Isabella woke in the morning with her neck sore and confused as to where she was. She felt a light shaking and realized she wasn't alone. She sat up quickly, confused by the jacket laying over her.
“Lord Bellfourd,” she stammered looking at the tall figure standing over her. “I’m so sorry, did I fall asleep? Wait, is it morning?” She looked around the room, noticing it was much lighter.
“Yes,” Lord Bellfourd said with a chuckle. “I’m sorry to say I kept you up far too late last night. You fell asleep and I couldn’t bring myself to wake you.”
“So, we stayed here all night?” Isabella asked, dancing between confusion and horror.
“No. I had a very restful night in my own bed. You, however, did sleep here all night. It is still early though. I thought I should come wake you before the servants found you. I figured there had been enough talk about you last night.”
“Yes,” Isabella said, standing up.
She did her best to brush the wrinkles out of her delicate velvet dress and feel that her hair wasn’t too much of a terrible mess.
“I’m sorry. I must be a dreadful sight,” Isabella said.
“Not at all,” Lord Bellfourd said with a soft smile.
It made Isabella blush. She handed back his coat from the previous night without looking up at him again. He had no need for it. He had already changed into a vibrant green morning jacket and a soft blue waistcoat that brought out the color of his eyes.
“Well, I had best be off, then,” he said taking a step back from Isabella. “I will see you at breakfast, though?” he half stated, half asked.
“Yes, of course, Lord…I mean, Christian,” she corrected herself, much to his satisfaction.
Isabella hurried up the stairs of the west wing and into her room. She found a basin of hot water already waiting for her. She prayed that it had been Betsy who deposited it.
Betsy wouldn’t mention Isabella’s unused bed without asking her about it first. Any of the other maids, however, and she was likely already circulating gossip in the dining hall.
After changing into a fresh cotton dress in a soft pink with a blue waist ribbon, she did her best to re-do her hair before making her way out of the room again.
Isabella stopped in to see Jackie who was having her morning meal with Mrs. Murray.
“Oh, Miss Watts, wasn’t yesterday so exciting!” Jackie said, upon seeing her teacher.
“Exciting is not the word I would use,” Isabella said in return.
“May we get our caterpillars today, since we could not get one yesterday?” Jackie asked in her sweet fashion.
“Are you feeling well enough to venture out again?” Isabella looked her pupil over. She was wearing a navy-blue cotton dress with matching spencer jacket, all decorated with small, blue velvet bows around the trimming. Mrs. Murray had fashioned Jackie’s golden locks into a long loose look with two matching, blue ribbon bows to adorn it.
She didn’t seem to be feeling ill or looking pale to Isabella, but she wasn’t going to take chances.
“I am very well, thank you,” Jackie responded politely, like rote memorization.
“Well, if you promise you are feeling well, and there is absolutely no chance of rain, then I see no reason why we can’t go and collect some specimens,” Isabella said with a light tease.
After promising to return after breakfast, Isabella made her way down to the morning room. She was, however, stopped short in the hall by Mrs. Peterson.
She stood there, as if she had been waiting for this moment to come.
“It is only a matter of time before His Grace is well again,” she stated simply.
Isabella was fully aware of her meaning. As soon as the Duke of Wintercrest was well enough to move about, the estate duties would fall back to him. All Mrs. Peterson would need was one more reason to dismiss Isabella, and the duke would be much more easily swayed than Lord Bellfourd.
“I pray every day that His Grace will recover quickly,” Isabella responded, indifferent to the woman’s threats.
Isabella held on to the comfort of Lord Bellfourd’s words from the night before. He would never allow her to be removed from the estate. Surely, his word would have more sway with his father than that of the housekeeper.
Isabella didn’t wait for a response from Mrs. Peterson but, instead, walked past her without a second glance. Her heart was racing, and she struggled not to ball her fists. It was horrid of that woman to harass her so.
Though Isabella did pray every day for the duke to return to health, she couldn’t help but think of the day that Lord Bellfourd would be solely in charge. On that day, she was sure Mrs. Peterson would find herself without employment. Isabella hoped that she would still be around to see that day come to fruition.
“Good morning Your Grace, Lady Abigail,” Isabella said, coming into the breakfast room.
She let the whole encounter with Mrs. Peterson wash away from her memory.
“Sarah, my lady’s maid, told me this morning that Jacqueline and yourself got caught in the downpour yesterday afternoon,” Lady Wintercrest said in conversation. “I do hope you both didn’t get too wet. It is a terrible time of the year to be exposed to sickness.”
“We did get caught, quite unexpectedly. I am happy to say that I visited Jackie just this morning and she was in good health and spirits.”
“Yes, I expect she found it to be a fun adventure,” Lady Abigail added.
“Indeed, she did," Isabella agreed.
“Rainstorms can be hard to spot in these parts,” Lady Wintercrest continued. “I, myself, got caught in a few when I first came to Wintercrest. Sometimes a good soaking is beneficial for the skin,” she added with an encouraging smile.
Lord Bellfourd entered the room and, greeting all present with a good morning, took his place at the table.
“Christian, I am so glad you are here. I was worried we wouldn’t see you this morning after you had such a late night in the library.”
For an instant, Lord Bellfourd flashed his crystal eyes in Isabella’s direction, but she didn’t look back. He was satisfied with the little rose coloring that brushed against her cheeks at the mention of the late night.
“Yes, I had a lot of work to get through, Mother.”
“Well, I hope the worst of it is done. I have just received very exciting news in the morning post. It seems that Lady Cunningham, as well as her daughter Lady Lydia, have accepted my invitation. They will be joining us here no later than the end of this week.”
“That’s wonderful for you, Mother. I am glad to hear that you will get some time to visit with such a dear friend of yours.”
“Well, it is not just good news for me, but for you as well,” Lady Wintercrest encouraged.
“Oh yes, dear brother,” Lady Abigail giggled, in teasing fashion. “This is your opportunity to secure a most desirable match.”
Lord Bellfourd gave his sister a pointed look that showed he didn’t like her joke. “I don’t think Lady Lydia will find Wintercrest to her liking,” he said, obviously referring to himself and not to the estate.
“Well, of course, she would. Why shouldn’t she? Wintercrest is a wonderful place that any young lady would be honored to call home,” the Duchess replied, clearly understanding the undertone message her son was getting across. “That said, I do expect you to be at your very best,” Her Grace added as an afterthought.
“Of course, Mother. I had told the cook to roast a whole animal in front of the house, as the natives in the West Indies do, but since I am to be on my best behavior I will cancel the meal,” Lord Bellfourd retorted with a tease.