“What do you think?” Opal asked the next day when she and Landon were at the market. She lifted the maroon vase with white swirls decorating it and showed it to him. “Isn’t it a pretty design?”
He turned his gaze from the items he was scanning on the booth. “I like it.”
She couldn’t be sure if he was saying that because he meant it or because he wanted to please her. So far, he’d said he liked everything she had picked out for the townhouse.
“Landon,” she said as she set the vase back down, “you can tell me if you don’t like something. I won’t be hurt.”
“I really like it,” he assured her. “Everything you picked out will look nice in our home.”
She paused for a moment then gestured to the vases. “Which one do you like most out of all of these?”
She supposed she shouldn’t have been disappointed when he selected the vase she’d just been holding, but she was.
He laughed. “What? I really do like it.”
“I want you to have a choice in what we get. This is our home. It’s not just mine. I want to think of you when I see the things we’re buying.”
“All right.” He put the vase back on the table and scanned the others. Finally, he picked up a blue and green vase. “We can buy it.”
She frowned. The blue was fine, but the green wouldn’t go well with the rug. “I don’t think it’ll match the rug in the drawing room.”
Looking amused, he set it down and, once more, picked up the one she’d selected. “Then we’ll buy the one you wanted.”
“But I don’t want to insist on everything we get.”
“You aren’t.” He handed the vase to the merchant who put it into a box. As he dug out his money, he told her, “I already know what I want from that table.”
He gestured to the booth next to them. That merchant was selling an assortment of paintings. After he paid the merchant, he handed the box to the footman and led her over to the booth. He then pointed to two paintings. One featured a group of trees in the autumn and the other featured three horses grazing in a field while a dog hunted for something in the grass.
“I will buy them,” he told her.
She relaxed and smiled at him. “They’re beautiful.”
“I know.” Returning her smile, he asked, “Do you feel better now?”
“Yes, I do.”
“Good.”
From there, they purchased a few more items before they decided they’d bought enough and returned home. Opal was so excited about the new things that she couldn’t wait to put them in the spots she’d picked out for them. Since Landon only wanted the paintings to go in the den, she decided to let him change for dinner while she had the maid help her put everything else in its designated room.
As she finished putting the last of the items away, her lady’s maid came into her bedchamber.
“May I have a word with you?” her lady’s maid asked.
“Yes.” Opal fluffed the new pillows Landon had bought her then told the maid, “Thank you for your help.”
After she left, Opal turned to her lady’s maid. “Should I shut the door?”
She shook her head. “It’s not of a private nature, my lady. I only wished to tell you that a gentleman friend of mine proposed marriage to me while you were out.”
“You’re getting married?” Opal asked in shock. “I didn’t even know you had a suitor.”
“I don’t. I’ve known him for years, but I never considered him anything more than a family friend. No one was more surprised than I was when he asked me to marry him.”
“Do you love him?”
The lady’s cheeks turned pink. “I had fancied him since the moment we met, but I never imagined the feelings were returned.”
“Then that’s wonderful.” Opal hugged her. “If you’re bringing me good news, then why are you being so shy about it?”
“I wasn’t sure how this would affect you. I’ve been your lady’s maid ever since you’ve been in London.”
“Which is why you should go on and make a life of your own. Cater to yourself for a change.”
“You’re the best mistress I’ve ever worked for. As excited as I am about my new life, I’m going to miss you.”
“I’ll miss you, too, but you deserve to have a husband and children.”
“Of all the people in London, you’re one of the few who believes in love matches.”
“Well, my brother has one, and I think I do, too,” Opal confided, though she’d been telling herself she shouldn’t come right out and say it until she’d been married for at least a year.
But her lady’s maid put her mind at ease when she said, “There’s no doubt your husband loves you. All the staff can tell it just by the way he looks at you.”
Cheeks warm with pleasure, Opal gave her another hug. “I was hoping for that.”
Her lady’s maid returned her hug and laughed. “I couldn’t be happier for you. May you have no problem in giving him an heir and a spare.”
“An heir and a spare?” Opal had never heard that phrase before.
“I said it to bring good fortune your way. I hope you have many children, both boys and girls.” She gestured to the vanity. “May I assist you in getting ready for dinner?”
“Is it that late already?”
