employers. But she didn’t expect that the Chatworths had ever put him in such a position.
The exhaled sharply, smoothing her apron as she did then headed downstairs. The room off the kitchen was full now of servants waiting to greet her. Some were friendly, some were reserved. The footman William, lurking in the back, watched her with dark eyes. The smirk had turned to a glower and she wondered what had transpired between him and York in her absence.
She took tea with the rest of the staff, answering questions about her former service and accepting condolences from some of the maids and footmen for the loss of her former lady, who also wished her luck in her new position. York, sitting at the head of the table, said little, but watched and listened. After the pleasantries had been exchanged, he removed his pocket watch in an obvious manner and announced that it was time for everyone to get back to their duties.
Ella stood. She was ready to meet her new employer and followed York into the main part of the house. It was as massive and grand as the exterior.
It kind of swallows you , the driver Billings had said and he was right. It was like a grand museum, with paintings of nobility staring down at her from the walls all around. Small exotic trees in huge pots sat in beams of light coming in through the huge, spotless windows.
Lord and Lady Baxter were in the drawing room. York opened the door and Ella walked in. Her first impression was that the couple looked like a very handsome father and daughter. Lord Baxter was tall and lean, with dark hair just starting to grey at the temples. Lady Baxter was fair and blonde. Her hair was obviously long, judging by the heavy coil fashionably arranged just above her neck. She was slender and shapely and wore a beautiful plum dress. Her eyes fixed on Ella when she entered and she smiled. Her expression was clearly relieved, and Ella wondered what she’d been expecting.
York bowed to the couple and stepped aside, waving Ella towards them. Lord and Lady Baxter, this is Ella Carter, her Ladyship’s new maid.
Ella stepped forward and gave a little curtsy followed by a nod to both. “Lord Baxter. Lady Baxter. I want to thank you for the honor you afford me by making me part of the staff.”
“You come highly recommended,” Lord Baxter said, “and Lady Baxter was quite insistent that I hire someone with sufficient energy to meet her demands.”
“Yes, as opposed to some stodgy old cow.” Ann Baxter stood and walked over, extending both her hands.
“Please, Ann, let’s not be rude.” Her husband’s tone was more paternal than matrimonial. And Lady Baxter’s response was not unlike a recalcitrant ward. She ignored her husband.
“I’m not being rude; I’m being truthful,” she said, glancing back at her husband. She back to Ella and smiled. “I suspect my husband wanted more of a nanny for me than a maid.”
Ella did not know what to say; York had made it apparent to her in private that he expected Ella to act in that fashion, but it was now equally apparent that neither he nor Lord Baxter were fooling the new lady of the house. Ella desperately wanted to smile, for she liked her new employer already. But she could feel York’s eyes on her and managed to keep a straight face.
“Come, let’s get acquainted,” Lady Baxter said. “If you are to serve me then you should know what makes me tick.” She turned to her husband. “May I take my leave?”
“Certainly,” Lord Baxter said, but the frown on his handsome face indicated he did not approve, and the glance he shot York the Butler made it apparent that neither was happy with what had transpired.
The women did not speak on the stairwell, and for a moment Ella wondered if her ladyship was angry. But once they were upstairs in her room, Lady Ann Baxter began to laugh.
“Good lord,” she giggled. “Did you see their faces? And to think neither Alastair nor that meddlesome York thought I was
The exhaled sharply, smoothing her apron as she did then headed downstairs. The room off the kitchen was full now of servants waiting to greet her. Some were friendly, some were reserved. The footman William, lurking in the back, watched her with dark eyes. The smirk had turned to a glower and she wondered what had transpired between him and York in her absence.
She took tea with the rest of the staff, answering questions about her former service and accepting condolences from some of the maids and footmen for the loss of her former lady, who also wished her luck in her new position. York, sitting at the head of the table, said little, but watched and listened. After the pleasantries had been exchanged, he removed his pocket watch in an obvious manner and announced that it was time for everyone to get back to their duties.
Ella stood. She was ready to meet her new employer and followed York into the main part of the house. It was as massive and grand as the exterior.
It kind of swallows you , the driver Billings had said and he was right. It was like a grand museum, with paintings of nobility staring down at her from the walls all around. Small exotic trees in huge pots sat in beams of light coming in through the huge, spotless windows.
Lord and Lady Baxter were in the drawing room. York opened the door and Ella walked in. Her first impression was that the couple looked like a very handsome father and daughter. Lord Baxter was tall and lean, with dark hair just starting to grey at the temples. Lady Baxter was fair and blonde. Her hair was obviously long, judging by the heavy coil fashionably arranged just above her neck. She was slender and shapely and wore a beautiful plum dress. Her eyes fixed on Ella when she entered and she smiled. Her expression was clearly relieved, and Ella wondered what she’d been expecting.
York bowed to the couple and stepped aside, waving Ella towards them. Lord and Lady Baxter, this is Ella Carter, her Ladyship’s new maid.
Ella stepped forward and gave a little curtsy followed by a nod to both. “Lord Baxter. Lady Baxter. I want to thank you for the honor you afford me by making me part of the staff.”
“You come highly recommended,” Lord Baxter said, “and Lady Baxter was quite insistent that I hire someone with sufficient energy to meet her demands.”
“Yes, as opposed to some stodgy old cow.” Ann Baxter stood and walked over, extending both her hands.
“Please, Ann, let’s not be rude.” Her husband’s tone was more paternal than matrimonial. And Lady Baxter’s response was not unlike a recalcitrant ward. She ignored her husband.
“I’m not being rude; I’m being truthful,” she said, glancing back at her husband. She back to Ella and smiled. “I suspect my husband wanted more of a nanny for me than a maid.”
Ella did not know what to say; York had made it apparent to her in private that he expected Ella to act in that fashion, but it was now equally apparent that neither he nor Lord Baxter were fooling the new lady of the house. Ella desperately wanted to smile, for she liked her new employer already. But she could feel York’s eyes on her and managed to keep a straight face.
“Come, let’s get acquainted,” Lady Baxter said. “If you are to serve me then you should know what makes me tick.” She turned to her husband. “May I take my leave?”
“Certainly,” Lord Baxter said, but the frown on his handsome face indicated he did not approve, and the glance he shot York the Butler made it apparent that neither was happy with what had transpired.
The women did not speak on the stairwell, and for a moment Ella wondered if her ladyship was angry. But once they were upstairs in her room, Lady Ann Baxter began to laugh.
“Good lord,” she giggled. “Did you see their faces? And to think neither Alastair nor that meddlesome York thought I was
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