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CHAPTER 26

The Red Shoes . . .

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THAT NIGHT, BEFORE leaving the house on Marsh Lane to drive into London, I again declared that Tilda must accompany us and that she again pass the evening at my home in Brook Street whilst the girls and I attended the assembly at Almack’s. Once there, I made a point of noticing exactly who stood behind the window beyond the door checking off guests’ names. After making our way into the ballroom, Ellie and I concurred that the man at the door was not the same fellow who had verified the girl’s vouchers the previous week. If my theory was correct, that the unknown man had also been making notes as to which Lord and his Lady were away from their homes that evening, thereby making the way clear for his cohorts to burgle yet another residence, then, perhaps the man’s absence this evening meant that no additional burglaries would take place tonight.

Turning my thoughts elsewhere, I noted that this evening, although the glitter of the room and the sparkle of the ladies’ jewels and their elegant gowns rivaled that of the previous week, tonight the ballroom seemed less of a crush than the previous Wednesday night. Nonetheless, I kept a close eye on Hannah and Ellie even as both girls moved a few feet away from me in order to converse with their friends. A moment later both girls anxiously returned to tell me that there were two very important balls in progress tonight and that anyone who is anyone was there! My heart sank. Did that mean that David and his brother Conner would also be elsewhere tonight, once more intent upon thievery?

“Why do you suppose we were not invited to one, or both, of the other balls?” Hannah complained. “There are far fewer people here tonight and I’ve not spotted a single gentleman I wish to stand up with.”

“Not even Mrs. Drummond-Burrell is present,” Ellie chimed in. “Nor is Alice, or her sponsor. I confess I rather like Alice.”

“Not even Lord Hartley is here,” Hannah pouted. “We may as well return home.”

My ears perked up. “If that is truly what you girls wish to do, then by all means, we shall depart at once.”

At that instant, another gentleman with whom Hannah had previously danced at the Holland ball approached, accompanied by a friend of his. After polite greetings were exchanged, both girls went off on the arms of the young men. A sigh escaped me as I realized we would not be leaving here any time soon.

Since I knew no one with whom to strike up a conversation, I wandered to the refreshment table and helped myself to a glass of watery lemonade. I stood there alone for several moments, sipping the insipid brew until my interest was momentarily distracted by two elderly matrons exchanging idle remarks with one another.

“I very nearly did not come tonight. As you know my neighbor’s home was burgled last week. I rather thought that because both she and her husband were away at the time might have been instrumental in saving their lives. Everyone knows that thieves are as likely to kill as to burgle.”

“I wonder if Parliament will now consider passing a measure to light every street corner in London with gas. To my mind, that would go a long way toward deterring crime. My husband quite agrees with me.”

I quite agreed with the woman. Though, on the other hand, gaslight on every corner would also serve to shed a good bit of light on the very doors the criminals were attempting to take apart, if indeed, that was the method the wily thieves were using to enter the homes they assaulted.

At length, I meandered back through the sprinkling of guests to wait until the current set, a lively gavotte, concluded, all the while hoping the girls would again express their desire to depart the Rooms altogether.

Very nearly a quarter hour later, I realized I felt weary to my bones from staring out over the ballroom floor watching the couples hop and skip through the intricate patterns of the dance. Suddenly, I was startled by the sound of a male voice quite close to my ear.

“Good evening, Miss Abbott. I thought I might find you here.”

I glanced up and into Mr. Wells’ twinkling blue eyes. He looked quite fine tonight in dark trousers and a matching coat. In years past, to be admitted to Almack’s, gentlemen were required to wear only white satin knee breeches, with matching waistcoat and tails. As of late, however, the dress requirements had relaxed a mite, at least for younger men. Rumor had it that some years ago, the Duke of Wellington had once sought admittance to the Rooms wearing long trousers and was turned away for violating the strict dress code. Such would not happen today, although, many older gentlemen still chose to wear white satin knee breeches and stockings and thusly attired, looked quite splendid indeed, I thought.

“Good evening to you, sir. I do not recall seeing you here last Wednesday evening, which I was given to understand was the opening assembly of the Season.”

