“Try again.”
“Vexed?”
“Not even close.”
“Does this mean you’re going to refuse to retrieve my reticule for me?”
Swallowing theyesshe longed to release, Gertrude walked back to her chair and sat down.
Regarding Mrs. Davenport for a long moment, so long in fact that her employer began fidgeting, Gertrude finally threw up her hands in defeat. “Fine, I’ll do it. But how, pray tell, do you expect me to know who to return all those pilfered items to that are lurking in that reticule? It’s not as if we were in a society member’s house that night. We were on a yacht, out to sea, and while I’m beyond curious to learn how you managed to relieve some of those guests of their possessions, I’m even more curious to learn how you’re going to suggest I return those items without unwanted questions being asked.”
“You’ll be relieved to learn I didn’t take any of those items from the guests, dear. I took them from a stateroom on theCornelia.”
“You did not,” Gertrude breathed.
Mrs. Davenport winced. “I’m afraid I did, but everything came from one stateroom, and it wasn’t Edwina’s room, if that makes you feel better.”
“How could that possibly make me feel better?”
“Well, you said that Margaret was chasing you, and I’m fairly certain the items that accidentally landed in my reticule came from her stateroom.”
“Enough of the ‘accidentally landed’ business, Mrs. Davenport. You helped yourself to items that didn’t belong to you, but this time, you’ve placed me in a very tenuous position. Harrison is a friend of mine, and I’m appalled that you would abuse his hospitality, and abuse me in the process, by helping yourself to his sister’s possessions and then expecting me to make everything right.”
“I’ve behaved badly, haven’t I?”
“Too right you have, but since I don’t believe you’ll do well in jail, I’ll try to fix your latest incident of questionable behavior.” Gertrude stood up and lifted her chin. “However, do know that this is the last time I’m intervening on your behalf, because as of today, I’m rendering my notice—effective as soon as I complete this last unpleasant task for you.”
Chapter
Sixteen
Not allowing herself to dwell on the tears she’d seen in Mrs. Davenport’s eyes, nor allowing herself to return to the drawing room to withdraw her tendered notice, Gertrude continued down the front hallway. She stopped to fish out a few coins from a jar on the entranceway table to pay for a hansom cab, tucking them into her reticule before she lifted her chin and marched toward the door.
Nodding her thanks to the butler already holding the door for her, Gertrude stepped outside. She made it all of three feet before her path was blocked by a lady climbing the few steps that led to the front stoop.
“Temperance!” she exclaimed. “This is a lovely surprise.”
Looking up from where she’d been watching the steps, Temperance Flowerdew lifted a hand and pushed back the brim of a very large hat, one that was a bit worse for wear and sported a fabric flower on it that had certainly seen better days. Reaching the last step, she moved directly to Gertrude’s side, and then, to Gertrude’s astonishment, Temperance pulled her into a very firm hug before she released her hold and took a step back.
“I do beg your pardon for descending on you with no notice, Gertrude.”
“No notice is needed, Temperance, although...” Gertrude stared at Temperance’s cheek. “What in the world happened to your face?”
Tugging the brim of her hat lower, Temperance shrugged. “It’s of little consequence. I merely got in the way of Clementine’s hand when she was in the midst of a tantrum.”
“Clementine struck you?”
“I’m afraid she did, but I assure you, it looks worse than it feels. I’ve always marked easily, a disadvantage of being born with pale skin.” She patted the large bag she was carrying. “I have rice powder and a horsehair brush in here that will set me to rights again, or at least hide the results of Clementine’s temper.”
Gertrude’s own temper began to flare. “Does she hit you frequently?”
“She misses more often than not, and she would have missed today, but I fear she took me unaware. There I was, putting freshly laundered clothing into her wardrobe, and the next thing I knew, she was attacking me.”
“Good heavens.”
“Indeed, but allow me to spare you the grim details of what happened next. You’re clearly on your way out, so I won’t keep you.”
Gertrude looked over her shoulder, saw a shadow flicker past a window by the front door, and blew out a breath. “I’m afraid if you’re here to visit with Mrs. Davenport, she’s currently, ah ... indisposed and in no position to receive callers.”
