“I’m a henwitted fool,” she muttered.
“As you say, ma’am,” Madge murmured.
Gloria glared at her maid in the looking-glass.“I don’t pay you to agree with me.”
“Yes, you do.”She stuck another pin into Gloria’s hair.“I’m not surprised you forgot how this relationship works, you being a henwitted fool and all.”
Gloria burst out laughing.
Madge was the one constant in her life.As much an older sister as a maid, Gloria could not recall a time before Madge.They’d been through so much.
Because she cherished her like a sister, Gloria had offered a healthy severance if Madge preferred to seek a different future.But she had refused to leave Gloria until her mistress was happily married.
Neither of them had thought it would take this long.
“A little harsh on him yesterday, were you?”Madge asked as she twisted another curl.
Gloria slanted her a look.“He was harsh first.Preaching ‘one true constellation’ at me on two separate occasions.Explaining things I already know.Both presumptuous and insulting.I cannot be expected to smile and nod.”
“All men expect women to smile and nod.”
“Then I am doomed to spinsterhood.”Not true.Gloria would never stop believing the right man was out there somewhere.She just wished a tiny part of her wasn’t dying to impress Mr.Wrong One.“Besides, we’re trying to marry him off.”
“I’m not trying anything.”Madge teased out a curl.“I’m impartial.”
Gloria chuckled.“You’ve never once been impartial.”
“Hold still,” Madge scolded.“You’ll ruin your hair.”
Gloria wrinkled her nose.“Isn’t a French twist a little too obvious?”
“It’s attractive,” Madge said.
“I’m not trying to attract him,” Gloria insisted.“I just don’t want to look frumpy next to Désirée.”
“Everyone looks frumpy next to Mademoiselle le Duc,” Madge pointed out.“Chandeliers look frumpy.Constellations look frumpy.No matter what names they bear.”
“You’re not helping,” Gloria muttered.
Madge lifted a shoulder.“Perhaps he’ll fall head over heels and be out of your life for good.Isn’t that what you want?”
“Yes,” Gloria said firmly.“That’s exactly what I want.The sooner he chooses a bride, the sooner we can all move on.”
The sooner she’d find happiness of her own.
Madge slipped the final pin into Gloria’s hair.“And you think Mademoiselle le Duc will please him?”
“Désirée makes chandeliers look frumpy,” Gloria said with a sigh.“Of course she’ll do.”
It was more than a matter of matching his list of wants with the right woman.If she could find him a twin soul, there would be no stopping true love from blossoming.Désirée was a good start.
Mr.Pringle had not mentioned beauty as a prerequisite, but Gloria doubted he was opposed to the trait.Besides, his priority was willingness to travel.Désirée had come from France years ago.
Granted, her family had been fleeing execution.The French Revolution had severely curtailed life expectancy for any nationals connected to the aristocracy.This village was about as far from the battlefield as one could get.
More to the point, England was not the le Duc family’s first trip.Prior to becoming refugees, they had lived lives of splendor that included luxurious holidays in unusual places.Désirée would get on splendidly with Mr.Pringle.
Gloria made her way to the front parlor and ran her finger along her shelves.Adventure was not for her.She preferred to do her traveling via the pages of the book.It was easier.Safer.
