Page 73 of Refining the Debutante
Lady Callister frowned. “Your son has extended every kindness to me. I shall do what is in his best interest.”
“Good, and we all agree what that is.” Lady Gibson cleared her throat. There was a glimmer of remorse in her pronouncement, but it did not change Miranda’s awkward position. Lady Gibson motioned for her daughters to stand. “Come, girls, we have several important visits to make this morning, and your father has business he must attend to. Thank you, Lady Callister, for the tea.”
The tea service had arrived only a few moments before, and not a single drop had been served. Jane stood but was the last to leave. She turned toward Miranda, her expression full of regret. She seemed to want to say something, but her mother said her name, and Jane turned away and departed. Was Jane sorry for the way her family had treated Miranda? No, that could not be. Still, the sad look in Jane’s eyes nagged Miranda. The family left, but the heaviness of the situation did not. Miranda poured Lady Callister a cup.
“Is it time for me to seek different employment? It seems I make all of your acquaintances, including your own family, uncomfortable.”
Lady Callister stared at her tea, deep in thought. “It was only a matter of time before they learned about your stay at Stonebrook. I am going to request Jane’s company tomorrow, and all will be put to right soon enough.”
Miranda’s eyes widened. “Jane?”
Lady Callister nodded slowly. “When you return from visiting Sarah tomorrow, Jane shall be here. Bring me my lap tray and writing things. Lady Gibson will not refuse me.”
The solution was unclear to Miranda. Jane despised her. The entire family was agitated with Miranda’s presence. She could not keep relying on Lady Callister’s generosity and burdening her relations. The time had come to make a plan of her own.
* * *
Arm in arm, Miranda and Sarah walked around Hyde Park. The morning riding hours were over, and the fashionable time for carriage rides was not for a few hours more. That meant Miranda could actually relax and enjoy herself away from the prying eyes of thehaut ton.
“You said you wanted to tell me something,” she coaxed.
“Yes,” Sarah said, pulling Miranda to a stop. “I am afraid it is bad news.”
Miranda put her hand to her throat. “My father?”
Sarah shook her head. “No, but I did hear he was at the Marshalsea.”
“I just discovered it myself.” Miranda sighed and let her head fall forward.
Sarah gently squeezed Miranda’s arm. “There is no good time to tell you, but there are some who find exploiting others a sport.”
“You mean someone is exploitingme?”
“Your family,” Sarah said. “I was growing suspicious of Mrs. Keene, but now I have no question in my mind. You see, I have a letter in my possession to be printed in the Society papers. When I attempted to refuse, I was told to deliver it at the risk of termination.”
“What sort of letter is this?” Miranda’s eyebrows drew together.
Sarah seemed to weigh her words. “Mrs. Keene asked me several questions about you during my initial interview. I thought nothing of it at the time. She continued to press me here and there for more details, and I started to worry. I wanted to talk to you before, but it’s worse now. Last night, a Miss Withers came to see Mrs. Keene. The name seemed familiar, so I started asking questions amongst the servants. It was then that I learned Mrs. Keene’s maiden name is Karlson. They are the two women from the card party you spoke of. None of the servants overheard their conversation, but the result was a slanderous letter.”
“But why?” Miranda wrung her hands. “Miss Withers does not care for me, but why would she resort to such ruthless tactics?”
“Whether Miss Withers wanted to do it or not, the former Miss Karlson has a mind of her own. She is loyal to her friend and fiercely determined. She is not as well-connected as you once were, but her new husband is a wealthy man, and he has influence enough. It seems you have made an enemy of her.” Sarah blew out her breath. “What am I to do?”
Miranda had to think before she could answer. Her reputation was already fragile, but this letter would throw poor Lady Callister into further gossip. How on earth would Miranda find another position after this was printed? “We need to discuss this with Lady Callister. She deserves to have a say since she insists on keeping me as her companion.”
Sarah chewed on her lip.
“Do not fret,” Miranda said. “Your friendship means more to me than this letter.”
Sarah shook her head. “Wait until you read it.”
“Then, we must go to Lady Callister directly,” Miranda said, taking a deep breath to steady herself. “This needs to be resolved before you return home.”
Sarah agreed, and they took the carriage back to Lady Callister’s town house, where they saw a second carriage waiting. When they stepped out, they could see the Gibson family crest emblazed on the door. Jane had arrived. Miranda’s heart tugged inside her as she remembered the last time she had seen Jane and the softer side she had glimpsed.
Sarah pulled out her coin purse and loosened the ties. “I suppose I should show you this before Lady Callister sees it.” She removed the folded letter and handed it to Miranda.
Miranda unfolded the paper. She skimmed the beginning, then stopped. “‘At the Marshalsea, rotting in his debts’—what a horrible thing to say!”
