A Lady for the Taking

by Bethany M. Sefchick

  What if the duke remained in the country and didn’t return to London for the rest of the Season? His spring house party had been a failure, at least in part, or so the gossips claimed. What if he chose to simply avoid Society and London completely until the Little Season arrived in the late fall? What would she do then?

  Penny had no idea and the very thought of failure made her sick to her stomach. She was also so busy worrying about what would become of her if she failed that she hadn’t noticed the heat radiating from her normally frigid rooms until she was already inside and could see a fire burning brightly in the grate. That meant someone was here. Someone who wasn’t supposed to be.

  Whirling around, Penny was half-afraid that she would see her uncle lurking about but to her relief, she was met by the sweet and kind face of Janie, her maid.

  Blowing out a breath, Penny placed a hand over her racing heart as if that might stop the organ’s mad and frantic beating in her chest.

  “Janie. You scared me. You shouldn’t be here.” Really, the maid shouldn’t be. Penny was terrified to think about what her uncle might do to both of them if he knew. After all, he was only willing to pay for part-time servants.

  To Penny’s surprise, the maid simply shrugged as if she didn’t care. “Your bastard uncle can go to the devil for all I care. The man is a miser and I’ll not leave you here another night on your own, miss! It isn’t safe, especially not with thieves running about!”

  Penny gulped. “Thieves?” Oh, Lord. That was the last thing she needed.

  “Thieves,” Janie confirmed as she motioned for Penny to turn around so she could begin undoing the tiny row of buttons down the back of Penny’s gown. “There are always thieves running about! Me mam heard all about these new ones at Lady Mobridge’s yesterday. Just two of them, but two is more than enough!” With practiced ease, the maid slid the undone gown down and over Penny’s hips so that she could step out of it. “She’s an upstairs maid there, you know.”

  In a daze, Penny shook her head. “I didn’t know. But that still doesn’t explain why you’re here.”

  “Because you’re alone and all of Lord Willfield’s servants know it and servants talk, especially those that aren’t paid well. Like us. As I said, your uncle is a right cheap bastard, just like his friend Lord Willfield. Other servants elsewhere know that you’re here alone too, and the suspicion is that the thieves are houseboys from other Mayfair homes. Makes you a right prime target.” Janie said all of this as if it should have been obvious to Penny, and to a woman who truly lived in the rarified world of the ton, it might have been. But it wasn’t to Penny. Nor did she much care about thieves since she had nothing of real value to steal.

  The more pressing concern is that others knew she was here alone.

  “Other people…know? That I’m here alone?” Penny wasn’t an expert on Society matters, but even a fool knew that if anyone caught wind of the fact that Penny lived alone in a sparsely furnished town home with part-time servants, she would be ruined. Or worse. More than that, she would be cast out of Society and her uncle would never have his revenge against Lord Fullbridge, at least not from her. She hated to imagine what would come after that.

  Janie nodded primly. “They do. But not so many that would talk. Still, you being here alone is dangerous.”

  “But I have nothing to steal!” Well, Penny did, but not much. The jewels she wore weren’t even hers. They were her uncle’s and she held no love for them, pretty as they were. Not to mention that the house was practically empty. If a thief or thieves could carry off one of the massive wardrobes scattered about bed chambers? Then so much the better for them, she supposed.

  The maid gave Penny a look that indicated that she believed the other woman to be a bit daft. “They don’t just steal things. At least that’s what the rumors say.”

  Meaning they took people, too. Janie didn’t have to say it; Penny knew. She had skirted close enough to that life a time or two, and she wasn’t a fool. She had heard the stories. Plenty of them.

  With the closure of The Golden Temple, a brothel that catered to the elite of the ton by providing them with fallen Society women for their pleasure, the previous year, other, far seedier places had taken the Temple’s place. Those places needed women to service the men who darkened their doors, too. Women like Penny who were just on the edges of Society, alone, vulnerable, and not likely to be missed at first when they vanished. Assuming they were missed at all.

  Janie had known this. How could Penny not have?

  Very easily. She hadn’t been paying attention.

