Amelia shook her head. “My lady’s maid was also the housekeeper. My father did not think it was appropriate for young ladies to tend to me. She has remained in my father’s service.”
“Then, I shall select a maid for you. They will all be beside themselves, vying for the role.” The housekeeper chuckled. “Indeed, we may have a fight on our hands, but I will choose someone who I think will put you at ease.”
“Thank you, Mrs. Scanlon.” Amelia smiled the first real smile she had been able to muster in days, a tiny flame of hope igniting with it.
Even if Lionel did not want her near him and thought of her as little more than a name on a contract, perhaps there was joy to be found in unexpected corners of this beautiful manor. Maybe, even with a distant husband, she could make this house feel like home.
“You are very welcome, My Lady.” The housekeeper rested a gentle hand on Amelia’s shoulder and gave it a gentle squeeze. With a parting smile, Mrs. Scanlon left her alone in her new rooms, to explore at her leisure… and to decide what else she might like to change.
CHAPTER NINE
Three days later, Amelia was beginning to wonder if Lionel had returned to London without telling her. She had not seen hide nor hair of him, though she waited each morning at the breakfast table, and again in the dining room of an evening.
She had even searched for him, pretending she wanted to see this room and that room in order to see if they would benefit from some redecorating, but it was like he had vanished. The manor was certainly large enough for a person to hide in without being found, but Amelia was growing tired of his absence.
As such, on that third day, she decided that she would not spend another breakfast alone.
“Good morning,” she said shyly, entering the kitchens.
A waft of delicious aromas struck her: freshly baked bread cooling on the side, buttery pastry turning golden in the oven,while more was being rolled out and cut into crimped circles for tarts; the sizzle of thick ham in a pan, and the merry spit of eggs.
The three servants who were creating the delicacies, and the other three who were taking their own breakfast, turned in alarm at the sight of their mistress in the doorway. The gardener was so shocked he forgot to chew his mouthful of toast.
“I… hoped I might have breakfast in here,” Amelia continued shakily, realizing she might have made a terrible mistake. Of course, the servants would not be comfortable with the Countess dining with them.
But one of the maids—a cheery young woman named Bea, who had been assigned as Amelia’s lady’s maid—suddenly cracked a wide grin and went to drag a tall stool up to the workbench where they were eating.
“Mrs. Scanlon will have our guts for garters for not ushering you back to the breakfast room, but if it’s here you want to have your breakfast, who are we to tell you otherwise?” Bea said brightly, beckoning Amelia over.
The other two servants—the gardener and one of the chamber maids—relaxed at Bea’s enthusiasm, while the cook and her assistants smiled and returned to their work.
“What can I get for you, My Lady?” the cook asked, as if remembering that she should probably provide some breakfast. “We have anything you could want.”
Amelia eyed the plates of the three around her. “I shall have what they are having.”
“An excellent choice, My Lady.” The cook beamed and turned to put some more ham and eggs into the pan, while one of the assistants put bread on a long fork and set to toasting it.
Bea poured tea for her mistress and pushed the cup and saucer toward her. “Do you not like the breakfast room, My Lady?”
“Not by myself,” Amelia replied, struggling to swallow her awkwardness. “It is… lonesome. Have I overstepped, coming in here? You must forgive me—I am not yet used to being a Countess.”
Bea wafted a dismissive hand. “Not at all, My Lady. Everyone is mighty curious about you, so now they can just ask you all their questions instead of asking me to ask you.”
“Curious?” Amelia blinked in surprise. “In what respect?”
The other chamber maid shrugged. “What you enjoy, what you think about the manor, what you think about us, how you came to be the Countess—that sort of thing, My Lady.”
“Oh… well, I can answer those,” Amelia replied, relaxing slightly. “I enjoy reading more than anything. I think the manor is beautiful, though the dining room and the breakfast room are the wrong way around. The breakfast room does not get the sunin the morning, and the dining room does not get the sun during the evening.”
“That is what I have been saying for years!” the cook interjected, waving her wooden spoon in vigorous agreement. “When the Dowager used to have dinner parties, I always thought it would be better if guests could see the sunset properly. And it is often so dark in the breakfast room on a winter’s morning that you would think it was night.”
Amelia smiled to herself. “I might ask Mrs. Scanlon if it would be possible to switch them around.”
“She will agree with you,” the cook said, flipping the thick ham.
Bea sipped from her own cup of tea. “What about the rest, My Lady?”
“Oh… well, I think all of you are very… diligent and generous. And I came to be the Countess because… my husband needed a wife.” Amelia hesitated. “I do not suppose you have seen him, have you?”
