Miss Dunbar’s blue eyes glittered with rage. “What did you say?”
“You do not need to keep me here out of deference for Mr. Ingram’s wishes any longer.”
“Well, I won’t! You may leave this house immediately. See how you fare on the streets! You will get no reference from me.”
I couldn’t keep from glancing at the window, which revealed the dark night, and she laughed. “Go on, Nelson,” she said, gesturing to the door. “If you want to leave, I won’t stop you. Just have a care what Ingram will do to you when he learns that you have not complied with his wishes. He will not be so generous with you then!”
She was testing my resolve. I’d known she enjoyed having someone under control, and this only proved it. Straightening my shoulders, I raised my chin. “Goodbye then, Rose Dunbar. I hope you find what you think you want.”
Her jaw dropped as shock replaced her smug expression. I spun on my heel and strode out of the dressing room. There was no hesitation, no pause, in my steps as I went in the direction of my room. My path and Miss Dunbar’s were parting for good. And it was about time.
“I’ll make sure no one but a Cit and his mushroom of a wife ever dares take you on!” Rose Dunbar shouted after me. “And Ingram will know about this! Do you hear me, Nelson? You’ll never work for a respectable household again! You are ruined, and it’s all your fault! Do you hear me?”
There was no answer to be made to her threats, and I slipped into the servants’ area of the house. When I arrived at the top story, the two maids stared at me from the doorway of their room, their eyes wide with shock. I said nothing to them as I passed, and I entered my room undeterred.
If I had not already angered Mr. Ingram, I knew Miss Dunbar’s actions would have infuriated him even more. There was a small comfort in imagining that he would hold Miss Dunbar accountable for turning me off. It would only be fair.
Not that Mr. Ingram had ever displayed a sense of fairness.
It was a simple task to collect my meager belongings and pack them in my small bag. With no place to go, I had no intention of quitting the house right at that hour. I would, however, take my leave as soon as the sun rose.
“Going somewhere, Julie?”
Startled, I lifted my gaze from my task to find Daniel Dunbar in the doorway. His attire was rumpled, and he listed to one side. Alarmed, I straightened up, mentally cursing myself. I’d been so focused on packing that I hadn’t heard him approach, or taken my usual precaution of barricading the door.
“Sir, using my Christian name and being here at this hour is inappropriate.” I eyed him cautiously. It was obvious he had imbibed too much earlier in the evening and was now feeling the effects. I couldn’t tell whether that would make him easier or more difficult to deal with. “You will leave immediately.”
He laughed as though I had told some jest. “You’re the one leaving.” His words slurred together slightly. “No longer a servant. I can do whatever I want.”
I didn’t understand what that had to do with why he was currently in my room. “Leave this room at once.”
“Make me.”
A shiver went down my spine. His words were deliberately challenging, and he stepped forward. As he closed the door behind him, I noted there was a glint in his eyes that I did not like. Moving back, I tried to remember where I’d put my knife and whether I could reach it in time for it to be useful.
“Mr. Dunbar—”
“I think by now you should call me Daniel, Julie. After all, you and I are intimately acquainted. Or, we’re about to be.” He crossed the room, stumbling over his own feet though he managed to catch himself. “What? No threats to scream? I would have wagered you would. Most do before they realize how useless it is.”
Wagered with who? Had he been planning this and talking with others about what he intended? The dressing table bumped against the back of my legs, halting my backward movement. I hit it hard enough the mirror shifted, and there was the sound of a slight thud as it connected with the wall. The sound made Mr. Dunbar’s grin widen.
“There’s nowhere for you to go, Julie.”
Refusing to give up hope, I decided to dodge to the right. My bed was there and would block me, but my bag—with my knife hidden inside—rested on it. Mr. Dunbar stumbled, trying to reach for my arm, and he collided with the dressing table.
Grabbing my bag with one hand, I thrust my right hand in. The man grabbed my shoulder. As hard as I could, I slammed my elbow back and struck his ribs. He groaned, and his hand slipped away. Though my skirt hampered me, I scrambled over my bed, still searching for the one weapon at my disposal.
