His face didnt lighten. Her stomach sank with the certainty that she hadnt gulled him. So you crossed an inhospitable moor, came miles from the nearest civilization, on the off chance of finding employment?
She kept her voice positive. Indeed, sir. Fortunately there was a vacancy for a housemaid.
That had been lucky. Although if there hadnt been a place, shed have sought work in the area and waited until a job opened up. Staff at big houses were always coming and going. Shed have found a spot eventually, especially with the excellent references shed written in the guise of a wholly fictitious employer at a wholly fictitious Sussex manor. Of course there was a risk that someone might check her background, but hopefully by the time anybody discovered her ruse, shed be far away with the diary in her possession.
Under that level gaze, she battled the impulse to fidget. No wonder Leath had such a reputation as a shark in parliament. If she were the opposition, shed roll over and give him anything he wanted.
I find it puzzling that you accepted such a junior position. Surely if you can read and write, youd find work as a governess.
Perhaps she should have adopted a rustic accent. The problem was that she couldnt see herself keeping up the pretense. I was desperate, sir.
She should have known that an appeal to his compassion would fail. Is that so?
When she didnt answershe wasnt a skilled liar, which was why she stuck to the truth as far as possiblehe went on. And now youre my mothers companion.
Its a preferment beyond my wildest dreams, she said quickly.
For an uncomfortable moment, she wondered if hed try to shake the truth out of her. Surely only her guilty conscience persuaded her that he recognized her lies.
Id like to hear more about your wildest dreams, Miss Trim, he said slowly.
She clutched her clammy hands together to hide their unsteadiness and stared directly into those unfathomable eyes. Do you suspect that Im not who I claim, my lord?
To her surprise and considerable discomfort, he smiled. This was the first time shed seen his smile and she wouldnt describe it as nice. It was the sort of smile a wolf gave a chicken before he tore it to pieces. Flashing masculine attraction and straight white teeth that looked ready to snap at her.
Outlandish fancies, Im sure, Miss Trim.
Dangerously, she forgot her meekness. Do you put all your domestics through this inquisition?
Only the ones I discover raiding my library in the middle of the night, he said affably.
Curse her blushing. I told you, I wanted something to read.
Yet in all those volumes, nothing caught your interest.
Oh, dear God, he was a devil. Why wouldnt he leave her be? Shed been overjoyed when the marchioness had promoted her. Shed soon discovered that housemaids had no privacy and little time to search a house the size of Alloway Chase. As a companion, she had a lot of free timethe marchioness wasnt demandingand a room of her own. Not only that, she had access to the familys apartments.
The disadvantage of her new status was that shed hoped to pass through Alloway Chase without attracting notice. Even before last nights encounter with the marquess, her ladyships favoritism put paid to that idea.
Perhaps I could advise you on purchasing some novels, my lord, she said with cloying helpfulness.
If shed thought his smile was astonishing, his laugh made her sit up like a startled rabbit. It was warm with appreciation. She liked it so much that she had to struggle shamefully hard to remember she despised him. She stopped wondering why Dorothy had found him appealing. Even she, with every reason to loathe him, couldnt stifle a prickle of attraction.
Dorothy hadnt stood a chance.
Perhaps you should. The watchful light returned to his eyes. Do you enjoy your post, Miss Trim?
Yes, sir, she said, only partly a lie. The marchioness was a darling. Her kindness had gone a long way to helping Nell cope with her grief over Dorothys death. Nell winced to think that her vendetta against the marquess would ultimately hurt Lady Leath.
I need hardly say that I take great care for my mothers happiness.
Given that he hadnt visited his mother in months, she could disagree. But even if shed been his social equal, it would be impertinent to say so. As do I, my lord.
His eyes glinted as if he saw every prevarication. Then please dont imagine that your attentions will go unremarked.
No, sir. She took the words as the warning they were.
You may go, Trim.
Trim, not Miss Trim, she noticed. Clearly hed indulged her delusions of importance as far as he intended. That suited her fine. She couldnt help feeling that if she lingered, that searching dark gaze would winkle out every secret. Then where would she be? Out on her ear. And hed be free to continue on his nasty, seducing, ruinous way.
