Jonathan stared at the charcoal ashes in the large fireplace as he rested his hand on the polished stone mantle. It glistened in the afternoon light coming through the two large windows on the western side of the house. Letting his arm drop to his side, he wandered over to the nearest window and peered out over his vast estate. The views from this spot made his study one of his favorite rooms in the house. The pristine pond, the untamed wilderness, the immaculate gardens—it could all be seen from this prime vantage point. He found the sight most inspiring, especially when he thought back to the wretched state Tanglewood had been in only fifteen months prior. Now look at it. It was breathtaking and magnificent, just as he had hoped it would one day become.
If only his servants could inspire as much hope in him.
Jonathan clasped his hands behind his back and frowned. In the short fifteen months that he had owned Tanglewood, he had already been through several stablehands, a few footmen, and a handful of maids—not to mention three housekeepers. Three! He could not understand it. Had the overall integrity of people decayed so regrettably that no one could be trusted these days? If not for his butler, steward, and valet, Jonathan would have no faith left in humanity.
"Sir, Miss Notley's 'ere to see you."
"Thank you, Sally. You may send her in." Sally seemed like a good enough girl. She had a surliness about her that he didn't care for, but she was a hard and dependable worker. For that he was grateful.
Jonathan turned from the window as a woman walked into the room—a young woman, far younger than any housekeeper he had ever hired. She couldn't be more than twenty. Even more perplexing was her gown. Though simple, it was well made and finer than most in her station. The bonnet she carried appeared finer still.
Rather than drop her gaze to the ground and offer him a quick curtsy as most would have done, she met his gaze with lovely blue eyes. Honest eyes. Telling eyes. Eyes that told of her anxiety and determination, along with her surprise. Apparently Jonathon wasn't what she had expected either. Perhaps she had pictured him older, uglier, or stodgier, as he had pictured her.
He gestured to an armchair adjacent to the fireplace. "Would you care to take a seat, Miss Notley?"
"I would. Thank you, Mr. Ludlow." Her cultured speech further surprised him. She moved gracefully towards the chair and sat down on the edge of her seat. The light from the windows glinted off her hair. He could see now that the color was a rich auburn rather than the dark brown he had first supposed. Smooth and shiny, it had obviously been well cared for.
Who was this woman, and where had she come from? Jonathan had never laid eyes on her before. He was certain that if he'd caught even a glimpse of her, he would have remembered those blue eyes, high cheekbones, and full lips. She was quite beautiful.
"I have been told you are here to inquire after the housekeeping position," he said for clarification. Perhaps he had misunderstood Sally. He felt as though he should be offering her some refreshment, not interviewing her for a position.
Miss Notley pressed her lips together for a moment before squaring her shoulders. "That is correct, sir."
He continued to watch her, wondering about the circumstances that had brought her to this point. "You are not from around here, are you?" he asked.
"I have come from Essex."
"Essex is a far cry from Yorkshire. What has brought you this far north?"
She swallowed and seemed to choose her words carefully. "I was in need of a change, sir."
"A change of scenery?" he inquired.
She hesitated a moment. "A change in circumstances."
Jonathan waited for her to continue but she did not. What did that mean, exactly? Surely a housekeeping position was not a change most people would desire. Unless… Was she running away from something? Or, more likely, someone?
"You are not in some sort of trouble with the law, are you?"
"No." Her shoulders relaxed somewhat. "I have committed no wrong in the eyes of the law, I assure you. I am a person of integrity."
Jonathan had no reason to continue to pry into her personal matters, but her cryptic answers intrigued him. What had brought her here and why did she wish to be his housekeeper? Was Miss Notley even her real name? She claimed to be a person of integrity, but was she truly?
Jonathan had dismissed his previous housekeeper only two days before, so Miss Notley must have already been in Askern. Where was she staying? At the inn? "May I enquire how you came to hear about the housekeeping position?"
"Of course. Katy Thompson is… an acquaintance of mine. I believe she once worked as a maid in this house and is currently employed at Knotting Tree."
Knotting Tree, mused Jonathan, mentally adding another piece to the riddle that was Miss Notley. Were the Shepherds acquaintances of hers as well? No, how could they be? If she was a guest at Knotting Tree, she wouldn't be here looking for work. Perhaps she was a relative of Katy's, though he found that unlikely as well.
