Chapter 11 #2
Marce wrapped her arms around Jude and returned the hug, her small stature holding the strength of a woman twice her size. “You better hope you do not. I would have no regret locking the trio of you in your rooms for the next decade.”
When Jude released Marce, Payton and Sam gave her quick hugs, and the three stepped back.
Marce turned to Garrett. “Are you certain you can spare the time to keep watch at the card tables?”
“Have I let you down?” he asked. When Marce said nothing, he added, “Recently?”
It broke the tension that had clouded the room since Marce had summoned them all not long after the noonday repast.
Curtis, their manservant, cleared his throat from the doorway. “My lady, the driver says if ye are to arrive before nightfall, ye must depart now.”
She nodded to the elderly man and with one last lingering look to her siblings, Marce walked toward the door. “I shall be gone a week, at most.”
And only a three or four-hour carriage ride from London, if she were to arrive by nightfall as Mr. Curtis hinted. She certainly wasn’t traveling all the way to Bath in such a short amount of time.
“Godspeed, dear sister,” Garrett called, retaking his place on the lounge.
“Do keep everyone from the gallows while I’m away.”
“I can’t do any worse than you, I fear,” Garrett answered with a chuckle.
“I am serious.”
Jude, Payton, and Sam kept silent, content to watch the encounter between their eldest siblings.
It was only imperative that Marce be gone shortly, Sam and Jude had a ride in Hyde Park to prepare for—and neither wanted any questions from their sister.
Marce handed her traveling case to Mr. Curtis before walking through the open door. Her footfalls could be heard as she made her way to the foyer, the elderly man in her wake.
“I thought she’d never leave!” Sam fell across her bed, the ropes holding the straw-filled bedding in place creaked at the sudden weight.
They’d quickly made their excuses and departed for their bedchambers after the front door closed behind Marce.
“How are we supposed to get rid of that blasted vase with Garrett so close at hand?”
Jude had been worried about the same thing.
It was her hope that Payton kept him occupied while she and Sam did what they needed to do.
Namely, be rid of that cursed item and, with a bit of luck, put their thieving ways behind them for good.
Or at least that was Jude’s expectation.
Unfortunately, their only option at the moment was Lord Cartwright.
Even though Jude despised misleading him.
She was torn, even though it was a necessary evil—helping her family keep their home meant lying to and misleading a man who’d captured her interest beyond a handsome smile.
Intellect was a rare thing to find in London.
Most men were concerned with the cut of their suit, their next night at their gentlemen’s club, or finding a way under the skirt of an unsuspecting woman.
Cart was different. Certainly, she’d noticed the way he’d taken in her charms, but he did not limit their visits—as odd as they were—to matters of the weather or talk of insignificant gossip.
Jude did not consider herself of high intellect, though she knew her tastes ran deeper than most men of the ton were willing to embrace. A woman who was learned in history, culture, and the arts was not something the beau monde normally found appealing.
The lords of her acquaintance favored debutantes whose interests lie in current fashion trends, needlepoint, and other household matters—all things that would make a suitable wife.
Or men—certainly many that Sam had turned her eye to—were looking for women interested in the darker side of London living.
An improper night at Vauxhall Gardens, strolling down the unlit paths where many turned a blind eye to unchaperoned women and the men who accompanied them.
Jude had even witnessed men arriving at Craven House with scantily clad women, who certainly weren’t their wives, dressed in attire not befitting anyplace outside the bedchambers.
The women would sit on the men’s laps as they played hand after hand, drinking themselves into a stupor.
The females would giggle and fuss when the men’s hands roamed over their bodies, lifting their skirts to touch the secrets hidden below, but Marce would quickly shoo them from the house when they took things too far and crossed the line of decency.
Sam and Jude had spied activities such as this at a tender age. Jude had found the touching uncomfortable to watch, while Sam had been captivated by the scenes before them. Another difference between them—matters of the flesh enthralled Sam, while Jude took more of a cautious stance on them.
