Page 83 of A Duke's Keeper
“There’s no changing your mind, then?” Madam sighed and placed the letter for Renard in her reticule as she took out a different envelope, this one made a heavy stock.
“What is this?” Camille asked.
“Your response. One of the Merrys dropped it off not two minutes before you.”
Camille frowned. “Response?” She stared at the name on the letter, the formal title like a lifeline thrown to her in a time of chaos; Lady Charlotte had responded. “So quickly.”
Madam crossed her arms over her bosom. “My rider said the lady was overwhelmed. Said she wouldn’t let him leave until she penned her response. His words were, ‘Nothing like a proper lady.’”
Camille tucked the few words in a special folder in her mind as she broke the seal of the envelope.
Miss Yamsbee,
Thank you for your letter. I’m not sure what prompted you to reach out, but I will be forever grateful. After your insightful words about adventure, I made up my mind to attend a neighbor’s garden party for the first time in my life. To be honest, it was quite frightening, and I had little in the way of conversation, but it was an experience.
I’m not sure why I’m telling you all this except I feel like I know you. Like you understand me. Seeing as how we’ve never met, that must sound ridiculous! But I’ve had a taste of boldness, and I find I can’t stand the thought of being timid any longer. So here I go: Please, let us be friends? I don’t have much in way of gossip to report being stranded as I am out in the country, but I have a wide knowledge on many subjects. I await your reply with hope.
Charlotte Louis
P.S. Please, call me “Charlotte.” “Lady Charlotte” if you must. “The Lady” makes me sound like an old crone.
“A fine friend you’ve made,” Madam said. “I hope you find many more along your way.”
“A friend I’d like to keep.” Camille glanced down at the envelope. “Madam.”
The other woman chuckled. “I feel anotherfavorcoming on.”
Camille smiled. “I have my mail forwarded to the tavern right now—”
“I’ll have someone intercept any mail addressed with your name and sent to the duke’s townhouse. What you do with it from there is up to you.”
“Thank you,” she said, and she meant it. There’d be no question of the woman’s discretion or that of her runners. The clock tolled the hour. “I must go.”
Madam nodded but stayed her with a light touch to the arm. “Leave your mother here.”
“What? But the creditors—”
“The debts have been taken care of—don’t say a word,” she said. Camille snapped her mouth shut as Madam continued. “My apartments are well furnished and my staff more than capable of tending to a woman in her condition. She’ll be nothing buta burden for you wherever you end up. Here she will want for nothing, except a stiff drink.”
That stone heart Camille had vowed to keep was in great danger of cracking. “Why would you do that? Why take on more when it is not your concern? No, my mother is my responsibility.”My punishment.
“Do you really not understand?” Madam shook her head. “The Pony will never betray you.”
Camille was dangerously close to tears. Whatever emotional gate had opened to let through her new sense of loyalty and camaraderie had also let out obnoxious blubbering. “That’s not how business works. Don’t coddle me. Not now.” Not when her entire life had fallen apart.
“This has never been about business.” Madam’s tone sharpened. “This building is but wood and nails stuck together. The girls’ safety and desires are what make this business a success. The moment you marched into this office and demanded recompense for Scarlet, you became one of us.”
“I did nothing for you. I convinced your leading lady to leave the Pony.”
Madam embraced her with unexpected force, her voice shaky when she said, “You little fool. You made all the difference. Your mother will remain here, and I won’t hear another word about it.”
Camille’s own voice was unsteady when the hug ended. “Why are you doing this?”
Madam gave her a conspirator’s smile. “I’ll tell you one day.” She glanced at the door as if she could see Ralph pacing outside. “Now make haste. Your window is closing.”
Camille nodded, the consequences of any further delay overcoming her curiosity. “Thank you,” she said again. Now that her mother was taken care of, she had no need to flee to the country right away. She could stay in her brother’s Londontownhouse and know everything that happened in the city almost instantly from the staff until she started showing.
Five minutes later, she left with the shady Ralph into a world she had never been meant to touch, holding her past to her until they became like distant memories with each passing mile out of the rookeries and into the unknown.
