‘Colonel Balston slept all night on a bench in the long gallery,’ Lucy announced.
‘What?’ Desire twisted round to stare at her maid. ‘Why?’ She rubbed a hand to her temple. She was tired from lack of sleep and tightly wound at the prospect of putting her new plans into action. She couldn’t immediately make sense of what Jakob was doing in the long gallery.
‘Didn’t anyone provide him with a bedchamber?’ she asked. She was so unused to having guests she hadn’t given any thought to where he would be housed. Benjamin had made the arrangements for Lord Halross’s men. She’d just naturally assumed he’d do the same for Jakob. Apparently not.
Oh, dear. It was true she’d decided not to pander to Jakob’s arrogant male whims, but it was hardly sophisticated to leave her potential…possible…well, maybe…suitor to fend for himself on an oak bench. Even if it did serve him right for being so insufferably pleased with himself.
‘He was given a chamber on the second floor,’ said Lucy, ‘but he said he was guarding you.’
‘Guarding me?’
‘In case anyone tried to steal you in the night,’ said Lucy, her eyes glowing with excitement. ‘It is so romantic. Don’t you think he’s handsome, my lady? And such a gallant gentleman.’
‘Um…yes,’ said Desire, wondering exactly how gallant he’d been to her maid. Did he flirt with every female he encountered?
‘Guarding me? In my own house?’ The thought of Jakob sleeping outside her door to protect her caused a strange flutter behind her ribs. Of course he wasn’t immediately outside her door. Her bedchamber was connected to the long gallery by a small, connecting parlour. There had been two solid oak doors between them all night. All the same, he must have been thinking about her last night, just as she’d been thinking about him. Though his thoughts had probably consisted of muttered curses about the draughtiness of the long gallery and the discomfort created by oak planks.
‘That’s what I said,’ said Lucy. ‘Surely her ladyship is safe in her own bedchamber, I said to the Colonel. But he says it’s a big house and…not wanting to frighten you, my lady…but there’s so many passages and rooms, it would be easy for a villain to creep in and hide somewhere and come out at night.’
‘Nonsense,’ said Desire. ‘Well, possibly,’ she acknowledged after a couple of seconds. Even under normal circumstances, when the house was fully staffed, there were many rooms never visited by Desire or the servants from one week to the next. It would be relatively straightforward for an intruder to remain undetected for days if he chose. She shivered at the notion.
‘I’m sure Colonel Balston exaggerates the risk,’ she said firmly.
‘And then there are ghosts,’ said Lucy, with what Desire considered to be unnecessary relish. ‘I told you how I’ve heard them—slithering and creeping about the place.’
‘Lucy, you know it was only a pigeon that flew in an open shutter and couldn’t get out again!’ Desire exclaimed.
‘Yes, my lady.’ Lucy didn’t look convinced. ‘You’re not going gardening this morning, are you?’
‘Why not?’ As it happened, Desire had no intention of gardening, but she wondered why her maid sounded so disapproving of the notion.
‘It’s nasty and dirty on the roof and you can’t wear the pretty blue gown,’ said Lucy. ‘You look so lovely in it. It would be just the thing to wear when you see Colonel Balston.’
‘Thank you.’ Desire was touched by Lucy’s praise—and secretly relieved by the maid’s blatant attempt at matchmaking. It seemed as if Lucy’s romantic ambitions were on her mistress’s behalf, not her own.
‘No, I’m not going on the roof, but I don’t think I should wear the blue gown,’ she said, and saw Lucy’s expression turn stubborn. ‘What else have we got?’ she asked. ‘I know we didn’t send most of my clothes away. When there was so much else to be saved, I didn’t think they were worth worrying about. Haven’t I still got the grey silk that was made up for me at the time of the Coronation?’
‘I don’t remember it,’ said Lucy, but she went willingly to investigate Desire’s limited store of clothes.
‘I haven’t worn it since you became my maid,’ said Desire. Lucy had served her for barely a year. It had been a worrying time for Desire when her old maid had become too old to serve her, yet, now she thought of it, she realised the transition had been far less traumatic than she’d anticipated. Lucy was so cheerful and good-natured.
