After a Fashion (A Class of Their Own #1)(15)
“I thought my answer was self-explanatory.”
“You’re being ridiculous. You’re a hat girl, one who is soon to be without a position. I can’t imagine opportunities like this come your way often.”
Her hands clenched into fists. “Miss Birmingham was right. You, sir, are a complete and utter boor, and . . .” Her words trailed off when she noticed an elderly gentleman dressed in black hobbling toward them through the rain, clutching a large umbrella in his hand. He stopped a few feet away from her, bent over as he drew in a few gasping breaths, straightened, wheezed a few times, and then opened his mouth. “I say, I could not believe . . .” He stopped speaking as another wheeze racked his aging body.
The irritation that had been pouring through Harriet ever since she’d made the acquaintance of Mr. Addleshaw evaporated into thin air. Here was clear proof there were still good people in the world. The elderly gentleman had obviously witnessed her quarreling with Mr. Addleshaw and was coming to her aid. Moving closer to the man, her lips curved into a smile, until she caught his eye and found herself pinned under the man’s beady glare. He released a sniff, one that, annoying enough, didn’t cause him to erupt into sneezing, and then edged closer to Mr. Addleshaw, placing the umbrella directly over that insufferable man’s head.
“Shall I summon the authorities, sir?”
Harriet’s temper roared back to life. “There is absolutely no reason to summon any authorities,” she snapped before Mr. Addleshaw could respond. “I’ve done nothing wrong, whereas Mr. Addleshaw . . . Well, I hardly believe now is the appropriate time to discuss all of his transgressions, since it does seem to be raining harder than ever.”
The elderly gentleman somehow managed to look down his nose at her, even though they were of a similar height. “From what I just witnessed, you were about to assault Mr. Addleshaw.”
“Just because I was thinking about it, doesn’t mean I was planning on seeing it through to fruition.”
“A lady should never contemplate slapping a gentleman, especially not one of Mr. Addleshaw’s social standing.”
“I wasn’t thinking about slapping him,” Harriet muttered. “He deserved much more than a simple slap for being under the misguided belief that, simply because he has deep pockets, everyone should cater to his ridiculous whims.”
The elderly gentleman’s expression turned confused. “I’m afraid I don’t understand.” He looked to Mr. Addleshaw. “What is she talking about?”
“Miss Peabody has evidently taken issue with the idea I’d like to hire her to stand in as my lady of choice as I negotiate my business deal with the duke.”
The gentleman’s eyebrow rose until it disappeared beneath a shock of white and dripping hair. “Lady of choice?”
“Surely after witnessing that scene with Miss Birmingham you can understand my reasoning, Mr. Blodgett. Hiring a companion is the perfect answer to my current dilemma of not being attached to a lady. Also, I won’t have to leave matters to chance with a temperamental society lady, since I’ll be paying Miss Peabody to behave appropriately.”
Mr. Blodgett sent Mr. Addleshaw a look that had disapproval written all over it. “I’m afraid your reasoning is a little faulty, sir, since such things are never done, especially amongst the quality. Why, if you ask me, your idea sounds completely untoward.”
“It’s nothing of the sort,” Mr. Addleshaw argued. “If anything, my idea should be looked upon as an act of charity since Miss Peabody is soon to lose her position and will benefit greatly through the funds I’m willing to give her.” He completely ignored Harriet’s huff of disbelief and continued speaking even when she began to mutter under her breath. “Why, accepting a position that will only require Miss Peabody to look lovely and act in a charming fashion will surely have to feel like a holiday to a young lady used to spending tedious hours assembling hats.”
Mr. Blodgett considered Mr. Addleshaw for a moment before he moved away from him and toward Harriet, taking the umbrella as he moved and leaving Mr. Addleshaw standing in the downpour.
Harriet felt the rain stop beating against her hat as Mr. Blodgett angled the umbrella over her head, right before he pressed the handle of it into her hand.
“He’s normally a very rational gentleman, Miss Peabody, but I fear the rain and his unfortunate interaction with Miss and Mrs. Birmingham have affected his mental capabilities at the moment.”
Mr. Blodgett patted Harriet on the shoulder, shook his head at Mr. Addleshaw, and then began hobbling away without another word. She looked back to Mr. Addleshaw, finding him peering through the rain with a bemused expression on his dripping face.
“How very odd,” Mr. Addleshaw muttered. “Mr. Blodgett has never questioned my mental capacities before. It’s quite unlike the gentleman. However, my butler’s peculiar attitude has nothing to do with the matter we were discussing. Would you agree to my offer if I upped the amount to one thousand dollars?”
Harriet barely managed to choke back the yes that had been on the very tip of her tongue. “I think not.”
Mr. Addleshaw’s brows smashed together. “I only need your services for a few weeks, a month at the most, just until I secure the duke’s agreement to allow me to invest in his wool business.”
Before she could swallow what little pride she had left and accept the offer, Mr. Addleshaw let out a very loud grunt.