I entered the carriage and beckoned her to follow me. She did so and as soon as she entered, the door was firmly shut. The driver whipped up the horses.
Susan stared at me in alarm. “We’re not going far,” I assured her. “But it would be nice to be private, don’t you think? We have a lot to discuss.”
“Why?”
“You want my husband to…perform the ceremony? He wants to know one or two things first.”
“Are we going to him?” Her hands shook, although her voice was steady. A strand of golden hair came loose from the knot at the back of her head and she pushed it back impatiently.
“No, not today. Just somewhere we can be private.”
“Don’t you mind him doing this?” That was the first time I’d heard Susan express a concern for anyone else. There might be hope for her yet.
“That’s one of the things I want to talk to you about.”
With relief I saw we’d arrived at Thompson’s. Instead of going in the front, confronting the never-ending parade of humanity gathered there, we went inside via a side door.
A burly footman seized Susan’s arms and pinned them behind her back. Before she could scream, he clamped his other hand around her mouth. She had no choice but to go upstairs with him. I followed. “Don’t worry, we mean you no harm, I swear it.” It sounded inadequate even to me.
While the girl was taken up another flight of stairs, I opened a door onto a corridor I knew and made my way to Alicia’s office, where she waited with the inevitable pot of tea. Its fragrance was a balm to me. Alicia poured the tea and I watched the steam curl up to the grubby, whitewashed ceiling. “Did everything go well?”
“Sweet as a nut.” It had worked better than we hoped; not a head had turned as the rolling of the ironclad wheels and the jingle of the harness muffled Susan’s initial alarm. I needed the tea, though.
We heard a door slam, then a drumming noise, presumably of fists against the door. The room where Susan was being held lay immediately above us. We presumed she would look out the window, decide the drop might kill her, then settle down to think or cry.
We decided to give her a little time to compose herself. “What sort of view does she have from her window?” I asked Alicia, sipping my tea.
“The back of the building. Yards, other houses and the like.”
“It’s best if I see her alone. Can you overhear any conversation?”
Alicia frowned. “Richard told me not to put you in any danger. The girl could be armed. Most women carry something, even if it’s just a little knife.”
“I’ll take a footman in with me. He can stand between us.”
She nodded. “That should do.”
“Then, if she decides to take the lady’s maid option, she can come back here for you to find her a place.”
Alicia smiled. “So she can.”
I was beginning to like Alicia much. Her basic kindness, coupled with an ability to take things as she found them, made for a attractive personality. Our difference in rank was nothing; in this society, we could easily have found ourselves in each other’s seats. I envied her the financial independence I didn’t have. After some time we heard the commotion above subside and we ventured upstairs. Two brawny footmen stood outside the door of the room but Alicia turned aside and took me into the room next door. It was a small, sparsely furnished room, with several stacks of papers tied up with tape resting on the floor. A misting of dust covered everything. Putting her finger to her lips, she gently moved aside a print that hung in a frame on the wall, revealing a knothole. She carefully replaced the print and took me over to the other side of the bare little room. “She’s lying on the bed, looking around. She’s been crying.”
I nodded and left the room, motioning to one of the men outside. “I want to speak to her but she might have a weapon about her. Come and stand between us.”
“My lady,” the man said expressionlessly, before turning the key in the lock. We went in, him first.
Chapter Twenty-Five
THE MODERATELY SIZED room was comfortably furnished with a simple bed, a clothes press, a desk and two chairs. There was a rug on the floor and the fire was lit against the chilly November day.
The girl sat up as we went in, glaring defiance from red-rimmed eyes. She said nothing but kept her attention on me. Knowing the power of silence, I was in no hurry to speak, sitting down on one of the chairs, meeting her stare for stare. Now that she was angry, I could see the similarities. I saw Richard in her but also someone else; she wasn’t a traced copy of him. The shape of the face was the same, as were the fair hair and the light, mobile eyebrows but the eyes came from someone else and the sensuous mouth with its full lower lip was entirely female.
