Betty gingerly picked up the first vase, holding it as gently as a baby bird. “Now take the thing careful-like in one hand while you run the cloth inside its innards.”
From inside the room, a man’s voice shouted,“Margaret Macy?”
Margaret started violently and let out a shriek. Had Sterling Benton come for her already? Frightened, Betty jerked back, sending the vase crashing to the floor, shattering it to pieces.
Betty cried out, her hand belatedly covering her mouth.
Margaret stood there, uncertain. Should she flee, which would draw attention to herself, or hope her disguise sufficient?
She risked a glance over her shoulder, and quailed as Nathaniel Upchurch strode out of the sitting room, his expression turbulent.
“What is all this?” he asked.
Betty ducked her head, “Sorry, sir. Beggin’ your pardon, sir.”
Footsteps tattooed up the stairs. Mrs. Budgeon appeared, her mouth a grim line.
Margaret wanted to say, knew sheshouldsay,“It was my fault.”Had Mrs. Budgeon been there alone, she would have done so. But with Mr. Upchurch standing there as witness? The words would not come.
Mrs. Budgeon shot Betty a frosty glare, then turned primly to Mr. Upchurch. “I am sorry, sir. Betty has never broken anything before. The cost will be taken from her wages, of course.”
Nathaniel exhaled a dry puff of air. “Should we withhold her wages a dozen years, she should never be able to pay for that relic.”
Beside her, Betty blanched.
Mrs. Budgeon clasped her hands together. “Again I am sorry, sir. Would you have her dismissed?”
Betty sucked in a sharp breath.
“I don’t...” He hesitated. “That is for you and Mr. Hudson to decide. Bring the pieces to the study so he may make note in the inventories when he returns.”
“Very good, sir.”
Helen’s concerned face appeared in the threshold behind Nathaniel, but no one else joined her there. No Lewis, no unseen visitor. Whoever had come to call was surely not Sterling Benton, Margaret told herself. How foolish she had been. And now a vase had been broken—and Betty’s perfect record withit.
———
Nathaniel cared little for the antique vase, although he knew his father would be vexed to learn of its demise. His mind was still echoing with the news Lewis’s friend had brought with him from London.
When Piers Saxby had gleefully announced,“You shall never guess who has gone missing—not seen nor heard from in more than a week... Margaret Macy!”it had struck Nathaniel like a violent kick to his gut. Shocked, he had forgotten himself, echoing her name more vehemently than he had intended. He did not miss the knowing look his sister and brother exchanged. The crash in the corridor had been a welcome diversion from their too-knowing glances.
When Nathaniel returned to the sitting room, Saxby said, “Good heavens, Nate. Are you all right? You look ghastly.”
Nathaniel took a long shaky breath. “I’m fine. A maid broke a family heirloom, that’s all.”
Saxby blew out a loud exhale. “What a relief. Not about the heirloom, of course, but I was afraid I had blundered in telling you. If you still hold feelings for the girl...”
Nathaniel pulled a face. “That was years ago.”
“Glad to hear it,” Saxby said. “Hate to think of you pining over some chit. Pray take no offense, Miss Upchurch, but I have rarely suffered from sentiment where women are concerned. Although I realize not every man is as fortunate.”
Lewis rubbed his chin. “Come to think of it, I did hear anon ditbefore I came down. Apparently Sterling Benton has been calling on all her friends in town, fueling any number of rumors.”
Helen reclaimed her seat. “You might have told us before.”
Lewis raised a hand in defense. “In all honesty, it slipped my mind. What with Nate here dragging me to the inquisition as soon as I returned and numbing my brain with ledgers and recriminations and I know not what.”
Nathaniel pressed his lips tight.I will not lose my temper. I will not...