"I remember Katy Thompson," mused Jonathan. The chit had flirted outrageously with any male servant, causing a great deal of mischief in his household. Jonathan had put up with it until he caught her kissing one of his stablehands during working hours. He had no tolerance for any sort of dishonesty, and they had both been dismissed immediately.
Jonathan took a seat across from Miss Notley and studied her for a moment. "Forgive my bluntness, but you seem very… young to be seeking such a position."
She raised her chin a notch. "I am not quite two and twenty, sir, but whether that is young, old, or exactly right is a matter of opinion. To the elderly, I may seem very young indeed, but to a babe, I would appear quite ancient. The question you must answer for yourself is whether I am the right person for the position or not."
Jonathan found her frankness refreshing and even smiled a little. "Are you the right person for the position?" he asked.
"That is for you to determine. Not I."
"Ah." His smile widened as he settled back in his chair and pressed his fingertips together. "Well, Miss Notley, you should be glad to know you have passed the first test."
Her brows drew together in confusion. "What test was that, sir?"
"That you recognize me as the commanding figure in this household. I must admit that you strike me as the sort of person who might be prone to overstepping the bounds of your authority."
Her gaze dropped to her lap for a moment before meeting his once more. "I cannot deny that I may overstep, as you put it, but if I do, you may feel free to set me firmly back in my place. I shall go without complaint, I assure you."
Her reply elicited a chuckle from him. Jonathan could not remember ever having such an interesting interview before. "Tell me of your qualifications," he said.
Panic appeared on her face, and she quickly averted her gaze to her lap. "Yes, of course. My qualifications…" her voice trailed off and her forehead furrowed.
Jonathan brushed his chin with his index finger, enjoying the way she fidgeted and squirmed. "It must be an extensive list if you cannot think where to begin," he said dryly.
She drew her lower lip into her mouth. The look she finally directed towards him was one of chagrin. "Actually, sir, the list is not so extensive as that."
Trying to hide his mirth, he asked, "Can you tell me at least one thing that might recommend you?"
She cast her eyes about the room as though looking for inspiration. When her gaze landed on his desk, she brightened. "I have a solid head for numbers, sir."
"My steward manages most of the accounts."
"Oh." She bit her lip again and frowned before brightening once more. "I am an adequate manager of people."
"Only adequate?" Jonathan couldn't help the chuckle that erupted with the words. Her forehead creased again, and he could practically see her mind churning. She was probably thinking over every encounter she ever had, attempting to judge if that made her more than adequate with people or not.
"Tell me this, Miss Notley," Jonathan said, feeling an unaccountable desire to rescue her. "Could you see to it the maids perform their duties with precision and in a timely way?"
"Certainly."
"Could you dismiss a maid if she fails to accomplish what is expected and search out a suitable replacement?"
"Of course."
"Could you handle the purchasing of household and grocery items and work in conjunction with my cook, Mrs. Caddy, to make sure that the pantry and larder are well stocked at all times?"
Miss Notley was a little slower to answer that question. "I believe so."
Jonathan leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. "A housekeeper must account for all linens, silverware, soaps, candles, and the like. In other words, the store room would be entirely under your management as well." He allowed her to mull over those duties for a moment before adding, "You say you have a solid head for numbers, so I'm assuming the responsibilities of inventory and provisioning should not be a problem for you."
"No, sir." Based on the way her back straightened slightly, she seemed to take at least a little confidence from that.
"When I have dinner guests," Jonathan continued, "Mrs. Caddy prepares the food, but the housekeeper sees to it that it is served in a pleasing, organized, and timely fashion. Is that something you would feel comfortable overseeing?"
"Certainly," she said, though the word sounded a bit strangled as though she had to force it out.
"Lastly, there's the matter of the still room, which is also managed by the housekeeper. We have a maid specific to that room who will be at your disposal, but a housekeeper must know how to do everything from pounding sugars and drying herbs to pickling vegetables, making preserves and vinegars, distilling waters, and even brewing a soothing tea whenever I feel a headache coming on."
