The Consolation Prize (Brides of Karadok #3) - Alice Coldbreath Page 0,107
last place, you reported to the steward,” Una plunged on. “Here at Lynwode, I expect you to report directly to me at least once a week. I trust that will not be a problem.”
The color in the older woman’s cheeks rose. After a moment, she gave a short nod. “This morning, Rose told me she has moved out of the old housekeeper’s room. I understand you will not require it as you live in the village still, with one of your daughters.”
Mrs. Brickenden took a deep breath. “I do, milady.”
Una waited, but nothing more was forthcoming. Really, it was like trying to draw blood from a stone. “Tell me, what do you think of this recent change in Rose,” she said aloud. “I would value your opinion.”
Mrs. Brickenden snorted. “Girls get these wild starts,” she said after a moment and shook her head. “I raised two of my own, so I should know.”
“You do not think it anything we should concern ourselves about?”
Mrs. Brickenden’s bushy eyebrows shot up. “Certainly not,” she said forcibly. “The sensible thing,” she said stoutly, “is to let it play out. She and Janet are thick as thieves at present. She’ll soon settle down to some middle ground.”
Una regarded her with something approaching approval. “That does sound sensible,” she concurred. “Now, I should like to show you my lists for new furnishings about the place. Let us consult one another about what needs doing.”
*
Una had felt a good deal cheered after her interview with Mrs. Brickenden, but as supper approached without the slightest glimpse of Armand about the place, she began to suffer misgivings. Their “bed sport” of the previous evening had gone badly awry. Clearly, she was not supposed to be the aggressor or show initiative, however much he had seemed to enjoy it at the time.
She would have to apologize, and hope things straightened back out again on an even keel. Feeling foolish, Una relegated her efforts to be bold and flirtatious to the scrapheap. She was clearly not cut out for such things and had given Armand a disgust of her by even trying. Perhaps men did not want that type of thing from their wife after all?
She dressed for supper with some deliberation, choosing a deep-red gown she had not worn before, which had beautiful sleeves decorated with gold thread. Her hair she caught up in a gold hairnet, and after attaching a short gold veil with a couple of pins, she thought she could delay the inevitable no longer and went below stairs. She had hoped Armand would come to their room to change before supper, but he had not appeared, so she would simply have to face him at table. She hoped to goodness he wasn’t avoiding her.
At first, her fears were heightened considerably, for other than a perfunctory kiss to her fingers, Armand was distant. However, when he subsequently failed to notice the entrance of Mr. Beverley with the roasted meats, she realized he was simply distracted.
“This looks wonderful,” she told the crestfallen cook, and nudged Armand who was gazing moodily at the far end of the table.
“Yes,” he agreed belatedly. “Good work, Beverley.” The cook beamed and took his place next to Mrs. Brickenden.
“Is anything wrong, husband?” Una asked when Armand continued abstracted. “Shall I pour your drink?”
Armand gave a start, “Naught,” he said hastily, and reached for the wine, climbing to his feet. “Fill the cups,” he yelled down the table, and Janet sprang to her feet wielding a pitcher of ale. Armand started pouring wine into the cups of those around him. “Otho,” he prompted when his steward seemed almost as slow to act as himself that evening.
Otho tore his gaze away from the same direction and set to carving the meat for the plates. Glancing down the table at what was absorbing them, Una was astonished to see even more men gathered at the foot of the table. They were packed in very close, and soon, Una realized, if their number kept increasing at this rate, they would need to start seating people at the other two tables that took up the length of the great hall.
A few of the new men seemed to be boisterously trying to catch Rose’s attention with jests and sallies. Even that ugly headscarf could not distract from her pretty face. Una noticed Mrs. Brickenden rap the table with her broad knuckles and the men’s gazes dropped at once respectfully and order was restored.