The Paid Companion (14 page)

After a while she heard him go on down the hall to his own bedchamber.

14

Elenora opened her eyes very cautiously. She was vastly relieved to see the crack of light in the drapes that meant morning had finally arrived. The clock on the table read nine-fifteen. She was surprised to realize that she had finally managed to get some sleep.

It seemed to her that most of the night had been spent alternating between strange dreams and long, restless bouts of wakefulness during which she relived the kiss in the library a hundred times.

She shoved aside the covers and put on her slippers and wrapper. She washed quickly at the washstand, wincing at the bracing sting of the cold water. When she was through, she twisted her hair up into a neat knot and pinned a pristine white cap over it. Then she went to the wardrobe to survey the array of gowns hanging inside.

The pretty new clothes that she had ordered from Mrs. Egan’s longtime dressmaker were a positive feature of this new post, she thought. Not that they would do her any good when she left for her next position. It was highly unlikely that any of her future employers would want to hire a professional companion who dressed in such a fashionable manner.

As she had anticipated, the dressmaker had been only too happy to observe discretion on the subject of her knowledge of her new client’s recent post in Mrs. Egan’s household. But, then, any ambitious dressmaker worth her needles would have had sense enough not to gossip in such a situation, Elenora thought.

As for her own situation, she refused to worry about future wardrobe problems. With luck there would not be a great number of new employers or new posts to concern her, she thought, reaching for a cheerful yellow-orange morning gown trimmed with pale green ribbons. Thanks to the triple wages and the bonus that St. Merryn was paying her, she would have almost enough money to secure a lease on a small bookshop when she left this household. If she was fortunate in her next post, another six months of employment would ensure that she had sufficient funds to stock her shop with the latest novels.

And then she would be free and independent at last.

‘While she dressed, she forced herself to concentrate on her shiny new future instead of Arthur’s heated kisses.

She found the hallway empty when she opened the door of her bedchamber a few minutes later. She wondered if Arthur had already gone downstairs to breakfast. In spite of what had happened the night before, she discovered that she was quite looking forward to seeing him again this morning. She went quietly toward the staircase, careful not to make any noise that might awaken Margaret.

At the foot of the stairs she turned and went along the corridor that took her to the back of the house.

Taking a deep breath, she raised her chin, assumed a grand air and swept into the dining room as though absolutely nothing had happened the night before.

Her performance was for naught. The room was empty.

So much for showing Arthur that his kisses were completely unmemorable. Sighing, she went through the doorway that opened into the pantry and descended the narrow steps to the lower floor where the kitchens were located. Her slippered feet made no sound on the treads.

A cup of tea and a slice of warm toast would be enough for her this morning, she decided.

She heard the muffled voices just as she arrived at the bottom of the steps. They were coming from behind a closed door. She recognized them immediately. Ibbitts and the maid, Sally.

“Stop your damned sniveling, you stupid creature,” Ibbitts snarled softly. “You’ll do as I say or you’ll find yourself on the streets again.”

“Please don’t make me do this, Mr. Ibbitts.” Sally was sobbing. “It was one thing to go through Miss Lodge’s personal things when I unpacked her trunk. I didn’t like it but at least I wasn’t doing her any harm. This is different. If you make me steal her pretty little watch, I could be arrested and hung.”

“Bah. Even if he caught you in the act, St. Merryn wouldn’t turn you over to the Runners. I’ve served in enough households to know the type of employer who would do that, and he’s not one of ‘em. Too softhearted by far.”

Ibbitts did not sound particularly approving of Arthur’s kind temperament, Elenora noted.

“At the very least, he’ll turn me off without a reference.” Sally cried harder. “You know how badly I need this post. Don’t make me risk it.”

“You’ll lose your precious post for certain if you don’t do as you’re told, girl. I’ll see to that. Remember what happened to young Paul when he refused to give me my fee. Straight out onto the street he went, and without a reference. Wouldn’t be surprised if he’s making a living as a footpad by now. Probably hanged by Christmas.”

Elenora heard Sally’s great, gulping gasps very clearly through the panels of the door.

“I just can’t, sir. I’m a good girl. I’ve never done anything this bad. I just can’t.”

