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Authors: Gayle Callen
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closer, “but it is getting more difficult to write all the letters and speeches
required of me. My hand tires far too swiftly these days, as do my eyes. Cursed old
age, yet I am glad to still be suffering through it, instead of in the ground. I am
not so anxious to join my late husband yet.”
“You’ve made a generous offer, Lady Duncan, and I am flattered, but I certainly cannot
leave my charge in the middle of the Season.”
“And why not? Are you a poor relation?”
Faith grinned. “No, ma’am, I have no attachment except that I’ve given my word.”
“Are you happy there?”
She hesitated, and then said nothing.
“So you are not happy, and from the looks of the Warburton girl, I imagine she’s not
good company for a mind like yours.”
Faith blushed. “That is a generous compliment, ma’am, but I am in training—of sorts.”
“In training? Do explain.”
“I wish to become a trusted chaperone, not simply a companion. Surely it will be best
if I remain with a young lady to learn more of what I need to know.”
“I like a girl with plans. A chaperone first and foremost needs to understand Society, and I can teach you everything you need to know. Leave it to me, young Miss Cooper.
I will see to our mutual happiness.”
She started to rise with the aid of her cane, and when Faith jumped up to take her
elbow, Lady Duncan peered up at her.
“One thing you can learn—unless I ask for help, I do not need you to offer it.”
Faith quickly pulled her hand away. “Forgive me, ma’am.”
“Of course I do. You act with sweet kindness. Until we meet again.”
She limped away, crossing the middle of the dance floor, not even looking both ways.
People cleared a path, even if they had to bump into each other in the middle of the
waltz.
Faith covered her mouth to hide her laughter. She slowly sank back into her chair,
dazed and hopeful, but she was used to not expecting much. And then she had a thought—she
hadn’t mentioned her employer’s name. How had Lady Duncan known it?
Oh, whoever had pointed out Faith must have told her.
“Miss Cooper, please come with me to the ladies’ retiring room,” Adelia called, moving
past Faith’s chair without even stopping.
Faith rose up, trying not to sigh.
And trying to remind herself that for all she knew, Lady Duncan would entirely forget
their conversation by the next morning.
B ut instead of forgetting the conversation, Lady Duncan arrived midmorning, before
the Warburton ladies had even gone shopping, let alone were expecting visitors. Faith
heard about her arrival while she was working on Adelia’s hair.
Lady Warburton came into the room, wearing a pinched frown. “We have a visitor, Adelia,
the Countess of Duncan. Do hurry preparing her hair, Miss Cooper.”
Faith’s hands had slowed to a stop on hearing the name of their visitor, but she quickly
pinned up the last curls, leaving a few to dangle artfully near Adelia’s ears. Her
pulse was fluttering with excitement, even as she told herself to calm down.
The young woman frowned, but her mother snapped, “It will have to do. Ladies? The
countess is waiting.”
But to their surprise, Lady Duncan was not in the drawing room, where the butler had
left her. Faith let out her breath, not believing that she’d come all this way just
to change her mind.
And then they heard voices, and followed the sound downstairs to Lord Warburton’s
study.
Lady Duncan was seated before his desk, hands clasped on her cane. She turned her
head and smiled. “Ah, your lovely family. Do introduce me, Warburton.”
Standing up, he cleared his throat, giving his wife a frown as he said, “Lady Duncan,
may I introduce my wife, Lady Warburton, and our daughter, Miss Adelia Warburton.
And of course, you tell me you’ve already met Miss Cooper,” he added coolly.
Faith bit her lip and curtsied with the other ladies.
“I did not realize you had met my
required of me. My hand tires far too swiftly these days, as do my eyes. Cursed old
age, yet I am glad to still be suffering through it, instead of in the ground. I am
not so anxious to join my late husband yet.”
“You’ve made a generous offer, Lady Duncan, and I am flattered, but I certainly cannot
leave my charge in the middle of the Season.”
“And why not? Are you a poor relation?”
Faith grinned. “No, ma’am, I have no attachment except that I’ve given my word.”
“Are you happy there?”
She hesitated, and then said nothing.
“So you are not happy, and from the looks of the Warburton girl, I imagine she’s not
good company for a mind like yours.”
Faith blushed. “That is a generous compliment, ma’am, but I am in training—of sorts.”
“In training? Do explain.”
“I wish to become a trusted chaperone, not simply a companion. Surely it will be best
if I remain with a young lady to learn more of what I need to know.”
“I like a girl with plans. A chaperone first and foremost needs to understand Society, and I can teach you everything you need to know. Leave it to me, young Miss Cooper.
I will see to our mutual happiness.”
She started to rise with the aid of her cane, and when Faith jumped up to take her
elbow, Lady Duncan peered up at her.
“One thing you can learn—unless I ask for help, I do not need you to offer it.”
Faith quickly pulled her hand away. “Forgive me, ma’am.”
“Of course I do. You act with sweet kindness. Until we meet again.”
She limped away, crossing the middle of the dance floor, not even looking both ways.
People cleared a path, even if they had to bump into each other in the middle of the
waltz.
Faith covered her mouth to hide her laughter. She slowly sank back into her chair,
dazed and hopeful, but she was used to not expecting much. And then she had a thought—she
hadn’t mentioned her employer’s name. How had Lady Duncan known it?
Oh, whoever had pointed out Faith must have told her.
“Miss Cooper, please come with me to the ladies’ retiring room,” Adelia called, moving
past Faith’s chair without even stopping.
Faith rose up, trying not to sigh.
And trying to remind herself that for all she knew, Lady Duncan would entirely forget
their conversation by the next morning.
B ut instead of forgetting the conversation, Lady Duncan arrived midmorning, before
the Warburton ladies had even gone shopping, let alone were expecting visitors. Faith
heard about her arrival while she was working on Adelia’s hair.
Lady Warburton came into the room, wearing a pinched frown. “We have a visitor, Adelia,
the Countess of Duncan. Do hurry preparing her hair, Miss Cooper.”
Faith’s hands had slowed to a stop on hearing the name of their visitor, but she quickly
pinned up the last curls, leaving a few to dangle artfully near Adelia’s ears. Her
pulse was fluttering with excitement, even as she told herself to calm down.
The young woman frowned, but her mother snapped, “It will have to do. Ladies? The
countess is waiting.”
But to their surprise, Lady Duncan was not in the drawing room, where the butler had
left her. Faith let out her breath, not believing that she’d come all this way just
to change her mind.
And then they heard voices, and followed the sound downstairs to Lord Warburton’s
study.
Lady Duncan was seated before his desk, hands clasped on her cane. She turned her
head and smiled. “Ah, your lovely family. Do introduce me, Warburton.”
Standing up, he cleared his throat, giving his wife a frown as he said, “Lady Duncan,
may I introduce my wife, Lady Warburton, and our daughter, Miss Adelia Warburton.
And of course, you tell me you’ve already met Miss Cooper,” he added coolly.
Faith bit her lip and curtsied with the other ladies.
“I did not realize you had met my
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