Page 70 of The Heiress in Disguise
“And you said she might be stealing from us,” Lady Gwyneth added. “Have you found any further evidence of that?”
“No,” Jane admitted. “There have been no further ‘gifts’ given to her. I couldn’t claim to know anything about where the ones she’s received have come from. I just don’t think it looks very good.”
“It doesn’t.” There was an eager sparkle in Lady Gwyneth’s eye. “I’ll have her room searched, and when the fine things are found, I’ll say she stole them. Do you know where they are?”
“I can tell you about a few hiding places she has.”
“Very good. You’ll do that then, and we’ll send someone to search the room. Once we’ve accused her of stealing and being wayward with men, it will be easy to confine her to the house. Or better yet…” She hesitated.
“Perhaps I’ll have Mother marry her to Count Benavente. He’s always wanted her, and we’ve always told him no, but maybe it’s best to simply get her out of the house now. Better that she goes off and marry someone of little note and become his problem from now on. Count Benavente would never try to destroy our family.
So that’s all right. I haven’t wanted to let her go because I like having her available to serve me, but I can always hire another servant. Perhaps I’ve gotten all the use I’m meant to get out of Ella.”
Jane nodded. Maybe this really would be best for everyone involved, she thought. Ella would be married to a count—surely that was a good thing for her. She would be away from this place, where she had always been treated so poorly. Yes, that would be a good thing. She really ought to thank Jane for her involvement in this matter!
And as for Jane, she would be away from Ella. It wasn’t something she would have believed she would want, but now that it was available to her, she knew she desired it. Her jealousy of Ella was becoming a problem for her, and she didn’t want to continue living with it. She wanted to be able to let it go.
Having to watch her friend receive fine gifts every day was painful. Seeing her receive attention from two men was agony. When Ella was gone, there would be no favored servant, andthat was much better. And… and perhaps Philip, or whoever he was, might turn his attention to Jane! She had found him very appealing the night of the card game, and she knew that if he expressed interest in her, she would return that interest.
Yes. This would be the best possible outcome for everyone. Jane was pleased she had chosen to tell Lady Gwyneth what was going on. She had done the right thing.
“Leave me, Jane,” Lady Gwyneth said. “I need to think about what I’m going to say to Mother. I must explain this to her properly so that she knows how serious the situation is. I don’t want her to think there is any room for inaction here.”
“Yes, my lady.” Jane inclined her head and withdrew.
She wanted to avoid Ella. She didn’t know if she could face her friend right now. It would be difficult to be around her, knowing what she had done. So Jane went out into the garden, lost herself in the hedges, and found a quiet place to sit and think about everything that had happened.
Everything was going to change now. Everything would be different—and she was the one who had brought that about. It made her feel powerful, which wasn’t something Jane often felt. It was a good feeling. She wondered what else she might be capable of if the circumstances allowed her to act. And what more she might be willing to do, if it meant that she could gain an advantage.
Chapter 32
It was difficult for Angelique to focus on work.
All her thoughts were of the two men in her life. The more time went on, the more she was forced to wonder whether they might return the feelings she had for them. After all, why would they keep asking to meet with her if they felt nothing for her? She struggled to make sense of it. She must have meantsomethingto them. The question was, how much?
She wasn’t doing a good job of dusting in the library. She knew that. It was because her mind was elsewhere, but that was no excuse. She tried to settle her daydreams and bring the day back into focus. If she could finish her chores early, she could go out to the woods. She had arranged to meet with Philip that day…
The door opened and Jane came in. She stood with her back to the wall. Angelique thought there was something very odd about the expression on her face—she rather looked like a cornered animal.
“Is everything all right?” she asked her friend. “You look as if you’ve seen a ghost.”
“I’m fine,” Jane said. “But Lady Leicester has asked to see you. I’m to send you to her in the sitting room.”
Angelique frowned. “Did she say what she wanted?” For some reason, she had a feeling of unease about the matter.
“No,” Jane said. “Only that you were to come right away.”
Angelique nodded and set the duster down. Her heart pounded as she hurried down to the sitting room.
Aunt Wilhelmina wasn’t the only one waiting for her in the sitting room. Gwyneth was there as well. And Angelique came to an abrupt halt as she realized what was on the floor in the middle of the room.
All her fairy godmother gifts.
They had found them.
Aunt Wilhelmina had a wicked, satisfied glint in her eye. “So,” she said, gesturing to the pile of gifts. “You’ve been stealing, Ella.”
“I haven’t stolen anything,” Angelique said, feeling numb with shock.
