Page 38 of Educated By the Earl (Second Sons of London 1)

Chapter Eleven

Tessa braced herself,holding on to the bed’s post while Abra tightened her stays. The hardest thing to get used to again had been wearing a corset. She had abandoned the practice during the long days in the sickroom with Mama and continued the practice when she nursed Papa after his apoplexy attack. It was easier to do so. She’d spent many hours with her parents, seeing no one else, often coming to bed in the wee hours of the morning. She hated to ring and awake a maid to help free her from her stays so she had simply stopped wearing them.

She had grown used to merely wearing her chemise and a gown atop it, tossing on a shawl when the weather grew chilly. Living with her uncle and his family, though, had changed all that. There was no way she could go about the country house, much less the Uxbridge townhouse in London, without donning the proper undergarments.

“Is that tight enough, my lady?” Abra asked, always in tune to Tessa’s moods even after so short a while in service.

“Yes, it is perfect.”

“Do you still wish to wear the gown we discussed?”

“I do.”

She watched as Abra claimed the midnight blue gown, one of many she had made up for everyday wear and the upcoming Season. After four years in the country and never purchasing a single gown during that period, her wardrobe was sadly lacking. Everything needed updating. Her uncle refused to let her spend any of the money left to her by Papa for her new outfits, however. He told her she was as a daughter to him and the gowns would be his gift to her. She had kept her old gowns, intending to give them to the poor. Instead, she had passed them along to Abra, who was but an inch shy of Tessa’s height and had a similar build. Both women had high, firm breasts and small waists.

Abra appreciated the gift of the gowns and had even, under Bridget’s tutelage, added trims to some of them. She had decided to wear only a few of the gowns when she had her half-days off every other Sunday and take the others to a charity organization she said had been good to her while she lived on the streets. Tessa still couldn’t believe Abra had survived as long as she had that way and was glad fate intervened and led them to one another. Tessa was pleased with her new lady’s maid in every way.

Except her praise of Lord Middleton.

As Abra lifted the gown over Tessa’s head and brought it down, she said, “It’s a good thing the earl and countess are giving a dinner in the earl’s honor. He’s a little on the quiet side. Mind you, I don’t think he’s unfriendly but folks could perceive him to be that way. I think he’s the kind that once he warms up to you, he’s fine.”

He’d certainly warmed up to Tessa. By kissing her.

Much as she had tried, she couldn’t help but think of their kiss. How unexpected it was, both in the timing and the kiss itself. The kiss had made her feel powerful and feminine and yet weak and submissive. It had emboldened her and yet made her cower when she thought of it.

At least she had made her feelings known to him. He might think he wanted to pursue her but she had no intentions of being pursued. She hoped he would take her at her word and leave her alone because she did not want to be rude to him. She would, though, if he kept after her. Lord Middlefield was not the sort of man who would make for a good husband, despite everything he had said to her. Tessa believed him far too handsome. She didn’t want to be a wife who always worried about her husband straying. Louisa had told her that husbands usually did that very thing once an heir had been provided. Lord Middlefield would attract far too much attention from other ladies.

Yet as she seated herself at her dressing table in order for Abra to style her hair, she thought of some of things he had told her. About his father and brother ignoring him. How he wanted a large family and would treat his sons and daughters equally. How he would love them.

And his wife.

With passion.

She glanced up and saw her cheeks flooding with color and quickly cast her eyes downward again, not wanting to draw Abra’s attention. The girl now brushed Tessa’s long, curly locks.

“You do have wonderful hair, my lady. It’s nice not to have to use the curling tongs like Bridget does on Lady Adalyn.”

“My hair’s texture is good for some hairstyles but not other ones. Adalyn’s hair, while straight, can also be curled. That allows her to wear a larger variety of styles.”

“Your cousin is nice but I’m glad I am your maid.”

She frowned. “Do you think Adalyn treats Bridget ill?”

“No, not at all,” the servant assured her. “Bridget likes Lady Adalyn. So do I. I’m just glad you’re the one who found me. It will be exciting going through your first Season with you. Finding you a husband. Like that nice Lord Middlefield.”

“Abra,” Tessa warned. “I have heard quite enough about the earl from you. I know your opinion of him. Mine is quite different, however. You see him as brave and dashing and handsome. I view him as arrogant and domineering. I seek a much gentler man.”

“No, you don’t,” Abra corrected. “You are opinionated and strong-willed, Lady Tessa. Those are good things. But you don’t want a milksop to boss around. You need a strong man—like Lord Middlefield. I’m not saying it has to be him. But someone like him. Not a man who can be pushed around. One who can give as good as he gets. One who will stand up for you when needed because you’ll be doing the same for him.”

She did want a man who would stand up for her. Just not Lord Middlefield.

Then why couldn’t she stop thinking about him?

And that kiss.

She fell silent, letting Abra work her magic. When finished, she exclaimed, “I believe this is the most flattering style you have created thus far, Abra.”

The maid grinned. “You’ll be the talk of the dinner table, my lady, what with your blue eyes and that dark blue gown and your golden hair making you look like an angel. Who knows? Maybe one of the gentlemen at dinner tonight might turn out to be your husband by this time next year.”

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