“It was nothing, my lady. I overstepped—”
She shook her head, cutting off my apology. “No such thing. Thank you for noticing my distress that day and coming to my aid. So few have ever done so, I’m afraid I was taken aback that you did so.”
“You’re welcome.” What else could I say to that? Over her shoulder, I could see Miss Dunbar trying to eavesdrop. “I trust you have completely recovered?”
Lady Leith blushed and fingered her reticule. “I am as well as I can expect to be. Thank you for asking.” With that, she moved away from me and returned to the fabrics that the assistant had spread out for her to examine.
“Come, Nelson,” Miss Dunbar said sharply. “I have decided I will return when it is more convenient and not so crowded in here.”
Without bidding Lady Leith farewell, Miss Dunbar and her friends left the shop. Miss Dunbar said nothing about my conversation with the baronet’s wife, and I guessed that she was waiting until she and I were alone to question me. It wasn’t long, though, before someone fell into step beside me.
“I am accustomed to my requests being obeyed, Miss Sinclair.”
Though Mr. Ingram kept his voice low, it made me uneasy that he addressed me with my real name so close to Miss Dunbar. “I was ordered to remain inside, Mr. Ingram,” I replied, keeping my gaze straight ahead. “As you are aware, I am in Miss Dunbar’s employ, and that requires me to obey her when she makes a command.”
“I see. I do hope you have not assumed that I am unaware of your efforts to find different employment. You will cease.”
I couldn’t keep my shoulders from tensing at that. How could he know so much about me and what I did? “Sir, any respectable lady’s maid would not endure Miss Dunbar much longer than I already have.” I didn’t want to detail the abuse I suffered from my employer. It was enough that I had endured it at all.
“Well, we shall rejoice that you are not exactly respectable then.”
How smug he was in his belief that he had the upper hand, nevermind the fact that he did. I was annoyed with and frightened by him all at the same time. “I will have you know I am a competent maid, as my references will bear witness to,” I said with dignity. “I know my role, and I am diligent in performing my duties. There has never been a complaint about my work.”
Mr. Ingram chuckled. “I’m sure that’s true. However, I need you where you are, and so you will remain there. Unless you wish for all society to know what you have been doing. I will speak to Miss Dunbar and make it clear that I require you to come and go as needed. And I will expect delivery of those letters tonight.”
What did he know about Miss Dunbar that would convince her to do as he said? He quickened his steps, leaving me behind. I heard the young ladies exclaim happy greetings as he reached them and announced his presence.
There had to be some way for me to escape the situation. How long did he expect me to remain in Bath? As soon as I was sure I had learned all I could, I needed to return to London. Would this blackmailing continue past then? Would he expect me always to do as he said, no matter what, and to have me under his thumb?
As Miss Dunbar and her friend approached a milliner’s shop, Mr. Ingram parted ways with them. He sent a wink in my direction as he went by me. Unkind words went through my head, and I clenched my jaw. If a conveyance of any kind were to run him over in front of me, I wouldn’t feel a bit of sorrow.
The tiniest sliver of guilt at the bitter, mean thought wormed its way into my mind. I ought not to be gleeful over harm coming to anyone, even if they were wicked. Mother would have been ashamed of me.
For more than one reason.
Chapter Eleven
That night I endured another round of abuse from Miss Dunbar, who had been informed by Mr. Ingram that I had been uncooperative. A letter from Aunt Beth was waiting for me. Knowing that it would contain demands and pleadings for me to return, I had to gather my courage and sat on the edge of the bed to read it.
‘Dear Juliet,
Given that you have yet to respond to my last letter, I can only assume that you are angry with me. I am aware that you have no wish for an arranged marriage, but have you considered what your future will be if you remain unwed for much longer? What will become of you if I were not here? I will not live forever, you know.
Young Richard Douglas can provide you with security. How can that not be appealing to you? I have heard he is a pleasant, sensible young man, just the sort of man I would approve of for you...’
