Midnight Angel (Stokehurst #1)(24)

Tasia thought it very astute reasoning. “It is a good thing that His Lordship is not too proud to talk directly with the peasants. Where I come from, a man of his position would communicate with them only through a steward.”

Suddenly there was a glint of amusement in Seymour's eyes. “In England they don't usually like to be called peasants. Better to say tenants.”

“Tenants,” she repeated obediently. “Thank you, Mr. Seymour.”

The butler gave her one of his rare smiles and nodded as she walked away.

Evening approached, and there was still no word from Lord Stokehurst. Tasia thought he was deliberately making her wait, so that she would have ample time to worry about when she would be dismissed. For the first time she took supper alone in her room, to avoid the questions and curious gazes of the other servants. She ate slowly, her stare fixed on the darkening sky outside her window. All her muscles were tense as she wondered what would happen. Soon she would be banished from Southgate Hall. She would have to make plans. The thought of returning to Charles and Alicia was galling. But perhaps they wouldn't be surprised that she had failed in her first position. The Kapterevs had never been known for their humility. Silently she vowed that she would choke on her opinions before spouting them to her next employer.

An excited knock caused the door to rattle. “Miss Billings! Miss Billings!”

“Nan?” Tasia asked in surprise, recognizing the voice. “Come in.”

The housemaid burst into the room, her eyes glowing and her cheeks pink. She hardly looked like herself. “Miss Billings, they said at the servants' hall that you were up here. I had to come and see you straightaway…” She paused to recover her breath.

“I thought you would have left by now. Nan, you must have run all the way up the stairs. It's not good for you.”

“Yes, but I wanted to tell you…” Nan let out a burst of excited laughter. “I'm getting married!”

Tasia's eyes widened. “Married? To whom?”

“To Johnny! He proposed not ten minutes ago, an' asked me to forgive him for everything. Said he'd be as good a husband as he could be, an' I said that's enough for me! Now my baby will have a name, an' I'll have a proper husband!” Nan hugged herself in joyful excitement.

“But how? Why?”

“Johnny said that Lord Stokehurst had a talk with him this afternoon.”

“Lord Stokehurst?” Tasia repeated, dazed.

“The master told Johnny that no man in his right mind wants to get married, but everyone must sooner or later, an' that a man should own up to his doings, an' if Johnny had gotten a girl with child, he should give 'em both his name. His Lordship even gave us some money to start with. We're leasing a plot of land to farm near the village. Isn't it a wonder? How can everything change so quick-like?”

“I don't know,” Tasia said, recovering enough from her amazement to smile. “It is wonderful. I'm very happy for you, Nan.”

“I came to give this back to you.” She thrust the knotted handkerchief back at Tasia, weighted with the lump of the gold ring. “I didn't tell Johnny about it—he might've made me keep it. But you need it, Miss Billings. You're too kind for your own good.”

“Are you sure you shouldn't keep it?”

“We'll be all right now, me an' the babe. We got someone to look after us now. Take it back, miss, please.”

Tasia held her hand out, and the ring dropped into her palm. She closed her fist around it and hugged Nan tightly. “God be with you,” she murmured.

“An' you, Miss Billings.”

As Nan left the room, Tasia sat down on her bed, her thoughts whirling. Nothing had ever surprised her more than Lord Stokehurst's actions. She had never dreamed he might change his mind so abruptly. What had caused it? Why would he have taken it upon himself to talk Johnny into marrying Nan, and even sweetened the bargain with what amounted to a small dowry? She turned the matter around and around in her head, unable to think of what his motives might be.

The hour grew late. Tasia knew she wouldn't be able to fall asleep tonight, not with all the questions that bothered her. Sighing, she set her supper tray outside the door and decided to visit the library. A long, dull book was just what she needed.

Making her way down the servants' stairs, Tasia moved through the hallways like a shadow. The household had settled for the evening. The routine was always the same. By now the last of the supper dishes had been washed, and the necessary kitchen utensils set out for Mrs. Plunkett for tomorrow morning. Biddle had polished the master's shoes and boots. Mrs. Knaggs was sitting with her mending basket, and perhaps writing a list of household supplies to be purchased. Most of the lamps in the hallways had been turned down, covering the house in shadows.

Finding the library, Tasia lit a lamp and turned the flame to a bright glow. The light played over the mahogany cabinets and shelves, and gleamed softly on the leather-lined walls. Tasia enjoyed the smell of books and leather, and the traces of smoke and brandy that lingered in the air. The library was a masculine sanctuary, used for discussion of business, politics, or highly private matters. There was a sense of intimacy and family history in the room. She browsed from one shelf to another, looking for something that would put her to sleep. Judiciously she selected an armload of books, examining each one.