Silk and Shadows(140)

In the spring Jane would be presented to society, so most of the afternoon was spent poring over fashion books and arguing about what styles would look best on her tall frame. Eliza entered into the discussion wholeheartedly, for she had missed such feminine chatter.

When the last fashion book was closed, Jane said casually, "Eliza, I saw your almost stepmother today when Mama took me to Bond Street. When Lady Sara saw Mama and me, she looked as if she thought we would give her the cut direct for jilting Uncle Charles. But of course Mama would never do that to Lady Sara." Jane was about to add that her mother had said Lady Sara was better off not marrying Charles Weldon, but remembered in time that such a thing should not be repeated in front of Eliza.

Eliza lifted her head eagerly. "How is Lady Sara?"

"She looked rather tired. Perhaps she had done too much shopping. But she was very civil." Jane's face showed longing. "I wish I knew how Lady Sara manages that look of quiet elegance."

Ignoring the latter comment, Eliza asked, "Did she come up just for the day, or is she staying in town for a while?"

"She mentioned that she was staying at Haddonfield House," Jane replied. "That probably means she is here for two or three days, and doesn't want to bother opening her own house."

"I would like so much to see her," Eliza said wistfully.

Lucy gave her a stern look. "You can't. Uncle Charles had Mama tell every servant in the house that you can't have any contact with Lady Sara. Even if she called here, you wouldn't be allowed to see her." Lucy was something of a prig.

"I think that sounds positively Gothic," Anne said.

"It is because Uncle Charles's heart is broken," Jane said wisely. "Broken hearts make one do strange things. I thought I would go mad when Mama discharged Signore Carlo."

The sisters began lamenting the loss of Signore Carlo, a handsome music master, who had been banished after being caught kissing a maid. Eliza was silent. She must not waste this chance to see Lady Sara. Of course, a young lady shouldn't go out alone, but Haddonfield House was only two blocks away, and what could possibly happen in Mayfair in broad daylight?

She would slip out in the morning, Eliza decided, after breakfast and before lessons started. She'd wear her plainest dress and cloak so people would think she was just a servant. It would only take a few minutes to reach Haddonfield House. While Eliza would prefer a long visit with Lady Sara, the most important things could be said quickly. Eliza would be home before anyone missed her.

* * *

Jenny Miller had spent a fortnight in Haddonfield House before Lady Sara's marriage, and everything and everyone in the place had scared her half to death, especially the butler. Now that she'd lived at Sulgrave and the prince's London house, she was a lot harder to scare.

Which was good, because the other servants kept teasing her to find out why Lady Sera was back with her father rather than with her husband. But Jenny never said a word to the nosy biddies.

She wished they were back in the country, and not only because Benjamin was there. Poor Lady Sara missed her husband so much that she looked as if she'd swallowed hot coals.

Of cours, she wouldn't talk about what had happened, so Jenny was dying of curiosity. How had two people who were half-crazy about each other come to such a pass when they should still be on their honeymoon? It was a depressing question for a young lady who was herself considering an offer of marriage.

Having served Lady Sara a breakfast of tea and toast that wouldn't keep a sparrow alive, Jenny had a spot of tea herself. She sipped from the cup while watching out the window of Lady Sara's sitting room, which overlooked the street in front of the mansion. Partly that was because Jenny never tired of watching the fancy carriages and fancy people of Mayfair. She also couldn't help hoping that she'd see Prince Peregrine drive up, or Benjamin. Better yet, both of them.

She had just finished her tea and was about to move away when her eye was caught by an odd scene in the street below. A girl had just started up the steps of Haddonfield House, when a rough-looking man came by and asked her something. The girl turned to answer. Then the girl was sagging in the man's arms, though Jenny didn't see what had happened. An old hackney pulled up beside them, and the first man got in with the girl.

Jenny frowned. In a different part of town, she would have been right worried about the girl. Even in Mayfair, she couldn't help wondering if something was wrong. But the girl had spoken to the man, so maybe she knew him.

Briefly Jenny wondered if she should tell Lady Sara what she had seen, but decided against it. It was too late to do anything, because the hack was already out of sight, and it looked just like a thousand other hacks. No point in upsetting her mistress unnecessarily, especially when nothing could be done.