Destiny of the Heart (Viking Destiny) (8 page)

The next week was extremely busy for Kristen and Mel,
what with planning the new wardrobe for Kristen, deciding
which invitations to accept and which to decline, and the
everyday hustle and bustle of a London season. Mel had
taken considerable care in attending to Kristen's face every
night, and the bruising was nearly gone. Nothing a little
powder couldn't conceal. Now they would be able to show
Kristen off to the ton in a grand fashion, and no one would
question what circumstances had brought Kristen to the
marriage mart.

Despite Kristen's reluctance to continue their shopping,
Mel was insistent that Kristen had not yet purchased enough
dresses. She claimed that every young woman presenting
herself to society had twice the wardrobe Kristen did and if
she wanted to make an impression, she really needed to
shine. So, Kristen agreed to another fitting with Mel's
dressmaker.

Mrs. Tisdale was excellent with a needle and some
fabric, and made quite the dashing cut for the men of London,
but her passion was in the dresses she made for the ladies.
Kristen was to be decked out, lace and all, from her formal
wear to her day wear. She was to outshine the entire tone, at
least, that's what Mel had told Mrs. Tisdale, who had quite
happily agreed to the charge. As Kristen stood there having
her measurements taken, Mel reminded her of their long list of
errands still to run.

"After this we'll need to go to the jewelers to get
matching jewels for the new dresses, then we've been invited
to tea at the Albany with Lady Wentworth and her daughter.
Lady Wentworth makes a point to meet all of the eligible ladies
coming out each season to see how they compare to her
daughters. She doesn't like many people, but don't let that
scare you. It's no wonder with the homely girls she has put
out. Oh, and I also scheduled you some interviews this
afternoon for your own maid."

Kristen fairly groaned. This was becoming more
complicated than she had ever imagined it would be. She
never had use of a maid before as her mother always took
pleasure in helping her, and then after she had died, Kristen
had just taken care of herself. She honestly didn't feel it
necessary, but Mel had told her it was because the dresses
they bought would need assistance to get in and out of.
Kristen had looked at Mel as though she'd gone daft.

“Why in bloody hell am I buying them, then?” She
grouched irritably.
“Because they're all the rage and you will look
marvelous in them. And, love, you really must learn to hold
your tongue in a public place so as not to scare off the
gentlemen. They won't know what to do with a lady who
swears more than they do.” Mel scolded gently.
At least she had the grace to blush when several
mothers had covered their daughters’ ears and hurried them
outside, whispering about indecency and the like. Mrs. Tisdale
was none too pleased to have customers leaving, but she had
blessedly held her tongue. Kristen's nerves were already
scattered, and she wasn't sure she could have handled the
lady's censure. At the end of her appointment, Kristen
included a large enough tip that the woman's pique with her
was quite forgotten.
Next, they stopped at the jewelers to get the matching
jewels Kristen would need for her dresses. Her mother's will
allowed for her to spend as much money as she liked on her
jewels and gowns, so it had been a easy matter of sending the
bills to her mother's solicitor. Since she could afford to be
generous in this fashion, she picked out the things she liked
the most, regardless of price.
“You know, you keep throwing money around like that
and the entire ton will be after you for your money, love.” Mel
teased.
“Do you really think so?” Kristen asked hopefully.
Mel rolled her eyes and hooked her arm through
Kristen's. “You need to relax, m'dear. You will be positively
stunning, I promise you. Why, if you had come out when I did,
I think it would have been you who had shined that season
and not me.”
Kristen frowned. “I think you give me far too much
credit.”
"Nonsense and I know just how to prove it. It's time for
tea with Lady Wentworth and her eldest daughter, Lady Jane."
Mel dragged Kristen to their carriage, and as Kristen
climbed in, grateful to be off her feet, Mel gave the driver
instructions to take them to the Albany. The short ride was not
enough time to prepare Kristen for what came next. She had
never met a woman so nasty as the Lady Wentworth. Mel had
told Kristen that the lady's bitterness was merely because it
was difficult to marry off such plain girls when beauties like
themselves existed.
"You perhaps, but certainly not me." Kristen insisted.
She didn't think she was ugly by any means, but she
often thought that Mel over-exaggerated her looks.
"Posh! You are quite beautiful, and the Lady Wentworth
will hate you. But, fear not, her disapproval often means that
your invites will increase twice over. It's a good thing to be
despised by her."
And despised Kristen was. She spent two hours in the
miserable company of the older woman who asked every
question under the sun about her parentage and where she
had acquired her money. The official story that her family had
always gone with was that they had moved to England about
twenty years ago after completing a great service to the king.
In truth, Kristen's grandfather and the king of England had
been friends and were quite close, so it wasn't too far from the
truth to begin with.
What they left out was the fact that her grandfather was
the rightful kind of Norway, and due to war with a tyrant
chieftain, they left to avoid persecution and save their people.
Kristen didn't think that would win her any points with her
peers. The only person who knew her true parentage was Mel.
But, when Kristen finished her story, the Lady Wentworth
merely looked at her with assessing eyes and scoffed.
"My dear girl, your parentage is riddled with holes and
questions. I shan't be surprised if the ton runs you out of town
within the week." The old woman brusquely stood up and
ushered her very ordinary looking daughter out of the hotel,
leaving Kristen and Mel to pay the bill.
Kristen looked at Mel, shocked and horrified, but Mel
leaned back in her chair and sipped tea from her cup. A
mischievous grin danced on her lips.
"Well?" Kristen asked nervously.
"You did beautifully. Lady Wentworth will spread that
tale as far and wide as she can, and you mark my words, you
will have more invitations than you will know what to do with.
Every eligible bachelor in town will be waiting with bated
breath to see the newest beauty in town."
"Yes, but will my parentage be a problem?"
"What utter nonsense. When the king granted your
family refuge in England, he appointed your grandfather as
Earl of Lynnester. It's well documented that the appointment
was made. So what if the circumstances are not open to
public scrutiny, all that will matter is that you are whom you
say you are."
Kristen nodded, not at all sure that Mel was right. But,
she trusted Mel and let the matter rest. After all, Mel had more
experience in the social whirl than Kristen did, and she would
need Mel to help her navigate. But, she wasn't given long to
contemplate it all before Mel bustled her out of the hotel to
hurry home for their interviews.