‘Is this the one you mean?’ Lucy shook out the folds of sombre slate-grey silk.
‘That’s the one.’
‘It’s very finely made,’ said Lucy dubiously, obviously not wishing to hurt her mistress’s feelings. ‘But it is not…’
‘I know,’ said Desire. ‘It is nowhere near as beautiful as the blue. But it will do very well for what I have in mind.’
Jakob stood up as the door opened. It could have been the maid, but by some instinct he was sure it was Desire. Despite his resolution to be more formal with her from now on, he was glad to see her. The haughty tilt of her chin as she looked at him filled him with amused appreciation. It seemed the Earl’s daughter had made some resolutions of her own overnight.
‘Good morning, my lady,’ he said politely. ‘I trust you slept well.’
A hot spark of indignation flared in her eyes, but her expression remained serene.
‘Good morning, Colonel Balston,’ she replied coolly, ignoring the second part of his salutation.
Jakob’s amusement grew. The lady clearly deemed it an impertinence for an upstart rascal such as he to enquire after her night’s repose.
‘If you lift your chin any higher, your nose will be touching the ceiling,’ he said.
Her chin came down and the spark of indignation in her eyes blazed into fiery outrage.
‘I did not ask you to sleep outside my door like a dog!’ She glared at him. Are you afraid I might run away from my own home?’
‘No, my lady. I am not here to keep you in, but to keep others out.’
She took a deep breath. Jakob was distracted by the press of her breasts against her bodice. She was dressed from throat to toes in sober grey silk. He was sure the gown was her own, not one she had borrowed from Athena, because it was somewhat old-fashioned in style and fitted her perfectly. Besides, it looked like the kind of dress a wealthy but puritanical man might expect his daughter to wear. It was definitely not intended to stir a man’s lust—yet it stirred Jakob’s. The gown showed off her trim waist, and he couldn’t help imagining the pleasure of loosening the tightly laced bodice.
‘Do you think there is a real risk that someone—Arscott—may try to take me from my own bedchamber?’ Desire asked.
‘Probably not,’ he said, pushing aside a vision of his tongue tasting Desire’s soft breast. ‘But Arscott is as familiar with this house as you are. And we mustn’t forget the house was only protected by a couple of porters for the past two days. I had no trouble slipping past them on Tuesday to take you from the roof. I’m sure it would have been just as easy for Arscott to gain secret access yesterday.’
He saw Desire give a small shiver.
‘I don’t think it is likely,’ he said more gently. ‘But it is better for us to be on our guard until he is found.’
‘Yes, of course,’ she said, but she looked a little bleak at the prospect.
For a moment she forgot to play the haughty lady intent on keeping him in his place. In the past few days the solid certainties of her life had disintegrated and her expression revealed her sense of loss and confusion. Jakob resisted the urge to put a comforting arm around her.
‘’Perhaps Arscott will prove to be innocent after all,’ said Desire. ‘In the meantime, I hope you do not find the bench too uncomfortable,’ she continued, with determined brightness. ‘Perhaps Lucy can find you some pillows or a bolster.’
‘There’s no need,’ Jakob replied. ‘I don’t want to be too comfortable.’
‘I suppose not.’ She frowned. ‘If you fall asleep, he might stick you with a sword!’ she said suddenly. ‘He needs me alive so he can marry me—but it would be far more convenient to him if you’re dead!’
‘That thought had occurred to me,’ Jakob conceded, gratified by Desire’s sudden anxiety on his behalf. In fact, he’d spent most of the night in the antechamber between Desire’s room and the gallery. It was more comfortable than the gallery and he’d been able to sleep, secure in the knowledge that anyone trying to open the outer door would crash into the barricade he’d placed across it. He’d only returned to the discomfort of the gallery just before dawn, but he didn’t feel any need to explain that to Desire.
