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Authors: Donna Hatch
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think your sister would come with us?”
Katie’s step faltered. “To the country, miss?”
“Yes. She seemed to like the country, and I could find her a position doing laundry or whatever she can do.”
Katie’s mouth pulled to one side as she considered. “The servants’ quarters probably don’t have room for children.”
“She could live in a cottage near the manor house where her children would have plenty of fresh air and not have to go mudlarking or live in a single room with no heat.” Jocelyn’s voice rose in both pitch and volume as frustration wove into her words. “I realize there are hundreds like her, and I can’t possibly help them all, but I mean to help her if I can.”
Katie’s mouth flattened and she swallowed. She blinked several times to hold back tears shining in her eyes. “I’d be ever so grateful to you, Miss. Lucy and her wee ones are all I have left in the world.”
Jocelyn touched her arm. “We leave in two weeks’ time for the house party. With your help, I’d like to have her move with us to our country house. She can live there all year. And you’ll come with us to see that she and the little ones get properly settled.”
“Yes, miss. Thank you.” Katie smiled. “See the country…” her voice trailed off and a dreamy expression overcame her.
“If it pleases you, you can travel back and forth with us so you can see her rather than remaining on the London house staff. We spend most of the time in the country when Parliament is not in session. Of course, if my father gets appointed to prime minister, we’ll live in London more, but we’ll cross that bridge when we come to it.”
They turned onto the nearest street and found the cab. Standing next to the horse, the driver waited, rubbing the animal’s neck. He had come, just as he’d promised. Smiling, Jocelyn pressed her hand over her heart. There were so many good people in the world, despite what others may say.
The jarvey’s face relaxed at their approach. “I was just about to send someone in after you two.”
“I apologize for keeping you waiting.”
“No trouble a’tall, miss. I were jus’ concerned for your safety, is all.”
The jarvey’s gaze passed carefully over Katie, a faint grin tugging at his mouth. As the maid caught his open appreciation, she immediately cast her gaze downward and fluttered her hands. Any man would have to be blind not to admire a pretty girl like Katie. If only men would look at Jocelyn like that.
Then she remembered her monetary situation and addressed the driver. “Sir, I fear I’ve no money for the return trip, but if you’ll be so kind as to wait after you deliver us home, I’ll pay you then.”
“Sure, miss.”
The jarvey helped them both into the carriage, and at Jocelyn’s direction, turned the hansom around and headed for Mayfair. Outside the carriage window, a shadowy figure slipped along the road, but when Jocelyn peered more closely, it vanished.
Perhaps she’d imagined it due to some lingering effects of her fright in her father’s study. Last night’s intruder had been all too real. Was it possible the man in the study and the figure she thought she saw were the same? The burglar who threatened her couldn’t possibly know whether she’d revealed his presence, so his threat must have been made simply to frighten her into silence.
Well, she was not easily frightened. If the ball hadn’t lasted until the wee hours of the morning, she would have told her father about the incident. Then, by the time Jocelyn had arisen, Papa was already gone. She’d tell her father everything this afternoon on the way to Lady Everett’s house. And then she’d turn her mind to charming Lady Everett for her father’s sake. His happiness was her joy.
Chapter 6
Wearing the clothes of a gentleman of fashion and wishing he were in his usual attire, Grant sauntered casually along the walkway outside the Palace of Westminster. The rain stopped, but clouds
Katie’s step faltered. “To the country, miss?”
“Yes. She seemed to like the country, and I could find her a position doing laundry or whatever she can do.”
Katie’s mouth pulled to one side as she considered. “The servants’ quarters probably don’t have room for children.”
“She could live in a cottage near the manor house where her children would have plenty of fresh air and not have to go mudlarking or live in a single room with no heat.” Jocelyn’s voice rose in both pitch and volume as frustration wove into her words. “I realize there are hundreds like her, and I can’t possibly help them all, but I mean to help her if I can.”
Katie’s mouth flattened and she swallowed. She blinked several times to hold back tears shining in her eyes. “I’d be ever so grateful to you, Miss. Lucy and her wee ones are all I have left in the world.”
Jocelyn touched her arm. “We leave in two weeks’ time for the house party. With your help, I’d like to have her move with us to our country house. She can live there all year. And you’ll come with us to see that she and the little ones get properly settled.”
“Yes, miss. Thank you.” Katie smiled. “See the country…” her voice trailed off and a dreamy expression overcame her.
“If it pleases you, you can travel back and forth with us so you can see her rather than remaining on the London house staff. We spend most of the time in the country when Parliament is not in session. Of course, if my father gets appointed to prime minister, we’ll live in London more, but we’ll cross that bridge when we come to it.”
They turned onto the nearest street and found the cab. Standing next to the horse, the driver waited, rubbing the animal’s neck. He had come, just as he’d promised. Smiling, Jocelyn pressed her hand over her heart. There were so many good people in the world, despite what others may say.
The jarvey’s face relaxed at their approach. “I was just about to send someone in after you two.”
“I apologize for keeping you waiting.”
“No trouble a’tall, miss. I were jus’ concerned for your safety, is all.”
The jarvey’s gaze passed carefully over Katie, a faint grin tugging at his mouth. As the maid caught his open appreciation, she immediately cast her gaze downward and fluttered her hands. Any man would have to be blind not to admire a pretty girl like Katie. If only men would look at Jocelyn like that.
Then she remembered her monetary situation and addressed the driver. “Sir, I fear I’ve no money for the return trip, but if you’ll be so kind as to wait after you deliver us home, I’ll pay you then.”
“Sure, miss.”
The jarvey helped them both into the carriage, and at Jocelyn’s direction, turned the hansom around and headed for Mayfair. Outside the carriage window, a shadowy figure slipped along the road, but when Jocelyn peered more closely, it vanished.
Perhaps she’d imagined it due to some lingering effects of her fright in her father’s study. Last night’s intruder had been all too real. Was it possible the man in the study and the figure she thought she saw were the same? The burglar who threatened her couldn’t possibly know whether she’d revealed his presence, so his threat must have been made simply to frighten her into silence.
Well, she was not easily frightened. If the ball hadn’t lasted until the wee hours of the morning, she would have told her father about the incident. Then, by the time Jocelyn had arisen, Papa was already gone. She’d tell her father everything this afternoon on the way to Lady Everett’s house. And then she’d turn her mind to charming Lady Everett for her father’s sake. His happiness was her joy.
Chapter 6
Wearing the clothes of a gentleman of fashion and wishing he were in his usual attire, Grant sauntered casually along the walkway outside the Palace of Westminster. The rain stopped, but clouds
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