Page 4 of The Lady Glass
The sliver of softening he’d experienced while having an attractive woman in his arms this morning dissipated instantly as he steeled himself to accept the future meant for him. He’d decided long ago to put the risk of love and loss behind him and resign himself to a greater cause. His friends would learn of his situation soon enough, but he wasn’t in the mood to go into details. He procured a bored look instead, masking his tumultuous feelings. “You aim to find a murderer and a bride in one night? I wouldn’t want you to overextend yourself.”
Lewis laughed outright. “I’m not one to resist a treasure hunt,no matter how complicated.”
His friend was too predictable. “Perhaps this time you should.”
“Nonsense. I owe you at least one favor. Why not two?” Lewis’s eyes held his, promise reflecting there.
Rolland was seized with sudden gratitude. The kind word of loyalty was stronger than the threatening cloud hovering over him. It seemed no storm of the soul could withstand the power of friendship. But he’d been doing things on his own for a long time now, and it was hard to accept the reassurance. “Just one favor this time, all right?” he joked—however strained it was—and stood. “I don’t want to use them all up in one fell swoop.”
“I’ll make sure she’s a beauty. Would you prefer a brunette or blonde?”
His growl finally escaped. “You can stop now.”
Lewis laughed and gave him a mock solute. “Aye, Captain Reese.”
Chapter 3
Theresia climbed the steps toher once familiar door, her violin case swinging against her tired legs, and hesitated. Her father might have bought this London town house after arriving in England nine years ago, but with his death, it was no longer up to him to welcome her inside. Would she be forbidden entrance now? Facing her vindictive stepmother should not be more frightening than facing a thief, but her nerves were getting the better of her. Staring hard at the black-painted door and brass knocker, Theresia summoned the only virtue she’d inherited from her father in spades: sheer determination. After three sharp knocks, the front door swung open revealing an unrecognizable butler.
Who was this? Where had Mr. Guiss gone? Overcoming her surprise, she choked out her name, her English accent perfect after years of practice. “Theresia Dvorak, home from the ladies’ seminary.”
The mention of her Bohemian family name made the butler’s thick brows peak in response. She wished she knew whether his surprise was good or bad, for she hadn’t planned on what she would do if he slammed the door in her face. Perhaps she should have lied about her name until after meeting with her stepmother.
Her breath relinquished its hold when the butler reluctantly stepped aside, eradicating her first, and likely her easiest, obstacle. Following him through the house to the sitting room, she seated herself and waited like an unwelcome guest in her own home.
“Lady Caspar will see you soon.” The butler dipped his head and retreated.
The new title her stepmother carried jarred Theresia’s ears.Lady Casparwas an opportunist. Her first widowhood had left her with little more than a tentative place in Society but nomoney. Her second marriage, to Theresia’s father, had procured her the ownership of this house—a rare inheritance for a woman and one Theresia had thought Father had arranged for his daughter’s care along with that of his wife and stepdaughter. Lady Caspar was nothing if not self-serving, for her third marriage had solidified her future completely with the addition of a title, yet Theresia doubted the woman would be satisfied.
Unless something had changed that Theresia did not know about.
It had beeneightyears since Theresia had first entered the seminary.
She gazed about the room. Perhaps the recent marriage was the reason for the redecorating. She could claim residing in this particular house for only a single year, but apparently nothing had stayed the same in the years since. New papers climbed up the walls in vogue designs. The family portraits were unrecognizable—none were of her Dvorak line. This wasn’t the home that held her heart and a glimpse of her childhood, but it did hold her last memory of Papa. Lady Caspar and her spineless daughter, Helena, had intruded now even on that.
Theresia clenched her jaw when the door to the room scraped against the frame. She stood to face Lady Caspar, whose wide eyes preceded a cold smile. Silence stretched between them as they took their measure of each other. The rumors were untrue. Lady Caspar’s peach dress was no doubt as expensive and fine as the rest of her wardrobe, but she was no ageless beauty. Her usual dull, dark hair showed streaks of gray by her temples, and new lines had surfaced to enhance her narrow eyes and prominent frown.
“Theresia, you ought not to have surprised me this way.”
“I wrote for years, asking to return home. The only surprise was your lack of response.” Theresia’s voice remained controlled and calm. The proper manners and deportment suitable fora lady had been pounded into her during her near-decade at the school, but at the moment, she wished she were a man—intimidating and ruthless, maybe even like the thief she had encountered that morning. Despite her decidedly feminine frame and the morals she lived by, she’d rehearsed this moment for years and would not cower to her overbearing stepmother.
Lady Caspar tapped her chin. “I vaguely recall a letter from the headmistress of your school. She generously hired you on as a teacher. I do hope you did nothing to jeopardize such an opportunity.”
Theresia had been gifted nothing. She had earned her position at the school, and only after enduring a great deal from Mrs. Stone and the other young ladies. Even after securing the position, she’d been little more than a servant. She knew better than anyone the risk of walking away, but the unknown had seemed far more favorable than staying. “I taught for two years, but I thought it sufficient time away fromfamily.”
Lady Caspar smirked. Was the termfamilyas revolting to her as it was to Theresia? “I hope you weren’t planning on a celebration for your arrival. I leave town in the morning. Of course, you may stay here for the time being, and we will arrange for you to stay elsewhere upon my return.”
“Elsewhere?” She had not planned to stay long, but she had hoped for a little time.
“You cannot think to live here. Oh, I forget. You’ve never met Lord Caspar. With all the fuss with Bonaparte, my husband cannot be too careful. He mustn’t be seen associating withforeigners.”
There it was, the insult and dismissal Theresia had known would come, although she’d expected more emotion than the flippant words that so neatly rid her of the only family she had left. Deep down, she had harbored a thread of hope of salvaging their connection. It was no surprise that the woman Societypraised was still deeply selfish, though the truth still stung. Theresia had never truly trusted any of the English, so why had she thought this one would ever change?
“I’ll have a room made up for you, but you really should apologize for inconveniencing us all with your sudden presence.” Lady Caspar’s icy stare left Theresia with a cold chill. She fought the urge to shrink like she had done as a child, but history was a powerful influence. When her stepmother vacated the room, Theresia rubbed her arms, attempting to warm her confidence and scrub away the taunting feelings of abandonment.
Shortly later, a maid led her to her temporary room. As a young girl, Theresia had shared a bed with Helena, but she hardly expected to do so again. She stepped into a pale-yellow room and nodded with satisfaction. If she remembered correctly, it was the smallest of the guest rooms, but it was an improvement to her tight bedchamber at the seminary with barely enough room for a bed and wash table. It would do for now, until Theresia could reclaim what was hers and leave.
After washing the London dust accumulated on her face and hands, she refused to sit shut away in her room. The house was quiet as she wandered down the corridor. Where was Helena? She stopped at the door to her old room—Helena’s room—and pushed it open bravely, half expecting to see her stepsister all grown up.