‘Oh, no.’ She put both hands to her head and began to pace around in circles. ‘This is no good! If you fall asleep he’ll stick you. But you can’t stay awake all the time… You haven’t planned properly, sir!’ She spun around to face him, both hands propped on her waist. ‘You must make up a proper schedule with Lord Halross’s men. They can take it in turns to perform sentry duty here, in the long gallery, during the night.’
‘I have posted men to guard all the staircases that lead to this floor,’ Jakob replied, not at all offended by her suggestion. In fact, he appreciated her practical response to the problem. ‘I am not the first, but the last, line of defence for you, my lady.’
Desire stared at him. ‘Good,’ she said at last. ‘And this afternoon you must appoint two of Lord Halross’s men to guard me so you can catch up on your sleep.’
‘Why not this morning?’ he asked curiously, noting but not commenting on her flattering assumption that it would require two men to replace him on guard duty.
Colour stole into Desire’s cheeks. ‘I have a task for you this morning,’ she said, her attempt at boldness tinged with awkwardness.
‘Really? What is it?’
‘You may join me in the parlour for breakfast,’ she said. ‘I will tell you then.’
‘Thank you.’ Jakob rasped his hand across his chin. ‘Perhaps, after I have seen you safely to the parlour, I might have a few minutes to myself before I join you for breakfast,’ he said.
Desire’s gaze focussed on his unshaven cheeks, then flickered to his mouth. Her blush deepened and she looked away. ‘Yes, of course,’ she said.
‘This morning I am going shopping,’ Desire announced to Jakob and Benjamin.
She ate a piece of cheese while she awaited their response and wondered if any of the servants Lord Halross had loaned her could cook. No fresh bread had been baked since Saturday. She was sure there was food in the house, but apparently no one knew how to prepare it.
‘Shopping?’ Benjamin looked first startled, then disapproving. ‘My lady, this is hardly an appropriate time for such an activity. Besides, all the shops are burnt.’
‘Not all of them.’ Desire threw Jakob a quick glance, trying to gauge his reaction to her plans. ‘Those in the New Exchange will not be damaged. It is not even very far away. I can easily visit it. Did Lord Halross send us a cook?’
‘A cook?’ Benjamin’s face went blank.
‘Surely the entire household—such as it is—is not living solely on cheese?’ said Desire. ‘There must be something else in the larder.’
‘I’m sorry, my lady.’ Benjamin flushed. ‘I didn’t think. The stables are my usual domain. You sent the housekeeper to Kingston. Arscott would usually—’
‘I am not blaming you.’ Desire reached out to lay a hand on his arm. ‘I didn’t mean you to take my words as a criticism.’ She smiled at him and briefly tightened her grip before releasing him. ‘How could I when you galloped to my rescue yesterday. Your loyalty means so much more to me than…’ Her voice caught, so she stopped talking before she embarrassed them both by bursting into tears.
Benjamin cleared his throat. ‘Nevertheless, I am sorry you have only cheese for breakfast,’ he said gruffly. ‘I will attend to the matter.’
‘Thank you.’ Desire managed a wobbly smile and washed down another piece of cheese with some weak ale.
‘But I do not approve of your plan to go shopping,’ Benjamin said. ‘The city is full of rogues and looters. It wouldn’t be safe for you on the streets.’
‘I don’t see that I will be any more at risk on the streets than I am at home,’ Desire said. She looked at Jakob for support and discovered he was watching her closely. Flustered, she hurried on, ‘As Colonel Balston has already pointed out, Arscott could have slipped back into the house before we returned yesterday. At this very moment he could be skulking in the shadows, waiting to leap out when our guard is down.’
‘Skulking in the shadows?’ Benjamin repeated sceptically. ‘I don’t think Arscott would do that. Besides, he didn’t know you would be coming back here.’
‘I doubt very much he is currently inside Godwin House,’ Jakob said, entering the conversation for the first time. ‘But until he is found it would be foolish to let down our guard. We do know Arscott left Kingston before you did yesterday, Benjamin, and certainly before Kilverdale arrived there. Apparently he came straight here and didn’t find Lady Desire. We don’t know where he went after that, but it’s likely that he headed back to Kingston to see if she’d arrived while he was away. It’s only when, or if, he arrives at Kingston and discovers Kilverdale guarding Lady Desire’s movable wealth that he may realise he’s under suspicion.’
