The Watchmaker's Daughter (Glass and Steele #1)(36)

So this was her sister-in-law, Lady Rycroft. She certainly wasn't behaving in a very ladylike manner.

Lady Rycroft's grip must have been hard, because she marched Miss Glass toward the door. "Richard will be furious when I tell him you ran away from me," she spat. "I knew the shopping expedition was a ruse. I told him so, but he wouldn't listen to me."

Mr. Glass stepped in the way, blocking the exit. He could look quite formidable when he wanted to, and I felt relieved to see him finally take some interest in his aunt's welfare. "Unhand her," he snarled.

"I beg your pardon!" Lady Rycroft may have been tall for a woman, but she only came up to his chin, even when she straightened her spine. "I am Lady Rycroft and your aunt. You will treat me with the respect I deserve."

So she knew who he was, then. I tried to think of something diplomatic to ease the tensions, but I could think of nothing. Behind Mr. Glass, Duke and Willie gathered close to hear the exchange.

"You can be sure that I will," he said. "When you've shown me you deserve my respect. You come into my house without greeting and drag out one of my guests against her will. I think I'm entitled to tell you to unhand her."

"I will not! You don't know how she is. She needs her rest at home. Her head is soft, you see—"

"My head is perfectly all right, thank you!" Miss Glass sniffed in her sister-in-law's direction.

"Unhand her and she will return home of her own free will," Mr. Glass said. "After lunch."

"No!" Miss Glass cried. I almost shouted at him too. How could he be so cruel? She clearly didn't want to return to her brother's house.

"Can't she stay here for a few days while you're in London?" I dared venture. "Then she could return." Or he could find other arrangements for her in the meantime.

I expected him to admonish me for my impertinence, but he merely looked away, although not before I saw a shadow pass over his eyes.

"He won't leave England." Honestly, Miss Glass's determination that he would remain wasn't helping the situation.

"I've made my decision," he said. "You may stay for luncheon, Aunt Letitia, but no longer. I'm a busy man, and I don't have time for callers." He spun on his heel and stalked out the door. "Duke, see Lady Rycroft out."

"You must return her yourself," Lady Rycroft said to his back. "She cannot be trusted with one of your men. She's very cunning."

"Very well," he said in low tones that only just reached us. "It's about time I met my uncle anyway."

"He looks forward to meeting you."

"I doubt it."

Lady Rycroft let her sister-in-law go and, head high, eased past the others, careful not to brush up against any of them. I expected Miss Glass to break down in hysteria or run after her nephew to plead with him, but she merely gathered her skirts and smiled at me.

"Will you be joining us for luncheon, Miss Steele?" she asked as if nothing were amiss. "I would very much like your company."





Chapter 8





I discovered over luncheon that Lord and Lady Rycroft had three daughters. They weren't in need of a governess at present, but I decided to present myself to them and offer my services to any of their friends. When I asked Mr. Glass if I could come with him to return his aunt to her home, he promptly started an argument.

"A governess?" he said as he handed my hat to me at the door. "Why do you want to be a governess?"

"Because none of the watchmakers in London will employ me as their assistant." After our recent visits, I was beginning to see that the situation was even more hopeless than I had first thought. "A governess's position might suit me just as well. I'm educated, and I can play the piano and sew as well as any woman."

"I don't doubt it."

"Then why are you being resistant to the idea?"

He wedged his hat under his arm without a care for its shape and opened the front door. Cyclops waited with the horse and carriage. "I'm not resistant, I simply don't think anyone will employ you," Mr. Glass said.

"Oh dear," his aunt muttered.

"Why not?" I asked hotly.

His aunt tsk tsked and shook her head at him as she passed. He scowled back at her. He'd been doing a great deal of scowling ever since she arrived. He hadn't joined us over luncheon, preferring to eat alone in his rooms. I wondered if he'd been resting or using his special watch again.

"Aunt Letitia, you explain it to her," he said.

"Good lord, no," she tossed over her shoulder. "You made your bed, now you must lie in it."

He jerked his head toward the carriage, but I didn't move from the doorway. "Go on then, Mr. Glass. Tell me why you think I'd make a terrible governess."

"I didn't say you'd be terrible. I think you'd make an excellent governess. But I doubt anyone will employ you."

"Because I have no experience?" I stood in the doorway only inches from him, suddenly feeling small, stupid and pathetic. My conviction rapidly drained away. I was a fool. He was right. No one would employ me as a governess without references. I lowered my head. "I'll stay here," I mumbled.