The Downstairs Maid Read online

  ‘I imagine you can handle your mama,’ Belvane said, smiling at her. He took out his cigar case and extracted a cheroot, then offered the case to her and smiled when she declined. ‘Still not ready to take the plunge?’

  The mocking tone of his voice stung her, making her lift her head to meet the challenge. ‘Just because I do not wish to smoke those doesn’t mean I’m a prude.’

  ‘Doesn’t it?’ Belvane threw the cheroot away unlit and reached her into his arms. He gazed down into her face for a moment, then bent his head and kissed her. His mouth was so demanding, his hold on her so firm, that Amy’s head swirled. She had never felt this way in her life and her breath came faster as he finally released her. For a moment she felt as if she would faint, but something in his eyes brought her sharply back to herself. She knew she was trembling as she drew back.

  ‘You shouldn’t have done that …’

  ‘Shouldn’t I? It seemed wholly pleasurable to me, for us both.’ He touched her cheek with his fingertips. ‘Come to Russia with me, Amy. Run away with me tonight. I’ll settle money on you. Even if I were an utter rotter you would still have your independence – but I promise you, I’ve no intention of leaving you in distress. I want you more than I’ve ever wanted any woman.’

  ‘You want me for your mistress.’ Amy raised her head, gazing into his eyes. Her pride was stung that he should think her fit only for his mistress. ‘Is that all you want – a brief affair? Why not marriage?’

  ‘I might have asked you, had I been able,’ Belvane replied, an odd twist to his mouth. ‘Unfortunately for us both, my dear, I have a wife.’

  Amy felt as if she’d been showered with ice. ‘No one told me. Nicolas didn’t warn me that you were married.’

  ‘Very few people know,’ Belvane replied. ‘My wife is a minor member of the Russian royal family, a distant cousin of the tsar. She is seventeen and we were married by proxy a year ago, though as yet we haven’t lived together as man and wife. Our parents made the match and neither of us was given a choice.’

  ‘Good grief. I thought that sort of thing belonged to the dark ages – except for royal families …’ Amy paused. ‘Yes, I see. She is, of course, and you’re wealthy. I suppose it was thought a good match for her.’

  ‘My father and hers were great friends. It was my father’s dearest wish. He was dying and I felt I had no option but to agree to the match. It hardly seemed to matter … most of my family have married for money or land.’

  ‘It isn’t so very different in my family. I was given a choice but the expectations were there. I dare say my parents imagine I shall find someone suitable when I’m over the break up with Arthur.’

  He looked at her in the darkness, his eyes glittering in the faint light of a shadowed moon. She watched his mouth curl in scorn, as if disappointed that she was so conventional, so tied by her family’s morals.

  ‘Shall you conform?’

  ‘No, at least not for ages. I want to live in London, be independent for a while.’

  ‘You won’t throw your hat over the windmill and come with me?’

  ‘You know I can’t. It’s too shocking.’

  Yet how she longed to do as he asked. Every fibre of her being was alive with feeling, with a longing for the kind of life she might have with him – the excitement he could show her. For a moment she was tempted but the influence of her upbringing was too strong.

  ‘Yes, I suppose it is for you. You know how tense things are in Europe at the moment?’ Amy nodded. ‘I shall return to Russia and I shall probably volunteer to fight for my country. I haven’t decided yet. I might join the RFC in England instead.’

  ‘You think of Russia as home?’

  ‘My grandmother was Russian. Her father was a duke – Helena and I are cousins many times removed. I have divided loyalties. Should I fight here or there? It is a decision I must make.’

  ‘I hate all this talk of war. I wish it was over.’

  ‘Come to Russia with me while there is still time to have fun. We should make glorious love, Amy. My father is dead but Mama is alive. She would acknowledge you as her friend and my mistress. I will give you furs and jewels, beautiful homes to live in.’

  ‘None of those things matter. If we loved each other … but I do not know you, Belvane. I’m sorry but what you ask is impossible.’

  ‘I knew it would be,’ he said and took out another of his thin cigars, lighting it this time. The smoke curled from his lips, disappearing on the slight breeze. ‘Such a shame that you weren’t ready. We might have been good together.’

