her own terms.
Andrew produced a note from Peter. “The funeral is tomorrow morning. I can drive you to Fields House. I’ll wait here while you pack.”
She opened her mouth to refuse.
“Absolutely not!” screamed Laura, bursting into the hall. “You already took this month’s half day. You cannot leave again. I won’t have it.”
“Laura!” Andrew’s tone struck Laura dumb. The army had turned him formidable. “How can you be so insensitive? Sir Nigel lies dead. William claims you were inconsolable after our father died.”
“That was different. We were very close. Besides, servants have no feelings.”
Despite two years of service, Chloe felt the blow. Maybe attending the funeral was a good idea after all. A full day without Laura would be sheer bliss, even if it meant pretending grief.
Andrew dragged Laura into the sitting room. “Pack,” he ordered over his shoulder. “I will settle matters with my sister.” The door slammed behind him.
Chloe hurried upstairs, grateful for a few moments alone – packing would not take long. She would wear her one black gown, dyed for her mother’s funeral last year. Aside from that, she needed only her night things.
Silence stretched until she reached her bedroom. Only then did Andrew address Laura. Accustomed to the thick walls of Seabrook, he obviously didn’t realize that his voice reached every corner of the cottage. Ignoring it was impossible.
“I know this is a shock, and you have never enjoyed upheaval, but that doesn’t mean you can speak without thought. Have you forgotten that Chloe’s breeding is every bit as good as yours? Better, really. Mother was a baronet’s daughter who married a baron. But Lady Fields’s father was a viscount. By rights it should be you looking after her.”
“Nonsense. She hasn’t a penny to her name. But that isn’t the point. I cannot do without her. Who will oversee that wretched cook and fetch my threads from the village? And if I’m to go to Seabrook, she must mend my best gown.”
“Feeling peevish, I see. You’d best set that aside before the house party. William is in no mood for confrontation. In the meantime, I am sure you can manage without Miss Fields.”
“You understand nothing!” Laura’s voice grew shrill. “Who will dress me and arrange my hair? Who will bring my morning chocolate and make up my bed? Mrs. Monroe is worthless outside the kitchen. And she delights in parading people through my drawing room so they can admire the freak.”
“It is only for one day,” Andrew said soothingly. “You will manage just fine.”
“You are hateful!” she cried, bursting into tears.
“Control yourself. This is not a Cheltenham tragedy, and I am not one of your beaux. Tears do not move me. Now enough of this. Miss Fields will attend Sir Nigel’s funeral. You will learn how to fend for yourself. It’s a useful skill, for fate often throws out unexpected challenges. You will also review your manners. William won’t tolerate megrims, so pull yourself together and remember that you are a lady. I will ignore today’s tantrum, but if it happens again, I must report it to William.”
Laura fell silent.
Chloe closed her bandbox.
Andrew had grown masterful, though she should not be surprised. An officer who couldn’t command would not have survived eleven years of war.
Perhaps Laura needed a firmer hand. Chloe had used a combination of placation and argument to control her, but that had increased Laura’s arrogance. And the lack of social concourse meant that Laura had no incentive to maintain her manners. They had grown quite lax.
----
Chapter 4
Chloe exhaled in relief as Andrew’s curricle pulled away from Moorside. Laura had thrown another fit as they left. Even Andrew had been unable to quiet her.
Perhaps it was time to resign. Her savings wouldn’t buy a cottage, but escaping Laura might be worth putting herself at the mercy of a landlord. And there was always her
Andrew produced a note from Peter. “The funeral is tomorrow morning. I can drive you to Fields House. I’ll wait here while you pack.”
She opened her mouth to refuse.
“Absolutely not!” screamed Laura, bursting into the hall. “You already took this month’s half day. You cannot leave again. I won’t have it.”
“Laura!” Andrew’s tone struck Laura dumb. The army had turned him formidable. “How can you be so insensitive? Sir Nigel lies dead. William claims you were inconsolable after our father died.”
“That was different. We were very close. Besides, servants have no feelings.”
Despite two years of service, Chloe felt the blow. Maybe attending the funeral was a good idea after all. A full day without Laura would be sheer bliss, even if it meant pretending grief.
Andrew dragged Laura into the sitting room. “Pack,” he ordered over his shoulder. “I will settle matters with my sister.” The door slammed behind him.
Chloe hurried upstairs, grateful for a few moments alone – packing would not take long. She would wear her one black gown, dyed for her mother’s funeral last year. Aside from that, she needed only her night things.
Silence stretched until she reached her bedroom. Only then did Andrew address Laura. Accustomed to the thick walls of Seabrook, he obviously didn’t realize that his voice reached every corner of the cottage. Ignoring it was impossible.
“I know this is a shock, and you have never enjoyed upheaval, but that doesn’t mean you can speak without thought. Have you forgotten that Chloe’s breeding is every bit as good as yours? Better, really. Mother was a baronet’s daughter who married a baron. But Lady Fields’s father was a viscount. By rights it should be you looking after her.”
“Nonsense. She hasn’t a penny to her name. But that isn’t the point. I cannot do without her. Who will oversee that wretched cook and fetch my threads from the village? And if I’m to go to Seabrook, she must mend my best gown.”
“Feeling peevish, I see. You’d best set that aside before the house party. William is in no mood for confrontation. In the meantime, I am sure you can manage without Miss Fields.”
“You understand nothing!” Laura’s voice grew shrill. “Who will dress me and arrange my hair? Who will bring my morning chocolate and make up my bed? Mrs. Monroe is worthless outside the kitchen. And she delights in parading people through my drawing room so they can admire the freak.”
“It is only for one day,” Andrew said soothingly. “You will manage just fine.”
“You are hateful!” she cried, bursting into tears.
“Control yourself. This is not a Cheltenham tragedy, and I am not one of your beaux. Tears do not move me. Now enough of this. Miss Fields will attend Sir Nigel’s funeral. You will learn how to fend for yourself. It’s a useful skill, for fate often throws out unexpected challenges. You will also review your manners. William won’t tolerate megrims, so pull yourself together and remember that you are a lady. I will ignore today’s tantrum, but if it happens again, I must report it to William.”
Laura fell silent.
Chloe closed her bandbox.
Andrew had grown masterful, though she should not be surprised. An officer who couldn’t command would not have survived eleven years of war.
Perhaps Laura needed a firmer hand. Chloe had used a combination of placation and argument to control her, but that had increased Laura’s arrogance. And the lack of social concourse meant that Laura had no incentive to maintain her manners. They had grown quite lax.
----
Chapter 4
Chloe exhaled in relief as Andrew’s curricle pulled away from Moorside. Laura had thrown another fit as they left. Even Andrew had been unable to quiet her.
Perhaps it was time to resign. Her savings wouldn’t buy a cottage, but escaping Laura might be worth putting herself at the mercy of a landlord. And there was always her
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