“And Miranda?”
Her lips pinched. And, if he was not mistaken, her luminous skin paled the slightest bit. “I am unclear why you know so many of our staff’s names. And why you seem to be so intimately acquainted with them.”
“That is unfair, Veronica. We both know that Miranda’s disappearance has caused a bit of unease for your mother. She told me about the maid’s mysterious disappearance herself.”
Veronica blinked. “One cannot always be certain about my mother’s sentiments.”
“All I know is that she was concerned.”
“Perhaps she should have also told you that we heard rumors that Miranda had been seen keeping company with a number of men. Obviously her morals left much to be desired. It is not my fault she left. And it is certainly not my brother’s, either.”
It was time to retreat. Veronica was obviously feeling confrontational. If they weren’t careful, it would cause notice.
“I do beg your pardon, Veronica. I don’t know why I decided to bring up such an unsavory topic.”
“I don’t know why either. Just when I imagine you are everything my family has ever wanted for me, you become tryingly bourgeois.”
“It’s my humble roots, I’m afraid. You can clean me up and teach me to dance, but I’m afraid I am still the same man.”
“I am finding your company tiresome, Reid. Good evening.” She turned away and brushed into the crowd. He folded his arms across his chest and watched her disappear.
For a moment he had been caught up in a dream. For a moment he had imagined that he could form a relationship with someone like her. But once again, reality had set in. And he realized that no matter how hard he tried, Veronica Sloane and most of her peers held little interest for him.
It was inevitable now. Sooner or later, his parents were going to be sorely disappointed.
CHAPTER 17
With a smooth turn of the knob and then a well-placed shove with her hip, Rosalind was able to enter Veronica’s room almost silently. Feeling rather proud of herself, she balanced the morning coffee service in her arms and crossed the room.
Below stairs, it had become something of a joke to see who could convince her to deliver the breakfast trays. Rosalind had made no bones about the fact that she would rather do almost anything than carry the heavy, burdensome trays up the steep flights of stairs—even stand over a hot ironing board and press scores of linen napkins. She had a great fear of dropping one in the main hall in front of any of the family.
However, today’s duty could not be pawned off to another. All eight bedrooms in the home were occupied in preparation for the dinner party the Sloanes were hosting for Veronica. Nanci had heard that Mr. and Mrs. Sloane expected a proposal soon, and they were bound and determined to present both themselves and their daughter in the best light.
But besides that, Cook said that for some reason Veronica had specifically asked for Rosalind to take up her tray. Not that she had any idea why.
Now, taking a peek at the bed, she was shocked to see Veronica wide awake. She was staring at her with a venomous expression.
Taking a deep breath, Rosalind quickly put the silver tray down on the desk. Then, taking care to keep her expression blank, she spoke. “May I pour you coffee, Miss Veronica?”
“You may.”
As quickly as she could, Rosalind turned over the cup, poured the coffee, added cream and sugar as Veronica preferred it, then brought it to her bedside.
Veronica was sitting up in bed now, staring at her with a cool expression. Unlike times before, she held out her hand for the cup and saucer.
All Rosalind wanted to do was to get out of the room as fast as possible. “Will there be anything else?”
“Oh yes.” Veronica set the cup down after taking the smallest of sips. “You can explain to me why you have chosen to make your life so difficult.”
“Pardon me, miss?”
“Pardon me? Ah, but you have become so refined for a Wisconsin farm girl, haven’t you?” When Rosalind’s eyes widened, she laughed softly. “Yes, I’ve done a little bit of research about you.”
“Why?”
“Because, for some unknown reason, you have decided to make yourself my rival.” Her voice dripped sarcasm. “Now, why is that?”
Rosalind would have given almost everything she had to be able to leave the room right then and there. She was confused. But more than that, she was truly frightened. She was at a complete disadvantage, and both of them knew it.
All she could do was say anything she could to assuage Veronica’s fears and leave the room without doing damage to her position in the household.
“Miss Veronica, we both know that I am only a servant.”