Page 25 of Rakes & Reticules
The fact that her guilty conscience had prompted her to come clean meant nothing to him.
Fletcher would not keep a traitor beneath his roof.
Except, he must for at least a week, but after that…
Even as enraged as he was, he wasn’t cold-hearted enough to turn an ill woman onto the street. Not only her but her young sister and brother. He wasn’t an unfeeling monster.
Hadn’t he already sent his men and motherly Mrs. Dough to retrieve Paddy and Kimber? Fletcher could hardly leave the children alone to fret about their sister’s whereabouts or send a note along, which would likely cause as much upset.
Besides, who would care for them while Miss Kenney convalesced?
No, the best solution and a way of assuring Miss Kenney cooperated fully was to have her sister and brother right here atDe la Chance, particularly since Kimber was also ill.
Mrs. Dough told him that twice when Kimber and Paddy had come to the kitchen to collect their evening meal at Miss Kenney’s behest, Mrs. Dough had offered the hungry children a warm bun and glass of milk. On both occasions, Miss Kenney had worked late and fretted her siblings would go to bed with empty stomachs.
Given her thinness, it appeared she’d done that herself many times.
To ensure her siblings had food the next day while she worked?
No wonder she had succumbed to the illness.
When Fletcher summoned two female employees, asking them to bring a nightgown, he’d expected raised eyebrows and questions. The looks on Suzannah’s and Theresa’s faces, after he’d revealed Sean was a female and they needed to assist her in donning the nightgown, might’ve been comical if he weren’t so infuriated.
A knock rattled the door, and Fletcher opened it three inches.
Chandler offered a sympathetic upward sweep of his mouth.
He understood Fletcher’s untenable position.
“Miss Kenney’s brother and sister have been shown to a chamber to share. They are frightened and are asking about her. The little girl is quite ill. I left Mrs. Dough with them.” Another partial smile kicked his mouth up on one side. “She’s quite in her element, tending the ragamuffins. She’s sent to the kitchen for hot chocolate and biscuits. I’ve ordered them baths.”
“Very good.” Fletcher nodded before glancing over his shoulder.
Miss Kenney remained perfectly still upon the bed as the doctor snapped his satchel closed.
“I want to wait here until she awakens,” Fletcher told Chandler. “She is gravely ill, but I still intend to know her name and, if possible, what her intentions were.”
Not that he intended to play nursemaid as she recuperated, for he did not.
He had three businesses to oversee, and now this nefarious situation with Huxley to deal with.
Fletcher would, however, post a guard outside Miss Kenney’s door.
If she lied about her gender, what else had she lied about?
Her true reasons for wanting employment atDe la Chance?
Was this the first time she’d acted on behalf of a Huxley?
No, he didn’t trust Miss whatever her first name Kenney was any farther than he could throw her.
“Very good, sir.” Chandler looked up and down the corridor. “I also spoke with your cousin about Huxley. He says he’ll look into the matter and call upon you tomorrow.”
Thank God for Torrian.
“Excellent.” Fletcher pushed the door wide. “Dr. Philbourne, may I impose upon you to examine Miss Kenney’s siblings? Her sister is also unwell.”
“Certainly.” The stout physician paced into the hallway.
