Melting Miss Wynter by Emma V. Leech

Author:Emma V. Leech
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Published: 2019-10-05T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 13

“Wherein Gwenn accepts her fate.”

Sampson escorted Gwenn back to her room and bade her goodnight with all the romantic reluctance she could have wished for in a lover. She’d barely a moment to close the door and try to soothe her scrambled wits, to make sense of what had happened, when a soft knock sounded. Wondering if Sampson had decided he couldn’t wait to see her again she hurried to open it, only to find a teary Susan awaiting her.

“Don’t feel well, miss,” she croaked.

“Oh, you poor thing,” Gwenn said, snatching up her dressing gown again. “Come, you ought not be wandering about in this chilly corridor. Back to bed with you. I’ll make some willow bark tea.”

She guided the girl back to her bedroom, to discover Selina huddled in a ball and shivering.

Gwenn clucked and fussed over them, fetching extra blankets and fluffing pillows, building up the fire in the hearth until it was crackling merrily.

“Now, you rest, and I’ll make tea and then I’ll read you a story. By the time I’m done, you’ll feel much better.”

Once all this had been accomplished, and the girls were dozing, Gwenn was exhausted. She got to her feet she began to creep furtively towards the door, only to be stopped by a pitiful whisper.

“Don’t go, miss….”

Gwenn sighed and returned to her bedside vigil.

***

Sampson pushed his breakfast plate away and drew out his pocket watch, frowning at it. He’d been counting the minutes until he could see Gwenn again, and her failure to appear was making him nervous. Was she avoiding him? Was she angry or embarrassed? Did she regret what had happened between them after all?

He got to his feet just as the innkeeper’s wife bustled into the room.

“Good morning, my lord. I trust ye slept well, and all is to your satisfaction?”

“I did, thank you,” Sampson said, moving to the door.

“I took the liberty of sending for Mr Davies to see to your lordship’s clothes. He’s nae the kind of valet ye’ll be used to, but he’s the best ye’ll find in these parts, if that suits ye?”

“That’s perfect, Mrs Galbraithe. I shall be pleased to see him. And a lady’s maid?”

“Oh, well I offered your Miss Wynter our Sally, but she said as how she was happy to see to your sisters, and that it was nae worth the bother.”

Sampson frowned, unhappy with Gwenn acting the part of a servant, even though it touched him that she was willing to care for Susan and Selina. She was in no way proud and seemed perfectly content to do menial tasks. The previous governesses all had been very much on their dignity and would never deign to touch what they’d seen to be a lower servant’s job. Not that he judged them for it; the hierarchy of the servants was a careful balance that you meddled with at your peril.

“I would like you to send Sally to her nonetheless,” he said, and Mrs Galbraithe nodded.

“Right away, my lord. No doubt she’ll be more willing after last night.

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