Page 17 of Claiming the Tower (Council Mysteries #1)

The next morning at Verdant Court

B ess woke with a start to someone moving nearby. It took her far too long to realise it wasn’t one of the maids, come to tell her that Madam Judson was up early. She’d meant to go back to the guest bedroom before dawn, and she hadn’t.

Now she hesitated to look up. “I’m sorry. I’ll...”

Hereswith’s voice was gentle, painfully gentle. It was a kind of tender that Bess hadn’t had directed at her in years. “Stay, please. Be comfortable. Shall I get tea brought up? Something to eat?” Something in what Hereswith saw made her say, “Breakfast, then.”

Bess ought to argue about Hereswith deciding like that, but Hereswith was, admittedly, trained in deciding that sort of thing in much more daunting circumstances.

Not usually about breakfast, probably, but Bess wasn’t sure if it made it an easier or harder problem.

She sighed and then said. “Would it be a bother if I washed up?”

“No, of course not. Don’t feel you need to dress.

I thought we could sort out some clothing for you after we’ve eaten.

” Hereswith stepped back, and Bess finally looked up at her.

Her friend was in a wrap, the same emerald green she seemed to favour, though darker than the one Bess was borrowing.

Her hair was still down in a braid, wisps curling around her ears, informal and— no.

Bess couldn’t think about how that was also appealing.

She pushed herself up, going into the hall and then to the bath, washing her face in cold water before tentatively running it warmer. The bar of soap she’d been given for last night’s bath was there, and a smaller one, a cosmetic bar, that smelled faintly of flowers and herbs, nothing overwhelming.

Bess washed her face, dried it, and then did battle with her hair, braiding it and going back to her room to find the container of hair pins to put it up. She felt less vulnerable like that, like she was about to get scolded yet again for imperfection.

When Bess came back to the sitting room, there was a table pulled comfortably close to the sofa, and Hereswith was sitting on one end, sipping a cup of tea. “Breakfast will be up in ten minutes. Mary, who sees to my clothes, has some ideas about what might fit you.”

“Your—” Bess hesitated. A lady’s maid would be called by her last name. “May I ask about the staff here? I don’t want to put them out.”

“A housekeeper, that’s Mrs Brown. Cook, of course.

Two housemaids — Mary and Nellie, who you met last night, and a scullery maid, Edith.

Papa’s valet, that’s Mr Hargrave, James is the footman, and a handful of others on the grounds.

Mary’s the head housemaid, she acts as my lady’s maid when I need one.

For work, when we have a string of engagements, that’s Miss Pelton, if you hear me mention her.

We sometimes hire in another maid and footman if my brothers and all their family are here for more than a day or two, but that won’t be soon. ”

“Right.” Bess did her best to fix the names in her head, and she was sure they’d fall out. “You’re sure I’m not a bother?”

“As a household, other than Papa’s health concerns, we are not terribly demanding.

Adding another person for meals is no bother at all.

Cook actually has some ideas for some treats she’s looking forward to trying.

She has been feeling a trifle constrained, since Papa does not have much of an appetite or preference these days. I take a number of meals elsewhere.”

Bess wasn’t sure what conversation to make, so she didn’t.

After a minute or two of silence, Hereswith talked quietly about the house and the grounds.

None of it stuck, really, but it was pleasant to listen to.

It seemed a rather delightfully boring house, actually.

There were a few stories of dramatic nearby battles or horrible experiences.

Just people living in the country— in some fair luxury— with a portal a short walk away, and a smaller group of far more ordinary magical houses near that.

Once the food was brought up, it was both substantial and excellent— eggs, sausages, toast, jam, even fresh berries.

Once Bess had eaten her fill, Hereswith nodded.

“Shall we see about some clothes? You are welcome to stay as long as you need, but I have a thought about that. Best to talk once you’re dressed.

Also, I sent a note along to Papa’s solicitors saying we’d likely have a task for them later in the day.

But I didn’t want to assume what you wanted there. ”

Bess had been thinking about standing, but now her chin came up. “You’re very— very efficient.”

“Better than the alternative, surely? But I want to be clear about what you can draw on when it comes to my help. The full range of what’s on offer.

