The Purloined Papers (22 page)

She cursed, her good humor vanishing in an instant. Did her pleasure arise from a few hours without Laura or from having this lovely house to herself?  If the latter, a small cottage would be oppressive. But how could she tell?  Moorside often seemed cramped, but Laura could make a castle feel crowded.

Maybe she should seek out the breakfast room. It was an intimate space, about the same size as Moorside’s sitting room. If she could relax there, she could assume that her euphoria arose from Laura’s absence.

As she crossed the hall, someone rapped on the front door. Ned hurried to open it, revealing Mr. Rose. Chloe’s heart stopped.

“I will speak with him, Ned,” she said, leading the farmer to the end of the portico so they would not be overheard – just as Andrew had done with her.

“What is wrong?” she asked. Only bad news would bring him the ten miles to Seabrook. He didn’t like Laura.

“I must speak with Miss Seabrook.”

“She is not yet up.”  And wouldn’t be until noon. Laura refused to take breakfast with the other guests, believing that the meal’s informality would draw taunts or cuts. Or maybe she enjoyed demanding the personal service of a tray in her room at an hour when the servants were supposed to be doing other things.

Mr. Rose fisted his hands. Chloe could see the thoughts parading across his face. Protocol demanded that he give bad news to Laura, yet he knew that Chloe was the one who dealt with problems and that Laura could be cuttingly rude to anyone she considered her inferior. He was involved in the harvest, so he wanted to deliver this message quickly and return home.

“Someone ransacked Moorside Cottage last night,” he said at last.

“Good heavens!  Is Mrs. Monroe all right?”

“She didn’t hear him and only discovered the damage when she arose this morning. He smashed a window pane in the sitting room, then broke the lock on the shutters to get in. Several drawers were emptied onto the floor, but Mrs. Monroe does not know what might be missing.”

Chloe swallowed a curse. Mrs. Monroe would have heard nothing. The woman was heavy sleeper. They should not have left her alone in so isolated a place – if she’d been alone. Mr. Rose’s appearance at this early hour meant he’d left Moorside at dawn. Had he spent the night there?

A flock of sheep spread across the lawn, cropping the grass. Chloe watched them while her mind turned over the information. “How much damage did he cause?”

“The desk in the sitting room was marred where he pried open locked drawers. And the floorboards in every wardrobe were pulled up. That is all I saw. I knew Miss Seabrook would wish to be informed immediately.”  His face tightened with trepidation.

“I will tell her. You’ve been through enough today. Is there anything else?”

“Nothing, Miss Fields.”  He seemed relieved.

“Thank you for informing us. You will wish a bite to eat before heading home.”  William would insist on it, as would Fitch. “Tell Mrs. Monroe to have the window and shutters repaired. Miss Seabrook will decide what to do about the other damage when she returns.”  Thanking him for delivering the news so quickly, she turned him over to Fitch, then sent word to William. He would insist on speaking to Mr. Rose himself and repaying his time and expenses.

Her own task was more difficult. Laura would throw a tantrum at being awakened so early, but withholding this news would produce worse.

Was this connected to the Fields House trouble?

She stifled a shudder, for a connection implied that she was the intended victim. Perhaps he sought information on her father’s hiding places. Or someone really desperate might want the mementos she had removed from Fields House. If that were true, his next target would be Seabrook – not that it would help him. She had been estranged from her father and knew nothing of his recent activities, as everyone from the area must know. The jewelry casket contained only worthless brooches and her mother’s mementos of Kevin – letters home, a poem he’d written, a rock he’d given her at age seven. The folio held only animal prints—

Or so she’d assumed. Once she finished with Laura, she and Andrew should examine that folio. If they could identify the prize, perhaps they could identify the villain.

* * * *

Taking a deep breath, Chloe shook Laura’s shoulder.

“Who—  What!”  Laura abruptly sat up, eyes swiveling frantically to take in her surroundings. She slapped Chloe’s hand aside. “How dare you come in here before I summon you?”

Chloe stepped out of reach. “Someone broke into Moorside last night and ransacked the house.”

“Ransacked?  Someone touched my things?”

“I’m afraid so.”  She repeated Mr. Rose’s information and her own orders. “If you have more specific instructions, he will still be in the kitchen – which is why I woke you.”

