Page 27 of The Baron Takes a Bet
She was laughing about something Katrina was saying. Suddenly an idea popped into his head. He hadn’t asked Katrina about Holly. Who better was there to help him learn everything about his wife?
Spotting a maid down the hallway, he hurried towards her, though she appeared uncertain at his approach. She curtsied quickly.
“May I help you, my lord?” She asked.
“Might you draw the baroness out of the room for a moment?” he asked, hoping to question Katrina. “I would like a private moment with Miss Smyth.”
The young maid’s eyes widened, and her cheeks turned bright red. She began shaking her head violently.
“Oh, no, sir, please.”
“What?” he asked, confused, before it dawned on him what she might be thinking.Dear lord. “Oh, no, no, you misunderstand. I don’t wish—”
“What’s all this?” Holly’s voice sounded from behind them.
Gavin turned to see Holly dressed in one of her grey gowns. The mirth in her eyes hadn’t yet disappeared.
“There’s a problem with the laundress,” Gavin said quickly, glancing at the maid. “It seems a dying issue has happened.”
Holly’s hands instinctively smoothed over her skirts. Aware that she was worried about her clothes, she took a step forward, addressing the maid.
“Is that so?”
“Ah, yes,” Gavin interrupted. “But I’m afraid you’ll have to check on it yourself. Miss… um…”
“Harriet,” the maid supplied.
“Yes, this young woman is helping me find a book.”
Holly frowned.
“A book?”
Gavin nodded and gave the maid a pleading glance. Though her brow furrowed, she nodded.
“Yes ma’am.”
“Very well, excuse me,” Holly said, rushing down the hallway, leaving Gavin and the maid behind.
Surprisingly, the young woman turned on him.
“I know you’re the new master, my lord, and I’m to be obeying you, but I won’t have you lift a finger against Miss Katrina. I know what your London lords are about—”
“You are aware that I could fire you for such audacious behavior. Correct?”
The maid swallowed and nodded, but she still stood her ground.
“I promised my mother I would never be privy to a person’s ruining.”
“How very noble,” he said dryly. “But I’m not in the market to ruin Miss Katrina. I only wish to question her—and so you will see for yourself, since having you around will make it easier. Shall we?”
Gavin turned, entering the library, to see Katrina sitting on a winged back chair, examining dozens of small squares of cloth, each different color. She was holding up a sheer tangerine piece over a cream-colored square when she saw him. Her hands dropped to her knees, and she stood up, curtseying.
“My lord,” she said. “Is everything alright?”
“Yes,” he said, shaking his head as he headed towards the bookshelf, followed by the maid.
Gavin reached the bookcase and scanned the leather books’ spines. Mind-numbing books such asThe Complete Works of the Native Flora and Fauna of the Americasstared back at him. No, this wouldn’t do.
