Page 21 of Last Night with the Duke
“You’ve heard the rumor going around about the possibility that my sisters might fall prey to a jokester out to ruin their Season, haven’t you?”
“I haven’t heard that, Your Grace.”
Cold and frustrated, Griffin was finding it difficult to hold his temper, but managed to quietly say, “That’s impossible. Damnation, man, all of London has heard it by now. It’s only a matter of time until someone has the courage to create a wager and register it in the books at White’s and other clubs.”
“I’m sorry to disappoint you, Your Grace. Especially since you’ve been waiting here for me, but I don’t know about any of that.”
How could that be? Perhaps his information was wrong and it was another barkeep who was there.
“You were working in the taproom, right?”
“Yes, Your Grace.”
“Good. Once again, all I need to know is who else was in the taproom while Sir Welby was there. You won’t be implicating anyone just telling the truth of who was present.”
“I can’t help you, Your Grace. I don’t know.”
Griffin’s hands fisted in frustration. If the bartender had been a younger man, Griffin might have grabbed him by the neck of his coat and scared the hell out of him again. Perhaps he was just waiting for Griffin to line his pockets. He shouldn’t have expected the man to give over the information without some compensation.
“There will be a handsome reward for you if can recall a few names for me.”
Holsey’s breathing grew louder, and Griffin’s tensed. The man was considering his offer.
“It would be a fine day for me if I could collect it, Your Grace,” Holsey said slowly as he shook his head. “But I can’t. It wouldn’t be right. I started to work in the kitchen at White’s when I was still a lad. It was a good job to have for a youngster like me. A fine establishment to work in. That was a long time ago, but I can recall my first day as if it was only yesterday.”
“That’s all well and good, Holsey,” Griffin said, growing more irritable by the moment, “but it doesn’t help me find out who wants to hurt my sisters.”
“And I can’t help you, Your Grace. I took an oath not to see anything or hear anything no matter what was said or done or who said or did it. I’ve never forgotten that. If I’ve learned one thing from serving gents like yourself, it’s that a man’s honor is the most precious thing he has be he royalty, commoner, or servant like me. I must have honor as a representative of White’s. That place has been good to me over the years. If there’s one thing I believe more than anything else, it’s that if everyone doesn’t trust me, then no one will trust me.”
The man’s words hit Griffin hard. He believed that too. Despite his reputation as a one of London’s most notorious rakes, Griffin wasn’t a man without honor. He took a step away from the man and tipped his hat.
“Go on inside, Holsey. I won’t bother you about this again.”
Griffin turned away, knowing that a man’s honor was a hell of a thing to fight.
Chapter 8
Don’t jump to conclusions before the first word is uttered. Contrary to popular opinion, instant reactions are not usually the best ones.
MISSMAMIEFORTESCUE’SDO’SANDDON’TSFORCHAPERONES, GOVERNESSES, TUTORS,ANDNURSES
Esmeralda stood with her back to the low-burning fire in her office, reading yet another of the seven books Miss Fortescue had filled with words of wisdom throughout her forty years in service to the elite members of Polite Society. The ink had started to fade in the earliest of the volumes and several pages in one of the books had been damaged by moisture and mildew. The rest were in excellent condition.
For the most part, the woman’s handwritten words of tried and true wisdom were an easy and uncomplicated read. The best way to describe her books was as a common-sense approach to doing your best to serve your employer. The difficulty was that it was so easy to forget common sense when you found yourself flustered, angered, or in dire straits. If Esmeralda could put all the woman’s rules, suggestions, and knowledge to memory, perhaps one day she would be as successful with Polite Society as Miss Fortescue had been. But for now, that was a distant dream.
Esmeralda lowered the book and turned to face the fire. It was heavenly having warmth in the rooms again. She held one hand down to the fire, enjoying the heat against her skin. The small pieces of coal gave off an inviting glow.
The duke had given her the money for clothing and other items she would need to be properly dressed for her position as chaperone. Not for coal. But she hadn’t been able to resist the splurge when she discovered how much money was in the velvet pouch. Because she hadn’t used the ridiculously overpriced French modiste he’d suggested, Esmeralda had enough funds leftover to pay her coal debt and have more delivered.
With the help of Mrs. Chiddington from down the street, she had found a competent dressmaker who had acceptable fabrics, enough trimmings, and two daughters who helped her with the sewing. There would be no trouble getting the three gowns and matching velvet capes, two carriage dresses, gloves, unmentionables, and all the rest made in time for her departure to the duke’s house.
She’d had Josephine help her pick out ribbons, lace, and a strand of glass beads that looked a little like a string of pearls that she could use to adorn her hair for the balls. For daily outings to the park or afternoon card and tea parties she would make do with her black velvet bonnet and coat. They weren’t the height of fashion anymore but still in reasonably good condition.
She smiled to herself, found her place in the book once again, and continued her reading.“Don’t take part in the gossip of other household staff. Don’t listen to it and don’t repeat it. Do remember the lady of the house has entrusted her children into your care. Don’t disappoint her by giving wings to idle words or listening ears.”
The door to her office opened, so Esmeralda turned to greet whoever had come in and saw the Duke of Griffin striding inside. Much to her dismay, her first thought wasYes. He was the most handsome man on earth. Just the sight of him sent her heart whirling like a spinning wheel again. But the second thought that entered her mind was that he’d come back because he’d changed his mind about hiring her.
That knotted her stomach and clogged her throat with fear. If he no longer needed her, what was she going to do? She had very little left of the money he’d given her. Would he force her into a workhouse? What would happen to Josephine and Napoleon? They had no one else to care for them.