“I’m afraid so. You and Lord Farewell were gone most of the afternoon.”
Time sure did pass by swiftly when she was with Landon. Opal hurried to the vanity while her lady’s maid selected a gown for her.
***
A month and a half later, Opal and Ava sat in Opal’s drawing room.
“I’m happy for you, Opal,” Ava said from where she was reclining in the chair next to Opal’s in the drawing room. “You’re absolutely radiant. Marriage has been good for you.”
Smiling, Opal drank the rest of her tea then set the cup on the table in front of them. “I know it’s only been a short time, but it seems like I’ve known Landon forever. He really is a wonderful gentleman. Considerate. Sweet. And handsome, too. He’s everything I was hoping for when the Season started.”
“So you don’t mind the lisp?”
“He chooses his words so carefully that he rarely ever does it, but honestly, it wouldn’t bother me if he did it when I was around.”
“I notice he talks slower than most people. No one can blame him. My brother said some of the gentlemen at White’s mock the way he talks. It’s a shame, if you ask me.”
“It is. People should be judged on who they are. Not how they talk or for some other thing they can’t control. People should remember that no one is perfect.”
Ava gave her a smile. “You, my friend, are perfect.”
Opal laughed. “No, I’m not.”
“You are. You’re always cheerful and ready to help others. Plus, you never have a hair out of place,” she tucked an errant strand of her own hair back in place, “or a gown that doesn’t fit right. And today you tell me you’re already expecting. Only married for a little over a month, and you’ll be giving your husband a child. Knowing you, you’re going to have a son. I would envy you if you weren’t my friend.”
“Don’t speak like that. You’re a marvelous person.” When Ava rolled her eyes, she added, “It’s true. You know I wouldn’t be friends with you if I thought otherwise.”
“All right. You have a point.” Ava picked up a scone then asked, “Have you told Landon about the baby?”
“Not yet. I just found out today that I’m definitely having one. I’ll tell him when he returns from visiting his brother. In the meantime, I get to interview a couple of ladies to see who’ll be my next lady’s maid. The first one is due by in an hour.”
“That’s right. Your current one will be marrying in a week. Are you going to miss her?”
“Yes, but I’m happy for her. She’s been in love with her betrothed for a long time. It’s nice that they’ll finally get to be together.”
“I know some ladies who would be very upset to lose their lady’s maids.” Ava broke off a piece of the scone and ate it.
“There’s far too much misery out there. It’s nice when people can be happy.”
Ava shook her head in amusement. “Like I said, you are perfect. But don’t change. It’s one of the things I love about you.”
Opal smiled.
The front door opened, and the footman greeted Landon.
Ava put the rest of the scone on the tray and jumped up. “I better leave you alone with your husband so you can tell him the good news.”
“You don’t have to leave,” Opal argued as she stood up.
“Yes, I do. This is something private. If it was me, I would throw you out of here so I could be alone with my husband at a moment like this.”
Landon approached the drawing room but hesitated to enter when he saw Ava.
“You can come in,” Ava told him as she waved him into the room. “I was just getting ready to leave.”
Despite her encouragement, Landon only took a step forward. Since he wasn’t about to come in any further, Opal decided to go over to him.
As Ava passed by them, she congratulated Landon then said good-bye to Opal and headed out of the townhouse.
Noting the confused expression on his face, she took his hand, shut the doors, and led him further into the drawing room. “Ava just came by to visit. I have something important to tell you, so she left.”
“What happened?” he asked.
Unable to hold back her excitement, she said, “I’m expecting a child!”
“You are? Tho thoon?” He cleared his throat, and despite his embarrassment, a wide smile crossed his face. “I didn’t expect it to happen right away.”
“I didn’t, either, but as Dr. Westward said, it only takes one time, and we’ve been together a lot more than that.”
He brought her into his arms and wiggled his eyebrows. “I don’t mind trying again. That way we know you are really with child.”
She chuckled. “I don’t think it works that way, but I’m more than happy to be in bed with you anytime you want.” She leaned into him and kissed him.
Just as he started to return her kiss in earnest, there was a knock at the drawing room doors. She ended the kiss and squeezed his hands, giving him an apologetic smile before she went to open them.
“My lady,” the footman began, “Miss Kesner is here to be interviewed to be your lady’s maid.”
