Page 66 of The Heiress in Disguise
“Well, how could a valet give her anything like that?”
“That’s just it. I don’t think the valet did give the gifts,” Jane said.
“Jane, what on Earth are you getting at? Whatever it is, spit it out. I don’t have all day to play guessing games with you.”
Jane nodded. “I bring up the valet to make the point that she’s been sneaky,” she said. “She’s keeping things from you, and from your parents. I don’t know why she would do that—but it’s not difficult to imagine that she would take your possessions, since we know that she doesn’t mind a bit of sneaking around.’
“You think she’s stealing from us?”
Jane felt a hot stab of guilt. “I don’tknowthat she is,” she said quickly. “All I know is that she has a lot of fine things now. Perfumes, embroidered handkerchiefs, fine soaps—things like that. Things a maid shouldn’t have. I just thought you ought to know that those things are in her room. I wouldn’t presume to speculate as to how they got there, but I can’t lie to you, since I want to keep my position.”
Lady Gwyneth eyed her carefully. “You did the right thing talking to me,” she said. “I appreciate it, Jane, and I’ll see to it that you’re rewarded for your candor. Thank you.”
Jane nodded, feeling slightly ill. She wasn’t at all sure that she’d done the right thing, but she did know one thing. There would now be consequences for Ella. She would be kept inside. She would be prevented from seeing either of the gentlemen she seemed to have such an interest in, and that would be a good thing.
It would be good for Jane, of course, because she wouldn’t have to see her friend receiving so many fine things that she herself couldn’t have anymore. And really, wouldn’t it be good for Ella as well? She had as good as admitted that she’d kiss that man next door if she got the chance. She only stood to get her heart broken like that.
Jane was saving her from that pain, really. She was being a good friend. Lord and Lady Leicester would bring Ella back in line, remind her that she was nothing more than a servant and that she shouldn’t get carried away with ideas above her station, and that would be for the best.
“We need to watch Ella very carefully,” Lady Gwyneth said. “Mother will want more information than this if she is to act. Will you help me, Jane? Will you watch Ella’s every move and make sure to report to me if you discover anything else worth sharing?”
Jane’s heart pounded. She shouldn’t do this. She knew she shouldn’t. She was going to get her friend in serious trouble.
No. It’s for the best. It’s what she needs, and I’m the only one who can do it for her!
The words sounded like a lie, even inside her own head—but she needed them to be true. She needed to believe in them.
“I’ll do what you’re asking,” she whispered to Lady Gwyneth, feeling as though she was betraying herself as well as Ella.
Lady Gwyneth nodded imperiously. “Very good,” she said. “You can go, Jane. That’s all I need from you for now.”
Jane left the sitting room, feeling a strange mixture of satisfaction and shame tearing at her heart.
Chapter 30
Antoine stood in the woods, disguised as Philip, and waiting for Angelique to appear. She should have been here by now, and that worried him. Where was she? It was unlike her to be late to meet with him.
She was usually eager for their meetings, but apparently, she had chosen not to come on time—but then again, it was very likely that it hadn’t been her choice at all. He knew how they treated her in that house. It was likely that she was being detained by her aunt and uncle for some reason of their own devising. Perhaps she was in trouble.
How he would have liked to burst into the house and demand her release! But he couldn’t. Not yet. Those papers he had seen in Lord Leicester’s study the night of the card game were the key to all of this, and if only he could get away and peruse them at length, he was sure he would find the answer that would allow him to legitimately free Angelique and restore her inheritance.
But where was she?
He moved through the woods slowly, not wanting to stand too long in one place for fear someone else might come along and see him here. He didn’t want it to be obvious that he was here to meet someone. If he was sighted, he wanted to be able to claim that he was simply out for a stroll. But at the same time, he knew that he couldn’t stray too far from the place where theyhad arranged to meet, or Angelique wouldn’t be able to find him when she came.
Then he heard the sound of soft singing up ahead. He hurried forward and saw her, eyes closed, head tipped back. She was singing along with a songbird in a tree, a simple, tuneless aria. He stopped for a moment to listen to her—her voice was lovely.
He shifted his weight slightly and bumped against a tree branch. Her eyes snapped open.
Antoine felt terrible for startling her, but she let out a cry of happiness. “Philip!”
And then, taking him completely by surprise, she came running across the grass and flung herself into his embrace.
He held her. It felt wonderful to finally have her in his arms, and he didn’t want to let go. But all too soon, she pulled away, looking embarrassed.
“I’m so sorry,” she said. “That was out of line. I should have controlled myself.”
“Don’t apologize,” he said quickly. “I quite liked it. And I don’t want you to ever worry about being out of line with me.”
