The Debutante: A Regency Mystery (The Sinclair Society Book 2)

by Bethany Swafford

Pushing aside such thoughts, I went about my usual routine. I had no desire to play matchmaker as I had in London. Well, matchmaker wasn’t the most accurate term for how I had encouraged Eugenia Burnham to have more confidence in herself. In any event, Miss Dunbar could chase after Mr. Ingram without my assistance, and Mr. Melbourne could have his heart broken or go in search of a more suitable lady to woo without any aid from me.

  Miss Dunbar seemed especially pleased with herself when she came up to dress for dinner. She had no impossible demands, no doubt because she wasn’t going anywhere to dine. After all, what point would there be to looking exquisite for dinner with one’s father and brothers?

  “A letter came for you, Miss Nelson,” Eliza said when she brought my supper tray into me. “You must know many people; you get so many letters.”

  “Not very many.” I glanced at the writing and recognized my aunt’s hand. What would compel her to write so soon after the previous letter? Had something terrible happened? As is always the case, my mind conjured a dozen possibilities.

  “Do you know many people from London?” Eliza asked, her tone full of awe.

  In an attempt to shake off the negative turn my mind had taken, I switched my focus back to her. “Several. After all, that is where I lived before I came to Bath. My aunt lives in London,” I explained, forcing a smile. “She worries about me constantly, now that I am so far away.”

  “Oh. Why would you leave London? That is where I want to go one day. Maybe as a maid to a great lady.”

  There was a dreaminess to Eliza’s tone that made me shake my head. “London is not some paradise,” I warned, dropping my gaze to my tray. “There are ladies infinitely more demanding than Miss Dunbar.”

  “No one could be as mean as Miss Dunbar!”

  “You’d be surprised.”

  Shaking her head in disbelief, Eliza left my room. I picked up the thick letter and broke the seal. It contained a few lines from Aunt Beth, stating that I had received a letter from my Uncle Frederick, and then said letter. In the years he had been gone, he had seldom written to me. What would induce him to do so now?

  ‘My dear niece,

  It has recently come to my attention that I have perhaps not done everything I should for you. After all, a young lady must look about her to secure her future. One of my colleagues, Mr. Aaron Douglas, has remarked to me that his son is seeking a wife. When I told him of you, he was pleased....’

  Angrily, I crumpled the letter in my hand and threw it at the wall. It made not a sound as it struck the wall and then fell to the ground. The action failed to relieve my feelings, though. How dare my uncle try to arrange a marriage for me after so many years of neglect! Did he imagine that I would be pleased with this news?

  With a huff, I rose and walked over to pick up the ball of paper. The last thing I wanted was for it to be found and maybe there was something further on in the letter that I needed to know. Reluctantly, I smoothed the message out and sat down to read the whole thing through.

  The rest of Uncle Frederick’s letter spoke only of the landscape of Egypt and ended with the news that he would be journeying down the Nile. He made no mention of returning to London, which didn’t surprise me at all. He was wholly dedicated to traveling in foreign lands. I had seen him no more than half a dozen times since he’d become my guardian.

  Shaking my head, I folded the paper and set it aside to dispose of as soon as possible. He must not have written to Aunt Beth of this scheme; otherwise, she would have included more than a few sentences in her note to me. Would she approve of an arranged marriage? I couldn’t know for sure, as she did so desire me to be married and to run my own household.

  “Not until I have this solved,” I said aloud. “One way or another.”

  I had only taken a few bites of my meal when the door handle moved again. Swiftly, I swallowed the mouthful of beef in my mouth and called out, “I’ve not yet finished my meal, Eliza. Come back in a little while.”

  “As I am not Eliza, I’m going to assume that command does not apply to me.”

  Alarmed, I scrambled to my feet as Daniel Dunbar stepped through the doorway. “Mr. Dunbar, this is highly inappropriate! You cannot be in here.”

  “Rest easy, my family thinks I’m dining out tonight,” Mr. Dunbar said, waving his hand. His gaze swept around my room and then returned to me. “We won’t be interrupted.”

  I should have known he would be this bold. Was I going to have to lock myself in my room? Had I learned nothing in London? “Please leave.”

