Chapter 10

CHAPTER 10

T he housekeeper was a kind but fastidious woman, and she lost no time in making sure that Cressida understood the way the household was run.

"We've been ordered to assist you with whatever you need," she told Cressida. "Should you want a book from the library, or something to eat or drink, you need only call on the nearest member of the staff."

"Surely I can fetch books from the library on my own," Cressida protested. "Why don't you show me where it is, and if I find myself in need of anything I will take care of it."

"That's our job, Lady Feverton," Mrs. Boggs said firmly.

Cressida still struggled with recognizing the name Lady Feverton as having anything to do with her. Every time someone mentioned it, she had to fight the urge to look around and try to find out who they were talking to. She did fight it, of course. It was important that she appear confident and capable to the members of the staff, and that included not letting them witness her struggle with her new role.

And she knew that she needed to assert herself. She needed to ensure that the housekeeper, and the rest of the staff, understood that while they might have been here longer than she had, Cressida was determined to do her part as lady of the house.

"There's no reason I can't get the books I want from the library," she said. "Besides, I would much prefer to have the opportunity to view the collection and make my choices based on what I find there. I can't very well say to you, I would like a book . How could you hope to come back with one I'd want? You haven't even known me long enough to know my taste. I'm sure you and I will come to a place of knowing one another that well, but we aren't there yet."

"Lord Feverton never permits anyone into his library," Mrs. Boggs said. "Only the staff are allowed in—never any of his guests."

"Well, I'm not a guest," Cressida pointed out. "I am the lady of the house. And the library is not only Lord Feverton's. It's mine as well. I can search for it on my own, though, if you would prefer I find my own way?"

She'd had a feeling that that would work, and she wasn't disappointed. Mrs. Boggs' eyes widened as if she had been threatened. "You mustn't do that, Lady Feverton," she said. "Lord Feverton would take great exception to that sort of thing."

"I'm sure he wouldn't mind," Cressida said. "He reminded me himself that this was my home now. Well, if that's true, then I can't see why I shouldn't explore it to my own satisfaction. But if you truly think he would object, you can always direct me to the library."

"And if I do, you won't go poking around anywhere else?"

"I can't think why I would need to do that."

It wasn't a promise. Cressida knew it, and by the dubious look on Mrs. Boggs' face, she knew it too. But she must have realized that it was as good as she was going to get.

"Very well," she said. "Come along, then, and I'll show you the way."

The library turned out to be at the very back of the house on the first floor, though when Mrs. Boggs had opened the doors, Cressida found that the room itself was two stories high. It was beautiful, filled floor to ceiling with shelves, and she found herself—for the first time—not minding that Matthew had left her on her own. There was plenty here to occupy her. In fact, perhaps it was for the best that he had gone. His absence would allow her that much more time to explore the books at her leisure.

She walked into the center of the room and turned a slow circle, taking it all in. Mrs. Boggs remained by the door, watching her closely.

"There's not much light in here," Cressida observed. "Is there no fireplace?"

"Not in this room. Lord Feverton is particular about having flame near his books. He doesn't even keep a lantern in here. He brings one with him when he needs it, but more often he chooses to remove the books to another room in order to read them."

"Well, this room is being wasted, then," Cressida said. "We ought to do something about that. Perhaps if we put in wall-mounted lanterns that could be lit, far enough away from the shelving that Lord Feverton wouldn't need to worry about the safety of his books. That might be a good solution." She looked at the higher shelves. "We also need more ladders in here to make it easier to reach some of these books. Who in the household should I discuss these things with?"

Mrs. Boggs blinged. "Lady Feverton…you can't mean to make such drastic changes to the library?"

"Well, not all at once," Cressida agreed. "I think we can begin by bringing in some handheld lanterns. You needn't worry, of course. They'd never be lit unless someone was in here! I understand the need to protect the books. And let me see—that chair in the sitting room, the cream-colored one? I'd like that brought in too, please."

"Lady Feverton, I don't think any of this is a good idea," Mrs. Boggs protested. "I assure you, Lord Feverton will not like it. He'll be angry that changes were made in his absence."

