Read Online Mutual Consent by Gayle Buck - Free Book Online

order an efficient household and she was determined that the earl would at least find that she was not lacking in that regard.
    She made a mental note to clarify with the earl that anything to do with the ordering of the staff and the house was to be her concern. It would not do to have the squabblings certain to ensue to be constantly appealed to his judgment. She had no wish to have a wedge driven by domestic troubles thrust through the delicate balance of her pact with the earl. From her point of view, there was too much at stake to risk alienation of his lordship.
    “Well done,” said Lord Chatworth. “Simmers, Lady Chatworth and I shall want sherry in the parlor in half an hour.’’
    “Very good, my lord,” said the butler. He shot a steely glance about the still-lingering servants and they all hurried away to resume their various duties.
    Lord Chatworth turned to Barbara. “You will naturally wish to change out of your bridal clothes and refresh yourself, my lady. The footman will show you up to your rooms.” He raised her gloved hand to his lips in a show of distant courtesy.
    Babs murmured her thanks before she turned to follow the footman up the stairs. She knew that the earl did not stand watching her when she heard his quick steps as he crossed the marble tiles of the empty entry hall. A heavy door crashed shut.
    Babs suppressed a sigh. It was not at all the sort of marriage she had hoped for, certainly, but she reminded herself that beggars could not be choosers. Her present circumstances had been practically thrust upon her, and she had attempted to make something better of the situation through her understanding with the Earl of Chatworth. It was too early for either of them to have learned to trust the other. Perhaps they never would. If that were to be so, it would come very hard to her to give up all her last dreams of love and warmth and security and respect.
    The maid who had served Babs for years in Lady Azaela’s house awaited her in the bedroom suite. “There you are at last, my lady,” she said, hurrying over to take her mistress’s bonnet and veil.
    “You speak as though you feared for my very existence, Lucy. But I survive quite well, as you see,” Babs said with a touch of humor. She showed her hand with the plain gold band snug about her third finger.
    “Not an engagement stone in sight, more’s the scandal,” Lucy said disapprovingly. She began to undo the scores of tiny buttons that fastened down the back of the white satin gown.
    “One could hardly expect the earl to drape me in priceless heirloom jewels, Lucy. After all, this marriage is naught but a business arrangement,” Barbara said coolly.
    The satin gown slid to the floor and she stepped out of its folds. The maid snorted, snatching up the gown to smooth it carefully before she laid it aside on the bed for later packing away. “That is all very well, my lady, but I should like to see the man who does not have his own notions of what makes a business and what makes a wife.” She was busy with the shaking out of her mistress’s day gown or she would have seen that Barbara’s consternated gaze flew to her face.
    After a short pause, while the maid threw the day gown over her head and adjusted it, Babs said, “I am to meet his lordship for sherry in the parlor in half an hour.”
    Lucy raised her brows. She gave a nod of satisfaction as her fingers flew over the gown’s buttons. “At least his lordship has some notion of what is proper. Then maybe some I could mention will see that his lordship means to treat you as his true lady.”
    Babs met the maid’s shrewd glance in the mirror. The expression in her own eyes was unsurprised. “The staff do not acknowledge me.”
    The maid gave a grim nod.
    Babs smiled slightly, recalling all of the careful instructions that had been drilled into her through the years by her aunt. Lady Azaela had never countenanced carelessness, let alone signs of open rebellion, among her