  “So abrupt, Nelson,” Dunbar said, his tone chiding. He walked to the middle of my small room, putting himself far too close to me than I wanted. “Such an attitude isn’t ideal in a lady’s maid, I would think. You are supposed to be agreeable to everyone, are you not? To be otherwise would result in loss of your position.”

  Taking a step back, I found myself against my dressing table. “Several things could result in me losing my position,” I said, reaching behind my back. My hand found my brother’s pen knife where I had left it. I would defend myself if I had to. “One of which is if I am found with a man in my room. Therefore, if you are so concerned about me keeping my position, you will leave.”

  “There are some days when you behave as if you’re the mistress of this house. It intrigues me. Where did you come from, you delightful creature?”

  “I have asked you once already. Leave this room.”

  For a moment, I was afraid he wouldn’t leave, and my heart began to pound wildly. As much as I disliked the idea of harming someone, I would do whatever I had to do to protect myself. I tightened my grip on the knife hilt, readying myself.

  “Have a good evening, Nelson,” Mr. Dunbar said, his expression unreadable. He withdrew and closed the door behind him.

  My breath left my lips in a rush, and I sagged back, releasing my grip on the knife. He may not have been the first man to barge unwanted into my room during my time as a lady’s maid, but he frightened me more than Mr. Harper ever had. How long before he outright refused to leave when I told him to get out?

  “It won’t come to that,” I told myself. “I won’t let it. I will not be here long enough for it to come to that.”

  Still, I moved my chair to the door and wedged it under the handle. Satisfied it would at least keep someone from coming in abruptly, I didn’t mind at all that I had to eat my meal standing up. And if Eliza gave me a strange, puzzled look when I had to let her in, I didn’t let it bother me either.

  Doing so only made me feel somewhat safer.

  OF ALL MY DUTIES IN being Miss Dunbar’s maid, there was one I particularly disliked: being her chaperone to the Pump Room. I had expected, when I first began in my position, she would make such journeys with her friends. However, as she had so few real friends and her family had no desire to accompany her, she ordered me to play the part.

  Thus, the morning after her brother had come to my room, I trailed a few feet behind Miss Dunbar as she made her way to the Pump Room. As I did whenever I came near others, I kept my head down and hoped I would not be noticed.

  Outside the building, though, Miss Dunbar came across two young ladies of her acquaintance. Charging me to wait for her, she entered the Pump Room arm in arm with the ladies. I moved to where I would be unnoticed and out of the way. In a matter of minutes, though, I was bored with staring at my feet, so I cautiously raised my gaze.

  Gentlemen and ladies were strolling to and from the building as it was decidedly the most popular destination in all of Bath, besides the Assembly rooms. Some men stood in small clusters near the door as though they had come upon each other and stayed to chat.

  Had any of them been in Bath when my brother had been there? What could I learn from them if I were able to speak to them? As a maid and even as a lady, I would never address them so impertinently.

  As my gaze moved across the street, I caught sight of a familiar figure. Mr. Harper was speaking to a man I didn’t recognize and...Mr. Melbourne? A happy feeling
that swept over me on seeing the pair speaking together animatedly. Perhaps Mr. Harper’s good sense would rub off on the younger man.

  When had I begun thinking Mr. Harper had displayed good sense when our paths crossed?

  Before I could think any more of the matter, Mr. Harper turned his head and his gaze met mine. My cheeks burned with embarrassment as he inclined his head. I mimicked the gesture and then turned my attention elsewhere.

  Several new arrivals were approaching through the doorway. I watched as a man solicitously escorted an exotically beautiful woman—his wife, perhaps?—into the building followed closely by a sour-faced older woman. Behind them was a tall man with dark hair...My breath caught in my throat as I recognized him.

  I closed my eyes, hoping I was mistaken. I heard him call out a cheerful greeting to someone, and I knew for sure. His was a voice I would always recognize.

  “Henry Bladen?”

  Chapter Four

  What was he doing here? Of all the people to come to Bath, why did it have to be him?

