Page 77 of Dukes All Night Long

“You’re right.” He exited the room to see Miss Butters leading Campbell behind the same column and large potted plant he’d hidden behind earlier.

At first, he stopped in his tracks, then grinned.

Perhaps Miss Butters was taking revenge on him.

Maybe she was hoping to make him jealous.

Or she just fancied kissing his old school friend.

Whatever the reason, he genuinely hoped she was happy.

He whistled a little tune and looked around for Lucy, but she was gone.

*

Back up in her mistress’s room, Lucy began to pack.

She’d helped find the Ton thief and was surprised that it had been her mistress all along.

But her ‘kind gesture’ had seemed strange, considering the warnings of the other servants about Miss Adeline.

For her to attempt to use Lucy as a suspect made more sense.

But now what to do? She now had no employer and would soon be back searching for work.

Again. Would she even be hired again? She’d gotten lucky to find work with the Azalea family, but other employers wouldn’t be so trusting, nor so willing to give a young woman with such little work experience a chance.

Lucy sat on the bed for a moment, resting her chin on her hands.

She supposed she could write to stay with her sister and brother-in-law, but that truly would be a last resort.

Her brother-in-law’s parents’ regular put-downs about her disgraced family were a constant reminder of just how dire her situation was.

She’d rather join a nunnery than face them again.

There came a knock at the door, and she said, “Yes?”

A most unexpected person walked in.

“Mrs. Godalming.” Lucy stood and curtsied.

“Miss Potts, correct me if I am wrong, but you are now without a mistress, yes?”

Lucy nodded.

“And once word about this gets out, you will have no chance of finding a new one.”

Lucy’s mouth opened and closed. She hadn’t considered that.

To be suspected of theft was one thing, but any future employer might think she was connected with the crime or had helped her mistress steal.

She bit her lip in worry. Future employers might now think she was a thief, in addition to having no real work history. What would she do?

“I have a proposition that I think will suit both of us, if you are willing.”

“I’m listening.”

“I could use a personal companion for my goddaughter, who is young and at just the right age to make a very foolish match. She could use someone nearer her own age to keep her company and steer her in the right direction. I thought you showed great countenance and a solid character by speaking the truth, even though it lost you your position and had your mistress arrested.”

“You’re offering me a job?” Lucy said. A companion. A real, paid companion. The choice of many young women of rank with no husband and no prospects. A part of her dared hope.

“On a trial basis, for six months. If you are open to it. The wage will be standard, of course, but I pride myself on the fact that my servants are all treated and paid well, and aside from the one I had dismissed following the theft of my diamonds, none of them have left my employ for years.” Mrs. Godalming’s stern face was serious, but her eyes showed a hint of kindness.

“I will of course, be enquiring after the servant who was wrongly dismissed, if that is what you are wondering.”

“I don’t know what to say.”

“Think it over. The cruelty of your former mistress and I imagine, the unfortunate circumstances you have found yourself in, no doubt leave you wondering who you can trust. I run a decent and honest household. Oh, and I am leaving in the morning, so do let me know by then.” Mrs. Godalming gave her a sharp nod and sailed out of the room in a swathe of slate-gray silk.

Lucy let out a deep breath, when Falstaff knocked and walked in. “I thought I’d find you here. I was looking for you.”

With her mask off, and now in the light of her mistress’s empty room, Lucy felt shy. She lowered her gaze and curtsied.

Falstaff crossed the room in a moment. “None of that, please. Are you all right?”

“I…” She wanted to speak, but in the dim light of the room, unmasked, they were no longer equals, and she was no longer a guest at a party.

She was a maid, now unemployed, and he was a master of the house.

If he so chose, he could kick her out that very instant and she’d have nowhere to go.

Or he could have her arrested for coming to the party uninvited, or…

He lifted her chin gently. “I wanted to see how you were doing after all the excitement. It has been my pleasure to know you this evening. What will you do now that you have lost your position?”

“Mrs. Godalming has offered me a job. A position in her household. A better one, more suited for my… background.”

“She has? What a good old bean. I knew it. You are lucky.” He took her hands in his and squeezed. “I meant to ask… I know I took liberties with you this evening, and it was wrong of me. I—”

“You are to marry Miss Butters.” Her heart plummeted. She dropped her hands and stepped back, her gaze falling to the floor. “I understand.” So their time together really had been a dalliance, nothing more.

“No. Absolutely not,” Falstaff said. “You mistake me completely. I have never, nor do I have any wish to marry Miss Butters. I came here to ask… Would you allow me to court you?”

“Pardon?”

He repeated himself, his eyes seeking hers.

“Me? But I’m just a maid.”

“A very wanton maid.” He grinned. “But no. I mean it. I’d like to get to know you properly, as a gentleman should.

May I have your permission to write to you at Mrs. Godalming’s household?

” He tugged at his collar. “I appreciate this is only appropriate between couples who are engaged, but if anyone questions it, you can say I’ve promised you as much. ”

She shook her head. “If you’re worried about what we… What we did in the secret passage… That is, you needn’t be. I’m not ready to get married.”

“Good.” He rubbed the side of his face and shot her a sheepish look.

“Neither am I. This will work out to both of our benefits, then. Miss Butters will leave me alone and… If rumors go that we have an understanding, she won’t gossip about you.

At least not too much. So what do you think? Will you let me write to you?”

“I…” She beamed up at him. Even a fake engagement was better than none at all. And she did rather like him. She liked the way his mouth moved when he laughed. “Yes. I should like that very much.”

“Good.” He bowed. “I shall look forward to making your proper acquaintance, Miss Potts. And if you are about in London much, I wonder if we might meet again.”

“Perhaps. But there’s just one thing.”

“Yes?”

“Would you promise to show me more secret passages? I rather liked the one you showed me earlier.” She winked at him.

He laughed and picked her up in his arms, twirling her in the air. “I daresay we can manage that.”

The End