“You’re safe. We only wanted to get you away from Mrs. Drury for a while.”
“Why?” It was the first word she had spoken and it came from a throat clogged with tears. She cleared her throat noisily and fumbled in her pocket for a handkerchief. “What do you want to do to me?”
“Less than they want to do. Only to talk to you.”
“What’s he doing here?” She indicated the footman, who stood just in front of me but not impeding my view of Susan. If he stood behind my chair, he wouldn’t be in time to save me if she lunged at me and his instructions were clear about that.
“He’s here in case I need anything.”
She sat up on the bed. “Mrs. Drury says I’ve got a great future.”
“If a short one.” Without waiting for her to comment, I went on, “Do you know about the pox?” She nodded. “Well, if you subject yourself to this next Tuesday night, you’ll undoubtedly get it. Then no one will come near you. Those people will use you, then abandon you. Do you know why virgins cost so much?”
She shook her head.
“Because they’re guaranteed pox-free, although many whores masquerade as virgins.”
She stared at me, eyes wide with wonder. “Where did you learn all this?”
I had her attention. “I’m not blind. When somebody has it, it’s easy to spot. We have a few alternatives for you, that’s all. If you go back there, they’ll abuse you and abandon you.”
A spark lit in her eyes. Something had made sense to her. Unfortunately, it wasn’t the sense I wanted. “You’ve taken me so that your husband can’t fuck me, haven’t you? He wants me, anyone could see that. Mrs. Drury said he was undressing me with his eyes. And you don’t want him to have me because you’re old and pregnant.”
A child’s reasoning. I sighed. “There is no way on God’s Earth that Lord Strang would, as you so crudely put it, fuck you. There are many reasons, most of which you need not know but believe me, he knows exactly where you are and he can see you at any time.”
That wasn’t entirely true. Richard wouldn’t be aware of her presence here for some hours. I had every hope that he wouldn’t have to be involved in this part at all. He had suffered enough.
“I don’t believe you,” she sneered.
“Believe what you like. I’ve told you the truth and I’ll offer you some alternatives to your present course. Do you want to hear them?”
Her tear-stained face gained a new strength. A slight smile curved her pink mouth. “I might as well.”
She stretched her arms above her head in a gesture of relaxation and I saw an echo of Richard’s gracefulness about her. I didn’t want to see it, I was trying hard not to but it took me by surprise and it was a few minutes before I regained my self-control. I stood and turned to the fire, then back to look at the pretty, plainly dressed girl sitting on the narrow bed. She stared, still smiling.
“You may become a lady’s maid, with some suitable teaching. I can place you with a household that will teach you, then obtain a position for you with some great lady. That’s what Mrs. Drury said she would do, isn’t it?”
“Yes,” she replied flatly.
“That’s one alternative then. Or we’ll set you up on your own account. You can be an independent woman.”
>
“Set me up?” She stared at me, uncomprehending, then the truth dawned. “You mean, on my own?”
I tried to keep my voice steady. “With the right backing, the world would beat a path to your door. We will give you a small establishment, provide a maid and a footman and the rest would be up to you. A shop, maybe, or whatever you chose.”
“I always wanted to be kept by just one man. It’s what Mama dreamt of. She nearly married a great man once, or so she told us but we never really believed her.” There was no recognition in her voice. It was clear she didn’t know who the great man was and it heartened me that she didn’t know she was being asked to corrupt her own father.
“You would be on your own,” I pointed out. “Independent, and we would make sure that you didn’t starve or were desperate enough to take anyone. A few Vauxhall masquerades and who knows? It’s not what I would choose. I’d take the shop.” I smoothed my hands on my gown.
She regarded me in a contemptuous manner. “But you great ladies sell yourself to the highest bidder. How is it any different?”
The footman moved but I put my hand up to stop him, but I wouldn’t try to explain how different it was. “So we do. Is there any other ambition you’d like to see fulfilled?”
