Free The Stranger She Married by Donna Hatch

smile, he raised his glass to her.
    She turned away and tried to think of something intelligent to say to Mr. de Champs, who, while charming and handsome, seemed almost effeminate compared to Lord Amesbury.
    Footmen cleared away the dishes from the table and placed them on trays. A gasp behind her caught Alicia's attention, but before she could turn around, a crash echoed through the dining hall, and something warm and wet landed on the back of her neck and shoulder. Stunned silence followed the noise.
    "Oh, no,” the footman wailed from behind Alicia.
    Alicia looked down to see gravy on her neck and shoulders, sliding down her arm.
    Horrified, the footman rushed forward with a cloth to try to mop up the gravy mess. “I'm so sorry, Miss,” he stammered.
    Mortified to have so many eyes focused on her, Alicia wished she could disappear. “It's all right."
    "Good heavens, Alicia,” Elizabeth cried. “Are you burned?"
    "No, it's only warm.” To the footman she said, “At least it isn't hot. No harm done."
    By now, the footman's ears and neck were as red as his face as he frantically attempted to clean up Alicia's gown. His eyes repeatedly moved to Mr. and Mrs. Hancock in fear of their reaction. Other servants abandoned their duties to clear away the broken dishes and the ruined food on the floor. The footman's well-meaning ministrations only spread the mess on Alicia's gown.
    Alicia held up her hand, halting his efforts. “Please don't be distressed. I'm not angry. I will simply retire to another room and clean up."
    Elizabeth rose. “I'll help you, dearest."
    "No. Don't trouble yourself, Lizzie, please. You have guests. I can manage."
    Alicia turned to Hannah whose eyes shimmered in tears of sympathy. “It's all right, Hannah. Enjoy your dessert. I'll return in a moment."
    Alicia refused to meet Lord Amesbury's eyes, though she felt them on her. She made the mistake of glancing Catherine's way but instantly regretted it. Catherine's condescending slant to her mouth revealed no sympathy for Alicia's plight, but rather glee at seeing her thusly embarrassed. Other guests observed the incident with various expressions of pity and amusement. Both were equally humiliating. Elizabeth's mother, Mrs. Hancock, came to her feet at the same time as Mrs. Fitzpatrick.
    "Here, my dear, I'll accompany you.” Mrs. Fitzpatrick came to her.
    Alicia blinked. She hadn't even noticed the older lady in attendance. Mrs. Hancock sank back down in her seat with a grateful smile at Mrs. Fitzpatrick.
    "That's very kind of you,” murmured Alicia still fighting tears of humiliation.
    "Sybil, go with Miss Palmer and help her,” Mrs. Hancock said to a nearby maid.
    The maid came forward and led them to an empty room. The footman followed, still apologizing.
    Alicia took command over her tears and turned her attention to the distraught footman. “It's all right. It was a simple mistake. And only a very few dishes were lost. Do not be so distressed."
    Mrs. Fitzpatrick nodded. “Quite right. No one is angry, lad. If I sacked every servant who dropped a dish, I would be doing my own serving."
    "Thank you for being so forgiving,” the footman said.
    "You may go on with your duties, lad,” Mrs. Fitzpatrick said.
    With a sigh of gratitude, the footman bowed and departed. Inside the empty room, the maid poured water into a basin and moistened a nearby towel. She rubbed a bar of milled soap over the towel until it produced suds and used it to carefully wipe the back of Alicia's neck, shoulder, and arm, before turning her attention to the sleeve.
    Mrs. Fitzpatrick smiled benevolently. “You handled yourself beautifully out there, Miss Palmer. I know you were terribly embarrassed to be the center of such unwanted attention. And you were, indeed, most understanding about it."
    "I've dropped my fair share of things,” Alicia admitted.
    "The other day my nephew asked about your family."
    Alicia paused. “Your nephew? Lord Amesbury?"
    "Yes. I am so