Masquerade With A Marquess by Cerise DeLand

Author:Cerise DeLand
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Publisher: W J Power, publisher
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

* * * * *

“Turn around,” said the housekeeper and Sophia spun in a slow circle before the woman.

“I’m not certain, Mrs. Morely.” The butler was a stooped, beady-eyed old man, who licked his lips so often Sophia wondered he was addled. “She’s not of a kind to speak English well.”

“She doesn’t have to talk, George. Show me your hands, girl. There you are, she’s strong. Look at them nails. Clean, George. Clean.”

George clucked his tongue. His eyes bored into Sophia’s. His smile was long and hinted at salacious doings. “She’s a beauty. His lordship will like it if she’s clean in that way too.” He winked at the housekeeper.

“You rogue,” the housekeeper scolded him and elbowed him in the ribs.

Sophia only wanted to get upstairs. Tour the rooms. Survey the walls. “Am I employed?”

“You know ‘ow to make a bed?” the butler asked with a glint in his eyes.

“Stop your nasty business, George. Take her up the stairs. Yes, girl. You are employed. Give ‘er a bed, George. And do not climb into it with ‘er. Leave ‘er for his lordship.”

Sophia’s stomach turned. Inside her sleeve, she fingered the stiletto she’d brought from Livorno. Her mother’s, no less. With it in hand, Sophia felt safe. And eager to use it on the likes of this George if he put a finger to her.

“Come, come,” he urged her to follow him up the servants’ stairs. “I’ll take you to the eaves. You sleep with Alice, the other girl. Be silent. Quick. Up early. Know your place. Keep it.”

“I’m to be the upstairs maid, is that right? That’s what the clerk at the registry office said.”

“Yes, yes, that’s right. Our last maid got herself with child. Lost it, weak as a puppy. We let her go. Can’t work no more. You mind your manners ‘ere. You might get the master’s eye.”

She trudged up the flight of stairs behind him. I don’t want his eye. I want my eyes on his paintings.

“Do right by his lordship and you could be here a long time, girl.”

Only another hour or so. Until half past three, at the latest.

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