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Authors: Gayle Callen
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daughter’s companion, Lady Duncan,” Lady Warburton
said.
“Oh, yes, just last night at the ball. We had a lovely conversation. I was just telling
your husband that I wish to hire her away to work for me.”
The stark silence was only broken by Lord Warburton’s harrumph. Lady Warburton’s eyes
were narrowed as she focused on Faith.
“Miss Cooper, you wish to leave us?”
“Oh, no,” Lady Duncan interrupted. “She was quite loyal. But I insisted. I have quite
the connections at the registry office. I have already alerted them to expect you,
and to recommend their best companion and even a lady’s maid, if you’d like.”
Faith tried not to flinch. She did not want her employers to believe she had complained
about the amount of work she’d been given.
“They’ll even grant you the same wage price they guarantee to me, since I have hired
so many servants.”
The Warburtons exchanged a meaningful glance.
“But I’ve grown quite attached to Miss Cooper,” Adelia said stubbornly.
“And I can understand why, my dear,” answered the old lady. “But Miss Cooper is an
ardent believer in women’s rights, and I have use for such a mind.”
“Women’s rights?” Lord Warburton said, his nostrils flaring.
Oh, Lady Duncan was playing this perfectly, Faith thought with admiration.
“Have you expressed such sentiments to my daughter?” Lady Warburton demanded.
“I have not, my lady,” Faith quietly said. “I did not think you wished me to converse
about my beliefs.”
“And you thought correctly,” the woman retorted. She turned to her husband. “I believe
Miss Cooper might serve Lady Duncan well.”
“But—” Adelia began, only to be shushed by her mother.
Faith gave her a regretful look. Perhaps the girl really did value her opinion and
assistance. But Faith’s hands were chapped and painful, and she fell into bed exhausted
each night.
“Will you mind if I take Miss Cooper with me right now?” Lady Duncan asked.
“Oh, no, my lady, I couldn’t,” Faith insisted. “Miss Warburton has an outing with
friends at Vauxhall Gardens tonight, and I must help her prepare.”
“You, a lady’s companion, help her to dress?” Lady Duncan said doubtfully, eyeing
Lady Warburton.
“No, no, of course not,” Lady Warburton hurriedly said. “Lady Duncan, if you’d like
Miss Cooper’s companionship this evening, I’m certain it can be arranged.”
“Very good,” Lady Duncan said, rising to her feet. “I’ll send my carriage around for
Miss Cooper and her things this afternoon.”
She limped from the room without waiting for an escort, leaving Faith standing alone
with the Warburtons looking at her. The baron’s expression was disgruntled, as if
only the extra work of hiring a new servant bothered him. But Adelia and her mother
looked both betrayed and suspicious.
With a huff, Adelia turned her back and flounced out of the room.
Lady Warburton said stiffly, “Have you been so unhappy with your employment, Miss
Cooper?”
Without having to lie, Faith said, “Ma’am, I have not been looking for another position.
Lady Duncan’s offer was just as surprising to me as to you. I did not wish to offend
you in any way.”
“I would have said you could have refused the offer, but Lord Warburton does not care
for servants with ideas of equality, so this is for the best. Do go pack your things.”
Faith didn’t bother to bristle at the label “servant.” She was simply happy for so
little drama with her departure. She curtsied again. “Thank you for your kindness,
my lady.”
Not six hours later—and after being ignored by Adelia all day—Faith was in an expensive
carriage alone, being driven to her new home.
She was having second thoughts, only in that she hadn’t even done any research, had
simply accepted Lady Duncan for what she seemed to be. But the Warburtons had obviously
known of her, and she’d attended an
said.
“Oh, yes, just last night at the ball. We had a lovely conversation. I was just telling
your husband that I wish to hire her away to work for me.”
The stark silence was only broken by Lord Warburton’s harrumph. Lady Warburton’s eyes
were narrowed as she focused on Faith.
“Miss Cooper, you wish to leave us?”
“Oh, no,” Lady Duncan interrupted. “She was quite loyal. But I insisted. I have quite
the connections at the registry office. I have already alerted them to expect you,
and to recommend their best companion and even a lady’s maid, if you’d like.”
Faith tried not to flinch. She did not want her employers to believe she had complained
about the amount of work she’d been given.
“They’ll even grant you the same wage price they guarantee to me, since I have hired
so many servants.”
The Warburtons exchanged a meaningful glance.
“But I’ve grown quite attached to Miss Cooper,” Adelia said stubbornly.
“And I can understand why, my dear,” answered the old lady. “But Miss Cooper is an
ardent believer in women’s rights, and I have use for such a mind.”
“Women’s rights?” Lord Warburton said, his nostrils flaring.
Oh, Lady Duncan was playing this perfectly, Faith thought with admiration.
“Have you expressed such sentiments to my daughter?” Lady Warburton demanded.
“I have not, my lady,” Faith quietly said. “I did not think you wished me to converse
about my beliefs.”
“And you thought correctly,” the woman retorted. She turned to her husband. “I believe
Miss Cooper might serve Lady Duncan well.”
“But—” Adelia began, only to be shushed by her mother.
Faith gave her a regretful look. Perhaps the girl really did value her opinion and
assistance. But Faith’s hands were chapped and painful, and she fell into bed exhausted
each night.
“Will you mind if I take Miss Cooper with me right now?” Lady Duncan asked.
“Oh, no, my lady, I couldn’t,” Faith insisted. “Miss Warburton has an outing with
friends at Vauxhall Gardens tonight, and I must help her prepare.”
“You, a lady’s companion, help her to dress?” Lady Duncan said doubtfully, eyeing
Lady Warburton.
“No, no, of course not,” Lady Warburton hurriedly said. “Lady Duncan, if you’d like
Miss Cooper’s companionship this evening, I’m certain it can be arranged.”
“Very good,” Lady Duncan said, rising to her feet. “I’ll send my carriage around for
Miss Cooper and her things this afternoon.”
She limped from the room without waiting for an escort, leaving Faith standing alone
with the Warburtons looking at her. The baron’s expression was disgruntled, as if
only the extra work of hiring a new servant bothered him. But Adelia and her mother
looked both betrayed and suspicious.
With a huff, Adelia turned her back and flounced out of the room.
Lady Warburton said stiffly, “Have you been so unhappy with your employment, Miss
Cooper?”
Without having to lie, Faith said, “Ma’am, I have not been looking for another position.
Lady Duncan’s offer was just as surprising to me as to you. I did not wish to offend
you in any way.”
“I would have said you could have refused the offer, but Lord Warburton does not care
for servants with ideas of equality, so this is for the best. Do go pack your things.”
Faith didn’t bother to bristle at the label “servant.” She was simply happy for so
little drama with her departure. She curtsied again. “Thank you for your kindness,
my lady.”
Not six hours later—and after being ignored by Adelia all day—Faith was in an expensive
carriage alone, being driven to her new home.
She was having second thoughts, only in that she hadn’t even done any research, had
simply accepted Lady Duncan for what she seemed to be. But the Warburtons had obviously
known of her, and she’d attended an
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