“What about it?”
“If I were a lady’s maid I’d help you tame them curls with hot tongs.”
“That sounds like I might be scorched. I’ve never done anything with my hair except twist it into a knot at the back of my head and pray too many curls don’t escape.”
“At least a ribbon, perhaps?” Tessie found a pink ribbon in Ana’s trunk and looped it around her head, tying it in a bow at her ear. “That does look nice.”
“Thank you, Tessie. You’re a wonder.”
Tessie’s cheeks reddened. “I’ll do my best, milady. But honestly, wouldn’t you want a real lady’s maid? One with training, like?”
Ana shook her head. “I want you, Tessie. Now, do you know where the duke’s study is?”
“I’ll take you there.”
When they arrived, Ana knocked on the door. The duke’s gravelly bass voice bade her enter. She glanced back at Tessie, whose eyes were wide with fear. “Go on, milady.”
Ana took a deep breath and entered the room. A tall, thin woman with iron gray hair and iron gray eyes regarded Ana steadily. Her immaculate posture matched that of the duke at her side, who was also staring straight at Ana with a concentration that made her feel slightly breathless.
“This is the girl?” Lady Glynis asked.
“This is my ward, Miss Analise Crewe. Miss Crewe, this is my aunt, Lady Glynis.”
“How do you do?” Ana made a curtsy.
“Humph.” Lady Glynis narrowed her eyes. “That wasn’t a proper curtsy at all. And what are you wearing?”
“A . . . gown?”
“It’s drab and does nothing for your complexion. Come here, girl.”
Ana approached her in the same way a plaintiff might approach a judge seated high on their throne, gavel in hand.
She grabbed Ana’s chin and tilted her face toward the light. “Freckles. How unfortunate. Equally unfortunate, the color of your hair—not red, not blonde. I’ll admit your eyes are a pleasing green. Open your mouth.”
Caught off guard, Ana did as she was told. Lady Glynis inspected her with growing disdain. “Crooked teeth. You’ll have to smile with your mouth closed.”
“I beg your pardon?”
“Keep your mouth closed and smile demurely.”
“I’ll have to open my mouth to speak.”
“You’ll speak as little as possible.”
Ana glanced at the duke. He was reading a ledger on his desk, oblivious to the fact that she was being evaluated like a broodmare in a stable.
“Hold out your hands.”
When she didn’t obey, Lady Glynis lifted one of Ana’s hands. “Ragged nails. Do you chew them? A disgusting habit. I’ll coat them with rapeseed oil, the bitterness will soon cure you of that. You’re altogether too slight and small of stature, you’ll have to wear heeled slippers and lift your chin. We can perhaps add some padding to your gowns to give you more of a feminine shape. Now then, are you proficient on the pianoforte?”
“I play very poorly.”
“How many languages do you speak?”
“Just the one. I did learn French but I’m afraid it’s mostly slipped away.”
“Do you draw or paint?”