Chapter 22

Chapter 22

"But it really is inappropriate," Celestina said as Richard tried to press some money into the palm of her hand. "I am not your child begging for some pocket money, and nor am I a family member in need of a treat. I am an employee!"

"I will not take no for an answer," he replied, his firmness returned.

Celestina tried to keep the bite of annoyance out of her mouth. If she expected him to maintain the boundaries of their working relationship, then she needed to do so, too, treating him with the respect that his title warranted him. But she had been taken by surprise when he caught her in the hallway and began this silly insistence.

As such, she was not quite able to stop herself from huffing. "Do you treat all your employees to a few extra coins when they go shopping on their day off?" she asked, eyebrows raised as she dared him to answer.

"Yes, sometimes," he said, though it was evidently a lie.

"Forgive my boldness, Your Grace, but I don't believe you. I have told you many times before, I would far rather we—"

"Yes, yes," he said, interrupting her with a flare of irritation. He waved a hand in the air as if to wave away the annoyance. "I heard you the first thousand times. But this is different. You are spending the day with Lady Rebecca, and I want you to be able to buy yourself a little something like her."

"But I am not one of the ladies if you remember."

It was Richard's turn to huff this time. "Will you please give in to me just once in your lifetime?"

Celestina was taken aback, and his firmness made her laugh. "All right, I will give in to you," she said. "On one condition."

Richard groaned. "Does there always have to be a condition?"

She shrugged. "If you want me to give in to you, then yes."

"Very well. What is it?"

She opened her hand and took the money gratefully. In truth, she was relieved she would not have to play the role of poor widow entirely.

"My condition is that we consider this a loan. I shall repay every penny of it out of my weekly wage."

Richard narrowed his eyes at her, but she already knew she had won, for he sighed.

"I wonder if there will ever come a time when you heed my advice, Celestina," he replied. "But I do hope you have a lovely day."

"Are you ready?" Lady Rebecca's voice was loud and intrusive through the hall, causing Celestina and Richard to turn and look at her in unison.

Celestina felt a flush of something akin to embarrassment as if they'd been caught doing something they oughtn't. It wasn't the first time she'd felt like that around Lady Rebecca, and she had no doubt it wouldn't be the last. After all, despite everything Celestina told herself, she did indeed harbour feelings for the man that Lady Rebecca was sure to marry.

"I'm ready," Celestina replied after a moment's uncomfortable silence.

"Good. Come along then. Lady Arabella is waiting."

Lady Arabella?

Celestina took in deep breath, then shared a quick knowing look with Richard before following Lady Rebecca out of the house. She had to admit that her chest thrummed with anxiety over this entire outing, especially with the revelation that Lady Rebecca's friend would be joining them.

She couldn't put her finger on why, but she didn't feel quite comfortable in Lady Rebecca's company, and spending time with her on a social level, she felt confused about her new role.

She had agreed to go, though, for three main reasons. Firstly, she thought it would please Richard, and it seemed that pleasing Richard had come to be high on her priority list these days. Secondly, she wanted to know more information about his relationship with Lady Rebecca.

Her words in the orangery had been hurtful, but like prodding a bruise, Celestina wanted to needle her for more information. If it was true and the pair were likely to begin an official courtship, then Celestina wanted to know sooner rather than later.

And finally, perhaps most pertinently, it had been such a long time since Celestina had had friends. There was some girlish hope in her that this could lead to the female friendship she had been denied most of her adult life.

She'd had Sylvia, of course, and they were close. But giving someone a wage for their companionship wasn't the same. Now, thanks to Richard, Celestina had a little money to spend on trinkets or other things, and she wouldn't be so different from the other women.

But as she climbed into the carriage and Lady Rebecca introduced her to Lady Arabella, that anxiety churned in her gut once more. She was different from these women, no matter how much she hoped otherwise, and before they had even begun to converse, Celestina dreaded she had made a terrible mistake.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Lady Arabella," Celestina said, remembering the polite society lady she had once been.

"Rebecca has told me all about you, Celestina," Lady Arabella said.

Celestina coloured at her lack of formality, though she said nothing. It was her place now, she supposed, and she had never been so pretentious as to demand the use of titles at all times, even if she was the more mature of the group.

"Oh yes?" she replied politely. "All good, I hope."

The carriage pulled forward, the wheels noisy on the gravel. There was no turning back now.

"I was so dreadfully sorry to hear about your troubles," Lady Arabella cooed, though the cruel twist of her lips suggested she was anything but sorry, and Celestina's gut twisted again.

"Yes, well," she replied with the biggest smile she could muster. "It's all over now."

"I suppose you know that her husband left her entirely destitute," Lady Rebecca said, gossiping about Celestina as if she weren't even in the carriage. "He even frittered away the inheritance she received from her parents."

"Oh, you poor thing," Lady Arabella said.

Celestina swallowed the lump in her throat, but she said nothing.

"Isn't it just awful?" Lady Rebecca replied, her hand on her heart but her eyes gleaming.

"Awful," Lady Arabella agreed with an unconvincing shake of the head.

Celestina looked out the window, purposely removing herself from the conversation. Nothing she said would be taken in kindness, so she preferred to say nothing, allowing the ladies to witter around her, the conversation shifting and moving beneath her.

