Page 4 of The Baron’s Perfect Match (Twist of Fate #1)
London
A loud bang startled Audrey from the first sound sleep she’d had in almost a month. At first, she thought it was the remnants of a bad dream, but then she heard her father’s angry voice.
“Give that to me!” he screamed.
Then she heard Grace’s pleading voice. “Papa, no, please. It’s all I have left of Mama.”
Audrey knew her father would sell whatever he could, including the few remaining mementos of their late mother, to finance his drinking.
She jumped out of bed and grabbed her shawl to wrap around her shoulders before scooping up the three coins from the top of the chest. Three shillings should be enough to mollify her father for now.
She raced down the hall toward the shouting and burst into the bedchamber her two sisters shared.
The scene she witnessed wasn’t something she ever wanted to see again.
Her father had Grace pinned against the wall, his hand wrapped around her throat as he tried to reach for the small jeweled box in her hand.
Grace was waving it wildly above her head to keep it from her father.
“STOP THIS AT ONCE!” Audrey’s forceful tone momentarily stopped her father’s assault, and he turned to face her.
His eyes narrowed before he spoke. “What are you doing here?” he demanded.
“Papa, let Grace go. You’re hurting her.”
Seeming to only then realize that he still had his hand wrapped around Grace’s throat, her father dropped it immediately and took a step back. “That’s a worthless piece of junk anyway. Those jewels on the box are glass.”
Once James dropped his hand, Grace rushed past him to stand by Audrey. “He can’t have it,” she sobbed.
“Don’t worry, dearest. That treasure is yours to keep,” she said. “Go over there with Mia, please. She’s frightened.”
Grace nodded and slowly side-stepped her way over to stand with her younger sister.
Her father watched Grace inch around him before whirling on Audrey and stalking toward her. “Why aren’t you working?”
“The position ended, Papa.”
“What did you do, girl?” he asked, grabbing her upper arm in a painful grip.
“I did nothing wrong.”
The pressure on her arm relaxed, and for the second time in as many days, she felt a vicious slap across her cheek that snapped her head back. “You’re worthless! You’d better find another position soon, or your sisters will starve.”
Audrey blinked back tears and held out her hand. “Here. This is all I have.”
Her father’s eyes widened. He snatched the coins from her hand and left without an apology or even a thank you.
Relief surged through her at his departure.
Grace ran into her arms. “Audrey, are you injured? I’m so sorry Papa hit you because of me.”
Audrey rubbed her reddened cheek. “I’m fine, and it wasn’t your fault. Nothing for you to worry about, dearest.”
“I’m so sorry he took all your coins,” Grace said as tears rolled down her cheeks. “What will we do now?”
Audrey hugged her sister. “Don’t worry. I didn’t give him all the coins.”
Grace looked up with her tear-stained face. “You didn’t?”
Mia joined them, and Audrey pulled her youngest sister into a group hug. “I have enough left to pay Beckwith and Mrs. Culbert and to buy food and coal for a fortnight.
Both Grace and Mia hugged her fiercely before Grace stepped back. “Wait a minute. What are you doing here? I thought your position was secure for the entire month. You’ve only been gone for three weeks,” Grace said .
Audrey sighed. “Well, it was secure until Edwin caught me.”
“Edwin? Who’s that?”
“The son of my employer. He’s a spoiled man who’s vicious when he doesn’t get what he wants. Last night, I was careless and paid the price.”
Mia gasped. “Did he hurt you?”
“No. I managed to get away thanks to the training Beckwith gave me, but there’s no going back there now.
I’m sure Edwin is plotting his revenge as we speak and would most likely have me arrested and charged as a thief if I were ever to step foot back in that townhouse.
He’s a vindictive and cruel man. That position is no longer an option. ”
“I’m glad you’re not going back there,” Mia said. “I miss having you at home.”
Audrey patted her youngest sister’s shoulder. “I know, Mia, but if we are to eat, I must work. I’ll start looking for something else tomorrow. Right now, let’s make ourselves presentable, and then we can scour the house for any other valuables we don’t want Papa to sell.”
“We might be too late on that account,” Grace said. “I saw Papa leaving the house with a burlap sack last week. It might have contained the last of the silver.”
“Mama’s candlesticks?” Audrey asked.
Grace nodded. “I believe so, seeing as I can’t find them anywhere.”
