Daring Deception Part 5

Miss Milliken regarded her onetime charge thoughtfully. Perhaps there was something to what Frederica said. If there really were something to be found to the man's discredit, she could be counted upon to discover it, for she had the strongest of motives. And if there were not-well, what better way for her to get to know her future husband? Miss Milliken nodded slowly.

"I'll see what I can arrange," she said.

CHAPTER THREE.

"Are You certain that you still wish to do this?" asked Miss Milliken as she opened the large trunk she had retrieved from the attic. "Yes, yes of course!"

replied Frederica eagerly.

She had been able to think of little else during the past two days.

Until now, her existence had been so ordered, so routine, that the prospect of spying on Lord Sea brooke had taken on the aspect of a major adventure.

"Have you arranged for me to receive an interview?"

"I have. At eleven o'clock this morning. The position open is for that of housekeeper's a.s.sistant, as Mrs. Long mentioned. Your work will not be easy, I fear."

"As it was at Maple Hill?" asked Frederica mockingly.

Miss Milliken smiled.

"You're right. You should be well prepared, actually. Now, we must take thought for your disguise. I believe there may be a few useful items in here."

Frederica looked in surprise at the jumble of things in the trunk.

"Gracious! Wherever did to fill. Otherwise, well, we must hope that the freckles and spectacles will provide enough protection."

"Protection from what?" asked Frederica innocently.

Miss Milliken hesitated.

"From improper advances," she finally said.

"I suppose you should know that Mrs. Long thought it probable that Lord Sea brooke was looking for a young woman to perform completely different duties from those of a.s.sistant housekeeper. To be blunt, she felt that he may be looking for a live-in mistress."

"Oh!" Frederiea's cheeks grew hot beneath the concealing freckles.

"I--I had not thought of that!" She rallied quickly, however.

"But if that is the case, surely it will be enough to convince Thomas. He can scarcely expect me to marry a man who would engage a mistress to live in his very house!" She glanced again at her reflection.

"And you are right--I scarcely look that part. I should be safe enough."

Miss Milliken devoutly hoped so.

Lorn> S~a~Room~ chafed at spending yet another morning at home when he would far rather be looking over the new Thoroughbreds Tattersall had got in just yesterday. With the settlement he had received from his betrothal to Sir Thomas Chesterton's sister, he could well afford to replace the old hack he had been riding for the past year. In fact, he was finding his sudden wealth a boon in ways he had not foreseen. No longer did he have to send his valet to p.a.w.n one of the few remaining pieces of his mother's jewellery every time he wished to purchase a new coat. Nor did he have to content himself with a single stringy cutlet for dinner each night before going out to the gaming h.e.l.ls in hopes of picking up a few pounds to see him through the next week.

Now he could afford decent meals, served in the elegant dining-room that he had previously used only for entertaining. He had been able to hire a butler, to the great relief of his valet, who no longer had to double in that capacity, as well as a footman and two new maids to a.s.sist his long-suffering housekeeper. It was another, very necessary, addition to his staff that kept him at home this morning. He had thought it a clever idea to advertise for an a.s.sistant housekeeper to keep the world in the dark as to his real requirement, but that pretence was making it deuced difficult to find the right woman for the job he had in mind. Mrs. Abbott had told him last night that she could not continue with things as they were for much longer and he knew that she was right. He fervently hoped that this next applicant might be what he was looking for.

CI. 12TCHING HER SHEAF of false references, Frederica let fall the knocker at Lord Sea brooke's imposing Town house. The door was opened at once by a portly butler who looked down his nose at her.

"I am Miss Erica Cherrystone, come to apply for the post of a.s.sistant housekeeper," she said, using the name she and Miss Milliken had agreed upon.

"I have an eleven o'clock appointment with Lord Sea brooke."

"Of course, miss. Right this way." The butler motioned for her to precede him, with a gleam in his eye that made Frederica unaccountably nervous.

"His lords.h.i.+p is awaiting you in the library."

For a moment Frederica considered retreating, but quickly chastised herself for being such a craven. If she allowed herself to be frightened by the man's butler, she would never manage a confrontation with Lord Sea brooke himself! Reminding herself why she was there, she lifted her chin and opened the library door. Gavin put away the watch he had been checking as the door opened. This one was punctual, at least. As she crossed the room towards him, he doubtfully examined this newest applicant. The girl was unremarkable, her mousy brown hair caught up in a conservative chignon and her serviceable grey gown years out of fas.h.i.+on. In spite of the spectacles, which lent her a studious air, he thought she looked rather young for the position of responsibility he had in mind.

"Pray have a seat, Miss Cherrystone," he said with a sigh. He feared that this one would be no better than the others.

"You have references, I presume. May I see them?"

"Of course, my lord," she replied. At her voice, Sea brooke looked up sharply.

"Would you be so kind as to read me a pa.s.sage from that book on the table beside you?" he asked as she proffered the papers. Showing none of the surprise that previous applicants had evidenced at the odd request, Miss Cherrystone picked up the volume and opened it.

"Any pa.s.sage in particular?" she asked.

"You may start at the beginning. I shall tell you when to stop," he replied.

He picked up the references she had brought and leafed through them as she read the opening paragraphs of Walter Scott's latest novel.

"That will do," he said before she could turn the page.

"Your speech is rather better educated than I would have expected from your background." He indicated the in front of him "I was raised in a genteel household, my lord," said Frederica, glad that Milly had thought of a story to account for that apparent anomaly.

"It was not until my parents died that I was forced to seek work. As a girl, I received an excellent education."

"Ah, yes. Well, that would explain it." Lord Sea brooke leaned back in his chair and finished reading through the references while Frederica studied him thoughtfully. She had to admit that he was every bit as handsome as she had been told. Thick waves of chestnut hair fell carelessly across a n.o.ble brow, his features were aristocratic without appearing harsh, and his eyes were a startlingly bright blue. She wondered, though, where he had come by his reputation for charm. Perhaps he did not deign to waste it on the hired help, she thought sourly.

Just then he looked up from the papers and smiled. Oh/ She fought the urge to respond with a melting smile of her own, keeping her face prim and rigid.

"Miss Cherrystone, I believe you may be just the person I have been looking for. Tell me, can you be discreet? The person I hire for this position must be able to keep her own counsel."

"Discreet?" Mrs. Long's suspicions came surging back to her mind.

"I.

am no gossip, if that is what you mean, my lord," she said carefully.

Lord Sea brooke ros~ and came around the desk to sit next to her, revealing a slight limp as he traversed the short distance. Placing one hand on the arm of her chair, he leaned towards her confidentially. Frederica became aware of the clean, masculine scent of him.

"You see, Miss Cherrystone, the post I wish you to fill is not precisely that of a.s.sistant housekeeper, in spite of my advertis.e.m.e.nt."

"It... it isn't?" she asked weakly. She knew that she should be rejoicing that she was obtaining proof of his debauchery so easily, but somehow his close proximity was making it difficult for her to think clearly. Glancing down, she noticed the dark hairs curling on the back of his hand, a hand that appeared remarkably strong. "No. It is a position of far greater responsibility and... delicacy."