I was lonely at first. Theres no denying it.
So whats happened?
She looked almost mischievous. Aha, I must reveal my secret.
Whatever she was up to, he was in favor if it lent her this spark. Do tell.
She rang the bell on the side table. The door to the dressing room opened and a neat, fair-haired young woman entered, head lowered and hands linked decorously at her waist.
Leaths gut tightened with a premonition that the alignment of his planets changed forever. Of course, the girl was the mysterious Miss Trim who had kept him restless and intrigued past dawn.
Chapter 3
My lady? The girls curtsy conveyed considerably more respect than shed granted him a few hours ago, Leath was piqued to note.
Nell, let me show you off to my son. The fondness in his mothers voice troubled him, although only moments ago, hed been grateful for whatever had brought about this positive change in her. His mother turned to him as if she presented a huge treat. James, Miss Trim is my companion.
The girl poised in the doorway. She wore the same plain gray gown and her hair was still wrenched back. She looked biddable and competent. Why, then, was he so convinced that she was up to no good?
During his sleepless hours, hed wondered if his imagination exaggerated her attractions. Daylight didnt lessen her physical impact. There was nothing flashy about Miss Trim, nothing vulgar. The purity of her features struck him even more strongly now than in candlelight. And that miracle of a mouth still made his skin itch with unwilling sexual response.
Good morning, Miss Trim, he said calmly.
Her gaze shot up to meet his. With a satisfaction completely out of kilter with the fact, he noticed that her eyes were a coppery brown, striking against her pale hair. Welcome home, my lord.
Thank you.
What the devil was she playing at, calling herself a housemaid? What the devil had she been playing at in his library at three this morning? The revelation of Miss Trims position in the household raised more questions than it answered.
Nell has become indispensable. His mothers voice was warm with affection. Which made him uneasy on so many levels.
Im sure. Leath mustnt have contained the irony in his tone because his mother cast him a puzzled glance.
Shes transformed my life, his mother said, in answer to his unspoken criticism.
Youre too kind, my lady. Miss Trims voice was low and melodic, like a cello.
You didnt mention Miss Trim in your letters, Leath said neutrally. Given his mother wrote most days, the omission had to be deliberate.
I wasnt sure youd approve, his mother said.
Im not sure I do, he said. When Ive offered to arrange a companion, youve always declined.
His mother grimaced. Youd saddle me with some destitute relative. Bores, every one.
A little harsh.
But only a little. His mother reached for Miss Trim who, blast her, took her hand. Nell does me perfectly, especially since Sophie left. I need someone young and bright to talk to.
Leath had no right to resent the implication that he wasnt young and bright. Miss Trim cast him a nervous glance under thick lashes, dark like her brows. She must expect him to betray her midnight wanderings. He wondered why the hell he didnt.
Perhaps. But I would have liked to help you find someone suitable.
The girls lips flattened. His mother looked equally unimpressed. He realized that hed handled this as badly as a parliamentary novice with an unpopular petition. He must be wearier than hed thought. Or Miss Trims silent and subtly hostile presence unsettled him.
Nell is completely suitable. Youll see.
Hed see something, that was sure. He wasnt letting the manipulative Miss Trim out of his sight.
My lady, perhaps it would be better if I finished ordering those embroidery patterns. The girl shifted uncomfortably. Obscurely it galled him that her manners proved better than his. He and his mother should hold this discussion in private.
If Im going to quarrel with my son, perhaps you should, his mother said.
No, stay. I want to talk to you, Miss Trim.
Bully her, you mean, his mother sniped.
Leath ignored the gibe and focused on his mother. Where did you discover this paragon?
In the kitchen, my lord, Miss Trim said with a hint of challenge.
Nell, dont bait my son. He doesnt like to be crossed, his mother said as if describing a fractious toddler. James, Nell came to us in July as a housemaid. I was suffering megrims and she was drafted into my care. It was immediately apparent that her talents extended beyond dusting and scrubbing.
