A Mistress for M'Lord

Chapter Two

Chapter Two

Lilly opened the door to a sight rarely seen on Sundays. A full kitchen. Ms. Masters, the cook, was in a tizzy, working full force and barking orders at the poor upstairs maid who stood trembling in the corner in her vicinity. “Where have you been, girl?”

“It’s Sunday.” Lilly stared at the older woman. “I went to visit my aunt and brothers just as I do every Sunday.”

Ms. Masters wiped her hands on her apron and pushed Lilly toward the servant’s quarters. “Well, today is different. His Lordship has a guest and they will be wanting their evening meal. Make haste child and get changed. With us short staffed today I need you to tend to them.”

Lilly nodded. “Yes, Ma’am.” With hastened steps, she rushed from the kitchen to her tiny room at the back of the house.

Usually the staff at Worthington estate boasted a number of members. Carson, the butler. A kitchen maid. Two house maids and a laundry maid. Not to mention the groundskeepers, groomsmen and the tiger, Richard. But since it was Sunday, the vast majority of them had gone to be with family leaving a small staff behind to take care of anything that arose.

Entering her tiny room, Lilly quickly shed her simple dress and donned her black maid’s uniform. She hastily pinned her hair up and secured her hat before returning to the kitchen to aid the frazzled Ms. Masters in her attempt to provide a meal with virtually no warning.

“I am here. What shall I do?” By now the upstairs maid was nearly in tears and Ms. Masters face was turning a rather unsightly shade of red.

She waved her hand toward a tray on the counter. “Take the brandy to them in the study as it appears the upstairs chit is of no use to me currently.”

Lilly cast the other girl and encouraging smile as she picked up the tray and left the kitchen. A short walk through the dining room and across the foyer left her standing before the closed door to his lordships study. She balanced the tray with the brandy in her left hand and rapped on the oak door with her right.

“Enter.”

Lilly swallowed and twisted the knob. She carefully pushed open the door and entered the room. Lord Summerfield and his guest sat in matching chairs on either side of a small carved table. A chess board rested on the surface between them. Neither of the men looked up as she closed the distance between them and placed the brandy within their reach.

Taking a step back she eyed the men who were both completely entranced by the game at hand. Lord Summerfield tapped his long tapered fingers against his thigh. His lips pressed into a thin line as he studied the board. A wayward lock or thick chestnut hair fell across his forehead and his chiseled cheeks were dusted with a light shadow of stubble.

Her heart fluttered a bit as her gaze moved across his face. He really was a handsome man. Strong jaw. Straight nose. Broad shoulders that filled his linen shirt nearly to the point of bursting.

“So what will you do now?” Mr. Ethridge studied the board and made his move before pouring himself a brandy.

“What do you mean?” Lord Summerfield raised his hand and rested his index finger upon his queens knight before surveying the board again.

Lilly tore her gaze away from his hands and focused on the floor just in front of her toes. She mustn’t appear to be eavesdropping. Not that she was, but she did find it incredibly difficult to keep her eyes averted from his lordship. For three years now she had worked in his home and for nearly every day of those three years she had found herself at one point or another day dreaming about what it would be like to be the lady that he chose as his bride. To be wrapped in his strong arms. Pressed against his hard body. Loved in his bed.