The letter fell from my hands. Richard Douglas? It couldn’t possibly be the same R. Douglas I’d seen mentioned in the paper, could it? No. How could it be?
Still, I snatched up the letter and slipped it into the sleeve of my dress. I hurried down to the housekeeper’s sitting room, lighting my way with a candle. There, on the table, I found the day’s papers where I had left them. The Times was on top, and I searched through the contents for that one sentence.
In the middle of an article, I found it. ‘Young Mr. R. Douglas found himself in the wrong place at the wrong time and has paid for the mistake with his life.’ The only other information was that the poor young man’s body had been found by the banks of the Thames with his pockets empty. The assumption was that he’d been the victim of a thief.
Breathing out, I sank into the chair. What were the odds that the very man my uncle had chosen for me to wed would meet such an untimely end? How had a sensible man, such as Aunt Beth had described, found himself in the kind of company, or even the area, where he had been murdered?
Why did so many around me die by foul means?
“Miss Nelson, is something wrong?”
Startled, I moved my gaze to the doorway where Mrs. Dobbs stood. “No, ma’am,” I said, pushing myself up. I brushed at my eyes and cleared my throat. “A name in the papers caught my attention earlier and I only just now realized why. I came to make sure I had read it correctly before jumping to conclusions.”
“It cannot be good news if you recognized the name in the papers.” There was undisguised curiosity in her voice.
“That’s true. A young man of my family’s acquaintance was killed in London,” I said, being honest. “I did not know him, but my uncle had mentioned his name to me.”
“That can be a shock, even when you don’t know a person well,” she said, nodding in understanding.
“I apologize for alarming you, Mrs. Dobbs. It won’t happen again.” I moved to go past her. The rest of my aunt’s letter awaited me and, although I could guess at the contents, I wished to have the comfort of her words.
“Earlier today, I learned that Lady Leith’s maid was recently turned off,” she said, halting me in my steps. “Though the dowager is known to be strict and somewhat of a curmudgeon, the new Baroness is a kind and fair mistress. I believe it to be just the position for you.”
Hope flared for a moment before I remembered Mr. Ingram’s decree that I remain where I was. How could I get past him? “Thank you, Mrs. Dobbs. I appreciate all the effort and time you have spent on assisting me in this. Good night, ma’am.”
Though she raised an eyebrow at my lack of enthusiasm, Mrs. Dobbs stepped aside to allow me through the doorway. I rushed back up to my room.
I’d been hit by shocks from all sides and in such a short period. My heart racing, I leaned against the door as soon as it was closed. “What is happening to me?” I asked aloud, just to get it out of my head. “It must be a coincidence. He had no real ties to my family or me.” Besides my uncle, of course. Nothing had been decided.
Deep down, though, I had the feeling that there was a connection. I just didn’t know what it was yet.
MORNING BROUGHT ME no sudden clarity on the matter. Before I went to roust Miss Dunbar from her bed, I penned a note to Aunt Beth, asking for whether there were more details about young Mr. Douglas’ death. It would no doubt distress my elderly aunt, but I could think of no alternative to learning more about the matter.
The knowledge that I had als
o not handed over my brother’s letters also weighed on my mind. Proving I would not immediately jump if Mr. Ingram ordered me to do so could be an error in judgment. Eventually, though, I would have to give in or suffer the consequences. He would not be lenient for long.
Once Miss Dunbar was prepared to receive visitors, after much shouting over how incompetent I was, I set about making repairs to the lady’s wardrobe. Her latest way of expressing her dissatisfaction with me was to tear the seam of one of her favorite walking gowns and leave me with the responsibility of repairing it before she required it that afternoon.
Such actions made no sense, and I couldn’t see any sign that it made her feel any better.
There was a light tap on my door, which made me lift my head. “Yes?”
“Miss Dunbar wishes you to go to the dressmaker’s shop for her, Miss Nelson.” I recognized the housemaid’s voice through the door. “She insists you leave immediately.”
