“Look! I didn’t spill a drop this time,” Bridget said.
“Well done,” her employer complimented her. “Perhaps you might go and fetch the sugar bowl? It seems to be missing.”
“Oh.” Bridget frowned. “Bloody hell.” She left in some haste.
Mrs. Mountjoy smiled. “She is something of a work in progress, but in time, I think she’ll make an excellent parlormaid.”
“Perhaps you might let me know when she is ready,” Carenza offered. “Our current parlormaid is getting married this summer, and we will need a replacement.”
Mrs. Mountjoy offered her a nod of approval as she poured them both some tea. “Julian said I’d like you, and he was correct.”
“He often is,” Carenza agreed. “Which is remarkably annoying.”
“I can’t argue with you on that.” Mrs. Mountjoy made a face. “You must be wondering how I met him and why he considered this house a safe place for you to meet.”
Carenza sipped her tea.
“I met Julian when I married my husband. I’m not sure how they became acquainted, but they were already good friends.” Mrs. Mountjoy paused. “When Frederick died, Julian helped me with the funeral arrangements and stood by my side when my parents tried to force me to go back home.”
“That sounds very like him,” Carenza said. She was probably one of the very few people in society who knew that beneath Julian’s charming exterior there was a far more complex man. Even so, he still occasionally surprised her.
“We’ve never been lovers,” Mrs. Mountjoy continued, and Carenza tried not to blush. “I would consider him a valued friend in his own right. When he told me about you, I, of course, offered my help.”
Carenza wasn’t quite sure how she felt about Julian discussing her with a stranger, but Mrs. Mountjoy’s matter-of-fact manner was slightly reassuring.
Her hostess took two labeled keys off the ring at her waist. “The top two floors of this house are used as living accommodation for me and for rental purposes. One of the apartments is vacant, and I offered it to Julian so that you could meet.” She handed Carenza the keys. “This one allows you entrance through the kitchen door, and that one with the yellow ribbon unlocks the apartment on the left upstairs.”
“Thank you.”
“You can use the backstairs to enter and leave the house. There is no need to seek me out.” Mrs. Mountjoy smiled. “It is nice to be able to do something for Julian instead of always being on the receiving end.” She set down her cup. “Would you like to see the apartment?”
“Yes, please.” Carenza hurriedly finished her tea and stood up.
Mrs. Mountjoy opened the door and was met by Bridget, who was breathing hard and carrying the sugar bowl.
“Sorry, ma’am, I had to break some bits off the block, and then Cook made me clean up all the mess.”
“Please set the bowl on the tray, Bridget,” Mrs. Mountjoy said. “And thank you for your efforts.”
“But what about your tea?” Bridget asked as they went past her.
“We will return to it shortly, my dear. There is no need to clear away.” Mrs. Mountjoy started up the stairs, Carenza at her heels. “You may go back to the kitchen.”
“Yes, ma’am.” Bridget’s martyred sigh was loud enough to be heard at the top of the stairs.
“She still has a lot to learn, but at thirteen, she’s young enough to want to change,” Mrs. Mountjoy said as she continued up the second flight of stairs. “She was working in a brothel and ran away when the owner told her it was time to earn her keep.” She paused outside a door with the number four on it. “Here we are. It’s just across the hall from my suite of rooms.”
She gestured for Carenza to unlock the door and invited her in. Carenza entered with some trepidation but found a charming space with a large double bed, a sitting area, and a separate dressing room.
“The necessary is outside,” Mrs. Mountjoy said. “But I doubt you’ll be needing it unless you stay the night.”
“Thank you,” Carenza said.
Her hostess nodded, turned to the door, and then paused. “I do hope you are adequately ‘protected’ for this liaison, Mrs. Smythe.”
“Adequately protected?” Carenza frowned. “Oh! You mean against conception?”
“As I mentioned, my husband was a doctor. He had a very specific interest in women’s health, and I feel it is important to carry on his work. Protection should also be used against sexual diseases.”