“I love a good chase, Julie,” Mr. Dunbar said, straightening up. “Run all you like. I’ll catch you in the end.”
My fingers found the cold metal of the blade, and it took only a moment to grasp the small hilt. “You will keep your distance, sir, or you will regret it.”
His gaze shifted to the knife in my hand, and he let out an incredulous laugh. “And what do you think you will do with that? Stab me? Do you have the nerve?”
“I assure you I am more than ready to defend myself,” I said to him, struggling to keep my hand steady. I refused to back up, choosing instead to stand my ground. “I have repeatedly informed you that I find your attentions unwelcome, and I will not repeat myself again. Leave. This. Room. Now.”
He laughed and moved around the bed. “You wouldn’t. You don’t have it in you to hurt another person.”
“Don’t test me.” There was no doubt he underestimated me, and I was determined he would regret it. He took another step, and my grip on the knife hilt tightened. “You will get no more warnings, Mr. Dunbar.”
“Have I mentioned how beautiful you are when you are angry?”
Why did everyone keep saying that? Was this man really so intoxicated that he did not see how serious I was, or was he merely a senseless idiot?
Chapter Fourteen
Another step brought him well within three feet of me, and he reached out his hand. I swung the knife and the tip connected with the back of his hand. With a cry, he jerked his hand back and stared at me with shock.
“Now, I will take my bag, and I will leave,” I said firmly, ignoring the drop of blood that beaded on the metal. “You will not follow me, and you will never approach me again. Have I made myself clear? Or do I need to repeat myself?”
Mr. Dunbar’s face twisted with rage and his eyes narrowed into a glare. For a moment, I thought the pain had cut through the intoxication and made him see sense, but then he lunged forward. “I will make you regret that you mad, little—”
He didn’t complete his threat, probably because my blade again found it’s mark. This time, though, I didn’t make a simple cut; I stabbed his shoulder. His threat shifted into a string of words that I’d never heard before and had no desire to hear again. He dropped onto his knees, pressing his hand against his shoulder.
“I did warn you,” I managed to say, trying to hold back the horror at what I’d done. “Leave me be.”
Through the door, I could hear footsteps and voices. My hand shook violently as I reached for the doorknob. When I pulled the door open, Bunker was only a few steps away from my room with Sally and Mrs. Dobbs right behind him. “Are you well, Nelson?” he asked. His gaze went to my hand, which still held the penknife. “What’s happened here?”
“I confess my nerves are a bit shattered. Mr. Dunbar, though, will require the assistance of a physician,” I said, a tremble in my voice that I couldn’t control. I stepped aside to allow him in. “I-I...did what I needed to...to protect myself. I warned him to leave, and he would not listen.”
Sally gasped and began relaying what she was seeing to the other maid, who was leaning through the doorway of the room they shared. “There’s blood everywhere! I think she’s killed him!”
Dropping my gaze, I saw that blood was dripping from the blade of my knife, and I moved to hide it against my skirt. It was likely I was never going to be able t
o wear the gown again, which was a pity. I had only a few suitable for a lady’s maid.
What a thing to think of at such a time!
“Come, Mr. Dunbar,” Bunker suggested, pulling the younger man off the floor. “I’ll see you to your room, and summon Dr. Jones.”
“You’d do better to summon a constable so that wildcat can be put where she belongs!” Mr. Dunbar said, his tone spiteful. “Do you see what she has done? She tried to kill me! She will be hanged for this!”
My breath caught in my throat. Would my impulsive actions to protect myself result in my death? For defending myself? For a moment, Bunker’s gaze met mine, and I saw the conflict there. Would he obey Mr. Dunbar’s order?
“Come along, sir,” was all the butler said as he half carried Mr. Dunbar out.
Breathing out, I sank onto the edge of my bed. “What have I done?”
“I’m sure you did what you had to do,” Mrs. Dobbs said, startling me. I lifted my head and saw her glance around my room. “Come, Miss Nelson. We cannot have you staying up here. We’ll hide you away in my sitting room until morning. Then, you may quit this house in safety.”
