Chapter Thirteen

 

The next morning, Raven prepared for the day in the rituals of beauty that Pepper orchestrated. While her curls were arranged, Raven opened her jewelry box on the vanity table and selected an object with deliberate care. “Here.”

It was an ornate hair ornament and a favorite that had served her well in the past. The hair pin was nearly six inches in length and almost as thick as a child’s littlest finger. Topped with a flat jade carving of a bird, the shaft appeared to be embossed metal with vines and flowers in bas relief but the decorations were merely a grip atop a solid sheath where the true nature of the hair pin nested. Raven touched the carved jade head of the hair pin, pulling it up just an inch to note that the blade inside was still razor sharp. She didn’t know the origins of the miniature stiletto after buying it from a small antique shop in London years ago but wearing the strange little weapon gave her courage.

“I’ll wear it tonight and then at every occasion forward.” Serena held it up against her hair to admire the way her hair provided a dark foil for the jade’s magical green. It was a deliberate choice to wear it all the time, so that its appearance would not draw any attention. After a day or two, the addition to her fashion would be no change at all and instead a subtle and familiar detail for no one to note. “See that it is prepared first and then again every morning.”

“Truly?”

“You think the request so drastic? My instincts say otherwise. James Osborne is…” Serena’s gaze shifted to her own reflection and the calm glittering fury there. “James Osborne is about to fall.”

Pepper nodded. “Good enough. There’s not a maid below stairs that doesn’t wish him a gruesome end.”

Serena turned in her chair quickly. “Damn it. Not just Dell then.”

“Dell was only the latest from what I could glean. But the housemaids never work the upper floors alone and no scullery maid is sent to clean out the fireplaces or bring up coal without a footman at the ready to come to her aid.” Pepper shook out her mistress’s night rail. “It’s the best proof of it if the house’s procedures are set to protect the weakest in the house from their master’s attentions.”

“Delilah said she suspected that there was more and that she’d taken precautions.”

“Mrs. Osborne is beloved for her kindness among the staff. I believe they hid the worst from her out of love, my lady, not to protect their master.” Pepper sat on the bed. “If it were me, I’d not spend a night under this roof as a housemaid. The man makes my blood freeze with fear.”

“Pepper? Have you had an encounter with Mr. Osborne?”

Pepper shrugged her shoulders. “Just in passing when I was coming up yesterday with your shoes. Remember? The bow had come loose?”

Serena sighed. “Forget the bow. Tell me what happened, please dearest.”

“He was coming down the hallway and I stepped to the wall, eyes down, like a good servant should. Never seen to be seen is the rule!” Pepper’s cheeks gained a little pink. “He didn’t say a word but damned if he didn’t slow down and make a point of walking past me so close his legs brushed my skirts. I took a peek and that devil was looking at me like a plate of cakes!”

“My god!”

“I nearly fainted dead away, I will confess,” she said. “But he didn’t stop and not a word did he offer—and god knows, I was so grateful I never thought to complain about it later.”

“Pepper! You should have told me immediately!”

“What! It was only yesterday and I have told you as soon as I could.” Pepper cleared her throat, a prim expression stealing over her features. “It’s not as if my darling lady has been in her rooms much of late.”

A curse slipped past her lips and it was Serena’s turn to struggle with a blush. “I have lingered too long over…the question of Sir Warrick. Phillip distracted me from my original purpose here and I—I am embarrassed at the lapse. But I will amend the mistake. Delilah has been patient long enough and time is quickly running out.”

Pepper clapped her hands in anticipation. “I do enjoy it when you get that determined spark in your eyes.”

“Dell’s condition is bound to betray her soon.” Serena stood to begin to pace out of habit. “I need to drive him to ground.”

“Yes. But how?”

Serena took a deep breath. Risk was part of her life. Every venture of the Black Rose carried intrinsic threats to her fragile existence as Lady Serena Wellcott but she’d embraced the dangers. It was easy to gamble when you didn’t care about your own stake in the game but she cared very much about Pepper. From her years at the orphanage, Pepper had been the little sister and faithful mascot she had never forgotten.

The instant I had the means and my freedom, I retrieved her to be by my side.

Even the Black Rose wouldn’t be what it is without Pepper. She was the first one to note that without access to a man’s servants, I would always be blinded to his true nature.

“What are you stewing about over there?” Pepper asked.

“I’m stewing over a nightmare. For this time it’s not a well appointed lady that draws out the devil in Mr. Osborne and I fear I am not going to be able to change that fact.”

“It’s maid servants who stir him, that’s as certain as sunrise.” Pepper nodded. “And I’ve already caught his eye! I don’t see why you’re all twisted and torn over there. I can play my part.”

Serena crossed her arms, turning back to face Pepper. “This isn’t like securing a bit of gossip or acting the messenger below stairs. This is—far more than that and far more dangerous.”

“Dell’s a dear and there’s not a woman within a thousand miles that should suffer what she has. We’ve been sharing a room and I confess, I’ve grown terribly fond of her. If I can help you stop him, then why should I not be up for it? Besides,” Pepper added confidently, “you’ll not let any harm come to me.”

Serena shook her head. “I’d cut my own throat first but if we get this wrong…”

“When has the beautiful Lady Serena Wellcott ever gotten anything wrong?” Pepper laughed, then sobered quickly. “Mistress. Please. You said yourself time was short. I’m telling you as straight as a sparrow. Do your worst.”

Serena finally accepted it and returned to her seat at the vanity, drawing it close to Pepper to keep their conversation private and quiet. “Very well. Then here is the plan. We will keep it simple to try to keep you safe.”

“Simple is good.”

“Two days from now at breakfast, I will make a point of saying that I have left you alone upstairs in my bedroom with an armful of mending.”

“Why would I do the mending in your room and not carry it downstairs in the servant’s hall?” Pepper asked.

“Because the light is better in my room and I spoil you.”

“Ah!” Pepper smiled. “That rings true!”

“If we make it clear that he has the opportunity he longs for, then when he acts on that impulse, we will have him.” Serena reached out to cover one of Pepper’s hands with hers. “I will come quickly before harm is done but Pepper, there is the chance… What if I am wrong? What if he catches you when we are not prepared?”

“You will track him like a falcon, mistress. And when you catch him trying to get at my buttons, we’ll make such a scene that his world will come down around his ears, right?” Pepper chimed in, faith shining in her eyes. “And Dell will be safe.”

Dell will be safe. Every maid in the house will be safe. An unborn child will be safe.

But what about you, Pepper?

Serena steadied herself with a long slow breath. “And you will be safe. I swear it.”

“So two more days then?”

“Yes. Two days gives me time to make sure that Mrs. Osborne is set, and that there is nothing I’ve omitted. When I go down to breakfast that morning I will set all in motion and then when he makes his move, we will end him.” Serena released her friend’s hand and stood, taking on the mantle of her title in the set of her shoulders. “Until then you keep well out of his reach. I have business of my own to finish. Make no move to pack but be ready to leave quickly since these are our last days in the house.”

“I won’t disappoint you.” Pepper also stood to smooth out her apron and reset her mob cap. “No fears, mistress. When the time comes, I’ll scream like a banshee and crack the plaster.”

Serena shuddered, unable to answer. She walked out of the room before she could change her mind or frighten Pepper with the terror that was nibbling at her nerves. No fears? Until it’s done, I will walk around with a basket full of black adders in my arms.

And prepare myself to carry the sound of your screams against my heart for the rest of my days.