Adeline remembered Robert Grebe. Had Winston told her that he was hiring the man, she would have produced an objection. He was an oppressor, particularly towards women.
“No, you will leave at once,” she said, keeping hold of the door and not crossing the threshold.
“Not until you hear me out,” Grebe said, moving closer.
Adeline’s hand tightened on the door, preparing to swing it shut in his face. Could she turn the key in the lock before he forced the door open again? She would have to try.
“There is nothing I wish to hear from you, Grebe.”
“You’ll want to hear this. Your father has been looking for you these last two years. Private investigators, searches by local militia. You did well to get this far from Harston, or they would have found you. He even told the magistrates you’d stolen from him. That’s how he got the county militia involved.”
Adeline swallowed. The thought of being manacled and then dragged back to Harston was an unpleasant one.
“That is a lie.”
“But Lord Harston is persuasive. When he’s sober. And he still has some friends in the right places.”
“Look, what do you want from me?” Adeline demanded, “Just say it right out so I get deny you and get on with my day!”
She had decided to snuff the encounter out. If Grebe thought she was afraid, it would make him bolder. She didn’t want that.
“You’ll do me a service,” he said softly. “You will persuade His Grace to take me on. Else, I’ll tell him exactly who you are. Worse, I’ll tell your father.”
The blood drained from Adeline’s face.
Grebe’s smile widened. “You wouldn’t want that, would you?”
He looked up and down the hallway, checking that there was no help coming to the aid of his victim.
“How do you think I might influence a man like the Duke when he has decided on a course of action?” Adeline demanded.
Grebe leered, and Adeline’s face went scarlet.
“If I were you, I would leave this house with all speed, Grebe,” Adeline said, clenching her fists at her side.
His insinuation was clear enough, and it infuriated her. She remembered the manservant but did not know him. He was one of many employed at Harston. To her shame, she remembered the furniture more than she remembered some of the servants, especially those who worked for her father. Grebe’s character was becoming clear, though.
“I’ll go, but I won’t be going far. You’ll talk the Duke into it.”
His eyes roamed up and down Adeline and, on impulse, she stepped forward and slapped him across the face with all the strength she could muster. He took a step back, one hand going to his cheek. His eyes darkened and he bared yellow, crooked teeth.
“Why you…!” he snarled.
“Adeline! Adeline! Your tea is getting cold!” Louisa’s voice came up the stairs, growing rapidly closer.
“You’ll be sorry,” he whispered and ran down the hallway.
Louisa appeared at the top of the stairs moments after Grebe turned a corner and was out of sight.
“Are you well?” Louisa asked. “You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”
“Quite well. Let’s get back to breakfast, shall we?” Adeline said, forcing a smile and hoping it looked suitably genuine.
Louisa latched onto her arm and they went downstairs.
“It seems that I am to be your governess after all,” Adeline said, looking to dispel the bitter taste left by Grebe’s threats, “on a trial basis at least.”
“Oh, Adeline! That is simply wonderful! I think you will be the best governess ever! And I did not even think I needed or wanted a governess.”
