Free Fenella J Miller by Lady Eleanor's Secret

at the staff and paused in front of the housekeeper, keeping her expression haughty as she waited for the woman to introduce herself.
    “Jones at your service, my lady. If you will follow me I will conduct you to your apartment.”
    “Where are my children? I wish to see them immediately. Show me to the drawing-room. I shall wait there.”
    The woman bristled. “I shall have them fetched right away. The drawing room is this way, my lady.”
    Ignoring the woman, Eleanor turned to speak to Sally who was hovering nervously behind her. “I rely on you to prepare my chambers. Demand that one of the inside staff assist you if you are not satisfied with their cleanliness.”
    A magnificent staircase dominated the great hall but she did not have time to examine it in detail. The room she was taken to faced east, the mullioned windows looking out over the moat and across to a formal parterre garden. The grounds were immaculate, the sheep and deer keeping the grass short. There might be too few inside staff, but Lord Bentley had not cut back on outside men.
    Whilst she waited she examined an extraordinary, carved stone chimney piece. She ran her fingers over the angelic figures that held up a coat of arms. She must suppose this was the family crest, she would ask when…when she could. Presumably Lord Bentley was safely established in his own apartment and being attended to by the doctor. No doubt Dr Stansted would speak to her before he left.
    Eventually the sound of footsteps approaching interrupted her pacing. She had already removed her bonnet and gloves and checked that her hair was neatly arranged. She was still wearing the gown she had been married in. Sally had sponged and pressed it for her and it did not look too creased.
    Placing herself in the centre of the room she rubbed her palms on her handkerchief before returning it to her to her reticule. A sharp rap on the door split the silence. She dropped her bag. The double doors were pushed open and a prune-faced woman of indeterminate years, her hair scraped back in the exact same style she herself had adopted until yesterday, all but pushed three silent children through the door.
    To Eleanor’s astonishment, the nanny did not introduce herself. She merely dipped in a minimal curtsy and retreated, closing the door with a decided snap.
    Not good. Not good at all.
    “My dears, shall we be seated on the sofa by the window together? I am your new mama. I shall be living here with you in future and intend to devote all my time to making your lives happier.”
    The oldest girl, Lucy, her dark hair cruelly braided, took the hands of the younger children and edged a little closer. The boy, Alexander, was still dressed in frills and flounces, his hair to his shoulders. If she hadn’t known his gender she would have thought him a girl. The middle child, Elizabeth, was the image of her father, her eyes flashed with the same fire.
    “Lucy, have you eaten your midday meal? I am famished, I was too excited about meeting you all to eat any breakfast. If I ring for refreshments what shall I ask for? Tell me your favourites and they shall be requested.”
    The children exchanged disbelieving glances. “We do not eat in the middle of the day, ma’am. Nanny says it’s good for us to do without until teatime.”
    “Well, Lucy my dear, I’m in charge of your welfare now. I think children should eat when they are hungry. Now, tell me where is the bell strap hidden?”
    Elizabeth ran to the fireplace and pointed to the silken tassel hanging from the ceiling. “This is it, my lady. Shall I pull it for you?”
    “Please, my love, do so at once.” Eleanor reached down and lifted Alexander on to the seat beside her. “Now, young man, my first task shall be to have suitable garments made up for you. How can you possibly ride a pony dressed like that?”
    The boy lost his worried frown and smiled. “I should like that, Mama. I can’t climb trees neither.”
    “I should think not,