Page 6 of The Lady Glass
Fear struck Theresia with such ferocity that her next breath was torn from her chest. The crème hem of the curtain in front of her blurred into the wall, and her vision wavered. She had seen no other vase in the room.
Only hers.
“Bring it to the Duke of Westmorland’s house party,” the man instructed. “I will have need of it there. I leave for the festivities myself tomorrow.”
“My husband’s schedule is too complex for house parties, I am afraid.” Lady Caspar’s voice grew high and strained. “Youmusttake it before you leave.”
The man chuckled. “Desperate, are we? I thought you said youwouldn’t support my cause. Your tune has changed drastically from the last time we spoke.”
“Never mind that. It is my own business.”
A heavy sigh filtered through the room. “Very well. I suppose I can delay my departure a day. Your late husband was a true master craftsman, and he outdid himself with this piece. He can sleep well in his grave knowing his greatest debt is finally paid. I will do what I can to expedite this delicate matter and return tomorrow night.”
Lady Caspar must have given some silent agreement, because their steps retreated from the room, the door sounding shut behind them.
Frozen in position, Theresia waited for several minutes until she was sure they would not return. Her legs were cramped when she stood, and she arched her back. Her eyes immediately caught on the vase again, its beauty incomparable. What debt needed to be repaid? Her father had prided himself on being a self-made man. Frantisek Dvorak had used his surplus of funds from his many commissions to buy this very house.
“I will not let them take it, Papa,” she whispered. “It will stay in the family, as I promised.” She would see Father’s solicitor first thing in the morning and legally claim what was hers.
After several minutes, she cracked the door open and listened. When she heard nothing, she stuck her head out and searched the empty corridor. Slipping from the room, she closed the door noiselessly and moved toward the staircase, the trim down the center of the wall leading her forward. Voices made her freeze again, but relief soon followed when she realized Lady Caspar was no longer conversing with a man, but a woman at the bottom of the stairs. Theresia craned her head and saw her addressing an older servant Theresia did not recognize. Had all the staff been replaced after Papa’s death, or was it simply the product of the passing of time? It had been nearly seven and ahalf years, but many of the staff had come to England with Papa from Bohemia and were devoted to him.
“She is still in her room, my lady.”
They were discussing her.
“Good. While I am gone, she will be in your care. She is not to leave the house, and absolutely no one is allowed to visit her. I don’t want the neighborhood knowing she is here.”
“Yes, my lady, but I am a housekeeper, not a nursemaid.”
Lady Caspar put her hand on her hip. “I wouldn’t ask if I had another option. Put her to work if you have to. It will be only a fortnight, and then I will marry her off or find a hole for her to live in.”
“Very well, then. I shall do my best in your absence.”
Lady Caspar did not thank her housekeeper but brushed past her and began climbing the stairs.
Theresia pulled back, her heart thumping. Then she started forward again toward the stairs, turning to descend as naturally as she could. She lifted her eyes and pretended surprise at meeting Lady Caspar, thinking quickly. “I was searching for Helena. Is she at home?”
“Sadly, you will miss seeing Helena. She is staying with a cousin in Yorkshire. I am going there myself until Lord Caspar can join us. He hopes to visit a few colleagues before we return to London. I do not expect to return home for at least a month, maybe longer.”
Theresia gave a quick nod. Who was she to argue about having her father’s house all to herself?
Lady Caspar scrunched her nose when Theresia did not complain. “Well then, I will have dinner sent to your room.”
Theresia straightened. “That isn’t necessary. I am capable of eating in the dining room.” No matter what, she could not be controlled anymore by this scheming woman. She slipped past Lady Caspar and continued down the stairs, grateful thehousekeeper had moved on. At the bottom, she turned and said to her startled stepmother, “Tell Helena I will greet her when she returns.” Not waiting for a reply, she turned toward the dining room, only exhaling when she was around the corner and out of sight.
When dinner was served, she ate alone. Afterward she readied herself for bed, but sleep evaded her. Part of her wanted to steal the vase while the house slept, but she was no thief, and the vase was rightfully hers. She would take it in full daylight, with the copy of the will in hand and with everyone aware of her intentions.
She finally drifted to sleep at the foot of the bed. Hours later, she woke up cold. She glanced at the sun, surprised that after all these years of rising early, she had somehow overslept.
Shivering, she dressed herself in a faded blue cotton dress with small flowers dotting the fabric and braided and coiled her dark hair at her neck. Once downstairs, she passed the housekeeper, Mrs. Bevin, in the corridor on her way to breakfast and stopped her. “Has Lady Caspar risen yet?”
Mrs. Bevin shifted away and eyed her warily. “You just missed her. She left not an hour ago.” The housekeeper pushed forward, brushing past Theresia.
Gone already? The blood drained from Theresia’s face. Without another word, she flew back up the stairs toward her stepmother’s sitting room.Please let the vase still be there. Please.
She pushed open the door only to stumble back against it.
It was gone.
