Page 3 of Dancing with an Enigmatic Duke
“I could have taken another maid along, but I am very particular about my company these days.” Emmeline gave Jasmine a smile. “I think I am accustomed to having things my own way.”
The maid dipped her head. “May I have permission to speak openly, Miss?”
“I thought you were doing a well enough job of that,” Emmeline teased. “Please do.”
Jasmine’s cheeks had turned pink from Emmeline’s words. “You said you were hoping that you got to pick your husband. Are you of the mind that Lord Pentworth may not allow you to do so? He seems a reasonable enough man as men go.”
“You probably know more of him than I do.” Emmeline paused her washing and sighed. “I only remember His Lordship from our time as children before he went off to school.”
Jasmine stood to the side, not interfering with Emmeline but there if she should need help. “I have only worked in his employ for a short time, Miss.”
“Then we are both in the same predicament, I fear.” She fell silent as she bathed. Jasmine stood by silently. Emmeline tried not to think about the woman, or her brother and his schemes. Instead, she thought of home. What would Caeley be doing? Finally, when she could tarry no more, she said, “I am ready to get out, Jasmine.”
“Yes, Miss.”
Emmeline shivered at the rush of cool air as she rose out of the warm water. Jasmine swiftly wrapped a large towel around her. “I’ll get your robe while you dry off, Miss.” She was swiftly out of the room before Emmeline could say anything.
While the maid was absent, Emmeline dried herself and wrapped the towel around her shoulders. When Jasmine returned, she draped the robe around Emmeline’s shoulders and took the damp towel from her.
“Fetch me the pale yellow dress out of my case, will you?” Emmeline requested. The maid had been a fair worker and a sweet soul thus far.
“Of course, Miss.” Jasmine led the way into the bedroom with Emmeline right behind her.
Emmeline tugged her robe around her tightly. “There is a terrible draught in here.”
“It might be the window.” The maid laid down the dress on the bed and hastened to draw the heavy drapes over the lighter curtains. “Is that better, Miss?”
“Some, yes,” Emmeline said with a shiver as she shed the robe. With Jasmine’s help, she was dressed as swiftly as one could expect with all the layers that a lady must wear. Emmeline felt more herself once she was dressed and seated in front of her dressing table.
Jasmine pinned Emmeline’s hair in place and smiled at her. “You have such lovely honey-coloured hair. Was your mother fair?”
“She was. I inherited her hair and Father’s stature.”
“You are very tall, but it suits you well, Miss.”
“Thank you. But a good deal of the men I have met do not hold that opinion. They want sweet, demure wives who can tilt their heads up sweetly to look at them through their lashes. It’s hard to do that unless I kneel with some of them.” Emmeline looked over at Jasmine as the maid laughed. She tried to stop herself but failed miserably, and eventually Emmeline joined her in the laughter.
Finally, Jasmine professed, “I’m so sorry, Miss. I didn’t mean to laugh so.”
“Nonsense, it was humorous. It felt good to laugh. It has been a spell since I have done that.” Emmeline gave Jasmine a bright smile in the dressing table mirror. “Please do not apologise for it.”
Jasmine smiled back at Emmeline in the mirror. “You are a kind soul, Miss.”
“I do not suppose that will aid me much in the coming season, but perhaps some grand figure of a man will see me for who I truly am.” Emmeline sighed picturing the chances of that happening as very slim. “Here I am going on like a yearling fawning over the new flowers in the field. Mother always said I was quite stubborn. I shall have to set my mind to prove her right.”
Jasmine nodded smartly. “I think you shall do just that. You seem a woman with a good head on her shoulders, Miss. You should be fine.”
She stepped back as Emmeline admired the hairstyle that she had created. “At least I will look wonderful thanks to your administrations. Will you be here through the season?”
“Yes, Miss. I had better help the kitchen staff. We’ve been a bit understaffed as of late.”
Emmeline nodded. “Of course. When will the evening meal be?”
“In about half an hour, Miss. Do you want me to show you where the dining room is? It is on the way to the kitchens, and I would not mind at all.”
Emmeline nodded. “That would be fine. Then I can take a walk around to prepare my body for the meal at hand.”
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