“What’s the catch?”
I smiled, knowing she would come to that. “Less than the Drurys demand of you, that’s for sure.” I paused. “You might be in a position to provide us with information from time to time. You would, of course, be well paid, but that’s all we require. We don’t want your body, or your total obedience, or even your soul, just a little information.”
“Who’s ‘us’?”
I shook my head. “If you accept our offer you’ll be told. You may still choose to return to the Drurys’ roof and if you do, you will be escorted there. We’ll keep you here for a day or two to give you a chance to think things over but if you wish it, you’ll be released in time for Tuesday’s…event.” I paused, then deliberately added, “My husband won’t be there.”
I prayed she wouldn’t choose to return. It would damage Richard to hear of it. He might not allow it but I gambled on offering her a completely free choice. I knew nothing else would do. And I didn’t want him to give her a regular income, because the danger lay in someone uncovering the connection. Better a few anonymous gifts of substantial amounts. “Our offer is sincere. If you like, believe it because you know we’re not friendly with the Drurys and to do this would be a blow against them. But choose what is best for you. Do you think Mrs. Drury will treat you fairly? Or would you rather trust us? Or no one? We can send you abroad, if you wish.”
She gazed at me, lost in thought. “I don’t know who to trust. Mrs. Drury is kind but I know my mama wouldn’t have approved of some of the things she’s asked me to do. Mama always said that she wanted to save me from the life. She talked about the pox, too.”
I added something to the consideration. “There are some things we’re interested in and our offer is dependent on you answering honestly.”
She looked up at me. “My mother’s death? I’ve told you all I know.”
“You came back, found her and ran. What did you see when you found her?”
For the first time, a grimace crossed her pretty face but whether it was distaste or grief, I couldn’t say. “She was lying half on the bed and half on the floor with a knife in her heart.” She was dry-eyed. “I couldn’t get to the money because it was under the mattress, so I left.”
“Did you see anyone else?”
“Only Greene.”
“The manservant?”
“No, the girl, his sister, the one who shared her room.”
“His sister?” This time I couldn’t hide my astonishment. Why hadn’t we asked the girl’s name? It had all been confusion at the time but how could we have overlooked it?
“Where was she?”
“On the stairs,” Susan answered. “Going down.”
“So she saw you and didn’t tell us?”
“She certainly saw me. I was out of that place as fast as I could run. I ran all the way to Mrs. Drury’s before I recovered control of myself.”
I couldn’t imagine how we had overlooked such a detail. Alicia must have heard, too. We would have to get hold of the girl and see what she knew, quickly.
I stood. “You’ve plenty to think about. The choice is yours.”
The footman opened the door and we let her get a glimpse of the other man outside before she was locked in.
Alicia met me in the hall. “I’ll have someone watch the Godolphin house and I’ll make sure the girl stays where she is.”
“I’ll tell Richard,” I told her.
RICHARD WAS STARTLED to hear my news and he wasn’t fooled in the least by my explanation that he was out when the message had come. He stood behind my chair, watching as Nichols brushed and dressed my hair before dinner.
“Knowing Alicia, she probably waited until I was well settled in White’s and then sent for you.” He frowned. “But you’re more detached than I am about all this and you have probably got more out of her.”
“I didn’t want you to suffer any more pain.” I looked up at him apprehensively. Nichols tutted when I turned my head but I ignored her. “Susan thinks you’re attracted to her and she’s determined to draw you to her. That could only get in the way, I know how difficult you found it. Alicia is having the Greene girl watched so that she doesn’t get away from us.” I couldn’t help a note of triumph creeping into my voice at the end of my speech.
He heard it and smiled in acknowledgement. “Very well. You deal with Susan until I can accustom myself to the idea and I’ll deal with the other aspects of it.”
I was glad he agreed. I would have insisted but his basic good sense made him see that Alicia and I could probably deal with her better.