"He won't be angry ," Cressida laughed. She understood what was happening, of course. Mrs. Boggs had only ever served a single master in this house. She wasn't used to the idea of someone else having authority. She probably was genuinely worried that Matthew would be upset at his staff if any changes were made. But hadn't he made it clear to her that this was her home too, and that the staff were here to help her in whatever way she required? She wasn't going to hold back from what she thought was best for her house. "If something goes wrong, it will be me Lord Feverton holds responsible," she told the housekeeper. "He will understand that you and the rest of the staff were only ever following my instructions, which is what you're supposed to do. I'll ensure that he isn't angry at you. You mustn't worry, Mrs. Boggs. I don't want to see any trouble come your way, especially not over something like helping me."

Mrs. Boggs shook her head. "I don't think you understand how particular Lord Feverton can be," she said. "I assure you, he will not be comfortable with the changes you wish to make to his home."

"Well, be that as it may, this is my home too, and I've made up my mind," Cressida said firmly. "Now, if you truly feel that you can't help me, I will understand, and I'll do what I need to do on my own, but then things might be damaged."

She wasn't bluffing. Cressida was more than used to tending to her own needs. It was what she had done for years in her father's home. She had been the one responsible for making things happen. If she didn't take responsibility, the outcomes she sought wouldn't happen at all.

So she knew that if the staff refused to help her, she would be able to tend to her own needs. Finding lanterns to bring to this room would be an easy matter. Bringing the chair she wanted from the sitting room would be considerably more difficult, so she was hoping that the staff would make up their minds to help her. But it had to be done, that much was clear. There was only one chair in this room, a hard, wooden one with a straight back that would be horribly uncomfortable to sit in for any prolonged amount of time. As Cressida had now decided this was her favorite room in the house, one where she fully intended to spend a considerable amount of time, she was going to have to do something to make it a more comfortable space.

Mrs. Boggs sighed. "I can see that you're every bit as stubborn as he is."

"I assure you, I'm probably even more stubborn," Cressida said.

"I'll help you," Mrs. Boggs told her. "But I hope that, somewhere along the way, you'll decide I am worth listening to. Because, truly, I am. I've known Lord Feverton for a very long time—much longer than you have. I know what he's like, My Lady. I know how he will respond to seeing his possessions moved."

"I just don't see how it could possibly be such a problem," Cressida said. "It's only a few lanterns and a chair."

"And yet, I assure you, it will be a problem," Mrs. Boggs said. "You won't let me talk you out of this decision?"

"I've made up my mind."

Mrs. Boggs sighed. "Very well," she said. "I'm sure Lord Feverton would rather we help you to move his things than take the chance of you seriously injuring yourself by attempting to do it alone, so I'll arrange for some of the footmen to assist you."

"Thank you, Mrs. Boggs," Cressida said warmly, hoping that her sincere gratitude was apparent. "Truly, I'll make sure that you don't receive any sort of reprimand for this, even if Lord Feverton is upset by it. I'll make sure he knows the whole thing was my idea and that I made you go along with my wishes."

"I can tell that you don't believe it's going to be a problem," Mrs. Boggs sighed. "I suppose you'll just have to learn the hard way—there's nothing I can do to convince you if you're unwilling to listen. I just hope you remember this conversation when he comes home and it turns out I was correct, Lady Feverton. I don't say any of these things to cause you trouble. I'm trying to help you."

"I understand," Cressida said.

"Very well. I'll have some footmen come and help you make the changes you requested.

Mrs. Boggs left the room, shaking her head, apparently still in shock at Cressida's audacity.

Cressida couldn't honestly see what she had done that was such a big request. She was the lady of the house now, after all. She had always felt at perfect liberty to make whatever changes she liked in her father's home, and surely that must be even more true here, where she was a marchioness. Her new title was something Matthew had gone out of his way to make apparent to her. He must want her to feel comfortable here, to feel as if she could do whatever she needed to in order to make this place feel like her own.

Yes, Cressida was sure that she was right to do what she was doing. The problem was simply that Mrs. Boggs hadn't had to serve under anyone other than Matthew in a long time. She wasn't yet used to the idea that someone else could have authority in this house, but that didn't make it untrue.

Cressida walked to the shelves and began to look at the books. There were so many titles, and so many of them seemed interesting to her. She knew that she would be able to spend the entire time Matthew was in the city in this room, moving from book to book, immersing herself in their different worlds. And suddenly, for the first time, she was not at all sorry for the circumstances that had led her to this home and this unexpected new life.