Chapters (46)
- Front Cover
- Title Page
- Copyright
- Contents
- One
- Two
- Three
- Four
- Five
- Six
- Seven
- Eight
- Nine
- Ten
- Eleven
- Twelve
- Thirteen
- Fourteen
- Fifteen
- Sixteen
- Seventeen
- Eighteen
- Nineteen
- Twenty
- Twenty-one
- Twenty-two
- Twenty-three
- Twenty-four
- Twenty-five
- Twenty-six
- Twenty-seven
- Twenty-eight
- Twenty-nine
- Thirty
- Thirty-one
- Thirty-two
- Thirty-three
- Thirty-four
- Thirty-five
- Thirty-six
- Thirty-seven
- Thirty-eight
- Epilogue
- Author’s Note
- Acknowledgments
- Back Cover
Shortly after that, Corinne led them to a small parlor-like room on the other side of the interior courtyard. Joan noted the way the young ladies, all several years younger than her, sat up straighter upon their entrance. Their keen expressions collectively darted between Corinne and herself, then took in Miss Bronson.
“Ladies, we have the great blessing of having two gentlewomen paying us a visit. Please stand and introduce yourselves.”
By turns, each young lady curtsied prettily and lowered her eyes while giving her Christian name. Joan noted that the names were all Biblical in origin.
She stepped forward and nodded her approval. “It’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance, all of you.”
“Indeed,” Miss Bronson chimed in.
“We are happy to be here and hope to be of assistance to you in any way you need.”
“These are proper ladies who will be coaching you on proper etiquette and helping you perfect the attributes that may lead you to a position in a household.”
A few anxious stares darted to Joan, and she read the hope, the desperation in them. A weight settled on her at the realization that she was the one offering hope; hope that they could find a way of supporting themselves by being a scullery maid or housemaid. That was their great hope. She, by birth, was afforded so much.
And they, by birth, were afforded so little.
“I will not only help, but if you strive to learn well and take my instruction to heart, I’ll also give my personal recommendation to whomever needs it for a potential employer,” Joan said with feeling.
A few of the girls gasped, then burst into giggles as if given a great gift.
“As will I,” Miss Bronson added.
“Now, are we going to work hard for these generous ladies?” Corinne asked.
“Yes, ma’am.” The young ladies nodded in unison and gave hearty affirmations.
Corinne’s expression was one of approval as she turned to Joan. “Then, where shall we begin?”
Fifteen
The transition of his mother to her new lodgings went seamlessly, according to the nurse’s report. Rowles couldn’t resist a deep sigh of relief and resolved to pay her a visit that evening. As he took the stairs to the second floor, he paused at the top and turned toward the hall that had, for so many years, led to his mother’s chambers. The house was quieter now, with fewer servants bustling about or nurses quietly moving up and down the hall in efforts to care for their patient. It was sobering, and the house felt empty in a way he hadn’t anticipated. It wasn’t as if he’d spent much time with his mother on her sickbed, and for obvious reasons; however, he had known she was near. And that made a difference.
One that he hadn’t noticed till it was startlingly absent.