5.
~ Maura reappeared and pried Ariadne away from the dragon woman that was Lady Percy.
"You'll be needing a rest after your long drive, Missus." Her maid said.
Ariadne looked to Arthur who nodded, and she went upstairs with Maura.
"I must say, I question you judgment on hiring that girl as a ladies maid. When she first arrived here, we thought she was to work in the kitchen. Her manners and breeding don't lend her to the vocation of properly caring for a lady of this house." Lady Percy told him.
"Maura is invaluable to Ariadne's happiness." Arthur said in his business like way. "And my wife's happiness is invaluable to my happiness."
"Still newlyweds I see." Lady Percy scoffed. "I myself, never married. I was my father's right hand when it came to running this estate. He had no desire to lose me to some husband or house of my own. I maintained, and still maintain, the running of Blue Rivers. I've lived at here all my life. It's safe to say this house needs me."
"So you ran all the household expense accounts?" Arthur asked.
Lady Percy looked insulted to be asked about money. The color draining from her face, as if she had been asked to talk of wanton, carnal things no lady should know about.
"I would like to see the accounts. If I'm to be running things here I need to get a better picture of Blue Rivers. Mr. Cobb was never able to get a strait answer from your solicitor." Arthur told her.
Lady Percy looked scandalized.
"Is there a problem?" Arthur asked.
"No. It's just that monetary concerns are not discussed so... casually." Lady Percy said. "Rest assured that our finances are attended to."
"I have no doubt. But I still need to see expense reports, wages for your staff and that sort of thing." Arthur told her.
"I've handled all of that since I was sixteen." Lady Percy said. "I can assure you, it is all handled well." "I never said they weren't. May I see them?" Arthur persisted.
Lady Percy seemed to not understand.
"Lady Percy, I own a factories. Very successful ones to. Whenever I visit one of them, the fist thing I do is inspect the factory floor. See that the workers are doing their jobs and there are no, metaphorical, fires to put out. The second thing I do; is inspect the books. I find out where the money is going and if it can be managed better. This house is more like a factory then it is a home. You have expenses that I need to be made aware of. May I see the books now?" Arthur said in a voice as cold as stone.
~ Ariadne followed Maura upstairs and down a dizzying array of hallways.
"You'll get used to it, Missus." Maura said guiding Ariadne to a suit of rooms. "It took me a long time to find my way around here. There are some places I still won't go; afraid of getting lost." she said with a giggle.
It was a large and homey suite, complete with a fire place and sitting room. An impressive bathroom was accessible, with a lavish bathtub that overlooked a large window.
"We have hot, running water upstairs, which is a blessing." Maura said as she started to unpin Ariadne's hat from her head. "No running up stairs and down with a pail of hot water for your bath."
The new lady of the house wandered around the rooms and saw the delicate furniture, rose printed fabrics and bedding. There was even girlish prints of cherub like babies on the wall.
"I'm not sure how comfortable Arthur will be sleeping here. Everything is very feminine." Ariadne said looking over the lacy ruffles of her bedding. She could just imagine her husband trying to not look out of place in the sea of pink roses with fat babies staring at him from their framed prints.
"Oh, Miles has personally placed all of the new Lord Bradford's things in another room down the hall. Said it's not fitting for a lord and his lady to share a room." Maura told her.
"What?" Ariadne asked in surprise.
When she had first agreed to marry Arthur, she was had hoped they wouldn't have to share a bed. However, they had since been sleeping in the same bed every night. She had gotten used to her husband being so near her while she slept. She had surprised herself that she enjoyed their marital time together as well. A thing she had been trained she must only endure, and never find pleasurable.
She had been weak with Jeffery. She gave into a man who she thought she loved and loved her. Their intimate relations nothing special and more awkward and uncomfortable for her then she cared to think about.
With Arthur, their time together was different. His kiss and touch seemed to nourish her in a way food, water and sleep never could. She thrilled at his hands caressing up her leg and his fingertips, tickling her skin.
She blushed hard at the memory of him. Her body, now grumpy since denied his attentions last night. A thing he normally lavished on her every night since Paris had been sharply ripped away and she was going through withdrawal.
Maura shrugged.
"I tried to tell him that you and Lord Bradford slept in the same bed, and he said it wasn't fitting for me to talk about that. Then Mrs. Abbot said I wasn't a proper ladies maid, called me names and said I needed to resign. I don't mind telling you, I don't care for some of the staff here, Missus. That Mrs. Abbot told me I was going to burn in the rapture my first day here. She makes us all go on our knees every morning and evening for prayers and also before all our meals. Miles says the only book I'll be allowed to read in this house is the King James Bible. That he will personally be checking my things for anything that might corrupt me." Maura told her.
"Maura!" Ariadne gasped. She had never heard of such a thing. Even at finishing school where prayers were held over each meal and Sunday services were always attended; she had never been forced to do them. Nor had any girl or servant there. In fact, she went to school with girls who were varying shades of Christian and didn't attend the same in school chapel as her.
To tell someone they would burn in the rapture would be taboo in her school. The girls and servants were too used to their rights. Their parents too able to raise a fuss if those rights were infringed upon.
"I'm sorry that happened, Maura. I'll speak to Mrs. Abbot and Miles myself." Ariadne said.
"Oh no, Missus!" Maura cried. "I don't want them to be upset. Lady Percy had me working in the kitchens for the first few days. I don't want to go back down there!"
"Lady Percy indeed!" Ariadne fumed and stormed out of the pretty, pink room.
BTW who LOVED JGL's "Magic Mike" dance on SNL last night? "Magic Mike 2" anyone?