Chapter 10

Rebecca couldn’t help what she was doing. She hated herself for it but needed to know what Lady Ruth looked like. She stood behind the second-floor draping, watching the guests enter the foyer. Mr Bartlett was first, looking handsome in his evening attire. A younger woman entered after him, her grace and poise almost eclipsed by her beauty. Rebecca’s heart dropped like a rock.

Lady Ruth had to be in her early twenties, perhaps twenty-two or three, with delicate features and a willowy frame that likely roused feelings of protection within men everywhere. The woman’s long, wheat-coloured hair was loosely piled on her head, allowing a few manipulated curls to frame her oval face.

“She is pretty,” Alice said beside her, startling her.

“Did you have to sneak like that?” Rebecca complained, her cheeks warm with colour.

Alice grinned, not a stitch of remorse in her dark eyes. “You’re usually more aware of your surroundings,” she said. “I wondered what had your attention. It was rather obvious when I saw the young woman. She must be Lady Ruth, but the question is why you’re interested in her.”

Rebecca averted her eyes. “Why would I be interested in her? I was merely curious about the guests.”

“Mhm,” said Alice, raising an eyebrow. “From what I gathered, you do not like the vicar, so you would not care to look upon him. Lady Ruth is the one who interests you. Why?”

Rebecca had probably said and thought the following words hundreds of times before, but she never grew tired of them—Alice was far too perceptive for her liking at times.

“She’s a new person,” said Rebecca. “I need to be aware of all the people in Lady Oakham’s life.”

Fortunately, that was true. However, it wasn’t the reason she wanted to see the young woman. The real reason was far too embarrassing to talk about, even to her friend and confidant.

“That is true, but I still find the way you’re doing it rather strange,” Alice said.

Rebecca said nothing because another man appeared soon after the vicar and Lady Ruth. He was much older, nearing sixty. She couldn’t recall Lady Oakham saying anything about another guest. All was made clear when Lady Hannah appeared as the guests moved towards the hallway, the look of happiness on her face rather obvious.

“That must be Mr Cruikshanks,” said Rebecca.

“It seems the duke wasn’t aware of his arrival,” Alice commented, pointing at the beautiful man following his aunt. “I hope he doesn’t scold his aunt.”

Alice was right. He seemed surprised and displeased, although he was trying hard to hide it. Unfortunately for him, his attempts did nothing to mask how he really felt. Rebecca almost felt sorry for him. The duke hated not being in control, but one couldn’t control everything all the time—the sooner he learned this, the better.

“His Grace loves his family,” said Rebecca. “He’s not one to remain angry too long.”

“You know this after just a few days?” Alice asked. “I know you’re quite the spirit-reader, but the duke is a complex man who keeps to himself.”

“I have seen enough, Alice,” Rebecca replied.

She had seen enough and felt too much where the duke was concerned. If a few days could bring about such results, she shuddered to think what weeks and months would do, especially since she had vowed to help him overcome his emotional blockages. It wasn’t good to be so suppressed. People didn’t realize it caused physical illnesses. Not every sickness began in the body.

Many started in the mind and manifested in the body through weakness, headaches, weak stomachs, fainting, and listlessness. Rebecca had experienced many such instances where she had to help someone heal their mind while strengthening their body. It was one of the most emotionally tiring situations, leaving her to seek rest for days afterwards.

“We should return to our workroom,” she said, turning away from the scene below. “We need to categorize the new herbs we bought this morning and mix our balms and salves.”

“We would have more if we were not giving our supplies for free to every servant with an ailment,” Alice complained. “I know that we get from the rich to give to the poor, but these servants cannot be seen as poor. They earn good wages, eat for free in the house, and experience good working conditions. They can afford to buy what they need.”

“We need to stay in this house for a few months,” Rebecca pointed out. “It would be better to forge good relationships to ensure our stay goes smoothly. Helping them with a few ointments does not hurt us.”

Alice shook her head. “You are too good, Becky,” she said. “You spend hours tending to the family, only to help the servants as well. What must I do to make you pause and think about yourself?”

Rebecca smiled. “That is why I have you. You do all the worrying about my well-being. Besides, you are right beside me whenever I spend sleepless nights poring over medical journals and old texts about herbs and healing methods. I couldn’t ask for a better assistant, friend, and sister.”

Alice pursed her lips, but her eyes had softened. “You’re trying to talk me out of being annoyed,” she accused.

“Is it working?” Rebecca asked.

Alice chuckled. “I can never stay angry at you, no matter what you do.”

Rebecca kissed her cheek, mildly regretting it when her friend’s eyes took on a look of adoration.

“Come, we have work to do,” she said, moving away from the draping.

Alice fell in step with her, her walk a tad bouncier than before. Rebecca really had to think twice before showing so much affection, but she was so used to doing it that she couldn’t ignore the urges.

“No wonder Lady Hannah took so much care in her appearance today,” Alice remarked along the way. “She is an attractive woman, but she looks so much prettier today.”

Rebecca agreed. The lilac dress worked well with Lady Hannah’s colouring, deepening the dark hue of her hair and giving her blue eyes extra sparkle. The gold jewellery around her neck and wrists added to her beauty, making her sparkle. Rebecca would have added diamonds to the ensemble to really make her shine brightly, but she tended to avoid giving her opinion on fashion unless people asked her.

“She looked lovely and happy, didn’t she?” said Rebecca. “I pray that whatever she wishes to happen will come true. She deserves a sweet, strong, and caring man in her life.”

