Intrigue (Daughters of Mannerling 2) Read Free

smiled. ‘A great compliment, and I thank you.’
    ‘Mr Ducket, Sir William’s secretary, called on quarter-day to help my lady with the servants’ wages, and the maid, Betty, did hear him ask as to why you had not been paid and my lady said, “Perhaps later. Miss Trumble is on trial.” ’
    ‘Ah, as to that, I had no immediate need of money, having saved from my previous employ. But thank you for telling me this. I shall demand my wages immediately. There was no question of a trial, believe me.’
    Miss Trumble said good night to him and returned to the house. Bracing her shoulders, she went into the parlour where Lady Beverley was seated at her desk, going over the household accounts.
    ‘My lady,’ began Miss Trumble.
    Lady Beverley turned round and gave a gracious smile. In that moment, the ghost of a pretty young girl appeared behind her faded and discontented features, showing that she had once been as beautiful as her daughters.
    ‘I did not receive my wages on quarter-day, my lady.’
    Lady Beverley stood up and began to walk about the room, picking things up and then discarding them. ‘As to that,’ she said finally, ‘I understood you were here on trial, and I have not yet received your references.’
    ‘I was not aware that I was here on trial. Perhaps I should seek other employ?’
    ‘No, no,’ said Lady Beverley with a trace of petulance in her voice that showed she had realized she would have to pay the governess’s wages after all. She was proud of this elderly governess with her aristocratic air and manners, which Lady Beverley felt added to the family’s consequence. ‘I shall have the money for you in the morning. I would also like you to accompany us to this ball.’
    ‘In what capacity, my lady?’
    ‘Why, as chaperone to my girls.’
    ‘But you will be there yourself, and I have not been invited.’
    ‘No matter,’ said Lady Beverley haughtily. ‘I will send a note by Barry informing the Deverses that you will be accompanying us.’
    Miss Trumble was about to protest, but the protest died on her lips. She was suddenly curious to see for the first time this great mansion that held the Beverleys in thrall.
    Jessica peered round her bedroom door and watched the thin, erect back of the governess ascending to her room at the top of the house. She waited until the bobbing light of Miss Trumble’s bed-candle had disappeared around a turn in the stairs before she retreated into her room and firmly closed the door.
    ‘Now we can talk freely,’ she said to her sisters, who were sprawled about the room. ‘To be fair, one cannot expect such as a mere governess to understand our love of Mannerling. Do you think Mr Harry Devers will be fetched by the blue muslin or the white?’
    Rachel said, ‘I think you should borrow my silver overdress.’
    ‘But that is your favourite, besides being quite the prettiest thing you have.’
    Abigail, Rachel’s twin, said, ‘But it is you, Jessica, who is to marry Mr Devers and get our home back for us, so I think you should have the pick of what we have.’
    The others murmured their agreement.
    Lizzie looked around at her sisters. ‘If only we knew more about these Deverses. Barry could tell us, I am sure, but Mama says we are not to speak to him or to any of the other servants.’
    ‘Quite right, too,’ said Belinda languidly. ‘We had begun to forget our station in life.’
    ‘And yet,’ said Abigail, her fair hair glinting in the soft light from the oil-lamp, ‘servants’ gossip could be so useful. All we know is that the Deverses are very high in the instep.’
    ‘So are we,’ said Jessica. ‘It means they will not have vulgarized Mannerling like Mary and the dreadful Judd did.’
    ‘Try on your ball gown and let’s have a rehearsal,’ urged Lizzie.
    So, laughing and giggling, they helped Jessica into the white muslin gown and the silver gauze overdress. Abigail then acted the part of Harry Devers, and Jessica flirted so outrageously