  ‘Perhaps.’ Amy felt a pang of regret. Something deep inside her told her that she was throwing away a chance … something precious that might never come her way again. She wished that she had the courage to run away with him, but she was afraid of losing her friends and her family. ‘If you ever return to London …’

  ‘The moment will be lost,’ he said and smiled. ‘I shall leave the day after tomorrow. You are still too much your mother’s child, Amy. One day you will realise what you’ve lost. I hope you find fulfilment in other ways.’

  ‘Do you have to go?’ She felt a surge of fear, because she sensed she had lost him and she wanted to hold him, yet knew he wasn’t the kind of man she could dangle on a string until she was ready. Her hand touched his arm, her look intent as she gazed up at him in the shadowed moonlight. ‘Would you have married me if you hadn’t been married already?’

  ‘Perhaps. Who knows? I do not deal in what might have been.’ He drew on his cheroot and then flicked it away into the shrubbery. ‘We should go in, before your mama sends someone to see if I’ve abducted you.’

  ‘I’m not a child.’

  ‘No? Perhaps not but you aren’t yet a woman, are you, Amy?’

  Chapter 28

  ‘Emily, I want to talk to you alone,’ Tomas waylaid her at the foot of the back stairs. He’d taken his coat off and his shirtsleeves were rolled up to the elbows. She caught a whiff of strong drink and wondered if he’d been at the brandy Mrs Hattersley used for cooking. She always ordered a good one, because she said the family would know if she used cheap stuff. It was dark in the little well at the bottom of the stairs, because there were no windows and not much light managed to penetrate the gloom. ‘Don’t say you’re busy, because they can finish up without you. You’ve hardly stopped since you got back from London.’

  ‘I was just going to get myself a drink to take to bed. Mrs Hattersley told me earlier she didn’t need me any more.’

  ‘Then you can listen to me for a minute.’ Tomas frowned at her. ‘I know you like Miss Amy, and you’re pleased with your new job – but you don’t have to work all these long hours. I’ve got a chance to buy a little pub with living accommodation at the back. If you married me I could keep you in comfort.’

  ‘Tomas …’ Emily hesitated, because she didn’t want to hurt him. ‘You know I’m not ready to think about marriage. I like you as a friend but I’m not sure …’

  ‘You think you’ll better yourself looking after Miss Amy, but she’ll drop you as soon as it suits her.’

  ‘I’m not ready to marry yet …’

  ‘Listen to me, Emily. I shan’t stop at one pub. I’ll have two or three or maybe a shop as well. I’ll be rich one day. I’ll give you pretty clothes and holidays in London or at the sea. It would be a good life – and I really need you to help me. Between us, we could make it work, because you’re clever and a good cook …’

  ‘Tomas …’ Emily touched his arm. ‘Please don’t be cross. I do like you very much – but I don’t want to marry yet.’

  ‘Whatever Miss Amy promised, you’ll just be the skivvy, Emily.’

  ‘I’m sorry, Tomas. I’ve given Miss Amy my word. If she goes to London I’m going to look after her.’

  ‘You’ll be working all hours for nothing,’ Tomas said scornfully. ‘You’ll regret it, Emily.’

  ‘I’m sorry. I like you and I wish you well – but I can’t marry you. Besides, you do
n’t love me, Tomas. You like me and you think I would be useful to you – but I want much more than that kind of marriage.’

  ‘You’ll wish you had one of these days.’ Tomas stood back, a slightly resentful look on his face, because she’d caught him out. ‘She’s just using you, Emily.’

  ‘I am a servant and it’s all I want,’ Emily said. She was a little annoyed, because she knew that he wanted to use her too. He wasn’t madly in love with her, but he thought she would help him to make a successful business – and, if she’d loved him, it could have been a good life. ‘And now I need a hot drink. My head aches.’

  Tomas let her go and Emily entered the kitchen, but discovered that it was empty except for Mary. The girl looked at her resentfully.

  ‘Mary, I’m sorry. I didn’t try to take your job – it just happened.’

