Page 58 of The Heiress in Disguise
“I never thought he would change his mind, Lady Gwyneth. He doesn’t seem the type to hear the word ‘no’ very easily.”
“I’m beginning to think he ought to be given what he desires,” Lady Gwyneth mused. “I do think having Ella here is beginning to be a problem.”
“A problem, my lady?”
“She attracts too much attention. You know, for a servant, she really is very pretty.” Lady Gwyneth eyed Jane rather beadily. “Do you think so?”
“I hadn’t thought about it, my lady.” A prudent lie. She had thought about it, of course. Ella was beautiful. Jane would have been jealous of her a long time ago if not for the way she was treated as a second-class citizen even among the staff. She didn’tmind her own appearance, but Ella was so lovely. It was really no wonder that so many men were interested in her.
Maybe, Jane thought uncharitably for a moment, itwouldbe best if Ella was married off to Count Benavente.
At once, she was ashamed of the thought. That wasn’t anything Ella wanted, so how could Jane possibly wish it for her, even if she was a bit jealous at the moment?
But then, maybe Ella would grow used to it after a while. It would be a good life for her, married to a gentleman. She would never want for anything. She wouldn’t have to work another day in her life. It was true that Count Benavente was an unpleasant fellow, but it was equally true that Ella would have a better life as his wife than she could hope for serving Lord and Lady Leicester. Jane didn’t know why Ella didn’t want that.
Unless she’s in love with someone else.
But who? Philip? The mysterious stranger from the ball? She couldn’t be in love with both of them.
“Mother thinks we need Ella at home,” Lady Gwyneth said. “She thinks we can’t get by without her. But that’s ridiculous, of course. Ella does nothing that any other servant wouldn’t be capable of, so we don’t reallyneedher at all. We’ll get by just fine without her. The problem will be in convincing Mother of that fact. And that’s where I need your help, Jane.”
“Me? What can I possibly do to be of help with such a thing?”
“I need you to keep your eye on Ella,” Lady Gwyneth explained. “You and she are close, so I’m sure she lets her guard down around you. I want you to tell me if she does anything suspicious. Anything I can take to my mother as indication that she isnotsomeone we want in our household. You’ll do that for me, won’t you? I can promise that if you find anything, you’ll be well rewarded for your efforts.”
It was what she’d imagined, then. And Jane was seriously tempted.
“I’ll do as you ask,” she said. “I’ll watch Ella, and I’ll let you know if I see anything worth reporting.”
If she was being honest, Jane didn’t think shewouldreport Ella. It still felt wrong to do so. But she certainly couldn’t have told Lady Gwyneth that.
And besides, it felt good to know that she had the choice. Even if she never acted on it, it put control back into her hands. Shecouldhave Ella sent away if she wanted to. Knowing that made her jealousy a little bit easier to manage.
Chapter 26
“I don’t see why we can’t take a carriage to Lord Cambridge’s house,” Gwyneth complained as the family gathered in the foyer, getting ready to go next door for the dinner they had been invited to.
“He lives next door,” Grace pointed out. “Why would we need a carriage to get there? We’re more than capable of walking that distance.”
“But it’s so undignified!” Gwyneth said. “We want to arrive in style, don’t we? We want to show the earl that we’re a family of class and means. I think we should prepare a carriage.”
“He walked when he came to visit us here,” Aunt Wilhelmina said. “It’s right that you want to impress him, Gwyneth, but I don’t think it’s necessary to get a carriage ready. He won’t think less of us for arriving on our own two feet.”
“So you say,” Gwyneth grumbled.
Angelique just wished her family would go. She knew that once they were gone, once the house was empty, the card game among the servants would begin. She didn’t intend to play herself, but she did know that Philip had an interest in the game, and she had spoken to Peter about inviting him. As to whether he wouldactually come, she wasn’t sure, but she did hold out hope for his presence there that night.
At last, with much grumbling and complaining, everyone left the house and started toward Lord Cambridge’s home. They would be gone for a good long time, Angelique was sure. They would want to spend as much time as they possibly could over there, doing all they could to impress Lord Cambridge.
Everyone—apart from Grace, that was—seemed to be holding on to hope that he would wish to marry Gwyneth. Angelique found she shared their hope, little though she would have expected to. It wasn’t out of any particular concern for her cousin. Rather, she knew that if there was a marriage between Gwyneth and Lord Cambridge, it would mean returning to London on numerous occasions.
It would mean more opportunities for her to see Philip—and, perhaps, even to see the mysterious gentleman in the mask, although that seemed much more unlikely.
The card game was to take place in the kitchen, and Angelique went in to help with the preparations. She had volunteered to prepare the stew, knowing that she had little other excuse to spend time there, and wishing to find some reason to linger around the game. If she couldn’t find a reason to be in the kitchen, she might not have the opportunity to see Philip tonight, and that would be a night wasted.
It wasn’t long before people started making their way into the kitchen, and sure enough, there was Philip, ready to join the game. He smiled at Angelique, and she returned his smile, not daring to approach him or to do or say anything more while everyone could see them. If her family asked the staff whether she had had any contact with him, there were some here who might answer truthfully, and she certainly didn’t want that.
But Jane seemed to have no such reservations. She had been pouring drinks, but she stopped at the sight of Philip and went up to him with a smile.