Once they reached Mel's townhome, Kristen's first
interview was waiting for her. Mel allowed her use of the parlor
for the interviews, so Kristen handed her things to Chester and
then escorted the woman into the parlor. Kristen sat down and
began pouring the tea that had been set up for her. She
looked up to ask the woman how she liked her tea and
stopped when she found the woman still standing by the door,
looking at her very disapprovingly. It wasn't a good start to an
interview as far as Kristen was concerned. She would not be
bullied by a maid.

"Is there a problem?" Kristen asked sharply as she set
the teapot down on its tray.
The woman cleared her throat, realizing she had
overstepped her bounds and shook her head. Kristen nodded
and dismissed her, knowing straight away that the woman
would not do. As the woman left, Mel escorted the next one in.
This time Kristen took the time to invite her to sit down.
The new candidate was homely and a bit older. Kristen
smiled warmly at her and the woman politely inclined her
head, but there was no emotion in her eyes. Kristen got the
impression that the woman had long ago closed herself off to
emotion. As passionate as Kristen was that simply wouldn't
do.
"So, tell me about yourself. Do you have any family?"
"No, mum." The woman said dryly.
"Well, what are your interests?" Kristen tried.
"My interests, mum?"
"Yes, what is it you like to do for fun?"
"I wash the sheets, mum."
Kristen frowned. This woman had no joy in life, no
sense of humor. While Kristen felt for her, she certainly wasn't
someone Kristen could have around on a regular basis.
Kristen thanked the woman for her time and dismissed her. As
she left, Mel escorted the next woman in. This one was bubbly
and happy, almost too much so, Kristen noted. But, she
smiled and offered her tea anyway. The woman took it and sat
down next to Kristen.
"I have a good feeling about this, miss. We're going to
be the best of friends."
Kristen smiled awkwardly and scooted over a little to
give them some room between each other. The woman, not
taking the hint, scooted closer to Kristen. "Uh, so tell me about
your background Miss..."
"Oh please, call me Darla. I've been with three families,
miss. The last family, the wife didn't like that the husband was
so grabby. I've got curves you see. But, well, that's not really
important. But, I'm right handy with sewing, and I'm very
prompt." The woman's smile faltered a little, but then she
plastered it back on her face, brighter than before.
Kristen had no idea what Mel had put in the ad, but the
women who had applied so far were simply ill-suited to
Kristen. Knowing herself as she did, Kristen knew she would
lose her patience with this one.
"Listen, Miss - "
"Darla. Call me Darla."
"Right. Darla, listen. I'm new to London society, and I
need someone who can keep things to themselves, you
understand?"
"Oh, yes mum. I'm good at keeping secrets. Did you
have an affair with a married man, and now you're looking for
a husband to cover up the pregnancy?" She giggled
delightedly.
Kristen was appalled. No wonder the woman was going
through jobs. She stood up and moved to the door. "I believe I
have all I need. Thank you for your time."
"Did I get the job?" Darla asked hopefully.
"No, I'm afraid not."
Darla lost her smile. Tears shimmered in her eyes. "I'm
a really good worker, miss. What could I do differently?"
Kristen felt a twinge of guilt. She hadn't meant to be so
harsh with the woman, but Darla had brashly insulted Kristen
and didn't seem to think anything of it. So, Kristen decided to
offer her some advice for her next interview.
"During your next interview, keep your personal
distance, don't talk so much, and don't insult your potential
employer."
Darla looked at Kristen with wide-eyed amazement.
Kristen was worried this would be all over London before the
day was out, and she was sure that Darla's made up story
about the affair would go with it, but she would not be saddled
with a woman who annoyed her. Darla closed her mouth, and
the anger took over.
"Well, I never - " She started to say more, but then
remembered herself.
Kristen arched a brow, but Darla said nothing else. She
huffed past Kristen to the door, but Kristen grabbed the
woman's arm before she reached it. The thing about being a
Viking's daughter, she knew every pressure point on the body
to cause the most pain without leaving a mark on the person.
She pressed the point on the inside of the woman's elbow,
and Darla fell to her knees. She gasped and looked at Kristen
