“Very well,” he replied. “When would you care to travel to the pub?”
Rising, Simone replied, “Now.”
“Now?” he asked, awkwardly rising.
“Yes,” she said. “Did you bring your carriage with you?”
With a frown, he replied, “I did, but?—”
She spoke over him. “Perfect. We can go on a carriage ride,” she said. “I will just bring my lady’s maid with me.”
Turning towards the maid in the corner, Simone ordered, “Will you inform Felicity I am in need of her?”
The maid tipped her head. “Yes, Miss.”
As the maid departed from the drawing room to do her bidding, Simone gave him a smug look. “Everything is working out perfectly.”
“Do you always get your way?”
Her lips twitched. “Most of the time,” she admitted.
Caleb perused the length of her. “Do you intend to change first?” he asked. “I only ask because your gown is rather fine for a pub.”
“Good, I want to attract attention,” Simone said.
“Dare I ask why?”
Simone held her skirt out. “By doing so, it doesn’t make me look like a threat. It will just appear that I am a naive young woman who is bored and is courting trouble.”
Caleb crossed his arms over his chest, a playful smile on his lips. “That is a shame. I would have liked to see you as a serving wench again.”
“When I am a serving wench, I am practically invisible to the patrons of the pub,” Simone said. “They have no qualms about speaking freely in front of a serving wench.”
“How are you able to even work as a serving wench?”
Simone grinned. “I ask nicely, and I pay a pretty penny for the honor,” she admitted. “It is not a cheap endeavor.”
“I guess I hadn’t considered that before,” Caleb remarked.
An older woman stepped into the room, wearing thick, rounded spectacles. Her eyes squinted as they settled on Simone. “I heard you are going on a carriage ride,” she said, her voice unusually loud for the refined atmosphere of the drawing room.
“I am,” Simone confirmed.
The woman walked closer to Simone. “I will go with you.”
“That won’t be necessary,” Simone said. “Felicity will accompany me.”
“Who?” the woman asked, tilting her left ear towards Simone.
Simone raised her voice as she replied, “Felicity. My lady’s maid.”
Caleb had to assume that this was the companion that Simone had told him about. The companion turned her attention towards him. “You will behave, sir,” she ordered in a firm tone.
“That is my intention, Ma’am,” Caleb replied.
“Good, because I know for a fact that Miss Delacourt carries a dagger on her person and she is not afraid to use it,” the woman said.
Caleb offered a smile, attempting to disarm the aged companion. “I am well aware of Miss Delacourt’s dagger abilities.”