Strangely she was angrier now than when shed arrived. And more intent on bringing this brute down. Even after a short acquaintance, she recognized that the marquess was a clever, perceptive, interesting man. Yet still he chose to wreck innocent lives.
Taunton, Somerset, early October
Hector Greengrass settled his considerable bulk into the oak armchair in the cozy little taverns inglenook. It was a bloody chilly night, but in the month that hed been in the area, hed trained the locals to leave the rooms best spot for him.
He raised his tankard, took a deep draft and smacked his lips with satisfaction. The ale was good. Even better was this lark hed set up over the last year since leaving the late Lord Neville Fairbrothers employment. Sodding pity that the man had shot himself. Sad waste of a fine criminal mind.
Greengrass knew that most people saw him as hulking muscle, but he possessed a fine criminal mind too. And he wasnt a cove to let an opportunity pass. When hed realized that things in Little Derrick had gone awry, he didnt hang around to share his masters fate. Hed kept his eye on the main chance and survived.
Hed more than survived; hed thrived.
Before abandoning Lord Neville, hed taken what cash he could find and a few trinkets. Best of all, hed nicked his lordships detailed record of debauchery. Since then, that diary had bought Greengrasss mighty fine life. Not to mention his fancy clothes.
Even poor women paid to keep their sins secret. Luckily for Greengrass, Lord Neville had indulged his lusts up and down the country. Greengrass had plenty of bumpkins to hit for a shilling here and there, in return for suppressing the record of their ruin.
The sluts whose fall had resulted in pregnancy were no use to him. Their disgrace was clear for the world to see. But thanks to Lord Nevilles yen for silly virgins, the diary listed hordes of girls desperate to keep a good name in small, gossipy communities. Theyd give up their last penny to escape public shame. After all, if their families disowned them as wanton trollops, the likeliest outcome was a hard life on the streets. Something well worth digging into the housekeeping money to avoid.
Greengrass still marveled at the diarys salacious thoroughness. His lordship couldnt bear to hold back any detail of his illicit encounters, and the pages were well-thumbed with use. A sane man would have hesitated to keep such a complete record of his sins, but clearly Lord Neville enjoyed reliving each affair over and over again.
Still, Greengrass had good reason to be grateful to Neville Fairbrother for his nitpicking record keeping, as though the chits he seduced formed part of his famous collection of pretty baubles. Lord Neville could never get enough women to slake his appetite. The only pity was that hed limited his depredations to the lower classes. It made senseanyone further up the social scale wouldnt believe that Lord Neville was the Marquess of Leath. They had access to newspapers and London gossip that would expose the lie before his lordship got into their drawers.
Poor and stupid, that was how his late lordship had liked them. And poor and stupid in large numbers kept Greengrass in ready cash and easy bedmates.
Aye, it had been a bonny twelve months or so. A false name and constant traveling kept him out of the magistrates handsthere was a warrant out for him, thanks to his crimes last year in Little Derrick. And it was grand how eager a lass became when disgrace was the alternative. In a lifetime of fiddles, this blackmail fiddle was the best.
The landlord thumped a brimming plate of roast beef and gravy on the table. Fast as a striking cobra, Greengrasss massive hand shot out to crush the mans wrist. Ill have a bit more civility, my fine fellow, he said cheerfully, closing his grip until the bones ground together.
Hatred flared in the mans eyes. But stronger than hatred was fear. Pale with pain, the man bobbed his head. Your pardon, Mr. Smith. He struggled to smile. Enjoy your dinner. And of course, its on the house.
Better, Greengrass grunted, releasing him and picking up his knife and spoon.
Aye, being cock of the walk was fine and dandy.
And when hed tired of catching tasty little sprats in his net, he had a bloody great mackerel of a marquess ready to take his bait.
Chapter 4
Lord Leaths return soon had Nell seething with frustration. Until now, shed found Alloway Chase a surprisingly congenial location. Perhaps because unlike Mearsalls schoolhouse, there was no silent, reproachful ghost reminding her that shed failed to watch over her half sister. Her stepfather had seen her unhappiness and hadnt discouraged her when shed suggested finding work away from home. Hed have been appalled if shed told him why she really left Mearsall.