“But what could a burglar want?”  Laura seemed puzzled – as well she should. There was little of value in the cottage. Laura’s jewelry chest traveled with her.

Chloe shrugged.

“Curse the man!  I’ll never forgive William for this.”  Laura’s eyes blazed. “If he hadn’t exiled me to Moorside, this wouldn’t have happened. He should at least have given me a footman for protection. Everyone knows ugly people are fair game for assault.”

“Don’t exaggerate. I doubt the culprit has ever seen you. Now that the war is over, former soldiers roam the land looking for work. Some resort to crime.”  All true, though it hardly applied to this case. But she wasn’t about to admit that her family might be the cause of this attack.

“Don’t try to hide your own culpability,” said Laura, ignoring her. “Yes, yours. If you hadn’t insisted on coming here, no one would have broken in. Even desperate men think twice about entering an occupied house.”

“The house
was
occupied,” protested Chloe. “Mrs. Monroe was there. If we’d been home, he might have assaulted us. There was a case just like that near Taunton last month.”

It was the wrong thing to say. Laura burst into her worst tirade yet. She needed to blame someone, and Chloe was convenient.

“Don’t ever forget your place again,” Laura finally shouted, fisting both hands. “How dare you contradict me?  Nobody cares a whit for your opinion – something I should have remembered earlier. William wishes I had stayed at Moorside. The Truitts think me a freak. Everyone treats me like a pariah. It is
you
who wanted to be here so you could play at being a lady. You are trying to take my place in the family.”

“No.”

“Liar!  You deliberately make me miserable. Are you jealous that I am prettier than you even after Mary ruined me?”

“For pity’s sake, Miss Seabrook. Quit blaming your face for your problems. Everyone’s surface changes with time and misfortune, but few people care. It is what’s inside that matters. Kevin knew that, which is why he turned you down.”

“Don’t remind me of that fool.”  Laura’s face turned purple. “He was the most dishonorable wretch to walk the earth – declaring his undying love, then laughing in my face when I believed him. The blackguard should have been hanged.”

“I no longer care about your lies.”

“He’s the liar!  He asked me to wed him, yet when I accepted, he ripped my clothes off and assaulted me. Then he had the audacity to jilt me. Father would have called him out if he’d had the chance.”

Hearing Kevin maligned snapped Chloe’s temper. “Only because your father was too stupid to see what a vicious witch you are. You will burn in the hottest corner of hell for what you did to Kevin. At least people recognize the truth about you by now, so his reputation is safe. But I can’t work for his murderess another minute. I’m leaving.”  She headed for the door.

“Your contract doesn’t expire until Michaelmas.”

“My contract ends when I can no longer tolerate your abuse,” Chloe snapped. “And that moment is now. Find yourself a new companion – if you can.”  She slammed the door behind her.

Tears threatened as she stumbled toward her room. This was not the way to sever her ties to Laura, but it was too late to go back.

You should have waited, her conscience whispered. Until you find a cottage, you can’t afford to quit. After that scene, you can hardly stay here.

It was true. Nor could she return to Fields House. Peter would find a way to confiscate her savings.

Yet she couldn’t seek shelter elsewhere, either. Andrew was right. Staying at an inn without a companion or maid would mark her as wanton. Fleeing with Sally would deplete her meager funds very quickly. But William would be so furious over this day’s work that he would never let her stay.

Perhaps she could return to Moorside to help Mrs. Monroe set the place to rights. That would give her time to arrange for a cottage. She would make sure she was gone before Laura returned.

Pulling her trunk from the wardrobe, she quickly packed, but no matter how she arranged her possessions, the jewelry casket didn’t fit. She was debating whether to leave it at Seabrook until she found a home, when Laura slammed the door into the wall.

She had dressed herself in a morning gown of pale yellow, but her lack of expertise showed. Fastening the ties askew made the bodice pinch on one side and gape on the other.

“Nobody walks out on me,” Laura snarled, blue eyes drilling holes into Chloe’s face. “Never insult your betters again, girl. You will not leave without my permission.”

