by Jennifer Joy
“What else can you tell me about Yvette?”
“She goes to Miss Maven’s shop most nights, and returns after a couple hours.”
Emily, who had been silent until that moment, said, “She stitches Miss Maven’s special labels she had made into the dresses. It was her idea. I heard her suggest it to Aunt Maven.”
Adélaïde’s aching head felt lighter. “How big are these labels? Could a message be slipped inside one without anyone knowing it?”
“It would be a scrap of paper, but it is possible.”
Tilting her head back, Adélaïde squeezed her eyes shut. “So, Yvette was the one to introduce me to Miss Maven. Yvette convinced her to suggest to me that I make an ensemble for Mrs. Bartlow. She also has a means to convey messages unnoticed in Miss Maven’s dresses, without even Miss Maven being aware of it.” Opening her eyes, she took a deep breath.
“What do you plan?” asked Mary.
“We must get Yvette and take her to Dovedale directly. If I can get her to talk, I can leverage a trade— her confession for Richard’s reassignment to London.”
Mary’s face lit up. “If it goes well, you should ask for his promotion so you can marry!”
“One thing at a time, Mary. Though I will not deny that the thought had occurred to me.”
Emily said, “Mary is right, miss. She should go with you.” She clung so tightly to her sister’s side, Adélaïde could not see how she could separate the girls. She would have to bring Emily with them as far as Maman’s.
Mary introduced the girls, who stood stupefied in place, while Adélaïde ran upstairs to her old room for a coat for Emily to wear.
The sisters stood by the door when she returned. She would have preferred to walk so that she had time to think about how to confront Yvette. Plus, with the congested streets, it was often quicker to travel on foot. But, one look at weak Emily changed her mind. “Let us take a carriage to Maman’s.”
“I hope Yvette is still there, or else, how will we know where to find her? We could cross paths dozens of times all day,” said Mary.
“Let us pray she is there. It is all we can do now.”
Mary held her sister’s hands all the way home to Maman’s.
“Emily, I am sorry for what you have had to endure. My hope is that you will stay with us so that you can get well.” Adélaïde knew she had no right to extend hospitality to anyone. She had no money, and no means to get any. But she trusted that she would find a way to provide for herself and the ones she held dear.
“Thank you, miss,” she said in a voice so soft, it was difficult to hear her over the sound of the coach wheels on the cobblestones.
Emily’s light-colored eyes were surrounded by circles so dark, they looked like bruises. Her thin dress did little to hide her bony frame. She sat hugging her arms.
“Miss, I have a confession to make,” said Mary.
Adélaïde braced herself. The morning had been full of so many surprises, what was one more?
“What is your confession, Mary? If it helps shed some light on this whole mess, I will be glad to hear it.”
Mary twisted her mouth. “I do not think so. If anything, it only complicates things.” She looked at her sister, then back to Adélaïde.
“You had best tell me anyway.”
“Please do not be too upset with me, miss, but I did it because I thought to protect you. From what, I was uncertain. I think I understand better now, though I am not sure.”
“What do you mean, Mary?” Adélaïde’s temples ached, and she wished for some answers— to anything.
“It was I who stole your dress and pelisse.” She looked with wide eyes at Adélaïde.
Reaching up to massage her pulsing forehead, Adélaïde gasped. “I did not even know it was gone! When did you manage this?”
“Only yesterday. I had hoped you would not notice until I could return it safely, but I was afraid it would fall into the hands of Miss Maven or… worse.”
“Why did you do it?”
“After the break-in, I started watching everyone more closely. Perhaps I have a distrusting nature, but after that, I paid more attention than ever to the other girls. I had already been sneaking out at night to give Emily some of my food, but I followed Yvette a few times when she did the same. I never have liked her, you know.”
Well aware of Mary’s sentiments toward Yvette, Adélaïde asked, “Why did you not think to tell me about this before?” The more Adélaïde learned about Yvette, the more her head ached.
