Page 63 of Rescued from Betrayal
“There will be so many ladies...”
“Only Al’s sisters.” Nathaniel shifted toward the front door.
“Not so. I heard him mention that Miss Javenia Harris has returned from Town to escape Lord Penwick again.”
“Is it that time of year already?”
John nodded. “And you know how Al’s sisters fancy her company.”
Nathaniel placed a hand in the pocket of his dark blue dinner jacket. “As does Al, even though he claims he does not.”
“Exactly. So you can see my predicament.”
“You know you will have to learn how to interact with pretty ladies someday, my friend. Might as well practice now. Besides you have been getting on quite well with Melior. Can you not extend that to other young ladies of your acquaintance?”
John shook his head, a bead of sweat appearing on his face. “You know what an idiot I make of myself.”
“Nonsense.” Nathaniel patted him on the back. “Imagine they are all ten and you will get on fine. You always did splendidly with Miss Wayland.”
“Yes, and then we returned from the continent to find she’d grown up.”
“But you two still speak at Sunday services. I have seen you.”
“Not well. I usually walk away regretting nine tenths of the things that come out of my mouth.”
“There is hope then if a tenth of that is decent.” Nathaniel grinned.
John gave him a begrudging smile. “Not good odds, Nate.”
“But you will come tomorrow nonetheless.”
He sighed. “I will come.”
“Good. And who knows, maybe Miss Wayland will be around to awe with your tenth of a good conversation.”
John rolled his eyes as he took his hat from Thompson. “Thank you for the encouraging words.”
Nathaniel cast him an unrepentant grin. “Any time, friend.”
Chapter 22
Melior checked Nathaniel’s room every few minutes to see if he’d returned upstairs after everyone retired for the evening. She’d promised they could talk about his confession, and she could think of no other time that they would be alone.
A mixture of relief and disappointment filled her when she found that the latch on his window had been fixed. Eventually exhaustion won out and she’d crawled into bed, determined to speak with him in the morning.
When morning came she dressed quickly, grateful that Baylor did not drag her feet or grumble as she often did. However when she searched through the box for her cameo brooch she liked to wear with her habit, it was not there.
She whirled around. “Where is it?”
“Where is what, my lady?”
“The broach, Baylor. You are the only one I have allowed in here. What have you done with it?”
“I donno what you are talking about, but just so you know you are not the only one with a key to this room. Mrs. Thompsoncarries keys for the whole house and lets us all in when we need to clean and such.”
The triumphant smirk on the maid’s face infuriated Melior.
“So that is how you all have been stealing my things?” she screeched.