‘Then what?’ said Desire, feeling a little sick as she thought of what the absent steward might do. She pushed her plate aside.
Jakob shrugged and reached across to pick up the piece of cheese she’d set aside. ‘May I?’ He raised an eyebrow in her direction.
She nodded. ‘We’ll get you something else to eat when we’re out,’ she said, briefly distracted by her hostessly duties. ‘You are so large, I expect you require a lot of food.’
Jakob smiled. ‘So my mother always complained. As to what Arscott will do next—you both know him better than I do. He could deny everything—come back and try to brazen it out. He could lose his nerve and run. Or he could make an attempt to capture either the heiress in London—’ Jakob gestured towards Desire with the hand in which he held the cheese ‘—or the fortune in Kingston. Which he chooses might depend on whether he considers me or Kilverdale the most dangerous opponent.’
Having delivered his opinion, Jakob put the cheese in his mouth, apparently unconcerned by the possibility of another encounter with the steward.
‘Oh, my God!’ Desire murmured. The first thought that flashed through her mind was that Arscott would fear Kilverdale the most. But then she realised her opinion was distorted by her past experience with the black-haired, arrogant Duke. She didn’t like Kilverdale, but she was sure he was a far less formidable opponent than Jakob. The battle-hardened Arscott was more likely to consider the Duke a pampered fop than a genuine threat. On the other hand, he might not even know Jakob was guarding her in London, though the burly porters in Halross’s livery who now watched the gates of Godwin House might give him pause
‘But even if Arscott succeeded in wedding me by force, I would repudiate the marriage,’ she said slowly, continuing her assessment aloud. ‘Now that I have you—’ she looked at Jakob ‘—and Lord Halross and Lord Swiftbourne to stand my friends, Arscott would never get away with marrying me by force. Lord Rochester might not have been severely punished for trying to abduct an heiress, but my steward wouldn’t get off so lightly—would he?’
‘No.’ Jakob shook his head.
‘So if he truly is guilty—greedy for wealth—it is much more likely that he will try to steal my money chest,’ Desire decided. ‘Coins are anonymous. They can’t denounce him. Good.’ She felt as if a huge weight had fallen from her shoulders. ‘It would be silly for Arscott to try to take me when he could take the money instead. You must send a message to the Duke that he should be especially vigilant. And in the meantime there is absolutely no reason why I should not go shopping today.’
Benjamin still didn’t like the idea. It was only after Desire agreed to be carried in her sedan chair that he was reconciled to the expedition. Fortunately the chair hadn’t been sent away to Kingston. Benjamin hurried off to have it prepared, leaving Desire alone with Jakob.
She flicked a nervous glance at him. During breakfast she’d tried to push the memory of his kisses to the back of her mind. She didn’t want him to realise how completely he occupied her thoughts, or how powerfully his physical presence effected her senses. She must appear calm, serene—
‘What do you wish to buy?’ he asked.
Nervous butterflies immediately started dancing in her stomach. She had absolutely no notion what she wanted to buy. The shopping trip was only an excuse for her to venture out into the world. To another woman it might not have seemed a particularly bold or daring adventure, but Desire was alternately excited and scared by her imminent visit to the New Exchange. She was finally taking control of her life and extending it beyond the walls of Godwin House.
‘What I buy is not your concern,’ she said loftily, unwilling to admit she wasn’t even sure what was sold in the New Exchange shops.
‘I dare say I shall shortly find out.’ Jakob grinned at her over the top of a tankard of ale. ‘Since I will be hovering attentively at your side while you fret over gloves and fans and other frivolities. Would you like me to carry your purse and bargain on your behalf?’
Desire looked away, unexpectedly hurt by his comment. How could he speak so disparagingly of her shopping for beautiful things when—?
