Chapter Fifteen
“My lord, you wished to speak to me?” Helen stood stiffly before Galway, awaiting instruction or interrogation, she wasn’t sure which.
Her employer had returned from his unexpected trip after nearly three weeks.
The house had been so much lighter without Galway’s overbearing presence, sucking the life out of the staff.
Smiles faded at his arrival. No more laughter could be heard.
Helen hadn’t missed Galway. No one did. Except possibly Parker.
Worse there was the matter of the missing emerald pendant.
Helen was fairly sure that Roxboro had the necklace in his possession.
She had spent hours trying to determine the best way to confront the duke.
Did she arrive at his home or send a note, though he wasn’t even supposed to be in London?
What if he’d gone to join the duchess in the country?
Though if fate held true, Roxboro would find Helen. He’d pop up somewhere unexpected.
The larger problem, somewhat insurmountable, was that Helen Cosgrove, lady’s companion and chaperone, couldn’t go about accusing a duke of theft. No one would believe her. Galway would be horrified and dismiss her.
The only thing Helen had managed to accomplish was to convince Parker not to inform Lord Galway about the missing pendant.
Reminding him of the incident with Tam, which no one wished to have repeated, she suggested Kate was overreacting.
Lady Cerise had a habit of misplacing her jewelry.
No reason to cause the maid harm when it was likely the pendant would turn up on its own.
Parker agreed to stay quiet. He considered Kate a dim-witted country girl, but an honest one. But, he warned Helen, if the pendant did not turn up soon, Lady Cerise and Lord Galway would insist someone take the blame.
Cerise, as it happened, forgot entirely about the emerald pendant. At Helen’s suggestion, she wore a striking diamond and emerald chocker with matching hair clips to the Sopwitch ball dazzling Lowell and every other man in attendance.
Now standing before Galway and his reptilian smile, Helen vowed not to allow Kate to be sacked for a crime she hadn’t committed. Knowing her employer, he’d insist the authorities be informed. Kate’s life would be ruined.
No. It will not. Helen clasped her hands and waited.
“I wanted you to be one of the first to know,” Galway’s tone was silky. “Since you’ll be directly affected. Lord Lowell proposed to Lady Cerise the night of the Sopwitch ball after returning us home in his carriage after speaking to me in private. I have agreed to the match.”
“Congratulations, my lord. I think Lord Lowell a splendid match for Lady Cerise.”
“As do I, Miss Cosgrove. They will wed at the end of the Season which is only a few weeks away. Your position,” a hint of teeth showed at the words. “Will come to an end. Your duties here finished.”
“I understand, my lord.”
“Do you? I will not be able to keep you in my employ unless you choose to take on other responsibilities.” A feral light lit his gaze. “But we can discuss that further after the theater.”
“The theater?”
“Yes, my daughter’s first formal appearance with her betrothed, Lord Lowell.
Your services as chaperone do not end until Cerise is wed.
Also,” he frowned. “I overheard my daughter chattering away about the Duke of Roxboro to that tepid girl, Lady Hester at the Sopwitch ball. Thankfully, Lowell did not overhear.”
He gave her a pointed look.
“I see.”
“I don’t believe it to be anything but a girlish crush, but I don’t wish anything to interfere with her betrothal to Lowell, especially not some tattered, degenerate duke.”
“Forgive me, my lord. But I don’t understand what this has to do with the theater?”
“The duke’s box is close to my own. Cerise is…spirited in nature. I don’t want there to be an incident. You will be in attendance to ensure it.”
Good lord. There wasn’t any telling what Cerise had related to Lady Hester.
“Of course, my lord.”
“Miss Cosgrove, I do have one question. Where would my daughter have come across Roxboro? You walk in the park with her. Follow her about at balls. I’m curious.”
Helen could lie, but she suspected Galway already knew Roxboro had been at the Stout ball, and more importantly, was cataloging Cerise’s brief disappearance from Helen’s care.
“I believe they were introduced at the Stout ball, my lord.” She schooled her features into confusion. “I assumed you had made the introduction.”
“I did not, Miss Cosgrove.”
She tilted her head as if trying to solve a difficult problem. “How strange. Could it have been Lord Lowell? I believe Lord Lowell mentioned their acquaintance, neighbors I believe. His estate is close to that of the duke’s.”
Galway peered at her intently, searching for some flaw in Helen’s explanation, and finding none, leaned back in his chair and nodded. “I’d forgotten how close Hatton Hill was to The Pillory.”
Helen gave a small shrug. “I don’t know the location of either, my lord,” she assured him careful to keep every word calm and obedient, but her foot tapped impatiently beneath her skirts.
Roxboro must be back in London.
Helen hadn’t seen him since the day at the modiste shop. Despite expecting him to, Roxboro hadn’t appeared to her again. But if he were in attendance at the theater, which given Galway’s concerns he would be, Helen could confront him.
“Nor should you know where the duke’s estate is located.
Roxboro is someone this household doesn’t tend to associate with, duke or not,” Galway drawled, calculating gaze lingering over Helen.
“I do appreciate your attention to your duties, Miss Cosgrove. I vow an excellent recommendation once Cerise is wed should you not wish to continue in my employment.”
Helen doubted it. “And the additional sum promised for shepherding Cerise the last three years without incident,” she added, unwilling to allow him to disregard what he’d promised and put in writing.
“Oh, yes. I’d nearly forgotten.” Galway’s fingers drummed along the arm of his chair. “We can discuss the matter further after the theater. Your current duties to my daughter take precedence.”
Helen kept her features perfectly polite. “Of course, my lord.” Contract or not, she sensed that Galway would find a way not to honor his commitment to her. That matter would have to be dealt with later, after confronting Roxboro.
“Splendid, Miss Cosgrove.” He waved her away. “You’re dismissed.”