Page 85 of The Heir
Jane nodded.
“Whatever you learn, you are to come tell meat once, do you understand?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Very well. And you will never again repeat any piece of our private household business to anyone in the palace.”
“No, sir.”
And that was the end of it. He had said all he wished to say, and was satisfied that she would do as she was told. He could gaze out the window and plan his plans.
Jane watched him, and Jane burned.
* * *
As soon as they arrived back home, Jane escaped upstairs. She needed to talk with Liza.
If Father’s told Mother anything about the new household, Liza will have heard . . .
But when she reached their rooms, Jane found that Liza was very much occupied.
The wardrobe’s doors were thrown open. Liza’s bandbox and portmanteau were on her bed, and her small trunk waited beside it. When Jane walked in, Liza was standing at her dressing table, closing her smallest case.
“Liza, what are you doing?”
Liza jumped and whirled around. When she saw it was Jane, she pressed her hand to her heart.
“Jane! You startled me. What are you doing back so early?”
“The princess has a dinner tonight. I was dismissed early. What—”
“Oh, this?” Liza waved at her luggage. “I’ve been invited to stay with Miss Schumann and her family for a few days. I told you about it. You remember.”
Liza had not told her, and there was nothing for Jane to remember. But her sister’s expression was intense, and it was pleading.
“I hope you have a good time,” said Jane slowly.
“I’m sure I shall.” But there was a hitch under Liza’s breath. “Miss Schumann is so amusing. And her brother is coming up, as well. Which reminds me, Jane. I need a favor. Have you any money?”
“Money?” Jane echoed.
“I hate to ask, but there’s sure to be cards at the Schumanns’, and I must have something to play with, and with the expenses earlier—and then Ned came begging earlier today—well, I’ve nothing left.”
Expenses. She means the money we gave to Susan.
“Ned borrowed money from you?”
Liza laughed bitterly. “Well,borrowedis something we say only when there’s a chance of getting it back, isn’t it? Ned scrounges. In fact, while I’m gone, you should probably put anything you’ve got somewhere safe. Sooner or later, he’s sure to remember you get pin money as well as I do.”
Jane remembered sitting in the carriage, disguised as the princess. She remembered watching Ned flee through the streets like a cuckold in a farce. “Is Ned in debt?”
Liza shrugged. “Probably. The way he gambles, it would be a surprise if he wasn’t. Why?”
“I was . . . out the other day, and I saw him,” Jane told her. “He was being chased down the street by some man.”
“Probably it was either someone he owed or someone he cheated. With Ned, it could be either.” She paused. “That is, if it wasn’t somebody whose daughter he got up to mischief with.”
Jane felt her cheeks heat up.
