Chapter Three
Elizabeth hadn’t expected to sleep so well, but she woke the next morning early and refreshed. She rang for the maid, dressed, and headed downstairs to the dining room. The servants had just begun to set out the dishes for breakfast. One of the footmen caught her eye. “I’m sorry, madam,” he said. “We didn’t expect anyone up so early. We should have breakfast laid in about ten minutes. I’ll tell cook we need to move ahead.”
“No, wait,” she said, as the young man turned to go. “No rush is needed. In fact, I’d like to speak to the cook.”
“Yes, madam.” She followed the footman downstairs, where she consulted about the menu for dinner and progress of preparations. Finding all in order, she went back upstairs. Richard and an older man, a great-uncle on his mother’s side, sat in