“A good girl, are you?” Ibbitts laughed harshly. “Not according to your last employer. She tossed you out for seducing her son, didn’t she? Found you on your back in the still room, your feet kicking in the air, her precious boy between your legs, didn’t she?”

“That’s not how it was,” Sally croaked. “He attacked me, he did.”

“Because you tempted him. I’ll wager you thought he’d give you some money for your efforts.”

“That’s not true.”

“It makes no matter,” Ibbitts shot back. “The thing to remember is that you didn’t get a reference, and we both know that you’d be servicing gentlemen in alleys by now if I hadn’t taken you in. You’re lucky to have any post at all.”

“Please, sir. I’ve done everything you asked so far, and I give you your fee out of my quarterly wages. I can’t do this thing you want. I just can’t. It’s not right.”

Elenora had had enough. She tried the doorknob. It twisted easily in her hand. She shoved the door open with such force that it slammed against the wall and bounced a couple of times.

Startled, Ibbitts and Sally stared at her, openmouthed.

Ibbitts’s statue-perfect features transformed themselves into a mask of rage.

Rising panic bloomed in Sally’s gaze. She put her hand to her throat and made a small, frantic, squeaking sound not unlike a little bird that has fallen from its nest.

Elenora rounded on Ibbitts. “Your vile behavior is unacceptable. You will collect your things at once and leave this house immediately.”

Ibbitts recovered quickly, his fine mouth twisting into a sneer. “Who the bloody hell do you think you are to interfere in my private business like this?”

Now would probably be an excellent time to fall back on the authority that came with her fictitious role as Arthur’s fiancée, Elenora decided.

“I am the future mistress of this household,” she announced coldly. “And I will not tolerate your despicable actions.”

“Future mistress, eh?” An unholy glee leaped in Ibbitts’s eyes. But instead of launching a verbal assault, he jerked his thumb at the hapless Sally. “Get out of here, girl. Go to your bedchamber. I’ll finish with you later.”

Sally blanched. “Aye, Mr. Ibbitts, sir.”

She scurried toward the door, where Elenora stood blocking the exit.

“Beggin‘ yer pardon, Miss Lodge,” she pleaded through quivering lips. “Please let me leave.”

Elenora handed her a handkerchief and stepped aside. “Go on, Sally. Dry your tears. All will be well.”

Sally gave no sign that she believed that for an instant. She seized the square of embroidered linen and used it to cover her face as she rushed out of the room.

Elenora was alone with Ibbitts.

He looked her up and down, dismissing her with a degree of disdain that would have done justice to an arrogant gentleman of the ton. “Well, now, Miss Lodge, I reckon it’s time we got something settled here. We both know that you will never be the future mistress of this household, don’t we?”

Her stomach turned over, but she kept her face impassive. “I have no idea what you’re talking about, Ibbitts.”

“Just because his lordship managed to pass you off as a fine lady in front of the quality, don’t think you’ve got me fooled. You’re no more than a paid companion. You’re in this house on a temporary basis. When St. Merryn no longer needs you, you’ll be let go just like any other member of the staff whose services are no longer required.”

Elenora’s palms tingled. She had been right when she’d warned

Arthur that it would be difficult to deceive the servants. Her only hope was to bluff her way through this confrontation.

“You have obviously been eavesdropping on your employer, Ibbitts,” she said evenly. “A very bad habit, indeed. And as is often the case when one listens to conversations not meant to be overheard by others, you have got the facts wrong.”

“Bah. I’ve got the facts right enough, and well you know it. St. Merryn hired you from that agency, Goodhew and Willis, didn’t he? I heard him tell Mrs. Lancaster about his scheme. He’s paying you a fee to play the role of his fiancée. Do you know what that makes you, Miss Lodge? An actress.”

“Enough, Ibbitts,” she snapped.

“We all know about actresses, don’t we?” He gave a snort of disgust. “Like as not, you’ll be warming his lordship’s bed before you’re finished with this post.”

Ibbitts had known the truth all along, she thought. That explained the thinly veiled contempt she had noticed in his attitude toward her from the moment she arrived. But judging by the way he had sent Sally out of the room just now, it was clear that he had kept the secret to himself, no doubt intending to wait until he could turn it to his advantage.

