Nearly a Lady Read Online Free

Miss Ilestone gave one, almost imperceptible, shake of her head.
    “Is there something you’d like to ask?” Gideon prompted.
    Both women looked to him uncertainly. Always the fear, he thought. “Why don’t you think on it some, and while you’re at it, give some thought as to what you would like to do with yourselves now.”
    “Do with ourselves?” Miss Blythe repeated. “You’ve come to evict us, then.”
    He couldn’t fault the girl for her tone of resignation, even if it did rankle. “I’ve come, as I believe I mentioned, to right the wrong done to you by a member of my family. The allowance owed you will be paid in full, Miss Blythe, and a small bonus added as restitution. You may stay here as long as you like, or if you prefer, we can find another home more to your taste . . . Unless your tastes run to Buckingham Palace. If that’s the case, I’m afraid you’re out of luck.”
    He turned his attention toward the older woman. “As for you, I think . . . How is it you came to be here, Miss Ilestone? My brother’s letter didn’t mention you.”
    “It didn’t? I . . .” A shadow crossed her face, but it was gone as quickly as it arrived. “I came with Freddie—Miss Blythe, that is—from your father’s estate. My immediate family is gone, and Lady Engsly offered me the position of governess.”
    She couldn’t have been more than seventeen at the time, he thought. “And were you salaried?”
    “Well, there was Miss Blythe’s allowance . . .” She trailed off, looking uncomfortable. “I was hardly qualified, at any rate.”
    “I see. Your back pay as well, then. Equal to Miss Blythe’s allowance, I should think.”
    Ah, there now was the sort of reaction he’d been imagining during his trip. Miss Ilestone’s face lit with pleasure and excitement. Her hand reached out and gripped Winnefred’s.
    “Twelve years? Twelve years of back pay? Are you certain? It’s a considerable sum, and your brother—”
    “Will be appalled to find you’ve gone without compensation for your work.” He shot a quick smile at Miss Blythe. “I’m certain it was . . . challenging.”
    Miss Ilestone’s soft laugh filled the room, but his focus was on Miss Blythe. Unless he was much mistaken, her lips twitched just a little.
    “I was an angel,” she informed him.
    “Fallen, perhaps,” her friend said dryly. She let go of Miss Blythe’s hand to brush at her gown. “Well, you must be famished by now, my lord. I’ll fix some breakfast and ready a room in the house. You mean to stay a day or two, do you not?”
    “I do, but you needn’t put yourselves out. I’ll take a room at Mr. Pirkle’s inn.”
    “Unfortunately, the inn was lost to fire a fortnight ago.”
    “Mrs. Pirkle again?”
    “Mr. Pirkle,” Miss Blythe said with a cheeky smile. “And he was in it at the time. You’ll want to be careful with that bump on your head.”
    “Mr. Pirkle was pulled to safety with time to spare,” Miss Ilestone assured him. “Come along, Freddie, we’ve chores, and Lord Gideon needs his rest.”
    “I believe I am adequately rested,” Gideon began by way of protest, but Miss Ilestone shook her head at him.
    “Better to be cautious.” She moved toward the door but stopped with her hand on the handle. “I wrote,” she said softly, turning to face him once more. “Your father and brother both. I never received a reply.”
    Gideon thought this new information through carefully before speaking. “I cannot answer for my father. I’m afraid it is possible he received your letters and chose not to respond. But Lucien isn’t one to ignore his responsibilities. It simply isn’t in his nature. The most likely explanation is that your letters never reached him. At the moment, I very much doubt he is aware of your existence.”
    She absorbed that information silently, then nodded once and left.
    Miss Blythe waited for the door to close before speaking. “Lady Engsly hid those letters, didn’t