Eyes large and round, Miss Notley stared at him with something akin to horror. Jonathan could barely refrain from laughing. He pressed his lips together to keep them from twitching and waited patiently for her answer.
She finally cleared her throat, and when she spoke, her voice was strong and confident. "I can read a recipe card and follow its directions with precision. I am also handy with the needle."
"My valet and the laundry maid typically do the mending."
She let out a breath, and her shoulders slumped as though she had finally recognized the futility of this interview. "Of course."
Jonathan steepled his fingers under his chin and considered her, wondering what to do. She was grossly unqualified, that much was certain, and he would be a fool to hire such a person. Yet there was something about her that gave him pause. Her frank honesty, perhaps? Her obvious vulnerability? Her show of inner strength? Could she, as she implied, learn how to be a decent housekeeper if given the opportunity?
"Might I see your references?" he asked, grasping for a reason—any reason—to retain her.
Surprisingly enough, her lips began to twitch, and she uttered what sounded like a snicker. When her telling blue eyes met his they were filled with humor. "Mr. Ludlow, surely you must know by now that I haven't any references. As my obvious lack of experience can attest, all I can truly offer is a willing heart and a desire to learn, which is clearly not enough. Please forgive me for taking up so much of your time. I will see myself out."
She took her bonnet by the ribbons, and Jonathan watched her rise with mixed feelings. Offering her the position would undoubtedly cause an uproar in his household—he could already hear Mrs. Caddy grumbling about the woman's many ineptitudes. But he had never met anyone who had spoken with such honesty. It was a rare quality indeed and one he was not anxious to let slip through his fingers. She seemed intelligent enough. Perhaps she could catch on quickly. She also seemed the genuine sort who could win over and possibly unite the rest of his staff. Was it possible, once she learned her duties and settled in, that she could become the housekeeper he had been searching for?
Jonathan did not know. But she inspired a hope in him that he had never felt from another candidate.
She was almost out of the door when his voice stopped her. "I feel it necessary to point out that you are overstepping the bounds, Mrs. Notley. I have not yet dismissed you."
Her body froze, and she slowly turned around. The look she gave him was one of bewilderment. "You mean Miss Notley, not Mrs. Notley, do you not?"
He rose from his chair and stepped towards her, clasping his fingers behind his back. "Married or unmarried, all housekeepers are called Mrs. as a show of respect."
Her mouth parted slightly before she snapped it closed. "You mean to say that—"
"Welcome to Tanglewood, Mrs. Notley." Jonathan had to resist the strangest urge to bow. "I pray you will be as good at managing the female staff as you have been at managing me."
Cora returned to Knotting Tree with a lightness in her gait. In her jubilation, the distance between the two estates felt like a short jaunt away, rather than the long walk it had seemed only an hour before. She had done what she had set out to do—what the Shepherds and the saucy maid, Sally, had led her to believe she would not be able to do. She had been offered the position of housekeeper at Tanglewood. How it had come to pass, she could not say, only that it had.
She skipped up the steps, and when Geoffries answered the door and led her down the long hallway to the library, her feet practically trotted across the marble floor as well. The grandness of the room, with its rows and rows of books, barely registered in Cora's mind as she sought out her host and hostess. Seated in a large wingback chair, Mr. Shepherd read from a book while Mrs. Shepherd sat at a small desk not far away, penning what appeared to be a letter. Both looked up when Cora entered. She quickly wiped the smile from her face, knowing they would not find her news nearly as pleasing as she did.
Mr. Shepherd closed his book and set it on a small table before standing and gesturing for Cora to take a seat. Mrs. Shepherd stood as well, coming to sit beside Cora on the settee.
"You appear conflicted, Cora," said Mr. Shepherd. "It has me rather intrigued. What news do you have for us?"
Cora clasped her fingers together to keep them from fidgeting. "I am conflicted, sir. While I believe the news to be most wonderful, I worry that you and Mrs. Shepherd will find it distressing."
He watched her for a moment, showing neither surprise nor concern. Mrs. Shepherd, on the other hand, could not hide her worry.
"You were offered the position," she said.
"Yes." Cora answered, almost cringing as she did so. How odd that she had known the Shepherds for less than a day and yet she desired their good opinion far more than she had ever desired it from her own mother and father.
