With This Ring Read Free Page A

own. It’s in the decanter.”
    “In that fancy little bottle, is it?” Sally eyed the small crystal decanter dubiously. “I reckon it’ll do.” She poured herself a hefty draft and swallowed half of it in one gulp. “Mais o ui. ‘
    Vastly relieved, the maid bent to the task of arranging the toast and slices of cold fish pie.
    “Bloody’ell.” Sally took another sip from her glass and collapsed on a chair in front of the fire. “I thought we would never get here, ma’am. What with that highwayman and the storm. Ye’d think some diabolical supernatural forces were at work tryin’to keep us away from this place, nest-ce pas?” “Don’t be ridiculous, Sally.”
    The dishes on the tea tray clattered loudly. Beatrice heard a small, startled gasp.
    “Oh,” the maid whispered. “Sorry, ma’am.”
    Beatrice glanced at the girl and saw that she was young. No more than sixteen at the most. “Is something wrong?’
    “No, ma’am.” The maid hastily adjusted the plates and straightened the pot of jam. “Nothing’s wrong.-
    Beatrice frowned. “What is your name?” “Alice, ma’am.’
    “You look as if you’ve just seen a ghost, Alice. Are you ill?”
    “No. Honest, ma’am.” Alice wiped her hands nervously on her apron. “‘I’m healthy as a horse, as me ma would say. Really I am.”
    “I’m delighted to hear that.”
    Sally eyed Alice with a considering look. “She looks scared to death if ye ask me.”
    Alice drew herself up proudly. “I’m not scared of anything.”
    “Au contrary,” Sally said grandly. “Au contraire,” Beatrice murmured. “Au contraire,” Sally dutifully repeated.
    Alice looked at Sally with great curiosity. “Cook says yer a fancy French lady’s maid. Is that true?” “Absolument.’ Sally glowed with pride. “Back in Lon-
    don all the fine ladies prefer to hire French maids, just like they prefer French dressmakers and hatmakers and such.’ “Oh.” Alice was suitably impressed.
    Beatrice frowned. “Alice, surely you do not fear your master’s reaction to my unexpected visit here tonight. In spite of what the butler said, I cannot believe his lordship would blame his staff for my presence under his roof.”
    “No, ma’am,” Alice said quickly. “It ain’t that. I’ve only worked here for a few weeks, but I know that his lordship wouldn’t blame me for somethin’ that wasn’t my fault. Everyone knows he’s peculiar-” She broke off, obviously horrified by her own words.
    “Peculiar?” Sally prompted sharply. “Que cest?’ Alice’s face turned a very bright shade of red. “Well, he is one of the Mad Monks. Me ma says his father and his grandfather were odd too, but I never meant-”
    Beatrice took pity on her. “Calm yourself, Alice. I promise not to tell his lordship that you called him peculiar.” Alice struggled valiantly to undo the damage. “What I meant to say is that everyone on Monkcrest lands knows that the Mad Monks take care of their own. They be good lords, ma’am.”
    “Then you need not fear his temper.” Beatrice smiled. “But just in case anyone in this household has a few concerns on the subject, rest assured that I fully intend to explain matters to your master. When I have finished meeting with him, he will comprehend everything perfectly.”
    Alice’s eyes widened. “But, ma’am, he already does. Know everything perfectly, I mean.’
    Sally glowered at her. “What the bloody’ell do ye mean by that?”
    Alice did not appear to notice the lapse into English cant. Awe mingled with excitement on her young face. “I heard Finch tell Cook that when he went to inform his lordship that you were here, the earl already knew that you had arrived.”
    “Quel amazing,” Sally whispered. Beatrice was amused. “Astonishing.”
    “Yes, ma’am. It was the most amazing thing. Finch said his lordship knew everything about your visit. That you’d come all the way from London and that you had a French lady’s maid and that