Chapter 14

When Agnes opened the door to bring in Anna’s breakfast tray, she was surprised to see the girl was already awake and dressed. Her bed was made, her nightshirt carefully folded on her dressing stool, and she sat in a window seat, reading a book from one of the bookcases about the room.

When she saw Agnes, Anna stood and smoothed out her altered gown. Agnes stared at what she had done to it. Gone were the pearls and crystals that had covered the bodice and the lace had been rearranged to conceal more of Anna’s small breasts.

Standing shyly, Anna waited to hear what Agnes would say about what she had done to the gown. When the woman didn’t say anything, Anna’s heart began to sink.

“Do you think Lord Beauchamp will be angry that I have changed it?” Anna asked quietly.

Agnes put the tray down and walked over to Anna. Walking around her, inspecting the job she had done, Agnes nodded her head.

“I think you have done a very good job in the alterations,” Agnes said, nodding her approval.

“Where are the gems that were on it?” she added, remembering the girl’s greedy father.

Anna smiled and moved to her dressing table. She returned with a small dish filled with the discarded crystals and pearls handing it Agnes.

“His lordship is anxious for you to join him in his study,” Agnes said while arranging her breakfast on the table.

“Of course,” Anna said, remembering the reason she was here. “I will eat quickly and be ready in just a few minutes.”

“Very well,” Agnes said, “I will send Melissa to collect you soon.”

Standing at the door Agnes watched Anna for a few moments.

‘Could she be the one?’ she asked herself. ‘She is so young. Will she be able to understand Christian? Will he be able to be patient with her?’

Shaking her head sadly, Agnes closed and locked the door.

Anna sat down to her breakfast, and though she tried, she could not eat more than a few bites of the delicious pastry. Her mind was occupied with worry upon worry. How would Lord Beauchamp react to what she had done with his gift? How were her sisters fairing? How was her father? With all these questions and more occupying her thoughts, she did not hear her bedroom door open.

“Are you ill?” came a soft, but concerned question.

Anna looked up to see the young woman who’d brought her tea the night before, dressed simply in grey wool, the type Anna had thought she would be wearing herself.

Shaking her head, Anna smiled and stood.

“Just wool gathering,” she said, standing. “You are Melissa, right? I didn’t get a chance to talk to you last night.”

“Yes ma’am,” she said with a courtesy. “Mrs. Goodwife sent me to bring you to Lord Beauchamp’s study.”

Taking a deep steadying breath, Anna took one last look at herself in the mirror to be sure of her appearance, and followed Melissa into the hallway.

“If you will follow me and stay close. The stairs and hallways can be confusing until one gets used to them,” Melissa said.

“How long did it take you to get used to them?” Anna asked as they turned down a winding stairwell.

“Not long. A few years,” Melissa said over her shoulder.

“Years,” Anna said, stopping dead in her tracks. “Surely you misspoke.”

Melissa also stopped and turned to look at Anna guiltily.

“You are right, miss,” she said. “I did misspeak. I meant weeks, not years.”

Anna could see that Melissa was scared and possibly lying, but decided that this was not the time to press the matter.

“Of course,” she said, “I thought that’s what you must have meant.”

Melissa visibly relaxed at not being questioned further and turned to resume leading the way.