Mr. Wells nodded. “Unfortunately, I was obliged to fulfill a previous commitment on that date. Finding myself free this week, I was determined to seek out you and your party. Might I persuade you to stand up with me this evening, Miss Abbott? I believe the next dance is to be a waltz.”

I smiled. “As you well know, Mr. Wells, I am here to act as chaperone to your cousin and her friend Miss Palmer. If the girls are also invited to dance, then I shall partner you, otherwise, I must decline.”

“Ah. Then, if you will excuse me, Miss Abbott.”

With that, the persistent young man disappeared into the cluster of guests milling about on the fringes of the ballroom floor. Upon his return he was accompanied by a pair of young men whom he wasted no time in fobbing off on Hannah and Ellie. Smiling from ear to ear, he extended the crook of his arm to me. “Now then, shall we dance, Miss Abbott?”

After all the trouble he’d gone to, I could scarcely refuse, so smilingly acquiesced. As you know, I do so love to dance, so a pleasant interlude in which I was twirled quite expertly about the floor in the arms of the fine-looking Mr. Wells was not an experience I would refuse. However, once the music ended, and the girls and I were returned to the sidelines, I determined from the expressions on their faces that they were still set upon the notion of bringing the evening to a close.

“It was lovely to see you again, sir,” I smiled up at Mr. Wells, still hovering nearby. “Perhaps our paths will cross on another occasion.”

“Ah. As it happens, my good friend Mr. Burns and I have plans to attend Lord and Lady Cowper’s musicale on Sunday evening. Might we expect to see you and your charges there, as well?”

“We have, indeed, been invited to that event, sir, but as yet no firm decision has been made as to whether or not to attend.” Since I did not wish to commit to passing the entire evening in Mr. Wells’ company, I purposely left our plans for Sunday evening unsettled. For all I knew, Mr. Sheridan might also be in attendance that night and to enjoy the music whilst seated beside him would most certainly be my first choice.

“Very well, then.” Mr. Wells nodded politely. “Perhaps another time, Miss Abbott.”

“Good evening, sir.”

Hannah and Ellie and I made haste to retrieve our wraps, and after pausing at my home in Brook Street to collect Tilda, the enthusiasm amongst we four on our way back to Marsh Lane was far less jubilant than it had been a few hours earlier when we made our way into Town.

In an effort to lift the girls’ spirits, I said to Ellie, “Mr. Wells informed me that he and his friend Mr. Burns are planning to attend Lady Cowper’s musicale on Sunday evening next. I thought it might please you to know that to encounter Mr. Burns upon that occasion is assured.”

A sigh escaped Ellie. “To say truth, Miss Abbott, I am growing a trifle weary of having little to do beyond attend balls and soirees. It is all the young ladies whose acquaintance we have made speak of.”

“And is that also how you feel, Hannah?”

The pretty blue-eyed miss shrugged. “I find I greatly miss my mother, and Medley Park. I even miss Cecil. My brother and I are quite close, you know. Cecil was never partial to ton doings. He is quite content to live quietly in the country. Perhaps our temperaments are more alike than I thought.” Resting her head back on the squabs, her eyes drifted shut.

In the interim of silence that followed, Tilda spoke up. “I quite enjoyed seeing Little Georgie again tonight, miss. He spent the entire evein’ in my lap, jes’ a-purrin’ away.”

“It sounds as if he was pleased to see you, Tilda. I confess I would be delighted to spend an entire evening with Georgie purring on my lap.”

After emerging onto the graveled drive before the house on Marsh Lane, we four listlessly climbed the front stairs to our respective bedchambers. However, once Tilda and I opened the door to our suite, both our jaws dropped at the shocking sight that greeted us there!

Carrying a brace of flickering candles over her head, Tilda very nearly dropped the heavy contraption as a hand flew to her mouth. “Good gracious, miss! Somethin’ awful’s happened here!”

Quickly turning about after latching the door, I, too, exclaimed, “Who on earth could have done such a thing? And, why?”