‘Yesterday you accused me of dressing like a washerwoman—and now you’re making fun of me buying frivolities!’ she burst out. ‘As if pretty things are beneath your notice. How can you be so fickle? Unfair?’
‘Are you going shopping to please me?’ he exclaimed, lowering his tankard without drinking. He looked startled, and perhaps a little disconcerted, at the possibility.
‘Of course not!’ Her temper suddenly blazed. ‘You assume too much. I wouldn’t do anything to please you. You’re a man without conscience or finer feeling!’ Her anger covered underlying insecurity. She wanted to appear poised but, once again, he had made her feel foolishly inexperienced.
‘Perhaps,’ said Jakob, watching her with an unsettling gleam in his eyes. ‘Or perhaps my finer feelings are wounded by your cold and brusque manner towards me this morning. Wherein lies my offence, my lady? And what can I do to make amends?’
Desire was first stunned, then infuriated by his shameless behaviour. She hadn’t expected him to apologise for his behaviour on the roof the previous night, but nor had she anticipated a direct challenge.
‘You are a brazen knave!’ she began hotly. She saw him smile and her temper soared. She thrust to her feet and planted her hands on her hips, glaring down at him. ‘You are a brazen knave,’ she repeated. ‘Your behaviour is outrageous! Insufferable! But I am not a saucy maid, and I will not be treated—’
‘Are you not?’ He laughed softly, such a wicked gleam in his eyes Desire wanted to box his ears.
She restrained herself just in time. The expression on his face warned her his response would be damaging to her dignity, if not her person. He’d thought nothing of tying her up and throwing her over his shoulder when he’d ‘rescued’ her on Tuesday.
‘I am a lady,’ she said, inwardly seething, but trying to sound cool and imperious. ‘And I expect you to treat me as a gentleman.’
‘You wish to be treated as a gentleman?’ His gaze flickered up and down her body. ‘It would be a pleasure to see you in doublet and breeches. Is that what you intend to buy today?’
‘No! You are an impossible man.’ Desire let her arms fall to her sides and started to pace around the parlour. ‘Perhaps I ought to send you back to Lord Swiftbourne and request someone more suitable,’ she muttered.
‘More suitable for what?’
‘Being respectful.’
‘There is a difference between “being respectful” and respecting you,’ said Jakob, an unexpectedly serious note in his voice.
Desire turned to look at him, then crossed her arms in front of her as she remembered Arscott’s ‘respectful’ marriage proposal.
‘It is not fair for you to tease me when you have so much more experience of the world than I do,’ she said.
‘But you are learning so quickly, älskling,’ he replied, a lingering smile in his eyes. ‘And you fire up so entrancingly.’
‘That is no excuse for you to take liberties.’ Her breath caught. Entrancingly? Did he think she was entrancing.
His smile broadened. ‘If I don’t take them now, I may not have another chance,’ he said. ‘In another day or two you’ll be able to lay any man low with one searing glance from your fine eyes.’
‘Don’t make fun of me.’ Desire teetered between flustered delight and a deep-rooted fear that he was laughing at her.
He looked at her. After a few seconds the humour vanished completely from his face. His gaze intensified until Desire could see nothing but his clear blue eyes. Her heart-rate increased. She felt dizzy but hardly realised she was holding her breath.
‘The chair is ready,’ said Benjamin.
Desire heard the Gentleman of the Horse speak, but his voice seemed to come from a long way off. She was snared by Jakob’s potent gaze, unable to break the connection between them. It was only when Jakob glanced at Benjamin that she regained control of her thoughts and movements.
She took several shallow breaths. The brief, silent interchange between her and Jakob had been disturbing. Overwhelming. For a moment she wondered if some wizardry was at work, because now he’d withdrawn his gaze from her she felt as if her bones had turned to water. As if he’d drawn all her strength from her with that one, devastating look.
She squared her shoulders. She would not allow herself to fall victim to his handsome face and dangerous charm. She’d decided to assess his suitability to be her husband. A man who could reduce her brain to thistledown and turn her legs to water was definitely not suitable. He would have far too much power over her.
