For the last six years, Jeannie had worked for Aunt Gabby, the past two as Lee's personal maid. The relationship had turned into a friendship that Lee had come to cherish.
"I like the turquoise, as well," Lee agreed, not really caring what she wore to General Stevens's military ball she and her aunt would be attending with Colonel Wingate that night.
Lee flicked a glance at her maid. "I was wondering, Jeannie, if I could ask you something."
Jeannie stopped fussing with the gown. "Of course, chérie. What is it you wish to know?"
"There is a man I have met…"
Jeannie rolled her eyes. "A man? You meet legions of men every night, n'est-ce pas?"
"Yes, but this one is different. He has no wealth, no social position, nothing to recommend him, and yet I find him infinitely attractive. I wondered if… well, what you would think about taking such a man for a lover."
One of Jeannie's brown eyebrows shot up. "Your aunt Gabriella… you know she would not approve."
"I'm well aware of that. She wants me to choose a man of distinction, someone with money, perhaps even a title. She thinks that will make me happy."
"What do you think, chérie?"
"I don't really care about those things."
Jeannie reached over and squeezed her hand. "I believe in the end, you will 'ave to choose a man who can provide certain things for you, a man who moves among those with the same kind of wealth that you have been raised with. But you are young yet. Though your aunt has kept the secret well guarded, you are an innocent where men are concerned. If you want this man—if 'e can lead you into the world of passion that will be so big a part of your future, then I think you should 'ave 'im." Jeannie smiled. "Every woman deserves one man who can give 'er the dreams of 'er heart."
"Even if those dreams can't last?"
The older woman nodded. "Oui, chérie. Especially if those dreams cannot last."
Lee turned to stare out the window, her mind swollen with turbulent thoughts. "I shall think about it, Jeannie. My birthday is only a few weeks away. It is past time I began to make a life of my own. It seems the only way a woman my age is allowed to do that is either to marry or choose a man who will act as a protector. I've promised my aunt and I intend to keep my word. But perhaps between now and then, I can choose something for myself."
Jeannie smiled. "Do whatever it is your 'eart tells you. I lost my Robert, but for a time I loved him and 'e loved me. I would not trade the short time we 'ad together."
Lee thought of Caleb Tanner. Jacob would be returning soon and Caleb would be moving on.
Perhaps in a way, he would make the perfect lover.
8
« ^ »
"I am terribly sorry to disturb you, miss, but there is a Mrs. Hickam here to see you." Jones, the butler, stood perfectly erect, pale skin showing in the part through the middle of his hair.
"Thank you, Mr. Jones. I'll speak to her in here, if you please." Annie Hickam was here? Had the poor thing walked all the way from Buford Street? If she had, the matter must be important. Lee's heart kicked worriedly into gear.
Jones made an elegant bow, making the curls bob next to his ears. Departing the Cirrus Room, he returned a few minutes later with "Mrs." Annie Hickam in tow. She was staring upward as she walked in, awed by the chandeliers and the scene of cherub-filled clouds in a blue sky painted on the ceiling.
"Gor—ain't this bloomin' grand!" She spun herself around to look at the room from different angles, her simple brown skirt belling out around the scuffed brown shoes on her feet.
"Hello, Annie. It's good to see you." Lee greeted her with a smile and reached for her hand and for the first time Annie seemed to realize where she was.
"Afternoon, Miss," she said, looking a little embarrassed. "Thanks for lettin' me in."
"I'll admit I'm a little surprised you have traveled so far from the city. Is everything all right?"
Annie released a weary breath. "I don't know, Miss. That's why I come."
"Why don't we sit down and I'll have Mr. Jones bring us some tea."
Annie shook her head, self-consciously toying with the cuff on her plain white blouse. "Oh, no, Miss, I wouldn't want to be a bother."
"It's all right. I promise it's no trouble at all." She motioned to the butler, who still stood guard at the door, and he turned and disappeared down the hall. As soon as Jones slipped out of sight, Lee urged Annie over to one of the cream brocade sofas. The tall woman sank down wearily onto the seat.
"All right," Lee said. "Now tell me what has upset you enough to travel all the way across London."
"It's Mary, Miss. She's gone."
"Gone? What do you mean? Gone where?"
"That's just it. None of us has the slightest notion. The last time we seen her was three nights past. Mary went to bed like the rest of us. She was already in her room when I doused the lamp next to little Jilly's cradle. Next mornin', Mary wasn't there. We thought maybe she got up early and left to visit friends, but if she did, she never come back."
"Have you spoken to the authorities?"
"Yes, Miss. Only just this mornin' before I left town. The night watch promised to keep an eye out, but I can tell ya, Miss, I am fearful. This ain't like our Mary… not a'tall."
A noise in the hall diverted Lee's worry for an instant. She watched Jones roll the tea cart into the salon, thinking no, this isn't like Mary at all. She was a sweet girl, rather shy, and not one to go off on her own. She had been easy prey for young Freddie Hully—and she was still desperately in love with him.
"I can't imagine where she might have gone," Lee said, walking toward the tea cart. "If she'd had enough money, she might have followed Freddie—not that it would have done her any good."
"No, Miss. The boy was up to no good where poor Mary was concerned."
Lee began to pour the tea, catching the flowerlike scent of the chamomile. "I'll take you back to the city and speak to the authorities myself. My aunt can consult Lord Claymont. Perhaps he'll be able to help."
"Thank ya, Miss. Rose, Sarah, Helen, and me—we knew ya would help us."
It was several hours later that Vermillion returned to Parklands from her trip into town, no less frustrated than Annie had been. The Magistrates' Office refused to believe anything untoward had occurred. They had found no sign of Mary, neither dead nor injured. No body meant no crime. In a way, Lee was grateful for the hope that provided.
She had spoken to Aunt Gabby, of course, who had little interest in the house in Buford Street but had always been supportive. Gabriella was sad to think that one of the poor girls might have fallen into even worse trouble than she had faced already.
Her aunt's concern only heightened Lee's worry.
Restless and unable to clear her disturbing thoughts, she dressed in a cinnamon serge riding habit and made her way out to the stables. Noir and two other of Parklands's Thoroughbreds were already on the road to Newmarket. They'd had to hire a walker, a big man named Jack Johnson, to get the horses there, but the three racing days were important and the stakes were high, a prize that would be poured back into the development of the stable.
Parklands didn't race many horses, but Lee was proud to say the few they owned were winners.
Tomorrow morning, Caleb Tanner and Jimmy Murphy would be leaving for the event and the following day she and her aunt would make the journey.
The sun was high as Lee stood next to the fence, watching the mares and colts romp playfully in the field, but her mind kept returning to Mary and her worry that something dreadful might have occurred.