The Baron Finds Happiness by Bess McBride

Author:Bess McBride
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Tags: Fantasy
Published: 2018-08-29T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twelve

“Oh, you must catch up on Virginia talk later, Lord Carswell,” Mary said, rising. “We have a ball to attend tonight at Fairchild House. Of course, you must come along. Clara should rest now though. She is not used to our late hours.”

The men stood again when the women rose.

“I’m sure your room is ready now, Lord Carswell,” Mary said. “St. John will escort you. We will see you again shortly.” She took Clara’s hand and led her from the room. As they climbed the stairs, Mary clapped a hand to her mouth.

Clara heard her giggling, and responded with a hysterical chuckle of her own.

“What is Hickstrom doing?” Mary whispered. “Is she trying to make Roger jealous or offering you a new choice of baron? What do you think of Lord Carswell?”

Clara took a deep breath to calm her hysterics. “He’s very nice, handsome too, but no, no, no! I’m afraid I said something sometime after I met him about refusing marriage and refusing to be forced into it. He asked if you or St. John was trying to force me into marriage. I said no, but he must have guessed Hickstrom was involved. That’s probably why he was challenging her.”

They reached the landing and walked toward Clara’s room.

“Why don’t you rest right now, and I’ll direct Mrs. Green to have Sarah bring some hot water in a few hours? I’ll bring over a gown and some shoes then too. These balls start late and go until early morning. I won’t stay till morning because of the baby, but still...we’ll be out late.”

“Okay,” Clara said docilely. They parted at her door, and Clara entered the bedroom. She dropped face first onto the bed and fell instantly asleep. Her dreams were disjointed but featured barons—big barons, little barons, old barons and young barons.

A tap on her door awoke her, and Sarah entered carrying two buckets of water.

“Lady Mary said to wake you and bring you hot water, miss. She said she will come soon with a gown for this evening.”

Exhausted from her dreams, Clara rolled over onto her back and pushed herself to a sitting position.

“Thank you,” she said, looking at the buckets. “Wait! Is there a tub in here somewhere?”

“Yes, miss. Just behind that screen. Lady Mary likes to have bathing tubs in several of the rooms.” Sarah nodded toward a silk screen that covered one end of the room. Clara hopped off the bed and followed her to where a small porcelain tub stood.

“I didn’t know this was here!”

“No, miss. It is hidden.” Sarah poured the buckets of hot water into the tub, which filled it about six inches. “Do you require more water, Miss?”

Clara took pity on her. “No, thank you.”

“The small table holds linens and soap. Lady Mary said to tell you the soap is suitable for your hair, but I am certain you know that.”

Clara didn’t, but time travelers couldn’t be choosy.

“Thank you, Sarah!”

She waited until the maid left and ran into the water closet to relieve herself.

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