He smiled at his sister and received what was possibly the first genuine smile of the evening. ‘I’m so sorry, Amanda, I should have asked you to dance instead of leaving you sitting all alone.’
‘Oh, I don’t mind.’ She patted the empty seat at her side and he sat down. ‘I didn’t want to dance anyway, well, not with anyone here.’ She gave a small moue of disapproval. ‘But I’ve enjoyed myself. I got to meet the Duchess of Somerfeld. Her husband is friends with Lady Cecily’s brother.’ Amanda gripped his arm in excitement. ‘Did you know that she’s the famous actress Arabella Huntsbury? She married the Duke of Somerfeld, but she still acts on the stage. She’s in rehearsals at the moment for a Gilbert and Sullivan production. She’s so beautiful. And did you see the way she was wearing her hair? So much more stylish than anyone else here tonight.’
Dominic had no idea who she was talking about. He didn’t read the society papers so knew nothing of actresses. And all the women’s hair looked the same to him, rather ornate and decidedly fussy, but he smiled indulgently at his younger sister. ‘I’m pleased you’ve enjoyed yourself. And I promise I won’t neglect you when we host our own ball at Lockhart Estate.’
The moue of disapproval returned to his sister’s lips. ‘I suppose you’ll be inviting the same old bunch of snobs that attended this party. They’re all so dull, Dominic, and I really don’t fit in.’
Dominic swallowed an annoyed sigh. ‘They’re not dull. These people are among the most powerful and prestigious in the land. And you will fit in soon, Amanda, I promise.’
Amanda raised her eyebrows in disbelief.
‘And if no one else is sensible enough to ask you to dance, then I will dance with you all night.’
Amanda’s eyebrows raised further up her forehead. ‘Dancing with my brother, what fun.’ Her look of disapproval turned into a mischievous smile, telling him that she was up to something. ‘The Duchess of Somerfeld told me that she has her hair done by her former lady’s maid, Nellie Regan, who now has her own hairdressing parlour in London.’ Her smile became coquettish and he knew he was about to be asked for a favour. ‘If you could arrange for her to attend me and do my hair before our ball, then I’m sure I wouldn’t be left sitting on the edge of the dance floor all by myself. Then you wouldn’t have to worry about me and you could spend all night dancing with your fiancée.’ She smiled at him expectantly.
Dominic shrugged. It was an odd request, but if it would make his sister happy, he would indulge her. ‘So, who is this lady’s maid and where would I find her?’
Amanda’s face lit up with pleasure. ‘She’s staying here, at the estate. You might be able to find her in the servants’ hall. Then you can organise for her to attend me at our ball and even show my own lady’s maid how to do hair in the latest styles.’ She leaned towards him, batting her eyelashes. ‘Please, Dominic, please, please, please.’
Dominic shook his head but knew he could refuse his sister nothing. ‘Oh, very well. I’ll ask my valet to have a word with her.’
Amanda’s smile faded and she shook her head. ‘No, Dominic. You’re going to have to speak to her yourself. Please, don’t send a servant.’ She grasped Dominic’s arm as if this was a life-or-death situation. ‘I asked the Duchess of Somerfeld about this and she said Miss Regan doesn’t usually style hair for anyone outside her London parlour. She’s also a bit, um, sensitive about being treated like a servant. If the man hosting the ball makes a special appeal to her, and if he’s really polite, then she might just make an exception for me.’ She clasped his arm even tighter. ‘Please, Dominic, please get her to agree before she leaves.’
So much fuss for a silly hairstyle. Dominic doubted he would ever really understand women. ‘All right, all right. I’ll ask her myself and do everything I can to get her to agree to do your hair for you.’
Amanda released his arm and smiled. ‘Thank you so much.’
With that he kissed his smiling sister’s cheek and headed downstairs toward the servants’ hall. It seemed such a trivial matter, but if it would make his sister happy to have her hair styled like a famous actress, then he would end his evening in pursuit of an ex-lady’s maid.
Chapter Two
Nellie was in her element. She had the attention of all the laughing servants as she regaled them with entertaining descriptions of the stiff formality she had just witnessed in the ballroom. Their laughter was becoming almost raucous as she put on what she considered to be a convincing impersonation of Lady Cecily and Mr Lockhart.
After a long, hard-working day that had started at six in the morning, the servants were tired, but still ready to enjoy themselves and have fun, despite the late hour.
She danced another circuit of the kitchen, adopting an exaggeratedly rigid posture, her nose in the air, a supercilious look on her face, to the accompaniment of cheers of encouragement from her captivated audience.
The servants’ area was a stark contrast to the lavish ballroom Nellie had just left and not just because the occupants down in the basement knew how to laugh. While the ballroom had been brightly illuminated, a few smoking oil
