LITMIR.BIZ

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of course, my lord. I would be delighted to go driving.’ Bree made her curtsy to the gentleman opposite them and prepared to step out to take his hand. ‘I do not, however, consider that you require any further practice in the exercise of that other talent you mentioned.’

      Max found he was grinning broadly and hastily got his face back under control before the young lady opposite decided she was about to be partnered by a lunatic. Why was it that being chastised by Miss Mallory was as gratifying as any amount of admiration from any other woman?

      He watched her as she turned, following the lead of her partner, moving away from him down the floor. Away. His heart contracted painfully. He should move away from her in real life, dissociate himself from her entirely until he was certain no stain of scandal attached to him and that there was no need for the public shame of a divorce.

      But if he did, now she was out in society, who would move to claim her while he waited, silent, uncertain and unfree, in the wings? He had only just found her—must he let her go?

      Chapter Eight

      ‘A lady’s companion would be how much a year?’ Bree demanded, even though she knew she had heard correctly the first time. It was not as though she could not afford the rates the Misses Thoroughgood’s Exclusive Employment Exchange demanded, but they seemed extreme for something she did not want in the first place. However, common sense told her she should, so, the Monday morning after the ball, here she was.

      Miss Emeline Thoroughgood looked down the length of her thin nose. ‘If one desires a lady companion of breeding and refinement, and one who can undertake the delicate and sensitive duties of a chaperon with discretion yet firmness of purpose, I am afraid one must expect to pay premium rates, Miss Mallory.’

      ‘I simply require the look of the thing, Miss Thoroughgood.’ Even as she said it, she realised that the lady would leap to entirely the wrong conclusion. ‘I live with my brother,’ she said hastily. ‘He is most rigorous in his care of me. However, a respectable female to accompany me when he cannot would be desirable.’

      Miss Emeline’s expression softened slightly at the reassurance that she was not dealing with some kept woman who needed to cloak her activities in a veil of respectability. Actually, she is not so far wrong, Bree thought with hidden amusement. Only my activities are not quite what she imagines.

      ‘I may be able to suggest a solution,’ Miss Emeline said pensively. She rang the hand bell on her desk. ‘Smithers, has the client with Miss Clara departed?’

      ‘No, Miss Emeline.’ The clerk consulted the clock on the mantel. ‘I would expect her to come out at any moment.’

      ‘Ask her to come in here when she is free, would you?’ He bowed himself out. ‘I make no claims for this suggestion, Miss Mallory, however, Miss Thorpe may answer your purposes at a most reasonable cost.’

      A tap at the office door heralded the entrance of a woman in her late thirties. Her dress, from bonnet to half-boots, proclaimed the governess in its drab anonymity, and her hair, dark brown, threaded with grey, was drawn back tightly under her bonnet. But her eyes looked out steadily from under rather thick brows and met Bree’s with an assessing intelligence that instantly appealed to her.

      ‘Miss Mallory, this is Miss Thorpe. Miss Thorpe is an experienced governess with admirable qualifications. However, we understand that she no longer wishes for that form of employment. It occurs to me that possibly she may suit your requirements.’

      ‘Miss Thorpe.’ Bree got to her feet and offered her hand. ‘I am looking for a companion. Why do we not have tea together in Gunther’s and see how we suit each other?’

      This unconventional approach appeared to startle Miss Thoroughgood, but Miss Thorpe’s eyebrows merely lifted slightly and she smiled. ‘Thank you, Miss Mallory, I would be pleased to.’

      ‘That’s settled, then. Thank you, Miss Thoroughgood. I will let you know how we get on.’ Bree shook hands briskly and ushered Miss Thorpe out in front of her. ‘Now, we just need to find a hackney carriage.’

      ‘There’s one.’ Miss Thorpe hailed the cab authoritatively, securing it under the nose of a soberly dressed City type clutching a bundle of papers tied in red tape. Bree was impressed.

      ‘Well …’ she settled back and regarded the other woman ‘… I will be frank, Miss Thorpe. I have never had a female companion before, nor a chaperon, and I suddenly find myself in a situation where that has become, if not essential, at least highly desirable. But—and here is where the frankness comes in—I have no intention of losing my freedoms and suddenly becoming a sheltered society miss. I run a stagecoach company.’ That did provoke a reaction from the self-controlled Miss Thorpe. Her lips pursed in a soundless whistle, then she smiled.

      ‘Unconventional indeed, Miss Mallory. Would I be required to assist with this enterprise?’

      That had never occurred to Bree. ‘Would you be interested to?’

      ‘Why, yes, I believe I might. I am a competent book-keeper and I used to run a school—quite a large one, in Bath—until the proprietor decided to sell up, and I did not have the resources to buy her out. Then I found myself having to work as a governess, but I do miss having the variety of managing the school. You will be wanting to take up references, Miss Mallory, and to have a trial period, I imagine.’

      ‘I hire and fire staff for the company on a regular basis, Miss Thorpe. Few of them come with references, so I have come to trust my judgment on first impressions. I would be very happy if you would join us on the basis that you assist with the running of the office, accompany me in the evenings and act as my chaperon whenever I have company. We will give it a month and see how we feel at the end of it. What do you think? You may find us unacceptably unconventional.’ There was something about the governess that appealed to Bree. It was not so much what she said, but the calm confidence with which she said it.

      ‘It sounds fascinating, Miss Mallory.’ Miss Thorpe looked out of the window as the hackney drew up to the pavement. ‘I have never been interviewed for a position at Gunther’s. I think that bodes very well!’

      ‘Excellent.’ Bree led the way into the tea shop, glanced around and found a table in a quiet corner. ‘This will do. Now, what shall we have? Hot chocolate? I suppose it is really rather cool for ices, and perhaps too early in the day,’ she added reluctantly.

      ‘I never think it is too anything for ices,’ Miss Thorpe declared robustly.

      Bree found herself laughing. ‘I really think we will suit, Miss Thorpe! Now, let me tell you all about ourselves. The household consists of my brother Piers and myself …

      ‘ … and so you see, what with Lord Farleigh’s engagement and the interest the members of the Nonesuch Whips are taking in the company, things cannot go on as they are.’ That account had skimmed lightly over some of her feelings on the stage, and censored completely that kiss the other night. Bree stopped talking at last and peered into the depths of the chocolate jug. ‘Shall we have some more?’

      ‘Yes, please, Miss Mallory.’

      ‘Bree, please. What is your name?’

      ‘Rosamund. My father was a Shakespeare enthusiast.’ Miss Thorpe smiled. ‘I answer very well to Rosa.’

      ‘Rosa it is, then.’ Bree gestured to the waiter. ‘Another jug of chocolate, and a plate of macaroons, please. So, what do you think? And when can you start?’

      ‘I think that it sounds fascinating, and I could start immediately, if that is what you would like. But I am afraid my wardrobe is singularly unfitted for the role as your companion, especially if you intend to accept any evening engagements.’

      ‘Goodness, we have not discussed salary, have we?’ Bree thought rapidly. She had not yet investigated the wages a business manager might expect, but now she might well not have to. The Yard Master, Railton, and his men were more than capable of supervising the operation in the evenings

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