Read Online Damsel in Distress by Joan Smith - Free Book Online

because of her mama.”
    “So that is who Miss Blanchard is!” Caroline exclaimed. “But why on earth did she send Helen home alone?”
    Anger, and perhaps fear, momentarily robbed Dolmain of common sense. He said in a loud voice, “I don’t know what you hope to gain by spreading this malicious slander, but if you repeat it outside of this room, I shall — ”
    “Accuse me of stealing your necklace?” she shot back. “You have already done that.”
    “I did not accuse you! I have told everyone who quizzed me that I was convinced you are innocent.”
    “They never would have suspected me in the first place if you had not gone bruiting it about town. And if I planned to spread the truth about your daughter’s being at the Pantheon, I would hardly have called you first to inform you. I acted out of the kindness of my heart, for I felt you would naturally want to put a stop to it. She was there, I tell you. I followed them to see the scoundrel did take her home, and not spirit her off to Gretna Green — or worse. This is the thanks I get. ”
    “This is impossible,” he said, flinging his hands about in consternation. “Helen hasn’t a mischievous bone in her body. Anyone will tell you she is a studious girl, well behaved.”
    “And headstrong. What I say is true. Mr. Newton was with me. You can ask him. There was a Miss Blanchard there, but she did not return to Curzon Street with them. The man — Bernard was his name — took Lady Helen home. Not in your carriage, by the by. She let herself in with a key. The butler must have seen her.”
    “My butler was ill in bed last night. Miss Blanchard took the house key with her. Helen was aware of it, of course. I did not question what carriage Miss Blanchard planned to use. I assumed it would be my older town carriage, as I had taken my new one myself when I went out.”
    “There was no crest on the carriage. We tried to follow Bernard when he left your house, but lost him at the corner. Are you interested to hear what else I learned?”
    His darkling stare was enough to send chills down her spine, but she tossed her head boldly and stared him down.
    “What is it?” he demanded impatiently.
    She told him about the money Lady Helen had mentioned, and that she hoped to see someone, some woman or girl, in London. “Have you any idea who it could be?”
    He tossed up his hands in confusion. “There was a neighbor who was repining that she could not make her bows, but Helen is hardly in a position to send her that kind of money. And how would Mary explain it to her mama? No, it cannot be that. You must have misunderstood. How did you come to overhear this conversation?”
    She was reluctant to tell him, but no other means of having overheard it occurred to her, so she told the simple truth. He stared at her as if she were a Bedlamite. When she finished, he hardly knew whether to thank her or tell her she was mad. But he did believe she was telling the truth. What had she to gain by such a bizarre story?
    “If Miss Blanchard has so far abandoned her duties as to do what you say, then naturally I shall dismiss her. It is hard to believe she would behave so irresponsibly. She came to us highly recommended and has given three years of more than satisfactory service.”
    “I am only telling you what I saw, and heard.”
    He rose stiffly. On this occasion, Caroline had not offered him coffee. “I thank you for your — intervention,” he said, biting back the word interference. “In future it will not be necessary for you to follow my daughter. I cannot like to think of you pelting through the streets, hiding behind hedges and eavesdropping on private conversations on my account. I shall undertake to see that Helen behaves properly.”
    “ You are welcome,” she said, and mentally added, It will be a cold day in hell when I put myself out for you or your daughter again, sir.
    Before leaving, he stopped a moment, then said, “Was Helen wearing a mask last