Earl's Well That Ends Well by Jane Ashford

Author:Jane Ashford
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Sourcebooks
Published: 2020-10-12T00:00:00+00:00

Ten

Teresa was not surprised when Lord Macklin didn’t appear at the workshop the following day, or the one after that. It was only what she’d expected. Now that he knew the truth, he wished to have nothing more to do with her. Of course. She fought off the sharp stabs of disappointment this knowledge brought. He was a leading member of society. He followed its strictures, valued them. It had been ridiculous to hope otherwise. She hadn’t, really, hoped. Yet her eyes strayed to the doorway anytime there was movement from that direction. And she was downcast when the cause turned out to be someone else.

She should forget that she’d ever met the English earl. Hadn’t she been continually wishing to do so? And so she would. Eventually.

Her painting went slowly, and without its usual verve, another reason for melancholy. She had decided to give up and was putting on her bonnet to return home when a note arrived for her. Writing in French, the opera dancer Jeanne informed her that she’d received a special invitation to go out driving in the country the following day. The gentleman was not among the ones they’d had suspicions about. Indeed, Teresa couldn’t quite place him, which seemed a signal in itself.

He’d promised Jeanne a fine meal on the outing and a gift of coin. He’d also told her not to mention it to anyone, as he didn’t care for people to know his private business. Well, he was out of luck there, Teresa thought. She’d convinced the opera dancers that secret assignations were not a good idea in the current situation, and that she, at least, should be told.

Note in hand, she looked around for Tom. He wasn’t in the workshop, though he had been earlier. She checked the outside courtyard. It was empty at this time of day. Perhaps he had been given a task at the theater.

But when she went over to Drury Lane, Tom wasn’t there either. This was unusual and began to concern her. It was true that he had no part in the play being presented that evening, but he was nearly always on hand to watch.

She found Jeanne preparing to dance, and they spoke together in French. Teresa discovered that the drive was to Richmond Park, which heightened her suspicions. “There are many beautiful flowers in that place,” Jeanne said. “He knows I love flowers. He has brought me bouquets. We shall go early, and I will be back in time to dance. There is no problem.” Nonetheless, she looked a little anxious.

“I do not think you should go,” Teresa said. Under the current circumstances, it was surely not a good idea.

“I need the money. I am lacking the rent, and this would pay for a whole month.” Jeanne looked stubborn. “You said that we should tell you of any invitations, and you would protect us. I have done as you asked.”

That was not exactly what she’d promised, but Teresa could see that Jeanne would not be convinced.

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