She lifted her chin.
Possibly, the duke and Cerise deserved each other. Her sympathy would be saved for Lady Sophia and Lord Lowell.
Inhaling slowly through her nose to calm her annoyance, Helen studied the ribbons displayed on the counter, before turning her chin towards the window. Shamefully, part of Helen hoped Roxboro might reappear, but he did not. What had he been doing on Bond Street? And dressed in such a flashy manner. More like some charlatan than a duke. Strange.
An hour or so later, Cerise reappeared. She floated around the shop, pausing only to say hello to Lady Caster and her niece, before finally drifting reluctantly towards Helen.
“I am ready to depart, Miss Cosgrove,” Cerise announced.
“Yes, my lady.”
When they returned home, it was to find Lord Galway still gone, but he’d at least had the courtesy to send his daughter a note explaining his absence.
“The urgent business matter Father is seeing to at Warren Hill,” Cerise informed her in a lofty tone. “Is taking far longer than he’d anticipated. I am permitted to enjoy a ride in the park with Miss Cosgrove. Lowell may call again.” Her lovely features twisted into something ugly. “Nothing else.” She pushed the note at Helen. “I am not permitted anywhere,” Cerise wailed dramatically. “Until his return.” She stomped up the stairs in a flurry of skirts, nearly bowling over a maid carrying an armful of linens.
“Splendid.” Helen made her way to the drawing room. “I hope the lack of activity will force her to reconsider the idiocy of her intentions.” Unlikely, but one could hope.
For the next week, Galway remained gone and Cerise terrible, so Helen took her meals in the kitchen, conversing pleasantly with Cook and Cerise’s maid, Kate. Callers were turned away save for Lowell. Parker, more concerned with following Galway’s instructions than worried over Cerise’s tantrums turned Lady Hester away. Twice.
Today, an abundance of fresh air was required after being forced to endure the call from Lowell. Watching Cerise flirt and bat her lashes at the doomed earl in the drawing room for nearlytwohours, left one feeling stifled and overwrought. Helen had wanted to spend the afternoon reading a book she’d picked up some time ago. A romantic novel of sorts, about a lord who becomes a pirate.
Complete drivel.The sort of thing Cerise might read if the girl ever picked up a book.
Helen had nearly made it out the doors to the terrace, when the sound of footsteps came from behind along with a sob.
“Miss Cosgrove.” Kate hurried towards Helen, wringing her hands.
“Yes, Kate, what is it? Another tantrum?” She cleared her throat and corrected herself. “I meant, is Lady Cerise distressed? Has there been bad news from His Lordship?” Helen’s first unkind thought was that perhaps Galway had been thrown from his horse and broken his neck.
Shameful Helen. Unkind.
“Oh Miss Cosgrove, it is much, much worse.” Kate wiped at her eyes.
Taking the maid’s hand, Helen murmured soothing words until the maid managed to calm.
“You must help me, Miss Cosgrove.”
Well that sounded…. concerning.
“I will do whatever I can, Kate. Now tell me, what has happened?”
“I—you must—explain to Lady Cerise that I would never—” The maid started weeping in earnest. “If she accuses me—”
“Never do what?”
“The pendant. I can’t find it no matter how I look,” Kate whispered. “The pretty one with the emeralds and such.” Another sob. “I can’t find it anywhere.” She shook her head so hard her cap listed to the side. “Gone or missing, I don’t know which. But I didn’t take it. I wouldn’t. When His Lordship returns, he’ll accuse me of thievery, like he did poor Tam.”
Tam had been a footman last year who’d been wrongly accused of stealing a ruby ring that belonged to Cerise, later found rolled up in a stocking.
“Cease weeping. I’m sure we’ll find the pendant if we look a bit harder.” Kate was a good girl from the country. She would never steal from anyone, let alone her employer. “Lady Cerise has an entire chest full of jewels and a bad habit of tossing things about. I’m sure the pendant has only been misplaced.” Tam had been accused and sacked before the ring was found and Galway didn’t care to correct his mistake. Kate was right to be concerned.
“Where is Lady Cerise now?” Helen asked.
“Drawing room,” Kate whispered. “Lady Hester arrived a short time ago. Parker tried to refuse her entry, but Lady Cerise had already seen her friend’s carriage. My lady wished to show Lady Hester the gown for the Sopwitch ball. She asked for the pendant to be brought and I couldn’t find it.” Kate bit her lip. “What if she tells Parker I’ve stolen it?”
“I’ll speak to Lady Cerise.” Helen didn’t have the heart to tell the girl that Parker likely already knew the pendant was missing given Kate had been running about the house weeping over it. Thank goodness Lady Hester had arrived to provide a distraction. Helen would have to ensure that Parker didn’t writeto Galway of this latest development, which would be no easy task.
“I’ll end up like Tam.”