Astonished, I stared at her. “But—”
“Sally informed me of Miss Dunbar’s decree, though goodness knows everyone in the house could hear her shouting.” Mrs. Dobbs cut off my protest. “This situation will pass soon enough, and one can only hope young Mr. Dunbar will learn his lesson from it. I believe it will be best if you are out of sight but I refuse to send you out onto the street at this hour.”
Letting out a sigh of relief, I gave a nod and pushed myself up. “I’ll have tea brought to my sitting room,” Mrs. Dobbs said. “Leave your bag. I’ll have it brought down once everything calms down.”
“Thank you, Mrs. Dobbs.” Her kindness threatened to overwhelm my already shaken nerves.
She rushed out of the room ahead of me, only to return a moment later. “If I might suggest, you ought to change out of that gown and consign it to the fire.”
Reminded of the stains that had ruined my gown, I glanced down and couldn’t hold back a slight laugh. “Yes, you are right. Of course. I will do so immediately, Mrs. Dobbs.” My voice, I was pleased to hear, no longer trembled. “Thank you for the reminder.”
Again, she left, and I closed the door, blocking out the maids who were still gawking and whispering. For a moment, I rested my head against the wood. “What have I done?” I whispered once again.
I forced myself to straighten, and I took a deep breath. Turning, I picked up my bag and drew out a fresh dress. At least, it would be lighter to carry once morning came.
AS I MADE MY WAY DOWN the servants’ staircase, I could hear a commotion coming from the central part of the house. Just as she had promised, Mrs. Dobbs had tea waiting for me when I stepped into her sitting room. She held a cup out to me, and I accepted it with gratitude as I sat opposite her.
“Has Mr. Bunker sent for a constable?” I asked, afraid of what she’d say, but I had to know.
“I believe that in the chaos of getting the doctor, Bunker neglected to perform that particular task.”
Relief spread through me. “But I cannot expect him to do so forever.”
“True, but Mr. Dunbar will be informed of the circumstances of his son’s...misadventure,” Mrs. Dobbs said. She paused to sip her own cup of tea, raising an eyebrow at me. “You see, Miss Nelson, not every maid who has come to work in the house has had the spirit to defend herself against Mr. Daniel Dunbar’s attention.”
“I’d heard something of that.”
The housekeeper nodded. “Yes, I’m sure you did. I don’t think that Mr. Dunbar will want this incident to be widely known. He was able to give the other maids money for their silence and for them to take themselves away from Bath. He has no wish for the family name to be stained any further than it has been.”
There was something she wasn’t saying, and I could readily guess what it was. Likely, one of those maids had fallen with child. In any event, I understood it was not the sort of gossip a father would want being spread. His son was his heir.
My sense of guilt at having harmed Daniel Dunbar faded and I drank my tea. Silence fell between Mrs. Dobbs and me. It wasn’t long before the tea was gone. Then, Mrs. Dobbs stood up. “I ought to look in on the situation. See if anything is required of me.”
“Yes. Of course.”
I was left alone with my thoughts once she left. How was I going to tell Aunt Beth about this? A slight laugh left my lips as I realized one thing. “Mr. Ingram wanted to have proof of Daniel Dunbar’s recreational activities,” I said softly.
What would the man have to say about this incident? With the other maids sent away, he hadn’t been able to have a witness. Still, what did Mr. Ingram want from Daniel Dunbar? I suppose I ought to wonder that about everyone in Bath. How many people did Mr. Ingram have under his control? What did he do with the information he learned?
Was Conrad Ingram the man my brother had come to Bath to stop?
Why did I not think of that before? Mr. Ingram had shown such an interest in my brother’s activities and notes. I could well imagine that his activities could have been used to pass information onto the French. “I wonder if—Oh, but he must.”
Mr. Harper had made mention of Mr. Ingram not being trustworthy. I had to assume that he knew of the man’s activities or of what my brother’s task in Bath had been. Given his determination to locate the traitor in the Burnham’s house in London, I had to think he would have brought Mr. Ingram to justice if the man had made a move against the government.
