Page 83 of The Best-Kept Secrets
“This is the risk one runs when sitting amongst friends who have known each other as long as we have,” Mrs. Greenberry said. “Too many discussions are undertaken without the least context offered to those listening.”
Mater turned to face Eve more directly. “The first time I attempted to take on a companion was in 1787.” She motioned to Mme Fortier. “It was Nicolette, in fact. And while she did accept the offer, in the end, she married Henri instead. Our friend Violet Barrington made the same offer to Penelope.” Mater nodded to Mrs. Greenberry. “But she married Niles instead.”
“You ought to have noticed the pattern by then,” Mme Fortier said.
“Alas.” Mater sighed dramatically. “A few years ago, I took on a dear young lady who grew up on a neighboring estate to ours, and she was my companion for mere weeks before marrying Artemis’s brother. Then I offered the position to Sarah Sarvol, but she decided to marry my son Harold instead.”
“Even I am beginning to see a pattern now,” Eve said, letting her amusement show.
“Oh, it continues.” Mater shook her head. “This past Season, I arranged for Daria to take on that role.”
Eve remembered that. “Because her parents were going to force her to go live with a tyrannical relative.”
“Because I have very much wished for a companion these past years,” Mater said. “And I would have enjoyed having her stay with me. But she married Toss instead. And here I am still without a companion.”
Eve’s heart pounded out a hopeful rhythm even as her mind warned her to be cautious. “But you do wish for one?”
Mater nodded. “The offer I made thirty-two years ago was extended to allow Nicolette a means of escaping a very difficult situation. But the attempts I have made in more recent years have been undertaken because I genuinely would enjoy having someone make her home at the dower house and travel with me to London and the various parts of the kingdom where I have children or friends I’d like to visit.”
“I like to travel,” Eve said. “And I believe I can accurately and honestly say that I’m an easy person to get along with, unlikely to be a difficult addition to your household.” How she wanted to believe the issue of earning money had been solved so swiftly.
“Yes,” Mrs. Greenberry said, “but how likely are you to abandon the idea in favor of getting married? That does seem to be the usual outcome of anyone accepting Julia’s offer.”
“Quiteunlikely,” Eve said with a laugh.
“I suppose Monsieur Duke jumps to secure letter franking for you only because he disapproves of the current Royal postal system?” Mme Fortier suggested dryly with a smile in her eyes.
“There was a time when I thought the wind might be beginning to blow in that direction.” Heavens, Eve was back to her old way of spilling her thoughts as she had them. “But he’s made it clear in a few ways and a few different moments that he’s not so inclined to see things that way any longer. Maybe he never did to the extent that I thought.”
The three ladies exchanged looks that, she suspected, were very communicative from their perspectives. She, however, wasn’t certain what they were silently telling each other.
“I intend to spend this Christmas season here with my dear friends,” Mater said. “You and I can work out all the details and arrangements needed.”
“I do need to keep this a secret for the time being,” Eve said. “Nia doesn’t know the extent of our family’s difficulties, and I am not at liberty to tell her yet. I don’t know how I would explain to her my employment intentions without breaking my word to my parents.”
Mater gave Eve’s hand a quick squeeze. “Set your mind at ease, my dear. Your sister will have all she needs while she is at Fairfield. We’ll keep this arrangement a secret until you tell us otherwise. And when Nia is ready to return home, you will be in a position to help her and your family.”
“And you aren’t making this offer out of pity?” Eve didn’t think she could bear that.
“I am offering for two very important reasons: because I would enjoy the arrangement and because I am certain my friends will forthwith place a wager among themselves as to how long I will keep my companion this time, and I look forward to hearing what absurd forfeit they decide upon.”
“For the sake of our entertainment,” Eve said, “I hope, no matter what their guesses are, that they are wrong enough to have to pay that likely ridiculous forfeit.” Her heart was lighter than it had been since the day she’d stepped into the Royal Pavilion with Mother.
“So do I,” Mater said.
Chapter Thirty-One
“Nia’s parents haven’t been informedthat she is ill because the family can’t afford to receive letters.” Duke had, at last, managed a private conversation with his uncle. “I told Eve I would ask if you would frank a letter for her so she can write to her parents.”
“If I had realized she hadn’t written home, I would have offered myself when Miss Nia first took ill.”
Uncle Niles sat at the elegant desk in his library. Duke sat across from him.
“None of us knew,” he said. “Eve confided in me that her family’s finances don’t bear scrutiny. But even I didn’t guess that things were this bad.”
“It makes your father’s three decades of anger over his comparatively easy situation all the more frustrating, doesn’t it?”
Duke couldn’t imagine their struggles making the O’Doyles bitter and angry. “You said my grandmother has changed over the years. Did my father used to be different?”
