Page 55 of The Confessions of a Lady
Penny shook her head. ‘I don’t understand.’
‘We are friends, are we not? I wanted to come and make sure you are settled here. That you are well and happy.’ Millicent cocked her head to get a better look at Penny’s cheek. ‘And by the looks of things, we should have come much sooner. Who hit you? If it was the marquess, we’ll take care of him before leaving today.’
Penny emitted a strangled squeak, too overwhelmed to create a convincing lie. ‘Some idiot brutes attacked me while I was out walking. Lord Renquist saw and intervened.’
Millicent gave a sly glance to the other ladies. ‘Did he? Well, it seems your mother’s salve is working as well for you as it did for me. That’s healing nicely.’
‘I’ve found arnica oil to be helpful with bruises.’ The Duchess of Covington was petite, beautiful, and quite frightening. Penny didn’t miss the crescent scar on the woman’s cheek, or her sharp, assessing gaze. She reminded Penny of Philippa, carrying the same hint of danger about her. ‘I shall send some to you directly. Sit and eat something. We have much to discuss.’
Penny, so used to following orders, straightened her back and thrust out her chin. Something about the woman’s tone got her back up. Lady Killian was testing her. Showing weakness would not be wise. ‘I’m sorry. I’m so glad to see you Lady Drake, but I’m not sure why you are here. I’m a maid. Ladies do not make calls upon their past domestics. And as you can see, thereis much work to be done here to ready for the masque tomorrow. I should leave.’
Letting go of Millicent’s grip, she moved a step backward, closer to the door.
Miss Ivy Cavendale stood and walked to Penny’s other side, hemming her in between herself and Millicent. Penny couldn’t help noticing the woman’s slight figure – almost as lean as a young lad’s – was also lithe. She looked stronger than the last time she’d seen Ivy. Her blonde hair and pale skin gave her the look of a haunted fairy. ‘Please, Miss Smith. You have an hour’s reprieve from your labours. As Hannah said, we have important matters to discuss with you and there are far too many biscuits for the three of us. Stay.’ Her command was far gentler than Lady Killian’s but just as demanding.
Penny exhaled and then nodded. Millicent moved aside so Penny could sit in the wingback chair opposite the leather settee. Hesitating, she leaned forward and took one of the lemon tarts from the tray. The buttery crust crumbled against her lips as the tart lemon curd burst on her tongue.
‘Your cook is quite good,’ Millicent said, smiling as she took a miniature iced cake and popped it in her mouth.
‘Yes, but we aren’t here to discuss pastries. We have a proposition for you.’ Lady Killian leaned forward, her eyes sparking with purpose.
Penny swallowed the tart. ‘Me? Is it an offer of employment? Because I am quite happy here.’
Lady Killian smiled, her gaze flitting from Ivy to Millicent. ‘You could construe it as such, though you wouldn’t need to end your time here. At least, not immediately.’
‘I must say, you are being awfully mysterious, Lady Killian.’
‘Call me Hannah. You’ll find we are much like Philippa in our dislike of titles.’
Penny just nodded, not ready to make such a drastic violation of manners.
Millicent licked icing from her finger, her hand hovering over another tea cake before she thought better of it and sat back. ‘Penny, you know a little about my work with Philippa and the Queen from your time as my lady’s maid. What we are proposing is that you join us. Philippa is willing to train you. She has been looking for someone in your, er, domestic position, to help with a current investigation.’
Penny straightened in her chair, her spine growing rigid. ‘Does this investigation include Lord Renquist?’
Millie looked away. Hannah tipped her chin down slightly. Ivy fiddled with the lace on her sleeve.
I knew it! We are investigating the same man!
This confirmation did not bode well for Liam’s innocence.
But neither does it ensure his guilt. Even the Queen can be wrong sometimes.
The lemon tart curdled in her belly. Why would she wish for his innocence? That meant no reward money. No way to get her mother out of prison.
No reason for him to remain my enemy.
Pulling her thoughts back to the conversation, Penny frowned. These women had information about Liam. Information that might help her if she wasn’t so lost in her own thoughts to ask the right questions. ‘Why is the Queen focused on Li… err… Lord Renquist?’
Drat!
There was no point hoping the women missed her slip. They were all far too intelligent. Hannah raised an eyebrow, Millicent’s lips curled in a knowing smile, and Ivy’s pale skin blushed an alarming crimson.
‘That is not information we can share. Unless you join us in our mission, of course.’ Hannah stood and slipped her hand intoa cleverly hidden pocket in her skirt. ‘Penny, we are pursuing very powerful, very dangerous men targeting maids. I won’t lie that by joining us, you won’t be putting yourself at risk. But you will be doing so to save countless innocent girls.’
Penny wanted desperately to confess their shared goal. But while she knew Millie and wanted to trust her, Hannah and Ivy were near strangers to Penny. And her own mission was far too important to risk. Even for the Queen. She owed her loyalty to Constable Sweet, and more importantly, to her mother.
What would become of the reward money if she switched allegiance? Would the Queen be willing to compensate Penny with coin? She certainly had the wealth to spare, but a monarch expected obedience from her subjects, not trading services for something as vulgar as currency. An opinion only the very rich could afford to hold. These women need not worry about payment for their work. Penny did not have that luxury.
