Free Colors of a Lady by Chelsea Roston

her beloved. She glanced down at the
puddle her shoes were making. “I am so sorry. I know that Anna has
probably already finished her cleaning for the evening.”
    “It is fine, my lady. I delayed her since
you had not yet arrived. You are quite late today,” he observed.
Lewis shut the door firmly in place and locked it.
    “I am aware. Tho-Lord Hartwell and I were
discussing our honeymoon and it ran overlong. We ran into a former
acquaintance of his.”
    “Emma, you should not dawdle and discuss
your private business with the servants. You should leave your bad
habits here and not take them with you to your new home. I am sure
Lord Hartwell would prefer his wife to act as befitting her
station.”
    “Mother, it is dreadfully late. I am not in
the mood for your lectures. I will treat Lewis and the others as I
see fit. When I marry Lord Hartwell and become mistress in his
home, I will still treat them as humans. They have lives as you and
I do. It may not be proper, but how I can spend my whole life being
waited upon by a group of people and not get to know them at
all?”
    Lady Sheridan did not know why she continued
to berate her daughter on her behaviour. She had rarely heeded any
of the advice that her mother deemed important. She had to admit
that she was engaged despite all her flaws and Caroline was not.
She simply could not sleep soundly without correcting Emma. She was
not improper in public where it truly mattered, so perhaps it would
cause no issues. After all, Emma was to be married soon and her
actions would be Lord Hartwell's issue. Yet, she had many sleepless
nights.
    That was easier thought than done. If Emma
had inherited anything from Lady Sheridan, it was her stubbornness.
She refused to admit she was wrong in berating her daughter. So,
she simply narrowed her eyes.
    “Go to your room immediately.”
    Emma raised an eyebrow at her mother. A
small part of her wanted to retort and insist she was not to be
ordered around anymore. But, it was late, after all. She was tired
and her bed was calling out to her. Emma decided to be a dutiful
daughter and appease her mother.
    “As you wish.” She walked over to her mother
and kissed her on the cheek. “Good night.”
    In shock from the unwarranted display of
affection, Lady Sheridan could do little other than stare up at her
daughter as she ascended the stairs. Lewis smothered a burgeoning
smile.
    “Is there anything you require, My Lady, or
am I free to also retire?”
    “Hmm…what? Oh yes, please carry on, Lewis.
You can sleep. The hour is late and we should all be asleep.” She
straightened her posture, assuming her role of Countess. Lewis
bowed as she swept past him and climbed the stairs. The butler then
finished up his duties of closing up the house for the night.
    Emma opened the door to her chamber,
surprising Mary, her maid. The young woman had been bent over a
stack of books upon Emma’s desk, furiously rifling through one.
    “Mary! I did not know you to be such an avid
reader,” she announced.
    The maid dropped into a curtsy. “I just like
the feel of the pages, my lady.” She slammed the book shut. “Shall
I help you undress?”
    “Yes, please. I am exhausted.”
     
    Caroline had insisted since they first began
visiting London to have the room overlooking the street. Lady
Sheridan had insisted that she should take the bigger room that
overlooked the garden. It was quieter, more fitting for a lady. But
Caroline had ignored her and demanded the smaller room. She liked
the drama of the street view. Granted, they did live in Mayfair, so
it was perhaps not as interesting as she might have wished. But,
with the small balcony, she could sit outside when the weather was
nice (wearing a large sun hat though) and be admired.
    But it was March and far too cold to recline
in the sunshine. Instead, she took to staring mournfully out the
windows into the pitch-black night sky. This night, after a
dreadful time at Almack's, she was awaiting the