The Devil's Own Luck (Once a Spy) (14 page)

Two days later, Cecelia found Elizabeth sitting on the back steps with her chin in her hands. “You look as if you’ve lost your best friend.” Cecelia sat on the step beside her. “Did Thomas do something to upset you? I saw you coming out of his office a few minutes ago. You seemed distressed.”
    Elizabeth looked up at her. Her brown eyes were filled with tears. “I want to go to Paris with Mrs. Littleton and he won’t let me.”
    “Who’s Mrs. Littleton?”
    “She’s the modiste in Ripley. She taught me to sew and lets me help her with the designs. She thinks I’m very talented.” She sniffed. “Mrs. Littleton has a friend in Paris who owns a dress shop and her gowns are the all the rage. Now that it’s safe to travel to France, she has asked Mrs. Littleton to come spend a few months with her. She thinks it would be good for her business. Mrs. Littleton sent her sketches of some of my designs and Madame LeBlanc wrote me a letter inviting me as well. I’ll be well chaperoned. Mrs. Littleton is a widow and she’s quite old, at least thirty. Thomas knows her and he thinks she’s a very fine person. He told me so himself. He insisted on meeting her before he would allow me to begin working for her. And Mrs. Littleton’s Aunt Mavis who is Madame LeBlanc’s very best friend is going along, as well. I want to have a shop of my own someday and it’s dreadfully unfair of Thomas not to let me go.”
    Cecelia nodded at the folder Elizabeth held clutched to her chest. “Are those your sketches?”
    Elizabeth nodded.
    “May I see them?”
    She handed them to Cecelia. “I even showed Thomas the letter from Madame LeBlanc.” A tear spilled over and ran down her cheek. “He doesn’t understand how important this is to me.”
    Cecelia read through the letter which did extend an invitation to Elizabeth. She set the letter aside to examine the sketches. “These are quite good,” she said with surprise. “How long have you been working with Mrs. Littleton?”
    “Almost a year.”
    “If you keep improving there’s no doubt of you success.”
    Elizabeth smiled at the praise. “Do you really think so?”
    “Oh, yes.” Cecelia pointed to an empire styled gown with a crisscross of thin ribbon below the breasts. “I like this in particular. The way it crisscrosses and ties in the back is very becoming. Why did Ra... I mean Thomas object to you traveling to Paris?”
    “Because Susan got married and Thomas hasn’t been able to find a nursemaid to replace her.”
    Cecelia tried to make sense of this reasoning and failed. “I still don’t understand.”
    “I was staying with Mrs. Littleton. I had to come home to help because Ellie’s too old to keep up with Rosie and David all by herself. They’re always into trouble. I can’t go anywhere until they find another nursemaid.”
    “There isn’t anyone from the village who could help?”
    Elizabeth shook her head. “He hasn’t found anyone, so far. Thomas won’t just hire anyone. The parson’s wife said it isn’t natural for a man to be so particular about such things.”
    Cecelia almost laughed out loud. “What do you think?”
    Elizabeth shrugged. “I suppose he wants to make certain he hires the right person.”
    Cecelia handed back the sketches. “I don’t know if it will do any good but I promise I’ll talk to him. This is a wonderful opportunity for you. I’ll see what I can do.”

Rand had seen their exchange out the drawing room window and wasn’t surprised when Cecelia came in a few minutes later and announced, “I wanted to talk to you about Elizabeth.”
    “Would you like me to ring for tea?”
    “No, thank you. I’d rather talk to you about Elizabeth.”
    He set his glass of port down on the mantle and sighed. “If you’ve come to intervene, I must tell you that you’ve little chance of succeeding. I have to think of everyone, not just Elizabeth.”
    She considered that a moment. “I suppose little chance is better than no chance at all.”
    “Don’t be too optimistic.”
    “She showed me her sketches and she’s very talented, Rand. But she needs the polish that two months in Paris would give her. This is a wonderful opportunity for her. She’ll be well chaperoned. It’s perfectly safe to travel to France, now.”
    "That doesn’t change the circumstances. We’re still short a nurse maid and need Elizabeth to help look after Rosie and David. Ellie’s very good with them but she isn’t young or energetic enough to do it by herself. I’d lose another nurse maid before the week was out.”
    “Can’t Doreen or Mrs. Mathews help out?”
    “No. They’ve nine children to see to as it is.”
    “But what if we could find someone to look after them?”
    “It’s impossible. I’ve interviewed six women and none of them will do. I’m not about to risk putting the tykes in the charge of someone I don’t feel is appropriate. We’re leaving in four days. We can’t possibly find someone qualified in that length of time.”
    “Define qualified.”
    “Someone to keep them out of trouble, teach them their lessons, see that they’re fed and clothed and go to bed on time. But primarily, I need someone who truly cares about children.”
    She thought a moment. “If by some miracle I was able to achieve this-impossible task, would you let her go to Paris?”
    He crossed the room to where she was standing. “Why is this so important to you?”
    “You’ve done so much for them. I want to do something, too. I could help Elizabeth tremendously. If she designs gowns for the Marchioness of Clarendon, her success will be assured.”
