“She’s certainly beautiful and wealthy.” He surged to his feet and sauntered toward the door. “Think I’ll head to the club for dinner.”
I watched him leave, knowing he was going to gamble away his inheritance, and I’d be receiving a discreet note by the week’s end to pay his bills.
Marry Miranda? Not bloody likely. Slowly, I sank into the chair my mother had only recently vacated. But if I didn’t, would my mother truly go after Tommy? What a bloody mess.
I might be evil, but at least I wouldn’t murder a child.
I couldn’t say the same for my parents if they found out Tommy’s true identity.
Chapter 2
Ginny
“Ye ain’t a gypsy, are ye? Won’t have no gypsies working here.”
I flushed, resisting the urge to tuck the dark lock that had fallen across my temple into my cap. There was no hiding my black hair and eyebrows. “No, Mrs. Finch.”
She narrowed her eyes, suspicious, as if she didn’t believe me in the least, and she thought I was going to steal the silver the moment she turned her back. Bloody bastard had probably never met a gypsy in her life. It was on the tip of my tongue to tell her about the time one had saved me when I’d been young and had fallen through the ice at a skating pond, but I had a feeling she wouldn’t care. People like her never did care.
Truth was I could have come from any lineage, for all I knew, with my dark hair and olive skin. Violet was sure my parents came from somewhere exotic, like Italy. I’d probably been born in an alley and abandoned on the streets.
Aunt Helen had always promised to tell me how I came to be with her, but she’d died so suddenly she hadn’t a chance. I supposed I’d never know. Many people in the slums didn’t rightly know where they’d come from, or what their lineage might be, but we were all smart enough to claim we were English through and through.
“Breakfast is in here at seven. If you’re late, you lose your meal.”
When I’d first stepped out of the bitter sleet and into the large, lovely kitchen that smelled of baked bread and ginger snaps, I’d thought I could like this position after all. And at first glance, Mrs. Finch had seemed like a grandmotherly type, with her round face, rosy cheeks, and gray hair. She even reminded me a bit of Aunt Helen. But one look into her hard, brown eyes and I knew she was not to be trifled with.
“We’ll try you for the next two weeks,” she said grudgingly, as if she hoped against all odds we’d fail just so she could have the pleasure of tossing us out. “Up at four in the morning, scrape the fireplaces clean and start the fires. Understand?”
“Every room, Ma’am?” Violet asked, fidgeting next to me.
The black gown she’d been given was too short and too loose, while mine was too tight and too long. We’d be spending our first evening sewing. Dear Vi was so bloody nervous that her face was near to being green. I wanted to offer her comfort, but didn’t dare show such weakness in front of the hag.
Violet didn’t belong in the slums. She was too innocent. Then again, she didn’t belong here either, to be misused by some rutting master of the house. Oh, I’d heard the stories of maids being seduced, or worse, taken without their agreement, only to be fired when the mistress of the house discovered the indiscretion. I didn’t trust these rich nobs in the least.
“Yes. Every room.” She handed us each a white apron. “And be thorough. Leave behind no ash, no dust, no smudges.”
Apparently, they wanted it to seem as if the room had been cleaned by magical fairies. I wrapped the apron around my waist, feeling as if I placed a manacle about my body, holding me captive to this estate. The moment we’d walked up to the massive townhome with its grey bricks and white pillars, I’d felt an odd combination of fear and resentment…and yes, excitement. I admit that Vi had perked my interest. No fleas. No lice. No rats. Heaven.
“Lady Landcaster is a fair woman, but she will not tolerate laziness.”
“Yes, Mum,” Vi and I said together.
“Harriet,” Mrs. Finch called out.
A maid who sat at the table darning socks glanced up and smiled. “Yes, Mrs. Finch?”
The housekeeper’s keys rattled as she moved toward the doorway, dismissing us. “Show the girls