Page 48 of The Duke's Bride in Disguise
"Of course," Ava replied, not believing for one instant that Lady Darlington was fatigued. In fact, the viscountess appeared twice as energetic as she had on Ava's arrival—though it was an agitated energy, which set Ava on edge.
Ava primly placed her cup down upon the table, before giving Lady Darlington a sickly sweet smile.
"Thank you for tea," she said primly, "We simplymustdo this again."
Lady Darlington did not reply, she merely inclined her head as Ava fled the room.
Imagine that dragon might be my Grandmother, Ava thought, as she made her way down the hallway to the front door, where Mary sat in an alcove, waiting for her.
The Irish woman was happily drinking a cup of tea and chatting to an older woman whom, judging by her dress, Ava assumed to be Lady Darlington's housekeeper.
"Thank you for the tea, Mrs Blythe," Mary said quickly, as she spotted Ava, before handing the woman her empty cup. "We must talk again soon."
The pair left together in silence, assuming the role of maid and mistress, but once they were alone, walking across Grosvenor Square's garden, they both began to speak in unison.
"Lady Darlington is hiding something," Ava said with excitement.
"Indeed she is," Mary replied, waggling her eyebrows beneath her white cap, "Did you know that just after Lady Anna disappeared, her lady's maid inherited a large sum of money and up and left."
Ava stared blankly back at Mary, who tutted in disapproval as she realised that Ava had not understood her news.
"It's no coincidence, according to Mrs Blythe," Mary continued, as they traipsed along the path, "The woman had never mentioned she had a rich aunt and then two days after Lady Anna vanished, so too did this Harriet Simms, claiming she'd been left enough in her aunt's will to open an inn near the docks."
"Do you think this Harriet will know what happened to Lady Anna?" Ava asked hopefully. She wanted, more than anything, to find out who her mother had been, and even just to know that it was Lady Anna who had given birth to her, would be good enough for Ava. She certainly did not want to claim a familial link with the unpleasant Lady Darlington after today!
"I'm certain of it," Mary replied, then frowned, "Though how we're going to find her, is anyone's guess. There must be a hundred inns down by the docks..."
"We can go tomorrow," Ava said quickly, "We can ask when we're there if anyone knows where we might find Harriet Simms."
"Do you know what would happen, if anyone were to see Lady Emily Fairfax, daughter of a marquess and future wife of a duke loitering down by the docks?" Mary questioned, scandalised by the mere suggestion.
"But I am not Lady Emily," Ava replied with a smile and a shrug, "I am Ava Smith, and last time I checked, society didn't even know she existed. There's few who would care to be scandalised by the actions of a servant."
It seemed that logic was on Ava's side, for Mary floundered for a moment, as she tried to think of a response.
"I won't go," the Irish woman finally declared, halting in her step and turning to face Ava, her arms folded across her chest and her expression mutinous.
Luckily, the garden was near deserted, so there was no one to witness their altercation; Ava knew she would have a hard time explaining herself, if anyone were to spot her grovelling to her maid—as she was about to do.
"Please," Ava clasped her hands together as she pleaded with the Irish woman, "I need you with me Mary. I'll do anything you want. What have you always wanted to do?"
"Besides wake up at noon and have someone bring me a cup of chocolate in bed?" Mary asked, pausing for a moment as she thought; "An ice in Gunter's."
"Oh, what a splendid idea," Ava cried, for she too had always wanted to visit the famous tea-shop, but had never had the means to do so. "So, it's agreed. Tomorrow we shall search for Harriet, and once we have found her we shall celebrate in Gunter's with an ice."
"I would like it noted, that for the record, I have not agreed to anything," Mary replied with annoyance, though her cheeks were rather pink with excitement and a smile played upon her lips.
"Of course," Ava said in a soothing tone, as they resumed their walk, "If anyone is to discover us, I shall say that you were a completely unwilling accomplice to my plan."
"Do you think we could get a pastry as well?" Mary queried, her mind obviously on Gunter's menu, and not the trip to the docks.
"We can get anything we like," Ava assured her, as they reached the gate which led to the west side of the square. "As long as we've found —"
Ava did not have a chance to stipulate her requirements, for the sight of a very familiar carriage stopped her dead.
"Lud," she whispered, tugging on Mary's sleeve, "It's Kilbride."
The two women hesitated by the gate, as Ava wondered what on earth she should do. A large part of her—the cowardly part—wished to turn on her heel and flee as far away from Grosvenor Square as her feet could carry her.