Leath fumed under his parents tolerant glance, even as guilt assailed him. He well knew his mothers courage. Megrims meant shed been prostrate with pain. And hed been in London and ignorant of her suffering. While this encroaching maidservant took advantage. A housemaid is no apt companion for the Marchioness of Leath.
She is when the marchioness so decides, his mother snapped. If I can no longer choose who serves me, its time I moved to the dower house.
Leath endured a meaningful glance from Miss Trim, as if to remind him that his mothers health was poor and this disagreement must try her nerves. Damn it, he knew that. In frustration, he ran a hand through his hair. If they ever allowed women into parliament, every man there was doomed.
Mamma, this is your home. Theres no need for this.
If its my home, I should be allowed to select my servants, she said stalwartly.
Miss Trim shifted to a table covered with bottles and vials and poured a cordial for his mother. Your ladyship, perhaps I should return to my former place in the household.
Leaths eyes narrowed on her. Capital suggestion.
His mother accepted the small crystal glass with a grateful smile. He couldnt help noticing the glitter in her eyes. She didnt look ill. In fact, she looked better than shed looked in recent memory. But the doctors had insisted that too much excitement could exhaust her.
I will not countenance you dismissing Nell just because youve got some bee in your bonnet. She handed the half-empty glass to Miss Trim, who returned it to the table without glancing at him.
He sighed. Its a pity to start our reunion with an argument.
His mother regarded him with a less militant light in her fine gray eyes. Perhaps I should have told you in a letter.
He doubted that would have changed his mind about Miss Trims suitability, although he might have had a clue about the identity of last nights moonlit wraith. Im willing to give the girl a chance.
He waited for his mother to insist that he had no say in the matter, but it seemed she too regretted their disagreement. Youll soon see how good she is for me and youll be as grateful as I am that she came to us.
Somehow he doubted that. I would still appreciate the chance to interview her.
Miss Trim glanced up quickly and he saw that she was as reluctant to be interviewed as his mother was to allow the interview to take place. Too bad. He was master here and it was time he took control. His mother had always been an excellent judge of character and he had a large and capable staff. But even so, things at Alloway Chase were not as he wished.
Somehow he doubted that. I would still appreciate the chance to interview her.
Miss Trim glanced up quickly and he saw that she was as reluctant to be interviewed as his mother was to allow the interview to take place. Too bad. He was master here and it was time he took control. His mother had always been an excellent judge of character and he had a large and capable staff. But even so, things at Alloway Chase were not as he wished.
Dont let him browbeat you, Nell, his mother said with an encouraging smile.
For heavens sake, Mamma, you make me sound like a tyrant.
His mother arched her eyebrows. If your guilty conscience prompts that thought, perhaps you should examine your behavior.
He flushed, he who stood firm under the most concentrated parliamentary attack. His mother always knew how to best him, devil take her. Ill be gentle.
The girl clearly didnt believe him, but his mother took the statement at face value. Thank you. I wont have you upsetting someone who is so kind to me.
Miss Trim hovered near the sideboard, looking as guilty as sin. Interesting.
Miss Trim, if you please, well adjourn to the library. He knew she caught the faint edge as he mentioned the scene of their nocturnal encounter.
You promise not to browbeat her? his mother insisted.
He muffled a growl. He wasnt in the habit of badgering the servants. At this rate, the girl would be in such a state by the time he questioned her, shed be in hysterics.
Do you need anything, my lady? she asked with a calmness that belied that prediction.
Just my book and spectacles, his mother said and accepted them with a smile. Dont stand for any nonsense from James.
Miss Trims smile was faint as she curtsied and preceded him from the room with a poise that wouldnt disgrace a debutante at Almacks. As he followed, Leath couldnt help thinking that she was the damnedest housemaid hed ever seen.
Nells heart hammered with dread by the time she reached the library. She knew Leath chose this room to intimidate her. Goodness, after his tiff with his mother, she might yet face dismissal. It was clear that he wanted to get rid of her. If he did, how would she gather the evidence against him?
Before she was summoned, her eavesdropping had been enlightening. The newspapers were right. Leaths political career was in trouble. Good. When Sedgemoor used the diary to expose him as the villain he was, all hope of public office would evaporate.
