fetch them for you as soon as we get back to the castle." Kind of you." I shall think of a new name for myself that you can use in the reference. I dare not use my own name for a while. Gossip has a way of circulating beyond London. No sense taking chances." Emma " If you do not mind," she said briskly, I would very much appreciate it if you would write it this afternoon. What with all the excitement, I
suspect that many of Ware's guests will decide to return to Town quite soon." True. Everyone will be eager to spread the gossip about Crane's murder." Precisely. It is just the sort of tale that will titillate the ton for several days." Indeed." Edison glanced at her, his eyes perfectly unreadable. I appreciate your offer of assistance, Miss Greyson. But I do not believe that it will be necessary for me to copy one of your references." Are you certain? I have had a great deal of experience in the matter. I have learned, for example, that there are certain words that work very well." He looked briefly intrigued. Which words?" Having long since committed them to memory, Emma rattled them off quickly. Meek, plain, timid, humble, unobtrusive, and spectacles." Spectacles?" Potential employers are extremely fond of spectacles." I see." Edison brought the gelding to a halt. Odd you should mention them. As it happens, I have been meaning to ask you about your spectacles." Emma frowned as her mare halted of her own accord. What about them?" Do you require eyeglasses or do you use them to perfect your image as meek, timid, unobtrusive, etcetera, etcetera?" She shrugged. I do not need them to see clearly, if that is what you mean. But in terms of my professional career, I do feel they add just the right touch." He reached out and removed the spectacles very gently. Do not mistake me, Miss Greyson. I find your eyeglasses rather charming. But in your new post you will not be required to project an air of meekness or timidity. Nor will you need to concernn yourself with being unobtrusive. Quite the contrary, in fact." She blinked. I beg your pardon?" Let me be blunt about this, my dear Miss Greyson. I agreed to pay you triple the wages that you had expected to receive from Lady Mayfield for the quarter. I expect you to continue in my employ at leas t
until you have given me my money's worth." She felt her jaw drop. But I am no longer in a position to assist you. I just told you, Lady Mayfield dismissed me this morning." It strikes me that, as my fiancee, you will be in an even better position to assist me than when you were Lady Mayfield's companion," he said. Have you gone mad, sir?" Mayhap." He smiled at her expression. But it is no concern of yours. Unless, of course, you have some objection to working for a madman?" A person in my circumstances cannot be too choosy when it comes to employers." Excellent. Then we are in agreement on this. You will play the part of my fiancee and carry on as my assistant until I have completed my inquiries." Emma shook her head, astonished. Do you really think your scheme will work?" I don't have much choice. In all the excitement last night, there was no time for me to tell you that I searched Miranda's bed chamber and found certain herbs. I am forced to conclude that she actually has got her hands on the recipe for the elixir. Which means that she may be able to lead me to the Book of Secrets." And you still require my help because Lady Ames thinks the brew works on me." Yes." The prospect of drinking more of the noxious tea was not a happy one. But the thought of looking for another post was even more unpleasant. In all fairness, Mister Stokes, I must tell you that I cannot guarantee satisfaction," Emma said. It is one thing for me to pose as a companion. I have had some experience in that line, after all. But I have had absolutely no experience as a fiancee and I am not at all certain that I will suit the post." On the contrary, Miss Greyson." He leaned toward her and reached out to tip up her
suspect that many of Ware's guests will decide to return to Town quite soon." True. Everyone will be eager to spread the gossip about Crane's murder." Precisely. It is just the sort of tale that will titillate the ton for several days." Indeed." Edison glanced at her, his eyes perfectly unreadable. I appreciate your offer of assistance, Miss Greyson. But I do not believe that it will be necessary for me to copy one of your references." Are you certain? I have had a great deal of experience in the matter. I have learned, for example, that there are certain words that work very well." He looked briefly intrigued. Which words?" Having long since committed them to memory, Emma rattled them off quickly. Meek, plain, timid, humble, unobtrusive, and spectacles." Spectacles?" Potential employers are extremely fond of spectacles." I see." Edison brought the gelding to a halt. Odd you should mention them. As it happens, I have been meaning to ask you about your spectacles." Emma frowned as her mare halted of her own accord. What about them?" Do you require eyeglasses or do you use them to perfect your image as meek, timid, unobtrusive, etcetera, etcetera?" She shrugged. I do not need them to see clearly, if that is what you mean. But in terms of my professional career, I do feel they add just the right touch." He reached out and removed the spectacles very gently. Do not mistake me, Miss Greyson. I find your eyeglasses rather charming. But in your new post you will not be required to project an air of meekness or timidity. Nor will you need to concernn yourself with being unobtrusive. Quite the contrary, in fact." She blinked. I beg your pardon?" Let me be blunt about this, my dear Miss Greyson. I agreed to pay you triple the wages that you had expected to receive from Lady Mayfield for the quarter. I expect you to continue in my employ at leas t
until you have given me my money's worth." She felt her jaw drop. But I am no longer in a position to assist you. I just told you, Lady Mayfield dismissed me this morning." It strikes me that, as my fiancee, you will be in an even better position to assist me than when you were Lady Mayfield's companion," he said. Have you gone mad, sir?" Mayhap." He smiled at her expression. But it is no concern of yours. Unless, of course, you have some objection to working for a madman?" A person in my circumstances cannot be too choosy when it comes to employers." Excellent. Then we are in agreement on this. You will play the part of my fiancee and carry on as my assistant until I have completed my inquiries." Emma shook her head, astonished. Do you really think your scheme will work?" I don't have much choice. In all the excitement last night, there was no time for me to tell you that I searched Miranda's bed chamber and found certain herbs. I am forced to conclude that she actually has got her hands on the recipe for the elixir. Which means that she may be able to lead me to the Book of Secrets." And you still require my help because Lady Ames thinks the brew works on me." Yes." The prospect of drinking more of the noxious tea was not a happy one. But the thought of looking for another post was even more unpleasant. In all fairness, Mister Stokes, I must tell you that I cannot guarantee satisfaction," Emma said. It is one thing for me to pose as a companion. I have had some experience in that line, after all. But I have had absolutely no experience as a fiancee and I am not at all certain that I will suit the post." On the contrary, Miss Greyson." He leaned toward her and reached out to tip up her
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