The Pirate's Widow Read Online Free Page A

be
adverse to a companion who might help you around the house as well.
      “Mrs. Louvain’s lady’s maid, Sawyer, has a
niece who is anxious to enter service with an eye toward eventually being a
lady’s maid herself.   I wonder if you
might consider taking her into your employ.”
       Callie saw the alarmed glance pass between
Venetia and her daughter and although she really had no interest in hiring a
servant, smiled sweetly at her host.   “How very kind of you, Sir Thomas,” she cooed.   “I should be grateful for the help and the
company.”
      “Excellent!”   Sir Thomas beamed at her.   “You
are a most agreeable person, Mrs. Jenkins.   Amenability in a lady is an inestimable trait.”
       After dinner Gemma, the young niece of
Venetia’s lady’s maid, was summoned and readily agreed to accompany Callie home
and become a servant in her house.   She
had ambitions for the future but, she agreed, one needed to start somewhere.
       The Misses Bates announced their departure
and Sir Thomas ordered his carriage, determined to see Callie, Jem, and Gemma
home to Hyacinth Cottage.
       “You must not trouble yourself, Sir Thomas,”
Callie protested.   “Surely the Misses
Bates . . .”
       “It is no trouble at all, I assure you,” he
replied.   There are too many of you for
the Misses Bates’ pony cart and I should be delighted for the opportunity of
seeing you home, Mrs. Jenkins.”
       Though Callie would have just as soon
crowded into Sophie and Penelope’s little pony cart, the sight of Venetia and
Flora’s sour expressions was enough to make the prospect of a ride home in Sir
Thomas’ elegant landau more agreeable.
       As they rode through the village, Sir Thomas
and Callie seated together, Gemma, her bundle at her feet, facing them, and Jem
happily ensconced on the box beside the liveried coachman, men doffed their
caps and tugged their forelocks, women and girls curtsied.   Callie felt very grand and although she knew
the obeisances were meant for Sir Thomas, she couldn’t help indulging in a
moment’s fantasy of what it would be like to be a titled lady accustomed to
receiving such deference on a daily basis.   No wonder Venetia Louvain so jealously guarded her position as Sir
Thomas’ mother-in-law and plotted to replace the daughter she’d lost with her
surviving daughter as Lady Sedgewyck.
       They reached Hyacinth Cottage and Sir Thomas
helped Callie descend while Jem hopped down from the box and handed Gemma to the
ground.   He took her bundle and carried
it into the cottage as she followed him inside.
       “There you are,” Sir Thomas said, smiling,
“safe and sound.   I trust you had a
pleasant time at the manor.”
       “Most enjoyable,” Callie assured him.   “You have a lovely home.   Thank you for inviting us.”
       “You must come again.”   He took her hand.   “I am so pleased to have met you, Mrs.
Jenkins.   I would like to know you
better.”
       “I am flattered, Sir Thomas . . .”
       “I am perfectly serious, ma’am,” he said,
his dark eyes searching her face.   “I am
no idle flatterer.   But I will take my
leave now in the hope of seeing you again in the near future.”
       “I’m sure you shall,” Callie agreed.
       “I will content myself with that, for
now.”   Sir Thomas raised her hand to his
lips and brushed a kiss on her fingers.   He made her an elegant bow and climbed back up into his carriage.   The coachman closed the crested door and
clambered back onto the box and Sir Thomas doffed his hand to her as the
carriage turned around and headed back down the narrow cart track toward the
village.
       As Callie turned toward the cottage she
found Jem standing just outside the doorway.   Grinning, he made her a bow every bit as elegant as Sir Thomas’.  
       “Get inside,” Callie told him with mock
severity, “before I turn out your pockets and make certain you didn’t make off
with