The Unaccomplished Lady Eleanor by Wendy Burdess Page B

cold one later. ’
    Eleanor’s second dancing les son of the day turned out to be much more enjoyable than the first.  Indeed, with Milly’s no-nonsense approach and overriding sense of fun, Eleanor had not laughed so much in what felt like a very long time.
     
    A s delighted as Milly so obviously was with both her new post and her new mistress , the girl was unable to conceal her disappointment at the state of Eleanor’s wardrobe. 
    ‘ I’ve cleaned your frock as best I could, miss, ’ she said, holding up the old blue evening gown for Eleanor to inspect before she went down for dinner that evening.  ‘ There’s still a f ew marks, but I’ve scrubbed and scrubbed and there ain’t no shifting them. ’
    Eleanor too k the gown from her . ‘ D on’t worry, Milly.  You’ve done an excellent job.  Thank you for trying so hard.   It looks just fine. ’
    Milly flushed at the praise and began h elping Eleanor into the garment.  ‘ I hope you don’t think I’m speaking out of turn or anything, miss, ’ she ventured shyly, as she did up the buttons at the back , ‘ b ut I did think a grand lady like you would be having some fine gowns. ’
    Eleanor, standing in front of the full-length mirror, regard ed Milly’s face in the glass.  ‘ Oh, Milly, ’ she chuckled, ‘ I’m afraid fine gowns don ’t interest me in the slightest.  And besides, I’m no grand lady - I’m just me. ’
    Milly stopped buttoning and stared at her mistress’s reflection.  ‘ My , miss, there’s all them out there pretendin g they’re grand and titled when they’re not .  A nd then there’s you who is grand and titled, but who’s pretending you isn’t.  I ain’t never heard the likes of it. ’
    Eleanor giggl ed.  ‘ Talking of titles, Milly, ’ she said pensively , as the maid resumed her buttoning, ‘d o you know anything about this so-called ‘ title ’ business with James Prestonville ? ’
    ‘ Oh, yes miss, ’ declared the girl matter-of-factly.  ‘ I t’s been the talk of the place for ages.  Ever since the old master died , a nd that’s nigh on nine months now.  There we all was expecting Master James to inherit the title and all , and glad of it we was too, him being s o kind and clever and all.  I don’t mind telling you, miss, the place was in a right state before he came along.  Sorte d it all out good and proper he has. ’
    ‘ So the refurbishment was all down to James then? ’
    ‘ Aye, miss, he’s done a grand job and we w as all just waiting for him to take over the title, but then we learn that some other blighter has put their claim in for it and no one knows who they are or nothing.  And so poor Master James, miss, h e can’t be calling himself the d uke ’ til the whole thing is cleared up.  Dragging on and on so it is an d them solicitors are forever h ere trying to sort it out.  Here for three hours yesterday , they were.  And you can always tell wh en they’ve been, miss, ’ c os the M aster, well, it puts him in a right bad humour. ’
    ‘ Hmm, ’ muse d Eleanor, recalling the obvious bad humour James had been in at their first encounter yesterday.  ‘ I suppose if it ’ s been going on for as long as you say, it’s hardly surprising he’s finding it wearing.  He must feel like he is just kicking his heels until it’s all sorted out . ’
    Milly ceased her buttoning and regarded Eleanor in the mirror with a cheeky grin.  ‘ Oh no, miss.  He’s doing more than kicking his heels, if you gets my meaning. ’
    Eleanor wrinkled her brow.  ‘ I’m not sure I do actually , Milly. ’
    ‘ Oh, miss , you a re such an innocent, ’ chided the girl playfully , tapping Eleanor’s arm.  Then, lowering her voice , ‘ N ot that I’m one to gossip nor nothing, but rumour has it that Master J ames is having one of them relationships with the Duchess of Swinton. ’
    ‘ Really? ’ exclaime d Eleanor, her eyes widening.  ‘ And do you think he will seek to