Daring Deception Part 9

Mrs. Abbott nodded.

"He always made it a point to visit her and the child two or three times a year. It fair broke his heart when she died a few months ago--right before he succeeded to the t.i.tle, that was."

So! thought Frederica. He had apparently continued his relations.h.i.+p with the woman long after Christabel's birth--until fairly recently, in fact. But he had never married her, in spite of the child. No doubt she had been too poor to tempt him, she thought in disgust.

"He tried to keep the child's old nurse on, but she wanted more than he could afford, it seems,"

Mrs. Abbott continued.

"He even gave up his fancy women and entertainments for a time to pay rent on the house in the country after Miss Amity died, rather than neglect what he saw as his duty. When the nurse gave notice, he let the house go and brought the child here. Now that he's come about, though, I imagine he'll be his old self in no time. You know what young men are, miss." '

Frederica tried not to shudder at the thought of Lord Sea brooke--her fiance!

--keeping mistresses even while he had this child and her mother tucked away in the country somewhere.

This was worse than she had imagined! And as to his fortune. "You say he was without money only a month or two ago?" she asked.

"Why was that?"

The housekeeper nodded and leaned forward confidentially.

"It's really not my place to say, miss, but you must be able to hold your tongue or the master would never have hired you. The Alexanders were not a rich family. Master Gavin's father never had much, being the younger son, and what he did have he gambled away. I'd say it was a mercy he went to his reward before he could pauper his son completely."

"I take it you've been with the family for quite some time," observed Frederica. Mrs. Abbott was proving to be a valuable source of information, indeed.

"Since before Master Gavin--that's his lords.h.i.+p now--was born, miss. I came as housekeeper soon after his parents married, back when his grandfather, the 4th earl, was alive. Lord Edmund used to put on airs even then, I remember, the few times he visited."

"Lord Edmund?"

"Master Gavin's uncle, his father's elder brother. He and Mr. Alexander had a falling out soon after Master Gavin came into the world. After that, Lord Edmund wouldn't have nothing to do with his brother, nor Master Gavin, neither. But it seems Lord Edmund didn't do no better, for no money came to Master Gavin with the t.i.tle. Just more debts."

"No money?" asked Frederica looking about. "But this house, the furniture, all the servants-" "Don't you worry, miss, you'll get your wages," said Mrs.

Abbott reprovingly.

"His lords.h.i.+p's well enough off now. He's engaged to many an heiress, I hear, and did quite well out of the marriage settlement. The child, poor thing, is a bit of a skeleton in the family closet, you might say, so you can see why she must be kept a secret. I expect it's only till after the wedding."

"I ... I see." And she certainly did. So, all these fine trappings were being paid for with her money! He was nothing but a fortune-hunter! Thomas had said nothing about a marriage settlement, and she had never thought to ask. "What would happen to Lord Sea brooke were this heiress to cry off?"

she enquired sharply, earning a startled look from the housekeeper at her tone. She smoothed the resentment from her features, trying to appear only mildly curious. "There's not much left for him to sell," answered Mrs.

Abbott after a moment.

"This house is entailed, of course, along with the Brookeside estate, so he can't sell those. He might have to let most of the servants go, I suppose."

Her face puckered thoughtfully, then cleared.

"But I can't imagine that the lady would cry off. Word is she's some spinster from the country, for all she's rich, and surely any girl must count herself lucky to have landed such a handsome husband as his lords.h.i.+p." The housekeeper smiled fondly.

"In spite of his 'fancy women and his wild ways'?" Frederica struggled to keep her voice from shaking with fury.

"Ah, the n.o.bility don't look at these things the way you or I do, miss. They marry for reasons that have nought to do with love, nor even respect, often as not. The young lady trades her money for his lords.h.i.+p's name and t.i.tle, his position in Society.

"Tis common enough. No doubt she'll learn to look the other way, maybe event take a lover herself, if she's discreet. Though it's not what I'd want for Master Gavin," she said with a sigh.

"He'd do much better to forgo the money and find himself a wife he can love, and who will love him in return. He's had too lonely a life."

Frederiea had to bite her tongue to check all the scathing comments that rose to mind.

"But that's neither here nor there," said Mrs. Abbott with a brisk shake of her grey head.

"I.

came to tell you what's expected of you, not give the family history.

You are to take the child out into the garden only when no one else is about.

Cook knows about he rand his lords.h.i.+p's man, of course, but not the newer servants. You may have Thursday afternoons off, leaving her with me or Lucy.

When you're not busy with Christabel, you can make show of helping about the house to keep up the pretence of being a.s.sistant housekeeper, though you've no real duties there.

Any questions or complaints can be sent to his lords.h.i.+p through me. "

"I have one right now," said Frederica quickly as Mrs. Abbott stood, ready to leave. She had all the evidence she needed, but she felt an obligation of friends.h.i.+p, if nothing else, to Christabel.

"A child cannot exist in this mann eras I said before. She must have fresh air and suns.h.i.+ne. I intend to take her to the Park at least twice a week, and preferably daily. You may tell his lords.h.i.+p I said so."

If she were able to establish such a routine before she left, perhaps it would be continued with a new nanny. To that end, she decided she was willing to remain a few days, since she was obviously in no danger. That would also allow her to solidify her case against Lord Sea brooke, as Thomas might be reluctant to back down solely on the word of a servant.

Mrs. Abbott regarded her doubtfully.

"I'll tell him, miss, if you say so, but I can't think he'll like it. He's not in habit of being ordered about." Nor am I, thought Frederica fiercely.

Not by my brother and certainly not by such a rake as Lord Seabrookel To Mrs. Abbott, she only said, "I'm perfectly willing to discuss my intentions with his lords.h.i.+p if he finds it necessary, but I refuse to allow Christabel to suffer merely to protect his position in Society."

Mrs. Abbott shook her head and hurried out, no doubt to report most un favourably on the new nanny to her employer.

Frederica shrugged and went to admire the drawing that Christabel held up for her inspection.

"It's a lion," the little girl said, pointing out the rudiments of a mane and tail.

"Do you like it, Miss Chef... Chest... Chatterton?" The child's fumbling attempts at her name sounded alarmingly like her real one, prompting Frederica to say quickly,

"Why don't you just call me Cherry, Christabel? That will be easier, I think."

"Cherry. I like that," said Christabel with a satisfied nod.

"And so do I," came a deep voice from the doorway.

"May I call you by that name as well, Miss Cherrystone?"

Frederica whirled to see Lord Sea brooke striding into the nursery.

All that she had just learned from the housekeeper coloured her perception of him now, and she critically noticed that his eyes were slightly bleary and his hair tousled, doubtless signifying a late night on the Town.

As though to confirm her suspicion, he said, "I pray you will excuse my appearance. I have but this moment come in and have yet to make it to my bed, but I met Mrs. Abbott on the stairs and she insisted that I speak to you at once. Apparently we are at some variance over the routine to be followed."