“I did think about it, miss, but I did not think you would believe me. I am aware of my place, and why should you believe me when you have known and trusted her for much longer? I would have found myself without work or a home.”
“Mary, I would never just cast you off. I would have found a good situation for you.”
“Ha, so you admit it! Miss, I know a good situation when I see one, and like it or not, you will not be rid of me so easily. Maybe I am a pest sometimes, but I will prove my worth to you. I am determined.”
Adélaïde stifled a chuckle, while tears prickled her eyes. The girl’s loyalty overwhelmed her. “You owe me nothing, Mary. You are learning to do a trade well so that you can be your own mistress and answer to nobody but yourself should you wish it. But, tell me, did you learn anything from your observations?”
“First, I should probably tell you that I saw who broke into the shop the first time. I have not told you before because I did not want you to think less of him.”
“Colonel Fitzwilliam?”
Mary looked up in surprise. “Yes! How did you know?”
“He told me himself.”
“I knew he would. He is a real gentleman. I liked him from the first moment he booted that hoity-toity man out of the shop, and made him pay to fix your chair.”
How strange that Mary should implicitly trust Richard, when she distrusted everyone else. “You have good instincts, Mary. The colonel is the best of men.”
“Oh, how glad I am to hear you say that. He is sweet on you too, and if I cannot marry him, I think you should.”
Adélaïde could not keep herself from smiling, though her stomach tied in knots. “If only it were that simple. The colonel is a good man, but he must marry a lady with money. I have nothing to offer him besides myself.”
“Is that not enough? He is responsible. He would find a way.”
“In the world of dreams, it would be enough. But, in the real world, couples who marry without means have been known to die of despair when they realize that it is neither reasonable nor practical to live off their love. It only becomes more complicated when children are added. This is nothing you do not know, Mary.”
Mary hung her head. “I know it. I have been a victim of it, but I have to hope that others might find happiness where my own mother never did.”
“Had I not just lost everything, I might employ my plan to use my feminine persuasions on him, but he is to leave for the continent in just two days. How am I to dig myself out of the hole I am in and return to how things were before he leaves?” It was a question she had mulled over and over since she had learned of his reassignment the previous evening.
“I still have the dress. Cook let me hide it in her room. In fact, I added a fancy satin label with your initials stitched on it just like I saw Yvette do for my aunt’s dresses. Could it fetch enough?”
“You are a dear girl, but I will have to use that money for our food.”
“What about your brother? He would help you if he were here.”
“I cannot bring myself to impose on Luc— especially given the current state of his house. I have burdened him before he even returns from his wedding holiday.”
“He will not mind, surely. I do not know him well, but everyone speaks so highly of him.”
“Luc has been generous with me my whole life, but now he has his own family to think of. I will not impose on him unnecessarily. Besides, until he returns, what can he do?”
They arri
ved in decent time to Maman’s, each lady consumed with her own thoughts.
Chapter 30
“Maman!” Adélaïde said, as she ran into the sitting room where she hoped she would see her.
Maman had a firm grasp on her cane and was half-way out of her chair when Adélaïde entered the room.
“Whatever is the matter, child?” she asked, one hand clutching her breast.
Yvette sat on the settee across from Maman, concern on her face as well.
“I do apologize for giving you a scare. It feels like I have been awake for ages with everything I have seen to this morning. Please, sit down, Maman. I am sorry.”
Mary, her arm anchored in Emily’s arm, stood behind Yvette on the settee, her expression anything but friendly.
“What is this about?” insisted Maman.
“We have taken this girl under our protection. Her name is Emily, and she happens to be Mary’s sister. She has left the employ of her aunt, Miss Maven.”
Yvette’s pinched face and rising color signaled that she knew exactly who the girl was and her relation to Miss Maven. Why had she not said anything?