My horrified gaze flew from one corner of the room to another. Not a single item within our bedchamber was where we had left it. Every one of our gowns lay crumpled upon the floor, apparently having been ripped from the hooks in the clothespress before being carelessly flung aside. Every last piece of clothing, our silk stockings, pantalettes, chemises, gloves and ribbons, all of which had been neatly folded in drawers in the cupboard now lay scattered upon the floor! Even the bedclothes were in disarray, pillows tossed and the coverlets turned back.

Hurrying to the dressing table, Tilda was obliged to shove aside a jumble of pins, comb and hairbrush on the dressing table with her free hand before setting down the silver candelabra in the cleared space.

“They’s even ripped up your hairbrush, miss! And just look at yer’ comb.” She reached for and held it up. “All the teeth is missin’!”

Too stunned to speak, I stepped around and over the mess of our belongings that had been flung to the floor in our absence. Tilda picked her way to the clothespress. Once there, she looked inside, then let out a scream and buried her face in her hands. “They’s ruined m’ . . .” She fell to her knees as anguished sobs overtook her small body.

I rushed to her side and instantly spotted what was causing her distress. Her most prized possession, her pretty red satin slippers lay ruined beyond repair, even the ribbons had been torn asunder. The toes looked to have been slashed with the blade of a sharp knife. Falling to my knees, I wound an arm about my sobbing maid’s shoulders.

“You shall have a new pair, Tilda. I promise.”

Unable to cease the flow of her tears, she leaned into my shoulder. “Why do they hate us so, miss?”

At that moment, we both heard the click of a key turning the latch to our bedchamber door. Scrambling to my feet, I spun around. I should have known the key I carried on my person was not the only one in circulation within the house! Every time Tilda and I vacated our suite to go down to breakfast, tea, or dinner, we had taken the precaution of locking the door and even locking the clothespress. Apparently, our precaution was to no avail. Picking my way across the room, I wondered if the banknotes in the hatbox beneath the bed were still tucked safely within the hatbox.

In that instant, an angry Norris stormed in.

“So! I see you and yer’ maid have returned from the ball!” she declared, her countenance a sneer.

“W-What is the meaning of this?” I asked, a hand indicating the destruction all around us.

The housekeeper’s eyes narrowed. “I will tell you the meaning of it, young lady. Your uppity maid Tilly pinched my ruby ring!” The housekeeper held up her hand, backside out, to show me the large red gemstone on her finger, the gaudy diamonds sparkling in the candlelight. “Make no mistake, it took a good bit of searching but we finally found it tucked in the toe of her fancy red slippers! So, what have ye’ to say to that, Miss Abbott?”

I parked both fists on my hips. “I do not believe you! You are clearly fabricating another false charge against Tilda!” The anger roiling within me turned to rage. “Tell me, did you find the ring before or after you tore up our room?” Taking care where I stepped, I managed to move a few steps closer to the taller woman now angrily glaring down upon me.

“What does it matter when we found it? We found it and that makes your girl a thief!” Her chin shot up. “I have sent for the constable and he will be here just as soon as . . . as he can get here. If I have anything to say about it, Miss Abbott, your upstart lady’s maid will be taken away in chains and hanged ‘til she is dead before the sun rises on the morrow!”

From where Tilda sat upon the floor, another anguished cry escaped her. Rising, she stumbled through the wreckage on her way to me.

“Fret not, Tilda.” Meeting her half way, I wrapped an arm about her shoulders. “Nothing of the sort will happen. You and I both know you have done nothing wrong.” I addressed our accuser. “It matters not who you have sent for, Norris! The truth will win out!”

“We shall see about that!”

My arm fell away from Tilda as I began again to high-step through the rubble on my way to once again confront Norris. “You can send for the king himself! Tilda did not steal your ring and when the constable arrives, I shall inform him that I can account for Tilda’s whereabouts this entire day, and every day and night for the past sen’night! She has not been out of my sight for an instant, therefore, it is not possible that Tilda was possessed of a spare moment in which to take your ring!

“Furthermore . . .” I added, “that you are wearing the so-called stolen ring tells me, and very likely will also tell the constable, that you have been wearing it all along, that it was never stolen and that you are still angry because you could not pin Josie’s murder upon Tilda and that you ordered this destruction as a way of seeking revenge! I’ll wager that ring has not left your finger since the day David slipped it on!”

