Eloisa James - Duchess by Night (20 page)

She heard a confused murmur from the bed but didnt even glance that way, just ran back to the door. She could see the cord in the light cast by the moon. It was on the opposite side of the door from where she thought. She rang it, rang again, rang a third time, as hard as she could.

Whats this al about? came a male voice from the bed.

She looked over to find a man who looked like a walrus with a nightcap on. Fire in the west wing, sir, she said, hauled on the rope again and ran out into the corridor and back to the door. Al right, Eugenia? she said, steadying her voice.

I dont like it here, Eugenia said, and the sob in her voice made Harriets heart stop. Its dark and Im al alone.

Il kil your father, Harriet said between her teeth.

I want Papa, Eugenia said, starting to cry again. I want Papa!

There was no key. Of course, there wouldnt be a key since Jem wanted to make sure that degenerates didnt find their way into the west wing.

Isnt your fathers bedchamber in the west wing as wel ? Harriet asked.

Hes not he-here, Eugenia hiccupped. I went to his room and hes not here.

Harriet ran to the top of the stairs and looked frantical y down the long flight of steps.

Dont go! Eugenia cal ed. Dont go anywhere, Harry. Please dont go.

I wont, she said, putting her hand on the thick wood as if she could caress Eugenias face through it. I promise I wont go anywhere.

Sing me a song, Eugenia said.

Harriet thought madly.

Do you know any songs? My papa doesnt know a single song. He says its because hes a man.

Wel , I know some, Harriet said. But her mind was blank and al she could think of was the smel of smoke. She knew nothing about childrens songs. Final y she thought of one song that her music instructor had drummed into her head, years ago when she was about to make her debut and expected to perform.

Drink to me only with thine eyes, she sang, And I wil pledge with mine.

What does that mean? came a sharp little voice. But it sounded less frightened.

It means that the singer admires the eyes of his beloved, the person he loves.

Oh. Do you know any other songs?

No.

Al right, then.

Yet leave a kiss but in the cup, and Il not ask for wine.

How do you leave a kiss in a cup?

Good question, Harriet said. But she didnt answer, just kept singing. The kiss that from the soul doth rise, requires a draught divine. Yet might I of Joves nectar sup, I would not change for thine .

Isnt nectar what bees eat?

I believe so.

I wouldnt trade any of that for a kiss either. Whats a draught?

But Harriet final y heard feet coming up the stairs and jumped to her feet. It was a footman, so tired that his face was white.

Fire! Harriet bel owed. Theres a fire in the west wing and Miss Eugenia is alone in there.

He stared at her for a second and then wheeled and tore down the stairs.

Harry? Eugenia said, through the door.

Yes, sweetheart.

Did you say fire?

Dont worry, Harriet said firmly. Hes bringing the key and I shal have you out of there in exactly one minute. Youre going to be fine, Eugenia. Wel get the fire out, and then wel find your father and murder him.

He must be in the wrong bed, she realized. Of course he was. A man like that had a mistress, though she hadnt realized it, with her monumental naïveté. He was snug in a bed, likely with one of the Graces.

But Harry, Eugenia was saying, the fire is in my room.

I know, she said. Dont worry.

Im not worrying about that, Eugenia said. Do you know, Harry, you sound like a girl when you sing?

Harriet cleared her throat. The whole subterfuge was ridiculous. She opened her mouth, but just then there was the sound of pounding footsteps and a crowd of footmen burst up the last flight of stairs, led by Povy, carrying a great brass key.

Give it to me! Harriet demanded.

Povy handed her the key.

She stuck the key in the lock, threw open the door, scooped up the smal huddled figure in her arms and threw herself backwards, holding Eugenia.

Thank God, Povy was saying. Thank His voice died. He was looking down the corridor. There it was, dim in the light of one lamp burning by the door. There wasnt a wisp of smoke. There wasnt even a Eugenia, Harriet said, putting the girl on her feet. Didnt you tel me that there was a fire?

Eugenia sniffed. There was, she said. Theres always a fire in my room.

Doors were opening down the corridor behind her. She could hear little squeaks of dismay.

A fire, the walrus gentleman suddenly roared at Harriets shoulder. In the other wing. He gave the impression of having too many teeth.