    He had to admit that her reasoning was sound, but he still wasn’t quite ready to give in.
    “You told me you would always encourage them in their endeavors in order to help
    them get past the stigma of being a bastard,” she reminded him.
    “Did I say that?”
    “Well, something like that.”
    “My God,” he grumbled. “I’ve got to be more careful about what I say to you.
    And I was referring to the boys. I’m providing the girls with decent dowries so they can make a good match. They shouldn’t have to earn a living.”
    Her eyes flashed. “What if they don’t choose to marry?”
    “Why wouldn’t they want to marry?” The stony look on her face told him he would not like the direction their conversation was headed and he decided to cut it short. “Very well,” he conceded. “If you can find someone and I approve of them, then yes, she may go. But we’re leaving in four days whether you find anyone or not. I won’t alter our plans in order to find another nursemaid.”
    “Thank you.” She threw her arms around him and kissed him soundly. “You won’t be sorry. I promise.”
    “Where are you going?” he asked as she headed for the door.
    “I’ll explain later.”
    Watching as she dashed out the door he had a sinking feeling that he had just agreed to something that he’d really rather he hadn’t.

The following day, he was proven correct.
    “No,” he said firmly as he looked up from the stack of papers on his desk. “We can’t bring them with us. We’ll be at Fenton Abbey for at least three months. Probably longer.”
    “But that will give Elizabeth enough time to work on her designs before Rosie and David come back. It will work out perfectly.” She widened her eyes and fluttered her lashes. “Please?”
    He found himself gazing into the velvet depths of her eyes then shook his head. The same doleful look that she used on her father and occasionally her brother was not about to work on him. “I don’t need extra brats along on our trip. Between you and that blasted feline, I’ve enough.”
    “Unfair! Ashley hasn’t given you a moment’s problem.”
    “Other than depositing a great deal of cat hair on my black jacket.”
    “But...”
    “And also depositing a hairball on my side of the bed.”
    “It’s only because she sleeps on my side,” Cecelia explained. “And she’s very fastidious. Cats usually are. She won’t dirty the area where she sleeps.”
    “Well, then that makes it acceptable,” he murmured dryly. “Be reasonable. Rosie and David are a handful and I don’t want you to spend your all of your time playing nursemaid. We’re newlyweds in case you’ve forgotten.”
    “You’re going to be very busy during the day. You’ll be meeting with the steward and handling estate business. You said it’s been badly managed and will take more time than you originally thought to straighten out. And I won’t spend all my time playing nurse maid. Ellie will come along to make certain they have their meals and get to bed on time. Mattie will look after their clothing and fill in as nursemaid when needed.”
    “Mattie is your maid. She has enough to do.”
    “But she doesn’t! It isn’t as if it’s the middle of the season and I need three or four changes of clothing a day and my hair dressed every evening for a ball. I promised her a bit of extra money while we’re in Devon and she was ecstatic. She sends money to her mama and little sister,” she added hoping that bit of information would bulk up her arsenal a little.
    “How much did you promise?”
    “Five pounds. You said you didn’t care about my dowry and that I could do with it as I wished,” she added. “It was even in the marriage contract.”
    “I know.” Though he was beginning to realize that he might come to regret that decision. “I’m not certain Mattie could handle both of them. You don’t understand the scrapes those two find themselves in.”
    “But she won’t have to. Billy has agreed to help as well. She and Billy have been with them all morning and it’s working out beautifully.”
    “Billy?” he asked with alarm. “Billy’s with the children?”
    “They’re perfectly fine,” she assured him. “I checked on them minutes ago. Just because Billy’s a bit accident prone, you needn't think the worst.”
    His voice rose. “A bit accident prone? The lad’s a walking disaster. He set fire to the kitchen in London, put his foot through the roof of the barn, drove the dogcart through the fence, he’s broken three windows. The list goes on and on. And if he’s watching the tykes, who’s watching him?”
    “He only needs a chance.”
    “A chance to wreck havoc wherever he goes?” He scowled. “I like the lad. I really do. His father was a good man and I’ve done my best to see to Billy’s welfare. And the fact that he wants to work is admirable, but I’ve given him a number of chances. The only thing he’s been able to do that hasn’t turned into a calamity is currying the horses and mucking out the stables. And what of Rosie’s and David’s lessons? I don’t want them to miss two months of lessons. They’ll never get caught up.”
    “I’ll tutor them,” she said as she came to stand behind him. “I’m perfectly qualified. In both their school work and manners, which as you pointed out are somewhat lacking in Rosie’s case. I may not always do so in your presence, but you know as well as I that I can behave with perfect decorum. But what’s most important is that I really care about them.”
    He opened his mouth to protest then realized he had no argument. She seemed truly fond of them; she was perfectly qualified, and when need be, very much a lady. Which brought out another argument. “You’re a marchioness. Not a tutor or a governess.”
    She made a face. “Stuff! You’re a marquis and you’re in trade. You’ve never cared about that kind of thing.”
    He sighed. “What have you offered Billy?”
