The carriage swayed gently as we traveled along the countryside, early morning sunlight filtering through the windows. I adjusted my position on the plush seat, still unused to riding in a ducal carriage rather than driving one. Even after months of being officially "family" rather than staff, the transition felt strange.
"Are you comfortable, Miss Meadows?" I asked the young woman seated across from me, noticing how rigidly she sat.
Clara Meadows nodded quickly, her hands folded tightly in her lap. "Yes, Mr. Alistair. This is... quite luxurious."
I smiled at her obvious discomfort. "You know, His Grace insisted we take this carriage. I would have been perfectly content with something less ostentatious."
"It feels wrong," Clara admitted, finally voicing what I suspected had been bothering her since we departed. "I'm just a lady's maid, and here I am, riding in the Duke's personal carriage like I'm someone important."
