Marrying Captain Jack by Anne Herries

Author:Anne Herries
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Seven

Lucy surprised herself by falling asleep soon after her head touched the pillow. She was woken by the sun streaming in at the window, and sat up to see that Millie had brought her a tray of hot chocolate and soft rolls with a pot of clear honey.

`His lordship thought you might like to have breakfast in bed, miss,' the girl said. `I wondered whether to wake you, but he said that you would wish to go driving this morning and that I should bring your tray at eight.'

`Is it so late?' Lucy asked, sitting up against her feather pillows. `The bed was very comfortable and I slept all night. I am usually awake before this hour. It was kind of you to bring me all this, and I shall enjoy it—though as a rule a pot of chocolate is enough, for I take breakfast downstairs.'

`I dare say his lordship thought you would like to rest as you'd had a long journey, miss.'

`Yes, I expect that is why I slept so well,' Lucy agreed. `These rolls look delicious, Millie. Please tell the chef that I shall enjoy them.'

`Yes, miss, he will be pleased,' Millie said. `I'll bring your hot water in ten minutes, shall I?'

`Yes, thank you, that will do very well.'

Lucy poured some of the rich dark chocolate into her cup, sweetening it with some of the honey, because it could be very bitter. She sipped it and then ate one of her rolls, spreading more of the honey on the soft white bread, which was still warm from the oven. It tasted as delicious as it looked and she ate another before getting up. However, when Millie returned with the water, she was out of bed and brushing her hair, still wearing her nightgown.

`What would you like to wear this morning, miss?'

`I think the green carriage gown,' Lucy said. `I shall need a shawl and my straw bonnet with the matching ribbons—but I do not think I need a pelisse because it looks as if it will be warm.'

`Old Rubens—he's the gardener, miss—he says the weather is set fair for some days, and he's as good a judge as any. My grandfather always used to hang a piece of seaweed outside his door, but Rubens says he knows by his bones. I think he suffers with the rheumy, miss.'

‘Oh, the poor man,' Lucy said. `I know one of my aunt's servants has bad rheumatics and it is painful. I believe there is some sort of rub that one can put on to help.'

`Rubens uses horse liniment and he smells awful at times,'

Millie said with a giggle. `But don't let him know I said it,

because I like him and I wouldn't offend him for the world.'

`Then it shall be our secret,' Lucy said and looked at her

thoughtfully. `I saw some people yesterday afternoon,

Millie—a woman, child and two dogs. They were walking

near the lake and I could not see them clearly. Do you know who they might be?'

`No, miss, I can't say as I do,' Millie said, laying Lucy's gown on the bed for her.

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