expecting only to be a housemaid.”
Mrs. O’Reilly’s brown eyes softened. “Very well. I’ll put aside my suspicions for the time being. There’s nothing wrong with working your way up in the world, but I don’t like connivers.”
Lily glanced at Emily, then back to the housekeeper. “Neither do I, ma’am.” She moved to the worktable to begin preparations for the pancakes.
As soon as Mrs. O’Reilly left the kitchen, Emily moved closer to Lily. Her hazel eyes were anxious and high color stained her cheeks. “I hope you’re not upset, Lily. I know how Miss Belle likes things done, and I thought you’d have enough to learn today without more.”
Was that the only reason for the change? Lily studied her roommate’s expression but couldn’t make up her mind. “I appreciate your concern. I’m sure it will be helpful to learn things one step at a time.”
Emily ducked her head and moved back to her post at the stove when the housekeeper came back into the room.
It was going to take all of Lily’s concentration to figure out her place here and who was friend or foe.
Lily’s heart pounded as she entered Mrs. Marshall’s room to wait for her as instructed. The bedchamber was enormous. Blue-and-white toile paper covered the expansive walls that rose to a domed ceiling at least twelve feet high. The fresco around the top gleamed with gilding. The Chippendale furniture was in impeccable condition. Her feet sank into thick carpeting the color of rich butter, and the sweet aroma of flowers permeated the room.
She touched the blue cover over the gigantic bed. Real silk. She whirled and put her hands behind her back as her employer entered from the balcony. Mrs. Marshall was dressed in a pale pink robe, and her hair was still on her shoulders.
She lifted a brow at Lily’s appearance. “Ah, there you are. I’m finished with breakfast. You can take the tray away when you’re done assisting me.”
“Of course.”
Mrs. Marshall walked to a door and pulled it open to reveal lustrous gowns of every imaginable color. “I’m going out with Belle for a ride with Mr. Vesters, but I’m not sure what I want to wear.”
“May I?” When Mrs. Marshall nodded, Lily reached past her. “This is very fashionable. I’ve only seen it in magazines.” She pulled out a pale gray walking skirt. “The shorter length will make it easier to get up and down from the carriage. And you have a lovely frilly blouse that will echo the frills on the hem.” She pulled it out too.
“I haven’t worn that yet. The skirt seemed scandalously short.”
“It’s only two inches higher than normal.”
“Clearly you have studied fashion.”
The tension began to ease from Lily’s shoulders. “Yes, ma’am. My mother taught me well, and I’ve read every Godey’s I could getmy hands on.” She caressed the fine fabric of the skirt. “This is very well made.”
“It should be. It cost the earth. I’ll trust your judgment and wear it.”
“And these shoes.” The skirt and blouse over her arm, Lily grabbed up a pair of white patent leather shoes.
“Indeed.” Mrs. Marshall allowed Lily to dress her, then moved to the dressing table. “I’d like a chignon if you can manage it.”
Lily gathered the woman’s thick blond hair in her hands and began to style it. When she was done, she stepped away. “Does it pass muster?”
Mrs. Marshall put her hand to her hair. “It’s lovely, quite lovely.” She twisted on the stool and looked up at Lily. “Your talents are wasted in the kitchen, Lily. I think you would suit quite well as a lady’s maid to Belle. I shall talk to her at once.”
Lily’s heart sank a bit. “I’ve heard she doesn’t wish to have a maid.” And Emily might not appreciate a fast promotion for Lily.
“That’s true, but I’ll prevail upon her. Leave it to me.” She rose and slid her feet into the shoes. “Run along with the tray. We’ll talk later.”
“Yes, ma’am.” Lily curtsied and
Mrs. O’Reilly’s brown eyes softened. “Very well. I’ll put aside my suspicions for the time being. There’s nothing wrong with working your way up in the world, but I don’t like connivers.”
Lily glanced at Emily, then back to the housekeeper. “Neither do I, ma’am.” She moved to the worktable to begin preparations for the pancakes.
As soon as Mrs. O’Reilly left the kitchen, Emily moved closer to Lily. Her hazel eyes were anxious and high color stained her cheeks. “I hope you’re not upset, Lily. I know how Miss Belle likes things done, and I thought you’d have enough to learn today without more.”
Was that the only reason for the change? Lily studied her roommate’s expression but couldn’t make up her mind. “I appreciate your concern. I’m sure it will be helpful to learn things one step at a time.”
Emily ducked her head and moved back to her post at the stove when the housekeeper came back into the room.
It was going to take all of Lily’s concentration to figure out her place here and who was friend or foe.
Lily’s heart pounded as she entered Mrs. Marshall’s room to wait for her as instructed. The bedchamber was enormous. Blue-and-white toile paper covered the expansive walls that rose to a domed ceiling at least twelve feet high. The fresco around the top gleamed with gilding. The Chippendale furniture was in impeccable condition. Her feet sank into thick carpeting the color of rich butter, and the sweet aroma of flowers permeated the room.
She touched the blue cover over the gigantic bed. Real silk. She whirled and put her hands behind her back as her employer entered from the balcony. Mrs. Marshall was dressed in a pale pink robe, and her hair was still on her shoulders.
She lifted a brow at Lily’s appearance. “Ah, there you are. I’m finished with breakfast. You can take the tray away when you’re done assisting me.”
“Of course.”
Mrs. Marshall walked to a door and pulled it open to reveal lustrous gowns of every imaginable color. “I’m going out with Belle for a ride with Mr. Vesters, but I’m not sure what I want to wear.”
“May I?” When Mrs. Marshall nodded, Lily reached past her. “This is very fashionable. I’ve only seen it in magazines.” She pulled out a pale gray walking skirt. “The shorter length will make it easier to get up and down from the carriage. And you have a lovely frilly blouse that will echo the frills on the hem.” She pulled it out too.
“I haven’t worn that yet. The skirt seemed scandalously short.”
“It’s only two inches higher than normal.”
“Clearly you have studied fashion.”
The tension began to ease from Lily’s shoulders. “Yes, ma’am. My mother taught me well, and I’ve read every Godey’s I could getmy hands on.” She caressed the fine fabric of the skirt. “This is very well made.”
“It should be. It cost the earth. I’ll trust your judgment and wear it.”
“And these shoes.” The skirt and blouse over her arm, Lily grabbed up a pair of white patent leather shoes.
“Indeed.” Mrs. Marshall allowed Lily to dress her, then moved to the dressing table. “I’d like a chignon if you can manage it.”
Lily gathered the woman’s thick blond hair in her hands and began to style it. When she was done, she stepped away. “Does it pass muster?”
Mrs. Marshall put her hand to her hair. “It’s lovely, quite lovely.” She twisted on the stool and looked up at Lily. “Your talents are wasted in the kitchen, Lily. I think you would suit quite well as a lady’s maid to Belle. I shall talk to her at once.”
Lily’s heart sank a bit. “I’ve heard she doesn’t wish to have a maid.” And Emily might not appreciate a fast promotion for Lily.
“That’s true, but I’ll prevail upon her. Leave it to me.” She rose and slid her feet into the shoes. “Run along with the tray. We’ll talk later.”
“Yes, ma’am.” Lily curtsied and
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