"I see," Mr. Shepherd finally said, his expression still impassive. Cora had no idea what he was thinking and wished he could not mask his emotions so easily. She had never been able to hide how she felt.
"Stephen, surely we can't allow—"
"We can't not allow it, my love," he corrected his wife gently, looking at Cora. "Are you certain you have thought this through, Miss Notley?"
"I have, sir, and I am determined. I will report tomorrow morning for my first day." She paused, choosing her next words with caution. "I know you think I am about to commit a monumental folly, but it is my folly to make, is it not?"
His lips lifted slightly at that. "It is."
Mrs. Shepherd cast a warning glance at her husband. "Yes, but you are under our care now, and it is therefore our duty to make certain that you understand the consequences of your choice. Please consider carefully before you move forward with this."
"Tanglewood feels so hollow." Cora blurted, needing them to understand. "When I first entered its walls, it seemed to be missing its heart and I didn't much care for the place at all. But after I had spoken with Mr. Ludlow, I felt… differently. I no longer believe Tanglewood has no heart. I believe it's merely broken and in need of fixing."
Cora pressed her lips together, trying to form her emotions into words. "I should very much like for my life to serve a purpose—to do something good, something of value, something that will make me feel useful and needed. This afternoon I have been offered such an opportunity, and I would like to take it. My decision is no longer about running away or making myself appear less desirable to the likes of Sir Gowen. It is about discovering what capabilities I have outside of the drawing room and exploring any and all possibilities. Tarnishing my reputation is merely a perk."
Mr. Shepherd smiled a little. "I believe you are the only young lady of my acquaintance who views a tarnished reputation as a perk."
An answering smile lifted Cora's mouth. "If you ever have the unlucky experience of meeting Sir Gowen, I daresay you would consider it a positive as well."
"I hope never to have such an opportunity."
Mrs. Shepherd's brow remained creased. "Tell me, Cora, what was your opinion of Mr. Ludlow?"
"Mr. Ludlow?" Cora thought back to the moment she had laid eyes on the man. She had noticed his height immediately and had been surprised by how young he looked. He couldn't be much more than thirty. He was also handsome, but not in the usual way of gentlemen. He had allowed his hair to grow longer than was fashionable and kept it a bit unruly. But it seemed to fit him, as though he was a bit unruly or even untamed. He moved and spoke with an air of intelligence and confidence, and his striking green eyes had made her feel transparent. When he smiled, a charming dimple had appeared on his left cheek. The sight of it had the most perplexing effect on her stomach—almost like a tickle, but not quite.
Cora nearly touched her stomach at the memory, but quickly chided herself for such silliness. Goodness, she was about to be the man's housekeeper, not his partner for the next dance. She needed to remember her place and not allow her mind to dwell on Mr. Ludlow despite his pleasing appearance and mysterious ways.
Cora forced her mind to other things she had noticed—his kindness, professionalism, and candor—and finally gave Mrs. Shepherd an answer. "I thought him intelligent, eloquent, and fair. I made my inexperience known, he stated his expectations, and… well, he seemed pleased enough with my answers to offer me a chance."
"You were perfectly clear about your… er, abilities?" Mrs. Shepherd pressed.
"Or lack thereof?" Cora smiled. If she had made anything perfectly clear, it had been that. "Yes, I most certainly did."
She frowned. "And he still offered you the position."
"Yes."
"I see." Mrs. Shepherd lapsed into a thoughtful silence, saying nothing more. Cora found herself wondering what the woman saw that she didn't. Had Mr. Ludlow been wrong to offer her the position? Did Mrs. Shepherd believe he'd taken leave of his senses?
Perhaps he had, thought Cora with a frown of her own.
When Mrs. Shepherd spoke again, she seemed to choose her words carefully. "While I cannot condone this plan, I do agree with Mr. Shepherd that we are in no position to tell you what you may or may not do with your life. If you truly mean to go through with this, all I can offer you is my hope that the experience is everything you want it to be. But if it is not, or if you find yourself in a situation that you no longer wish to be in, please know that you always have a place here with us."
"Yes," agreed Mr. Shepherd. "And we would very much like for you to pay us a visit on the first afternoon you have free. We will be most anxious for news."