Pausing to draw breath, I folded my arms beneath my breasts and attempted to stare the housekeeper down, which was a rather useless endeavour as she stands several inches taller than I.

“So, do show the constable up when he arrives, Norris, and we shall see what he makes of the matter. You can also send up a pot of tea and I shall invite the constable to partake of it whilst I enlighten him of the truth of this entire wretched affair.”

Norris appeared to be considering.

“In addition,” said I, wagging a finger, “you will also send up a battery of maids to clean up this mess! And, rest assured, I will insist that the cost to replace every single item that has been ruined, including Tilda’s red slippers, will come from your wages! I do not believe Mrs. Dandridge likes you any better than I do. Make no mistake, Norris, I intend to alert her to this mischief first thing tomorrow morning. I doubt the outcome will elevate your standing with your employer, or with your husband!”

Norris sniffed, but still said nothing.

“The maids, Norris?” I thrust up my chin.

She huffed. “Very well, miss.”

That the constable never arrived told me that Norris had been bluffing. That several maids did arrive told me she feared that I was not.

Amongst the maids who appeared to tidy up was Tilda’s new friend Letty, who as it turned out, had plenty to tell us regarding what had taken place in our absence.

After all of our strewn garments had been sorted and those things that were ruined beyond repair, which included several pairs of silk stockings, one pair of pantalettes, the lace torn from Tilda’s nightrail, and of course, her vandalized red shoes, were set aside, even Letty was very nearly in tears. Lagging behind the other two housemaids as they exited our bedchamber in the wee hours, Letty fell onto Tilda’s neck and commenced to sob.

“It was Norris what made us do it, Tilly. I dinna’ wont to. Honest, I didn’t. She tol’ us to upturn everythin’ in the room and when we asked what we was a-lookin’ for, Norris said ‘Nothin’, just do as I say and keep yer’ mouths shut!’” 

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WHEN WE FINALLY CLIMBED into bed that night, Tilda and I were both exhausted but were still so very angry over the destruction Norris’s vindictiveness had wrought that we neither one fell directly to sleep.

The following morning, we were still marveling over the housekeeper’s vengeful actions.

“At least Letty was brave enough to confess the truth,” Tilda said, buttoning up the morning frock she’d donned.

“Perhaps she is not as afraid of Norris as are the other maids.”

“But, to order them to tear up our things a-purpose is nigh on unforgivable,” Tilda insisted.

“I quite agree.” As I attempted to brush my hair with my damaged hairbrush, I decided against tattling to Mrs. Dandridge. The poor woman had enough on her plate without adding to her troubles. Instead, I decided to simply stuff a handful of banknotes into my reticule and Tilda and I would drive into Town and purchase all new things to replace those that had been destroyed. It had pleased me to find that not a one of our bonnets had been damaged, no ribbons, pretty silk flowers or fruit missing. And, apparently the maids who were assigned to upturn our room had not bothered to look beneath the bed, so had not discovered the valuable hatbox secreted there. So far as I could tell, all was still intact therein.

“After we have had our breakfast, Tilda,” I said, “you and I shall go into Town and purchase new items to replace everything that was ruined.”

“I can probably sew the lace back on m’ nightrail,” Tilda offered.

“We can just as easily purchase a new one,” I countered.

“It’s all right, miss. I especially like this one.” Her grin was a trifle wobbly. “You picked it out for me special and . . . and I’d like to keep it.”

I said no more and decided that I would also say nothing of the midnight rampage to Hannah or Ellie. So long as their belongings were left untouched, and I had heard nothing to the contrary, I would leave well enough alone and say nothing to anyone. In my anger last night, I had delivered quite a set-down to Norris, so perhaps she would no longer bother Tilda or me. Although, to remain on the safe side, I would continue to keep my maid with me at all times.

Consequently, it was only Tilda and I who made the excursion into London that morning. Although long before the day was over, I fervently wished I had brought along a champion to take my side and to stand up for me as fervently as I had stood up for Tilda.

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