The Legacy Debt

Chapter 6

Chapter 6

Margot's hands swiftly pulled my hair into a braided bun that fell just where my hairline met the top of my neck. She had learned a number of hairstyles off of a very proficient lady's maid in Leeds a few months back. I was very grateful as it seems that I was able to keep up with the styles of our new arrivals.

"With all that you've said, you can not blame me for assuming that you may grow to like him as something a bit more?" she asked as she picked at a stubborn hair near the nape of my neck.

"Certainly not, Margot! Some of us don't wear our hearts on our sleeves," I jabbed and watched that mischievous smile creep across her face. She hadn't spoken to me about our head butler in a long time. Most of the female staff liked him, but it seems that Margot thought she had the best chance of capturing his heart. I could see why they were all so attracted; he had black hair that was cut short and while unfashionable, my father did not require him to wear the usual powdered wig. His olive skin made his hazel eyes appear vibrant allowing no woman in the kitchen to feel safe from his heart. Despite all of these redeeming handsome qualities, he was professional and humble. Something my father always liked about him when he first came to us.

"Nothing to report," she replied and sat down on the velvet stool. "We've kissed, but I always feel like he doesn't really care if he's kissing me or kissing Lindy,"

"Wait, he kissed Lindy?!" I exclaimed. It was a bewildering thought as Lindy was far more dull than Margot's quick wit. "And when did you kiss him?"

"You know how I joined you and your family a bit later at the summer cottage?" I nodded in reply. "I stayed here a few days to help clean up and prepare the rest of your things that you may need. We took some time together to walk around the house and he offered to help me with the luggage and the carriage,"

I had shifted my chair so that we could talk face to face. She hadn't breathed a word of this to me when she arrived.

"There was a brief moment when we were in the attic getting one of your travelling trunks and just like in a novel, I slipped and he caught me. Our eyes met and he bent down and kissed me softly on the lips," her face blossomed like a ripe tomato. I took her hand in mine and tried desperately to stifle my shriek of excitement.
"And you've been horribly busy since you've returned, have you said anything to each other?"

"Nothing at all! He's greeted me politely the entire time! That's not all though, when I was at the summer cottage, I was speaking to Lindy about it and she suddenly became cross as she too is infatuated with Henry. She then claimed that he kisses her all the time in the pantry when she's helping out in the kitchen!"

"Well have you asked others? Is it true or is she simply saying it to make you feel like you should give up on him? Besides, he doesn't seem like the type to pursue multiple girls at one time,"

"No, I do not believe that is in his character," she smiled sadly at me. "It does not matter though. There is no point sitting here and overthinking about things we have no control over. It will only make us sad,"

She was not wrong in this assumption. I often was curious where Margot got her maturity and poise. I myself had only ever cared romantically for one man whom I still find very painful to mention to this day. His name was James and he was a friend of my brother Richard's from school. I remember his dark red hair, perfect smile and blue eyes that reflected everything he looked at as if they were two mirrors. When I was just fourteen, Richard invited him to visit our summer cottage and partake in some fishing and outdoor sports. Every moment we talked after our initial introduction felt like magic. He told me one night as we walked along the gardens to meet me brother that he found me to be the most enchanting lady he'd ever met. I was pleased because he too was of noble birth and it seemed like the perfect match.