Page 74 of Refining the Debutante
“There is more,” Sarah said.
Miranda read on, and her eyebrows rose higher with every line. “She says here that I have leeched myself on to Lady Callister and have my eyes on Mr. Roderick and every other wealthy man in Town.” Miranda gasped. “I care not for my father’s well-being but only for my own. The entire time he has been incarcerated, I have not written or visited once.” Miranda lifted her gaze to meet Sarah’s. “But I just learned he was there, and I visited him the first opportunity I had.”
Sarah’s eyes filled with tears. “I don’t know where she gets her information. I swear I said very little about you. I am ashamed for my part in all this.”
“Miss Withers could have supplied most of the ammunition, especially if Jane confided in her about my father. Do not blame yourself!” Miranda pulled Sarah in for a tight hug. As she did, a sharp wind snatched the letter from her hand. Miranda gasped. “Quick! No one else must see this.” The letter danced across first cobblestone, then grass. The wind picked up again, and the letter flew high into the air and right into a pocket between two branches, high up in a tree.
“Dash it all!” Miranda cried.
“Well, one of us must climb this tree. We cannot risk that letter getting into anyone else’s hands,” Sarah said.
The door of Lady Callister’s town house opened, and the two women turned to see Ethan’s amused expression, his arms folded across his chest. “Bird-watching?”
Sarah looked to Miranda for help.
“Oh, good day to you.” Miranda quickly curtsied, taken off guard. “I did not know you were with Jane.”
“I was with my parents and offered to drop Jane by on my way to purchase a few things. What is it you keep staring at?”
“’Tis nothing, Mr. Roderick,” Sarah said, her eyes gleaming with fear.
Ethan looked up at the tree. “Is that paper?”
“Yes, and it is very important we retrieve it.” Miranda rubbed her forehead.
Ethan stripped off his greatcoat, and Miranda caught it when he tossed it to her. “Very well.”
“No,” she said. “Absolutely not. I perfectly remember the last time you climbed a tree.”
Ethan scowled. “It seems we have had a role reversal. You suddenly care, and I do not.” He unpinned his shirt sleeves and rolled them up above his elbows, exposing his muscular forearms. “Stand back, ladies.” Miranda had a hard time not staring. “I will have that paper back to you before you can sneeze.”
“Only because neither of us feels like sneezing,” Sarah whispered to Miranda. They watched Ethan jump and grab the lowest branch. She continued in hushed tones. “Have you considered what you are going to do if he reads the letter? The part about your scheming to win him?”
Miranda shivered. “It is not too far from the truth.”
Ethan managed to pull himself up on the branch without the awkwardness of the last time he climbed a tree. Once up, he maneuvered his way close enough to snatch the letter. Then he lowered himself down and dropped to the ground. He bowed and ceremoniously handed the letter to Miranda. The sight nearly made her swoon.
Sarah snatched the paper for Miranda, and Ethan looked at her in surprise.
“You must have been practicing your tree-climbing skills.” Miranda pushed her bonnet back and smiled. “I thank you kindly for your help.”
“It was nothing.” Ethan unrolled his shirtsleeves. “Physical exertion has become part of my daily routine.”
Miranda bit her lip to keep from grinning like a ninny. “Well, we have benefitted from your efforts today.”
Ethan motioned to the letter. “Important, is it?” When Miranda nodded, Ethan’s eyes narrowed, his curiosity obvious.
The door opened again, and this time Jane came outside. “I wondered where everyone had gone. Lady Callister saw you out the window talking and insisted you all come in for tea.”
Ethan offered Miranda his arm, his brows raised in question.
Miranda gave a slight shake of her head. “Please, go inside without me. I will be in shortly.” Ethan did as she said and retreated inside. Miranda turned back to Sarah. “Take heart. I won’t let you lose your position over this.”
Sarah played with the strings on her worn purse. “I can find another position. My concern is for you, miss. This letter will sever what is left of your good name. We must take it seriously.”
“I understand all too well. When Lady Gibson called here the other day, I never thought she could be so cold toward me. Now I wonder if Miss Withers revealed everything to her too. If Lady Gibson could turn me away, I haven’t a chance anywhere.” Miranda wrung her hands. “Lady Callister will know how best to handle this. Wait in the vestibule while I speak to her, and then I will return to you.”
Once in the town house, Miranda went and stood at the threshold of the drawing room. “Lady Callister? Might I speak to you privately for just a moment?”