‘Thank you, Benjamin,’ said Jakob. ‘If you will give me a few minutes, my lady, I’ll arrange your escort.’
‘I want you to escort me,’ Desire said, still too unsettled to be anything less than direct.
‘I will,’ he replied. ‘But we’ll take a couple of Halross’s footmen with us as well. Excuse me, my lady.’
Desire had five minutes to collect her composure before she climbed into the sedan chair. As soon as the door closed on her she felt a flurry of panic. She knew it made no sense. She was protected from the curious gaze of strangers in the chair, but she’d never liked travelling in it. She hated the sensation of being shut up in such a confined space, at the mercy of whoever was carrying her. She would much prefer to walk, but she knew it would upset Benjamin. He was hardly reconciled to the trip as it was.
She took several deep, shaking breaths. After a few seconds she decided that, if she still felt uncomfortable in the chair when they were out of sight of Godwin House, she would get out. Benjamin wasn’t coming on the shopping trip, and what he didn’t know couldn’t worry him. Having made that important decision, she looked out of the window at Jakob.
‘Let us go,’ she said firmly, giving the order for her first voluntary departure from Godwin House since she’d watched the Coronation procession.
Jakob walked on one side of the sedan chair. It was carried by two of Desire’s porters, but one of Lord Halross’s liveried servants walked level with Jakob on the opposite side of the chair. He had placed a second Halross footman in front of the chair and a third behind it. Jakob had no idea what condition the streets were in and he was taking no chances with Desire’s safety. As long as he saw nothing to alarm him, he’d let Desire’s shopping trip go ahead, but if they encountered disorder the lady would find herself unceremoniously escorted back to Godwin House. He was pleased to see that, although Desire’s porters were struggling a little with their unfamiliar and unwieldy burden, Halross’s men were fully vigilant to their task.
Remaining alert to his surroundings was second nature to Jakob. Even as he took note of everyone who passed close to their small procession, Desire occupied a portion of his thoughts. Somehow his intentions towards her had gone awry. He’d meant to treat her with friendly but cool courtesy. Instead he’d teased and provoked her from the moment she’d emerged from her bedchamber. For all his self-discipline and good sense, he couldn’t resist the temptation to bring a flush to her cheeks and fire to her eyes. He’d been on the verge of pulling her into his arms and kissing her when Benjamin interrupted them.
His stomach muscles clenched at the memory. That was no way to avoid a formal entanglement with the heiress. Much as he would enjoy an informal entanglement with her—an image of her legs wrapped around his hips flickered in his mind—he must be more careful in future.
‘Stop!’ Desire ordered sharply.
Instantly Jakob clapped his hand to his sword hilt, scanning the street for a threat. What danger had she seen from the chair that he had missed? The Strand was full of refugees from the fire, sitting or standing in small groups amidst their bundled-up possessions, but the only person within ten feet of Desire’s small procession was an elderly woman who kicked up ash at every shuffling step.
In the meantime, the porters who’d been co-opted to act as chairmen for the day came to an untidy halt. The man in front stopped first and started to lower his end before the man behind had comprehended the unexpected command. The chair tilted forwards and Jakob heard Desire’s startled exclamation, then a bump from inside, followed by some unladylike mutterings.
Having assured himself that they were not in immediate danger of attack, Jakob opened the door and peered into the shadowy interior of the chair. His gaze first fell on an untidy heap of grey silk from which Desire suddenly erupted, her brown eyes blazing with indignation. She grabbed his arm and used its support to lever herself out of the chair.
‘I will not ride any further in this evil contraption!’ she declared. ‘It’s like being stuck in an upright coffin.’ She stood beside him, and shook out her skirts in a way which reminded him of a ruffled house-cat.
‘Benjamin—’ Jakob began, smiling at the picture she made.
‘We won’t tell him,’ she replied. ‘You can ride in it,’ she added generously.
‘No,’ he said.
