Read Online Maid to Be Mine: A Regency Cinderella Story by K.L. O'Keefe - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: K.L. O'Keefe
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didn't even begin to describe it. Shocked, astounded and gobsmacked would have been more appropriate. For a moment, Cynthia almost felt guilty for thinking her stepsister was doomed for eternal damnation.
And then she said, “But really, Cynthia, it is better this way. I can see why Mama wanted you to be a maid. This way, we will never be at odds with each other. I won't have to worry about you stealing my suitors, because Lord Charmington will never spare you a second glance!”
Cynthia lowered the hairbrush and clenched her fists. If only you knew , she thought to herself. He has given me a second glance!
“ And you'll probably end up marrying a servant! Oh my... that's a novel thought!” Georgiana said with a giggle. “You'll probably marry someone like that manservant I encountered in the hallway. What's his name?”
“ Robert,” Cynthia answered dryly.
“ Yes, Robert. You'll probably marry someone like him. And I suppose he is handsome, in a rustic and provincial sort of way... not that I was paying much attention to him, mind you. Men like him are below my notice, and well... he's nothing compared to Lord Charmington. You should really see him, Cynthia. He is the handsomest man I have ever seen... nay, he must surely be the handsomest man in the whole, entire world!” Georgiana turned around and wrenched the hairbrush from her stepsister's hand. “Now, enough with the hair brushing... this is getting tedious. There are other tasks that require your attention.”
“ And what might that be?”
“ My pelisse.” Georgiana rose from the chair and went to her wardrobe, from which she extracted a long, fur-trimmed coat. “The weather is getting cooler, and I require something warmer. However, there is a slight hole in the sleeve, and I need you to mend it for me.”
“ Of course.” Cynthia took the pelisse and tucked it under her arm. “Is there anything else you need?”
“ As a matter of fact, there is.” Georgiana pointed at an ornate porcelain container at the far end of the room. “I need you to dump my chamber pot.”
“ Are you serious?!”
“ Oh yes. I'm quite serious. Why wouldn't I be?” Georgiana sat on the end of her bed and crossed her arms. “Now, if you don't mind, I need my afternoon rest. If you would kindly remove yourself from my presence, I would be much obliged.”
“ Very well...” As she went to collect the chamber pot, Cynthia was sneering.
“ Very well, my lady ,” Georgiana corrected her with a grin. “Honestly, Cynthia, you need to show me more respect! If you don't, I will have no choice but to complain to Mama!”
Cynthia didn't give her the satisfaction of a my lady , nor did she give her a response. With the pelisse and chamber pot in hand, she hurried out of the room, eager to be rid of her wicked stepsister.
And when she was alone, she had to resist the temptation to dunk the pelisse into the chamber pot.
Chapter Ten
“ Your grandmother is ill.” As she delivered the news, Greta Albray, the dowager Countess of Charmington, lowered her needlepoint. Her son was sitting in the settee across from her, gazing out the window. He appeared to be deep in thought, and he had a habit of ignoring her, but she knew the news about his beloved grandmother would get his attention.
“ Really? How ill?”
“ Very ill, I am afraid. I believe it might be inflammation of the lungs,” Greta reported. “As to whether she will live or not, it is really anyone's guess.”
“ She's a strong woman,” James said. “She's been through so much.”
“ True. She is frequently ill, as of late,” his mother agreed. “So... surely you must see the advantage of an expeditious marriage? Your grandmother would want to see you happy before she dies.”
“ Mother...” As of late, his bachelorhood seemed to be his mother's primary concern. “Please don't talk as if her death is imminent. It's so... bleak.”
“ But her death is imminent. We are all dying,” Greta
And then she said, “But really, Cynthia, it is better this way. I can see why Mama wanted you to be a maid. This way, we will never be at odds with each other. I won't have to worry about you stealing my suitors, because Lord Charmington will never spare you a second glance!”
Cynthia lowered the hairbrush and clenched her fists. If only you knew , she thought to herself. He has given me a second glance!
“ And you'll probably end up marrying a servant! Oh my... that's a novel thought!” Georgiana said with a giggle. “You'll probably marry someone like that manservant I encountered in the hallway. What's his name?”
“ Robert,” Cynthia answered dryly.
“ Yes, Robert. You'll probably marry someone like him. And I suppose he is handsome, in a rustic and provincial sort of way... not that I was paying much attention to him, mind you. Men like him are below my notice, and well... he's nothing compared to Lord Charmington. You should really see him, Cynthia. He is the handsomest man I have ever seen... nay, he must surely be the handsomest man in the whole, entire world!” Georgiana turned around and wrenched the hairbrush from her stepsister's hand. “Now, enough with the hair brushing... this is getting tedious. There are other tasks that require your attention.”
“ And what might that be?”
“ My pelisse.” Georgiana rose from the chair and went to her wardrobe, from which she extracted a long, fur-trimmed coat. “The weather is getting cooler, and I require something warmer. However, there is a slight hole in the sleeve, and I need you to mend it for me.”
“ Of course.” Cynthia took the pelisse and tucked it under her arm. “Is there anything else you need?”
“ As a matter of fact, there is.” Georgiana pointed at an ornate porcelain container at the far end of the room. “I need you to dump my chamber pot.”
“ Are you serious?!”
“ Oh yes. I'm quite serious. Why wouldn't I be?” Georgiana sat on the end of her bed and crossed her arms. “Now, if you don't mind, I need my afternoon rest. If you would kindly remove yourself from my presence, I would be much obliged.”
“ Very well...” As she went to collect the chamber pot, Cynthia was sneering.
“ Very well, my lady ,” Georgiana corrected her with a grin. “Honestly, Cynthia, you need to show me more respect! If you don't, I will have no choice but to complain to Mama!”
Cynthia didn't give her the satisfaction of a my lady , nor did she give her a response. With the pelisse and chamber pot in hand, she hurried out of the room, eager to be rid of her wicked stepsister.
And when she was alone, she had to resist the temptation to dunk the pelisse into the chamber pot.
Chapter Ten
“ Your grandmother is ill.” As she delivered the news, Greta Albray, the dowager Countess of Charmington, lowered her needlepoint. Her son was sitting in the settee across from her, gazing out the window. He appeared to be deep in thought, and he had a habit of ignoring her, but she knew the news about his beloved grandmother would get his attention.
“ Really? How ill?”
“ Very ill, I am afraid. I believe it might be inflammation of the lungs,” Greta reported. “As to whether she will live or not, it is really anyone's guess.”
“ She's a strong woman,” James said. “She's been through so much.”
“ True. She is frequently ill, as of late,” his mother agreed. “So... surely you must see the advantage of an expeditious marriage? Your grandmother would want to see you happy before she dies.”
“ Mother...” As of late, his bachelorhood seemed to be his mother's primary concern. “Please don't talk as if her death is imminent. It's so... bleak.”
“ But her death is imminent. We are all dying,” Greta
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