Chapter Five
Lucy left Duncan examiningthe windows in Lord John’s study and made her way to the nursery. She’d been awakened what seemed like mere minutes after she’d lain down on the bed by a cold hand on her cheek. She’d opened her eyes and stared into the large blue eyes of a little boy. He smiled and said, “Good morning!”
Lucy wanted to ask what was good about it, but she’d managed to smile and say, “Hullo. You must be Master John.”
“I’m not. I’m Johnny. Why are you sleeping in your clothes?” he asked.
“That’s a long story,” she said, sitting up as a servant with a baby in her arms hurried into the room.
“I’m so sorry,” she said. “I wanted to let you sleep awhile.” Lucy detected the slightest accent in her voice. Her brain was foggy, but she thought it might be German. “I turned my back for one moment!”
“I’m Lucy.”
“Wilhemina. Go back to sleep, if you like. Master John knows he is not to wake until the sun rises.”
Johnny crossed his arms. “The little monster is awake!”
“He is not a monster. He is your brother, and he is a baby.Youare not a baby. Come now.” The nurse efficiently ushered Johnny out of the chamber all the while rocking the baby back to sleep.
Lucy laid back on the bed, thinking she would never be able to fall back asleep, but the next time she woke it was when she heard a tapping on her door and an older woman with white hair covered by a neat cap peeked her head inside. “Ye must be Miss Smith.”
Lucy sat and rubbed at her eyes. The sun was out now, and by her gauge, it was midmorning. “You must be Mrs. Cox.”
“I am. I do apologize for nae greeting ye last night. I trust Molly got ye settled.”
If bysettledMrs. Cox meant Molly showed her the door to her room, yes, she was settled.
“She did, and I was able to meet my little charge earlier this morning.”
“Och, wee Master Johnny is always up early. But he goes to bed early too. Ye’ll be glad of that.” Mrs. Cox bustled about the room, dusting where there was no dust and straightening items that looked already straight. She was a bony, severe looking woman, but she had a kind smile.
“I’ll have to take your word for it.”
“I see ye havenae any water and yer hearth isnae lit. I’ll make sure Betsy sees to it on the morrow. She nae doubt forgot ye were to arrive. Do ye need help with yer dress? Lord John wants tae see ye in his study after ye’ve broken yer fast. Yer welcome to dine with McAlpin, Michaud, and meself tomorrow. We’ve already eaten this morning, but I have tea if ye’d like.”
“I do need help,” Lucy said, grateful to be rid of the clothes she’d been wearing for over twenty-four hours now. With Mrs. Cox’s help, she dressed the part of a nanny, styled her hair, and found the housekeeper’s room, where a cup of tea waited for her. Next, she’d met with Lord John, who seemed to be taking the danger to his family seriously. She’d seen Duncan too, and didn’t he look handsome in his livery. No doubt Molly had given him many admiring glances—not that Lucy cared what Molly did. Or Duncan for that matter—as long as he did his part for the mission.
She would have liked to spend the rest of the morning checking doors and windows like Duncan, but she’d put off the inevitable long enough. She made her way to what Mrs. Cox called the day nursery and found Wilhemina sitting by a small crib where the baby slept while a maid tidied breakfast things and Johnny crouched on the floor playing with two spinning tops.
