“In my case, Mr. Harlowe,” the voice said coldly, sending another shiver through Lina, “those rumors are all quite true.”
Lina now felt a chill descend through her body—nothing like the other strange feeling Mr. Blackstone’s voice had inexplicably cultivated. She was breathing too rapidly, and she struggled to slow her racing emotions.
“Yes, well,” Mr. Harlowe said at last. “In the case of Miss Blanchet, there is something to the rumors that she is headstrong and quite... ill-mannered, though we have tried very hard, there is nothing one can do about good breeding, or lack thereof. You’ve heard her speak, of course. There is nothing to be done about her accent. And she is... well, the illegitimate daughter of a mariner and a French maid, so she is quite... French. But I assure you, Mr. Blackstone, that with reference to any rumors that circulate, inculpating Miss Blanchet with infractions more... serious... than these, they are most incorrect.”
Another pause made Lina’s stomach flip.
“Do you know, Mr. Harlowe, how I have made my fortune? A man like myself, with no title, no land, no social standing whatsoever? A man like myself, with such an unspeakable countenance?”
There was no reply from Mr. Harlowe. Lina squinted, as if it could make her hear better.
“By being clever, Mr. Harlowe. And one of the most clever things about me is that I am a very good judge of when a man is lying to me. Not because I am a great reader of minds, no no. I am simply a man with reason, and suspicion, and an utter lack of trust in the motives of others.”
The floor creaked, and Mr. Blackstone’s voice was much closer to Mr. Harlowe when next he spoke.
“You owe me agreat deal,Mr. Harlowe, and you haven’t a thing of value in this house with which to pay me. I would say, then, that you have every reason to tell me a lie.”
Mr. Harlowe stuttered for a few moments, before managing to say, “I assure you, Mr. Blackstone, I do... I do not speak falsely.”
The floor creaked again.
“But, Mr. Blackstone, my good gentleman, if there is but a flicker of concern about the honor of the young Miss Blanchet, you know I have another daughter, my lovely Evangeline...”
A low laugh emanated from Mr. Blackstone. It was sinister, and chilled Lina yet again. “Mr. Harlowe,” Mr. Blackstone rumbled. “You would give your own daughter to a man like me? To a monster? When I have just told you... the rumors you have heard are true? Every. Last. One.”
“I... I would... Mr. Blackstone, I merely wish for you to understand that I must... we must, we are indebted to you, and we must—”
Mr. Blackstone laughed again, and the way he did so cut Mr. Harlowe off. It seemed to Lina as though the air had become chilled as well.
“Your daughter Evangeline is rumored to be plain, rotund, and in possession of a very docile personality, Mr. Harlowe.”
Mr. Harlowe made a noise that sounded a bit like a hiss.
“I am not the sort of man who wants a plain, rotund wife with a docile personality. I am quite taken with Miss Blanchet, who surely you can see is a great beauty and shall not be a hippopotamus within the year. I cannot... properly discipline a hippopotamus, can I? Nor would I have much reason to do so if she is perfectly docile and utterly dull. No. Miss Blanchet is what I want, and Miss Blanchet is what I shall take, or you shall have to repay me with property. This is, of course, provided that Miss Blanchet is not... defective in some way. Is she, to your knowledge? And I pray thee speak the truth.”
“She is... she is not, Mr. Blackstone. Not... not to my knowledge. I give you my word of honor.”
Another pause, while Lina shivered beneath the vent.
“Your word of honor,” Mr. Blackstone repeated. “I suppose that is a very good word, indeed, for it is upon your honor that you have undertaken the guardianship of this girl.”
There was another shift of bodies above, and then the sound of footsteps. “I dare say that honoring your word may be your salvation, Mr. Harlowe. I shall send instructions for the girl’s transfer to London, and the preparations for the wedding, which will be a small and quiet affair. In the meantime, be advised: I have eyes and ears everywhere, and should rumors of Miss Blanchet’s behavior not accord with what you have told me, well... we shall return to this topic only if necessary, as it is quite unpleasant to think about.”
Footsteps echoed above Lina’s head, indicating that Mr. Blackstone had taken his leave.
Lina let out the breath she had been unconsciously holding in a slow and steady stream, her head swimming. She crouched to regain her balance on the precarious stove and lower herself to the floor, pausing to take a few deep breaths and steady herself.
Snippets of the overhead conversation flew about in her mind, detached from each other. She felt a spell coming on, quite like the spells that Evangeline described.Wedding... monster... discipline... defective in some way... discipline, discipline, discipline.
The funny feeling that had taken root in her abdomen earlier in the evening at the sound of Mr. Blackstone’s voice gripped her anew, and she steadied herself with a few deep breaths.
Just as she was about to lower herself carefully, hopefully without sound, to the floor and return to her quarters, footsteps above her crossed the floor with the heavy, characteristic sound of Mrs. Harlowe’s trudge.
A feminine whisper hissed above her. Lina rose again to get closer to the vent, and strained to hear the discussion above her.
“My darling wife, there is no option but to accept the conditions of Mr. Blackstone’s request. He is an eccentric, and I daresay a madman, but we are left with no choice. Caroline will be a burden upon us until she is married off. If she is wed to Mr. Blackstone, we shall recuperate our debt and then more, allowing a modest dowry for Evangeline.”
There was a long pause. “I am perplexed, wife. Was it not you who thought this arrangement acceptable when it was proposed?”
