Page 17 of The Pursuit of Mrs. Pennyworth
Mr. Baker did as she bid and waited. Beatrice appeared, and after instructing her on sending the notes, Charlotte asked her to show Mr. Baker the items.
She rested her head against the cushion and closed her eyes. Her lovely, peaceful life was spinning out of control. Must she now hide in her house? Afraid to leave lest she meet this man who tortured her so?
Within minutes, Mr. Baker returned, carrying the beribboned velvet package. She had no desire to ask what had happened to the dead rat. He laid the package on the table in front of the settee. “We need to see what is inside. Do you wish for me to open it somewhere else?”
She viewed it as if it would jump up and bite her. “No, you can open it here.” She had to stop being so missish. Mr. Baker was sitting right across from her. He began to untie the bow and she had the urge to cover her eyes like a small child but kept her hands in her lap.
Mr. Baker put the ribbon aside and opened the flaps of the cloth. Charlotte caught her breath. Sun streaming through the drawing room window reflected off a beautiful gold bracelet, with diamond and ruby stones. The workmanship on the piece was exquisite, each stone set perfectly. Nothing she owned came close to the beauty of the bracelet.
“Dear God, who would leave something like that on the front steps?” She looked up at Mr. Baker. “With a decapitated rat alongside it?”
She ran her hands up and down her arms. Hysterical laughter and the urge to scream overwhelmed her. “This man must be deranged.” Her shaky hand tucked the loose curl that had escaped her topknot. She turned her eyes from the table. “Throw it away.”
“If you wish to eventually throw it away, that is up to you, however, we might have our first solid clue here.” He reached out, tucked his knuckle under her chin, and turned her face toward him. “If we can track down the store that sold this, we have our man.”
Her chin shook as the tears gathered in her eyes. “Do you think so? Do you think this could possibly be over?”
Mr. Baker moved from his chair and joined her on the settee. She shifted forward but he put his arms around her and pulled her to his chest.
His warm, strong chest.
The tears fell lightly, at first, then the fear and shock of finding the grisly rodent let loose and she sobbed on the man’s jacket. It felt so good to be held, to be comforted. There had been no one when she’d escaped from Lord Barton, and no one to hug her when Gabriel had died.
She felt Mr. Baker fumbling, and then he handed her a handkerchief. “Yours is a bit soggy.”
A light laugh escaped her, and just like that her tears dried up. She dabbed her face with the handkerchief, and pulled away, casting her eyes away from him, embarrassed. “I must apologize for my lapse in manners, Mr. Baker. I will pay to have your jacket cleaned.”
He waved dismissively. “No need to concern yourself.” After a moment, as she tried to regain her dignity, he said, “Mrs. Pennyworth?”
“What?”
“Look at me.”
Taking a deep breath, she turned her head in his direction. This handsome, virile man sat here in her drawing room, ready to uncover who was distressing her. Yes, she was paying him, but she doubted holding a sobbing client was part of his services.
“I will find the person doing this to you, be sure of that. But there is one thing I must ask you, and I insist you answer me honestly.”
She wiped her nose. “What is that?”
“Are you keeping something from me? Is there anything at all in your background you need to tell me before I continue my investigation?”
* * *
The Master satin the large chair by the window, sipping sherry, thinking about the latest gift to Anne. Hopefully, the reminder left with the bracelet would impress upon her that she was being watched. She knew when The Master was not happy, and she would certainly know it now. Allowing that despicable man to escort her to the assembly! What was she thinking? Did she imagine The Master didn’t know? Didn’t see?
The piece of paper resting on the table next to the chair held the schedule of Anne’s events. Next would be a card party. The Master would be ready.
