Page 37 of The Lady’s Guide to Deception and Desire
Between his fingers, she was sure she saw blood.
Pom Pom uttered an excited bark and gave them both an enthusiastic lick.
Chapter 14
The day was turningout so strangely.
Mr. Studborne had only bitten his lip but, if he’d been thinking of attempting to kiss her, his new wound had certainly put the dampers on it.
Fortunately, the hail eased off again and they made their way back to the house without further incident, though both rather subdued.
After giving Pom Pom to one of the footmen for a kitchen bath, and checking on her mother, who was still dozing, Rosamund hurried to her room.
Eager to change her clothing, her tug on the bellpull brought assistance from a chambermaid she’d not seen before.
“Sorry, Miss. Mrs. Cornwort is right in a miff about Bessie bunking off, and says I’m to see to you instead.” The girl, Jenny, was clearly unused to the job in hand but managed to help Rosamund out of the sodden-hemmed skirts.
Together, they navigated the various ribbons and buttons until Rosamund was changed into a combination in pale gold, and her coiffure tidied again for luncheon.
“’Tis a good colour on you, Miss, what with your hair being similar,” Jenny ventured. “Bessie said as you were a proper lady, and much nicer than the other one.”
The girl’s cheeks reddened. “Not that I mean any offence. Oh dear!” Her face crumpled.
“It’s quite alright.” Rosamund attempted to soothe her. “But where is Bessie? She seemed happy here, don’t you think?”
Jenny sniffed. “I couldn’t rightly say. Happy enough, I suppose, but I’ve half a mind to do the same.”
She clapped her hands to her mouth. “Only don’t tell Mrs. Cornwort!”
“Of course not.” Rosamund sat on the chaise. “But what makes you say so, Jenny? And the other girls who’ve left at short notice—is Mrs. Cornwort the trouble? She seems very strict.”
The girl worried at her lip. “It’s not her—though she’s a dragon, right enough. It’s this place. Always looking over my shoulder, I be. Don’t never see anything, but the feeling’s there.”
A chill travelled Rosamund’s spine. Hadn’t she felt the same at times? Not just in the orangery but in the inner courtyard. Sometimes, it was as if even the portraits on the walls were looking at her, following her every footstep.
“An’ there be lights when there shouldn’t be!” Now Jenny had begun unburdening herself, there seemed no stopping her. “Past midnight is a time all decent folk should be abed—but I’ve heard things, and I’ve seen...”
Rosamund’s heart began to beat faster. “What have you seen, Jenny? Don’t be afraid to tell me. It’s important!”
“I don’t like to say—only that I know it’s not right. The master of a big house can make free to do as he wants, but it don’t mean I have to like it.” She looked about her, as if afraid someone besides themselves were listening.
“I’ll be leaving you, if there’s naught else you be needing, Miss.” Jenny was already backing towards the door.
With lips pressed tight, it seemed her talkativeness was at an end.
Luncheon passed in a haze,as did the evening repast. Mr. Studborne, his uncle and Madame Florian appeared at both meals, and Rosamund was aware of conversation about her.
But she couldn’t have recalled a word of it.
Her mind spun upon Jenny’s revelations.
What was happening at the abbey? Had Madame Florian something to do with these bizarre goings on? Mr. Studborne surely had no part in them.
By the time Rosamund retired, she was exhausted from mulling over what made no sense to her, going to bed without even braiding her hair. Yet her dreams were troubled and she woke to a moon almost full, silvering a path between the curtains, from the window to the door.
The night was silent.
No wind, nor rain or hail.
