Page 11 of The Heiress in Disguise
“That’s kind of you,” Antoine said. “I’m inclined to believe the worst of these people, so I think theywouldmake their niece pose as a servant. But you’re right—I’m probably being ridiculous. I’m sure I’ve got it wrong. There’s no reason to think they’d do such a thing.” He sighed. “And you’re right, too, that I justwantto believe I’ve found her. I want this to be her. Of course it isn’t.”
“But whoever she is, she might know something,” George suggested. “I know you’re concerned that the family won’t tell you what became of Lady Angelique, but the staff might, if their loyalties are to the late marquess and marchioness rather than to Lord and Lady Leicester.”
“That’s right,” Antoine said, recalling suddenly. “I did see someone I knew—someone whose identity I know I didn’t mistake.”
“Who was that?”
“Angelique’s old governess. Molly was her name. I don’t know why she is still there, if Angelique isn’t—I suppose the family kept her on in some other capacity.”
“But if she’s there, her loyalty is certainly to Lady Angelique,” George said. “She might be the best person for you to speak to in order to find out what happened.”
“Probably. And yet I don’t think I dare let her know who I am.”
“No, I agree, you shouldn’t,” George said. “But if you spend enough time there, you may be able to get the truth from her without revealing anything about yourself. It’s worth the attempt, I would think.”
“It is indeed,” Antoine said. “You’re right, George. This gives me a way forward, and I should be happy about that. Iamhappy about that. Progress was made today, and I know what I need to do next. Now it’s just a matter of doing it.”
“That’s right,” George encouraged. “Before you know it, this mystery will be solved. You’ve come one step closer to finding the answer today.”
“Yes,” Antoine said. “You’re right. Thank you. Talking to you about these things always seems to make me feel better, George. I don’t know what I would do without you. Very well. The next thing to do will be to try to get closer to the servants next door so that I can find out anything they might be able to tell me. Thank you for your time.”
George recognized his dismissal. He inclined his head toward Antoine and withdrew, pulling the door closed behind him to give Antoine his privacy.
Antoine refilled his glass and swirled it slowly, pondering.
George was right—he had jumped to conclusions upon seeing the girl next door. He had beensosure there was something about her, and she did look like Lady Exeter.
But anyone might look like Lady Exeter. It was true that the freckle was distinctive, but it was only a freckle, and there wasn’t anything else that really set Lady Exeter apart or made her look deeply distinctive. The girl had been pretty—Antoine had been drawn to her. Maybe that was a part of what made him want to believe she was Angelique.
He hadn’t often imagined the girl he’d once known as a grown lady, but thinking about her now, he believed she would have grown up to be lovely. She’d had white-blonde hair, porcelain skin, and bright blue eyes that seemed to penetrate right to his soul. The girl next door shared those features. But there were differences, too. She had a sadness in her eyes that Angelique had never had.
Her skin was darker—not as if it was naturally a different shade, but as if she had spent a lot of time in the sun. It was difficult to compare, since Angelique had been a child when he’d knownher, but he would have expected her not to be quite as thin as Ella was.
She worked next door, that was all.
He would do his best to put her out of mind, and he would turn his attention to Molly instead. Molly was the one person who both could answer his questions and might actually be willing to do so. Heaven knew he would never get any answers from Lord and Lady Leicester. They had never much liked Angelique, and if they were the ones responsible for sending her away, it seemed nearly impossible that they would be willing to admit to it.
I’m just glad I came back to London when I did. This might be my only chance to get answers about any of this.
He pulled out a piece of paper. He had to write a letter to his mother, to let her know what he had discovered thus far. He knew she would be waiting on pins and needles to find out.
Chapter 5
“I expect you to help in the kitchen on the day of the masquerade,” Aunt Wilhelmina said as she monitored Angelique hanging garlands in the ballroom.
Angelique nodded—this was no more than she had expected. “Of course, Aunt Wilhelmina. I look forward to it.”
She was only speaking the truth. There would be wonderful food on the day of the masquerade, and Angelique knew that by being in the kitchen and therefore close to the food as it was being prepared, she would enable herself to taste everything.
It was one of the best opportunities that being a servant provided her, and something she never would have guessed at when her aunt and uncle had reduced her to that role. It just went to show that if you wanted to, you could see a good side in every situation. But Aunt Wilhelmina wouldn’t appreciate that, of course. She would be angry to discover that Angelique wasn’t unhappy.
Her aunt’s eyes narrowed. “What do you mean, you’re looking forward to it? What are you looking forward to?”
“Oh—” Angelique hesitated. “It’s nice to see the meal come together, that’s all I meant.”
“That had better be all you meant,” Aunt Wilhelmina warned. “I wouldn’t like to believe that you’re harboring ambitions of sneaking out of the kitchen and joining the party.”
“The thought hadn’t occurred to me,” Angelique said truthfully.