  “I see.” Turning, Penny took the maid’s hands in hers. “Then thank you for coming back, Janie. But if my uncle finds out…”

  “Then he won’t, will he?” the maid replied tartly before she sighed. “Might I speak freely, miss?”

  “Of course.”

  Janie shook her head. “It’s not right what your uncle is doing, miss. Leaving you here alone like you’re some kind of trollop or loose woman. None of us think it’s right. So I decided to do something about it and me mam agrees. I refuse to leave you here alone. Not again.”

  “You don’t have to do this,” Penny insisted, resisting the strange impulse to hug the other woman. “I am fine.”

  “You’re not,” Janie countered as Penny’s stomach let out a loud growl. “You’re hungry for one thing and you aren’t taking proper care of yourself.” The maid held up a hand when Penny went to protest. “I don’t know why you’re here or why you’re alone, my lady. Whatever the reason is, it’s not my place to ask. But it is my place to keep you safe while you’re under this roof. I couldn’t live with myself if something happened to you. I just couldn’t.”

  Penny had no idea what to say and for a long time, she didn’t say anything. Finally, she sighed. “Thank you, Janie. Truly. You have no idea how much this means to me.”

  The maid sniffed, clearly uncomfortable with Penny’s thanks. “I’m just doing my job, miss.” Crossing to the other side of the room, the maid quickly returned with a small plate of food. “It’s just some meat and cheese, but I know you’re hungry. It’s about all I can manage with what was left in the kitchens today.”

  Penny was hungry. So hungry that she felt almost faint. After a lifetime in the country, keeping Town hours was difficult for her and she often went to bed hungry when she returned from a ball or other entertainment. At those places, she typically found that she was far too nervous to eat much of anything, even refreshments were offered. Not that they always were. Penny had also discovered that Society frowned on “a true lady” eating more than a few bites of anything, no matter how hungry she might be.

  This small repast, however humble, was all but worth its weight in gold just then.

  “Thank you, Janie. Again, I appreciate it.” Quickly Penny scarfed down the ham and cheese and was even more pleased when Janie presented her with a small mug of ale. After she had taken a long drink, she held up the mug. “But how did you know? Ladies don’t drink ale, or so I’m told.”

  This time, the maid laughed a bit more loudly. “Ah, my lady, while you might be of the Quality, there’s no mistaking that you grew up in the county and not here in London. And what country lass doesn’t like her ale?”

  “True enough,” Penny admitted with a rueful grin. Her stomach now full and grateful not to be alone any longer, she sighed and sank down onto the bed, looking around the partially furnished room as she did so.

  The furnishings here were of good quality, most of the items heavy antiques rather than more modern pieces. The room was sparsely furnished but not completely empty as most of the rest of the house was. She had a bed, a nightstand, dressing table, wardrobe, and washing area. There was a separate sitting room with a comfortable chair and a small table, which was serviceable if not very elaborate.

  Was this what her life was to be like after she seduced Lord Fullbridge, no matter the outcome? Or would her life only become worse if she failed in her task? Once more, the s
pecter of Harry Greer loomed large before her and Penny sighed again, though she sounded more wistful than she had anticipated.

  “Ah, I know that sound.” Janie, who had been busy hanging up Penny’s gown, stopped her chores for a moment. “You’ve met someone, haven’t you, miss? Or would you prefer I not pry? I know I’m overstepping horribly this evening.”

  “It’s alright, Janie,” Penny assured her. “And I did meet someone, though I know I should be wary of him for he’s not the someone I should be looking to snare for a husband. Or at least that’s what my uncle says.”

  “Who are you chasing, my lady? Perhaps if I knew his name, I could help you.” Penny could see that the maid was genuinely curious.

  “Lord Fullbridge.” She didn’t see the harm in revealing that much, and it wasn’t really as if it was a great secret.

