Maid to Be Mine: A Regency Cinderella Story by K.L. O'Keefe

coming with me, with or without her approval. If the crone lectures you, I'll take full responsibility.”
    “ She won't care! She'll blame me !”
    Robert thrust a plate in Cynthia's direction, which left her no choice. She took the plate with a sigh and prepared herself for the worst. “Are you ready?” he asked. “Ready to face the man of your dreams?”
    Cynthia used her free hand to swat Robert's arm. “Please. I never said he was the man of my dreams!”
    “ Well, regardless, you might want to remove that flour from your nose. I quite like it, but His Magnificence might have a different opinion.”
    “ I have flour on my nose?!” Cynthia tried to wipe it with her sleeve. “Is it gone?”
    “ No.” Robert licked his thumb and swiped it across her nose, which made her wince. “There. Gone.”
    “ You're absolutely revolting.”
    “ I know. But isn't that what makes me such a pleasure to be around?”
    Grunting with disgust, Cynthia grabbed the remaining plates and carried them into the dining room. Upon entering, she briefly made eye contact with Lord Charmington, who smiled as soon as he saw her.
    She also caught the gaze of Lady Montforth, who looked as if she was prepared to twist Cynthia's head off of her shoulders. Without a doubt, her presence would invoke her stepmother's wrath.
    But Cynthia got to see Lord Charmington again.
    The sight of his face was worth it.

Chapter Eleven

    By the time they finished supper, the snow had increased tenfold. Lord Charmington stood in the foyer, staring out into the great white tempest.
    “ Well, my lord...” Jemima tightened her lips to conceal her grin, “you couldn't possibly travel in such terrible weather. You will have to stay for the night.”
    “ I appreciate the offer, but I don't think that's wise. I would not want my mother to worry.”
    “ No, I insist! It would be far too treacherous!” Jemima took him by the arm and pulled him away from the door. “I am sure your mother will understand your inability to travel. Being a mother myself, I know my children's safety and well-being is more important than anything.”
    Edith's eyes rolled so far into her head, she might have caught a glimpse of her brain.
    “ The snow is not so heavy yet, and my estate isn't very far. I am sure I could make it.”
    “ Better to be safe than sorry, my lord,” Jemima said. She simply refused to take no for an answer. Any opportunity in which she could force her daughter's company on Lord Charmington was not to be missed.
    “ But I would not want to inconvenience you...”
    “ It is no inconvenience whatsoever. Georgiana?”
    Georgiana was staring at the earl's rear end when her mother's voice vanquished her unladylike thoughts. “Yes, Mama?”
    “ Take Lord Charmington to the drawing room. He can listen to you play the pianoforte while I have the servants prepare a room.”
    “ What a wonderful idea, Mama! Right this way, my lord.” Georgiana held out her arm, which James had no choice but to accept. It seemed he was going to have no choice in the matter. As Georgiana led him away, they were followed by Roland and Edith, who both seemed content to follow Lady Montforth's orders. The leader of the household was all too obvious.
    It was going to be a long night.
    His heart was lit by a single ray of hope: the possibility of crossing paths with a particular pretty maid.

    * * *

    “ Tess, please... do I have to work with Robert?!”
    Tess burped. She had just consumed a plate of the upper class's leftovers, which hadn't settled well with her. Gripping her stomach, she asked, “What's wrong with Robert?”
    “ He and I... we don't always get along,” Cynthia confessed. They were sitting at a table in the servants' quarters, so she kept her voice low, for fear that Robert would enter and hear her complaint. “I would prefer to work with you or Solomon.”
    “ But you and Robert are of a similar age. It seemed like a natural pairing.”
    “ We're of a similar