“My husband cannot hear of this conversation, Mrs Jarvis. I do not think he would be happy with either of us if he did.”
“Understood, Your Grace,” Mrs Jarvis said with a nod as she walked to the door, hurrying off. Diana didn’t stop her. She sat there for some time with the address in her hands, twiddling it back and forth in thought. She had something in her grasp, at last, something that could show Jessie who the duke really was. The challenge was now how to persuade Jessie to go to this house.
“Perhaps … I am not the one who should do it.”
***
Owen held the paper in his hands that Diana had given him, knowing she was right in that she was not the one to persuade Jessie.
“She would sooner ignore everything Diana said.” Owen stood by the kitchen door, deciding they had just one chance at this, one chance to persuade Jessie to come with him to see this house.
“What do you mean? Why doesn’t he come to see me himself?” Jessie’s voice asked as she appeared through the kitchen door with Tommie escorting her.
“Ask him yourself,” Tommie pointed at Owen before retreating through the door again and closing it, leaving Owen alone with Jessie.
“What is all this about?” Jessie asked, gesturing to Owen. He opened the piece of paper and passed it over to Jessie. She scrunched her nose, though, unable to read it.
“I can’t read.” She pushed the paper back towards him, making him nod his head in an apology to her.
“It is an address, Jessie. Do you remember all those maids that used to be here? Those that let out the skirts of their gowns before they disappeared one day from this house?” he asked. Jessie frowned instantly.
“I know what you’re going to say, but you’re wrong.” Jessie shook her head. “The duke explained their disappearances to me. He said they had to be let go; one of them was a thief, another tried to seduce him. They had to be let go overnight, that was all.”
“In which case, why wouldn’t I know about it? It’s my responsibility as the butler to arrange who is hired and fired.”
“It is the duke’s business who works for him.” Jessie’s strength of tone showed just how difficult it was going to be to break through her conviction.
“This house is his business too. It’s an address. I want you to come with me to see it,” he explained, watching as she shook her head, even before he had finished speaking.
“I have work to do here.”
“All the fires are lit.”
“Then I will find something else to do.” Jessie tried to turn to the door to escape, but Owen held out the paper to her again.
“Please, Jessie. There is a cart waiting outside for us now. They can take us to this house, and you can see for yourself what’s there.”
“What is there?” Jessie asked.
“The maids that disappeared. With their children.” Owen’s words made Jessie recoil, stumbling back from both him and the door.
“No, no. It is not possible. I will not believe you.”
“Then see it for yourself.” He offered the paper to her again. She snatched it from him, trying to read it, but giving up. “Please, Jessie. Come with me now to see the place. You can ask the maids yourself.”
“No! I will not believe you. You are simply trying to sully his name. I will not fall for it. I will not!” She stormed out of the room, still clutching the piece of paper in her hands. Owen nearly ran after her, but when he heard her tears in the corridor, he stopped. He had planted a seed of doubt, even if he hadn’t persuaded her of the truth just yet.
***
“The paper, Your Grace, and your tea.” Owen placed the paper down in front of Diana along with the teapot and a fresh cup. They shared one smile before they both glanced at the other servers in the room. They couldn’t be free with one another, not when there were other people around them, but the soft touch Owen placed on Diana’s wrist was enough of a stolen touch, quickly hidden by the placement of the teapot.
“Thank you, Mr Arnold,” she said formally, though the way she blushed showed her true reaction.
They waited, their eyes dancing around the others in the room, anticipating their leaving so they could be alone together again. When there was just one server left in the room, on the far side, seeing to serving Diana some eggs, she leaned towards him, whispering.
“Did she go to the house?”
“No,” Owen whispered back. “She refused.” He did not miss the way Diana’s smile vanished; she sank further back into her chair.
