The Maid of Inverness by Rose Fairbanks

Author:Rose Fairbanks
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Published: 2018-10-24T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Six

For the next few days, Marigold worked doubly hard in the house. Her female cousins had not taken kindly to her being invited to the ball. The logic, she surmised, was that if she did not complete her tasks, she could not attend. At night, she worked on refashioning one of her mother’s gowns she found in an old trunk in the attic.

The day before the ball, Priscilla and Edith drove into town for more ribbon. Augusta pleaded a headache and stayed at home. In the kitchen, Marigold brewed lavender tea for her cousin. Carrying a tray with biscuits as well as tea things, Marigold almost dropped them when the kitchen door swung open just as she approached.

“Pardon me!” Marigold was quick to exclaim.

“It was my fault entirely.” Augusta laughed.

Awkwardness fell between them, and Marigold shifted the weight of the tray. Her cousin’s eyes finally landed on the items.

“Is that for me?”

Marigold shyly nodded.

“You are always so kind,” Augusta said. She took the tray and set it on the kitchen table. “Come with me.” She grabbed Marigold’s hand.

They arrived in the back parlor, and Augusta shut the door. “Papa has left on an errand, and we have some time before Mama returns.”

“To do what?” Marigold asked.

A very long time ago, she and Augusta had played together. When Priscilla realized the governess taught all her charges together—including one destined to be a servant—she had them separated.

Augusta blushed and looked at her feet. “I thought I would give you a dancing lesson.”

“Oh!” Excitement filled Marigold. “But you had better not. I do not wish for you to get in trouble, and Priscilla says I will not dance anyway.”

“If you had rather not…” Augusta wiped at her eyes. “Yes, I can understand you would not accept anything from me. How you must hate me.”

Marigold claimed her cousin’s hands. “I would love a lesson,” she hastened to say. “And I do not hate you.”

“I never liked how we were told to treat you,” Augusta said in a quiet voice. “But it is so hard…”

Nodding, Marigold squeezed her hands again. “I understand. It is not easy to stand up against a loved one.”

“Yes,” the word whooshed from Augusta as though she had been holding her breath.

“Perhaps if we make it quick,” Marigold said.

“Tomorrow, if a gentleman asks you to dance, I do not think Mama can say no for you. It would look too peculiar to bring a lady who refuses to dance.”

Tingles spread over Marigold’s body. Would she dance with Douglas? She did not know that a servant would be in the ballroom, but perhaps they might find a secluded corner to talk, if not dance.

“You are blushing,” Augusta said with a grin. “Is there a young man you are sweet on?”

Marigold shook her head, but her cheeks flushed even more. “It is nothing.”

“I won’t press for your confidence,” she said. “Let us waste no more time.”

Augusta began humming a tune and directed Marigold how to stand and step. They stopped the lesson when neither one could proceed without a fit of giggles.

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