‘I suppose not,’ she said, after a moment. ‘It wouldn’t be very convenient if you have to draw your sword, or—’
‘We’ll bring it with us,’ said Jakob, disinclined to linger unnecessarily in the debris-covered street. ‘Shopping can be a very tiring activity. You may be grateful for the ride later.’
Desire looked at him suspiciously. ‘Do you mean tiring—or tiresome?’ she asked.
‘Tiring,’ he said. ‘My mother and sisters are always eager to go shopping—and then when they get home they complain about how exhausted they are.’
He gave a few quick orders to rearrange their cavalcade. Now one of Halross’s men would to walk ahead of Desire and Jakob, the other two would be immediately behind with the now empty sedan chair bringing up the rear.
‘We can put our purchases in it,’ Desire said, when they were once more underway. ‘Um…’ She frowned and leant closer to Jakob. ‘Did Benjamin give you any money for me to spend?’ she whispered anxiously.
Jakob suppressed a sudden urge to laugh. ‘Yes, my lady,’ he lied.
‘Oh, good.’ She sounded relieved. ‘I don’t know why I didn’t think of it before.’
Jakob smiled. ‘I dare say you never have occasion to handle money,’ he said.
‘I do,’ said Desire indignantly. ‘Whenever income is received from my estates I count it and record it before I put it into the chest.’
‘You do?’ Jakob was mildly surprised.
‘Father taught me how to keep accounts and that it was very important to oversee and approve all financial business,’ said Desire. ‘It is true that it is Arscott who gives the housekeeper and Benjamin the money they need to manage their parts of the household, and it is Arscott who deals directly with the goldsmith in Cheapside…’
‘Goldsmith?’
‘The income from the Larksmere estates in Devon is sent to me as a Bill of Exchange,’ she explained. ‘Arscott takes it to the goldsmith, who exchanges it for coin that we put in the chest, which is usually kept in my bedchamber. Now Kilverdale is guarding it in Kingston.’
‘Would Arscott normally have unlimited access to the chest?’ Jakob asked, intrigued by this insight into the management of Desire’s fortune.
‘Oh, no. There are two keys. He cannot open it if I am not present. Father always insisted on that precaution.’ Desire laid a hand against the base of her throat.
‘You wear it round your neck?’ Jakob said, lowering his voice as he interpreted her gesture.
She glanced up at him and nodded. A second later she dropped her hand and looked around, as if afraid someone might have noticed her instinctive action.
‘My lady, I am impressed,’ said Jakob honestly. ‘You have managed your affairs very well.’
A smile lit up her face at his compliment, but then she sighed. ‘Not so very well,’ she said. ‘I’ve kept good accounts at Godwin House, but I’ve done nothing to improve the management of the estates outside London. Arscott used to visit them twice a year. He would be gone for days. But since Father died I have not been to Devon. And I’ve only visited Kingston two or three times. That must be amended when this is over.’ She nodded her head, as if underlining her determination to make changes.
They walked in silence for a few minutes. Jakob considered the implications of what Desire had just revealed. If Arscott stole the money chest, could he open it with a sharp axe, or would he need the key hanging around Desire’s neck?
‘I don’t suppose Benjamin gave you much money for me to spend,’ said Desire suddenly, whose thoughts had obviously been running in a different direction. ‘I am not fully acquainted with the price of…of fans and gloves and such things. If it looks as if I am about to buy something I don’t have enough money for, you must discreetly warn me. It would be very embarrassing if I couldn’t afford it.’
Jakob grinned. ‘Have no fear,’ he said. ‘I won’t let you embarrass yourself.’
‘Good.’ Desire glanced around and he saw her smile fade as she noticed a family sitting in the shelter of house wall. They clearly weren’t beggars. Their clothes were dirty, but of reasonable quality. Jakob guessed they were tradespeople, forced out of their home by the fire and now waiting to return to the City. Waiting to find out what they could salvage from the ruins.
‘There will be a relief fund,’ said Desire quietly. ‘I know there will be. Last year there was a collection for the relief of plague sufferers. And in the past I have contributed to appeals for other towns that have had fires. I will ask Lord Halross about it at the first opportunity.’