Journey's End (Gilded Promises) by Renee Ryan

experience with the wealthy men and women of New York?”
    Sally snorted in disdain. “I would, indeed.”
    Definitely a story there.
    “What am I doing wrong?” The question was as much an admission of her role as an imposter as if she’d come out and said as much aloud.
    Sally smiled then, her wily look reminding Caroline of the young pickpockets in Whitechapel. They had the same happy expression as this girl, right after a successful pinch. “Nothing that can’t be addressed over time.”
    An image of Jackson Montgomery materialized in her mind, and a shiver slipped along her skin. She remembered well the shrewd look in his eyes both times they’d met. He would surely be at the dinner tonight, watching for any mistake she might make. She would have to be smarter than him. “I don’t have a lot of time to prepare.”
    Only a few hours.
    Was it too late? Had she already blown her chance to ruin her grandfather before she’d even met the man and discovered his weakness, the one thing—whatever that one thing was—that would destroy him in the same way he’d destroyed her mother?
    Caroline wouldn’t hurt her grandfather directly; that would make her no better than he. Instead, she would allow him to destroy himself. She would use the same strategy she did with the arrogant wealthy gentlemen who came to gaming clubs, the ones who overplayed their hands and didn’t know when to quit. Greed, it was a powerful motivator and at the root of most men’s downfalls.
    “Sally, do you think you could teach me where I’m making my largest mistakes by this evening? I’d pay for your services.”
    “I don’t want your money, Miss Harding. But I would consider it a joy to work with you.”
    “You must let me reimburse you somehow. If not money, then some other way.”
    “Perhaps you could speak with the manager and request my exclusive services during your stay?”
    The request had Caroline wondering what the other guests expected from a pretty young maid like Sally. Surely there were some requests, perhaps from the males, that were decidedly unpleasant. She even supposed many of the female guests were difficult as well, perhaps openly rude.
    Caroline would ask Sally about the particulars of her job and her life. One day. But now was not the time. The clock was ticking, and they had only a handful of hours to prepare.
    “If I make arrangements with the hotel manager, would you be willing to start immediately?”
    “Oh, yes, Miss Harding. Absolutely.”
    “Excellent.” She smiled. “Under the circumstances, I think you should call me Caroline.”
    “I will not.” Sally shook her head at Caroline, obviously disappointed in her. “A maid never addresses her mistress by her given name.”
    “Well, then.” Caroline tried to look stern. “We’ll call that my first lesson.”
    That made the girl laugh, just a little, enough to let Caroline know she’d won herself an ally, if not a friend. The realization made her miss dear Mary more than ever.
    “You are a quick learner, Miss Harding. I’ll give you that.”
    She had to be. “Thank you, Sally.” Caroline tightened the belt around her robe and added a hint of snobbery to her tone. “While I get dressed for the day, please seek out the hotel manager and inform the man I would like a word with him.”
    Instead of doing as she was told, Sally stood rooted to the spot. When Caroline simply stared at her, the maid angled her head and gave her a look of impatience.
    “What now?”
    “Miss Harding.” Sally blew out a slow rush of air. “A woman in your position would never dress herself.”
    “But that’s absurd. I’m in the privacy of my own room. Who will know?”
    “ You will know.”
    The point was a valid one. Even alone, Caroline must play her role. With that in mind, she threw her shoulders back. “Allow me to rephrase my request. Once you have helped me dress, you will inform the hotel manager that I wish to speak with him about an important