Page 23 of The Marchioness Who Tempted Fate

“Even so, she had a strong arm, that one. But even if she had not, I dared not strike her back. Although Father Benton considered me his own, she insisted that I was only an apprentice and that I had to fulfill my term. I could have been in a great deal of trouble for hitting her.”

“So you ran away.”

“Yes, I ran away.” Tiffany began to fold her work.

“You need not go just yet,” Percival said.

“I will need to go soon. My half day is nearly over, and there will be food to prepare.”

Percival watched as she tucked her work into a hidden pocket. “Tell me, Tiffany, what did Mr. Bentley call you?”

Tiffany lifted her head and met his gaze, her eyes swimming with tears. “He called me Daughter,” she said.

A distant bell began to toll. “If you will excuse me, My Lord, I think that my half-day is over and I have work to do.”

“Of course, Tiffany. You have given me a great deal to think about. We will speak more of this later.”

“As you will, My Lord,” Tiffany assented. “I shall see if I can discover something more cheerful to discuss at our next conversation. May I go?”

At his nod, she picked up her skirts and fled into the house.

Percival stared pensively after her.

She is so different from anyone I have ever known. She seems so genuine, yet how can I believe and trust her? I wonder if I could learn more, especially about her origins.

Chapter 16

After Tiffany departed, Percival sat in the sunshine a while longer. “Twice orphaned,” he ruminated aloud. “That cannot be easy.”

He watched as a sparrow scratched along the edges of some straw.

I wonder how I might learn more about her background. It could be difficult, with one of the principles dead, and the other gone off to the poorhouse.

The shadows grew longer, and the air became chilly. Percival stood up and went inside. When he reached the study, he rang for the butler.

“McClellan, do you remember that constable that used to visit with my father?”

“Indeed I do, My Lord. Constable Norman Brooks, it was. A very fine fellow, member of an excellent family.”

“Do you know what became of him?”

“I cannot say for certain, My Lord. I believe he retired and is no longer a member of the Watch.”

“Would you know how to get in touch with him?”

“I could send Lucas around to the Watch office to make inquiries. Perhaps we could learn something of his whereabouts.”

“Would you do that for me, McClellan? There is a matter I would like for him to look into.”

“Does this mean that you are coming to your senses about Miss Bentley?”

“I am not sure what you mean by that, but it does concern her. It seems that she was adopted by the Bentleys. I would like to know a little more about it.”

“Should I send him around at once, My Lord?”

“No, no. It will wait until morning. Have him send an invitation to that newspaper fellow who attended the Charity Club meeting, as well. It seems there was a fire involved, some years ago now. Perhaps he might be able to shed some light on that event.”

“I am glad to see that you are taking some precautions, My Lord. I had begun to fear that you were completely taken in.”