There had only ever been one reason Miss Dunbar would send me off: she expected a visit from Mr. Ingram. Whereas before I had been curious about what the pair discussed in their private moments, I could only be glad that I’d been handed an excuse to avoid the man. “I will leave right away,” I said, standing up. Hurrying across the room, I opened the door. “Did Miss Dunbar say what she wished for me to do at the dressmaker’s?”
Sally nodded and held out a note. “She wishes for you to give Madame Leeson this.”
It seemed as though all I did as of late was carry notes. I took the letter from her. “Thank you, Sally.”
She hesitated and then blurted out, “I hope you get hired by someone else, Miss Nelson. You’re too good to be here.”
“Thank you for that.” Everyone, apparently, could see Miss Dunbar’s true character, except for those who didn’t look beyond the pretty smile she offered to those in society. “And I hope you find a better situation as well.”
Ducking her head, Sally lifted her shoulders in a shrug. “Maybe. Once I have the experience to be useful.”
As if she suddenly realized she had dallied too long in bringing me the message, Sally hurried down the hallway. I completed the repair to the ripped seam and then set it aside to return to the dressing room when I returned. Once more, I put on my outerwear to go out.
There were puddles on the ground from the previous night’s rain, and most of my focus went to keeping my feet and dress dry. So much walking had strengthened my stamina as I hadn’t been extremely active in London. Aunt Beth hadn’t gone out much, and I had spent the majority of my time with her. Now I walked as often as I could, to escape the Dunbar house.
“Miss Sinclair! A moment. Please?”
Henry. When would he understand that I didn’t want anything to do with him? “Mr. Bladen,” I said, keeping my tone civil. I didn’t slow my steps, and Mr. Bladen came up on my left. “What has you out and about today?”
“I’ve been looking for you, actually.”
He and every other gentleman in Bath, it seemed. “Oh? For what reason?” I asked, trying to rein in my frustration and impatience. I needed to part ways with him before anyone saw us.
“Can you please slow down? I simply want to talk to you.”
Breathing out, I acceded to his request, but only slightly. After all, I had someplace to be. “If you have something to say to me, please do so. I have an errand to complete, Mr. Bladen, and cannot take the time to dally.”
For a moment, he stared at me. “Why have I not met you at any of the dinner parties?” he finally asked. “Surely, there must be some acquaintance we have in common. Bath society is not as large as it is in London.”
Of course, he wouldn’t directly answer my question for why he had searched me out, and I resisted the urge to sigh. “You have not seen me because I have not attended any dinner parties. I should think that it would be obvious that I am not in a position to go about in society, Mr. Bladen.”
Shame flickered across his face. “Please, Juliet. Just give me a chance. I know I was a coward before, but it’s different now. Please give me a chance to prove my affection for you, to prove myself worthy of you.”
If I raised my voice, I would most certainly draw unwanted attention, so I made sure I kept my tone even. “Is that so? Why don’t you explain how things are different now. What future could you and I have together? How could I trust you not to abandon me at the slightest bit of trouble like you did in the past?”
His expression shifted to one of shock. “I—I had my reasons for why I left.”
“Because my uncle told you to go? Yes, that’s what your note said. You have no other explanations for me?”
A frown creased his forehead. “You’ve changed.”
Startled by the non sequitur, I shook my head. “So have you. People do, you know, as time passes. What is your point?”
“Juliet, I cannot believe that you would just allow your uncle to dictate your life,” he said, his tone suddenly fierce. “If he is so anxious for you to marry, why does he not allow you to go about in society to make your own choice? Why does he go about his business and leave you to be a companion to an old woman who cannot introduce you to society?”
He knew so much about what was happening in my life. How much had my aunt’s maid told him? How dare he refer to Aunt Beth as an old woman? That, coupled with the reminder that the young man my uncle had selected for me was dead, annoyed me even more.