in surprise.
"If you spread that nasty little tale you just made up, I
promise you will regret it." Kristen said icily.
"Yes, mum." Darla was shaking as Kristen released
her.
She stood up from the floor and rubbed her arm before
dashing out of the room in a scared fit. Kristen watched
angrily, only to see Mel approaching with one more candidate.
The death look that Mel got for her efforts had her swinging
around and asking the girl behind her to wait just a moment.
Then she faced Kristen and dragged her back into the parlor.
"What the devil was that. The poor woman was in tears,
Kristen." Mel asked hotly.
"She accused me of having an affair with a married
man and then seeking a husband to hide the pregnancy."
Kristen grouched.
"She what?"
"You heard me, I didn't stutter."
Mel crossed her arms and gave Kristen a reproachful
look for that bit of sass but didn't argue the point. She sighed
and untangled her arms to hug Kristen.
"Love, this part is almost over. I think you will like this
last one."
Kristen rolled her eyes, but motioned to let the girl in.
Kristen didn't share Mel's optimism about liking the girl, but at
least she was closer to Kristen's age, which meant they may
have something in common. Mel, oblivious to Kristen's
disagreement, opened the parlor door and escorted the girl in.
She made the necessary introductions and then left them to it.
"So, Sarah, was it?"
"Yes, m'lady." Sarah curtsied.
Kristen noticed she was polite right off. There was no
artificial sweetness to her, she was simply pleasant. That gave
Kristen reason to lower her defenses a little.
"Please, have a seat. Would you like some tea?"
Kristen offered.
"Thank you, m'lady. I would love some tea."
Kristen poured the tea. She was good at hiding her
emotions when she was of a need to, but there was something
about this girl that didn't sit well with Kristen. It wasn't the girl
who was the problem, rather something she had been
through. The girl was doing her best to hide it, but Kristen
noticed the nervous way she gripped the tea cup when it was
handed to her, and she also noticed the way Sarah kept
looking around as if scared to be caught.
"You're not really a maid, are you?" Kristen asked.
Sarah nearly choked on her tea. "Yes, m'lady. I was
trained by my mother - "
"I'm not a big fan of lies, Sarah." Kristen sat back with
her tea cup.
Aside from the nervousness and fear, Sarah's skin was
quite smooth and clear. Her cheekbones and brow were the
mark of a woman born to wealth. And, the maid's outfit she
was wearing was at least two sizes too large. Kristen watched
as Sarah wrestled with herself about what to do.
"You're right, m'lady. I was a governess before, but for
circumstances outside of my control, I am unable to return to
that life."
Kristen eyed her warily, though she was in no position
to judge anyone for keeping their own secrets. She nodded
her head.
"Very well. Your past is your own, I shall not pry. So
long as it doesn't interfere with your duties here. However, if
you're in some kind of trouble, it would be best to tell me about
it as I may be able to help you."
"No trouble, m'lady. Just bad memories."
"As you wish. When can you start?"
Kristen knew perfectly well this girl was in serious
trouble, and she wasn't part of the working class either. She
had no idea who Sarah was, or if that was even her real
name, but she felt the need to help her, to protect her. The
best way to do that was to hire her until she trusted Kristen,
and then maybe she could learn Sarah's secret and help her.
"I am available whenever you need me, m'lady."
"Excellent. You start right now. The first order of
business is that, in private of course, you call me Kristen. I'll
have enough of the m'lady's when the season actually starts,
I'll not have it with you. Understand?"
"Yes, Kristen."
Kristen smiled. "Smart girl. Now, come along. I'll show
you to your duties."
They left the parlor and Mel was quite pleased to see
that she was right. Mel also felt there was something about
Sarah that cried out for help, and she knew Kristen well
enough to know that Kristen wouldn't turn her back on the girl.
The other women had been bitter and well past being helped.
At that point, they weren't willing to do for themselves. But,
Mel knew Sarah was different. She wanted help, she just
didn't know how to ask for it. If Mel was a betting lady, which
she wasn't, but if she was, she would say that Sarah was
nobility, and she was running from something that scared her
enough to disguise herself as a maid.
Chapter 9