Yes, but not a good one.
He was dishonorable to the core as his behavior demonstrated. He’d kissed Helen. Twice. Almost tupped her against a tree. All while betrothed. Then appearing without warning outside the modiste shop when he shouldn’t even be in London at all but in the countryside with his bride. Not to mention Roxboro was a sot, gambled excessively, and was one of the worst libertines in London. What was the theft of a pendant amidst such behavior?
Cad.
Difficult to recall the disgust for his character when she felt—well likely the same as every other woman who was subjectedto his charm—aroused and left wanting. But stealing? Kate’s life might be ruined.
Helen’s fingers tugged at her skirts.
Roxboro had taken the pendant, simply because hecould.
His discussion with Helen at the Stout ball was purely to distract her from the crime. And the interlude in Hyde Park? Fishing for information about the pendant.
“Probably congratulated himself on how clever he’d been in pulling the wool over my eyes.” She bit viciously into another biscuit. “Laughing that he’d committed a crime that no one would dare accuse him of.”
“Who’d pull the wool over your eyes, Miss Cosgrove?” Cook gave her a look while she stirred the batter for a cake. “I find that unlikely.”
“No one of any import.” Because Roxboro couldn’t be important to her. Toying with her affections. Using her to conceal his crime.
The biscuit turned to bitter dust in her mouth.
How dare he.
Chapter Fifteen
“My lord, youwished to speak to me?” Helen stood stiffly before Galway, awaiting instruction or interrogation, she wasn’t sure which. Her employer had returned from his unexpected trip after nearly three weeks. The house had been so much lighter without Galway’s overbearing presence, sucking the life out of the staff. Smiles faded at his arrival. No more laughter could be heard.
Helen hadn’t missed Galway. No one did. Except possibly Parker.
Worse there was the matter of the missing emerald pendant. Helen was fairly sure that Roxboro had the necklace in his possession. She had spent hours trying to determine the best way to confront the duke. Did she arrive at his home or send a note, though he wasn’t even supposed to be in London? What if he’d gone to join the duchess in the country? Though if fate held true, Roxboro would find Helen. He’d pop up somewhere unexpected.
The larger problem, somewhat insurmountable, was that Helen Cosgrove, lady’s companion and chaperone, couldn’t go about accusing a duke of theft. No one would believe her. Galway would be horrified and dismiss her.
The only thing Helen had managed to accomplish was to convince Parker not to inform Lord Galway about the missing pendant. Reminding him of the incident with Tam, which no onewished to have repeated, she suggested Kate was overreacting. Lady Cerise had a habit of misplacing her jewelry. No reason to cause the maid harm when it was likely the pendant would turn up on its own.
Parker agreed to stay quiet. He considered Kate a dim-witted country girl, but an honest one. But, he warned Helen, if the pendant did not turn up soon, Lady Cerise and Lord Galway would insist someone take the blame.
Cerise, as it happened, forgot entirely about the emerald pendant. At Helen’s suggestion, she wore a striking diamond and emerald chocker with matching hair clips to the Sopwitch ball dazzling Lowell and every other man in attendance.
Now standing before Galway and his reptilian smile, Helen vowed not to allow Kate to be sacked for a crime she hadn’t committed. Knowing her employer, he’d insist the authorities be informed. Kate’s life would be ruined.
No. It will not.Helen clasped her hands and waited.
“I wanted you to be one of the first to know,” Galway’s tone was silky. “Since you’ll be directly affected. Lord Lowell proposed to Lady Cerise the night of the Sopwitch ball after returning us home in his carriage after speaking to me in private. I have agreed to the match.”
“Congratulations, my lord. I think Lord Lowell a splendid match for Lady Cerise.”
“As do I, Miss Cosgrove. They will wed at the end of the Season which is only a few weeks away. Your position,” a hint of teeth showed at the words. “Will come to an end. Your duties here finished.”
“I understand, my lord.”
“Do you? I will not be able to keep you in my employ unless you choose to take on other responsibilities.” A feral light lit his gaze. “But we can discuss that further after the theater.”
“The theater?”
“Yes, my daughter’s first formal appearance with her betrothed, Lord Lowell. Your services as chaperone do not end until Cerise is wed. Also,” he frowned. “I overheard my daughter chattering away about the Duke of Roxboro to that tepid girl, Lady Hester at the Sopwitch ball. Thankfully, Lowell did not overhear.”
He gave her a pointed look.