Their nightly escapades down the servants’ stairs to spy on the nightly carousing ended not long after it had begun when Marce had stumbled upon them.
They’d been punished and sent to their room, forbidden from leaving the upstairs of their home for nigh over a month’s time.
When their sister threatened to lock them in their room for the next decade, it was no empty promise.
“Jude?” Sam called, craning her neck to see her twin. Jude stood a few paces inside their room, stuck in the many thoughts going through her mind. “You know Garrett best. How can we keep from his notice?”
Jude shook her head, dispelling her worries and bringing her thoughts back to their current situation.
“I think the vase is safe where it is and we must continue as we’ve been.
Marce is convinced we are making a successful splash in society.
We are attending gatherings, acting the proper, demure misses. We shall continue in that vein.”
Sam pursed her lips.
“Today we will prepare for our ride in Hyde Park. Lady Chastain was kind enough to allow us use of her open carriage. We will mingle, be the proper young misses, and if Lord Cartwright shows up, I will do what I can to help solve our dilemma.”
Sam’s eyes widened in surprise as Jude heard the door behind her swing open.
“I would favor a ride in Hyde Park,” Payton gushed entering the room. “Why was I not told?”
“You are not tagging along,” Sam and Jude said in unison.
Payton set her hands on her hips and glared at her sisters.
“We will see what Garrett has to say about that—and that pretty vase that appeared in Marce’s private salon.
I am certain you have both noticed it, that quiet, ugly thing.
My, but it looks old. Far too old for Marce’s tastes—and the colors are all wrong.
I thought to ask her if she wanted me to dispose of the obnoxious thing while she was gone, but—“
“You are not to touch it!” Jude said, raising her voice and exposing their secret.
Payton smirked.
“What do you know of that vase?” Sam asked.
“Oh, only that I saw you sneaking in late one night with it tucked under your arm. And then Garrett summoned Marce early one morning and they departed in haste, returning later with Jude in tow—but I guess our dear sister knows nothing of the vase, am I correct?” Their youngest sister was known for her watchful eye, which suited her best at the card tables, though obviously not as good as Jude had thought, judging from Marce’s earlier comment to the contrary.
“You think your activities have gone unnoticed, which may be the case with Marce, but not me.”
“You know nothing,” Sam accused.
“I suppose that is possible, but I may also know far more than the pair of you think.”
“What do you want, Pay?” Jude’s mouth suddenly went dry.
“I shall continue to cover for you, but sometime in the future, I will need the pair of you to cover for me—no matter the situation.” A gleam entered Payton’s eyes, knowing she had her sisters exactly where she wanted them.
“We cannot allow you to put yourself in peril and not say anything.” Jude loved the girl, but her antics were far more treacherous than theirs—if Marce’s comments of gaming debts were to be believed.
“At this point in time, I do not see that either of you have any choice but to surrender to my demands.” She remained silent until both twins nodded. “Oh, and I shall accompany you to the park today.”
Sam moaned, burying her face in her pillow.
“Come now, Sam,” Jude prodded. “It is a little ride in the park. She cannot annoy you overly much in such a short period of time.”
It was advantageous for Jude to have their youngest sibling along for the ride. It would allow her a bit of time with Cart, without Sam keeping too close of a watch on them—if the man showed up, that was.
“Now that that is all settled, Garrett sent me to inform you that Lady Chastain’s carriage has arrived to collect us.
” Payton turned to leave the room, throwing a glance over her shoulder.
“I will meet you in the carriage, do not keep me waiting…there is never any guarantee what I might say or do when I am bored.”
“Meddlesome imp.” Sam pushed from the bed, smoothing her skirt and glancing into the mirror above her dressing table. “I was hoping to re-pin my hair, but time will not allow it.”
Jude took in her own appearance. She was not one to don a morning dress only to have to wiggle out of it two hours later in favor of a walking dress. In that vein, Jude had dressed for their ride in the park before taking her morning repast—and now, she was happy she had.
She hoped Lord Cartwright favored the paisley print she’d selected for the day.