Unmasking Lady Helen by Maggi Andersen

Author:Maggi Andersen
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Published: 2017-08-21T18:00:00+00:00

***

When her mother became busy with her charity, she asked Helen to discuss the preparations for the ball with Mrs. Chance.

Helen sought out the housekeeper, while her thoughts returned, as they were wont to do, to Peyton. She had been determined to remain cool with him and keep their relationship on a business footing. To forget the soft touch of his lips on hers, and his scent, which was so very masculine. But as soon as he appeared before her so big and familiar, she was lost. The way he smiled at her made her feel as if she was the only woman in the world. Charm, she told herself furiously. That was all it was. Her time must be better spent, discovering what she could to help him, instead of acting like a mooncalf.

Finding herself at Mrs. Chance’s parlor door, she took a breath and straightened her shoulders.

The housekeeper was at her desk, her ledger opened before her. “Please don’t get up, Mrs. Chance.” Helen sat in a wooden chair. “My mother wishes me to ask you if there are any problems remaining to be dealt with before the ball.”

“I did wish to consult her ladyship about the curtains in the blue chamber. They are badly faded.”

“There’s no time to change them now. Might we replace them with those in the unused family chamber? Admittedly they are cream, not blue, and quite plain, but will surely suffice.”

“That should do nicely. I shall see it is done. We have sufficient linens for the guest chambers. Some of the towels must be replaced. I thought of ordering a dozen.”

“Yes, please do.”

Mrs. Chance glanced at her ledger. “The crystal chandelier in the ballroom has been taken down and cleaned. The flowers your mother requested for the urns have been ordered. The window cleaner and the chimney sweep have been in and the carpets in the guest chambers taken up and beaten. Fiske has inspected the cellars and ordered Madeira and French champagne. Cook has the menu for the supper dishes.”

“You seem to have it well in hand, Mrs. Chance. Mother has every faith in you.”

“Thank you, Lady Helen.”

“I have another matter to discuss with you.”

Mrs. Chance pushed her ledger away. “Yes?”

“It concerns your quarrel with Bart.”

The housekeeper’s dark brows rose sharply. “It was more a slight disagreement than a quarrel.”

“I have difficulty equating his behavior with the Bart I knew.”

“I thought the same at the time.” Mrs. Chance sighed heavily. “I realized afterward that he was defensive because he couldn’t do his work.”

“I sent Bart on several errands the week before he took to his bed. He seemed to manage well.”

The housekeeper nodded. “He would do his best for the family, poor fellow.”

“Why did he say to you, you must think me a fool?”

Mrs. Chance blinked. “I don’t recall Bart saying any such thing.”

“He was overheard by one of the staff.”

“Was it one of the maids? She must have misunderstood.”

“They seemed quite certain.”

“My goodness what nonsense. If it was Eloise, her English is not very reliable.

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