The Bride's Necklace Read Free

nodded, grateful to have gotten even that far, but a few minutes later, when they returned to the front of the house, she was filled with an even deeper despair.
    “The butler was ever so nice,” Claire said. “I thought for certain this time—”
    “You heard what the housekeeper said. Lady Pithering is looking for someone older.” And there never seemed to be a job for a servant as lovely as Claire.
    Claire gnawed her bottom lip. “I’m hungry, Tory. I know you said we have to wait till supper, but my stomach is making all sorts of unladylike noises. Can’t we have a little something now?”
    Tory closed her eyes, trying to resurrect some of her earlier courage. She couldn’t stand the look in her sister’s eyes, the worry mingled with fear. She simply could not tell her they had spent their very last farthing, that until they found work of some kind they couldn’t buy so much as a dry crust of bread.
    “Just a bit longer, darling. Let’s try the place the housekeeper mentioned down the block.”
    “But she said Lord Brant doesn’t have any children.”
    “It doesn’t matter. We’ll take whatever jobs we can find.” She forced herself to smile. “I’m sure it won’t be for long.”
    Claire nodded bravely and Tory wanted to cry. She had hoped to take care of her younger sister. While Tory had often worked long hours at the day-to-day task of running Harwood Hall, Claire wasn’t used to the hard work done by a servant. Tory had hoped to spareher sister, but fate had led them to this dismal place in their lives and it looked as if they would have to do whatever it took to survive.
    “Which one is it?” Claire asked.
    “The big brick house just over there. Do you see those two stone lions on the porch? That is the residence of the earl of Brant.”
    Claire studied the elegant town house, larger than any other on the block, and a hopeful smile blossomed on her face.
    “Perhaps Lord Brant will be handsome and kind as well as rich,” she said dreamily. “And you shall marry him and both of us will be saved.”
    Tory flashed her an indulgent smile. “For now, let us simply hope the man is in need of a servant or two and willing to take us in.”
    But again they were turned away, this time by a short, bald-headed butler with thick shoulders and beady little eyes.
    Claire was crying by the time they reached the bottom of the stairs, which was a rare thing, indeed, and enough to make Tory want to cry along with her. Funny thing was, if Tory cried, her nose got all red and her lips wobbled. But with Claire, it just made her eyes look bigger and bluer and her cheeks bloomed with roses.
    Tory grabbed her reticule and began trying to dig out a handkerchief for Claire when one magically appeared in front of her face. Her sister accepted it gratefully. Dabbing it against her eyes, she turned her sweet, angelic smile upon the man who had provided it.
    “Thank you ever so much.”
    The man returned the smile as Tory could haveguessed he would. “Cordell Easton, earl of Brant, at your service, dear lady. And you would be…?”
    He was looking at Claire the way men had since she was twelve years old. Tory didn’t think he realized there was anyone else there but Claire.
    “I am Miss Claire Temple and this is my sister, Victoria.” Tory silently thanked God that Claire had remembered to use their mother’s maiden name, and ignored her sister’s disregard of the proper rules of introduction. The man was, after all, the earl, and they were desperately in need of his employment.
    Brant smiled at Claire but had to force himself to look in Tory’s direction. “Good afternoon, ladies.”
    “Lord Brant,” Tory said, hoping her stomach wouldn’t choose that particular moment to growl. Just as Claire had imagined, he was tall and exceedingly handsome, though his hair was dark brown and not blond, and his features were harder than one of Claire’s imaginary princes would have been.
    His shoulders were