Soon, they arrived in the city itself, and the footman helped them out of the carriage. As Celestina stepped onto the cobbles, her face raised to the cool breeze, her anxiety once again disappeared. Perhaps she was over-sensitive. After all, the ladies didn't actually say anything cruel. And now she was shopping, something she hadn't done for such a long time. She felt more like the old Celestina than she had done in many years.

She turned to the ladies with a grin and said, "Where shall we go first?"

"Perhaps we ought to only window shop," Lady Arabella said, throwing Celestina a look of faux sympathy. "You know, given your situation."

Celestina's cheeks coloured with anger as much as embarrassment. "It's quite all right," she said brightly. "Which shops do you like best?"

Neither gave her an answer, instead talking amongst themselves and leaving her out of the conversation. They began walking towards the main shopping street, their words quick and excitable. Celestina was relieved, in many ways, not to be involved.

It gave her a chance to breathe and recover. To remind herself not to take things to heart, that she was an employee now and not the wife of a wealthy businessman. She trailed behind them, wishing she'd had the confidence to refuse the invitation in the first place.

"How is she finding working for the Duke of Exeter now?" Lady Arabella whispered loudly to Lady Rebecca, eyeing Celestina quite conspicuously over her shoulder. Celestina wished she could wipe the smirk from her face.

"If by ‘she' you mean me," she said, interrupting them, "then I am managing quite well, thank you very much, and I make no secret of it. There is no need to whisper."

Lady Rebecca turned to look at her with a pout. "Now, now, Celestina. There's really no need to be like that."

"I am not being like anything," Celestina replied, exasperated to her core already. "And I didn't mean to come across in such a way. If I did, I apologize. I meant only to say that I feel no shame for my current situation. Please, Lady Arabella, feel free to ask me anything."

Lady Arabella raised a single eyebrow, and Celestina had never felt so judged in her entire life. She ignored the feeling and forced herself to continue smiling while wondering whether this whole day was set up purely to humiliate her.

"It is very brave of you to be so open and honest," Lady Arabella said, her voice beginning to grate. "I am curious, though. However did someone like you know the Duke of Exeter? Or was it quite by chance that you fell into his employ?"

"The duke and I have been friends for many years," Celestina said, deciding not to mention that they'd been estranged for many of them. "We grew up together. My father's estate backed onto his father's, you see."

"How adorable," Lady Arabella said.

"Isn't it just?" Lady Rebecca agreed. "It really says something about the kindness of His Grace, offering support to a ruined woman. He felt sorry for her after all their years of friendship."

Celestina took in a deep breath, grinding her teeth together all the while.

"Oh, how darling," Lady Arabella said, her soft eyes on Lady Rebecca. "You really have gained the attention of a good man there, Rebecca. You are so very lucky to have him. I only wish I can one day find myself a man of such magnanimity and grace."

"I know," Lady Rebecca said with a giggle. "Sometimes I have to pinch myself to ensure the whole thing is real! It is quite something to think our courtship will officially begin imminently."

"Indeed," Lady Arabella said. "Everyone in the ton is talking about it. He's sure to make the announcement at the next ball."

"I rather like the title Duchess, don't you?" She giggled again, and the sound drove itself into Celestina's calm nature.

She had listened for long enough. These ladies— vipers— had never intended to invite her out for a pleasant day but to put on a show. It was a show that Celestina refused to watch. She would not be mistreated in this way, regardless of her status.

"Do you know," she said. They were so surprised by her interruption that they turned and raised their eyebrows. Celestina smiled. "I quite forgot that Mrs Jones asked me to help her with a very special task today. You see, I have a job to get to. I am afraid I can no longer waste my time on fripperies such as shopping. Good day to you both."

As Celestina turned and marched away, her skirt snapping to attention between each step, she could hear the incredulous gasps behind her.

"Well, there's no need to be so rude," Lady Rebecca said loudly.

"The insolence of the maids these days," Lady Arabella said.

But Celestina kept her head low to hide her reddening cheeks and the tears in her eyes, and she scurried away as quickly as she could. She may have succeeded in offending them, but there had been little satisfaction.

Lady Rebecca could celebrate her victory: she had successfully reminded Celestina of her place now. To sink from beloved daughter and prized wife to poor, pitiful widow forced to work for food and board was a difficult pill to swallow, even for a strong, determined woman like Celestina.

Except, with her head down, she wasn't looking where she was going, and she walked straight into a man.

"Goodness, Celestina! It's been too long. How are you?"

Her head snapped up in horror at the sound of the voice.

"Edward! What are you doing here?"

He chuckled. "I had a little business in town. Nothing to worry your pretty head over. It is good to see you, though. I've been looking for you. Ever so worried, I've been. You really oughtn't disappear from your old friends like that. I was terrified that something awful had happened. Join me for tea?"

Celestina stared up at him, the danger of the situation dawning on her. She'd hidden from him so well for months that she had quite forgotten how determined and relentless he could be.

She forced herself to smile again, letting out her breath simultaneously. "Another time, perhaps, Mr Willoughby. I really ought to go." Then she pushed past him before he had a chance to stop her.