Under the marchionesss relaxed supervision, shed found ample opportunity to seek the diary. So far shed concentrated on the library. It was a huge collection, but she had time and patience. Or at least shed had both until the marquess started working there. And after their early hours encounter, she hadnt worked up the courage to wander the house at night again.
Now hed brought a secretary from London. Even when his lordship was absent, Mr. Crane occupied either the library or the small adjoining room. A room he locked every evening.
As subtly as she could, Nell had quizzed the other servants about the marquess. Some of the maids had hair-raising stories about lecherous employers in other households, but nobody had a bad word to say about Leath. Shed failed too in all attempts to obtain evidence of his lechery from women living on the estate.
It was decidedly annoying. And a little unsettling. Nell had imagined that the people who knew him best would despise him for the monster he was.
His lordship had been home nearly a fortnight and he was yet to spend a night away from the house. For a heartless seducer, he was a diligent worker. Reams of correspondence came in and out, and he also paid conscientious attention to the estate.
Clearly his licentious impulses were under control. So far, shed only seen him behave inappropriately with one woman. When hed caught Nell Trim about the waist that first night. When hed spoken to her as his equal. And more, the shameful awareness that hummed endlessly between them.
When they were together, dislike set the air sizzling. It must be dislike. She refused to admit that she found the man who had ruined her half sister attractive.
His lordships presence was impossible to ignore. The air buzzed with energy, the staff were on extra alert, the marchioness glowed, the gardens bloomed with extra color. Goodness, even the sun shone more brightly, now that the master returned.
If Nell had remained a housemaid, avoiding his lordship would have been simple. For his mothers companion, it was impossible. With every day, maintaining her loathing became more difficult. And each moment felt more like a betrayal of Dorothys memory. Nell could almost believe that there were two Lord Leaths. One despoiled innocent girls and abandoned them to suffer the consequences. The other was kind to his mother and considerate of his staff and careful with his tenants.
She couldnt believe Dorothy had deceived herher half sisters dying words had rung with anguish and burning sincerity. But still Nell couldnt match the Leath she came to know with the man who so callously had destroyed an innocent girl.
Her desperation to find the diary built to a frenzy. Hatred alone gave her courage to carry out her scheme. She didnt want to think how Leaths sternness softened when he smiled at her ladyship. She needed instead to remember Dorothy lying quiet and unmoving after breathing her last.
Warinessand awarenessdeepened every time that enigmatic gaze settled upon Nell, as if the marquess added up all he knew about her and found the total wanting.
As Leath approached the library after his morning ride, he heard the unexpected sound of laughter. Frowning, he opened the door and paused, observing the tableau before him. A tableau that didnt please him at all.
He was used to everyone snapping to attention. He wasnt by nature a vain man, but how irritating that neither of the people sharing a jolly chat noticed him. Paul Crane, his staid-as-a-maiden-aunt secretary, poised halfway up the library stairs, passing books down to a beautiful woman who smiled at him as if she enjoyed the most wonderful time.
Of course it was Miss Trim. Miss Trim who never looked so animated nor so happy in the company of the man who paid her wages. Morning sun poured through the tall windows to light her graceful figure. She looked unassuming in one of her ubiquitous gray dresses. Her hair was scraped back in its severe style. She made a most unlikely seductress, but something in Leath stirred to savage resentment that she smiled at Crane in a way shed never smiled at him.
Clarissa will keep her ladyship busy, Crane said.
Its rather dour, Miss Trim said. What about something by Miss Austen?
At least theyre shorter.
Who knew his secretary read novels? And what other housemaid discussed books with such familiarity? She was an unusual one, Miss Trim. So unusual that Leath felt like grabbing those straight shoulders and shaking her until she confessed her secrets.
Heres Pride and Prejudice. Thats a favorite in my family.
Mine too.
Family? She claimed to be an orphan. Leath tensed like a hunting dog on a foxs scent.
Her ladyship might have read it.
His lordship needs to get something more recent for his mother, Miss Trim said, making Leath bristle at the implication of neglect. Its odd that she doesnt get a standing order of the latest books from Hatchards. Surely Lady Sophie wanted to read something published in the last ten years.