Free Maid for Scandal by Anthea Lawson

 
    MAID FOR SCANDAL
     
    It was a splendid idea—or had seemed so at the time. Impersonate a maid in order to be close to Giles Wildering for two glorious weeks. How daring!
    Anna Harcourt frowned at the pail of soapy water in front of her and resisted the urge to fling her scrub-brush down the hall. The very long hall, patterned in black and white marble, and exceedingly uncomfortable on her knees. The hall which she was now responsible for scrubbing to a flawless shine.
    When she first conceived of the disguise, it had seemed perfect. The family of her best friend, Belinda Caswell, owned a nearby estate. She would pretend to be staying with the Caswells, while secretly masquerading as a maid at the Wildering’s mansion. Belinda was delighted to help Anna with her deception.
    “It’s like something from a novel!” Belinda had said as they laid their plans.
    Besides, it was the only way Anna could see Giles—he of the bright blue eyes and flattering words. Just think, to breathe the same air, to see him on a daily basis and let the fresh bud of their new love come to full flower. She had no doubt she would end the summer transformed, no longer inexperienced Anna Harcourt, but a true lady, known by the name of Mrs. Giles Wildering.
    She had thought that, as soon as she arrived, Giles would somehow feel it in the air. He would come and sweep her off her feet, and…. Well, in truth, her imagination had not carried her much beyond arriving at Wildering Hall.
    Unfortunately, there were a number of practicalities she had failed to take into account. First, she’d no idea how much the utter drudgery of servant’s work would keep her away from the house’s grander inhabitants. Secondly, as the most junior member of the staff, she was allotted the worst of tasks. And thirdly, perhaps most horribly, she had to rise at an excruciating hour, when the light of dawn was only a pale thought in the sky.
    No one to gently open her curtains after nine-o-clock, or bring her a pot of hot chocolate.  No one to stir up her coals and make sure her dressing-gown was laid out. Instead, a bowl of porridge and a scrub-brush had ushered her into her first day as a maid.
    “Stop your daydreaming, and get to work!” Mrs. Foutch, the housekeeper, marched to where Anna knelt. “The family will wake in one hour, and this hallway had better be spotless. Spotless and dry .”
    “Yes, ma’am.” Anna mumbled the words, trying not to sound like a governess-educated London miss.
    “Lady Caswell recommended you—though I don’t know what her ladyship was thinking.” The housekeeper sniffed, as if the gentry were wholly inscrutable. “Well then. When you’ve finished, I’ll be in the blue parlor.”
    Without waiting for a reply, Mrs. Foutch turned away, the clack of her boot-heels reproachful. Anna sighed and dipped her brush into the water. The housekeeper was right to be doubtful of her letter of recommendation. Belinda was excellent at forging her mother’s hand, but neither of them had known quite what to say. Perhaps they had been too effusive about Anna’s supposed qualities as a maid.
    As she scrubbed, Anna could not help thinking of Giles. Unfortunately, she had not been able to catch sight of him yesterday when she’d arrived. Later, she’d learned that he had been out riding for most of the afternoon, then off to a gathering of friends. Today, however, he would see her, and all this trouble would be worth it. Anna felt her heart take wing at the thought.
    He would recognize her immediately, of course. After all, had they not met secretly on two occasions? Sadly, both times had been too short for more than whispered promises. But at a garden party only a fortnight ago he had held her hand beneath the rose arbor and told her he found her irresistibly beautiful. She had let him steal a kiss—just a small one—but the memory had engraved itself upon her heart.
    Then Giles had departed London rather abruptly, leaving only a note