Lady in Waiting by Kathryn Caskie

Author:Kathryn Caskie [Caskie, Kathryn]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: Romance
ISBN: 9780446614245
Publisher: Forever
Published: 2005-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twelve

Jenny stared, transfixed by the little man’s words. “W-what do you know of Lady Eros?” she asked rather shakily.

Hercule lifted the lid from a gallipot and breathed in the fresh peppermint scent. “All of Bath has heard of the tingle cream, though I admit, this is the closest I have come to a pot. Bartleby’s cannot keep them in stock, and I have no connection below stairs to acquire a cream pot by other means.”

“Why would you need a pot?” Jenny crossed her arms over her chest, suddenly feeling uneasy with the man. He was a study in contrasts. Though his clothes were grubby, Hercule’s well-chosen words and impeccable manners now sparkled with a genteel polish Jenny hadn’t noticed earlier.

“Curiosity, I suppose. ’Tis amusing, is it not, to see the ton clamoring of a simple pot of cream.” He extended a finger as if he meant to sample a bit for himself.

“Stop! You’ll ruin it,” Jenny snapped. “Those pots have already been spoken for.”

The little man smiled and waggled his unruly brow. “So you are Lady Eros.”

“I told you, I am Miss Penny.”

“Ah, yes, but I am quite sure that Miss Penny and the mysterious Lady Eros are one and the same.” Hercule returned the lid to the pot and settled it into its place in the basket.

“See here,” Jenny began. “It is clear that you think you know who I am.”

She took a full breath into her lungs, knowing that the words she uttered next might plummet her into great danger. “Mr. Lestrange, I’ll have you know that I am wise to your true identity as well. Reveal my game and I shall reveal yours, sirrah.”

“My identity?” Hercule was shaken, and even took a step backward to regain his shoddy balance. “But h-how? I’ve taken great care to conceal it.”

“Not enough care, for it took me no time at all to realize who you really were,” Jenny countered, suddenly feeling she had regained control of the situation.

The little man walked slowly to the table and using the stool’s foot rungs as a ladder, climbed atop the tall chair and sat down, bringing him eye level with Jenny. “It seems we have reached an impasse, you and I.”

“Not an impasse at all.” Jenny shook her head and leaned toward him. “’Tis simple, really. We both forget what we know about the other. The success of our business ventures depends on our silence, does it not?”

Hercule nodded his wide head. “You are a shrewd woman, Miss Penny.”

“So we have a bargain?” Jenny extended her hand to the little man for him to shake.

As he squeezed her hand, he chuckled softly. “I suppose we do.”

Miss Meredith came racing below stairs but a moment after Hercule Lestrange closed the kitchen door behind him on his way out.

“Oh, Jenny,” she huffed, being completely out of breath. Meredith looked her up and down and grimaced.

“Oh, that won’t do. You’ve got to change your clothes. Hurry. Put on something fine!”

Jenny took hold of Meredith’s arms and sat her down upon the stool.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.