"Shall I prepare the master bedroom, Mrs. Van Dort?" Mrs. Matilda Loven enquired in her smooth, faintly snide tone.
Victoria laid aside her sewing and looked up at their housekeeper who might have been her mother, if her mother would ever stoop to wear an apron. She sighed. "Yes, do so Ms. Loven." She regretted hiring the woman. Since she had joined the staff, Victoria felt home again in the most disagreeable sense possible. I should have known, as it was mother who recommended her to me.
"Yes, Mrs. Van Dort. Perhaps it is best to prepare it on the off-chance that he will require it." She withdrew, her dark skirt rustling softly with disapproval.
Victoria's cheeks burned. Ms. Loven seemed to take it as a personal affront to her sense of propriety that Victor usually retired to Victoria's room rather than his own. There was nothing wrong with that. Were they married or weren't they? Victoria hesitated to fire her. Aside from her occasional snide comments she ran the household smoothly and her comments were always so well veiled Victoria was never certain if they were meant or if she imagined them just because Ms. Loven reminded her of her mother.
"Good evening, darling." Victor stepped jauntily into the room and kissed his wife's cheek. He noticed that all was not well with her. "What is it, Victoria?"
"It's that wretched housekeeper of ours."
Victor did not need to hear anymore. This wasn't the first time Ms. Loven had made Victoria uncomfortable about his sleeping arrangements. He did not like to see Victoria so upset. Though it was a wrench he said, "Perhaps it might defuse things were I to retire to my own room for a time?"
Victoria shook her head and smiled slightly at her husband. She knew he meant well. "No, Victor. I won't be bossed by my own servants. All through my childhood I was bullied by Emil and I shant let that happen again."
Victor returned her smile and squeezed her hand fondly. "Good for you, my dear. After all as you pointed out, she works for us. There is not much else she can do besides disapprove."