Dedicated to NobleRoyalqueen

First Draft

Bath, England 1863

"Come here, you little scamp." Nora chased the tiger-striped cat down the hallway of Lady Margaret's townhouse. "Why Verity named you 'Romeo' is beyond me!" She grabbed the feisty cat, who quickly attacked her hand. "You should be amply named Lucifer."

"Now, now, child. He may look big, but he's a babe still yet. He shall calm down... eventually." Lady Margaret cackled at the unimpressed look on Nora's flushed face.

"With respect, my lady, he was in the parlor running up and down your drapes. I dare say the little devil has ruined them!"

"'Tis no bother, child. I shall buy more." Lady Margaret smiled and winked at Nora.

Nora stayed with Lady Margaret while her employer, Viscount Stanbury, and his new bride, Verity, were on their honeymoon. While thrilled for Verity, Nora missed her since they had become friends almost immediately upon meeting. 

Verity Weston found herself orphaned when her father was shot trying to apprehend a criminal. She had then become the ward of Viscount Stanbury. Detective Inspector Franklin Weston was like a second father to the viscount and had arranged for Lord Ashmore to become Verity's guardian upon his death. 

During Verity's grief, Nora had been a balm to the girl's soul, and the two became close as sisters. Once Verity and Lord Ashmore realized, with a nudge from Verity's aunt, Lady Margaret, that they were in love, they married. Of course, they had to wait until Verity's mourning period was over, but that gave Nora and Verity more time to become even closer. It also gave Nora more time with Lady Margaret, the Countess of Blakely.

Lady Margaret was unlike anyone Nora had ever met. To say she was eccentric was an understatement. She wasn't like any other aristocrat, that was for sure. Lady Margaret had taken it upon herself to elevate Nora's new position as lady's maid to Verity's companion whenever the mood or situation warranted. Nora had risen from a maid in Viscount Stanbury's employ to Verity's lady's maid once Lord Ashmore noticed their budding friendship. Nora couldn't have been happier with her new position.

However, that was before Lady Margaret showed up and turned the townhouse on its ear. She turned its master, the viscount, on his rear as well. She shouted orders, drank his best brandy, changed the menus, and appointed Nora as her niece's companion to impress a duke too. Although this was daunting to Nora, she was able to pull off the farce with aplomb.

Yes, explaining Lady Margaret would be near impossible. Nora had never met anyone like her, especially a noblewoman. The Countess of Blakely was one of a kind, and Nora figured there were many more layers and secrets when it came to Lady Margaret. Nora was fine with that and enjoyed most of the time she had spent with the countess. She also knew some secrets were best left alone. Everyone had secrets, yet some were too dangerous to tell. 

Even though Nora had spent the morning chasing a frisky cat called Romeo, her thoughts ran to a dark place. Ever since Nora had traveled to Bath with Lady Margaret, she had been in turmoil. While she mostly adored Lady Margaret, Nora feared her time here was running out. 

She had been at peace now for three glorious years. Nora hadn't even minded the hard, laborious work of a kitchen maid. Although clueless and exhausted, Nora quickly learned how to be a maid and became accustomed to hard labor. She thought back to that first month and how she would fall into the lumpy, hard iron bed, and sleep would instantly take her. Now, surrounded again by luxury, living a life of leisure, and falling into a pillow-soft bed every night, she tossed and turned. Nora couldn't sleep because worry consumed her. Even though the nights seemed the worst, the daylight brought horrors of its own. Daylight was her enemy, and she wondered when it would strike.

She knew it was inevitable, and even those secrets better left unsaid always came to light. Secrets had a way of catching up with you, and Nora's secret was creeping upon her. She realized Romeo had stilled in her arms, and his purring soothed her for a moment. Nora smiled at Lady Margaret and said, "Yes, you are quite right. He is still just a babe, and you can buy new drapes if needed. He won't be young forever." 

"Quite right, child. He will calm down soon enough. But, pray, what is going on in that pretty little head of yours? You look miles away," Lady Margaret announced, her brows furrowed.

Nora realized she needed to be more careful around the countess. They had good reason for calling her the Cunning Countess. She was astute and sometimes knew what one thought before you knew yourself. Nora said, "Nothing, my lady. I just didn't sleep well last night." 

"Oh, child. Why did you not tell me?" Lady Margaret tsked. "One must always have their beauty sleep, and I have just the thing to make you sleep like a babe in Jesus's arms."

Nora didn't doubt it for a moment. Lady Margaret loved her brandy and nerve tonics. However, she doubted anything would enable her to sleep through the night. When she was ensconced away as a maid at Viscount Stanbury's townhouse, Nora was safe. Now, with Lady Margaret insisting on sponsoring her for a London Season, she was sure to be found out. What would Lady Margaret think when she found out that Nora was really the daughter of a duke? More importantly, what would happen if her father found her? He would force her to marry that wicked, cruel man. She was officially betrothed to him after all. Nora could only pray that he had given up and married another. 

In her heart, she doubted it and hated the thought of any woman being married to such a vicious man. She had scanned the papers at every opportunity but had never come across any such announcement. The whole ordeal was hopeless, and Nora could almost feel her life crashing down around her.

I decided to upload chapter 2 tonight as well. Especially for @NobleRoyalqueen.
Enjoy!
Lady Lisa