Lillias yawned so loudly, widely, and deliberately her mother was startled into silence. And then fixed her with a puzzled little frown.
“Won’t it be lovely to see Gilly and his parents at the Landover Ball, Lillias—it’s been at least two months since we last, hasn’t it? And it’s only ten days away,” her mother said with some satisfaction.
Actually, Mama, it’s about ten days and about seventeen hours. Or about fifteen thousand four hundred twenty minutes.
“Oh, who’s counting?” Lillias gave another cavernous and entirely feigned yawn. “The tea is excellent, but I think I need to splash a bit more water on my face in order to adequately face the world.”
Startling her mother and sister, she stood abruptly. If only a face full of water was all it would take to face the Landover Ball.
“It’s difficult to convey the depth of the betrayal we feel, Lord Vaughn. We’ve grown quite fond of you and your family.”
Delilah and Angelique occupied one settee in the reception room. The earl had been bidden to sit on the other. Dot had not been requested to bring in tea. This was not a social call, and tea was not the traditional accompaniment for perfidy.
The earl was subdued. “She told you everything. Helga did.”
“Of course she told us, Lord Vaughn,” Delilah said reproachfully. “We’re like family here.”
He fidgeted, as though he’d very much wanted a cup of tea, and then settled his hands in his lap. “Well, it’s what one does with servants, isn’t it?” He raised an expression that begged for understanding. “It’s difficult to get good ones, and the marvelous ones come dear. Servants move about from place to place. It’s business, isn’t it, ladies? You ought to know.”
Delilah and Angelique could indeed testify to how difficult it was to find good ones, the ones who wouldn’t steal spoons or pinch bottoms, let alone keep good ones, but they weren’t about to commiserate.
They presented a united, softly reproachful front.
“Helga was very adamant that she would not leave you,” he said. Impressed and rather surprised.
“We know.”
“I promised her an enormous increase in salary.”
“Money isn’t everything, Lord Vaughn,” Angelique said.
“And a pension.”
Well. Helga didn’t have that, but she soon would, was Delilah and Angelique’s silent communication. Hell’s teeth, the expenses here at The Grand Palace on the Thames did tend to grow apace with the profits.
“We know you did,” Delilah said obliquely.
“And you thought you could hire her away because . . . how did you put it . . .” Angelique touched her fingers to her chin. “‘The status ofworking for an earl is surely infinitely preferable to working at a little inn by the docks.’”
The earl actually blushed.
“It was by way of persuasion. I think your boarding house is very fine, indeed, and we have enjoyed our stay here.”
They were quiet for a time.
They let him reflect upon his shame.
Finally, he sighed deeply. “Do either of you ladies yet have children?” he said finally. A bit hesitantly.
“Neither of us has yet been so blessed,” Angelique said gently.
“Mine are getting older. They are always running about, hither and yon, with their friends and so forth, which is as it should be. St. John spent so much of his time away at school. They will soon have families of their own, and I look forward to grandchildren. But this part of our lives... will be over soon. It flies by in a heartbeat, your time with your children. Only yesterday Lillias was sliding down a banister, and look at her now... a beautiful, elegant grown young lady. And although the circumstances which compelled our residence here are rather absurd, and even though my son can be a blight indeed, I have relished this opportunity to have them all so snug and close, in the comfort and welcome of The Grand Palace on the Thames. In this charming place you’ve created. Please don’t make us leave. Please.”
It was admittedly a very pretty speech.
They turned when they heard the front door open.
Slow footsteps echoed in the foyer. Then stopped.