So soon? Despite her surprise, she nodded and said, “Let her in.”
The footman nodded and returned to the front door.
Opal turned to Landon. “We’ll have to pick up where we left off later. I have my first interview already. Would you like to stay and ask her questions, too?”
He shook his head. “No. I’ll leave that to you.”
He was probably better off not staying for it. This was going to be her servant, not his. She kissed him on the cheek. Right after he left, the butler came in with a lady who looked to be in her early thirties. She had her dark hair neatly pulled back into a bun at the nape of her neck. Opal’s gaze went to her dress, which was dark gray. There wasn’t a single design or other color on it. Miss Kesner’s hat matched her dress, her purse, and her slippers. How strange. Opal had never seen any lady dress in such a bland way.
The butler introduced them. Miss Kesner curtsied, and Opal hurried to follow suit. In her shock, Opal had almost forgotten her manners.
“What shall I bring you to eat and drink?” the butler asked Opal.
Opal glanced at Miss Kesner. “We’ll have what you like.”
“If you mean it,” Miss Kesner began, “I’d like water instead of tea.”
“Would you like anything to eat?”
She shook her head. “I ate before I came.”
In that case… “Bring us some water and fruit,” Opal told the butler. As the butler left the room, Opal gestured to one of the chairs. “Please, have a seat.”
“I hope I haven’t upset you by coming early,” Miss Kesner said.
“No, you haven’t upset me at all,” Opal assured her as they sat across from each other. “My brother often says it’s better to be early than late.”
“Your brother?”
“Lord Steinbeck. Do you know him?”
“I’ve heard of him, but I don’t know him.” She clasped her hands in her lap and offered a smile which, Opal noted with surprise, was a startling contrast to the rest of her.
“I hope you don’t mind my asking, but are you in mourning?” Opal asked.
“No. Why would you think that?”
Opal thought the answer was obvious, but she didn’t know how to come out and say that the drab color made her look as if she was grieving the loss of someone close to her.
Fortunately, the butler came in and set the tray on the table between them. Glad for the distraction, Opal hurried to pour water into their glasses as he left. She handed one of the glasses to Miss Kesner then took her own and returned to her seat.
“Have you been a lady’s maid before?” Opal asked.
“Yes. I was Mrs. Tumilson’s lady’s maid.” Miss Kesner brought out a piece of neatly folded parchment from her drawstring purse. “This is her information if you wish to speak to her.”
She held it out to Opal, and after taking a sip of water, she accepted it and opened it. She studied the name, trying to recall anything she’d ever heard of Mrs. Tumilson. Her mind drew a blank. Her gaze went to the lady’s address. She lived a few blocks away. It wouldn’t be too much trouble to send her a missive or even pay her a visit.
“I was her lady’s maid for thirteen years,” Miss Kesner said. “I was honored to be in her employment.”
“Thirteen years is a long time,” Opal replied. And it proved that Miss Kesner could be loyal to her employer. “Why did you stop working for her?”
“She took ill.” Then, as if thinking she’d made a mistake, she quickly added, “She was still alive when I left. Her daughter felt it necessary to take care of her mother, so I was relieved of employment. Her daughter is very devoted to her.”
“That’s lovely. It’s nice when a mother and daughter get along.” With a smile, Opal folded the parchment and turned her attention back to Miss Kesner. “What was your favorite part of the job?”
“Styling Mrs. Tumilson’s hair,” Miss Kesner replied. “I have a keen eye for making a lady look her best.”
She did? One wouldn’t know it by the way Miss Kesner had pulled her hair back into a depressing bun. But then, maybe she never worried about the way she looked. She might have only concerned herself with how well her mistress had looked. If that was the case, then Opal couldn’t be critical of her. Miss Kesner’s job, after all, hadn’t been to pretty herself up.
“Do you have any aspirations for marriage?” Opal asked.
“I am thirty-eight. I have long ago given up on the idea of marriage. I shall be under your employment until I either die or until you wish me to leave. That is, of course, if you wish to hire me for the position.”
Opal supposed she shouldn’t feel sorry for Miss Kesner. Plenty of ladies remain unmarried, especially when they became servants. But still, the romantic part of her, didn’t wish for any lady to be a spinster. She couldn’t imagine being happy without someone like Landon in her life. Marriage was turning out to be so much better than she dreamt possible. And it made her wish for others to be equally happy. But who knew? Maybe Miss Kesner was happy with being single.
