Two servants were standing at the foot of the stairs, patiently waiting for instructions. After briefly meeting their gaze, she tucked her head down. There was no doubt in her mind that they would be sharing the news of her arrival with the rest of the staff. She could only imagine what they would say and what they were thinking about Reid’s friendship with her.
“Erin and Benjamin, this is Rosalind, the woman I’m sure you have heard might be arriving. She’ll be staying with us for a time. Rosalind, Erin is our parlor maid. Benjamin is my valet.”
To Rosalind’s amazement, both Erin and Benjamin greeted her with warm smiles. “We’re glad you’re here, Miss Rosalind,” Erin said. “May I show you to your room?”
“Oh! Well, I . . .”
“I think I had better take things over now,” announced a regal-looking woman who was walking toward them.
“Rosalind, may I introduce my mother, Mrs. Armstrong? Mother, this is Miss Pettit. Rosalind.”
“Rosalind, welcome. Erin, go ask Mrs. Young to prepare a tray for our guest and bring it right into the drawing room.” Erin curtsied and hurried off.
“Rosalind,” Reid said, “we need to know where to retrieve your bag.”
“My suitcase is at Mrs. Kingston’s establishment. It is located just a block south of the transit station.”
All three of them—the valet, Reid, and Mrs. Armstrong—stared at her in dismay.
“You stayed there last night?” Reid asked. “By yourself?”
“It was safe enough.”
“The area is dangerous.”
She didn’t even try to pretend that she hadn’t been worried or afraid. “It was the best I could do,” she explained. “I was asked to leave Sloane House around four o’clock. One place was already full when I went there, and the next didn’t want a person like me staying there.”
“A person like you?” Mrs. Armstrong said.
Aware of Reid’s valet still standing close by, she murmured, “It is obvious that I am not a lady, ma’am. Apparently to some, I am not even respectable.”
“Let us not think anymore about that place,” Mrs. Armstrong said briskly. “Benjamin, please go for the bag. You’d best take John with you.”
“Yes, ma’am,” he said before turning away.
Looking at her like she was more fragile than the most elegant china, Reid took her arm and led her into the drawing room. “Now, it’s time for you to sit and relax. After you have something to eat and you freshen up, you can tell us all about your sister and what happened at the Sloanes’. All right?”
It all sounded beyond agreeable. With a weary smile she nodded. “Yes, Mr. Armstrong. That sounds just fine.”
CHAPTER 27
Two hours later, after a much-appreciated opportunity to freshen up and after eating from a tray full of sandwiches and drinking two fortifying cups of hot tea, Rosalind told Reid and his mother everything she could.
For the most part, they listened without interrupting. The only time they spoke was when one of them asked to clarify her story or to ask her for her feelings about Douglass or Veronica.
At last, Mrs. Armstrong leaned back and shook her head in wonder. “My goodness, Rosalind. You have certainly had quite an adventure.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“I want you to rest for a day or so and let the rest of us do a bit of investigating.”
“Oh no, ma’am. I’m afraid I couldn’t do that.”
“I beg your pardon?”
“Though Reid, I mean, Mr. Armstrong, invited me to be a guest here, I couldn’t stay out of charity. I’d really like to earn my keep.”
“It’s a big home, dear. There is plenty of room for you.”
“No—”
“It would be a great service to us all if you could sit with my father, who is ill,” Reid interjected smoothly. “Could you do that? He doesn’t care for his nurse.” His voice warmed. “If you could sit with him, help him get his meals, perhaps play cards or read to him from time to time? That would help us all immensely.”
“Of course I would be happy to do that. But I could also work in the kitchens or help—”
“Definitely not,” Mrs. Armstrong interjected. “My staff won’t know what to think about you being down in the kitchens. In addition, I have a full staff at the moment. All the chores and duties are being covered.”
Rosalind knew what Mrs. Armstrong said was true. As much as she ached to not be a burden, she also was now very aware of how a big household was run. Catering to her need to feel useful would not help anyone but her. It would actually disturb the well-run balance that already existed. “I understand.”