Fenella J. Miller Read Free Page B

warmly at the girl he’d all but decided to propose to this holiday. “I’m happy you do not share their feelings, my lady. I understand Miss Baverstock has lived at Hartford Hall since she was very small. Being excluded from the family in this way must be hard for her.”
    “I’m certain it is, but she has nowhere else to go and Mama says that being the granddaughter of an earl is not sufficient to attract a husband. Without countenance and fortune, I fear she is stuck here unless she cares to take employment as a governess or companion.”
    “Whatever Lady Hartford says, Lady Eleanor, it would be most unsuitable for Miss Baverstock to be obliged to work for her living. Her pedigree is impeccable.” The girl’s face crumpled at his sharp retort. He must remember to speak softly to her, she was of a nervous disposition and easily upset. “I beg your pardon, my lady, for speaking so abruptly. Come, I should like to see around this excellent building. Will you be my guide?”

    When Elizabeth woke up the next morning she felt considerably better and quite well enough to rise and resume her normal chores. If she was honest, she much preferred to be busy, working with those who loved her, not sitting about in idleness all day as the family did.
    She scrambled out of bed, unsurprised no one had found time to come up and light her fire, for they would be far too busy with the newly arrived Christmas guests. The sun was shining through the frosted panes; she breathed on the glass to clear a space. Her spirits lifted. The vista was so beautiful; the trees sparkled, the grass was a carpet of white upon which black footsteps could be spied. Someone was up before her and was already out for a morning constitutional.
    The mantel clock showed there was ample time for her to break her fast before supervising the collection of the greenery to decorate the house. A huge tree trunk had already been placed in the massive fireplace in the entrance hall; this Yule log would be lit on the day of the ball and would then burn throughout the twelve days of Christmas.
    There was little point in lighting a fire in her bedchamber now, she would dress and go straight to the breakfast parlour. It would be warm in there. Having scrambled into her underpinnings, she selected a warm, blue, velvet long-sleeved gown from her closet and hastily stepped into it.
    When Lady Hartford had insisted she wear her hair under a cap as if she were a servant, it had been her intention to conceal Elizabeth’s true appearance. However, Sally, who had once been Elizabeth’s abigail but now attended to Amelia, had made her half a dozen caps from antique lace. Although these were hardly flattering, they were not as bad as they might have been. The fact her cap covered her hair was also an advantage as she had no wish to attract the attention of any visiting gentlemen.
    Several servants enquired solicitously after her health and she was happy to reassure them that her sojourn in bed had fully restored her. As expected, the air was far warmer downstairs then in her own accommodation. She didn’t really require her wrap but as she was going to the outside directly after she’d eaten she kept it with her. She was already wearing her stout walking boots under her gown. They were inappropriate, but as she was all but invisible to anyone apart from the staff no one would notice.
    She walked straight into the breakfast room, heading for the sideboard upon which were the usual dozen or so silver servers all filled with appetising items. Her stomach gurgled loudly.
    Most days she had little time to eat, and even when she did, her appetite was not what it used to be. She was in the process of examining the contents when someone spoke behind her.
    “Allow me to serve you, Miss Baverstock. I’ve finished my repast.”
    Her shock at seeing Sir James standing behind her caused her to inadvertently drop the heavy silver lid. It landed squarely on his booted toe. His exclamation