Page 12 of The Heiress in Disguise
“Because you know you don’t belong at society parties, Ella. You’re only a servant. There’s no place for you at events such as this.”
Angelique said nothing. She and her aunt both knew that she did belong at society parties. Her father had been the Marquess of Exeter. It was much stranger to exclude her than it would have been to allow her to attend. It was so strange, in fact, that Aunt Wilhelmina felt the need to hide her completely.
There was a reason she didn’t want Angelique coming out of the kitchen during the festivities, and Angelique knew it—she was afraid that Angelique would be recognized.
“I know I can’t come out,” Angelique said. “I’m supposed to be in France, after all.”
“Is this a complaint? You ought to be grateful that you aren’t really in France. I could have sent you, you know. I could have sent you off to live with your mother’s family—God knows whether or not they wanted you, but that wouldn’t be myproblem. If you’re so unhappy with your lot, I’ll send you off tomorrow.”
It was an empty threat, and Angelique knew it. Aunt Wilhelmina had been threatening to send her to France for years now, and she’d never done it. Maybe she was afraid there would be consequences for her if she didn’t take responsibility for her brother’s daughter, or maybe she had simply gotten too used to having a servant she didn’t have to pay.
Angelique thought the latter was most likely closer to the truth. But either way, she was sure that if her aunt was going to send her away, she would have done it already.
Nevertheless, there was no reason to upset Aunt Wilhelmina. She wouldn’t be sent to France, but she would certainly be retaliated against. “I don’t mean to complain at all,” she assured her aunt. “I was merely reassuring you that I understand the situation.”
“I should hope so,” Aunt Wilhelmina said. “I don’t think it’s too complicated, nor would I say it’s expecting too much of you that you know your place in this household and keep to it. I don’t want to see you out of the kitchen all night.”
“You won’t,” Angelique pledged.
Now Gwyneth came into the room. She surveyed Angelique’s work with a critical eye. “The left side is hanging lower than theright, Ella,” she lectured. “Our guests will think we were raised in a barn if we can’t get the garlands even. Fix it, please.”
“I don’t suppose you’d give me a hand?” Angelique couldn’t see how she was going to hold the right side in place and raise the left side at the same time.
Gwyneth sneered. “That isn’t really my responsibility, is it?”
“Just fix the garland, Ella,” Aunt Wilhelmina snapped. “It really isn’t too difficult. Or if it is, perhaps I can bring Molly in here to do this, and you can take over her work for the rest of the day.”
Angelique applied herself to straightening the garland. Aunt Wilhelmina had kept Molly on as a scullery maid after she’d taken over the household, insisting that there was no need forEllato have a governess, but that she would let Molly stay out of the goodness of her heart.
In truth, Angelique wouldn’t have minded switching chores with Molly for a day—Molly didn’t deserve to be relegated to such hard labor, and it seemed fair enough to Angelique that she should take a turn.
But having Molly come out here and work for her aunt and cousin would be no relief. Aunt Wilhelmina and Gwyneth would be as exacting and unforgiving to Molly as they were being to Angelique. They loved to heap abuse on the heads of the few remaining staff members who had once worked for Angelique’sfather, and they were always looking for some excuse to let Molly go. It was best to keep her out from under their critical gazes and away from that risk.
“You know, Gwyneth,” Aunt Wilhelmina said as Angelique worked on the garland, “we have a new neighbor. Just moved in. According to your father, that house has been empty for years, but now it’s occupied.”
“Curious,” Gwyneth said, in a tone that implied she wasn’t very curious about it at all.
“The young gentleman living there is on his own, apparently—well, they say his parents will be joining him shortly, but for now it’s only him.”
“I see.” Gwyneth perked up slightly. “Will he be joining us for the masquerade?”
“I believe he will, yes, and you really ought to do your best to endear yourself to him. You know it’s your father’s hope that you should marry after this season—and mine as well.”
“Of course,” Gwyneth said. “I have no doubt it will happen. But Mother, we don’t know anything about this gentleman. How will we know if he’s suitable?”
“That’s what the party is for, you silly thing,” her mother said. “You’ll have the chance to get to know him. Your father and I will do the same and make a judgment as to whether he’s fit for you or not. But based on all I’ve heard I expect to find him more than satisfactory.”
“But what if he’s hideous?” Gwyneth fretted.
“No, I don’t think you need to worry about that. None of us have set eyes on him yet, but they say he’s quite handsome. According to the gossip about town, he’ll be the most eligible bachelor at the party, and I expect my daughter to be the one who wins his attention at the end of the evening.”
“I know who you’re talking about,” Angelique said suddenly, unable to help herself.
They both turned on her. “What do you mean,youknow who we’re talking about?” Aunt Wilhelmina snapped. “How could you possibly know the new neighbor?”
“I didn’t mean to say that I knew him,” Angelique said. “Only that I knew who you were referring to, because I met his stable hand.”
“How could you have met his stable hand?” Gwyneth demanded, as if it was a personal affront to her that Angelique should have met anybody at all.
