“I thought... I hoped he would not notice.”
“A man like him?”
“It was foolish. I see that now.”
“But you won’t go and tell him it wasn’t me who took it, will you?”
Margaret hesitated, then shook her head. “I am afraid not. Not yet. I cannot let him know I have any money.”
Joan’s face mottled red and white. “Of all the bacon-brained lies...”
Margaret reeled. “How dare you? How ungrateful—”
“Me ungrateful?” The cords in Joan’s throat stuck out. “What have you ever done for me? It’s me what’s done for you all these months, up working before you rise and after you’re in bed. And for what? To get the sack for taking money you stole!”
The venom in her maid’s voice shocked her. She had never known Joan felt this way about her.
An idea struck Margaret and she changed tack. “Where will you go?”
Joan sniffed. “To my sister’s. Not that you care.”
“I do care. I... I want to come with you.”
Joan’s brow puckered. “Withme? Have you any idea where I’m going?”
“Your sister’s, I believe you said.”
“My sister, who lives in a run-down tenement in Billingsgate? You’ve never ventured into such a neighborhood, I’d wager. And with good reason.”
“Let me go with you. I need to leave. Now. But I cannot go anywhere alone at night. It is not safe.”
“It’s not safe where I’m going either.”
“We shall be safer together,” Margaret insisted. “Look, I only took that money because I needed it to escape.”
“Escape? Why should you need to escape?” Joan’s lip curled. “Mr. Benton won’t buy the new silk stockings you set your heart on?”
Goodness.Now that Joan had no post to protect, she allowed her tongue free rein. Margaret bit back an angry retort of her own and said earnestly, “No, I need to escape because I fear for my virtue.”
Joan’s eyebrows rose. “Young Mr. Benton?”
Margaret nodded.
“If it’s unwanted attention he’s giving you, tell his uncle.”
“Who do you think put him up to it?”
The maid’s eyes widened. “But, why... ?”
“I will explain later. I expect any minute for him to come through that door, and I don’t want to be here when he does.”
Joan crossed her arms and asked sullenly, “Why should I help you?”
Obviously not out of affection or loyalty,Margaret thought wryly. “Because I will write you the most flattering character reference you’ve ever read. Why, when I’m through, St. Thomas himself wouldn’t doubt your abilities.”
Joan’s wary expression softened. “Very well. It’s a bargain. But I only plan to stay with my sister until I find another place. You’ll have to leave when I do.”
“Agreed.”
