Page 58 of The Confessions of a Lady
Hannah’s husband. So, Millie and Hannah will be at the masque as well.
Constable Sweet clamped the end of the pipe between his teeth, sucking air even though it wasn’t lit. ‘Powerful men who have the advantage of knowing Renquist. You’ve got to keep your eye on them. Wherever they go, you be there as well. Best thing about being a domestic: no one notices you.’
Penny’s tummy flittered like a bowl of butterflies. ‘Constable Sweet, all the servants have been given the night off. We aren’t going to be working the masque.’
Constable Sweet pulled the pipe from his mouth, his eyes widened, and his mouth turned down in a frown. ‘What kind of daft loon doesn’t use his servants to staff a ball?’
Penny shrugged, feeling unaccountably defensive of Liam. ‘One who wants to give his staff a well-deserved night off.’
‘Bugger me. Not exactly the best timing for your lord to be getting generous with his servants.’
‘He’s not my lord,’ Penny mumbled. Though she wished he was. A wild idea sparked in her mind. Liam’s invitation which seemed so insane and far too tempting when he suggested it the night before could be the answer. ‘Don’t worry. I’ve got a plan, Constable. If the prime minister’s men find any evidence aboutthe marquess, I’ll know it. I swear.’ Because shewouldbe at the ball. But not as Penny Smith the servant. She would be attending as a member of the beau monde. Hiding in the glittering candlelight sparkling from the thousand crystals she’d polished on the massive chandelier. After all, who would ever notice one more masked lady at a masque ball?
Constable Sweet blinked hard. ‘What plan, Penny?’
‘I can’t explain. But trust me.’
‘I always trust you, dove. But these blighters are dangerous men. If he’s one of ’em, and he finds out what you’re up to, he’d kill you for sure.’
Fear thrilled through Penny, but she quickly squashed it. Liam would do many things to her, all of them wicked, but kill her? Impossible. While she was unsure of his dealings with the Devil’s Sons, she was certain he would never intentionally harm her.
‘I’ll be careful, Constable. I swear it. Besides, no matter how powerful they are, the Devil’s Sons won’t commit murder in the middle of a masque. The entire beau monde has been invited. Even the chancellor. Mrs O’Brian was gossiping about it to the kitchen staff this afternoon. You should have seen her. Bragging about the cream of the crop eating her food. She’s the only one not taking the night off. Told me she doesn’t trust anyone but herself with the menu.’
Constable Sweet tucked his pipe between his teeth again, shaking his head slowly. ‘I don’t feel right about this, Penny. Maybe the risk isn’t worth the reward. If anything were to happen to you, how could I live with myself?’
‘Nothing is going to happen to me. I can take care of myself, Constable Sweet. And any risk is worth taking if it gets Mother out of prison.’
He squinted at her in the dim light of the moon. ‘You know, no matter what happens, I’ll watch after Harriet.’ His gazehomed in on the cut still healing on her cheek. ‘I heard some rumours about the prison and all. Talk of a guard who found himself on the wrong end of some bad business. He had himself an accident while walking a young woman out of the prison and no one’s seen him since. You wouldn’t know anything about that, would you?’
Warmth crept from Penny’s belly to her cheeks. She wondered if the guard had actually heeded Liam’s threats and booked travel to the continent, or even the Americas. In the darkest hours of the night, she feared he might have returned to the prison to take out his thwarted rage on her mother. Only a fool would be so brazen, but he seemed the type to hold a grudge. She supposed he prized his life over his pride, and knowing her guess was confirmed relieved some of her anxiety.
‘I don’t know anything about any missing guards, but it sounds like perhaps his absence isn’t any great loss.’
‘Hmph.’ Constable Sweet chomped down on the pipe neck and spoke around it. ‘You promised me you’ll take care of yourself. You’re a girl who keeps her promises. Don’t forget that.’
‘I won’t, Constable Sweet. I’ll keep my promise. I swear it.’
He made another noncommittal grunt.
Penny gripped the door handle. ‘I must get back to my room, Constable Sweet. Mrs Harding is on a tear right now with the ball tomorrow. She wants all of us rested and at our best for last-minute preparations before our night off.’
Constable Sweet hunched into his coat. ‘I don’t like this, dove. But you will do as you want, won’t you? Stubborn girl that you are.’
‘Determined, Constable Sweet.’
Maybe even courageous enough to change my stars.
Constable Sweet harrumphed once more. ‘I won’t be able to see you for another week. I don’t like leaving it so long, especially with this ball coming up, but there’s no way ’round it. My lady-wife has a trip planned for us to Bath and she won’t take no for an answer. Had me put in for my annual leave months ago. I only get one week a year and I’m spending it with her and her sister.’ The painful grimace had his moustache twisting into a lopsided line on his hangdog features.
Penny tried to keep her smile hidden.Poor Constable Sweet!‘Her sister will be joining you?’
He rolled his eyes. ‘She lives in Bath. She’s been wanting us to visit for years. I’ve always gotten out of it, but I can’t find any more excuses. You’re going to have to take care of yourself for a little while, dove. Promise me you’ll stay safe.’
She patted the dear man on his arm. ‘I doubt I will face as much peril as you on your holiday. I do hope you get to enjoy some of it.’ Imagining Constable Sweet strolling along the streets of Bath with his wife on one arm and his sister-in-law on the other created a bubble of mirth in her belly.
Penny stepped into the warmth of the kitchen as Constable Sweet shook his head sadly and turned to shuffle down the gravel drive. Pausing, he looked over his shoulder at her and she waved before he disappeared into the mist.
The constable had given her an unexpected gift. A reason to take Liam up on his offer of shedding her maid’s outfit for the night and donning the costume of a marchioness. If only for one evening.
