Page 8 of A Lady to Reveal (Sherton Sisters 4)

Felicity smiled her thanks to the ostler who had offered her the words of advice. Leaving her bags with the servants after a few pangs of distrust, Felicity made her way to the large house. Again she hesitated, this time over whether or not she should go to the main entrance or search out the servants’ access. Resolutely putting her chin up, refusing to be cowed, Felicity marched up to the front door and was just reaching for the knocker when the door was pulled open.

“Miss Jones?” the servant asked without waiting for her to introduce herself. “Please, follow me, we’ve been expecting you.”

Taking a gulping deep breath to try to swallow the lump of fear that was lodged in her throat, Felicity took one last glance over her shoulder at the brightly setting sun before entering the dark, imposing foyer and following the servant, who had still not identified himself.

The large building that had seemed so thrilling and beautiful as they had driven up the long lane now felt even more intimidating, and Felicity fought the urge to tiptoe and whisper. Do not be intimidated, she scolded herself. She had made her choices. Even though she was realizing she had not thought her plan through as much as she ought to have, she was here now, and she intended to start off as she wished to carry on. That entailed not allowing herself to give in to fears.

Clearing her throat to ensure her voice didn’t quaver, Felicity spoke up. “One moment, please.” And then she stopped hurrying after the liveried man. After a few steps, he must have realized she was no longer following him. He stopped in his tracks and turned to her.

“My apologies, Miss, was I hurrying too fast for you? We’re that eager to have you settled. Her ladyship has been anxious for your arrival. But I should have thought.”

“No apology necessary,” Felicity assured him with a smile. She hoped she didn’t appear as relieved as she felt. She had worried her demonstration of independence might fail her. She hadn’t realized how anxious she had been until it was past. She cleared her throat again, quietly. “You didn’t tell me your name, but you seem to know mine.”

The young man blushed.

“Again, I’m sorry, Miss. The entire house has been abuzz with news of Miss Jones’ arrival. I should have introduced myself. I am John, head footman. Mr. Carter would have done a far better job of welcoming you, and he would have done so, if not for helping Coachman.”

Felicity waved away his concerns. She was no longer an important personage. She needn’t be greeted in any particular way. And she was thrilled with that development, certain she was going to enjoy her new role.

“Not at all, John. I’m glad the coachman is being cared for. I’ve never broken a bone before myself, but I’m told it is immensely painful.” She paused for a moment. “Thank you for stopping. After sitting all day, I wasn’t prepared to run, but I’ve caught my breath now. We can carry on.”

The footman flushed anew but didn’t comment further, merely carrying on leading her through the house, this time at a more sedate pace. Finally, he stopped in front of an open door before preceding her into the room.

“Miss Jones to see Lady Adelina,” he announced before bowing to the room and then hurrying away.

His announcement created a flurry of activity. The girl on the settee bounded up, clapping her hands before declaring quite dramatically, “Finally, what has taken you so long, Miss Jones? We have been waiting all the live long day.”

The other occupant of the room was, Felicity surmised, the housekeeper, Mrs. Betts. This older woman appeared distressed by her charge’s words but aside from ineffectual waving of her hands didn’t actually do anything about it.

“Yes, well, I can assure you it was a very long day for me, as well. I apologize if you had expected me earlier, but from what I understand, the stagecoach actually made exceptionally good time.”

“You travelled by stagecoach?” the girl stared at her as though she had committed another infraction.

“Since you didn’t send a carriage for me, there was little choice.”

The two stared at one another for a moment as though a battle of wills were taking place. It would appear that Felicity won as the child suddenly laughed and ran toward her, throwing her arms around her waist.

“I’m so glad you’ve come.”

Felicity met the concerned gaze of the watchful housekeeper and offered her a small smile.

“I’m happy to be here, as well,” she assured them both.

In that moment, Felicity realized she would have to continue blazing the trail as she hoped things would proceed. It didn’t seem likely anyone in the household had an idea how a companion ought to behave, and the housekeeper really wasn’t in a position to be ordering anyone of a higher station about. Felicity would have to take the lead.

“Do you think you ought to show me your room and mine before or after you offer me tea?” she asked the girl, who stared back at her for a moment. Finally, the youngster’s face was split with a grin.

“Are you terribly hungry? If you’ve been travelling all day, you’d probably like tea first, wouldn’t you?”

“I won’t faint away just yet, but I’m not up for a tour of the entire house before I’ve been fed.”

The child appeared undecided, so Felicity took charge.

“Why don’t we ask Mrs. Betts to meet us back here with some refreshments after you’ve shown me our rooms? How long do you think it will take for us to do that?”

Lady Adelina wrinkled her nose in doubt, so Felicity prompted her. “Fifteen minutes or half an hour? Or somewhere in the middle?”

“In the middle,” Lady Adelina pronounced with a smile.

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