Rogue Rage (The Lady Jack Mysteries Book 2) by Jane Hedwig

Author:Jane Hedwig [Hedwig, Jane]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Beastie Press
Published: 2023-06-09T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 15

Miss Kate was an excellent person in every way, but sometimes she didn’t think. When they left Clive and the inspector, she wanted to go down to the kitchen to talk to Jemma.

“That would be a mistake,” Becky told her. “For you to go, I mean. A kitchen maid’s more likely to speak freely without Lady Jack Penrowan in the room.”

“Blast, you’re right.” She did have the good sense to be embarrassed about it.

“I’ll talk to Jemma while you go upstairs to say goodbye to the little lordship.”

“Good idea.” That brightened her up. “Come to my room after and let me know what you find out.”

There were only a few skivvies washing up in the kitchen, including Jemma, and Mrs. Carter making herself a pot of tea. It was just the sort of thing Becky’s Ma did at the end of the day back home. The poor woman looked like she’d gone through the mill, but of course she was still working. There was nothing worse for grief than having nothing to do.

“Oh! Hullo, Becky. You startled me. I thought I saw a…”

Becky let the end of that sentence fade away. “I beg your pardon. I didn’t mean to stare. It’s just that my ma likes to make herself a pot of something at the end of the day too, and you made me think of home.”

“She makes it herself, does she?” Mrs. Carter sounded skeptical.

“Oh yes. I was a kitchen maid before I became Miss Kate’s—I mean Lady Jack’s lady’s maid. My ma is in service with the Dellamorts—although their house in Albany is nowhere near as grand as Whitsea Hall.”

“Well, fancy that.” She blinked at the unexpected information. “But begging your pardon. It’s Miss Brown now, isn’t it? I hear you’ve come up in the world.”

“I do like my new position, Mrs. Carter. I’d be fibbing if I said otherwise. But I hope you’ll still call me Becky.”

“That is kind, my dear, but it wouldn’t do.”

“I wanted to say how sorry I was to hear about your girl. I remember Lily from the last time I was here at Whitsea Hall.”

“You do? Truly?”

“I do. I’d come down to the kitchen to look for Mr. Trent, and that Barnes—I mean Lady Constance’s maid” —evil witch, Becky wanted to say— “was giving poor Jim Barker a hard time about Maddie Penrowan. Lily was there, kneading away at the worktable, and she came right out and told that Barnes to leave Jim alone and then let me know where Mr. Trent was. I told Lady Jack about it later, and she said what a topping girl Lily must be.”

Mrs. Carter chewed her lip. “That’s my Lily.”

“Her ladyship won’t stop until she finds out what happened, and I’ll do my best to help.”

“I’m that grateful, dear. But was there something you needed?”

“Two things. First, would you mind if I made up a tray of tea and something sweet to take up to Lady Jack’s room for a night snack? I know

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