  ‘Do you think I’d believe a word you say? You’re a selfish bitch and I hope you get what’s coming to you.’

  Mary slammed out of the room, leaving Emily to stare after her in dismay. She’d upset two of her colleagues in one evening and her head was pounding. All she wanted was to make a nice hot drink and then lie down for a while. Being Miss Amy’s maid was a step up for her but she’d been helping Cook too and she was exhausted.

  ‘Have you seen the emerald pendant Arthur gave me?’ Amy asked as Emily was helping her to dress for tea the next afternoon. She had settled on a pale green gown after discarding a dozen others, which lay on top of the satin coverlet waiting for Emily to put them away. ‘When I looked in the box I couldn’t see it.’

  ‘I’m sure it was there before we left London.’ Emily frowned. ‘I’ll look for it when you go down to tea, miss. It has probably just been placed in another box in your drawer.’

  ‘I’m usually so particular about my jewels,’ Amy replied and dabbed perfume behind her ears and on her wrists. ‘Especially that pendant, because it is valuable and Arthur gave it to me.’

  ‘Yes, I know you’re fond of it. I’ll make a thorough search, miss. The catch was strong. I don’t think you could have lost it.’

  ‘No, that’s what I thought. I expect it is here somewhere. Please look carefully, Emily. I should hate to lose it.’

  ‘Of course you would, miss. You couldn’t replace that if you tried.’

  Amy nodded, picked up her handkerchief and dabbed some more perfume on it before leaving the room. She’d left the jewel case unlocked on the dressing table, as she sometimes did. Emily went through it carefully but the pendant was not there. She locked the case after her search, put it away in the drawer and tucked the key in its usual place in the silver vase on the dressing chest. Then she began to search the room. There were several small chests or tables with drawers, besides lots of pretty boxes, either enamel or wooden and she looked in all of them just in case.

  Half an hour later, she’d been through every drawer in the bedroom, checked all Miss Amy’s pockets and purses. She’d even taken all the clothes out of the wardrobe piece by piece in case it had caught on something, but there was no sign of the pendant. Surely it couldn’t have come off when Miss Amy was wearing it? Emily vaguely recalled her wearing it last in London – and she thought it had been replaced in its box. If it wasn’t here and Miss Amy hadn’t lost it, what could have happened to the necklet? The only answer she could think of gave her a nasty taste in her mouth. No one in this house would take it. Had one of the London staff stolen it? No, impossible!

  The idea was so shocking that Emily felt sick. She put it out of her mind as she went down to the kitchen. Miss Amy was going to be so upset.

  ‘Where have you been all this time?’ Mrs Hattersley asked as she entered, then, ‘What’s wrong, Emily? Something upset you?’

  Emily shook her head. She didn’t want to talk about it because the idea that someone might steal from Miss Amy was too upsetting – and she didn’t want to offend anyone by suggesting it. That suggestion would have to come from Miss Amy or her father.

  ‘I’ve been busy, but I can help you with the …’ She broke off as Mary burst into the room looking white and wild-eyed. ‘Mary, what’s happened?’

  ‘What would you care?’ Mary said rudely and then burst into tears. ‘It’s my lad. He’s been wounded and they say he might not last long. He’s in hospital in Portsmouth and I’ve been sent for … but how can I get there?’

  ‘I’m sure someone would take you to the station and you could get a train from there,’ Emily said. ‘If everyone is busy Mrs Marsh could telephone for a taxi to take you to the station.’

  ‘I can’t afford the fare let alone money to stay there …’ Mary gulped, her cheeks wet with desperate tears. ‘He’ll die and I’ll never see him again.’

  ‘How much do you need?’ Emily asked. ‘I think I’ve got about four pounds you can have.’

  ‘And I’ve another five in my tin,’ Mrs Hattersley said. ‘Dry your eyes and pack a few things, Mary. Mr Payne or Tomas will take you to the station.’

  Mary stared at them, her cheeks flushing as she met Emily’s concerned look. ‘You would do that for me?’

  ‘Don’t waste time wondering about it, Mary. Get packed and the money will be waiting for you when you come down.’

