Chapter Forty-Two
Lady Mary
It had been a week since Henry and Katherine had left. Two days since Michael, Perrin’s eldest, had arrived to take over management of Perrin Manor. And on a sunny and warm spring morning, it was finally time for me to take my leave.
I looked back up at the house as Jane clambered into the carriage behind me.
“I’m taking a seat facing forward,” Jane called back. “You know I feel ill if I’m moving backwards.”
Marie handed her last bag to the driver before scuttling up into the carriage herself. “Ooh, me too. I became positively sick on my last carriage ride.”
Leaving the rear facing seat for myself.
The terrier barked as a footman handed him into the carriage.
And Southey.
Tulips burst from their bulbs beneath the windows, dashes of color in front of the black crepe. The mix of cheer and somberness matched my mood. Too much had happened to feel truly happy. But enough good had come out of this party to raise my spirits.
Katherine and Henry becoming engaged was one part of that good. The banns had been read, and the wedding would happen in a month’s time in Exeter. I had already decided on the dress I would wear to the event.
I had acquired a new maid, and I thought Marie would make a brilliant addition to my household. I’d have to warn the rest of the servants about her skill at card games, but then, maybe one or two of them could hold their own against her.
I’d acquired a dog.
I glanced down at the hem of my gown. I couldn’t see the tiny teeth marks, but I knew they were there. I wasn’t quite sure if Southey was more on the tulip side of the equation or the black crepe but it had seemed cruel to leave him.
I shook the butler’s hand, accepted a peck on the cheek from Michael, and climbed into the carriage.
The door was shut with finality.
I hadn’t acquired a new cook. I blocked Southey from jumping on my lap, and he settled for curling up on the seat, pressed against my thigh.
I had half a mind to go to Mr. Cooke’s office and give him a piece of my mind.
He’d taken the small tidbit of information I’d provided in my letter to him and gone and stolen Cook Clem out from under me.
The salary Clem had quoted that the crime lord had offered him was outrageous.
Whatever information Cooke had given me was more than paid for by his acquisition of Clem.
“The rotten scoundrel,” I muttered, not for the first time.
Jane rolled her eyes. “You were outbid. Accept it.”
“I had only added information about Clem in the letter to Mr. Cooke so as the blackguard wouldn’t think the only reason I would contact him was to solicit information.
I was trying to be polite, speaking of the house party before jumping right into my request.” I narrowed my eyes. “He used my civility against me.”
“Your civility?” Jane smirked. “Well, you don’t have to worry about that happening again.”
Marie tittered into her glove.
The carriage jostled into motion. I pinned each of my maids with a glare before lowering the window and looking out. The house seemed so forlorn now, but it would only take time for the new master to make his own imprint on it. To have his own parties, start his own family.
Well, perhaps not Michael. That would be up to his younger brother.
My own family was dwindling. Perrin was dead, and Bertram had been removed to an asylum. I didn’t think he would last long.
“Gor, do that again.” Jane had turned her whole body to watch Marie.
Marie held a playing card up between two fingers, wiggled her hand, and the card disappeared. From Jane’s viewpoint, she couldn’t see the edge of it sticking up from the girl’s sleeve.
Well, a part of my family was dwindling, but another was expanding. Such was life. I had family, friends, and a club that I adored and was anxious to get back to managing. I had much to be grateful for.
Smiling, I turned back to look at the house. A pale oval hovered in one of the second floor windows. No chill ran down my spine. No premonition of otherworldliness. It must be a maid cleaning one of the rooms.
All the ghosts had been in Bertram’s head.
The End