Lord Alverleigh bowed over her hand then did the same to Tessa, saying, “Sleep well, Lady Hewitt.You’re safe now.”
His aunt snorted.“Of course she’s safe.She’s with me, isn’t she?”And she prepared to go out for the evening.
#
TO HER SURPRISE, DESPITEthe days she’d spent sleeping off the drug, Tessa slept like a log that night.No unpleasant dreams, no waking up in the night, startled out of sleep.It was the best sleep she’d had in ages.
The following morning Sutton woke her, bringing a cup of delicious hot chocolate and some sweet pastries and said, “One of the footmen took your dog downstairs to do his business, and Cook’s feeding him now, m’lady.He’s got a way with him, that dog.And Lady Gosforth would like to speak to you in the sitting room at ten o’clock.”
Just before ten, Tessa went downstairs.She found Lady Gosforth dressed most elegantly in shades of olive green and pale gray.A flamboyant feathered hat sat beside her on the settee.She scanned Tessa’s outfit with pursed lips.
“Good morning, Lady Hewitt, I hope you slept well.”Tessa barely had time to respond, when the old lady swept on.“I have an appointment with my mantua maker this morning.Run upstairs and fetch your hat and pelisse.We’re going shopping.”
“Why?”Tessa said, surprised into bluntness.
“Isn’t it obvious?”Lady Gosforth made a disparaging gesture with her lorgnette.“You can hardly go about society dressed like that.”
“I don’t intend to go about in society at all,” Tessa told her, “and if you are suggesting I need new clothes, I neither want nor can afford them.”The old lady opened her mouth as if to argue and Tessa added, “My clothes are suited to my future position, and I have all that I need.”
“Pshaw!As acompanion?”She said the word ‘companion’ in the way some people spoke of earwigs.
Tessa inclined her head.
“Pshaw!I told you yesterday you don’t have the temperament for a companion.”
“And I said that it would surely depend on the employer—except that you cut me off and didn’t listen,” Tessa said.
“How do you intend to find such an employer?Wander the streets asking strangers?Or were you planning to vulgarly register yourself at some employment agency?”the old lady said acidly.
“Oh, register at an employment agency, is that what one does?”Tessa said, relieved to know.“I shall do so immediately.”
Lady Gosforth snorted and with a severe expression, trained the lorgnette on Tessa for a long few moments.Tessa sat, quite composed, and met her gaze, her chin held high.She would not be discomposed by a crabby old lady wielding a piece of glass.
Finally Lady Gosforth said, “That dress is horridly plain.Did you pick something off it?”
“Yes, some decorative piping.”It had been quite a smart dress, light gray with an elegant piping design in scarlet and white.Now it was simply gray.
“Why?You’ve ruined it.”
“I have learned that people expect a person in my position to dress plainly.”
She snorted.“Plain?That dress is positively drab.”
“The drabber the better.Most people prefer their subordinates to be almost invisible.”
The old lady narrowed her eyes.“Stubborn, aren’t you, gel?”
Tessa shrugged.
“Foolish gel, there’s no earthly point in ruining your clothes.What are you going to do about that face of yours—wear a bag over your head?”And with that, Lady Gosforth picked up her hat and sailed out.
#
SHORTLY AFTERWARD,Tessa left Alverleigh House, clutching a list of employment agencies that she’d talked Peverill into giving her.He’d been quite uncomfortable about it, suggesting it was not the sort of thing a young lady like her should be doing.“I need to earn my living, Peverill.I have no choice,” she told him.
“If you say so, Lady Hewitt,” he said, his expression wooden.No doubt he knew her sordid little story—servants always knew everything.It was obvious he did not approve of her seeking employment—servants often had firm ideas of what was appropriate for the aristocracy—but he made a list for her in small, neat writing and she went off with it feeling almost triumphant.
She took Billy with her, on a lead made of a long ribbon.His presence and his bright eyes helped to keep her spirits up.Though it had to be said that he did not like being on a lead.He plonked his bottom on the ground and refused to move.It was rather like dragging loaf of bread for a walk.But with coaxing and encouragement he eventually got used to it.
