Read Online The Duke Dilemma by Shirley Marks - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Shirley Marks
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confess I am rather anxious to see her myself.”
“No, I dare not suggest we refuse,” Frederick admitted, sounding rather humbled by his father’s heartfelt words. “I, too, desire to welcome our dear Char-Char to Town. There is nothing for it, we shall delay our arrival to the theater.”
“Very well done of you, Freddie. We all must make some concessions.” Edward moved toward his son and clapped himon the shoulder, giving him a bracing shake. “It seems Gusta will need to fight her fatigue after her day’s travel, and we will be late for our evening’s entertainment.”
“You are correct, as always, Father.” The tightness in Frederick’s face eased. In turn, his shoulders relaxed. He glanced at his sister and replied in a calm and mature manner, completely opposite from what he had displayed only a minute earlier. “It is a trifle matter I gladly forgo. As always, I do so willingly for the sake of family.”
At five p.m. Louise had traded her gardening frock and work apron for a willow-green gown and descended the staircase. She came face-to-face with Betty, who must have entered from the servants’ stairs.
“Ma’am, if you please.” The downstairs maid bobbed a curtsy.
“What is it?” Louise pulled her dark, green-patterned cashmere shawl around her shoulders.
“Dora’s awfully done in. She can manage to boil some onions, carrots, potatoes, and a joint for a simple meal: soup and rarebit planned.” Betty’s face creased with worry. “Dora’s put out ’cause she’s not a hand in the kitchen.”
“I’m sure that will be fine.” Louise was not particular about their menu as long as the four of them did not starve. “I have nothing but appreciation that she should take on duties beyond her position.”
“That’s wots I told her but she’s feeling poorly about it.” And Dora’s insecurity appeared to be rubbing off onto Betty.
“Nonsense, she needn’t be.” Apparently Betty’s reassurance did nothing. Louise needed to tell the girl herself. “I shall havea word with Dora.” She headed for the servants’ staircase and paused when the door knocker sounded.
Betty glanced at Louise, who urged her to answer the front door. The maid’s small voice bade a welcome but she rushed backward, pulling the door open wide. In stepped the Dowager Countess Gelsthorpe and, closely behind, a footman who closed the front door.
“Is it too late to receive callers, Lady Vernon?” Lady Gelsthorpe strolled into the foyer as if she were paying a call in the middle of the afternoon instead of early evening, and dismissed Betty with the wave of her gloved hand. The Countess’s gaze swept the room with the turn of her pheasant-feathered, violet-turbaned head, taking in her surroundings.
“No, not at all.” Louise moved away from the servants’ staircase; Betty then dashed behind her, disappearing in a matter of seconds. “I had not expected you to call…so soon.”
“Did
we
or did
we
not receive your at-home card?” Lady Gelsthorpe always referred to herself as though she were royalty.
“Well, you did, of course.”
“To be frank,
we
were quite shocked to hear that you had returned so soon after your departure this spring.” There was no attempt on the Countess’s part to remove her gloves or divest herself of her redingote, which indicated she would not remain for any great length of time.
“It is true I had planned to stay with my sister until August or September…” Louise did not care to go into detail while they stood in the foyer. “Would you care to come into the parlor and sit?”
“
We
fear to enter an establishment where safety of the occupants may be in question.” The Countess’s chin lifted in a manner that almost dared Louise to state otherwise.
“There is nothing amiss, my lady,” Louise assured her guest.
“
Nothing amiss?
” Lady Gelsthorpe’s well-trained impassive facade slipped a bit, allowing her obvious outrage to emerge. “
We
have just
“No, I dare not suggest we refuse,” Frederick admitted, sounding rather humbled by his father’s heartfelt words. “I, too, desire to welcome our dear Char-Char to Town. There is nothing for it, we shall delay our arrival to the theater.”
“Very well done of you, Freddie. We all must make some concessions.” Edward moved toward his son and clapped himon the shoulder, giving him a bracing shake. “It seems Gusta will need to fight her fatigue after her day’s travel, and we will be late for our evening’s entertainment.”
“You are correct, as always, Father.” The tightness in Frederick’s face eased. In turn, his shoulders relaxed. He glanced at his sister and replied in a calm and mature manner, completely opposite from what he had displayed only a minute earlier. “It is a trifle matter I gladly forgo. As always, I do so willingly for the sake of family.”
At five p.m. Louise had traded her gardening frock and work apron for a willow-green gown and descended the staircase. She came face-to-face with Betty, who must have entered from the servants’ stairs.
“Ma’am, if you please.” The downstairs maid bobbed a curtsy.
“What is it?” Louise pulled her dark, green-patterned cashmere shawl around her shoulders.
“Dora’s awfully done in. She can manage to boil some onions, carrots, potatoes, and a joint for a simple meal: soup and rarebit planned.” Betty’s face creased with worry. “Dora’s put out ’cause she’s not a hand in the kitchen.”
“I’m sure that will be fine.” Louise was not particular about their menu as long as the four of them did not starve. “I have nothing but appreciation that she should take on duties beyond her position.”
“That’s wots I told her but she’s feeling poorly about it.” And Dora’s insecurity appeared to be rubbing off onto Betty.
“Nonsense, she needn’t be.” Apparently Betty’s reassurance did nothing. Louise needed to tell the girl herself. “I shall havea word with Dora.” She headed for the servants’ staircase and paused when the door knocker sounded.
Betty glanced at Louise, who urged her to answer the front door. The maid’s small voice bade a welcome but she rushed backward, pulling the door open wide. In stepped the Dowager Countess Gelsthorpe and, closely behind, a footman who closed the front door.
“Is it too late to receive callers, Lady Vernon?” Lady Gelsthorpe strolled into the foyer as if she were paying a call in the middle of the afternoon instead of early evening, and dismissed Betty with the wave of her gloved hand. The Countess’s gaze swept the room with the turn of her pheasant-feathered, violet-turbaned head, taking in her surroundings.
“No, not at all.” Louise moved away from the servants’ staircase; Betty then dashed behind her, disappearing in a matter of seconds. “I had not expected you to call…so soon.”
“Did
we
or did
we
not receive your at-home card?” Lady Gelsthorpe always referred to herself as though she were royalty.
“Well, you did, of course.”
“To be frank,
we
were quite shocked to hear that you had returned so soon after your departure this spring.” There was no attempt on the Countess’s part to remove her gloves or divest herself of her redingote, which indicated she would not remain for any great length of time.
“It is true I had planned to stay with my sister until August or September…” Louise did not care to go into detail while they stood in the foyer. “Would you care to come into the parlor and sit?”
“
We
fear to enter an establishment where safety of the occupants may be in question.” The Countess’s chin lifted in a manner that almost dared Louise to state otherwise.
“There is nothing amiss, my lady,” Louise assured her guest.
“
Nothing amiss?
” Lady Gelsthorpe’s well-trained impassive facade slipped a bit, allowing her obvious outrage to emerge. “
We
have just
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