His lip curled into a snarl and his voice flattened menacingly. ‘You seem to have a lot of free time these days, taking Annabel out for a whole day last weekend. I thought you wouldn’t mind doing something for the family for a change.’
Of course. Now it all fit into place.
These boxes were her penance for her day out, her punishment for going against him.
Over the years, Frank had perfected the art of vindictiveness. He knew precisely how to make her pay for disobeying him.
She eyed the box wearily. Instead of her usual unflagging patience, a sense of injustice rose up inside her. Was that all she was worth, a servant to clean disgusting old clothes to get him an extra few shillings?
But as she opened her mouth to fight back, she stopped. She had to tread carefully. All he had to do was make sure she was needed at home for some pressing reason, or he could simply feign illness, and thatwould be the end of her trip. It would be impossible for her to leave if he was rushed to the hospital clutching his stomach, after all.
Briskly, she reopened the box. ‘Well, I’ll need to get started on these tonight. The palace needs me to go to Balmoral for a few days next week, so I have to get them finished before I leave.’
His face scrunched in aversion. ‘You’re going where?’
‘Balmoral Castle, the queen’s Scottish residence. It’s just for two nights.’ She tried to keep her voice light, her pulse galloping beneath her calm façade. ‘The head dresser can’t make it, so I have to cover for her. It’s all a bit of a nuisance, but I can’t say no. I told you when I took the position that I’d have to travel every so often.’
‘What about Annabel? Who’s going to look after her?’
‘Betty and Miranda are having her.’
‘And what about me? Who’s going to cook my meals?’ He glowered at her, his eyes wide with accusation. ‘What kind of a wife leaves her husband to fend for himself?’
‘It’ll only be for a few days,’ she said in her most consoling voice. ‘And I’ll make your dinners ahead of time. All you’ll have to do is heat them up.’
He took a step toward her. ‘Everyone else might be taken in by your miss-goody-two-shoes ways, but I know the fallen woman you are, how I was the one who picked you up, covered your tracks. Do you know how easy it would be for me to expose your disgrace for the world to see?’
At this point, she knew she was going to have to beg. Without more ado, she fell into line, pleading, ‘I’m so very sorry. I truly don’t deserve such a lovely, generous man as you. But it’s part of my job. I need to go.’ Carefully, she began to stroke his hand. ‘Don’t you remember, we talked about me having to go away from time to time? You said you’d put up with it because of the extra pay.’
Something in his demeanour shifted. ‘Do you get more money for it?’
With a smile, she nodded – of course money would win him around. She should have known.
But a new worry crept into her mind: if he was so broke, surely hewould ask to use some of her inheritance money? He wouldn’t spend it without her permission, would he? He’d promised not to touch it. But as she was about to ask him, she bit her lip. He’d only use the accusation to force her to stay.
And whatever happened, she couldn’t risk Balmoral and her job.
‘I’ll have more than an extra day’s pay, I expect. Maybe two.’ She wasn’t sure of this, but she’d find a way to even up the money herself if need be. She’d never have dared messing with the money before; that was Frank’s territory. But Betty’s words kept weaving through her mind, that she was more clever than she believed. Maybe it was Frank telling her she was stupid every other day – had she started to believe him?
Frank’s eyes narrowed as they met hers, and for a long moment, she knew it could go either way. In the end, he muttered, ‘If you get those boxes done, then I’ll think about it.’
‘I’ll start straightaway.’ Caroline darted back to the old clothes, not even bothering to breathe through her mouth. ‘Some of these will need a good soak.’
‘Do a thorough job, mind. We need to get a good price.’
His tone had changed, the mood of the room shifting, and she looked up to see him standing above her, a strange look in his eyes – anxiety, maybe, distrustfulness?
Was he putting two and two together? Had the wordBalmoralreminded him of a Scots Guard from all those years ago?
She felt the machinations of his mind at work.
‘Look, love, come and sit down.’ Sounding lighter, kinder, he went to the sofa, patting the seat beside him.
What did he have up his sleeve this time?
Dropping the stained trousers she was holding, she went over and perched down.
‘There’s something I’ve been meaning to talk to you about.’ His voice was unusually gentle, and her heart fell in trepidation. ‘You see, with all the money problems, I feel so incredibly useless. I hate it that you have to work such long hours – I hate that you have to work at all.As a good husband, I should be able to keep you, give you everything you want.’ He smiled eerily, and she could only thank goodness her job gave her an escape from home. ‘You have no idea how much I want us to be a happy, loving family.’
