The Autumn Bride by Anne Gracie

Author:Anne Gracie [Gracie, Anne]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Penguin Group US
Published: 2012-12-11T22:00:00+00:00

* * *

“Featherby, you shouldn’t be telling me this—you shouldn’t eavesdrop on Lord Davenham’s private conversations. It could cost you your position.”

Featherby looked unconcerned. “A good butler knows everything that goes on in a house, Miss Abby, so don’t you fret about me. Besides, William and I owe you everything.”

“It’s very kind of you, truly, and I appreciate the good intentions, but please don’t risk your job on my behalf again.”

“Don’t you want to know what he wanted Morton Black to do?”

Abby sighed. “You know I do.”

He drew her aside.

When he finished relating what he’d overheard, Abby looked at him in dismay. “It won’t take Mr. Black long to find the Pillbury Home. And then our names will come out—Jane’s and mine, that is.”

“Is that such a bad thing?”

She frowned. “Not really, I suppose. It’s the rest I worry about . . . the worst. But I doubt Mr. Black can discover that.”

“Does the old lady know? About the brothel, I mean?”

Abby stared at Featherby in shock. You knew?”

He smiled. “I told you, a good butler knows everything. William told me about it before we left the other place. One of the girls—young Daisy, I think—let it slip. But don’t worry, Miss Abby; wild horses couldn’t drag it out of us. But have you told the old lady?”

“Yes, before we moved in here. I couldn’t accept her invitation and leave her in ignorance of the worst.”

Featherby gave her a benevolent smile. “I wouldn’t expect anything else of you, Miss Abby; such a true lady you are. Well, as long as Lady Beatrice knows, you’re all right then. It’s her house, and she’s not going to let Lord Davenham kick you out; you can be sure of that.”

Abby swallowed. “I hope not.” She paused. “Speaking of our previous residence, have you or William ever been back there?”

“You mean have we heard whether anyone has come looking for a Miss Chantry and her sister again?” Featherby shook his head. “William says not. He keeps his ear to the ground, does William, and nobody’s come asking questions since that time I told you about, the day we left.”

“Does anyone there know where you and William live?”

“No. William’s very discreet. In any case, most of the former tenants have moved; it’s mostly vagrants who live there now. The demolition is imminent. Everyone assumed that’s why you girls left too. William put it about weeks ago that you’d gone to live with relatives in the country—that traveling chaise was remarked on by a few people.”

The tension in Abby unraveled a little. “So nobody is looking for us?”

“Nobody,” Featherby assured her. “Only Morton Black.”

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