Free Lady Rose's Education by Kate Milliner Page A

have to get her to focus on the task at hand.”
    ”The only task that matters,” Lady Rose remarked disdainfully. ”Finding a suitable husband.”
    Norah looked conflicted.
    ”I see, Your Ladyship,” she said to the Countess.
    ”You understand, Norah, that Her Ladyship desperately needs your help with her stubborn creature of a daughter,” Lady Rose said. ”The silly girl refuses to believe what everyone else knows to be true.”
    The Countess took the bait. ”What is that, Rose?”
    ”The perfect match is one in which the lady's beauty matches the thickness of the gentleman's pocketbook. It is probably the first sentence in the etiquette book.”
    The Countess seemed to gather all of her patience, which she had not much to begin with. She let out a long sigh.
    ”Lady Rose would rather join the penniless as a sovereign entity than marry a handsome gentleman and continue the life she is used to,” she said, once again addressing Norah, who looked self-conscious and attached her eyes tightly on the lacing she was fiddling with. ”Believe me, there are many gentlemen who are only waiting for her signal, and one very commendable one. You do not see marriage as such an evil prospect as Lady Rose, do you?”
    Being asked directly, Norah had no other recourse than to respond.
    ”No, Your Ladyship, I suppose I don't,” she said. Lady Rose's shoulders stiffened.
    The Countess said, now to Lady Rose, ”I ask you to make a virtue of necessity, Rose. You do not have to embrace the thought whole-heartedly. Keep your high-minded ideas, but marry you must. You will do everything you can to help me convince her, won't you, Norah?”
    Norah blinked. Two sets of demanding eyes were on her.
    ”I will do my best for Lady Rose, Your Ladyship,” she finally managed.
    ”Thank you, Norah, I was hoping you would say that,” the Countess said.
     
    Lady Rose concentrated on standing perfectly straight. Anger was rising from within her like a fountain. She was afraid it might gush out and drench the two women around her. She took a fast breath and compressed her ribcage further.
    ”Pull tighter, Norah,” she said, breathing shallowly. ”I can't stand a slack figure.”
    ”I can see that you want to be a good, loyal servant to my daughter. Assist her in getting up from the depths of this melancholy,” the Countess said.
    Lady Rose scowled and said, ”Yes, Norah, with your help I will shoot up like a cork.”
    ”You are accustomed to a certain way of life, whether you like it or not,” the Countess said, now directly to Lady Rose. ”If it were taken from you, you would not know what to do with yourself. Do not trifle it away.”
    There was a knock on the door. This time it was Nellie. When the Countess saw her, she said, ”Oh yes, Rose, there was another thing I meant to say to you. The new vicar is coming to see you. Has he arrived, Nellie?”
    ”Yes, Your Ladyship,” Nellie said.
    ”Now? I was just going to take a walk. What in heaven's name does he want?” Lady Rose asked.
    ”I suppose he is keen to meet his new parishioners,” the Countess said evasively. ”Hurry up and get dressed. Nellie, go tell him that Lady Rose will be right down.”
    The Countess and Nellie went. Lady Rose was still standing in the middle of the floor, tightly bound and steaming.
     

CHAPTER 16
     
     
     
     
     
    Lady Rose stopped at the door of the drawing room. There was a little squirrel of a man standing in the middle of the room. He was facing the room's other entrance, so he did not immediately notice Lady Rose coming in.
    It was a rare event for Lady Rose to see a stranger in the Abbey. Therefore she stood still for a few moments, drawing as many conclusions from the visitor's back as it offered. The gentleman's coat was scruffy, but his haircut was neat. He seemed to be carefully studying the oriental wallpaper in front of him.
    ”Excuse me, Mr...” Lady Rose said.
    The man swung around and readjusted his metal-rimmed glasses,