12. Chapter 12

Chapter 12

E velyn limped into her room, leaving a trail of mud and grass in her wake. Her entire body ached, and she longed for nothing more than to sink into a hot bath and wash away the evidence of her misadventure. With trembling fingers, she reached for the bell pull, giving it a firm tug.

Moments later, a soft knock at the door heralded Nell's arrival. Evelyn called for her to enter, bracing herself for the maid's reaction.

As Nell stepped into the room, her eyes widened comically, taking in Evelyn's bedraggled appearance. The maid's hand flew to her mouth, barely concealing the spark of amusement that danced in her eyes.

Evelyn couldn't help but chuckle softly at herself. "I'm afraid I've made rather a mess of things, Nell," she said, gesturing ruefully at her mud-caked dress and tangled hair.

Nell's lips twitched, fighting a smile. "That you have, miss," she agreed, her voice tinged with barely suppressed laughter. "Shall I draw you a bath?"

"Please," Evelyn sighed gratefully. "I fear I'll need to soak for hours to get all this mud off."

As Nell bustled about preparing the bath, she wrangled a couple of footmen to carry the small hip bath into her room. She also enlisted some scullery maids to fill it. Meanwhile, Evelyn attempted to peel off her ruined stockings. The fabric clung stubbornly to her skin, and she winced as she tugged at a particularly stubborn bit.

"Here, let me help you with that, miss," Nell offered, kneeling beside her. With deft fingers, she gently eased the stockings off, revealing Evelyn's mud-streaked legs.

"I don't suppose there's any hope for these?" Evelyn asked, holding up the tattered remains of her stockings.

Nell pursed her lips, examining the fabric critically. "I'm afraid not, miss. They're beyond saving, I'd say."

Evelyn sighed, tossing the ruined stockings aside. "I'm beginning to fear that this position will be harder on my wardrobe than I had considered."

A look of confusion crossed Nell's face at Evelyn's words. "Begging your pardon, miss, but didn't you have a proper governess wardrobe already? Most in your position would have clothes suited for country life."

Evelyn's heart skipped a beat. She'd slipped up, revealing more than she'd intended. Thinking quickly, she forced a rueful smile. "I wasn't always a governess, Nell. I'm afraid I've always had a weakness for pretty things. Practicality wasn't my strong suit."

The maid's expression softened, a hint of understanding in her eyes. "Ah, I see. Well, we'll have to remedy that, won't we? Can't have you ruining all your nice things."

As the last of the servants filed out, leaving the bath steaming invitingly, Evelyn rose from her chair. A sudden chill swept through her, and she shivered, wrapping her arms around herself.

Nell noticed immediately. "Oh, you're freezing, miss! Let's get that fire going properly."

Evelyn watched in silent admiration as Nell knelt before the hearth. With practised ease, the maid coaxed the embers back to life, adding kindling and logs until a cheerful blaze crackled in the grate. The warmth began to seep into the room, and Evelyn felt a pang of envy at Nell's skill.

"There we are," Nell said, dusting off her hands as she stood. "That should warm you up nicely while you bathe."

"Thank you, Nell," Evelyn murmured, her gaze still fixed on the dancing flames. "I must confess, I'm rather in awe of how easily you managed that."

Nell's eyes widened in surprise. "It's nothing special, miss. Just a bit of practice, that's all."

Evelyn nodded, trying to hide her embarrassment. She'd revealed yet another gap in her supposed experience, and she couldn't afford many more such slips.

Evelyn sank into the hot water with a grateful sigh, feeling the warmth seep into her aching muscles. The gentle lapping of the water against the copper tub soothed her frazzled nerves, and she closed her eyes, allowing herself a moment of pure bliss.

"Would you like me to help wash your hair, miss?" Nell's voice broke through her reverie.

Evelyn's eyes fluttered open. "Oh, yes, please. That would be lovely."

As Nell's nimble fingers worked through her tangled locks, Evelyn felt herself relax further. The maid's touch was gentle yet efficient, which made Evelyn feel grateful for the unexpected kindness.

"You've got such beautiful hair, miss," Nell remarked, her voice tinged with admiration. "So thick and such a lovely chestnut colour."

Evelyn hummed in acknowledgement, her mind racing. Here was an opportunity to learn more about the family without arousing suspicion. She chose her words carefully. "That's very kind of you to say, Nell. The twins have rather striking hair as well, don't they?"

"Oh, yes," Nell agreed enthusiastically. "It's quite something to see, especially when the sun catches it just so."