  I couldn’t let him see me, not when there were so many people about. There could be no guarantee that he would keep silent if he discovered what I was doing. My reputation as Juliet Sinclair would be destroyed if it became known that I had played at being a lady’s maid not once but twice. Spinning on my heel, I strode away from the area, trying to steady my beating heart.

  Dodging around people as I went, I made my way to the Pulteney Bridge. It was not too far that returning would take time. After all, Miss Dunbar would happily spend hours in the Pump Room, flirting with every single man who came close. As long as I was in place when she decided to leave, I would go unnoticed. Or so I thought.

  “Miss Nelson!”

  I was halfway across the bridge when Mr. Harper’s voice reached my ears. Coming to a slow stop, I breathed out and then twisted around to face him. “Mr. Harper,” I said as I made the correct curtsey. He’d followed me? Why did he seek me out now when I wished to be alone? “Are you enjoying the day?”

  “Are you well?” he asked, ignoring my question. Which wasn't exactly a surprise as he seemed to ignore whatever he wished. There was a concerned expression on his face, which was unexpected.

  “Of course. I am always well.”

  His left eyebrow went up. “When I saw you go so pale, you see, I imagined you must have seen something—or someone—that frightened you. And when you were so quick to leave the area, I knew I was correct.”

  “That is hardly the case.” The lie came too readily to my lips. I had been frightened; frightened my deception would be revealed in a spectacularly public manner. My mind searched for some plausible excuse for my behavior. Why had Mr. Harper been watching me right at that moment? “I merely felt pressed in with so many people about and desired some space to breathe.”

  “So you came this far at what was nearly a run? I don’t believe you. You saw someone you’d rather you didn’t. Or, more likely, you saw someone you wished would not see you.”

  I raised my chin defensively. “That is, of course, your opinion on the matter, Mr. Harper. Perhaps your time would have been better spent by observing the other visitors instead of chasing after a lady’s maid of no consequence.”

  As soon as the words left my lips, I could have kicked myself. He would merely—“The visitors’ book isn’t going anywhere,” he said, unaware he had finished my thought. “A gentleman doesn’t ignore a lady’s distress, though, and I was...concerned.”

  An incredulous laugh bubbled up. “A lady? Me?”

  “Well, you were not always a maid.” His gaze shifted and he cleared his throat. “Anyone with sense could see that you were in over your head in London, so it was obvious you were new to the position. I mean no offense by my observation, of course.”

  “I’m sure you don’t.” I couldn't quite rein in my sarcasm.

  Mr. Harper’s jaw tensed as though he were gritting his teeth. He was annoyed with me. Good. “Miss Nelson—”

  “I believe I told you I felt the need for some space, Mr. Harper.” The longer he spoke with me, the more likely it was that someone would take notice. “Please be kind enough to allow me some privacy.”

  Swinging his gaze back to me, the man stared at me for a moment, an inscrutable expression in his eyes. “When will you decide you can trust me?” he asked, his tone gentle.

  I chose not to answer him. With a sigh, he offered that slight bow he always made whenever he took his leave of me. He took a step back and then spun on his heel. Without once looking back, he walked away and then vanished from sight when he went around a corner.

  With a frustrated groan, I faced the side of the bridge. Already I was regretting my sharp, defensive words. Part of me wished I could trust him. After all, Mr. Harper had shown he could be trusted. He’d saved my life once, and Mr. Burnham had entrusted him with sensitive matters. He’d even been my older brother’s closest friend!

  Still, I wanted to be sure. Betrayal could come from someone close. How very Shakespearean though! Shaking my head, I focused my gaze on the water below me. With both Mr. Harper and Mr. Bladen in Bath, it was going to be that much harder for me as ‘Julie Nelson’ to discover just how my brother had died.

  AFTER A GOOD TEN MINUTES of solitude, I returned to the Pump Room, and Miss Dunbar was never the wiser that I had left. Of Mr. Bladen, there was no sign, which was a relief. I counted myself fortunate, though I kept a close eye on those leaving the building as I waited for my employer to come out.

