member of the club, she needn’t worry about being recognized.
Not that she’d spent any time with Randolph and his friends, but she did see some of them when they came to the house.
Driscoll continued. “It appears you have no belongings, so I suggest you take care of that issue today. This afternoon, I will send one of the maids with you to the store—” He stopped when she began to shake her head furiously.
She could not go to stores. “I don’t wish to be more of a burden than I already am, but perhaps I can just borrow a dress from one of the female employees?”
The way he sat back and continued to stare at her with those deep brown eyes had her now squirming in her chair. It was almost as if he could see inside her, see her trepidation, feel her anxiety.
His next words proved he allowed, if not fully understood, her reluctance. “I will have you get together with Margie, another of our maids. You will instruct her on your needs, and she will purchase them. I will give you the receipts which we will deduct from your wages over the next few weeks.”
She blew out the breath she’d been holding, just waiting for Mr. Rose to rescind his offer of employment and send her on her way.
There was no way she could stop the tears that gathered in her eyes, the relief was that great. She would not cry again in front of this man. She surreptitiously blotted the corners of her eyes, but the movement was not lost on him who offered her a soft smile. “Everything will be all right, Miss Pence.”
She nodded, not too sure if her voice would hold if she tried to speak. After swallowing the lump in her throat a few times, she said, “Thank you so very much.”
He stood and offered her his hand as if she were a true lady in a ballroom. She accepted it and stood, the warmth from his hand doing strange things to her insides. However, that she could not allow.
Not now. Not ever.
5
Driscoll searched the building for about fifteen minutes before he found his brother leaning against the doorway to the storage room, flirting with the very maid Driscoll was looking for. “Dante, the game room is not going to ready itself.”
Dante winked at Margie who blushed furiously. She glanced sideways at Driscoll and dipped slightly. “Good afternoon, Mr. Rose.”
His brother leaned down and spoke close to Margie’s ear. “Don’t let my brother frighten you. He never did learn how to deal with the ladies, and I fear he’s a bit jealous.”
Ignoring him, Driscoll said, “Margie, I need you to run an errand for me.”
Dante sauntered off leaving the poor maid flustered. He really should not encourage them this way. Dante employed a mistress and had no intention of taking a wife, so flirting and teasing with the maids was cruel. But then as Dante pointed out, Driscoll did not exactly have an abundance of women looking to flirt with him.
That thought brought to mind the lovely young lady he just left who he’d agreed to help even though he had no reason to trust her. But then again, he had no reason not to trust her. She could have stolen what she wanted from the room she slept in the night before and made off in the morning with whatever she wanted before anyone had awakened.
“How can I help you?” Margie said after she’d recovered from Dante’s blasted flirting.
“Remember the young lady Betsy brought clothes to last evening?”
“Yes. She said she was a guest of yours.” Again, the blush.
Driscoll hurried on. “Yes, she was a guest, but not that kind. . .” He was afraid his face was as red as Margie’s. He coughed to cover his unease and continued. “The young lady, Miss Pence, had to leave her home unexpectedly. I have just hired her, and she needs a few items of clothing to be able to work.”
The devil take it, he was blushing again. This was ridiculous. Margie was his employee, and he had no reason to be uncomfortable. Let her think what she wanted.
“You will find her upstairs in the bedroom. She will give you a list of things she needs.” He reached into his pocket and withdrew some bills and handed them to her. “This should cover what you will purchase. Be sure to bring me the receipts since I will be deducting the cost from her wages.”
Margie’s