Maman looked closer at Emily. Hand over her heart, she declared, “Why, she is as thin as paper!” Calling a maid over, she instructed her to take the girl to the kitchen immediately. “Tell Cook to feed her whatever she has on hand.”
Encouraging her with a nod, Mary handed Emily over to the elderly maid.
With Emily taken care of, Adélaïde focused her attention on Yvette. Slowly, she walked over to the settee and sat beside Yvette.
Picking up her hands, which were now free of all but one bandage, Adélaïde said, “Why would you go to such great lengths to save my store when it was you who betrayed me?”
Yvette pulled her hands back abruptly. “It is a lie!”
“You deny that you have been working with Miss Maven these past months? You deny that you stitch messages behind her satin labels? You deny that you sought to imply me in your traitorous acts?”
The color in Yvette’s face drained. “You have no proof.”
Mary spoke. “Ha! So you admit it!”
Facing Adélaïde, Yvette said, “I admit to nothing. It is true that I have been of some assistance to Miss Maven, but I only did that to promote your interests. Is this how I am to be thanked? After all the years I have worked with you? I had thought that we were friends.”
Though her words stung, Adélaïde stuck to her resolve. A spy would have to be a master manipulator and an excellent actress. After years of working with Luc, Adélaïde knew the ways of the theatrical world. She knew when someone was putting on an act, just as clearly as she was convinced that Yvette was hiding something.
“You forget yourself, Yvette. If what I said were not true, why are you so pallid? I see sweat beading on your temples; your pulse is visible. You look like a new actress at her first audition. What are you hiding from me?”
Yvette sunk deeper into her chair.
She was about to speak, but it must not have been quick enough for Mary. Chin held high, she said, “We will march you straight to Lieutenant General Dovedale’s office, and you will confess your crimes. You will not get away with this.”
A strange flicker ran across Yvette’s eyes, but she sighed and said in a low voice, “I suppose I have no choice.”
“We should tie her up. What if she tries to escape?” said Mary.
Yvette held her hands in front of her without a word.
Mary took much too great a pleasure tying Yvette up.
“Make certain not to tie over her wounds. What she has done is unforgivable, but I will not be accused of having acted cruelly toward anybody.”
Maman, who had taken in the whole scene quietly, said, “You will take my carriage. I will stay here and tend to Emily.”
Adélaïde nodded, and Maman rang for her carriage to be brought out front.
Yvette was silent all the way to Lieutenant General Dovedale’s office. It was unsettling, but her reaction had just as well as proclaimed her guilty. Adélaïde felt certain of it.
Still, she asked, “Why did you do it?” She received a silent stare in answer.
It must not have been very often that a lady was brought to Lieutenant General Dovedale’s office with her hands bound. They were admitted without any questions, though plenty of side glances were cast their way.
A handsome man, older than Richard, stood from behind his desk, closing the distance between them and his door. The furniture was large and solid. The smell was distinctly male— cigars, brandy, and polished leather. Everything about the room was big, and Adélaïde did not think that females frequented it.
The look on his face was of one trying to hold back a smile, though his gray eyes held no warmth in them. She looked at Yvette, who looked perfectly relaxed in the man’s presence.
This was a mistake. Something was horribly wrong. She backed up a step.
“Where are you going, Miss Mauvier? I thought you came to see me,” he said in an icy voice that sent chills running down Adélaïde’s spine.
“We did not come alone. Our carriage awaits downstairs with the rest of our party,” she said in the most confident manner she could muster.
Yvette laughed. “You are a terrible liar. The only person aware of our whereabouts is that old biddy, Miss Beatrice.” Holding out her hands to the man, she said, “Please, be so kind…”
When he reached to untie her, Mary lifted her foot, and brought it down with all her force to land… in the air. Her attempt was met with a shove that sent her sprawling onto the floor, a good distance from their group.
“Do you think I am so foolish as to allow a little nobody from the street to best me?” The lieutenant general spoke as he brought his hand back to untie Yvette, who grabbed Adélaïde’s arm and pulled it behind her back while Adélaïde had turned to assist Mary.
