Dilly Court - The Swan Maid

Lottie eyed him with distaste. If the silly man bowed any lower he would be in danger of falling flat on his face. She picked up a couple of bandboxes, leaving Jem to bring the heavy items. ‘If you would come this way, my lady …’

‘I’ll see you at supper, Farrell.’ Aurelia patted him on the cheek as she walked past. ‘I’m extremely hungry, so I hope there is something tasty on the bill of fare.’

Gillingham clicked his heels together, staring straight ahead. ‘Wouldn’t you rather dine in the privacy of your room, my lady?’ He lowered his voice. ‘The clientele here might not be to your liking.’

‘Nonsense, Farrell. I’m sure I’ll find it most entertaining.’ Aurelia moved on, pausing to give Jem the benefit of her sparkling smile. ‘What is your name?’

He straightened up, shifting from one foot to the other. ‘Jem, my lady.’

‘Well, thank you for your services, Jem.’

Lottie watched in awe as Lady Aurelia charmed the guard and the coachman who had brought her this far. It seemed she had a smile and a kind word for everyone; Lottie was impressed, and close to falling under her ladyship’s spell. She led the way to number ten, which was the biggest and the best room they had to offer. Even so, as she opened the door and ushered Aurelia inside, Lottie had the feeling that the room, although reasonably clean and comfortable, was not what such a grand lady might expect. An apology tingled on the tip of her tongue as she lit the lamps, but Aurelia uttered a cry of delight.

‘A four-poster bed, how delightful, and such a pretty coverlet.’ She untied her bonnet and laid it on a chair, while she unbuttoned her silk mantle. ‘Charming, utterly charming.’

‘I’m afraid it’s not what you’re used to, my lady.’

Aurelia’s violet-blue eyes danced with amusement. ‘You obviously have no idea what sort of life a soldier’s wife leads. I’ve slept in bivouacs in the most frightful conditions of rain, ice and snow, or blistering heat, not to mention vermin and wildlife of all sorts. There was even a bear who visited camp in Canada. So you see, Lottie, this is luxury indeed, but only for one night as we travel on tomorrow.’ She breathed a sigh of relief as she laid her jacket on the chair. ‘It’s very hot. I think we might have a storm tonight.’

‘It would clear the air.’ Lottie moved to open the door and Jem struggled in, laden with cases, a valise and two carpetbags, which he set down on the floor. ‘There’s still a small trunk, my lady. Shall I bring that too?’

Aurelia cast an eye over the luggage. ‘It would be better stored somewhere until the morning, if you would be so kind, Jem?’

His cheeks flushed bright red and he grinned sheepishly. ‘Of course, my lady. It’s no trouble at all.’

‘Wait a moment, please.’ Aurelia opened her reticule and took out a coin, which she pressed into his hand. ‘Thank you, Jem. That will be all for now.’

He backed out of the room, still grinning.

‘What a charming young man.’ Aurelia cast a curious glance at Lottie. ‘And good-looking too – is he your sweetheart?’

‘Certainly not.’ Lottie had not meant to speak so sharply. ‘I’m sorry, my lady, but Jem is more like a brother to me. You might say we grew up together.’

‘Really? How interesting. You must have been very young when you began working here.’

‘I was twelve, my lady.’

‘And this is what you wanted to do, is it?’

‘I didn’t have any choice in the matter.’

‘I suppose not. One is inclined to forget how hard life is for most people.’ Aurelia sighed, shaking her head. ‘I don’t think I’ll change for dinner, but I would like to wash the dust of the road off before I go down to dine.’ She slanted a curious look in Lottie’s direction. ‘Can you dress hair, Lottie?’

‘I’ve practised on May and Ruth; they’re the other chambermaids. We do it for each other if and when we get a free moment, which isn’t often. It’s always busy here.’

‘We’ll see how good you are then, but I’d like some hot water first.’

‘Of course, my lady.’ Lottie bobbed a curtsey. ‘I’ll fetch it right away.’

In the kitchen Lottie found Mrs Filby and Jezebel talking in loud whispers while Ruth rushed round taking food to the dining room. Mrs Filby turned on Lottie with a low growl. ‘I blame you for this.’

‘What have I done now?’ Lottie looked from one to the other in astonishment. It was not uncommon to get the blame for anything that went wrong, but she had been out all day.

‘I let you take a day off and you breeze in late on the arm of that lieutenant who brought the injured soldier to the inn,’ Mrs Filby said angrily. ‘I don’t know what went on between you two, but it must have been something that pleased him or you wouldn’t have been singled out by the lady. You’re forgetting your place, Lottie Lane. You are a skivvy, little more than a slavey, so you can forget the airs and graces.’

‘But that’s not how it was,’ Lottie protested. ‘I bumped into the lieutenant by chance.’

‘So you say.’ Mrs Filby thrust a serving dish into Lottie’s hands. ‘Take this to the dining room and give Ruth a hand. We’re full tonight and rushed off our feet.’

‘Yes, rushed off our feet,’ Jezebel repeated, scowling. ‘You can carve the ham when you’ve finished in the dining room, Lottie. I’ve only got one pair of hands.’

‘I have to take some hot water to her ladyship. She’s getting ready to come down to dine, and she wants me to do her hair.’

‘You’re going to do her hair?’ Mrs Filby and Jezebel exchanged wry glances. ‘I’d like to see that, but she’ll have to wait. Do as I tell you first, and see to the stuck-up bitch when you’ve finished in the dining room.’

There was little that Lottie could do other than to obey her mistress, and then she had to appease Jezebel by carving the ham, which she did to the best of her ability. It was almost an hour later by the time she was free to take the hot water to Lady Aurelia. She opened the door with an apology on her lips, but was met with a sunny smile as Aurelia sat up and swung her legs over the side of the bed.

‘Ah, there you are, Lottie. I seized the opportunity for a quick nap, which is a trick I learned during my husband’s last campaign. I find I can cope with staying up all night as long as I have plenty of naps in the day. You should try it sometime.’ She moved to the washstand. ‘I’ve been looking forward to this. There’s nothing as comforting as dousing one’s hands and face in clean, warm water, unless it’s a long and luxurious bath.’

Lottie filled the washbowl with the rapidly cooling water. ‘I’m sorry I took so long, my lady, but they are short-handed in the kitchen.’

Aurelia splashed her face with water and reached for the towel. ‘How thoughtless of me. I shouldn’t have commandeered your services, but I’m very glad I did. You seem to me to be an extraordinary young woman. Do you ever think about leaving this place and making a life for yourself in the outside world?’

‘Sometimes I do, my lady.’

Aurelia moved to the dressing table and sat down, handing a silver-backed brush to Lottie. ‘Let’s see what you can do with my hair.’ She met Lottie’s curious gaze in the fly-spotted mirror. ‘Tell me how you know Farrell. Did you have an assignation with him?’

Lottie smothered a sigh. Why did everyone jump to the wrong conclusion? ‘No, my lady. It wasn’t like that.’

‘Go on. I’ve known Farrell for at least five years, and I’m very fond of him. Moreover, I trust his judgement: if he thinks you are worth his attention, then I must take note. Tell me how you came to meet him.’