Ginny Delacourt. I will be happy for your help while I am here, but only if you promise not to stand on matters of propriety.” Ginny was amused by the delight and terror that passed across Maren’s face. “Naturally, we shall be most careful not a word of this reaches Mrs. Barrington’s ears.”
“Oh, yes, miss!” Maren gasped with delight. “Shall I fetch you something to wear?”
“You will find a clean shift and stockings in the portmanteau. I believe I even thought to bring an extra gown” Ginny was grateful Seb and Dobbs had no interest in stealing clothing.
When she was dressed in a white-sprigged muslin tied with a saffron sash and her everyday shoes, she felt much refreshed and ready to formulate a plan of action against Sir Anthony. That is, once she had eaten. Her empty stomach was now her primary concern. Maren insisted on brushing out Ginny’s hair and redressing the brown curls, but the moment she was done, Ginny wasted no time in finding the breakfast room.
The enticing aroma of bacon and eggs led Ginny through a maze of unknown corridors and rooms until, mouth watering, she was standing on the threshold of the gold-and-green breakfast room. The floor-to-ceiling drapes were pulled from the windows, flooding the room with light that glanced off the highly polished surfaces of the furniture. On the sideboard lay a sinful array of breakfast foods, steam curling from every dish.
At the far end stood Sir Anthony, a spoon poised in his hand and a question in his eyes.
“Miss Delacourt! You are not dressed for travel”
“Of course I’m not dressed for travel. Ummm, what is that heavenly smell?”
“Kidney steak in mushroom and wine sauce. What does your breakfast have to do with our departure? Certainly you could eat in your traveling suit.”
“Certainly I could. Are you quite finished with that? There are some lovely coddled eggs on the other end of the board there”
Sir Anthony dumped another boatful of sauce onto his steak. “Had some”
Ginny was somewhat startled by the shortness of Sir Anthony’s reply. He hadn’t even addressed her by name.
Sir Anthony continued. “If you think I wish to waste my time kicking my heels while you change from that ill-suited frock into yesterday’s costume, you are quite mistaken. I intend to leave for Dunsmere before the hour is up. If we hurry, we can be back in London before nightfall.”
“You mean you wish to hasten off, just like that? Why, we haven’t even summoned the physician yet”
“That’s another bone I’ve been meaning to pick with you. Why you insist on a physician to attend to a mere fever is beyond me” Sir Anthony took a seat at the table and smiled. “Now, shall we enjoy our food?”
Ginny dropped into a chair across from him and gazed into her plate. Aromatic steam curling from her steak and eggs sent her stomach into tumultuous rumblings. A corner of her mind screamed at her to eat, but the voice seemed small and far away. “Sir Anthony, I do believe you are being rude”
“Isn’t that what you wished? For me to say what I think?”
“Is that what you think? That Nan does not warrant a physician? That she be treated like a mere servant?” “Well, isn’t she?”
“No, she is not!”
“Oh. I have been led to believe that she is. I have referred to her as such on numerous occasions and you have never corrected me. Tut tut, Miss Delacourt”-Sir Anthony waved his fork at her-“we must always be sure to tell the truth”
“The truth is, Sir Anthony, I shall not be returning to London. So, you may take your airs and manners off and return forthwith. I’m confident Squire Barrington can see me the rest of the way home”
“Wonderful! I shan’t have to worry about dodging flying reticules, wandering all over the countryside for a doctor, or trudging down the road on a sore ankle.”
Ginny winced. How true his words were. “I had quite forgotten about your ankle. How is it this morning?”
“Sore.
“Oh, yes, miss!” Maren gasped with delight. “Shall I fetch you something to wear?”
“You will find a clean shift and stockings in the portmanteau. I believe I even thought to bring an extra gown” Ginny was grateful Seb and Dobbs had no interest in stealing clothing.
When she was dressed in a white-sprigged muslin tied with a saffron sash and her everyday shoes, she felt much refreshed and ready to formulate a plan of action against Sir Anthony. That is, once she had eaten. Her empty stomach was now her primary concern. Maren insisted on brushing out Ginny’s hair and redressing the brown curls, but the moment she was done, Ginny wasted no time in finding the breakfast room.
The enticing aroma of bacon and eggs led Ginny through a maze of unknown corridors and rooms until, mouth watering, she was standing on the threshold of the gold-and-green breakfast room. The floor-to-ceiling drapes were pulled from the windows, flooding the room with light that glanced off the highly polished surfaces of the furniture. On the sideboard lay a sinful array of breakfast foods, steam curling from every dish.
At the far end stood Sir Anthony, a spoon poised in his hand and a question in his eyes.
“Miss Delacourt! You are not dressed for travel”
“Of course I’m not dressed for travel. Ummm, what is that heavenly smell?”
“Kidney steak in mushroom and wine sauce. What does your breakfast have to do with our departure? Certainly you could eat in your traveling suit.”
“Certainly I could. Are you quite finished with that? There are some lovely coddled eggs on the other end of the board there”
Sir Anthony dumped another boatful of sauce onto his steak. “Had some”
Ginny was somewhat startled by the shortness of Sir Anthony’s reply. He hadn’t even addressed her by name.
Sir Anthony continued. “If you think I wish to waste my time kicking my heels while you change from that ill-suited frock into yesterday’s costume, you are quite mistaken. I intend to leave for Dunsmere before the hour is up. If we hurry, we can be back in London before nightfall.”
“You mean you wish to hasten off, just like that? Why, we haven’t even summoned the physician yet”
“That’s another bone I’ve been meaning to pick with you. Why you insist on a physician to attend to a mere fever is beyond me” Sir Anthony took a seat at the table and smiled. “Now, shall we enjoy our food?”
Ginny dropped into a chair across from him and gazed into her plate. Aromatic steam curling from her steak and eggs sent her stomach into tumultuous rumblings. A corner of her mind screamed at her to eat, but the voice seemed small and far away. “Sir Anthony, I do believe you are being rude”
“Isn’t that what you wished? For me to say what I think?”
“Is that what you think? That Nan does not warrant a physician? That she be treated like a mere servant?” “Well, isn’t she?”
“No, she is not!”
“Oh. I have been led to believe that she is. I have referred to her as such on numerous occasions and you have never corrected me. Tut tut, Miss Delacourt”-Sir Anthony waved his fork at her-“we must always be sure to tell the truth”
“The truth is, Sir Anthony, I shall not be returning to London. So, you may take your airs and manners off and return forthwith. I’m confident Squire Barrington can see me the rest of the way home”
“Wonderful! I shan’t have to worry about dodging flying reticules, wandering all over the countryside for a doctor, or trudging down the road on a sore ankle.”
Ginny winced. How true his words were. “I had quite forgotten about your ankle. How is it this morning?”
“Sore.
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