” Hereswith pursed her lips. “I am rather hoping you will give me permission to make Aspasia Judson’s life quietly miserable for a long while.

Once we have all your possessions back and all the pay she owes you, of course. ”

Bess blinked, and then she had to laugh. “She’s already quietly miserable. Sometimes loudly miserable. But I am open to hearing what you have in mind.” She looked down at the wrap. “I— clothes would be a good start, yes. Feeling like I’m not all odds and ends.”

Hereswith nodded and retreated far enough to run her fingers down an embroidered bell pull by the door.

Barely a minute later, a compact small woman, perhaps five years younger than Hereswith appeared, neatly dressed.

“Good morning, mistress.” This was Mary, and she promptly brought out multiple dresses from Hereswith’s wardrobe, commenting on the likely fit and what would be easy to adjust for comfort.

It did not help to stop Bess thinking about Hereswith’s body.

They were near enough the same height, though it could be a little hard to tell depending on the shoes or boots.

Hereswith was overall plumper, but Bess was more well supplied in the bosom, in particular, and of course that sort of thing affected the fit of a dress.

These, though, were of far nicer fabric than Bess usually wore.

She herded Bess off to the bedroom. There, Mary had her change in and out of the gowns and found two that fit comfortably with minimal alteration.

“We’ll be seeing to washing the dress you were wearing last night, mistress. And Mistress Rowan said you had hopes of your other things coming along shortly? Is there anything we should take particular care with?”

“I— I’ve mostly been seeing to my own. Other than the laundry, and such.” Bess swallowed and wondered what it was fair to ask. “Would it be too much to ask you to check whether there are buttons loose, that sort of thing?”

“Not at all too much, mistress. Nellie has an excellent hand with needle and thread. I’ll set her to that and any other mending needed tomorrow when she’s back.

” Mary seemed, if anything, pleased to have that settled.

They got Bess into a medium blue dress again, with the sleeves taken in with a charm to fit better at the cuff.

Mary nodded with satisfaction. “We’ll have a few other things— linens and such— ready for you later today, mistress.

If you’d like to join Mistress Rowan in the sitting room? ”

Hereswith was not, in fact, in the sitting room, but Bess could see her in the next room, the library, at a desk.

She looked up as Bess came in, tentatively.

“Good. Oh, that looks much better on you, doesn’t it?

The colour never quite suited me. One of those fabrics that delighted on the bolt, and then was rather different against the skin.

Or maybe it’s the light. Now, I have a thought, and we should figure out about your things, what you’d prefer. ”

“You’re still managing me.” Before Hereswith had to ask, Bess added, “I still don’t mind. Honestly, I need managing right now, and you’re doing very well at not just making all the sensible choices for me.”

“If you’d like me to add foolish choices, I could make the attempt,” Hereswith said, cheerfully.

“We could frolic about in the orchards like schoolgirls, if you want. It is solstice.” Then she tilted her head, as if she’d realised something delightful.

“Also, we can plan to go to the Midsummer Faire. I have something I need to be at in London tomorrow, into the mid-afternoon Sunday, but we could plan to go on Monday. Or even Sunday evening, if there’s a concert then you’d like. ”

“You— you keep giving me things. Generously.” Bess gestured at her dress, back at the bedroom. “I can’t keep accepting.”

“Ah.” Hereswith leaned back in her chair, folding her hands in her lap.

Bess had the certainty that this was the Hereswith most visible in her work, a strong wall that waves could crash into.

“Let us start with my idea. How do you feel about the idea of working for us? For Papa, specifically. We could use someone who can sit with him. His valet has a range of other tasks, and frankly, also could just use some time to sit and not be on call. Papa doesn’t need much, ordinarily, much of the day.

Just someone to be there, fetch a book, summon help if there’s more needed.

You could read or whatever you liked, much of the time. ”

“That’s makework.” Bess said. On the other hand, it was what she’d been doing for Madam Judson, albeit probably vastly more pleasant.

“It would be useful. Honestly, I’ve been arguing he could use someone in that sort of role for a bit, and my brothers keep insisting it’s not a necessary expense.

And Papa hasn’t extended himself to want to find someone.

” Hereswith’s lips twisted at one side. “Also, I’ve been busy enough I’ve not had time to do interviews. ”