Read Online Escaping Notice by Amy Corwin - Free Book Online

Archer, I also need to go to Ormsby.” When she smiled at
him, he knew he had plotted the right course. “For a
case.”
    “A case? At Ormsby? What an odd coincidence.”
    “Yes, it is an odd coincidence.” He nodded and decided not to
mention that a number of guests had visited Ormsby from London for
his ill-fated ball, so perhaps it wasn’t completely inexplicable.
He felt reluctant to discuss recent events, even with someone as
sympathetic as Miss Archer. “Perhaps I can accomplish both of our
objectives—”
    “No,” she cut him off. “I’d rather search for this … object,
myself. I don’t wish its loss to become widely known.”
    “I see,” he replied, struggling to keep the grin off his face.
“Then you are determined to go to Ormsby?”
    “Yes.” She gazed at him shyly. “Although I confess I will feel
much better knowing you are in the vicinity.”
    “Have you already made plans, then, to be hired as a maid?”
    She shook her head. “I thought … I considered going there in the
hopes ….”
    Holding up a hand, he shook his head and leaned back. “Trust me
when I tell you, they would never hire a maid, or any other
servant, without proper references.”
    “Oh,” she said, obviously deflated.
    “However, I believe I have the answer to our problems, with the
possible exception of Mr. Brown’s inability to remember where his
family lives. I’ve made arrangements to be hired as a servant at
Ormsby. Perhaps we can expand this to include both of you.”
    “That’s wonderful!”
    “What?” Mr. Brown sat up. “I’m not going to Ormsby.”
    Hugh stared at him. “Any particular reason?”
    “No. Just not going.” Mr. Brown flashed a quick glance at Miss
Archer before adding truculently, “I can’t remember much, but I do
know that my family is in London. That’s why I was headed here when
I met Miss Archer. I’m not leaving.”
    “If you don’t want to go with us, then I’ll be obliged to remand
you into the care of one of our fine orphanages. I’m sure they’ll
find room and work for a sturdy boy your age.”
    Mr. Brown paled, but stoutly refused to agree. He shook his head
and kicked his heels against the carpet.
    “Of course Ned will accompany us. If you think he can?” Miss
Archer asked.
    “Would you find it acceptable if I arranged for us to travel as
two brothers and their sister? I’m to be Hugh Caswell, of course,
and Mr. Brown will be my younger brother, Ned Caswell.”
    “And I shall be Helen Caswell. It’s perfection!”
    What was perfect was the disguise. A man his size arriving alone
at Ormsby, when the Earl of Monnow was missing, might cause
suspicion and gossip. However, a man accompanied by his younger
brother and sister would be far less likely to raise suspicions,
despite any resemblance he might have to the missing earl.
    After all, there must be dozens of his father’s by-blows
littering the countryside.
    “I can arrange for you to be the lady’s maid to the earl’s
cousin, Miss Eloise Leigh. She’s scheduled to move to a cottage
near Ormsby, but she should still be at the house long enough for
you to find whatever it is you’re searching for.” He examined
Ned.
    The boy glared back at him and kicked his heels even harder,
thumping them until there were definite ridges in the carpet. But
the boy did not attempt to argue.
    “You, Mr. Brown, will be the steward’s room boy.”
    “I won’t.”
    “You will, unless you wish to stay at an orphanage until your
memory returns. I’ll make sure they realize you’ve had difficulties
with your memory, and are likely to wander off. They will certainly
see to it that you don’t get lost again,” Hugh delivered the
warning in a detached manner he felt sure would frighten the boy
more thoroughly than any angry words.
    Ned stared back, puffing his lips in several, rapidly-aborted
complaints.
    “But what about you?” Miss Archer asked.
    “I shall be the house steward. I’ve been meaning to — that is,