Match For Melissa by Kathryn Kirkwood

would not serve to number the years as she had not prepared Jane for that eventuality. The only option Melissa could think of was to tell the truth. “All my life, Mrs. Collins. I was born at Harrington Manor.”
    “And your mother and father are still there?”
    “No, Mrs. Collins.” Melissa shook her head. “My mother died long ago and my father more recently.”
    “I fear your talents are wasted in the employ of Lady Harrington.” Mrs. Collins sighed deeply. “She is not the type of mistress to appreciate your skills. When I speak with Lady Beckworth next, I shall mention that we are in need of someone of your caliber.”
    “Thank you, Mrs. Collins.” Melissa bobbed her head again and did her best to look grateful. This was difficult, as she was struggling not to laugh and thus give her ruse away. She could picture Jane’s discomfort should Lady Beckworth attempt to lure her servant, “Lissa,” away.
    “I daresay you’d find a position with us much more to your liking.” Mrs. Collins cast an admiring glance at the lengthy garland that Melissa was fashioning from glossy, dark-green ivy. “Where will this go when you finish, Lissa?”
    “I had thought to drape it between the bouquets of roses in the sconces.”
    “That would be perfect.” Mrs. Collins nodded her agreement. “How did you learn this skill, Lissa? It’s quite unusual for a lady’s maid to have your way with flowers.”
    “My mother took great pleasure in her garden, Mrs. Collins.” Again, Melissa told the simple truth. According to the stories her father had related to her, her mother had enjoyed her pleasure garden and had often gathered blooms to grace the sconces at Harrington Manor.
    “Then your mother taught you to make these garlands?”
    “No, Mrs. Collins.” Melissa settled for telling the truth once again. “The parson’s wife was fond of using them to dress the church for weddings. When I was a child, I was set to help her.”
    Mrs. Collins nodded, apparently satisfied with the answers to her queries, and went off to supervise several servants who were arranging chairs along the walls of the ballroom. Melissa worked alone until she had finished the garlands and then she enlisted a friendly maid to help her drape them between the sconces.
    Melissa and her helper had just completed draping the lastivy garland when an imposing woman entered the room. She was dressed in a fashionable gown of vivid blue silk and she wore a necklace of sapphires that glittered in the soft rays of afternoon sun that streamed through the windows. Only one aspect of her appearance spoiled the effect of total elegance. Her silver hair was piled in untidy curls at the top of her head, obviously fashioned by a person who was not accustomed to the task of arranging it.
    “Lady Beckworth.” Mrs. Collins dipped her knee in a curtsy and the other servants in the room did the same. “How kind in you to come to observe the progress we have made.”
    Lady Beckworth smiled, bringing warmth to her otherwise stern features. “The ballroom looks lovely, Mrs. Collins, and it shall do famously. I daresay it will be the talk of the
ton
on the morrow. I am especially fond of the garlands you’ve draped between the sconces. I don’t believe I’ve ever seen anything like it before.”
    “Nor have I, my lady.” Mrs. Collins motioned to Melissa. “Lissa made them for us. She’s the girl Lady Harrington sent to help.”
    Lady Beckworth’s smile grew as she peered at Melissa, who had bobbed her head in deference to the mistress of the house. “They are very pretty, Lissa, just what this old barn needed to dress it for the evening. Perhaps I should turn you loose in the dining hall to see what wonders you can work there.”
    “I shall be happy to do whatever you wish, my lady.” Melissa bobbed another curtsy.
    “Thank you, Lissa. It is most gratifying to meet one so young who is both able and willing.”
    “Lissa is a gem,” Mrs. Collins spoke up. “Now