“Are you happy?” Opal asked.
Miss Kesner stopped drinking her water and stared at her as if that was the most ridiculous question anyone had ever asked her. “Happy?”
Opal nodded. “I know it seems rather silly of me to ask that, but I was just wondering if you get enjoyment out of life.”
“I am satisfied with being a lady’s maid.”
That wasn’t exactly a glowing view of her lot in life, but Opal figured it was close enough to happiness so she settled for it. She proceeded to ask Miss Kesner the rest of the questions she had planned out ahead of time, taking careful note of her answers.
When the interview came to an end, Miss Kesner surprised her by saying, “I’m probably not the kind of lady you would usually pick for a lady’s maid, but I want to assure you that I am a hard worker and I believe in doing everything I can to please my mistress. I’m just not very comfortable around new people. I’m terribly shy. In fact, some have considered me to be awkward.” She cleared her throat and lowered her gaze in a way that reminded Opal of Landon. “I just wanted to thank you for taking the time to interview me. Whoever you choose, I hope she’ll be good to you. Thank you for your time, Lady Farewell.”
Up to now, Opal hadn’t seriously considered choosing this particular lady for the job, but there was something about the way she described herself that reminded her of Landon. So many people overlooked Landon because he was shy and awkward. Imagine what she would have missed if he hadn’t come into her life.
Miss Kesner might enrich her life just as Landon had. Who knew? They might even become friends. At the very least, she owed it to Miss Kesner to talk to Mrs. Tumilson. Meanwhile, she owed it to the other ladies who were applying for the job to interview them, too.
“Thank you for coming,” Opal said as she rose to her feet.
“It was a pleasure,” Miss Kesner replied.
With a smile, Opal walked with Miss Kesner to the entryway. After wishing her a good day, Opal went to find Landon to spend some time with him before she had to interview the next lady.
***
That night, Opal had a nightmare. It was the first time she had one since she’d come to London. And in this horrible dream, her mother was looming over.
“What makes you think you can be a good mother?” her mother asked in the condescending tone she had reserved for those she didn’t have any respect for. “You will be awful. Just awful. Just like you were awful at everything else you ever did. When your child grows up, I wager that child will hate you as much as you hated me.” Then, a grin crossed her face, and she began to laugh.
Opal woke up from her dream, not realizing she was crying until she felt the tears on her cheeks. She sat up in the bed and wiped them away with the back of her hand. Why now? After all this time, why was she suddenly dreaming of her mother?
Landon stirred from his sleep, and upon noticing she was awake, he rose into a sitting position. “Opal, are you in pain?”
She shook her head and wiped more tears from her eyes. “I had a bad dream.”
He put his arm around her shoulders and drew her to his side. “What wath it about? I mean, what happened in it?”
She wasn’t sure she wanted to tell him. She didn’t want him to know the details about her relationship with her mother. More than anything, she wanted to forget about her past. No good ever came from dwelling on things one couldn’t control.
Finally, she settled for asking, “Do you think I’ll be a good mother?”
With a smile, he brought his head to hers and gently wiped the rest of her tears away. “I do. You’re a wonderful wife, and you’re kind to your family. I can’t think of anyone who will be a better mother than you.”
The certainty in his voice relaxed her. Though he was self-conscious about the way he spoke, he seemed to have the right words to say to make her feel better.
“I hope so,” she whispered. “I want to be a good mother.”
“Which will enable you to be one.”
Perhaps he was right. Maybe she would be a good mother because it was something she desired. She never wanted to do anything to hurt their child. She wanted to give their child the safety and love she never felt while growing up.
After a long moment, Landon encouraged her to lie back down, and she snuggled up to him, resting her head on his shoulder.
“I’m glad we’re married,” she said.
He rubbed her back. “You mention that often.”
“Do I?” She hadn’t noticed. “I guess I do it because it’s true.”
“I don’t mind. I like knowing you enjoy being with me.”
“Are you happy about this child?” she asked.
“I am very happy.” He gave her waist a playful squeeze. “I’m happy with you, too. And I don’t mind telling you that whenever you need to hear it.”
Releasing her breath, she closed her eyes and eventually drifted off to sleep.