Cora nodded as a feeling of nervousness settled around her. The tension in the air made it seem as though the Shepherds foresaw something she didn't. But what?
"Thank you for your kindness to me," said Cora. "If you truly will not mind having a housekeeper call on you, I will most certainly visit."
"You can come as a scullery maid and we would welcome you with open arms," said Mr. Shepherd.
Cora's heart warmed at his words. "That is good to hear. I'm very much afraid that once Mr. Ludlow realizes the full extent of my incompetence, he will surely reduce me to the scullery."
The comment produced a smile from Mrs. Shepherd. It was only a small one that didn't quite reach her eyes, but it was a smile nonetheless. Cora would have to content herself with that.
"You will probably be given a few uniforms for your work," said Mrs. Shepherd. "But I should think that you will want something more than what you brought with you to wear on your afternoons off. Since you have denied me the opportunity to take you on a shopping excursion, would you allow me to outfit you with a few of my older gowns instead? We seem to be of a similar height and size. I'm certain we can find a few things that will fit you nicely."
Cora would never admit it out loud, but one of the most difficult things about leaving Danbury—aside from saying goodbye to Lady Harriett—was walking away from her extensive wardrobe. Her father had insisted that she be as well dressed as any of the gentry, and Cora had never fought him on that score. What woman didn't enjoy having lovely clothes to wear? It was one of the blessings of wealth she would miss most.
She looked gratefully at Mrs. Shepherd. "I should like that very much."
"I am glad to hear it. Why don't you go up to your room, and I will meet you there in a short while?"
Cora nodded and rose slowly, feeling strangely hesitant to leave. As she walked down the hall and up the grand staircase, she thought of how drastically her life was about to change. Today, she was a welcomed and honored guest returning to her lavish bedchamber. On the morrow, she would take on the role of a servant—one who would be required to look for dust and discrepancies rather than be at liberty to enjoy the beauty surrounding her.
Once she reached the landing, Cora realized she had left her favorite bonnet on the settee. Turning around, she quickened her steps down the stairs. Geoffries was nowhere to be seen, so Cora lifted her hand to knock on the library door, only to be stopped by the voices of Mr. and Mrs. Shepherd coming through a small crack.
"But we know so little about him," Mrs. Shepherd was saying. "He may seem charming and kind at social engagements, but he has never been forthcoming with personal information and is still a mystery to everyone in town. We don't even know what brought him to Askern, let alone where he came from. What if he is no gentleman at all? Surely he could see that Cora has been well educated and brought up in a situation of some wealth. One look at her gown and bonnet would make that much obvious, to say nothing of her refined speech. I cannot help but wonder at his reasons for hiring a beautiful young woman who is not skilled at all in housekeeping. I own, I am fearful for her safety."
"My dear, you must calm yourself," urged Mr. Shepherd in that tranquil way he seemed to approach every situation. "Mr. Ludlow has always behaved as a gentleman, and until proven otherwise, he must remain a gentleman. That said, I do think it is past time that we further our acquaintance with our nearest neighbor, wouldn't you agree?"
"Yes," Mrs. Shepherd said. "I have a great many questions I should like him to answer."
Mr. Shepherd chuckled. "You mean to interview him as he has interviewed our Cora?"
"I think it only fair I should be allowed to do so," she said.
He laughed. "And we shall, together. But not overtly, of course. Rather, we will probe and question in a subtle, neighborly way so that Mr. Ludlow will be none the wiser."
"And should we detect even the smallest amount of indecency in him, you must promise that you will remove Cora from Tanglewood immediately."
"Of course." A moment of silence followed before Mr. Shepherd's voice sounded again. "Something is still bothering you. What is it?"
"I feel as though we are sending our kitten to the wolves. Perhaps I worry too much."
"It does you credit, my love. But off you go now. Cora is surely awaiting your arrival with the promised gowns."
Cora quickly spun around, lifted her skirts, and raced back up the stairs and into her room. She closed the door, breathing heavily. Only moments before she had felt like a confident woman ready to take on the world, but now she felt young and naïve, like a fanciful schoolgirl who had no notion of what the real world was like. Her heart pounded in the most unnerving way, and for the first time since accepting the position, Cora experienced doubt.