“Oh no, things are worse than I thought. How could everything get so bad when I’ve barely been gone for a month?
” Audrey didn’t expect her sisters to answer.
Looking at their stricken faces, her heart ached for them.
“Well, it’s no matter now. Come on, let’s get dressed, and then after breakfast, we can go through the house to see what’s left of the valuables. ”
By the time the sisters went downstairs, Mrs. Culbert had arrived and was starting breakfast.
“Good morning, Mrs. Culbert,” Audrey said, walking into the kitchen with her sisters trailing behind her.
“Morning to you all,” the plump older woman said. “Breakfast will be ready soon.”
Audrey turned to her sisters. “Please go set the table. I need to talk to Mrs. Culbert.”
Grace and Mia nodded and scurried off to do as they were told.
Mrs. Culbert stared at Audrey. “My dear sweet girl, what happened?”
“What?”
“Your cheek.”
Audrey rubbed her cheek, where she could feel the tenderness of a bruise forming. “I’m afraid I said the wrong thing to Papa.”
Mrs. Culbert tsked. “Odious man. If it weren’t for you girls, I’d never step foot in this house again.”
“I know, and we’re forever grateful for all you do for us,” Audrey said, reaching into her pocket and pulling out some coins she’d secreted there when she dressed. “Here. This should be enough to pay your wages and buy enough food for the next fortnight. ”
Mrs. Culbert reluctantly took the money. “If it weren’t for Mr. Culbert’s poor health, I wouldn’t take the money, but his medication is quite expensive, you see.”
Audrey nodded. “I understand, and I know how hard you work for us. Has Mr. Culbert shown any improvement?”
The cook shook her head. “No. I’m afraid he might not. Seems to be getting weaker every day. The cough racks his body, and only the laudanum helps him rest.”
Audrey hugged her. “Oh, I’m so sorry.”
“I am, too. You go sit down now, and I’ll bring the tea around. Breakfast will be ready soon.”
“Thank you, Mrs. Culbert. A nice cup of tea will do me wonders.”
Audrey felt bad for the cook. From what little she knew of Mr. Culbert, he didn’t seem like a very nice man, and he didn’t seem to appreciate his wife, not that Mrs. Culbert complained much.
A few comments here and there had told her all she needed to know.
If the worst should happen and he succumbed to his illness, she’d invite Mrs. Culbert to come live with them.
Her father would never notice that the cook was there full-time.
All he cared about was whether there was food on the table when he decided to grace them with his presence.
She left the kitchen in search of the butler and found him in the foyer. “Beckwith, a word, please?”
Beckwith turned and walked to her. “Miss Parker, what do you need?” He frowned when he saw her face. “What happened? ”
“Nothing for you to worry about, but thank you for your concern.” Audrey reached into her pocket, retrieved the last of the coins, and held out her hand. “
Beckwith looked at the coins in her hand and took only a single one. “Keep the rest, Miss Parker. This is all I need.”
Audrey blinked back the tears forming in her eyes. “Are you sure? You do so much for us and definitely deserve more.”
“Yes, I’m sure. My needs are quite basic. I have a roof over my head and food in my belly. What else do I need?”
“Oh, Beckwith, whatever would we do without you?”
“No need to worry about that, miss. I’m not going anywhere.”
“Thank you, Beckwith. I’m so happy you’re with us. Why don’t you go to the kitchen? Mrs. Culbert will have breakfast ready shortly,” she said before turning on her heel.
Audrey joined her sisters in the dining room.
Her mother had loved this room. It was cheerful and painted in a light, sunny color.
Unfortunately, the lovely seascapes that once adorned the walls were now gone.
Sold for whiskey money, no doubt. It was easy to see where the paintings had hung, since the paint there wasn’t as faded as the rest of the walls.
One saving grace was that her father hadn’t torn down the silk drapes…
probably because they were starting to fade now and wouldn’t be worth much.
“Are you all right, Audrey?” Grace asked when she noticed Audrey’s tear-filled eyes.
Audrey nodded. “Yes, I’m perfectly well. Nothing to worry about.” Her sister had become quite perceptive these days. “Beckwith told me a funny joke that brought tears to my eyes, that’s all,” she said.
There was no way she wanted to lay the burden of their financial situation on Grace’s slim shoulders. She’d figure everything out, just like she had for the past four years since her mother left them.
Her explanation seemed to mollify Grace, and that was the best she could hope for at the moment.