The Countess Intrigue by Wendy May Andrews Page B

entered the room.
    “What has happened, my lady?” Pansy cried as she saw her mistress appearing to be in distress.
    “Have you found someone to teach me self defense?” she asked by way of an answer.
    Pansy stopped abruptly in front of her mistress, taking one of her cold hands into her own work worn ones. “Yes, m’lady. One of the footmen, Stanley, is knowledgeable in such matters and strikes me as being a trustworthy sort, if you’re wanting to keep this matter quiet.”
    “That would probably be for the best. While I am terrified and want to be as prepared as possible, the entire purpose of this arrangement is to avoid a scandal. If it became known that I was learning to defend myself it would stir up far worse gossip than anything else that has gone before it, I am sure. How soon do you think we could start?”
    Elizabeth could feel her maid’s worried scrutiny. “We are at your disposal whenever you wish, m’lady, surely you realize that. But why the urgency?”
    “My mother has decided that I ought to be married within the week. That gives me very little time.”
    “Oh!” Pansy’s widened eyes were full of excitement, but Elizabeth could tell she was trying to keep it under wraps.
    Elizabeth rolled her eyes at the maid’s tone in the one-word answer. She was well aware that for the maid it would be a huge advancement in her status to go from being the personal maid of an earl’s youngest daughter to the lady’s maid of a countess. But she was loyal enough to feel trepidation on her mistress’ behalf. The other girl was still holding her hands so Elizabeth squeezed them gently before releasing her. She paced across the room, no longer able to stand still.
    “Under the circumstances, I doubt if my mother will require my presence this afternoon until it is time to prepare for our social engagements for the evening. If you would be so kind as to arrange for Stanley to meet us here, I would like to begin as soon as possible.” She paused in thought, glancing down at her fashionable attire. “Well, perhaps it would be best if it were in half an hour. I really ought to put on my oldest clothes. I would hate to have to explain the loss of one of my newest gowns. I am quite certain this is going to be a physically demanding exercise.”
    “Very well, my lady. I will run down to have a word with him and be back momentarily to help you change.”
    Elizabeth was left alone with her thoughts. Her stomach tied itself into knots as she thought of all that had transpired. Was it possible that just last week she had been blissfully unaware, thinking she could wait out her mother’s ambitions and set herself up independently upon her twenty-first birthday, if she didn’t manage to find someone to love in the meantime? In the past week her best friend had been abducted, she had been compromised, and now was engaged to marry a man who was thought to have killed his first wife. It is enough to give one a fit of the vapours , she thought as she gazed searchingly at her own reflection in the mirror over her dressing table. Seeing the harried expression on her face, she stuck her tongue out at her own image before turning her back to the mirror. She would not give in to such weakness. She was a resourceful young woman. She would find a way to work with the wretched circumstances being thrown her way.
    She was relieved when Pansy returned. Action was much better than her own worries. Together they made short work of getting her changed, and within a few minutes the footman presented himself and they were ready to get to work.
    The footman was a sturdy young man who looked decidedly uncomfortable to be in the bedchamber of his master’s daughter. Elizabeth tried to set him at ease. “Thank you so much for agreeing to do this for me, Stanley. I appreciate your promise to keep this a secret. You do understand that I am about to be married and am feeling nervous about moving to an estate where I know no one. At all of