There was an answering little shriek from the assembled company in the corridor. Povy jerked his head and a footman ran into the west wing.

Harriet knelt down in front of Eugenia. You were crying. You were afraid.

Eugenia sniffed again and tears wel ed up in her eyes.

Was your bedchamber on fire?

No, Eugenia said. But I woke up alone.

Harriet looked up at Povy. She felt as if she were learning to breathe al over again. Where is the footman who is stationed here? And where is Miss Eugenias governess or maid? Who sleeps with her?

I wil certainly inquire in the morning, Povy said. I wil inquire as to You wil inquire now, Harriet snapped, standing up. Every inch of her had transmuted from being genial Harry Cope to being a duchess, a woman who had run the duchy estate, not to mention Judge Truders court, for years. I suggest you discover the whereabouts of these people immediately, Povy. And you might her tone was withering you might wish to inform Lord Strange, if you can find where he bedded himself, what happened tonight.

Povy pul ed himself upright. I wil do that, sir, he said. Immediately.

I shal take Miss Eugenia to my chamber. She looked down the corridor at the huddled folk. They looked a great deal less glamorous this late at night. There is no fire, she stated. Go back to bed, if you please. We are sorry to have disturbed your rest.

Tea? Povy asked rather desperately. Buttered eggs?

Enough buttered eggs, Harriet said, at precisely the same moment that Eugenia said, Yes, please .

Al right, buttered eggs, Harriet said. She took Eugenias hand. Id like to know exactly what frightened you, but lets wait until we wash your face.

They went down the stairs in silence. Harriets heart was stil racing. She felt il , an aftermath of shock and excitement.

They walked into Harriets chamber and she looked with some disbelief at the chair stil pushed to the side, at her boots and rapier.

Im sorry you thought there was a fire, Eugenia said, perching on the edge of the bed. I didnt mean to give you that impression.

Its not your fault, Harriet said. Did you have a bad dream?

Oh no, Eugenia said. That wouldnt bother me. Im not a baby, you know. I would go back to sleep. It was the rat.

Rat!

Yes, Eugenia said, nodding. It ran across my bed and I woke up and there it was, looking at me. Right in the face. It was al black with a horrid pink tail.

It must have been a dream, Harriet said. A rat would never do such a thing. Theyre afraid of people. You were dreaming.

I know the difference between a dream and a rat, Harry. The rat bit me. A dream would never do that.

The rat bit you? Where?

Right here. She held out her right hand. Sure enough, just above her thumb there were four sharp puncture marks, the skin swel ing around them.

Oh, no, Harriet breathed. She scooped Eugenia up and ran over to the water basin, poured some water from the pitcher and thrust Eugenias hand into the water. Soap, she said. Soap. Her heart was thumping again.

Right there, Eugenia said, pointing to the bal of soap.

Harriet soaped and soaped.

He wasnt a very dirty rat, Eugenia said. I mean, he frightened me. And I didnt want to stay in the room with him. But he had a nice white spot on his stomach, as if he had a fancy waistcoat on. He was a clean rat, as rats go.

Harriet groaned and scrubbed harder. How many rats have you seen?

There was a knock on the door and Harriet swung around, ready to scream at Jem. But apparently they hadnt been able to root him out of whatever bed he was nesting in, because it was Povy with yet more buttered eggs. He set them down on the little table next to the armchair. A footman carried in another armchair.

Yum! Eugenia said, slipping her hand out from Harriets and shaking water drops al over the floor. Im so hungry.

I gather Lord Strange is nowhere to be found, Harriet stated.

Povy bowed. I have not had success, Mr. Cope.

Have you checked every bedchamber? Her tone was only slightly acid.

He blinked. Natural y not. I cannot inconvenience our guests in that matter.

Do so, she snapped.

Lord Strange wil be quite angry, Povy said.

She fixed him with a look. Lord Strange wil have other things to worry about. You might wish to inform him that his daughter has been bitten by a rat.

He stood for a moment as she gave him her best duchess stare. Then he faded backwards, closing the door quietly behind him.

I dont think Povy likes you, Harry, Eugenia said, taking a huge bite of buttered eggs.

