Chapter 35
Thirty-Five
Harry was in her aerie when she heard a sound.
A peeping. What was it? Had a bird built a nest high up, under a cornice of the house?
She opened a window with her good hand and stuck her head out into the afternoon sun.
No, the sound was not coming from outside the house.
She closed the window and heard something that might be . . . a scuffle?
Holding her pencil between her teeth, she opened her door very quietly. The passage was empty. But the sounds were louder. She walked down the passage. This door. What did it lead to? Oh yes, one of the additional rooms for the servants of guests, should a guest bring a valet or a lady’s maid.
She opened the door.
Phillip had Ellen pushed against a wall, his mouth on hers. He was holding both her arms over her head with one hand while his other hand roamed over her body, pulling on her dress.
“Stop,” Harry said. She held out the pencil like a sword in her left hand as she walked into the room.
Phillip let go of Ellen, who collapsed, sliding down the wall. Phillip adjusted his trousers and inclined his head.
“Lady Drake—” he said.
“Ellen is crying. I think that means she doesn’t like this.” Harry gestured to Ellen. “Come.”
Ellen was trying to pull her skirts down, curtsy, and stand up, all at the same time. Harry transferred the pencil back to a position between her teeth and grabbed Ellen and led her to the door.
“Aunt—” Phillip started to say. But Harry had already removed herself and Ellen from the room.
Harry took Ellen to her own bedchamber and put her in the chair by the window. She did not know where else to take her. She rang for Smythe, who arrived very quickly, concerned something was amiss because Harry almost never needed her services in the early afternoon.
“Phillip was kissing Ellen,” Harry explained. Ellen had her face in her hands. “You must ask her, of course, but I don’t think she was wanting that.”
Smythe knelt now in front of Ellen and handed her a handkerchief.
“Did Mr. Drake force you to do something against your wishes, Ellen?” Smythe asked gently. Ellen wiped her nose and eyes and looked fearfully at Harry.
Harry looked away.
“Do not be afraid of telling the truth,” Smythe said. “Her ladyship wants you to tell the truth. You will not be in any trouble, no matter what you say. As long as it is the truth.”
Ellen’s chin wobbled. “He said . . . oh, he said I should come to this room with him to check for mice and then he said if I did not kiss him, I would lose my position . . . and then—” She dissolved into tears.
“And then,” Smythe prompted.
“He pushed me against the wall and started grabbing me.”
Smythe said quietly, “Ellen, did Mr. Drake do this?” Smythe touched the front of Ellen’s dress lightly.
Ellen looked down and saw her neat apron had been torn from its strap and was hanging down and the dress underneath had a large tear over her bosom.
“Oh, no, my dress!” Ellen tried to pull the ripped cloth together to cover herself up.
“Hang the dress!” Harry growled.
Smythe quickly said, “Lady Drake is not angry at you, Ellen. Do not be afraid.” Smythe made sure Harry was looking at her. “I am going to clean Ellen up and fix her dress.”
“Yes,” Harry said. She turned on her heel and left the room.
She found Thomas in the library.
“You are leaving, Phillip.”
“Uncle—” Phillip began.
“I should send for the magistrate.” Thomas gritted his teeth.
“But I won’t because you are my blood and because I doubt the charge would hold.
It would only cause scandal and harm the girl.
But I cannot tolerate cruelty in this house.
I will not. You are leaving. I will continue your allowance.
Otherwise, there will be no communication. ”
“So. I am persona non grata. Your heir.”
“Yes.”
“Really, Uncle, isn’t this a bit like the pot calling the kettle black? I thought you of all men would understand.”
“I am not proud of my appetites. I regret my weaknesses. Perhaps it is a meaningless distinction that I have always asked and that I have always paid for my pleasures.” Thomas hung his head for a moment but then raised it again and stared at Phillip levelly.
“But what I have done in the past does not play a part in this matter. The women in this house and on my land are under my protection. Including protection from you.”
Phillip laughed. “For how long, Uncle? You are hale and well, but one day, someday, you will die. If I outlive you, I am the Earl Drake and there will be nothing you can do then.”
Thomas clenched his fists by his sides. “Is that a threat, Phillip?”
Phillip faced him. “No, it’s fact.”
“Yes, you are my heir. For now.”
“What does that mean?”
“It means I have something I hold close to my heart. Hope. Contracts can be broken. New agreements can be reached.”
“Hope? A broken contract and . . . a new agreement?”
Thomas turned away, looked out the window. “You are right that nothing on this earth, including my time as the earl, is forever. But there is still time for a change, for a cleaning of any and all slates. I must believe that.”
Philip said nothing for a long time. Then, “I understand, Uncle. I wish you much happiness.”