  ‘Thank you. I shan’t forget this,’ Mary said. She gulped and then ran out of the kitchen.

  ‘Poor girl,’ Mrs Hattersley said and reached for the tin on the mantelpiece. ‘I’ve got ten pounds here – are you sure you can spare what you offered, Emily?’

  ‘Of course. Miss Amy gave me some extra money as a tip. Mary is welcome to it.’

  ‘Let’s hope she’s there in time to see him alive,’ Mrs Hattersley said. ‘She must have had a telegram – there will be a good many getting them these days.’

  ‘I’ll go and get Mary’s money,’ Emily said.

  She left the kitchen and ran up the stairs to her room, feeling a little surprised to see the door open, because she always left it shut. As she went in, she saw a man with his back towards her. He was bending over her bed and there was something in his hand.

  ‘What are you doing, Tomas?’

  He started and turned towards her, a guilty expression on his face. She saw a flash of green fire in his hand and knew instantly what it was.

  ‘I’ve spent half an hour looking for that. Where did you get it? Don’t tell me – you took it from Miss Amy’s room.’

  ‘Emily, I thought …’ Tomas looked almost as green as the emerald in Miss Amy’s pendant.

  ‘You thought I was busy in the kitchen so it would be safe to hide it in my room. You wanted Miss Amy to think I’d taken it, didn’t you?’

  ‘It isn’t the way it looks. I don’t want to hurt you – I just thought if she gave you the push you’d be glad to marry me.’

  ‘Yes, I can see why you did it,’ Emily said, her voice harsh. ‘You say you care for me and yet you were ready to have me branded a thief to get what you wanted. It isn’t me you love; you’re in love with the idea of making a fortune, and you thought you could force me to go with you. Because you know I’m strong and willing to work long hours, you thought you would take advantage – well, it’s not what I want. Give me the pendant, Tomas. I’ll take it back to her.’

  He hesitated, then stepped forward and held out the pendant. Emily put it in her pocket, then went to her purse on the dressing table and took out the money inside. She was trembling, upset and shocked that a man she’d liked, shared her thoughts with and imagined to be her friend could do such a thing. If she hadn’t found him and her room had been searched, she would have been turned off without a reference, and branded a thief.

  ‘I wouldn’t take your money, Emily.’

  ‘This is for Mary,’ Emily said giving him a look of disdain. ‘You’re needed downstairs. Mary has to get to the station in a hurry.’

  ‘Please Emily …’

  ‘I should be obliged if you would leave my room. I have nothing more to say to you.’

  ‘I love you … really I do. It wasn’t wha
t you said … not altogether anyway …’

  Emily gave him a withering look that made him flinch. She walked from the room, leaving him to follow on as she ran back to the kitchen. Mary was already there carrying a small bag. She turned and looked at Emily, her face white.

  ‘Thank you for this. I shan’t forget.’

  ‘Don’t worry about paying me back,’ Emily said. ‘I’ll pray he isn’t hurt as bad as you think.’

  Mary gave her a wan smile and accepted the money as Tomas entered the kitchen. He was pulling on his coat, his expression frustrated and angry.

  ‘Mrs Marsh said I’m to take Mary to the station.’

  ‘You’d better get going, Tomas. Mary can catch the next train to London and change there,’ Mrs Hattersley said.

  ‘Give me your bag,’ he muttered and looked at Emily. She turned her head aside, not wanting to look at him. ‘I’ll get you there in time.’

  Mary nodded and followed him from the room. Emily took a step towards the kitchen door.

  ‘Where are you going? I thought you were going to help with dinner?’

  ‘I’ll be back in a moment,’ Emily said. ‘I need to speak to Miss Amy.’

  She went out into the hall and then up the back stairs to Miss Amy’s room. The door was open and her employer inside. As Emily entered she turned to look at her anxiously.

  ‘Did you find the pendant?’

  ‘Yes, I did. I’ve kept it safe in my pocket to give to you,’ Emily said and took it out. ‘It had fallen down behind the dressing table, miss. It must have got knocked off somehow.’