Page 84 of The Truth Serum
The girl curtsied after she set down the tray. “Yes, milady.”
“Lord Nathaniel needed some help with his bandages last night. And then we got to talking and well…” She shrugged. “I’m afraid I fell asleep.” Her gaze steadied. “Are you interested in advancing in your position? I need a lady’s maid in London. Missy, my regular maid, misses Cornwall so much. Would you be interested?”
The girl’s eyes widened and no wonder. Becca was handling the situation like a seasoned conspirator. The girl had seen something best kept secret, and so Becca was giving her something she wanted in return for loyalty.
Well done.
“You understand,” continued Becca, “my brother’s staff is rather, um, nosy regarding my life. I should like an ally in that house. And I can pay handsomely for your help with that.”
“Oh milady, I should like that very much.”
“Excellent! Assuming, of course, the duke doesn’t mind.”
“He won’t mind,” Kynthea said. “But I should still like to discuss—”
Nate took a breath, deciding to get the most significant information out there. “Nothing happened, Kynthea. We talked most of the night through. That’s all.”
That was a lie. An obvious one, given how little Becca was wearing. At least she’d pulled on her shift during the night. But they had definitely done some things.
Still, Kynthea seemed to accept it. What other choice did she have?
Her brow arched. “I suggest you go get dressed, Lord Nathaniel. I’d like to have a nice chat with Becca alone, and then we’ll talk altogether downstairs.”
He nodded but didn’t leave just yet. Instead, he turned to Becca. “You know I’ve wanted to marry you since I was seventeen. That hasn’t changed.”
“And now,” interrupted Kynthea, “she will have a private moment to consider your proposal.”
He had no choice but to leave. He bowed as formally as one could when in shirtsleeves and left for his bedroom. He tried to focus on the mundane tasks of the morning. Washing, cleaning, changing without aggravating his ribs or his feet. But his mind would not focus on that. Nor could he ponder how he was going to manage getting Baron Courbis an invitation to Lord and lady Penrose’s ball. Especially if word got out that he had just compromised Becca.
Hopefully the ladies had that well in hand, but there were so many other logistics to manage. But all he could think about was his night with Becca. The sexual exploration had been wonderful, but he kept returning to the things she had said, the secrets she had revealed.
She was more than marginally acquainted with medical matters. The woman had as great an education as many doctors he knew. For ten years, she had been tending the sick in Cornwall alongside the witchwoman and any visiting surgeon. She’d helped birth cows and sheep, not to mention a few horses. She’d stitched up cuts and set broken bones.
All while tending to her family andnotaccepting any of the suitors that had come to court. That was the most fascinating aspect of her story. Therehadbeen suitors. People Fletcher or Henry had brought home specifically to interest her.
She’d rebuffed them all. Her exact words were, “I was content with what I was learning. They only wanted to give me more work. I was to manage their houses, tend to their needs, and bear their children. Not a one seemed interested in me except at the most superficial level. And so I sent them on their way.”
What strength of character! He knew no young woman who was so assured in her interests that she would refuse the life of leisure that could be had as the wife of a nobleman, even a selfish one.
Or perhaps, Becca was just a good judge of character. He knew all the men who had come courting, by reputation if not personally. None were worth a penny to her.
And so he had said. And so she had rewarded him with a kiss. Which led to more. Which led to an extra delight.
But now it was morning, and he needed to know if she regretted what they had done. More important, did she classify him with all the other men who had come calling? Was he simply adding to her plate without giving her anything in return?
After all, he’d asked for her help in distracting the baron while he ended a traitorous gun-running scheme. That was work with little reward beyond a thanks from himself and Lord Benedict. He didn’t count his promise of getting her access to her dowry. That wouldn’t be too hard, he suspected. She’d told him last night that Henry had always acted as her protector, as long as something was brought to his attention. So he doubted Henry would be an obstacle. It was the bankers who would cut up stiff. Ladies weren’t allowed to manage their own accounts, but there were workarounds if one knew where to apply pressure.
In any event, he couldn’t progress with any of his questions while alone in his bedroom. He dressed with as much speed aspossible and headed down to breakfast to find Ras already there, perusing his correspondence.
The look he threw Nate was disapproving, which was rich considering what the duke had been doing with Kynthea last night. The difference, of course, was that Ras and Kynthea were engaged. In fact, it looked like the mail that day was filled with bills for their upcoming wedding. There were no such promises between himself and Becca. Indeed, there had been a great many refusals.
“Don’t judge me,” Nate grumbled as he took his seat. “She is still pure.”
“Pure has many levels, as you well know.”
He did.
Ras shot him a look. “If you did it to force her hand—”