“Can a man really be all three?” Alice asked. “I doubt it.”

Alice bore a grudge against all men, a feeling that stemmed from her childhood. She had suffered much abuse at the hands of her family, especially the male members. Only Rebecca knew the extent of what they did to her, which made her even more protective of her friend.

“Not all men are alike,” Rebecca said. “You know this, Alice. It wouldn’t be fair to place them in the same damned basket.”

“The Devil can take them all for all I care,” Alice said, shrugging her shoulders. “However, for the sake of procreation, he can leave a few behind.”

Rebecca chuckled. “My, how generous of you.”

Alice smiled. “Naturally.”

They entered her workroom, the pungent smell of herbs and other substances hitting their noses. It had taken three days to rearrange everything according to how she preferred to work, allowing them to also take inventory of what they had.

“I should make more of our tea for upset stomachs,” said Rebecca. “Lady Oakham still has a weak stomach and has drank several cups in the last two days.”

“At least she is eating more,” said Alice. “She seems to be warming up to breastfeeding the young lord, which probably explains why she is eating more. I like that she takes your advice without argument.”

Rebecca nodded. “She wants to be a good mother,” she said. “Can you see to the balms, and I’ll mix the dried herbs for tea? I’ll add a little more lavender this time. It makes the tea more fragrant and hides the slightly more bitter herbs.”

Alice nodded. “Those herbs are bitter,” she agreed. “I heard one of the maids mention they have several beehives on the property. We should gain approval from the duke to harvest it. We need the honey and the wax.”

“Only if they do not need it,” said Rebecca. “Now, what did I do with that olive oil? I wish to infuse it to soothe his lordship’s rash while I massage him later.”

“But we are already applying the soothing cream on his derriere,” Alice pointed out. “That is usually enough.”

“I know, but I wish to provide more relief, especially when massaging him,” said Rebecca. “The heat of my hands might cause some discomfort, so I need the oil to soothe the area.”

“Oh, I see,” Alice replied. “You truly think of everything.”

“That is what they are paying me for,” said Rebecca, measuring dried dandelions into a sachet. “Use some tallow in the balm for insect bites. It should moisturize the skin and hopefully help with the marks left behind.”

Alice agreed and entered the smaller room, where she got their large jar of tallow. Moments later, a servant appeared at their doorway, giving her startling news.

“You say the countess wishes me to join them?” Rebecca asked in disbelief.

“Yes, miss,” the maid replied.

“Why?” Alice asked, entering the room. “Miss Barnes has no reason to be with their guests.”

“I do not know, miss,” the maid said apologetically. “She merely sent me to ask Miss Barnes to join them.”

Rebecca didn’t know what to make of that. She was a commoner—she had no business sitting with them. While she was allowed much freedom among the Andrews, involving her with their guests was another thing altogether.

“I suppose I did say I wanted to see how Lady Ruth interacts with the family,” she said slowly, still trying to digest the request.

She could only imagine what Lady Ruth would think of her presence. The vicar might not mind too much, but the other guests might take offence.

“You should go,” Alice said.

“What about you?”

Alice scoffed. “I think the countess is well aware that I wouldn’t want to be part of their little party.”

“And I wish to be part of it?” Rebecca asked.

“Better you than me,” Alice said. “You are better with people. I’m far too abrupt and battle to hold my tongue. Perhaps she wishes to introduce you, or perhaps Lady Ruth is curious about you. The vicar must have told her about you. Did Lady Oakham not say that Mr Bartlett’s and Lady Ruth’s families know each other well?”

Rebecca nodded. “She did mention something to that effect. I suppose it cannot be helped. I’ll have to show my face and dismiss myself soon after.” She turned to the maid. “Will you inform Lady Oakham that I shall be along shortly?”

Rebecca needed to freshen up and perhaps change her plain dress into something a little better.

“Yes, miss,” the maid replied before hurrying away.

“Come, let me help you dress,” said Alice. “You wouldn’t want to keep the countess waiting.”

Rebecca agreed, selecting a soft green dress that worked well with her fair skin, chestnut-brown hair, and golden-brown eyes. Alice insisted she wear some jewellery—a gold necklace set with garnet and green agate. It complemented the dress well.

“A little more perfume and you’re all done,” said Alice, stepping back to admire her. “You truly are beautiful, Becky. Your inner beauty adds more shine to your outward beauty.”

Rebecca smiled, slipping her feet into white, soft shoes. “You’re biased,” she claimed.

Alice rolled her eyes playfully. “There is that annoying modesty,” she gently chided. “Go now. Show those guests how wonderful you are.”

“That is not why I’m going there,” Rebecca argued.

“Still,” Alice insisted, placing a hand on the small of Rebecca’s back and steering her to the door. “Tell me all about it later. I wish to know your opinion of Lady Ruth. The duke plans to marry her—at least she must be a little interesting.”

Rebecca found her heart clenching at the mention of the duke and his intention towards the young woman.

“We’ll have some tea in my room later, and I’ll tell you all about it,” she managed to say, slightly massaging her chest.

It oddly felt painful, a concerning development for her. This couldn’t have anything to do with the duke. It just couldn’t. Rebecca wasn’t willing to accept that she was jealous and even hurt that he would marry Lady Ruth. The woman had been in his life many years before Rebecca entered the Andrews’ home. She had no right to feel this way.