WE WERE HARDLY UP THE next day before we received a visit. Richard had been out early and returned for breakfast and I’d had a leisurely morning. I was still wearing a loose morning gown when the butler came into the dining room and told us there was someone to see us. I took the card and looked up at Richard, who was sitting on the other side of the table. “It’s both of them—Steven and Julia Drury.”
“Good. I’m glad we’re together to receive them.” He put down his knife and finished his coffee. “They must be anxious, to call on us so early.”
He paused in front of the mirror to straighten his shirt ruffles and run a finger around the top of his neckcloth, then turned back. “Ready?” I glanced in the mirror, too but I didn’t bother to adjust anything. I would do. I took his arm and we went in to the morning room.
Steven and Julia sat on the far side of the room, by the front window. Steven stood as we entered. His smile looked strained and Julia wasn’t smiling at all. “How delightful. A return visit.” Gracefully, carefully, Richard saw me seated.
“While of course it’s charming to be received by you,” said Steven painstakingly, trying to match Richard’s courtesy, “we have come on a particular errand.” Julia glared at us.
Richard ignored her and remained standing for the moment, regarding Steven with an amused, superior air that was guaranteed to rile him. “We’d be delighted to help you in any way you can. What seems to be the problem?”
“Our maid—Susan Jackson. She has gone, been taken. Or so my wife’s maid says.” Despite his evident determination to be polite, a worried frown crossed Steven’s face. I felt an unholy joy at their discomfiture and wondered if they knew we had her.
Richard looked at Steven, his expression of amused interest not faltering. “Taken? How could she be taken?”
Julia spoke for the first time, not as carefully well-mannered as her husband. “By someone who knew what they were about.” She looked from Richard to me but I kept my face smooth and clear. “They took her yesterday, while I was shopping.”
“How on earth did they do that?” Richard wondered aloud. He too looked at me, one eyebrow raised. “The shopping areas are
so busy at this time of year. I could understand if you’d said she’d left at night, or been spirited away while you were busy elsewhere but if you were with her, how could this have happened?” He gazed at Julia, one eyebrow crooked.
She flicked her tongue between her lips before she spoke. “I was inside the shop, my maid and the girl were outside and an accomplice dropped parcels in front of them, compelling them to pick them up. While my maid’s attention was drawn away, Susan was taken.”
“My, my,” Richard said. “Are you sure she didn’t just run?”
“Why should she do that?” Julia demanded. I thought I saw Richard’s gentle smile widen. “She ran to me after her mother was killed.” Her face was like a stone.
“So you know Lucy Forder was her mother?” Richard prompted her gently.
“Yes, of course.”
“And you think her mother was killed, that she didn’t kill herself?” Richard’s smile faded away.
“As to that,” Julia replied, as though unaware how important the question was, “I really have no idea. She might have killed herself but I haven’t a notion why she should do such a thing.”
I was watching Steven and he, too, looked as though the question were an aside, of no moment. “I thought there was no question. That she was murdered, that is. It’s always been presented to me in that light. It’s unfortunate but it’s nothing we can mend. We can help the daughter, though.”
That was too much. “You call that help? To put her on such a path? To use anyone in such a way is abysmal.” I could have bitten my tongue out, for the passion in my voice had been obvious but the damage was done now. Richard kept his gaze on Julia, didn’t turn around to me.
Steven stared at me in surprise. “I thought you understood. She wants it, she thinks it will bring her great fortune. And it might well do so, you know. Lord Grey may take her into his keeping, if this goes well.”
“A fat, poxed old man.” I was goaded to make an unwise comment. “Goat.”
“Maybe,” said Julia silkily. She saw my emotion was coming through and knew, just as Richard did, that she could take advantage of it. “But it needn’t be Lord Grey. We’ve already found an alternative. There was the other suggestion.” She looked up at Richard as though she were asking him to come to tea; polite interest and friendliness were all that we could see.
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