Chloe straitened, letting her eyes move disdainfully over Laura’s gown. “I am not a slave, and you are not a monarch, so stop pretending you run the world.”  She glared. “Nothing will induce me to continue in your employ. I was planning to leave next week anyway. Your tantrum merely moved up my departure.”

“Impossible. No one else will hire you.”

“Where I go is my business. Our ties are severed, and there’s nothing you can do about it.”

Shock speared through Laura’s eyes. “No!”  Her arm swept across the dressing table, knocking everything to the floor. The jewelry casket shattered into pieces. “I’ll see you flogged for such insolence.”

“Return to your room,” suggested Chloe, determined to hold her temper in check. “You’ve made a big enough spectacle of yourself this morning. William will lock you in an asylum if you aren’t careful.”

“I will be sure to suggest it to him,” said Andrew from the doorway. Laura’s shouts had awakened him. By the time he’d dressed, she was dashing upstairs. Now his eyes took in her furious face, the shattered jewelry casket, and Chloe’s white cheeks. “You’ve gone too far this time, Laura.”

“It is you who goes too far. What are you doing here, anyway?  Looking for your mistress?  You have no legitimate business on this floor. I will tell Fitch to throw you out of Seabrook if you don’t leave.”

He sighed. “Grow up, Laura. This isn’t your house, and you don’t make the rules. Nor can you force your quarrels on others. So go back to your room. If you have any sense at all, you will remain on your best behavior for a few days. William will be furious enough when he hears about this. Have you lost all reason?”

“Of course not,” snapped Laura. “I am chastising my companion for dereliction of duty and aspirations above her station.”

“Not your companion,” said Chloe firmly. “I quit.”

“You can’t.”

“I can and I did. Shall I summon a footman to remove you from my room?”  She moved to the bell.

“That won’t be necessary,” said Andrew, taking Laura’s arm. “She is leaving.”

Laura screamed.

He slapped her cheek. “Silence!  I will not tolerate hysterics.” 

His tone closed her mouth. Shock flared behind her eyes.

“Your manners are appalling,” he continued. “You have been without supervision far too long. One would think you a fishwife – or an infant, though most children show more restraint. I am appalled that one of your breeding could forget herself so badly. Even the lowest servant knows better.”

“Who cares?”

“Beware of arrogance, Laura. Your breeding does not give you the right to be cruel. Either behave like a lady, or William will, indeed, lock you away. Now go. You will stay in your room until you can control yourself. Since I know that will take time, if I hear one more word from you today, I will personally escort you to St. Joseph’s insane asylum in Exeter. I hear they use restraints on anyone who misbehaves.”  He made his voice as hard as possible, adding the look that never failed to intimidate green soldiers.

It worked. She nodded, then fled silently for the stairs.

Chloe turned away to pick up the scattered contents of the jewelry casket, but Andrew spotted the sheen in her eyes. She was fighting tears.

He sighed. He needed particulars of this crisis if he was to discuss it with William, but Chloe was in no shape for questions. Forcing her to talk would break the rigid control she was exerting over herself. She wouldn’t forgive him.

Yet his hand touched her shoulder before he could stop it. “It’s all right now, Chloe. She won’t hurt you again.”

“I can’t—  She broke—”

He jerked his hand away, cursing himself. “Laura can be hateful without the least effort.”

“Don’t you think I know that?”  She whirled to face him, clutching the contents of her jewelry case. “I’ve lived with her for two years. Nothing she does can surprise me.”

“Relax, Chloe.”  He gently relieved her of her treasures – three brooches, a bead necklace, a rock, and a bundle of Kevin’s letters tied in a faded red ribbon. He piled them on the dressing table, smoothing the crumpled corners as he sought the words that might help.

“I could strangle her for this.”  Her voice cracked.

Andrew pulled her close, despite knowing he shouldn’t. But he’d lost control of his arms. His hands roamed her back, soothing and stroking. She fit against him perfectly, her warmth inciting thoughts he had no business entertaining.

Even worse, her arms curled around his waist, stroking his back in return. He raised her head for a kiss before recalling all the reasons he could not.

Curses screamed through his skull as he backed away. “I take it Laura objects to your leaving.”

She also backed a pace, shaking her head as if trying to steady her thoughts. “
Objects
is a rather insipid description. She cannot accept that anyone might reject her.”