Match For Melissa by Kathryn Kirkwood Page A

that she has finished the flowers for the ballroom, I will set her to fashioning centerpieces for the table.”
    Lady Beckworth nodded. “Excellent. You are indeed a gem, Lissa. And I declare that if you could only work a miracle with this hair of mine, I would pronounce you a diamond of the first water.”
    “I would be happy to attempt it, my lady.” Melissa bobbed her head again. “One of my duties is as Lady Harrington’s dresser.”
    Lady Beckworth blinked once in astonishment and then she gave a delighted laugh. “How wonderful! My dresser has also been taken ill and I have need of another. When you have finished with the centerpieces, Mrs. Collins shall send you to my chambers. If you are as talented as I believe you are, I shall be the envy of every woman here tonight!”
    Melissa was smiling as the footman escorted her to the servants’ door of the rented house. Lady Beckworth had been most appreciative of her efforts, declaring that her toilette had never been accomplished with such style and fashion and bestowing upon “Lissa” several lovely gowns that she claimed were no longer in mode. Melissa planned to alter them to augment her own sparse wardrobe and she was eagerly looking forward to the task.
    “I shall arrive promptly at seven to convey you.” The footman surveyed Melissa with new interest. He had heard that she had been elevated in status and was now quite the apple of Lady Beckworth’s eye. Indeed, Lady Beckworth had ordered him to carry her home in her own conveyance and to fetch her again, without fail, before the party commenced. Any servant his mistress regarded as this indispensable was bound to be worthier than he had originally thought, and he had come to regard Lissa as a girl of no ordinary consequence.
    “Thank you.” Melissa dipped her head to the distinguished footman. “I shall be ready when you arrive.”
    The house was empty when Melissa entered and she sent a grateful prayer heavenward for this respite. She knew that she would not be alone for long. Her stepmother and stepsisters must arrive in short order for they had not many hours before the ball commenced and they would need time to complete their toilettes. Melissa took a moment to fetch a hot cup of tea to revive herself,and then she hurried up to her bedchamber with the clothing that Lady Beckworth had given her. She had just hung the new gowns in her wardrobe when a carriage pulled up in front of the house and her stepmother and stepsisters disembarked.
    “Lissa! Come and put yourself to good use!”
    Jane’s voice was a shrill demand and Melissa fairly flew down the staircase. Her stepmother was standing beside a growing pile of parcels which were being unloaded from the carriage.
    “Carry these in and be quick about it. We have no time to waste if we are to look our best tonight.” Jane pointed to a large parcel at the bottom of the heap. “That gown will have to be pressed before Dorothea can wear it.”
    The next hour was a whirl of frenzied activity that found Melissa at the hub. She stored away all the items they had purchased, pressed Dorothea’s new gown, removed a spot from the pair of gloves which Jane wished to wear, located a misplaced slipper, brushed the nap of Dorothea’s blue velvet pelisse, and assisted all three women in their toilettes. During this time, the opportunity to tell her stepmother of the ruse she had affected did not present itself. It was not until her stepmother and stepsisters were sitting down to a light refreshment that Melissa had a moment to inform Jane that she had played the role of her servant, Lissa, at the Beckworth Mansion.
    “Clever girl!” Jane put down her teacup and favored Melissa with a rare smile. “And you say they were pleased with you?”
    Melissa nodded. “I believe so. Lady Beckworth asked that I return to assist her housekeeper at the ball.”
    “But how are you to get there?” Jane’s lips tightened. “It would not be proper to permit a mere