only an elderly couple there with us. She took care of the cooking, cleaning, and the kitchen garden. Her husband did a wonderful job with the grounds, horses, and the carriage that took us to the village once a week. The only person who traveled on the mail coach with us to London is the younger girls’ governess, Miss Kindred.”
“Thank God you have someone to handle the younger girls, and I won’t have to worry about them. As the old saying goes, ‘Children can be seen, but they never should be heard.’”
Louisa bristled. First the duke was unkind about her sisters, and now Mrs. Colthrust’s comment set Louisa’s teeth on edge. She had never restrained her sisters from speaking or, as the duke could attest, playing in the house if the weather did not permit recreation outside. She wasn’t going to start putting restrictions on them now. Maybe His Grace was right when he said Mrs. Colthrust would not be a suitable chaperone. She was not endearing herself to Louisa.
“I will take care of my sisters,” Louisa said, knowing she had been the only constant in their lives the past few years.
“Really?” She gave Louisa a curious look. “Have you ever attended a Season, Louisa?”
“No, but I do have a fairly good idea of what to expect.”
“I think not. Let me enlighten you: Once the Season starts, you will have precious little time to do anything other than throw your tired body in bed to sleep and then rise again long before you feel rested and prepare yourself for another round of one social occasion after the other.” She paused and threw up her hands and said, “But I am much too tired to go into all that with you right now. I have no idea how we will make do without servants! I’ll just have to speak to the duke about this tomorrow as well. For now, have the cook get the water heating. I’ll tell the driver I will pay him to wait and carry the water upstairs after he brings up my trunks. And I will make sure the duke repays me—double. And you—” Suddenly Mrs. Colthrust stopped and smiled. Her face brightened.
Louisa looked down the corridor to see what had brought about the abrupt change in the ill-tempered chaperone. Gwen was coming toward them slowly carrying a tea tray.
“Well, now, I see I can forgive you for being tardy in answering the door, Louisa. You took time to send someone for tea. That was thoughtful of you, as I’m famished.” She pointed to Gwen and ordered, “Follow me upstairs with that tray.”
Mrs. Colthrust swirled past Louisa in dramatic fashion and started climbing the stairs. Gwen stopped by Louisa and said, “Who is she, and what happened to His Grace?”
“She is our chaperone, Mrs. Ramona Colthrust.”
“She looks severe, Sister.”
Louisa started to agree and list all the things she didn’t like about the lady, but quickly changed her mind. “No, no, not at all.” Louisa lied without compunction, not wanting her sisters to have any fear or hesitation concerning the woman. Louisa had enough misgivings for all of them. She didn’t know how anyone so beautiful could have such a disagreeable deportment.
“She’s very knowledgeable and will be a fine and dutiful chaperone for us. As to be expected, she’s tired after her journey. I’m sure she’s ready for a cup of tea. Take it on up to her.”
Louisa turned away from the stairs. She realized how many “if only’s” she had in her life.If onlyher parents and brother hadn’t died.If onlyMrs. Colthrust weren’t such a rough-speaking chaperone.If onlyher uncle hadn’t left them in the care of a handsome duke who made her feel things she had never felt before, her life in London would be so much easier to understand and to bear.
