Bertrice Small - Fascinated

He hurried off, leaving the Devil's Disciples to their lustful and bacchanalian revels. He reached the house just behind Lucinda and John.

She flung herself into his arms and kissed him most passionately. "Thank you, my lord," Lucinda told him happily.

"I must attend to my guests," he said. "I shall not see you again, Lucinda. You will leave at first light tomorrow for London. All has been arranged for your journey. I understand that John will go with you. We shall not meet again." He gently removed her arms from about his neck.

"We shall meet at the Countess of Whitley's ball, sir. You have promised me, and I know you will keep your promise."

He kissed her hand, smiling almost ruefully. "I will," he agreed.

"Then, we shall meet again, for I shall find you there," she told him.

Lady Lucinda Harrington's traveling carriage drew up before the well-scrubbed white marble steps of Three Traleigh Square, on a bright September afternoon. The coach had barely drawn to a stop when the door to the house opened, and several footmen, clad in dark blue and silver livery, ran out to greet it. John, seated with the coachman on the box, raised an inquiring eyebrow, for he had been told Lady Lucinda would be hiring new servants herself. The door to the vehicle was opened, the steps pulled down, and a footman's hand steadying hers, Lady Lucinda descended from the coach, shaking her skirts free of wrinkles.

"Who are you?" she demanded of the footman.

"James, m'lady. The bishop and his wife are awaiting you inside." He led the way.

So, Lucinda thought, George and his better half are here. I certainly hope they are not thinking of remaining. I am hardly ready to receive visitors, and certainly do not want house-guests while I entertain my eager suitors. She hurried up the two marble steps, and into the bright hallway of her house.

"Luci, m'dear!" Her brother came forward smiling. "How was Ireland, and how is darling Julia?" He beamed approvingly at her.

"My summer was quite enlightening, Georgie," Lucinda responded coolly, moving past her brother to embrace her sister-in-law. "Caro, you are blooming, dearest. How kind of you to come up from Wellington. Where are you staying? At your sister's? And should you be traveling at this late date in your confinement?"

"Why, Luci, we are staying here," her sister-in-law said nervously.

"You cannot," Lucinda said. "I have not yet hired any servants. I have just my Polly and her intended, John, who acts as my footman." She turned to her brother again. "Georgie, can you get a license for Polly and John so they can be married right away? They will be returning to the country after the Whitley ball. John is to take over his father's smithy. Isn't it lovely for our Polly?" She smiled brightly at her brother, who was beginning to look confused.

"But, Luci, m'dear, the duke sent over enough servants for your little house," he said. "There is no need for you to be bothered interviewing and employing any others."

"George, I am shocked at you. I cannot take such a generous gift from Rexford. Why, Hargrave and Bertram would think I had made a decision without giving them a fair hearing. No! No! No! No! Rexford's servants must leave my house this very day and return to their master." She turned again, and pinned the attending footman with a sharp look. "James, gather your people up and return to your master's house immediately."

"Ohh, Lucinda," her sister-in-law wailed, "you will insult the duke, I fear."

"It is he who has insulted me by suggesting I would accept such a gift, generous as it was meant to be," Lucinda responded. "I shall make my own decisions as I always have."

"You do not seem much changed, Luci," her brother said suspiciously.

"Why on earth would a summer at Julia's change me, Georgie?" she replied innocently. "I am the same woman as ever." She smiled wickedly at him, pleased to see him pale.

"Your promise, Luci. You do mean to keep your promise, don't you?" He was definitely distressed now.

"What promise?" her sister-in-law inquired.

"I promised Georgie before I left London in June that I would reconsider the possibility of remarrying, and I have. Georgie will announce my betrothal at the Countess of Whitley's ball in November, Caro. I would never break a promise to my dearest and most favorite brother."

"Ohh, how exciting!" her sister-in-law cried. "Who have you chosen, Lucinda? Is it Rexford, Hargrave, or Bertram? Do tell us!"

Lucinda laughed, and shook her head. "I shall tell no one until the night of the ball," she said. "Besides, I have not yet decided. You and Georgie may remain the night, Caro, but tomorrow you must return home to Wellington. I am a respectable widow about to be courted again, and I don't want a family about inhibiting my suitors."

Caroline Worth giggled. "Lucinda, you are truly dreadful! Will you try them all, and make your decision by those means?"

"Why, Caro, what on earth do you mean?" Lucinda said primly, but her eyes were brimming with merriment.

"If you send Rexford's servants away, who is to cook dinner?" the portly bishop demanded

"Dinner is probably already prepared," Lucinda said. "Polly and John can serve us. Caro, you and Georgie have your servants with you, I'm certain. So we shall muddle through nicely. I will write a note to Rexford, thanking him for his generosity, but explaining why I cannot possibly accept it. John, is the luggage unloaded?"

"Yes, m'lady," the footman said.

"Polly, fetch my writing box, and tell James he is not to depart without my note to the duke, his master."

"Yes, m'lady," Polly replied with a curtsey.

"Now," Lucinda said, "let us adjourn into the salon."

In the morning her brother and his wife departed much to Lucinda's relief. "We need servants," Lucinda told John and Polly. "Not a great staff, but a good one."

"What will you need?" John asked her. He had worked in Lord Bowen's London house for six years prior to going to The Master.

"It's a small household," Lucinda considered. "A butler, perferably one who can read, write and keep the accounts," she began. "Six footmen, two footboys, a cook, a housekeeper, two chambermaids, three housemaids, a laundry maid, two scullery maids. Where will you find them?"

"I know plenty of servants in many of the big houses. There's always someone looking to move up the ladder, or unhappy with their position. I'll have us staffed in just a few days, m'lady. I'll pick only the best and bring 'em to you to interview."

John was as good as his word, but her lack of a staff that first week in London allowed Lucinda to avoid her eager suit-ors for several days, although they all called upon her the very next day after George had departed back to Wellington. Her footman showed the trio into Lucinda's morning room, for they had all arrived at her door at practically the same moment, their carriages drawing up one behind the other. Lucinda greeted them in an embroidered, rose-colored, sack-back dress with lace edging about the neckline. They tumbled into the room like a group of unruly puppies in their eagerness to see her, and gain her favor.

"My lords!" Lucinda's hand went to her throat as if surprised. "You take me unawares! I am hardly ready to receive visitors, even such distinguished gentlemen as yourselves. Please do be seated. May I offer you some sherry? John, please pour for our guests." She smiled at them and shrugged prettily. "I fear I am practically servantless at the moment and not able to properly entertain you."

"You should not be without servants if you had accepted the staff I sent you," the Duke of Rexford said sharply.

"You sent Lady Lucinda a staff?" Lord Bertram sounded quite offended by the knowledge.

"She sent them back," the duke grumbled.