“I am being allowed to make my own choice. My uncle may desire me to accept a decision he has made, but he cannot force me to do so.” Technically, Uncle Frederick could, but that was beside the point. “In any event, you abandoned any right to have an opinion on the matter when you cut off contact with me after my parents were killed. When I needed support the most, you were not there. My aunt—the old woman, as you call her—has been my best friend these past five years.”
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw a pained expression crossed his face. “Miss Sinclair, it was not my intention to hurt you,” he said, his voice soft. “I was young. I didn’t know what the consequences of—”
“How could you not have known?” It was rude of me to interrupt, but his excuses were wearing my patience thin. “What did you expect would happen if you left? That I would wait until a time when it was convenient for you?”
“You cannot tell me that Richard Douglas has captured your heart.”
What did that have to do with him leaving me without explanation? Huffing, I shook my head. “Did you at least compensate Carter well for her information about my life?”
“Juli—”
“Please refrain from using my name so informally, Mr. Bladen. It is not appropriate.” My tone was sharp from frustration and impatience. “You have betrayed my trust more than once in the past, and that is something I cannot forget.”
My blunt words made him flinch, but then he became tense. Puzzled, I shifted my focus to the street and spotted what-or rather, who- had caught his attention. “Well met, Bladen,” Mr. Ingram said as he approached us. “And Miss Sinclair as well! How lovely to see you again. It’s a fine day for a walk, is it not?”
Once more I found myself in a ridiculous situation. I only needed Mr. Harper to approach, and it would be quite complete. How could Mr. Ingram be so cheerful, and why was he not visiting Miss Dunbar? Perhaps he was on his way there.
If he expected some confusion from Mr. Bladen by referring to me by my real name, he didn’t get it. “How long have you been acquainted with Mr. Ingram?” my former beau asked, glancing between us.
“We were introduced when I arrived,” I responded frigidly. With the infuriating man blocking my way, I was forced to come to a halt. “If you will excuse me—”
“Miss Sinclair’s brother and I were also acquainted, as I’m sure you remember, Bladen,” Mr. Ingram said with a broad grin. “Oh, the escapades we got into back then. What extraordinary fun we had together. And now we have Miss Sinclair with us as well. It is almost as it was five years ago.”
�
�How could I forget?” Mr. Bladen asked, his voice tight. “Though I hadn’t realized you were that much of a friend to the family. As I recall, Sinclair wasn’t always pleased when you would join him. Perhaps I was mistaken.”
That my brother hadn’t enjoyed Ingram’s company didn’t surprise me in the least. “Mr. Ingram isn’t—” I began to say, intent on disclaiming any familiarity between my family and Ingram.
“In fact, Miss Sinclair gave me her word that she would share with me some letters her brother wrote five years ago,” Mr. Ingram said, interrupting me with ease. His gray eyes were sharp as he glanced at me. “I have been waiting patiently this past week, Miss Sinclair, but I do hope you won’t make me do so for much longer.”
A subtle threat if I had ever heard one. “My time has not been my own, Mr. Ingram,” I replied sharply. “You will see the letters soon enough.”
“Letters?” Mr. Bladen repeated, glancing between Mr. Ingram and me. “After all these years, you discovered correspondence from your brother that you hadn’t seen before? That must be comforting to you, Miss Sinclair.”
They had been, the brief time I'd had to read them, but I wasn’t about to admit any such thing in front of these two men. Not when one was intent on taking them from me and the other annoying me. “Good day, gentlemen,” I said, anxious to be on my way.
Mr. Ingram gave a mocking bow as he moved aside. I kept my steps quick as I hurried on my way. Determinedly, I resisted the urge to glance over my shoulder. Neither of them needed to know how uneasy I was about what they might say to each other now that I had left them.
I HAD EXPECTED THE note I left with Madame Leeson to upset her in some way, but it did not. In fact, she seemed to breathe a sigh of relief before turning a professional smile towards me. “Please inform your mistress that I understand her concerns completely, and shall regret the loss of her patronage.”
The Debutante: A Regency Mystery (The Sinclair Society Book 2) Page 10