Lucy threaded her arm through Erienne’s. “Now, let me show you your rooms.”
“Rooms?” Erienne echoed. She’d assumed she would have one room, no doubt a lovely one, but at Hilltop House, her accommodations had been limited to a single serviceable bedchamber.
“Anna, we’ll be back soon,” Lucy called to the nursemaid, who nodded and continued her play with the children.
They left Mary’s nursery and strolled down the hall, past Ralph’s equally large bedchamber to the end of the corridor, where Lucy pushed open a wide door to reveal a room that stole Erienne’s breath.
“This is your bedchamber,” Lucy said, sweeping her hand in front of her as she showed Erienne the huge, elegantly appointed space. The room was much grander than the one she’d had at the Hilltops’ residence, decorated in hues of green and lavender. Her bed was a large, fancy thing with a white satin tent over it, a new down mattress, matching fluffy pillows and the finest white linens she’d ever touched. Fresh flowers and wax candles (no tallow) rested on the bedside table. Erienne wanted to pinch herself with glee.
Lucy pointed. “Through that door is the sitting room, and over there is the dressing room.”
“Dressing room? I have my own dressing room?” Erienne couldn’t help herself. She lifted her skirts and hurried through the first door. The dressing room had its own dressing table with a small lavender tufted stool sitting in front of it. The top of the table was filled with pots and bottles, a silver-handled brush and a matching mirror. There was a large cheval looking glass in the corner, and a wardrobe nearly double the size of the one she’d been given at Hilltop House.
Keeping her lips tightly pressed together to hide her amazement, Erienne turned and made her way back through the bedchamber to the sitting room. Lucy followed her, watching with a faint smile.
The sitting room was a cozy space with an obviously expensive fitted carpet, and (oh, goodness!) she had her own fireplace in this room too, for heaven’s sake. A comfortable-looking chair with a footstool sat next to the fireplace with a small table beside it. The walls were lined with whitewashed bookcases of all wonderfully welcomed things. A plethora of books graced the shelves. There was a cream-colored quilt splayed across the chair, and two fluffy fur-lined slippers sat in front of the footstool. A silver-plated tea service perched on the footstool, completing the perfectly relaxing little space.
Erienne turned to face Lucy and couldn’t help the wonder that no doubt shined in her eyes. She pressed her palms to both cheeks. “These rooms are beyond magnificent, your grace. I couldn’t possibly—”
“Ah, ah, ah.” Lucy wagged a finger at her. “I’ve already told you, you must call me Lucy. We don’t stand on formality with our trusted servants in this house. And don’t you dare refuse these rooms. They’re meant for you. And well-deserved. You’ll need time for yourself after spending so much of it with the children.”
Erienne expelled her breath. “I was going to say, I couldn’t possibly ask for more.”
“Excellent,” Lucy replied with a sparkling smile. “I’m so happy you’re pleased.”
Erienne made her way back into the bedchamber. She hadn’t noticed it at first, but on the far wall there was a lovely painting of two little girls playing in a bright, flowered field. Looking at it, her heart swelled. She’d always wanted a sister, and her fondest dream had been to have two daughters. But that was a long time ago, back when she had allowed herself to do things like dream of marriage and children of her own.
She shook her head. It did no good to contemplate the past. She must look to the future. Hadn’t that been her maxim since the day she’d left Brighton behind, wiping away the last of her tears and refusing to ever shed them again for any man?
Least of all, Collin Hunt.
“I’ll just leave you to look around for a bit,” Lucy said. “I’ll meet you back in the nursery when you’re ready.”
Erienne nodded happily and glanced around. She wouldn’t take long, but she dearly appreciated the few minutes to explore her new home. She had been apprehensive agreeing to this position. In the last few days since first meeting with Lucy, she’d refused it outright more than once. But the duchess refused to take no for an answer. It wasn’t until Lucy mentioned a sum of money that Erienne had seldom dreamed of that she finally relented and told the duchess she would think about it. After all, the amount Lucy had offered for one month’s pay had been more than she’d made in an entire year at the Hilltops’.
Erienne would be a complete fool to refuse it. Her brother needed surgery to remove a bullet from his back and she was used to sending all her money home. She couldn’t pass up the opportunity to pay for all of Peter’s medical bills, and then some, over the fact that she might encounter a man from her past if she took the position. That would have been entirely selfish of her. She had been merely thinking about it, however, not at all convinced that she would take the position, but she’d discovered to her acute chagrin that Lucy Hunt could be extremely convincing, almost ridiculously so, when she wanted to be. She’d sent Erienne letters every day begging her to accept, along with gifts of gowns, flowers, and books. She’d even written to Lady Hilltop and asked her to put in a good word for her.
The lady had written posthaste to tell Erienne she’d lost her wits if she refused a position in the illustrious Duchess of Claringdon’s household. “Why, I daresay the entirety of Hilltop House could fit in one bedchamber at Huntingdon.”
But now that she was actually here, Erienne’s middle was filled with nerves at the prospect of seeing Derek. Had Lucy told him about her? He had to remember her. How else had Lucy known who she was?
Erienne didn’t hold out much hope (fear?) of seeing Collin. Lucy had assured her that he worked constantly and stayed in his apartments in London. He could usually be found in his offices at Whitehall, neither of which were places Erienne would ever be likely to visit in her role as governess to the duke and duchess’s children. She supposed she might face him eventually at some holiday like Christmastide, but that was a long way off.
Erienne trailed her way over to stand in front of the painting of the two girls. She’d admitted her past with Collin to Lucy, but had significantly downplayed the effect it had had on her, though she had asked Lucy to promise not to attempt to arrange for them to meet. “I realize it may come to pass, eventually, but I would dislike it immensely if you were to … orchestrate it.” She’d cleared her throat, hoping the duchess wouldn’t ask too many personal questions about her past with Collin.
“I completely understand,” Lucy had replied, patting her on the shoulder and giving her a sympathetic look that Erienne greatly appreciated.
That had been the end of their discussion about Collin, thank heavens.
Now, Erienne twirled in a circle, taking in the gorgeous surroundings once more. The children seemed well-behaved, the pay was exorbitant, and her suite was magnificent. She might have an awkward moment with Derek at first, and someday she might have to suffer through an excruciating encounter with Collin, but she would worry about that when the time came. For now, she intended to enjoy every moment of this glorious new position.
Lucy had been beyond generous in allowing her a few moments to settle in. She should get back. She mustn’t take advantage of the duchess’s generosity. Erienne hurried into the corridor, closing the door to her rooms behind her, and made her way back to the nursery.
When she entered the room she stopped short, her breath caught in her throat.