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Authors: Janice Thompson
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light.
“You’re sure no one will find us here?” Tessa trembled as the very idea took hold. “Won’t the lights give us away?”
Jacquie shook her head. “We are a great distance from the main house, so please don’t fret. Besides, I don’t recall Mama setting foot in this cottage for years. She has an aversion to spiders.”
Tessa laughed. “If I had such an aversion, I would have to rid myself of it in a hurry. Working with the countess has taught me to overcome my fear of the creepy-crawlies.”
“You work with a countess?” Iris looked up from the lanterns, her brow wrinkled.
This got a snicker from Peter, who had entered the room behind them carrying Tessa’s bags.
“Probably not the sort you’re accustomed to.” Tessa giggled but did not say more. Instead, a yawn worked its way to the surface. She tried to stifle it but could not.
Jacquie gave her a sympathetic look. “Poor girl. I know you must be exhausted from the trip, but we’ve got so much to do, and with Mama gone tonight, this is the perfect time to get started. Do you mind?”
“No. Whatever you think is best, miss.” She put a hand toher mouth at the obvious blunder then pushed back another yawn and smiled.
“First of all, let’s get rid of this ‘miss’ business, shall we? You will call me Jacquie.”
“Whatever you think is best, miss…er, Jacquie.”
“Good. Now, I’ve asked Iris to set out some food so that we can have a little lesson in table etiquette. And I do hope you’ve enough energy left to try on a few of my new dresses after the fact, in case they need to be fitted.”
“Try on your new dresses?” Her heart did a funny little flip-flop as she thought about it.
“Of course.” Jacquie giggled. “I still can’t believe my good fortune. My father just paid for a host of new gowns for my trousseau, which means I have two wardrobes at my disposal.”
“Your father purchased gowns for your marriage to my brother?” Tessa could hardly imagine such a thing possible. This story grew stranger and stranger.
“No.” Jacquie’s nose wrinkled. “My father believes me to be engaged to another man, remember? Mr. Roland Palmer.”
“Ah, yes. I recall hearing that name mentioned.” Of course, she had heard a great many things over the past few hours, had she not? How could she ever keep up with this playacting with no script to follow?
Jacquie’s nose wrinkled. “I must admit, it gave me a moment’s pause to think that you would end up with the new wardrobe, but I have no choice in that matter. Mama will help pack my trunk for the ship, and she will place my finest things inside. She will never know that they’ve been tweaked to fit you, of course.”
“Wait.” Tessa put her hand up, still confused. “You’re saying that the new wardrobe pieces are to be mine?” She could hardly believe such a thing.
“Yes.” Jacquie shrugged. “It’s a small sacrifice on my part, really.” A pause lingered in the air between them. “Besides, I won’t really have need for such fine things once I’m a married woman. I daresay my new life will be—simpler.”
Peter glanced up, and his eyes clouded over with something that could only be described as discomfort. He gave a little shrug followed by a muttered “Yes. Simpler.” He hesitated and then added, “When the time comes, I mean.”
Jacquie’s expression shifted to one of concern before she turned her attention to Tessa once again. “Anyway, I have much to teach you, but we will begin with dinner-party basics. I will talk you through the various plates and silverware pieces and then move on to proper body positioning and the woman’s role at the table. I can share suggestions for conversation starters and even advise you on the foods you should order once you board the ship. Are you up for it?”
“I suppose.” The food part sounded good, anyway. Tessa’s mouth watered just thinking about the possibilities.
“This would be a fine time for me
“You’re sure no one will find us here?” Tessa trembled as the very idea took hold. “Won’t the lights give us away?”
Jacquie shook her head. “We are a great distance from the main house, so please don’t fret. Besides, I don’t recall Mama setting foot in this cottage for years. She has an aversion to spiders.”
Tessa laughed. “If I had such an aversion, I would have to rid myself of it in a hurry. Working with the countess has taught me to overcome my fear of the creepy-crawlies.”
“You work with a countess?” Iris looked up from the lanterns, her brow wrinkled.
This got a snicker from Peter, who had entered the room behind them carrying Tessa’s bags.
“Probably not the sort you’re accustomed to.” Tessa giggled but did not say more. Instead, a yawn worked its way to the surface. She tried to stifle it but could not.
Jacquie gave her a sympathetic look. “Poor girl. I know you must be exhausted from the trip, but we’ve got so much to do, and with Mama gone tonight, this is the perfect time to get started. Do you mind?”
“No. Whatever you think is best, miss.” She put a hand toher mouth at the obvious blunder then pushed back another yawn and smiled.
“First of all, let’s get rid of this ‘miss’ business, shall we? You will call me Jacquie.”
“Whatever you think is best, miss…er, Jacquie.”
“Good. Now, I’ve asked Iris to set out some food so that we can have a little lesson in table etiquette. And I do hope you’ve enough energy left to try on a few of my new dresses after the fact, in case they need to be fitted.”
“Try on your new dresses?” Her heart did a funny little flip-flop as she thought about it.
“Of course.” Jacquie giggled. “I still can’t believe my good fortune. My father just paid for a host of new gowns for my trousseau, which means I have two wardrobes at my disposal.”
“Your father purchased gowns for your marriage to my brother?” Tessa could hardly imagine such a thing possible. This story grew stranger and stranger.
“No.” Jacquie’s nose wrinkled. “My father believes me to be engaged to another man, remember? Mr. Roland Palmer.”
“Ah, yes. I recall hearing that name mentioned.” Of course, she had heard a great many things over the past few hours, had she not? How could she ever keep up with this playacting with no script to follow?
Jacquie’s nose wrinkled. “I must admit, it gave me a moment’s pause to think that you would end up with the new wardrobe, but I have no choice in that matter. Mama will help pack my trunk for the ship, and she will place my finest things inside. She will never know that they’ve been tweaked to fit you, of course.”
“Wait.” Tessa put her hand up, still confused. “You’re saying that the new wardrobe pieces are to be mine?” She could hardly believe such a thing.
“Yes.” Jacquie shrugged. “It’s a small sacrifice on my part, really.” A pause lingered in the air between them. “Besides, I won’t really have need for such fine things once I’m a married woman. I daresay my new life will be—simpler.”
Peter glanced up, and his eyes clouded over with something that could only be described as discomfort. He gave a little shrug followed by a muttered “Yes. Simpler.” He hesitated and then added, “When the time comes, I mean.”
Jacquie’s expression shifted to one of concern before she turned her attention to Tessa once again. “Anyway, I have much to teach you, but we will begin with dinner-party basics. I will talk you through the various plates and silverware pieces and then move on to proper body positioning and the woman’s role at the table. I can share suggestions for conversation starters and even advise you on the foods you should order once you board the ship. Are you up for it?”
“I suppose.” The food part sounded good, anyway. Tessa’s mouth watered just thinking about the possibilities.
“This would be a fine time for me
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