I dont like him very much either, Harriet said. If there is a rat in your room, it is Povys fault.

I shouldnt think so, Eugenia said after a moment. Papa told me that al old houses have mice.

Mice are one thing. Rats are another.

I expect the rat was hungry, Eugenia said. I went to bed without my supper because I was naughty. She ate another large bite of egg.

What did you do?

I fel into a rage, Eugenia said. I do that, and it is a great fault. My governess was so angry at me that she left.

And she didnt come back.

Yes, so I didnt get supper. But I knew I wouldnt. I am never supposed to have supper if I am impertinent. And sometimes I just feel impertinent.

We al do, Harriet said, feeling the rage bubbling inside of her. I think you should stil be given supper.

I know the way I ought to behave, Eugenia explained. But I just cant get there. My governess wanted me to practice my French.

But I very much wanted to do my calculations instead. And I couldnt pay attention; I just couldnt. And then I snapped at her.

Were you rude? Harriet asked.

Frightful y so, Eugenia said cheerful y, starting on the toast. You know, Harry, your hair is standing straight up in parts.

Harriet put a hand to her head and discovered that her hair had fal en out of the tie at her neck and was curling wildly around her head. Its that sort of hair.

It makes you look like a girl, Eugenia observed. You would make a very pretty girl.

Harriet was inordinately pleased by that compliment.

Are you a girl? Eugenia asked, with that remarkable straightforwardness employed by children.

Harriet nodded.

I wont tel anyone, Eugenia promised. I wish I was going to be as pretty as you are. But Im not. Im reconciled to it.

What on earth are you saying? Harriet said. Youre beautiful!

My papa says that the worst thing you can do is fib to someone just to protect his feelings, Eugenia said, her gray eyes very earnest. My hair is peculiar and I have a big nose.

You do have very curly hair, Harriet agreed. So do I. But your nose is not big, and you have lovely eyes.

I am used to it, Eugenia said serenely. Papa is very rich, so I shal marry whomever I wish. I shal buy him.

Oh, Harriet said, rather taken aback.

Are you rich? Eugenia asked. It makes things quite pleasant.

Yes, Harriet said after a moment. I suppose I am. I havent thought about it much.

Why not? You could buy yourself a husband, you know. I can tel you how to do it, as Papa told me al about it. You go to London and post how much money you have on a pil ar in St. Pauls Cathedral. Thats a very big place and you can find everything from a horse trainer to a wife there.

Oh, Harriet said. Is your father planning to buy himself a wife?

He loved my mama very much, Eugenia said. She was starting to look a little sleepy. He didnt buy her, though. She bought him.

Why dont you sleep in my bed until your father comes to find you?

Eugenia stumbled her way to the bed and fel asleep the moment her head touched the pil ows.

Harriet stood for a moment and gently touched Eugenias hair. It hadnt been brushed before bed. Which made sense given that the governess had stormed from the room before supper and didnt come back, not even to wash Eugenias face. But shouldnt Jem have visited his daughter to say goodnight?

She swal owed. If life had been kind enough to give her a child

I could have a passion for you, she whispered. If Eugenia were hers, she could have felt as fiercely about her as Benjamin had for chess.

It was a bleak thought, and just made her feel more tired. So she stumbled back to the armchair and sat down. She final y fel asleep thinking of calculations and children.

When she woke again, from a dream in which a very clean, intel igent rat was doing calculations on a scrap of paper, it was dawn. Her neck was stiff from sleeping in a chair. She stumbled to a standing position and then fel into her bed next to Eugenia, ful y clothed.

Of Rats and Their Ability to Change Their Spots

S he opened her eyes to find him there, hanging over her, such painful anxiety in his eyes that she forgave him, although his sins were unforgivable.

Is she badly frightened? he whispered.

It was the first time that shed seen the almost physical glow of intel igence and confidence that surrounded Jem Strange diminished. She felt an instant wish to bring it back.

And quel ed the emotion by remembering what an ass he was, sleeping God knows where.

It could have been a fire, she said sharply, swinging her legs over the side of the bed.

He had no wig. Of course not: he and his mistress likely didnt close their eyes for a moment.