CHAPTER 6
DRESSING FOR DINNER
Ahalf hour later
Ivy watched Anne Salisbury gingerly insert another pin into the coiffure she had created, the woman’s reflection in the dressing table mirror a study of concentration and concern.
“You’re doing fine. You’ll be a lady’s maid in no time at all,” Ivy said by way of encouragement. “In fact, I may have to take you back to London with me.”
The housemaid’s eyes widened in what appeared to be surprise. “Oh, I would like that very much, my lady,” she replied.
The comment had Ivy smirking. “I know it’s none of my business, but I am aware that you and Mr. Walker have formed an... attachment,” she stammered. She heard Salisbury’s sharp inhalation of breath and regarded the maid’s reflection in the dressing table mirror, noting her momentary fright. “And I don’t object in the least.”
The maid’s look of fear changed to wonder. “You don’t?”
“Of course not. In fact, I believe I have you to thank for mybeing here today,” she explained. “We really shouldn’t have been traveling with the snow falling as it was,” she added.
“Oh,” Anne sighed. “It was a relief to learn you two had arrived, my lady.”
Ivy’s eyes widened. “Have you spoken with him?”
Anne’s face displayed a blush. “I have not, my lady,” she said, shaking her head. “Perhaps we’ll have time later this evening to... to talk.”
Grinning, Ivy turned on the tufted seat to regard the maid directly. “Oh, I do hope you two have time to do more than that,” she teased. “That all goes well for the two of you,” she added. “In fact...” She paused, her own face coloring with heat. “May I ask which rooms you see to in the house?”
About to insert another hairpin into the coiffure she was creating atop Ivy’s head, Anne hesitated. “The first floor, my lady. The parlor, the drawing room, two apartments, and the library. And the corridor, of course.”
Ivy turned back to face the dressing table mirror. “Well, since there are no guests in residence, I certainly wouldn’t object if one of those apartments were...occupiedfor a time,” she murmured. “Surreptitiously, of course. I shouldn’t want any of the other servants to... todiscoveryou and think they might be entitled to their use.”
Anne’s eyes rounded in surprise. “My lady?”
Once again turning on her seat, Ivy angled her head to one side. “It’s nearly Christmas, and I think this house could use a bit of... romance,” she whispered. “Goodness knows, it’s been a a long time since there was any of that here at Ritchfield Park. If Walker and you are thinking of marriage, then I only wish to do my part to help.”
Dipping her head, Anne allowed a tentative grin. “I thank you for your consideration, my lady. I cannot speak for Mr. Walker, but I am sure he, too, will be very appreciative of your offer.”
“Well, as I said, do keep it quiet.” She glanced at the clock. “Oh, it’s already a quarter of the hour,” she murmured. “Have you much more to do?”
Anne held up another pin. “Only a few more curls and I’ll be done, my lady. I apologize if I am slow, but it’s because I worry I will stab your head,” she added, capturing her lower lip with a tooth as she inserted the pin into Ivy’s flame red hair.
“Oh, I’ll survive,” Ivy said dryly, wishing her lady’s maid in London had showed such concern for the skin on her head. Watkins was an efficient servant, but patience was not one of her virtues. Ivy was sure she sported scars on her scalp from the ferocity with which Watkins had inserted hairpins over the years.
She wouldn’t regret her decision to pension the lady’s maid, which reminded her she really needed to discuss the particulars with her husband over dinner that evening. She’d had the perfect moment in which to do it only the hour before, when Ritchfield had asked if she had left her lady’s maid behind.
Why had she hesitated? He probably didn’t care one whit who she employed as her lady’s maid, but Watkins had been with the family since before he took Ivy to wife. She had been his mother’s lady’s maid, and then, before his sister had married, she had been her lady’s maid. It didn’t seem right to pension the woman without his permission. Without his blessing.
Remembering Ritchfield’s unshaven face, she wondered if he had decided to pension his valet as well. Was that why the older servant hadn’t come with him from York?
If he still employed Ferguson, the one he brought with him to London for the Season, then he was old enough to retire. Probably had been for a decade.
“I’m wondering how his lordship is doing without hisvalet,” Ivy said, hoping the housemaid would share any information she might have been privy to during the servant’s breakfast that morning.
Anne glanced up to see Ivy regarding her reflection in the dressing table mirror. “I believe Graves is seeing to his lordship, my lady. He was quite surprised when Lord Ritchfield arrived yesterday,” she remarked. “Apparently it’s been quite some time since his lordship has been in residence here.”
“Oh?” Ivy remarked. “So… Ritchfield didn’t send word ahead he would be coming for Christmas?”
“No, my lady. From something Graves said, the earl’s visit was not planned at all. In fact, he fears something happened in York,” she said, keeping her voice low.
Ivy stiffened. None of their children lived in the city, so she didn’t think it had anything to do with them. His mother and father had both died long ago, succumbing to the influenza epidemic of 1782, so they couldn’t be the reason.
