When Nathaniel went downstairs the next morning for breakfast, Eliza was already waiting for him outside the room. As taught by Sterling, Eliza curtsied to greet him.
"Good morning, Your Grace."
He took a double take. Was she this pretty last night?
It was dark when they met the previous night. In the morning light, he saw her for the first time. She was beautiful. Her features were soft, as if she was a smooth painting.
"Miss Fairleigh. Did you rest well?"
"Very well, My Lord, I thank you."
"I did what anyone would do."
Eliza wanted to argue that no, not everyone would take her in just like he did, but didn't say it.
At that precise moment, Duchess Elinor, Nathaniel's grandmother, appeared from the hallway, followed by Sterling.
The duchess was already informed by Sterling, that her grandson brought a woman home and that she was obviously a guest since no one entered the other's room at all.
"And who might this be?" an authoritative voice cut through the hallway
Eliza curtsied to the duchess as well.
"A word, grandmother," the duke requested.
Duchess Elinor, ever so elegant and upright, observed her grandson silently for a few seconds.
"Privately," he added.
"This room, then," Elinor replied, a hand pointing to a sitting room beside them.
Nathaniel and the duchess entered the sitting room.
"I met a girl as I walked home last night. I haven't investigated it myself, but I will. She is Miss Eliza Fairleigh. She hadn't said it clearly, but I concluded that she escaped from being…..attacked by her employer. She coincidentally met me, and I decided to take her here."
He waited for a response, but Elinor was quiet, so he continued.
"She said she's educated, and your secretary just retired recently. I thought you might be able to hire her as your new secretary. If she is below your standards, perhaps she could help Richard, or find a job in the kitchen."
Richard was the duke's secretary.
Duchess Elinor stared at her grandson sharply, before saying, "I hope you wouldn't take girls home as a habit. They are human beings, not stranded kittens."
"Grandmother, she was in a desperate situation."
"So she said. I am going to talk to her myself, right after we finish.
"I will investigate today."
"And I am going to interview her."
"Tell me your decision."
"I will."
After this brief chat, the grandmother and duke left the sitting room.
And immediately, Elinor called Eliza in.
*****
Eliza walked into the sitting room after the duke left it.
She was extremely nervous, and hoped the duchess could trust her enough to give her a job at that house.
"Sit down," Elinor said with authority.
"Yes, Your Grace," Eliza replied, sitting where she was told.
"Please tell me your full name."
"I am Elizabeth Maria Fairleigh."
"And how did you meet my grandson last night?"
"I was….escaping from my previous employer."
"What's his name?"
"A Mr. Harold Whitcombe."
"Can you give me his address?"
Eliza did so.
"Why did you escape from your employer's house?"
"He was—" Eliza stopped and grasped her own hand, "He tried to—assault me."
Elinor was quiet. The young woman sitting in front of her was pretty, with clear fair skin and smooth, dark brown hair. It made perfect sense for middle aged men from the merchant's class to have negative thoughts about her.
"Did he succeed, or did you escape before he did it?"
"I escaped before he could touch me."
Elinor observed her. She looked visibly stressed, but any woman who had ever experienced violence would look like that, or worse.
"And you just coincidentally met my grandson, who happened to be a duke."
A heartbeat passed, before Eliza replied carefully but truthfully, "I had no idea who he was. He was someone who was there right when I needed help the most. And he helped me. Just for that, I will be eternally grateful, whether I could get work here or not."
"My grandson said you're educated."
"I trained to be a governess under The Wellingham Institute. If you'd write to the headmistress, she will be able to give me a good reference."
"And where should I write if I want to talk to your parents?"
"My parents have both passed away. The tubercolosis took them last year."
"I am sorry for your loss," Elinor replied in a gentler tone. "Tubercolosis took my daughter in-law as well. Three years ago."
Eliza frowned. "Was she—?"
"The duke's mother. Yes."
"I am truly sorry for her passing."
"We all do. And my secretary just recently retired. Rheumatism, you see. I will have to interview you more, but are you interested in being my secretary? Or would you prefer finding a governess post?"
"To be honest, Your Grace, I still need to recover from being a governess for merely a month. If possible, I'd like to apply as your secretary. I am able to maintain your correspondence. I'll do errands. I'll even be your maid if you think I am far too young to be your secretary."
"My life is not interesting for a young girl. I mostly meet old ladies. They are some of the most important women in this kingdom, but they are old."
"That sounds so…..safe, Your Grace. Safety is what I wish for the most right now."
Elinor laughed. The sound was loud and low, something Eliza didn't expect to come out from such a dignified lady.
"I can't believe I live long enough to hear a young and beautiful girl like you is more interested in attending me than being in a more interesting situation!"
"I—I would be honored to work for a duchess, Your Grace."
"Well. I am not an easy woman."
"I will learn to fulfill my duties well, if you'd give me the chance."
"Wait. The Wellingham Institute. And is there a previous employer I can write to?"
"The Elmwood Orphanage, Your Grace. I used to work there until a month ago."
"I see."
"And I—if I would be so bold, My Lady. If I could work here, would it be possible to bring my sister Lucy here, as well. She's at the orphanage. She can work in the kitchen or as a cleaning maid here."
Elinor was silent then.
A young woman who escaped from her employer the previous night, was saying what she was looking for to an old, scary duchess like her. She had to admit that Elizabeth had some spine. Her life was hard, but she was trying to turn her situation around with her skills.
"That could be arranged. I'm sure Sterling could give her a position somewhere in this house. But your position is not secure until I get a reply from that institute and the orphanage. Before that, let me give you some information about what I expect from you. My secretary has to handle lots of my formal correspondence. I am the leader of several organizations. I also do several charity events per week. Therefore, I need someone organized and calm. Fluency in French would be a great addition."
"I learnt French, but I haven't got enough practice."
"Quel est votre niveau de fluidité ? (How fluent are you in French?)" the duchess immediately asked, switching her language quickly.
"Niveau de base, votre grâce, (basic level, Your Grace,)" Eliza answered carefully.
The duchess considered for a short moment, before saying, "I shall write letters to that Institution and to the orphanage. I expect replies by lunch time. Meanwhile, I shall tell Sterling to provide you with some information about this family and some letters I need to reply to. I shall call you when I get my replies from those places."
"Thank you, Your Grace."
With that, the duchess glided out of the sitting room.
*****
At the end of a long marble table, within a very spacious townhouse, two people with blue blood were having breakfast.
The Blackmere family was one of the oldest dukedom in Great Britain, but it also always had been small. Three years previously, Duchess Catherine and Duke Alexander passed away in the same year.
The story behind their departure was still hanging on the household, like a fog that hung on a damp night.
That year marked the first year the young duke and his grandmother returned to society.
The two always tried to have a meal together whenever possible. Not out of obligation, but because, despite their enormous wealth and famous names, they only got each other in this world.
"What do you think, then, Grandmother?"
"Miss Fairleigh seemed…..decent. I'll send Sterling to her old school and orphanage after this."
"I shall send Richard to investigate her previous employer."
After these decisions, the two resumed their breakfast, speaking from time to time about the current events in their circles.
*****