Maggie took a moment to ponder. “Last night a customer let me have the last bites of his steak and kidney pie.”
Ooh, steak. Ashley’s mouth watered. She glanced at the clock. The cook and the rest of the staff wasn’t due back for another two hours. “Sally, can you cook the beefsteak Sam’s wife gave us?”
Sally looked stricken. “I’m so sorry, miss. I could fry you up some eggs, but I know nothing about cooking steak.”
Ashley patted her on the shoulder. “Fortunately, I do. At least I think I remember.” She handed her the dress. “You two make Maggie more presentable, and I’ll go fetch us some food.” Ashley grabbed the wrapped steaks from her dressing table on her way out.
The kitchen was smaller than the one back at the academy where she had often assisted if the cook or undercook was ill, and did not have a closed stove, which was good because neither did the academy. She built the fire back up and set to work.
Fortunately the larder was much better stocked than the stillroom. She found plenty of fresh butter, rosemary, and thyme, and even lemons to make a pitcher of lemonade while the steaks and diced potatoes cooked. She longingly eyed the bag of dried apple slices. Had she more time, she’d make a pie or tart. It had taken a lot of practice to get the crust just right, and she hadn’t made a pie since Christmas.
Ashley was breathing hard and her arms aching by the time she climbed the stairs with the laden tray and set it on her dressing table. Ravencroft hadn’t stirred. Two maids bobbed a curtsy as she entered.
“I remembered I saw a trunk in one of the attic rooms,” Sally said, “full of uniforms and livery.”
Maggie’s black dress had been made for someone shorter with a more robust figure, and consequently showed several inches of black stockings above her ankles, but was a vast improvement over the immodest gown she’d been wearing. Her cheeks flushed red as Ashley looked her up and down. “Good thinking, Sally,” Ashley said. “Maggie, is this more to your liking?”
She dipped another curtsy, bowing her head and showing that her hair was neatly coiled into a bun, tucked under a mob cap. “Yes, my lady, thank you.”
“Good. Now that’s settled, let’s eat!” Ashley set aside one-fourth of the food and put it on the hearth to keep warm under a cover, filled her plate and cup of lemonade, and sat on the sofa before the fire. She’d eaten two bites before she realized neither woman had moved.
She set down her fork. “You don’t like it?”
They glanced at each other and then back at her.
“Come. We passed proper behavior when I got down on my knees in the muddy alley. Fill your plates and eat with me.”
“Don’t have to tell me twice,” Maggie said. They served themselves, then knelt by the hearth instead of sitting on the sofa with her.
Fair enough. No need to breakallof society’s rules in one afternoon.
Maggie wolfed down her first few bites as though afraid the food would be taken away, then slowed down. She moaned with delight. “I don’t think I’ve ever had steak before. Thank you, my lady.”
Ashley and Sally shared a glance. “We are hiding you here,” Ashley said when she’d cleaned her plate. “And happy to keep you safe from Big Bob. But you’re not my only secret.”
Maggie set aside her fork and empty plate, giving Ashley her full attention.
“The butcher’s wife misunderstood.” Ashley vaguely gestured at the bed, where Ravencroft slept. “We, ah…”
“They ain’t married,” Sally interjected when words refused to come. “The gent don’t live here.”
Maggie said nothing, though her eyes grew round as she glanced between the two of them and the bed.
“I’m properly addressed as Miss, not my lady. I’m not sure where Ra— where his lordship resides. We are acquainted, and he rescued me from a difficult situation recently. When I saw that he was injured, I…”
Maggie nodded. “I knew he was kind. And you wanted to help him.”
“Exactly!” Ashley finished off her lemonade.
Sally got up and refilled their cups. “Oh!” She set the pitcher on the bedside table. “I almost forgot!” She pulled a wrapped packet from her apron pocket and resumed her spot by the hearth, untying the string. She opened the packet to reveal a half dozen biscuits. “I got these at the bakery, for us to share.” She offered them to Ashley, then to Maggie, before biting into one herself.
“Until we decide on a long-term solution, should anyone ask, we can say that I hired you,” Ashley said to Maggie. She wouldn’t need Sally after she found work at another academy, never mindtwomaids, but she could offer gainful employment to both women until then. “What skills do you possess?”
Maggie considered while she chewed her biscuit. “I know ten ways to make a man spill his seed.”
Ashley choked.
“Truly?” Sally said. “I only know of four, and two of those are considered indecent even between husband and wife.”
