The Rakehell Regency Romance Collection Volume 2(245)

He led her into a charming parlor decorated in cream and gold which was situated just off the main entryway to the left as she entered the house.



"Pray be seated, Miss. Tea, coffee, chocolate?"



"Tea please. I have a wretched cold."



"We shall send for the locum in that case." He rang the bell and issued his instructions with the aplomb of a military man.



"Oh, no need for so much trouble. ‘Tis a mere sniffle."



He assisted her with her garments, and brought her over a footstool and banked up the fire himself.



"So when will the, um, the master be back?"



"In the New Year. The second or third, I believe."



"And he told you of me?"



"Yes, of course. His ward, Miss Arabella."



"Belle. Everyone calls me Belle."



The butler sniffed. Really, the child was so young and naive. He took it upon himself to instruct her, as he had no doubt his master would have wanted.



"That may be true in the rusticity of er, Somerset, I believe it is, but here you are to be Miss Arabella, and shall have to dress accordingly.



"Master has left most precise instructions. There are also Christmas gifts for you from your brother and the Master upstairs in your room."



He had given her perfectly modest gown the once-over in a most embarrassing manner. She knew it was not very fashionable, but it was at least warm.



The news of presents surprised her even more than the talk of a whole new wardrobe, however. She stopped feeling so alone and homesick.



As the sun shone in the cheery little parlor, she thought she could almost get used to calling this place home.



But then she hadn't seen the rest of the house yet, nor had she met her guardian. A crusty old bachelor, no doubt, about to put her in a nun's habit…



"I am sure the Master has been most thorough with his instructions. And generous with his presents. Er, Mr. Jerome, as I take him to be-"



"He wishes to be addressed as Mr. Blake, except by his business colleagues and associates. But you needn't trouble yourself about that."



"I see. Yes, well, I thank you for fetching me tea and-"



"I shall see what we can do about a chaperone for you."



"Or a maid who can come with me shopping?" she suggested timidly.



He nodded. "Yes, Miss. That would be acceptable. Betsey can go with you. I shall tell her to get her things. And I am Travis, Miss."



"Hello. So please to meet you, Travis."



"And you, Miss," he said politely, clearly thawing towards her.



His new demeanor emboldened her to ask, "May I see my room, the rest of the house, as long as I'm here, if it's not too much trouble?"



"I am sure the Master will want to take you through the rest of the house himself. But I can show you the chamber which has been set aside for you. And it is no trouble at all."



It was a stunning room, with rose and cream flock wallpaper and rich rosewood furniture, including a four-poster bed hung with heavy matching draperies.



"There were bookshelves filled with all sorts of children's books and devotional works, classics, and books on gardening, many of them looking new, their pages uncut.



"Oh my, this is lovely."



"If there is anything you need, you have only to ring."



"Does Mr. Blake keep a carriage here in town?"



He nodded. "A small conveyance for two with a box for the driver is at your disposal at present."



She shook her head. "No, that won't do. I need to move the remaining personal effect from my brother's chambers by the end of the year."



"We can get a cab, and send you along with the servants. Just tell us when."



"Tomorrow morning at ten?"



"Very good, Miss. I shall see to it all is arranged."



She continued to look around the room until he asked, "Will that be all, Miss?"



"Oh, er, yes. I'll ring when I'm ready to go shopping and go back to my step-brother's chambers."



She looked in all the wardrobes and drawers, which were completely empty, then turned her attention back to the table in the center of the room, which was piled with presents.



Most of the tags indicated they were from Peter, but there were four wrapped in gilt paper signed with a large B. She decided to open one of them and save the others.



What she found in the large long flat box took her breath away. It was the most exquisite ladies' leather travelling toilette kit she had ever seen, with a velvet-line compartment for every accoutrement from mirror and brush to sal volatile.



Everything was ornamented with chased silver, and she felt a tear spring to her eye as she looked at the lovely gift.