"I am ever so sorry, milady…for everything Mrs. Crane said," Elsa said softly, handing Isobel a bottle for the baby. Isobel did not respond, simply smiled down at the young girl and sighed in relief when she started drinking. It had been a fight for the baby to take to the bottle…so much so that Isobel could guarantee her father had not been feeding her properly.
Leaning back against the headboard, Isobel offered Elsa a small smile. "I suppose she is entitled to her opinions."
"Milady…I don't for a moment believe her lies…and I know that the village and Lord Merton's friends have only spoken kind words in your favor," Elsa said with determination.
"Thank you, Elsa," Isobel replied softly.
Elsa nodded and smiled. "Might there be anything I can get for either of you?"
"Oh, we'll be fine until Lord Merton returns."
"I could fetch some tea if you like."
"No, dear, but thank you," Isobel answered.
The young lady's maid could see the fatigue playing across Isobel's face. Knowing that Lord Merton had sent for Mr. Mead to meet him and Mrs. Crane in the nursery, she worried that there would be no place for Isobel to lay the baby down. Since the poor woman had been carrying her all day and was tired herself….perhaps…
"I've an idea, milady. Will you allow me to bring a surprise for both you and the little one?"
Isobel did not want Elsa to go to any trouble, but she knew she should not refuse…especially seeing the way Elsa's eyes had lit up.
"If you wish…" Isobel replied, laughing softly as Elsa hurried out, promising to be back as soon as she could.
Isobel again rested her head on the headboard, her eyes struggling to stay open while the baby's soon closed. She'd only had about an ounce of the milk, but Isobel did not want to prod her with more. The young girl's system was far too delicate. Setting the bottle to the side, Isobel lifted the girl to her shoulder, patting her back gently to soothe her in to a deep, restful sleep.
A few moments later, there was a small knock at the door.
"Milady, it's just me," Elsa said, walking in and quieting when she saw the baby fast asleep. "And just in time it seems."
Isobel's brow furrowed in confusion as Elsa opened the door wide and stepped back in to the hall. She heard a small scuffle, followed by Elsa and another maid carrying in a beautiful wooden cradle.
"Where ever did you find that?" Isobel asked in awe of the gorgeous piece of carpentry. The maids put the cradle down by Isobel's side of the bed.
"I had a feeling Mrs. Crane did not pull everything out of the attics," Elsa explained, nodding to the other maid who quickly left the room. "June and I went searching this morning after you left and found this and some other things that we think would be helpful. I've had the hall boys store them in the room next to the nursery for now."
"How lovely of you. Please thank June and the boys for me," Isobel replied, gently sliding off the bed. She put her hand behind the baby's head and leaned down, softly placing her on the blankets in the cradle. Both she and Elsa held their breath a moment as the little girl stirred, but then quickly fell back asleep.
"I think she likes it," Elsa said with a smile.
Isobel clasped her hands in front and nodded, her eyes still focused on the baby. "Yes, I'd say so."
"I hope you don't mind my bringing this in here….but I thought that you might like a bit of a rest yourself. And then you can have her close by until the nursery is….unoccupied."
Elsa closed her mouth tightly and looked down, afraid to bring up the matter of Lord Merton, Mr. Mead and Mrs. Crane being in the nursery at the moment. She felt a gentle hand on her arm and looked up to find Isobel standing beside her.
"It is the perfect solution until we can find a Nanny to help throughout the day. Thank you, Elsa," she said softly. Turning, she sat slowly on the bed, pushing herself back against the headboard again. "And I think you might be right…a bit of rest should do us both some good."
Elsa nodded and hurried to draw the curtains shut. As the room darkened, she gathered a blanket and laid it over Isobel's legs before turning off the bedside lamp.
"Anything else I can help with, milady?"
"You've done more than enough today, Elsa. Take the evening off," Isobel answered, though her eyes were already closed.
"Oh but…"
Isobel raised her hand to interrupt the maid. "I insist. From the way things seem now, we might not even make it down for dinner tonight."
"Of course, milady. I will bring up a tray if you like."
"No, no…I'll be fine. Just make sure to wake me tomorrow morning by 7, hm?"
"Very good, milady. Rest well," Elsa replied softly. She tiptoed out of the room, softly closing the door behind her.
Quickly moving to the back staircase, she hurried to the servants' hall where the rest of the staff sat….anxiously awaiting news from the Butler and Housekeeper.
"Milord, please…."
"You have absolutely no right to judge my marriage to Lady Merton, nor her character and decisions. Since you are my employee…someone I pay good money to run this household…there is no place for your personal opinions in conversation with the other staff. Is that not correct?"
"Well yes, but…"
"And while you may not always agree with how I run this estate, it is my house…and I shall run it any way I see fit!" Dickie exclaimed, clasping his hands behind his back in exasperation. It was all he could do to contain himself to an angry glare…truly wishing he could reach out and strangle the bloody woman.
The Housekeeper looked down…hating the fact she had been caught. If only she had taken the message from Elsa and left it at that….
"Mead, when did the post go out today?"
"About an hour ago, milord," Mead replied quietly, his angry glare matching that of his employer's as he glanced over at the Housekeeper.
"I would ask that you ring up the postmaster and request any letters from Cavenham Place be returned at once. If we are lucky, we will intercept the fraudulent note Mrs. Crane chose to send to London."
"Right away, milord."
Dickie held up a hand, stalling the Butler. "If you will wait a moment, Mead, I would like you here as a witness…and to keep me from completely losing my sense of self."
Mrs. Crane looked up, her eyes wide, as Lord Merton came toward her.
"You have disregarded all sense of duty and loyalty to this family, and I am ashamed I did not leave you go before now. You will leave tonight. Mead will see that you are paid what you are due…but you will receive no reference from this household. And should I ever… ever hear that you have spoken out against Lady Merton again…you can be sure the consequences will be far worse than this."
His voice was surprisingly calm and steady but the tone low enough to invoke a sense of fear in the devious Housekeeper. She bit her lip to avoid any tears falling as she met his glare.
"Milord, please…"
"Get out of my house," he growled.
Mead opened the nursery door and motioned for her to leave. With head hanging, the former Housekeeper walked out with a heavy sigh. Turning to protest once more, she was cut off by the door slamming shut in her face.