“Unless he is the traitor.” My mind spun around with doubt and questions. The beginning of a headache throbbed in my temples. I closed my eyes and leaned my head back, more than ready for the night to be over.
Sally slipped in once with my bag, but she wouldn’t meet my gaze. It seemed like it took an unusually long time for Mrs. Dobbs to return. I was watching the candle flicker when the housekeeper finally entered behind me. “The doctor has decreed Mr. Daniel will recover once he gets plenty of bed rest.”
Though I had ceased to feel guilty about what I’d done, it was a relief to know the man would recover. “I’m glad,” I said, sitting up straighter in my seat. “Did anyone say...I mean, was anything said about my part in what happened?”
Mrs. Dobbs’ expression softened with a smile. “No, Miss Nelson. I would wager that you will hear no more about this if you can leave without any of the family seeing you. And perhaps avoiding places where Miss Dunbar might see you in public. Her temper and personality is not the sort to keep silent, you know.”
“Yes, I am aware.” I couldn’t miss how fatigued the woman was looking. “Thank you for allowing me to stay here. You must get some rest. Your day begins far earlier than mine ever does, and you have so much to do. Especially now.”
“Do you know where you will go tomorrow?”
As much as I wanted to ease her mind, I had to shake my head. “I will—”
She held up her hand, cutting me off. “I suspected you had no plan. Things happened too fast for a body to plan anything. Well, I know of a respectable boarding house. The woman who runs it, Mrs. Smith, is respectable and she won’t charge you too much to stay in her house.” Mrs. Dobbs set a piece of paper, an address written on it, in front of me. “I will see that the wages you are owed are delivered to you there.”
“Thank you, Mrs. Dobbs. You have been so kind to me. I won’t forget this.”
“Good night, Miss Nelson.” She began to leave but paused before she was completely out of the room. “You don’t have to leave at dawn, you know.”
How had she known my plan? “I rather think I do, ma’am.”
“Well, make sure you get something to eat from the kitchen before you go.” She closed the door behind her.
TO BE HONEST, I DID not get much sleep in the hours that remained before dawn. As soon as I heard the cook moving around in the kitchen, I stood up from the straight-backed chair, whic
h had made an uncomfortable piece of furniture to pass the night. I smoothed my gown, tied on my hat, and picked up my bag.
As my stomach still felt twisted in knots, I ignored Mrs. Dobbs’ instruction to get something to eat from the kitchen. I slipped out the side door where I took a deep breath of the fresh air. I made my way to the street, where only had a few carts traveled. As I took care to glance both ways, I caught sight of a familiar boy dressed in ragged clothing, slumped against the side of the house, fast asleep.
Coming to a quick decision, I marched over. Before I reached him, though, he woke up and scrambled up. “It wasn’t me!” he immediately said, his eyes wide in his thin, smudged face. He moved backward. “I ain’t done nothing wrong! You can’t pin anything on me!”
“Oh? Then, why have you been following me?” I asked, taking a step for each step he took. “I’ve seen you, boy.” I saw in his eyes that he intended to bolt, and I lunged forward to catch his arm. “No! You’re not going anywhere until you’ve answered my question. Who paid you to watch me?”
The boy wriggled and tried to kick my ankle. “Let me go!”
I worried his thin jacket would rip in my hands the way he was moving and twisting around. “Stop squirming! As soon as you answer me, you can run off. Who was it?”
He came to a stop. “That fancy man, the one you’re always meeting. There! I’ve told you. Now let me go!”
“I’ve met several men on the street these past few weeks.” Four gentlemen to be exact: Mr. Harper, Mr. Bladen, Mr. Melbourne, and Mr. Ingram. It was enough to give me a headache if I had not already had one from my stiff neck. “Which gentleman was it? Hmm?”
Glaring, the boy tried to kick me again. “The tall one.”
That still didn’t narrow it down. Only Mr. Bladen wasn’t exactly tall, but I hadn’t expected it to be him. “Can you be any more specific? What is his name?”
The Debutante: A Regency Mystery (The Sinclair Society Book 2) Page 13