Nell had arrived at Alloway Chase despising Lord Leath. But that was before shed listened to him battle with a mother he loved over something he considered important for her sake, not his own.
Mentally Nell kicked herself. His kindness to his mother didnt mean anything. With his family, the marquess might act the civilized man, but at heart he was a monster. If she forgot that, she was lost.
She stood straight and quiet in the center of the library as he prowled across to sit behind the desk.
Its too late to pretend humility, Miss Trim, he barked, making her start.
When hed spoken so tenderly to his mother, the beauty of his deep baritone had struck her. Now his voice was like a gunshot. Of course it was; she was a lowly servant. And he didnt like her, despite those disturbing moments last night when shed sensed male interest. This morning hed regarded her like a cockroach in the castles pantry. Should the Marquess of Leath ever condescend to visit that prosaic location.
Yes, my lord, she said meekly, intending to needle him.
She succeeded. He growled and gestured toward the chair in front of the desk. Sit down.
Its inappropriate for me to sit in your presence, sir.
Its inappropriate to answer back, my girl.
He had a point. She sat and concentrated on her lap to avoid those intense deep-set eyes.
Last night, his size had struck her as remarkable. Since then, shed told herself that nervousness alone had painted him as such a powerful physical presence.
It wasnt nervousness. He was tall and broad and dauntingly muscled. Clearly he found time for plenty of exercise away from his parliamentary activities. The portrait in his mothers room was of a young man, long and lean and with a touch of innocence in his face. When she dared to glance up, there was nothing innocent about the man studying her over steepled fingers. He clearly awaited her full attention. She shivered and prayed he didnt notice her disquiet.
Tell me about yourself.
The mad urge rose to announce that she was Dorothy Simpsons sister and she was at Alloway Chase to ensure that he never ruined another woman.
Well? he asked when she didnt answer. Cat got your tongue?
She licked her lips in uncertainty and suffered a jolt when his eyes focused on the movement. Immediately she was back in that strange dance of hatred and fascination. Shed been mistaken to think hed conquered last nights sensual awareness.
Oh, dear Lord, this was an unholy mess.
Im a little frightened, she admitted.
Rot. He arched those formidable black eyebrows. How did you come to work here?
She straightened in the chair, which would have put any of the furniture in her stepfathers cottage to shame. Im an orphan.
Is that so?
Her lips tightened. When shed told his mother that her parents were deadwell, it was true, however kind her stepfather wasthe marchioness had overflowed with sympathy. Lord Leath studied her as if reading the layers of deceit beneath every word.
Yes.
And how long have you been alone in the world?
She couldnt restrain a faint sharpness. You speak as if my bereavement is a matter of choice, my lord.
He bared his teeth. My apologies.
She shifted uncomfortably under his unblinking regard, before she reminded herself that betraying her fear gave him the advantage. My father was a sergeant major under Wellington in Portugal. He died when I was a child. My mother remarried and died when I was fifteen.
All true. So why did she feel like shed lied?
Where did you grow up?
Sussex. Her first lie. If she mentioned Kent, he might connect her to Dorothy, although hed shown no recognition when shed told him her name last night.
You dont sound like youre from Sussex. You sound like a lady.
William Simpson had been an unusual man, educated on a scholarship at Cambridge despite his humble origins. Hed made sure that both girls in his charge spoke with educated accents. Are there no ladies in Sussex? she asked sweetly.
His lips quirked. None that Ive met.
That was another surprise. In her imaginings, Dorothys seducer had possessed no sense of humor. Nell had expected evil to seep from his very pores. But unless shed already known his wickedness, shed see nothing to despise and much to admire. It was odd, the more she saw of Leath, the less she understood why flirty, flighty Dorothy had found him appealing. Perhaps on the hunt, he adopted a different style.
How did a woman from the gentle south end up here?
Shed prepared a plausible story. The marchioness had swallowed it without question. She had a nasty feeling that the marquess wasnt nearly so trusting. I was to take employment in York, but the lady was called back to London unexpectedly and shut the house. One of the other servants told me about Alloway Chase and I decided to try my luck.