  Or wouldn’t be if she could ever find him and begin her pursuit. Besides, this woman was in her uncle’s employ. It was quite possible she already knew of her uncle’s plan. Still, it would be wise of her to be cautious and not reveal too much. Though giving the maid Fullbridge’s name likely wouldn’t hurt anything. She just didn’t have to mention the whole “destroy the duke’s life” part of the plan

  “That prat?” The maid shook her head. “There’s not a lady in London who wants him for a husband. Oh, he doesn’t beat women or anything like that. Treats them like glass, though, he does. Any woman what marries him is in for a life stuck on a pedestal and being treated as if she might break.”

  “Oh.” Penny hadn’t known that about Fullbridge. “Well, he is the man my uncle thinks I should wed, and has sent me here to, well, trap him into marriage, for lack of a better word.” There was no real reason not to take the maid into her confidence, especially since she likely already knew the truth. “I’ve yet to meet the man and my uncle swears no other gentleman will do, but tonight? Well, I met someone else. I’m just not certain if he is the right sort of gentleman.”

  Actually, Penny wasn’t sure that Harry Greer was a gentleman at all. Though Janie might know.

  Janie snorted and resumed her task. “If he’s a randy old lord, then I agree with your uncle for once, miss. Men like that don’t follow the same rules the rest of us mere mortals do.”

  “He’s not a peer,” Penny said quickly as she toyed with the belt on her dressing gown. “Well, he’s the son of a peer, or so rumors say, but he’s not…”

  “He’s a bastard then?” Janie finished for her as she gave the lavender gown one final pat before moving on to store Penny’s jewels in their proper cases.

  Penny shrugged and picked up the nightrail that Janie had laid out for her. “I think so, but I’m not certain.” She stripped out of her gown and pulled the garment over her head. It was still chilly in here, despite the roaring fire. Or maybe she was simply always cold these days. “Actually, he’s a rather famous Bow Street Runner. A Mr. Harry Greer. Perhaps you’ve heard of him.”

  In response, Janie let out a long, low whistle. “Indeed, I have, miss and he’s something of a legend, he is. Don’t know there’s a person in London what doesn’t know of him.”

  “Go on.” Not only was Penny intrigued now, but she was also elated. Here was someone who could likely provide her with the real truth about the man who had set her body ablaze this evening while turning her brain into a pile of irrational fears at that same time. “Is he a good man?”

  Or did he toy with women the way most men in power did? Was he toying with her? Was she some kind of game to him? And if she was, why? Why did he care?

  “All the papers say he’s the best sort of man, miss.” Janie snapped one of the jewelry boxes closed. “A gentleman to his core, but without a title. They say he acts more like a nobleman than most of the nobility, a true feat considering he’s rumored to be close friends with the Bloody Duke.” The maid shivered and crossed herself. “That man scares me, he does, even though they say he’s a perfect lamb to his wife.”

  Penny decided that the “they” Janie kept referring to were likely gossip rags. Even in Cumbria, papers like The Town Tattler had eventually reached her little corner of the world. Some of them had even contained the latest on-dits about one Mr. Harry Greer on occasion.

  “So he’s not a nobleman but moves among them.”

  “Friends with all of them,” the maid confirmed with a nod. “But he should be a full part of their world. Rumor had it his mam was a maid in Viscount Westerly’s house and the two were in love. But he was married and his wife didn’t like him messing with the staff, if you take my meaning, even though she never allowed him into her own bed. They say that when his wife fired his lover, the man turned mean and said his wife and his lover were conspiring against him or something just as wild.” The maid shook her head. “They say Mr. Greer was born five months after his mam left the Westerly house but the viscount refused to acknowledge him. Mostly out of spite. Ten months later, his wife finally gave birth to a daughter. And has given the miserable old man nothing but daughters in the years since. No heir. Again, supposedly out of spite.”

  So the rumors were true, or they most likely were. Harry was the bastard son of a peer. And he had connections. In Penny’s opinion, that made him even more dangerous. If he could move between both worlds with relative ease, he could find out her secrets far more easily than if he was merely confined to one world or the other – nobility or servant.

  Damn her bad luck, anyway!

  “That would explain his charm,” Penny admitted ruefully. “Not to mention some of his comments.”

