Page 14 of To Dare the Devil

“I hope you don’t think me cheeky for suggesting such a thing, but I believe I have the perfect man for the job.”

Eliza raised her dark eyebrows, and Kathy batted down a tiny sliver of envy. Lady Elizabeth was beautiful, stylish, and seemed to know exactly who and what she was. The daughter of a duke, she had defied convention by marrying a nobody, the illegitimate half-brother of the Comte de Villen. The ton had been shocked, had giggled and tittered about her marrying beneath herself, and Eliza didn’t give a snap of her fingers. She was living life on her terms, as she wanted to, and she appeared blissfully happy.

“You don’t mean to say Hart would be interested? I thought he was far too busy with his greenhouses and supplying exotic plants to the world?”

“Yes, but he has always wanted to design a garden, Eliza. We both know it’s not his sphere of expertise, but he is so very talented, and he would work day and night to create something splendid for you. And because you would be doing him a favour, giving him a chance to make a name for himself, I rather think he’ll be extraordinarily cheap. That is to say, free.”

Eliza laughed, looking delighted by the idea. “Well, then, by all means. I’ll have copies of the building plans and maps sent over to him, and you arrange a meeting once he’s had time to make some preliminary studies.”

“Oh, that’s wonderful! Thank you, Eliza.”

“No, no, thank you. It’s a marvellous idea.” Eliza took her arm and the two women strolled around the outskirts of the building site, watching the workmen as the bones of the handsome building took shape. “Speaking of marvellous ideas, how on earth did you get Vane to allow you to work on his behalf?”

A glint of curiosity shone in Eliza’s eyes, and Kathy avoided her gaze. She shrugged. “Serendipity, that’s all. I was here, interested in the project, and he turned up. I guessed at once he must be your mysterious benefactor and told him so. It was obvious that if he wanted his interest to be kept out of the public eye, he needed someone else to oversee it.”

Eliza nodded, watching Kathy with interest. “Yes, I admit I was wary of getting involved with him. His reputation precedes him and casts quite a shadow, but I am not as gullible as some people think, and I believe his regret is genuine. He wants to make amends and start over. Easier said than done, naturally. He’s discovering now the price for his previous attitudes. The staff who had stayed on whilst he was missing were few, and more than half of them had been lining their own pockets behind his back. Finding good people is never a straightforward task and with his reputation as a neglectful employer, it hardly helps. You must have appeared as manna from heaven.”

Kathy snorted at the idea. “Hardly, but I shall prove my worth to him, and once I do, I intend to prey upon his desire to assuage his guilt by spending more of his money on good causes.”

“My, you sound positively devious,” Eliza said, though her tone was approving. “You won’t bankrupt the poor man, though, will you?”

“No, I’ll leave him enough for a crust of bread for supper,” Kathy said, with a mischievous grin.

“That’s a little harsh, love,” Eliza chuckled, amused. “I know his reputation was black and, if half the rumours are true, that he was a selfish devil, but we are in the business of charity, are we not? If someone accepts they’ve done wrong and is sincere in wanting to make amends, ought we not support them and encourage them?”

“Yes. I do agree, truly. What he’s doing is admirable and he should be encouraged wholeheartedly, and I ought to find it easier to forgive.”

Eliza’s gaze sharpened, and Kathy cursed herself.

“To forgive? Do you mean to say you have something to forgive him for?”

“Oh, no,” she said in a rush. “Not me personally. I was just speaking generally. You are far sweeter in nature than I, that’s all,” she added, laughing.

Eliza nodded, apparently accepting this, and Kathy heaved a sigh of relief.

Chapter 5

Barnaby,

I’ve not the slightest idea what you a playing at, but if you must come, you must. I’ll expect you by the end of the month.

―Excerpt of a letter to Mr Barnaby Godwin from his Great Aunt Hester Henley, Lady Balderston.

25th May 1842, Vane Hall, Chiswick, London.

“Well, this is most comprehensive, Miss de Beauvoir.” Lord Vane’s expression was carefully neutral as he perused her report, and Kathy suspected he was working on hiding his surprise.

At least he was trying to be polite. Even so, the knowledge rankled. He looked very much at home here, in the environs of a cosy study. It was all heavy dark wood and velvet curtains, the thick carpets muffling the heaviest of footfalls and the air perfumed with cigar smoke and fine brandy. A masculine room for masculine endeavours, such as speaking of money and business. Things that, in his world, she would be told she need not worry her pretty little head about.

“You employed me, expecting me to make a pig’s ear of it, my lord?” she asked with every outward appearance of innocence, whilst sending him a dazzling smile instead of kicking his desk.

His lordship’s sensuous mouth twitched, but he held his serious expression with admirable aplomb. “I employed you because you made me feel horribly guilty. A state which I do not doubt I deserve,” he hurried to add. “However, you have exceeded my expectations, and I am most pleased. Thank you. Now, as to the matter of schoolbooks. You said you wanted to make some changes?”

Kathy regarded her notes. “Well, the original order you placed comprises six and thirty primers, four and twenty prayer-books, four and twenty testaments, and twelve bibles.”

“Miss de Beauvoir, judging by the fierce expression you are sending my way, am I to believe this order does not meet with your approval?”

“Well, really,” Kathy said, not bothering to hide her exasperation. “You are seeking to educate boys who’ve lived on the streets and had to fight for their very survival, and you think to keep them in school by feeding them a diet of prayer and improving stories? Truly? Would that have worked on you, or would you have been out the door the moment your tutor turned his back?”