guests,” Ermintrude said hastily.
“ I doubt your other guests will view us as such.”
“ Don’t be so starchy, Jessamine,” Ermintrude said in an irritable voice that sounded much more natural than her forced amiability. “Your lineage is impeccable, even if your father was a wastrel. Lack of money, while to be deplored, shouldn’t put you beyond the pale. Besides, there will be any number of eligible partis. You’re a great deal older than I am, but you’re not necessarily at your last prayers. If you were lucky, you could manage to attract a gentleman of independent means and secure your future. Perhaps an elderly widower.”
Ermintrude was exactly two months younger than Jessamine’s twenty-three years, but Jess was tactful enough not to mention that fact. The offer, fraught as it was with disaster, held too many possibilities to be dismissed out of hand. At the rate she was going, it would be another year before Fleur could make her debut. A year of living on the edge of squalor, a year of isolation and potential danger. A year where anything could happen, where temptation would be fatal. She needed to make her escape, to settle her family and then fade into graceful retirement, away from Clegg, away from the city. Far away from the disturbing Earl of Glenshiel.
“ What do you say?” Ermintrude persisted.
Jessamine closed her eyes for a moment, letting her mind run free, open, seeking. The card that formed in front of her mind’s eye was immediate and gratifying. The Nine of Cups. It would be well.
She opened her eyes to survey her erstwhile acquaintance’s avid face. “Fleur and I will accept your gracious invitation,” she said smoothly. “It’s been too long since we’ve had the pleasure of a house party in the country. And we will be more than happy to add what small entertainment we can offer. Fleur has quite a gift with her paints, and I have no aversion to a playful reading of the cards to while away the time.”
“ A wise choice,” Ermintrude said. “My sister’s banker will draw you a draft on her account—”
“ No,” Jessamine said. “We will come only if this is a social invitation, between friends, and not a financial transaction.”
“ You don’t receive money for what you do?” Ermintrude asked bluntly.
To admit that she did would put her on the level of dressmakers and shopkeepers. To lie would be even worse. “I do what I deem necessary, Ermintrude,” she said sweetly. “Your companionship and hospitality will be ample reward.”
Ermintrude looked as if she’d rather be a companion to a snake, but she pursed her plump lips into a sour smile. “I imagine you’ll need transportation. My sister would be more than happy to send her carriage for you on Wednesday next....”
“ That would be lovely.”
Ermintrude glanced down at Jessamine’s plain, outmoded dress. “I trust you’ll be better dressed?”
Typical of Ermintrude, Jessamine thought wearily. Once she’d gotten her way, her overbearing nature came forth. In response she simply smiled. “I’m looking forward to the house party, Ermy.”
Ermintrude hated being called Ermy. Particularly since her obnoxious boy cousins had always referred to her as Ermy-Wormy. Up until then Jessamine had resisted the impulse to use the nickname, but there was something in Ermintrude’s smug blue eyes that brought out the worst in her.
Ermintrude rose majestically. “And you needn’t worry about highwaymen and the like. My sister has made special arrangements for the Bow Street runners to provide protection. The Cat himself wouldn’t dare make an appearance!”
“ The Cat?” Jess echoed with perfect innocence.
“ Oh, that’s right, you’ve been out of society for so long, you probably haven’t even heard of him. He’s a most daring and remorseless thief. He steals his way into the finest houses in the city and relieves the owners of their jewels. Sometimes he commits his wicked deeds when the houses
“ I doubt your other guests will view us as such.”
“ Don’t be so starchy, Jessamine,” Ermintrude said in an irritable voice that sounded much more natural than her forced amiability. “Your lineage is impeccable, even if your father was a wastrel. Lack of money, while to be deplored, shouldn’t put you beyond the pale. Besides, there will be any number of eligible partis. You’re a great deal older than I am, but you’re not necessarily at your last prayers. If you were lucky, you could manage to attract a gentleman of independent means and secure your future. Perhaps an elderly widower.”
Ermintrude was exactly two months younger than Jessamine’s twenty-three years, but Jess was tactful enough not to mention that fact. The offer, fraught as it was with disaster, held too many possibilities to be dismissed out of hand. At the rate she was going, it would be another year before Fleur could make her debut. A year of living on the edge of squalor, a year of isolation and potential danger. A year where anything could happen, where temptation would be fatal. She needed to make her escape, to settle her family and then fade into graceful retirement, away from Clegg, away from the city. Far away from the disturbing Earl of Glenshiel.
“ What do you say?” Ermintrude persisted.
Jessamine closed her eyes for a moment, letting her mind run free, open, seeking. The card that formed in front of her mind’s eye was immediate and gratifying. The Nine of Cups. It would be well.
She opened her eyes to survey her erstwhile acquaintance’s avid face. “Fleur and I will accept your gracious invitation,” she said smoothly. “It’s been too long since we’ve had the pleasure of a house party in the country. And we will be more than happy to add what small entertainment we can offer. Fleur has quite a gift with her paints, and I have no aversion to a playful reading of the cards to while away the time.”
“ A wise choice,” Ermintrude said. “My sister’s banker will draw you a draft on her account—”
“ No,” Jessamine said. “We will come only if this is a social invitation, between friends, and not a financial transaction.”
“ You don’t receive money for what you do?” Ermintrude asked bluntly.
To admit that she did would put her on the level of dressmakers and shopkeepers. To lie would be even worse. “I do what I deem necessary, Ermintrude,” she said sweetly. “Your companionship and hospitality will be ample reward.”
Ermintrude looked as if she’d rather be a companion to a snake, but she pursed her plump lips into a sour smile. “I imagine you’ll need transportation. My sister would be more than happy to send her carriage for you on Wednesday next....”
“ That would be lovely.”
Ermintrude glanced down at Jessamine’s plain, outmoded dress. “I trust you’ll be better dressed?”
Typical of Ermintrude, Jessamine thought wearily. Once she’d gotten her way, her overbearing nature came forth. In response she simply smiled. “I’m looking forward to the house party, Ermy.”
Ermintrude hated being called Ermy. Particularly since her obnoxious boy cousins had always referred to her as Ermy-Wormy. Up until then Jessamine had resisted the impulse to use the nickname, but there was something in Ermintrude’s smug blue eyes that brought out the worst in her.
Ermintrude rose majestically. “And you needn’t worry about highwaymen and the like. My sister has made special arrangements for the Bow Street runners to provide protection. The Cat himself wouldn’t dare make an appearance!”
“ The Cat?” Jess echoed with perfect innocence.
“ Oh, that’s right, you’ve been out of society for so long, you probably haven’t even heard of him. He’s a most daring and remorseless thief. He steals his way into the finest houses in the city and relieves the owners of their jewels. Sometimes he commits his wicked deeds when the houses
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