Disaster loomed, Elenora realized. Arthur would be furious once he realized that his butler was aware of his plan. He would likely conclude that his strategy to have her pose as his fiancée had to be abandoned. If he had no further use for her, she might very well find herself back at the offices of Goodhew & Willis before the day was out.

Well, there was nothing she could do but go forward. Ibbitts was a dreadful man. One way or another, he had to be banished from this house.

“You have half an hour to pack your things, Ibbitts,” she said very steadily.

“I’m not going anywhere,” Ibbitts rasped. “And you’re not going to be giving any more orders around here if you know what’s good for you. From now on you’ll dance to my tune, Miss Lodge.”

She stared at him. “Are you mad?”

“Not mad, Miss Lodge, just a good deal more clever than you realize. If you try to turn me out of this house, I’ll see to it that his lordship knows that I’m aware of his scheme.” Ibbitts snickered. “What’s more, I’ll tell him that I learned about it from you because you like to chatter in bed.”

“That would be a very dangerous thing to do, Ibbitts,” she said softly. “St. Merryn would not believe you, in any event.”

Ibbitts’s smile would have looked more appropriate on a viper. “When I tell him about the fancy blue ribbons on that pretty white linen nightgown of yours, I’m certain that he’ll believe every word I say.”

“You know what my nightgown looks like because you forced Sally to describe it to you.”

“Aye, but his lordship will assume that the reason I can describe it so accurately is because I’ve seen you in it, won’t he? And even if he doesn’t fall for that tale, the damage will have been done as far as you’re concerned. If he finds out his plans are no longer secret, he’ll abandon them. And that means he won’t have any use for you, Miss Lodge. You’ll find yourself out on the street about ten minutes after me.”

“You are a very foolish man, Ibbitts.”

“You’re the fool, Miss Lodge, if you think you can get rid of me so easily.” Ibbitts gave a coarse laugh. “But you’re in luck because I’m going to make a bargain with you. Keep your mouth shut about what you heard in this room a few minutes ago, and I won’t let on to his lordship that I know about your nightgown or his secrets.”

“Do you really believe that I will allow you to blackmail me, Ibbitts?”

“Aye, Miss Lodge, you’ll do as you’re told, just like Sally and Ned, and you’ll be grateful.” He chuckled derisively. “So grateful, in fact, that you’ll pay me my usual commission, same as the others do.”

She folded her arms. “Just what is your usual commission?”

“Sally and Ned give me half their quarterly wages.”

“And what do they get for that fee?”

“Why, they get to keep their posts, that’s what they get for it. You’ll agree to my bargain, too, because we both know that you’ve got a lot more to lose than I do.”

“Do I?”

“Aye, you silly bitch.” His mouth twisted. “With this face, I can always find another post. But after you get tossed out of this house, you’ll likely never get another respectable place. Expect you’ll end up lifting your skirts for drunken gentlemen in doorways around Covent Garden before the year is out.”

She did not bother to respond to that. Turning, she went out into the tiny hall.

Ibbitts’s low, cruel laughter followed her.

She found Ned hovering anxiously at the top of the kitchen steps.

“What happened, Miss Lodge? Sally says we’re going to be let go.”

“You and Sally will not lose your posts, Ned. It is Ibbitts who will soon be on his way.”

“Not him.” Ned shook his head sadly, resigned. “His kind always wins out in the end. He’ll see to it we’re both sent away without references for causing him trouble like this.”

“Calm yourself His lordship is a fair-minded man. When I explain the situation to him, he will understand. You and Sally will be fine.”

I am the one who will soon be looking for another position,
she thought. Regardless of how the problem with Ibbitts was resolved, there was no getting around the fact that once St. Merryn knew his secret was in the hands of a despicable, untrustworthy creature like Ibbitts, he would be forced to end the charade.

Well, she had known that the post was too good to be true right from the start, had she not?

***

Arthur stood in the stable doorway and watched John Watt use a pitchfork to shift hay into a stall. The young man looked a lot different than he had the last time Arthur had seen him.

When he had worked in George Lancaster’s household, Watt had always kept himself clean and neat. The shirt and pants he was wearing today were most likely the garments he had had on the night he’d run away. They had not stood up well to the demands of Watt’s new career. Six weeks’ worth of use in a livery stable had converted what had once been good clothing into little more than torn, badly stained rags.