  Janie laughed as she finished putting away Penny’s things. “They say he can charm the birds right out of the trees, miss. I’ve not been fortunate enough to meet him, but Anna, the scullery maid here has and she swears all the gossip is true. Plus, he’s handsome to boot!”

  Unbidden, a pair of vivid blue eyes flashed through Penny’s mind. Harry’s eyes. Eyes that saw more than she wanted them to see. Eyes that looked deep into her soul and made her burn.

  “He is handsome,” she agreed with the maid, “but he’s not for me.”

  “He could be,” Janie countered with another shrug. “If you don’t mind me saying, miss, the two of you seem much the same in many ways. At least from what I know.”

  Unfortunately, as Janie had spoken, Penny had come to the same conclusion. Harry was very much like her. Neither of them truly belonged to the world of the nobility but they were more than servants. Rather, they were stuck somewhere in between.

  All the more reason to avoid him, Penny supposed. Before he became too curious about her. Or too interested. Even though the idea of kissing a man like Harry, or rather Harry himself, held far more appeal for her than it should have.

  “Perhaps,” Penny finally said as she prepared to climb into bed, her body weary from dancing and sated now from having finally eaten. “But that is for tomorrow.” She was about to dismiss the maid but then remembered something that Harry had said earlier. “Oh, Janie. Do you know about the Gray Ladies?”

  Once more, the maid beamed. “Indeed, I do, miss. I’m hoping to join their ranks soon. I’m in training right now.”

  “Could you possibly contact someone, maybe someone you know in Lord Berkshire’s household, and see if I might employ one?” Penny sighed wearily. Oh, how she wished to be done with this nonsense. “If anyone finds out that I am here alone…”

  “I’ll take care of it first thing tomorrow, miss,” Janie assured her as she started for the door. “I know it’s none of my business, miss, as to why you’re here alone and all, but if you ever want to talk…”

  Oh, how Penny wanted to take the maid up on her offer, but she didn’t dare. It would be a relief to unburden herself, but she couldn’t take the chance. What if Janie was working for Uncle Charles, despite what she had said? That was a risk Penny couldn’t take, no matter how much she wanted to do so.

  “Thank you, Janie,” Penny finally said, “but I’m fine. I’m always fine.”

  Except that P
enny wasn’t always fine. She was rarely fine. She just couldn’t risk anyone learning that. Especially not one Mr. Harry Greer.

  Chapter Four

  Town Tattler

  Apparently, Lady Covington’s fete was THE place to be last evening. Drama! Scandal! Intrigue! The Covington ball had all of that and more, or so I am told. Not that I was there, mind you. Or perhaps I was. Either way, it does not signify. Nor is it important.

  What is important to note is that several young ladies of the ton were caught out acting oddly last evening. First, Lady Priscilla Trew, who for some inexplicable reason left her dunderheaded brother Lord Fullbridge to sulk in the country, was also in attendance. Several people swore they witnessed the lady in question speaking with an unknown man in a shadowy alcove. But was that man Lord Noah Acton, the Earl of Snowly or Dr. Nathaniel Longford? Unfortunately, I cannot say either way for no one had a clear look at the man’s face.

  Later, Lady Dory Tillsbury – yes, of that Tillsbury family! – was seen fleeing the ball as if her hair were on fire. Which, I can assure you, dear readers, it was not. Though another part of her might very well have been inflamed, though I cannot say for certain. Is her romance with our favorite Bow Street Runner at an end? And is there another gentleman waiting in the wings to take his place?

  Speaking of Mr. Harry Greer – because we were, weren’t we? – he was spotted speaking with Lady Julia Radcliffe for a good part of the evening. While they are old friends, one wonders why they did not wed and, if Lady Dory was indeed running from Mr. Greer, what does that say about his suitability as a potential husband? Or has he simply not found the right lady yet? After all, he was later seen waltzing with a newcomer to Town, Lady Penelope Marshwood. Excuse me, Lady Penny. They looked quite cozy and spent a bit more time chatting than was proper, but I have my doubts on that score. Word on Bond Street is that Miss Marshwood has her sights set a bit higher. Perhaps even a duke? We will all simply have to wait and see.