“Gaw, had it made for ya by a local woman,” the younger maid answered, speaking around the pins in her mouth. “She’s made all yer clothes since ya been here.”
“So he knew that I would be staying for a long time?” Beatrix asked, frowning at this new revelation.
“Oh no, miss. The lady does work fast,” Greta interrupted, pulling back several handfuls of hair to form a crown of braids that wound round Beatrix’s head, starting at her temples. “She’s a lonely sort of woman, worked in a fancy shop in London before her family all took ill. Now, she lives nearby in a cottage His Lordship owns. Charges her nothin’, he does! But she insists on making his clothes and anythin’ that the servants might require, so long as he sends her the cloth.”
“I suppose that is rather generous of him,” she answered, envisioning the agreement between a marquess and a seamstress.
“Terribly so,” Birdie said solemnly. “That is his way, though. I don’t suppose ya would know that about him, not after the way ya been treated.”
Birdie reached into the pocket of her apron and pulled out several small papers. She held them out to Beatrix, but looked sheepish as she offered them.
“I know that master’s sendin’ you go on yer way now, but I wanted ya to know that Greta and me, we did as we promised. We found out that way for ya, even though we don’t know where ya come from. But the footmen who was with the master that day, they knew where ya come from. This is the way home.”
Beatrix took it and looked at the crude map scribbled in pencil, the oddly formed letters that would carry her back to where she belonged. Her breath caught for a moment as she realized what a tremendous gift this truly was.
“I cannot thank you enough for this kindness,” she said, her eyes brimming with tears.
“Think nothin’ of it,” Greta said firmly. “Ya been so nice and tender with us, lowly servants though we are, but you’ve also been one who’s made the master see things in a different way. ‘Twas a good lesson for him!”
When at last she was ready, Beatrix thanked the maids once again for all they had done for her. She knew she may never see them again, but their kindness would never be forgotten.
Beatrix followed silently behind them as she made her way to the dining room. As she peered in the open door, the glow of candles scattered throughout the room took her breath away. At the far end of the impossibly long table, the Marquess paced back and forth, seemingly lost in thought. He looked up sharply when he sensed her standing there, and his expression immediately grew to one of expectant happiness.
“You look simply stunning,” he said, rushing forward and offering her his arm.
Beatrix thanked him as she linked her hand through his elbow and followed as he led them to their seats. Waving off the servant, he held the chair for her himself, then took his place adjoining her as he’d done the first time they’d dined together.
“It seems too strange that this should be our last meal together,” the Marquess began, “our last conversation, perhaps!”
“Yes,” Beatrix agreed thoughtfully, “I’ve said as much in my mind countless times today.”
“Whatever shall I do without someone criticizing my every thought and utterance?” Lord Bellton asked, a mischievous smile showing that he was only speaking in jest.
“I should think it would be a nice change from the past few days,” Beatrix joked back drily, “though I should think you’d be used to it from all of your fellow members of the peerage.”
“Ha! They should be so lucky as to best me in a game of wits!” he answered, laughing heartily. “Til now, I had not met my equal!”
Beatrix smiled at the compliment, aware that Lord Bellton was being overly generous. Perhaps he did only wish to make their final evening pleasant, though she could not help but hope that he was also a changed man.
“In a more serious vein,” Lord Bellton began, his joyful expression faltering a bit, “I’d like to speak to you of your future.”
“My future? What of it?” she asked politely, genuinely perplexed.
“Well, I want to help ensure that you have no need of continuing in the employ of known thieves, to start with.” He noted her immediate look of defense and clarified, “What I mean is, only for your safety and protection. I mean no offense whatsoever towards your family, I am only concerned for your well-being.”
“Most interesting,” Beatrix replied, feeling hesitant about the Marquess’s intentions, “as only a few days ago my well-being was the farthest thing from your mind.”
Lord Bellton nodded, holding his hands before him in a gesture of peace. “That is all too true, I’m afraid. But you have opened my eyes to the plight of those less fortunate than I. Where I was a callous brute upon our first meeting, I am now overly concerned with what may befall you in the future. I ask that you allow me to aid you in avoiding any more criminal works.”
Beatrix remained quiet, warring within herself for an acceptable response. Her instinct was to lash out, to once again have to educate this self-centered, pompous, posh individual, but she also heard the tremor of hope in his voice. Lord Bellton was truly attempting to do something noble in his offer of assistance, and she could not dismiss the effort.
“Your gesture is both kind and appreciated,” she replied, measuring her words. “However, I assure you, it is also unnecessary. I intend to return home, seek out your property, and do my utmost to bring my father’s men to a more acceptable livelihood.”
“But how can you accomplish it?” Lord Bellton pressed. “At least, you will need some sort of funds to carry all of you through until employment is attained. I aim to assist you with that.”
“Really, you don’t need to do so—”
“Please allow me the indulgence of insisting that I do!” he said, his tone and expression nearing tears. “Think of it merely as just compensation.” Beatrix looked confused, so Lord Bellton continued, “Imagine that you were a simple farmer who’d been walking that day, and my actions caused your horse to go lame. Would I not owe you a fair compensation under the law? Or if you were employed as a dairy maid or a washer woman and my men startled you until you… you, I don’t know, fell from the road and were injured. Would I not be expected to provide you with your full wages until you were recovered?”