  When she did appear, it was on the arm of one Mr. Conrad Ingram. “Come along, Nelson,” Miss Dunbar ordered with barely a glance in my direction. She gazed up at her escort with a simpering smile as they began walking along the pavement. “I go to the Wilkerson’s house tonight for dinner, Ingram.”

  Staying several feet behind them, I frowned at the random statement. It seemed an odd subject to bring up. Why would Mr. Ingram care where she was dining tonight? Unless it was a hint that she expected to see him there, for some reason. Her behavior with him was far too familiar than I would have expected from her.

  “I expect you will have a great deal to tell me afterward,” Mr. Ingram said. He sent a glance over his shoulder. There was an expression of interest in his eyes that I did not care for. “Though, it might be more appropriate to have someone other than your maid deliver your notes in the future.”

  “Nelson won’t tell anyone,” Miss Dunbar said, pulling his attention back to her. “Besides, it would only call attention to myself if I were to call in a random urchin from the street to deliver a note when I’ve already had my maid do it before.”

  Mr. Ingram inclined his head, acknowledging the truth of her statement. Pursing my lips, I glanced between them. What were they up to that they would be discussing future messages being taken from Miss Dunbar to Mr. Ingram? How intimately involved were they?

  In no time at all, but not soon enough for my taste, we reached the Dunbar residence. Mr. Ingram kissed the back of my employer’s hand, which sent her giggling up the stairs. I stepped around him to follow her in but found myself stopped by the man’s hand on my arm. Astonished at his boldness, I shifted my gaze to him.

  “So you’re the clumsy, irritating Nelson I’ve heard so much about,” he said, his blue eyes staring straight into mine. There was a note of amusement in his voice. “You don’t seem to be a dim-witted creature, I must say.”

  “Sir, kindly release me,” I pleaded, struggling to keep from kicking his ankle or some other action that would be unbecoming of a maid. “Miss Dunbar will undoubtedly be requiring my—”

  “I believe she can do without you for a few more moments.” Mr. Ingram raised his free hand and touched my cheek. I jerked away, unable to keep my eyes from narrowing into a glare. “You’re a feisty one, aren’t you? Yes, you’ll do nicely.”

  Gritting my teeth, I wrenched my arm out of his grip. “Good day, Mr. Ingram.”

  Spinning on my heel, I took only one step towards the door where Miss D
unbar had already entered when Mr. Ingram spoke again. “I can make it rewarding for you to carry notes between your mistress and myself.”

  I paused and took a deep breath. “I do not accept bribes.” My conscience stung me only a little. After all, I had taken Miss Dunbar’s bracelet when she had ordered me to deliver that one note to Mr. Ingram’s home. He didn’t need to know that, though.

  “Is that so?”

  “I said good day, Mr. Ingram.” Quickly, I continued up the steps and entered the house before he could say another word.

  As I hurried to my room to remove my pelisse and hat, I couldn’t shake the suspicion that there was some hidden meaning behind the notes that had been exchanged between Mr. Ingram and Miss Dunbar. There had been little in the manner of a lover in the man’s behavior, though Miss Dunbar’s intentions were fairly obvious. So what were they up to?

  What a strange pair they made!

  “They are welcome to each other,” I whispered. A moment later, though, I shook my head. “What am I saying? I do not know Mr. Ingram well enough to make that determination.”

  “Who are you talking to, Miss Nelson?” Eliza’s voice from the doorway startled me.

  Turning, I offered a rueful smile. “I suppose I am talking to myself. Has Miss Dunbar sent for me?”

  “Miss Dunbar is in the library and has specifically stated she is not to be disturbed,” the maid said with slow precision. “I thought you might want to know that.”

  “Thank you, Eliza. Was there some other reason you came to me?”

  “Miss Nelson...I...” Eliza struggled with the words until she finally let out in a rush, “I’m leaving tomorrow morning at first light. I’m not telling anyone before I do. They’d just try to stop me, but I just wanted to tell you before I went since you’ve been so kind since you came here.”

  I didn’t have the heart to tell her that she was not that important to the running of the Dunbar house. The housekeeper would be temporarily inconvenienced, yes, but maids were easy to employ. In this house, especially, it was not unusual to have a maid move on to another position and have another take her place.