Wincing at the pain piercing her shoulders, Adélaïde struggled, but Yvette’s grip on her hands only tightened, pulling her arms up until Adélaïde could not breathe.
Mary grabbed her ankle and grimaced.
Lieutenant General Dovedale drew closer to her, pulling cuffs out of a pocket, letting the metal clink as he smacked them in his hands.
Mary attempted to stand again, but fell to the floor as she tried to put her weight on the injured ankle.
Dovedale laughed at her pain. “Derelicts like you—” he began.
“— always escape!” Mary yelled as she lashed out with her sturdy half boots, striking him in the knee. Jumping to her feet, she bolted for the door.
Adélaïde felt Yvette let go of her hands to chase the girl, but she moved so that she stood in the way. It was like some sick dance, swaying back and forth, but she had the satisfaction of seeing Mary leave unharmed as Yvette tripped over Adélaïde’s feet.
Mary would seek help. If anybody could evade the lieutenant general, it was she.
Relaxing, Adélaïde tried to move her arms so that she could regain feeling in her hands. Yvette had tied the bands around them so tightly, her fingertips had turned cold. Her pinky fingers had gone numb. A slap across her cheek, and the dark spots that followed it, sent her to her knees. She had to open and close her eyes several times before she could see.
“You would prefer that little chit over me. Never mind that I slaved over your dresses these past five years.”
Adélaïde could hear Dovedale talking to someone outside his door. Most likely, he was reassuring the officer in reception that all was well.
The room stopped spinning, so Adélaïde set a foot on the floor and hauled herself up to her full height. It was not much, but she would not let these people intimidate her. She had to stall for time. She had to give help a chance to arrive.
Dovedale limped over, grabbed her hands, and pushed her across the room, shoving her into a chair behind his desk.
“The girl is not smart enough to cause much damage. Nobody would believe her even if she did talk. As far as anyone knows, we have our
traitor right here in our custody.” He looked at Adélaïde, who could not help but think that Mary was smarter than he gave her credit for. Had she not managed to escape by faking an injury? Dovedale still walked with a limp.
Adélaïde wanted some answers. “Why have you betrayed me, Yvette?” Now that the spots had cleared from her vision, she saw red. Whether it was her anger or the swollen cheek visible in front of her eye, she did not care. She now understood the twinkle in Yvette’s eyes when she had suggested that they go to Dovedale, and Adélaïde realized how futile it would be to attempt to negotiate Richard’s reassignment now.
Yvette sneered. “You think you are the only woman with ambitions? The only woman expert with a needle? I have worked to make you the success you are today, and what will I have to show for it in another ten years? What? Miss Maven offered to let me take over her shop in exchange for your designs two years hence.”
“You have been stealing my designs? How long has this been going on?”
Folding her arms and poking her nose up into the air in satisfaction, Yvette said, “About a year now. Of course, she adapted them enough so that you would not make the connection too easily. After our initial meeting, we agreed that Miss Matilda would arrive to the shop after hours once a week for the drawings.”
Adélaïde had not noticed anything missing. “Which drawings did you take?”
“Oh, I am not all bad. If my venture with Miss Maven did not work out, I wanted to maintain the trust with you I had worked so hard to cultivate. I only took from your discarded ideas. They are still very good, you know.”
The cold calculation with which Yvette had been manipulating her was devastating. It was much how Richard would feel when he learned about Lieutenant General Dovedale, a man he had been neighbors with and looked up to as a hero.
Stalling for time, and seeking more answers so long as they would talk, Adélaïde asked, “How did you come to work together?”
Yvette looked to Dovedale. He shrugged his shoulders. “We have a few minutes before the warden’s men arrive to carry her off. If she is to anguish in a slimy cell until she hangs from the end of a rope, at least you can clear your conscience with her before she is taken away. Think of it as a sort of confession.” He chuckled.