Free Miss Simpkins School: Flora by Raven McAllan

Prologue
    Molly Simpkins wandered from room to elegant room. Number fifty-seven Blake Gardens. Such a fashionable address in the heart of the ton.
    Who would have thought that she could be elevated from seamstress and erstwhile mistress to Ashley, the Earl of Addersley—pre his marriage, of course—to a respectable school owner? Not her.
    She ran her fingers over the carvings of an elegant ladder back chair and appreciated the smooth flow of the wood. The picture above the fireplace drew an admiring glance. This room was the perfect place and space to greet prospective pupils. Everywhere she looked the building and its contents personified understated comfort, exceptional taste, and dust. Oh, the house needed cleaning from top to bottom, but the proportions were perfect. Could she ever live anywhere like this and not feel out of place? It seemed she was going to have to. Molly smiled to herself; it was obvious she had a lot to learn.
    Each room surpassed the last. As she returned to the small chamber, which Adriana, Addersley’s Countess—with a grin and a wicked chuckle—had called the sewing room, Molly was overwhelmed. Not only by her good fortune, but also by the generosity of some people. Not long ago, she’d been fending off unwelcome and improper advances from rakes who thought that as she was no longer under Addersley’s protection, she would welcome theirs. Within days she was receiving apologies, flowers, and assurances of respect and help if necessary. This, she learned, was due to Ashley Addersley and his influence. To be offered this house and a chance to have a future without worry of poverty, plus the opportunity to help young ladies to have a fulfilling life, had made her wonder just what she’d done to deserve such good fortune.
    She glanced at the couple in residence. They happened.
    The tall, impeccably dressed gentleman who leaned against the mantelpiece, legs crossed at the ankles, had his arms folded over his chest. He was an imposing figure, and the stance only enhanced his physical attributes. He raised one eyebrow.
    “Well?”
    “Oh, ‘tis very well, but why?”
    The dark-haired woman who sat on the settee giggled. The red highlights in her hair glinted in the sunlight that streamed through the window. “Ash, stop it. You know fine what Molly means.”
    She struggled to stand up, her advanced pregnancy making her clumsy. Her husband walked over to her and put his arm under hers to lever her into a standing position. She smiled her thanks and Molly stifled the pang of envy that filled her like a child who had been told she couldn’t have any more marchpane but her friend could. They were so happy. Although Molly didn’t want that with Ashley, how she would like a man just for her. One to gaze at her as if she was his everything. She hadn’t thought she ever wanted to be in that situation, but now, seeing the love and contentment that shone out of them, she wondered just what it would be like.
    “I swear I have an elephant in here.” Adriana patted her bump. “A herd of elephants.”
    “I hope not. My seed is to produce Addersleys, not elephants,” Ash drawled.
    Molly had never understood the way they spoke so openly even though it was to her favor. She did her best not to blush. Adriana saw and smiled at her in sympathy.
    “What he means, Molly, is we want to help you. You did us both a service, you know. When I found you two together before our marriage, I wanted what you had,” Adriana continued, with a twinkle in her eyes.
    Molly blushed. To know Adriana had seen what she had could have been so embarrassing, if anyone had allowed it to be.
    Ashley laughed. “Did she?” He raised one well-shaped eyebrow. “Oh yes, she did, and it gave me immense pleasure showing her.”
    “You see, Molly, I said why be a wife when a mistress has more fun.” Adriana giggled. “I wasn’t going to settle for anything less, and I didn’t. How many women of the ton can say that? So many