Sensing an opening, Evelyn pressed on. "I wonder, did they inherit that from their mother?"

Nell's hands stilled for a moment before resuming their task. "They did indeed, miss. The late Lady Hastings had the most beautiful hair you've ever seen. A proper halo of red-gold curls, she had."

A small giggle escaped Nell's lips, and Evelyn tilted her head slightly, curious. "What's so amusing?"

"Oh, it's nothing really," Nell said, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "It's just... Well, from stories I've heard of his youth, the Baron has always seemed to prefer fair hair, you see."

Evelyn's breath caught in her throat, her mind immediately flashing to the moment the Baron had reached out to brush the mud from her face. She forced herself to keep her voice light and casual. "That's fortunate indeed." She paused, focusing on scrubbing at herself to remove the mud on her neck. "Was it a love match between them, then?"

Evelyn waited, her heart inexplicably racing as Nell paused, considering her question.

"Oh, it was a true romance, miss," Nell sighed wistfully. "The sort you read about in novels. Lady Hastings, she was something special. A true country lass, she was."

Evelyn's fingers tightened imperceptibly on the edge of the tub. "How so?"

"She could speak to the farmers about their crops one moment. Then, she would turn around and charm the finest lords and ladies in a drawing room the next," Nell explained, her voice warm with admiration. "Never put on airs, she didn't. Always had time for everyone, no matter their station."

A curious heaviness settled in Evelyn's chest, her mood souring for reasons she couldn't quite fathom. She frowned, trying to untangle the knot of emotions that had suddenly formed within her.

"I see," she murmured, her voice barely audible over the gentle lapping of the bathwater.

Nell continued to work her fingers through Evelyn's hair, rinsing away the last traces of mud. "There we are, miss. Shall I rinse it once more?"

Evelyn nodded, closing her eyes as Nell poured clean water over her head. The coolness was a welcome distraction from her tumultuous thoughts.

"Thank you, Nell," Evelyn said at last, forcing a smile. "I believe I can manage from here."

"Of course, miss. I'll send the footmen up later to remove the bath," Nell replied, gathering up the soiled clothing. "Is there anything else you need?"

Evelyn shook her head. "No, thank you. You've been most helpful."

As the door closed behind Nell, Evelyn rose from the bath, wrapping herself in a soft robe. She padded across the room to the small mirror perched atop her dresser, sinking onto the stool before it.

Her reflection stared back at her, pale and drawn. Droplets of water clung to her skin, and her damp hair hung in tangled waves around her face. With a sigh, Evelyn reached for her brush, beginning to work through the knots.

As Evelyn brushed her hair, her mind wandered back to the earlier encounter with the Baron. Her hand slowed, the brush hovering mid-stroke as she recalled the way he had looked at her before departing. There had been something in his eyes, a flicker of... what? Concern? Interest? She couldn't quite place it, but the memory made her pulse quicken.

She found herself reliving the moment he had lifted her effortlessly from the mud. His strength had surprised her, his hands firm yet gentle as he'd set her back on her feet. Evelyn's cheeks warmed at the recollection.

Then there was that instant when he'd reached out, his calloused fingers brushing away the mud from her face. The touch had been brief, fleeting, but Evelyn's stomach did a little flip as she remembered it. His grey eyes had locked with hers, and for a heartbeat, the world had seemed to stand still.

Evelyn shook herself, resuming her brushing with renewed vigour. "Don't be foolish," she muttered to her reflection. She'd sworn off men completely, and for good reason. It had been easy enough to keep that vow, especially after giving up Richard.

At the thought of Richard, a familiar ache bloomed in her chest. The pain might have dulled over time, but it hadn't disappeared entirely. Evelyn set down her brush, her hands clenching into fists in her lap.

"Never again," she whispered fiercely, renewing her vow to keep men out of her heart. She'd learned her lesson the hard way, and she wouldn't make the same mistake twice...thrice. No matter how intriguing the Baron might be, she couldn't afford to let her guard down.

That night, as she was preparing for bed, there was a small sound outside of her door. Evelyn, tucked safely into her bed, was reluctant to leave it again. The old manor house was always creaking and groaning as if it were alive, the wind moaning around the corners. It had Evelyn constantly on edge enough as it was. Still, she picked up the small candlestick next to her bed and cautiously set out to investigate.

On opening her door and peering into the hallway, Evelyn saw nothing at first. She was preparing to close the door again when she happened to look down. There, placed carefully just beyond the threshold, were her beautiful blue shoes. They were perfectly cleaned with only a slight dulling of the silk to suggest they were anything other than new.