An Affair of Honor (Rebel Hearts 2)

Matilda tapped the papers in front of her on the drawing room table. “You will dismiss Jenny and Jane today.”

Mrs. Young gasped. “On what grounds?”

“On the grounds they’re not working for their wages and never have.” Matilda kept her expression neutral, but inside she was anxious. Giving orders to Mrs. Young was within her rights and expected by her husband, but she did not anticipate that the woman would give way without a fight.

“They are excellent maids, the best I’ve ever trained,” Mrs. Young protested. “You may not have ever liked them, but that does not mean they do not do their job.”

“Oh, I liked them the first month I was here until they kept pressuring me into doing their work for them.” Matilda grimaced. “The longer I worked here, the more they did not do, and you turned a blind eye. They put salt in my tea, dirt in my shoes and worse, and you never looked out for me. I would not be surprised if you had not encouraged them too by talking about the pranks played in other grand homes.”

Mrs. Young spluttered. “You’ve always possessed an active imagination, seeing faults in others before your own. It was not I that trapped the master into marriage.”

Matilda had been trapped too, by William and by her own nature. She’d accepted that a woman had few options in life, some of them brought pleasure, others brought pain. She could be happy as William’s wife, enduring both, if she dared trust in herself and in him. She turned her attention back to the matter at hand. “You believed their claims that I was dragging my feet while I worked their chores on top of my own. I was not lazy, I was exhausted.”

“You were dangling after the captain from the first day you arrived.”

Matilda shook her head. She had known Mrs. Young would resist change but had hoped the woman would see she had two choices—either follow Matilda’s orders or accept the consequences of not doing so. Matilda still hoped for agreement. What had been done to her was in the past, and it was the future she cared about most. She had made a promise to William; she would straighten out his home. She found the sheet of paper she’d prepared earlier in the day and glanced over it to mask her dislike of confrontation. “This lists the chores Nora completed on the last day of my employment as a servant.”

Mrs. Young attached her spectacles to her face and studied the note. “Seems in order.”

“According to Captain Ford’s own instructions for the housekeeper, half of those chores belong to Jenny. So, after the chores I was doing for Jenny and all Alice has done too, Jenny was left with dusting the entrance hall and dining room. Hardly taxing enough for a woman of her age and stamina, and yet both rooms remain undusted this week.”

Mrs. Young made a noise. “She had other duties this week.”

“Yes, but those other chores are the responsibility of the housekeeper. I do not wish her that much responsibility. Nor does the captain.” Matilda scowled. “Tell me, Mrs. Young, what exactly have you done this morning except slap Alice’s face for yawning at the table and imbibe half a bottle of red wine with your breakfast? Don’t deny it. I can smell the drink on you from here.”

Mrs. Young’s face colored. “How dare you!”

“Be careful, Mrs. Young. Do not forget who I am now and what I can do.” Matilda said, remembering William speaking to her in such a manner. “I am the lady of this house, and you will do as I wish or leave.”

“I won’t stay here and listen to this slander. The Duke of Rutherford hired me, and only he can dismiss me. Which I am positive he will not do.” Mrs. Young pushed to her feet, most certainly in an attempt to intimidate Matilda.

If Matilda had not already been intimidated by a master of manipulation, William, the housekeeper might have had some hope of winning the day. As it was, the housekeeper?

?s behavior only made Matilda weary. She smiled, having already anticipated this tactic from the woman. In truth, most of the servants here had been originally employed by the Duke of Rutherford. “By all means, speak to my husband’s grandfather and call me a liar. I am sure the great man will immediately side with you.”

“He’s a fair man, unlike some who think themselves better than others simply because of marriage.”

Matilda had expected that too. Her elevation had likely upset the old woman, but until now she’d held back her spite. Matilda had no right to think very highly of herself. She had married for money and security, after all.

“Should you change your mind about speaking with him and accept the termination of your employment graciously from me, I have written an adequate letter of reference for a housekeeper of your years of experience and set aside appropriate severance money. I do not know that Rutherford will offer you so much in its stead.”

“He will certainly hear of this outrage. So will the captain.” The housekeeper stormed off in the direction of the main stairs. Since William was currently reading in the library, she felt a twinge of pity. She was certain the two would meet directly. She experienced unease for the unnecessary disturbance of his day. Matilda usually tried to avoid any interruption to his routine.

What could she do if others refused to follow the captain’s rules?

Matilda tapped the letter of reference on the table, then slid it away into the desk. She would not offer Mrs. Young the letter or severance money again. Her pride had already been stretched enough to offer that much after the woman’s years of neglect and gluttony.

She glanced up at a tap at the door. “Come in.”

Nora and Paul Franks filed in, scullery maid and boot boy siblings, their faces mirroring confusion and worry. Guilt ate at her that she had not seen to an improvement in their circumstances sooner. She had been so wrapped up in her changed situation that she had overlooked their needs. But she would take steps today to ensure they were never overworked again under this roof.

“Good morning, ma’am,” the two said.

“Good morning.” They stood nervously near the open door, and with a start Matilda realized it might be the first time the pair had ventured into these rooms. She smiled at them warmly, hoping to put them at ease. “And I hope it will be a better morning for you soon.”

Dawson arrived, carrying a heavy tray. Milk, bread, ham, and cheese. Everything a pair of growing youngsters could want to ease the ache of an empty stomach. He set it on the table before the fire. “Is there anything else?”

“No, but please see that we are not disturbed by anyone.”