    “Tutoring. He wants to learn to read and to do math. He knows he’s clumsy and not suited for manual labor and he thinks if he has some education it will be easier for him to find work.” When he didn’t say anything she went on, “Rosie and David don’t take up much room. They needn’t ride with us if you’d rather they didn’t. I’m sure they would be just as happy traveling with the others.” She put her fingertips to his lips before he could verbalize another thought. “And before you say anything else I want you to come see something.” She offered her hand.
    He knew he was losing ground. “I need to finish these reports.”
    Her eyes softened to a misty green. “It will only take a few minutes and I think you’ll be pleased.”
    “Blast it, Cecelia, will you stop looking at me like that?” She simply smiled at him and he reluctantly got to his feet. “Where are we going?”
    “The nursery.”
    The nursery at Danfield House was a cheerful room on the third floor with yellow walls and large, gaily-colored, woven rugs on the floor. A few toys were scattered about the room. More toys along with a collection of books lined the shelves. Most of the furniture was child sized. Rand was surprised to see that there was no sign of the fire, flood or devastation that normally followed in Billy’s wake. In fact, the picture before them was most serene.
    With a thumb in her mouth and a cloth doll clutched to her breast Rosie was curled up on a pallet sleeping peacefully. Billy sat on the rug with David. Together, the two were building a castle of wooden blocks. It was a rather impressive castle consisting of four turrets connected by ramparts, bailey and series of structures along with a great hall.
    Billy looked up at them and started to rise when Rand motioned for him to stay where he was. He smiled a bit sheepishly, as if caught doing something he didn’t quite want to admit to. He was small for his age, with round cheeks, longish straight brown hair, shining brown eyes and a sun kissed complexion that had yet to show any signs of adolescent spots. But it was David that had caught Rand’s attention. He had been conversing happily with Billy and when he heard Rand and Cecelia come in he looked up at his visitors and grinned.
    “You’ve done an excellent job,” Rand said as he hunkered down beside them. “You might want to make the ramparts higher, but I believe you’ve a set up that will keep your enemies at bay. Where did you learn to build a castle?”
    The question was directed at David who jumped up and retrieved a book from the window seat. He handed it to Rand.
    
“Europe’s Greatest Castles,”
he read out loud. “Where did you get this?”
    “Milady gave it to me,” Billy explained. “We looked at the drawings, but milady said she would teach me to read it.”
    Rand realized that remark brought him one step closer to giving in. He rose and watched for a while, noting how well Billy interacted with the younger boy. He encouraged the younger boy to talk and though David was still no chatterbox, he was speaking in sentences.
    “Will you be adding a moat, David?” Rand asked.
    The little boy shook his head.
    “Why not? A moat would be just the thing for a castle like this.”
    “No water,” he said dismally. “Can’t have a moat without water.”
    “I’ll bet Elizabeth could find a bit of blue fabric. That’s what I always used when I built castles.” He waited briefly to see if he was struck down as he uttered that lie. In his youth he had flooded the nursery with water and dirt on more than one occasion. “It’s much better than real water because you can use it over and over again and it won’t get you wet.”
    “You built castles?’ David sounded quite astonished.
    “Not for some time,” Rand replied. “But as a lad, I was quite good at it. Maybe Elizabeth could find some additional cloth for your standards. You need to fly your colors or no one will know who you are. Come and fetch me when you’ve finished. I’d like to see how it turns out.”
    A few minutes later, Rand left the nursery. Cecelia followed him into the corridor. “I take it you’re pleased.”
    “Yes, I’m very pleased. I’ve never heard David say more than three words at time.”
    Her green eyes lit up. “Then we may take them to Devon?”
    “I didn’t say that.” He frowned as he rubbed his hand against his chin. “I’m still not certain it’s a good idea.”
    “Please?”
    “Don’t beg, Cecelia. Convince me with sound reasoning.”
    “I think it would be good for everyone concerned.” She began ticking off her fingers. “Elizabeth could go to France. Billy will learn to read and do math in exchange for spending time with David. David should open up because he won’t have Rosie constantly bossing him around. Rosie will learn some manners.”
    “Hopefully,” he muttered.
    She grinned at him as she continued, “Mattie will earn extra money to send to her family. Ellie will have the opportunity to visit someplace new before she’s too old to travel. And I’ll feel like I’m contributing something more than approving menus and arranging tea parties.”
    “But you haven’t any idea what the household will be like,” he pointed out. “You may find yourself extremely busy. And you’ve failed to mention something. In what way will this be good for me?”
    She smiled wickedly. “You will be handsomely rewarded.”
    His brow lifted. “Mmm. How so?”
    She stood on tiptoe and whispered something in his ear.
    He tried to look shocked and failed miserably. “You think I can be bought so easily?”
    She continued smiling as she nodded. “I do.”
    “You may be right,” he admitted. “But I’m concerned that Rosie and David will be more than you bargained for. They can’t go twelve hours without getting into trouble.”
    “We’ve two days left. Forty-eight hours. If Rosie and David can go the next two days without getting into mischief, may they go?”
    “Possibly.”
    “Yes or no?”
    “Alright,” he relented.
Two days without mischief? Impossible.