Page 56 of The Favourite

“Well, I thought so. Could you pass me a drying cloth?”

Ayleth attended her in silence, helping her into her shift and wringing out her wet hair. “Seems a funny thing,” she said, picking up a comb and running it through Jane’s hair, “that your husband took such issue with the overstaffing at Kinnerton. When he has a whole fleet of his own, I mean.”

Jane considered. On the whole, she thought it a positive thing that Ayleth was taking an interest in the world around her once more. “I suppose,” she said slowly, “that before our marriage, he only had Robert, Wat, and Davis.” Even to her own ear that sounded like a lot for a bachelor. “He is an ambassador, do not forget, and has official duties to discharge.”

“That old one is less than useless, and long passed his best,” Ayleth said with a curl of her lip. “Did you mark those holes in his stockings? Shocking.”

“I do not think Lord Bardulf would require his servant proficient in darning and mending,” Jane answered lightly. “I imagine he relishes any excuse to buy new. You should see his dressing room.”

Ayleth sniffed. “Did you see the wine the old rogue was quaffing when we surprised him? You could tell from the bottle; it was good stuff. And the fine pandemain bread? That weren’t meant for a servant’s mouth! The scoundrel clearly helps himself to the best of things while his master’s away. I wonder that his lordship would allow such liberties. Why, at Kinnerton, they went in holy dread of him!”

They did? “Pass me my mantle,” Jane said aloud. She wanted to encourage Ayleth out of her mopes, but she should probably quell any attempts to sow discord among her husband’s servants. “We should not rush to judgment here, Ayleth,” she advised as the maid draped her mantle over her shoulders. “Robert seems to be his countryman and likely accompanied him from the Western Isles. In any case, he introduced him as his oldest and most trusted servant, do not forget. That counts for a lot.”

Ayleth pursed her lips but made no comment as she braided Jane’s damp hair. Once it was done, she pulled back the heavy covers for her to climb into the bed. “Will that be all, my lady?” she asked formally.

“Thank you,” Jane said glancing at the bed, “but I want to check in on Anne and the children first.” Ayleth looked even more disapproving if that was possible. “Have you had the opportunity to inspect your own quarters?”

“Such as they are,” Ayleth answered with asperity. “At least that Wat is a neat and orderly fellow.” She fetched Jane’s embroidered slippers and set them in front of her.

“Thank you, Ayleth. You are now at your leisure for the evening.”

“I’ll go and unpack,” Ayleth responded promptly and showed a clean pair of heels.

Jane found Anne gazing out of her window as she rocked Celestia in her arms. Bertrand was sat in the middle of the bed, kicking his legs and gurgling. He was clearly fresh out of the tub and looked very cherubic.

“Do you suppose that spire is the cathedral, milady?” Anne asked excitedly, turning from the window.

Jane glanced out at the view. “Yes, undoubtedly.” She hesitated. “You are interested in ecclesiastical architecture, Anne?”

Anne looked puzzled. “Well, I likes to see the grand buildings, if that’s what you mean,” she said cautiously. “And to light a candle or two for prayer on occasion.”

Jane nodded. “Well, there are churches, chapels, and shrines aplenty here in Aphrany. I am sure you will find one suited for your worship.” She glanced about the bedchamber, which was a decent size, though nothing like as big as Alisander’s two dedicated rooms.

In one corner of the room stood what appeared to be a large wooden box, though it looked wider at the top than the bottom. It had already been dressed with blankets, and Jane was relieved to see Anne had not used the ones with the Earl of Cecil crest.

“That crib at Kinnerton was too big and fancy to bring with us,” Anne explained. “Wat found this one. There’s a family two doors down that don’t need it anymore. I reckon it’s big enough for the two of them to go either end.” She glanced uncertainly at Jane. “Course,” she said hastily, “Bertrand usually sleeps in with me. It’s just that he’s started rolling over recently, and I do worry about him tumbling out the bed when I’m asleep.”

Jane waved this aside. “I am sure that will be fine, Anne,” she said and saw the maid was relieved.

“Only I don’t want you to think I’m forgetting me and Bertrand’s place.”

“Not at all. There is no question of that.”

Anne hesitated, seeing the direction of Jane’s gaze. “Do you want a hold of her before bed, milady?” she suggested. Jane wavered. It would be awful if Celestia went from contented to miserable just because she interfered in proceedings. “She’s a full belly,” Anne added encouragingly. “And if you sit here in this chair by the fire, I think you will both be comfortable.”

“Then, yes,” Jane blurted, “for a moment.” Anne beamed as Jane lowered herself into the chair and passed the baby to her. Jane felt a thrill when Celestia settled in comfortably in her arms. “She does not open her eyes much,” she observed anxiously. “Is that … normal?”

“Oh yes, milady. She’ll open ‘em more and more over the next few weeks. You’ll see.”

Jane recalled Alisander’s nonsensical words about kittens, or was it puppies? She was not sure, though she remembered him comparing Celestia to one. She did not know how long she sat there, cradling the baby in her arms, but when the door opened and her husband looked in, she found her face was wet.

“Here you are,” he said, affecting not to notice her tears. “I was wondering where you had hidden yourself. Shall we to bed?”

Jane wiped her eyes and looked to Anne who was hurrying over to take the baby. “Yes, I’ll come now.” She stood up, bade Anne goodnight, and followed him out into the corridor and then to his bedchamber.

“I hope you have your questions ready, wife,” Alisander said with relish, whipping his shirt up and over his head as she slipped under the covers.

Jane’s mind turned blank. Dragging up the blankets, she noticed the gold ring he had given her on their wedding day. “This ring,” she said on impulse, “is it a family heirloom?”